The Ever-Dreaded Group Work

During my various internships and volunteer experiences, I've worked with people that I really enjoy. Across different ages, professions, and outlooks, people often have a tendency to come together for something important. However, this isn't always the case.

Over the last week or so, I've found myself in two distinctly different group work scenarios. In one group, we talked about what each member had a knack for and divided work up based on our specific talents and skill sets. It's worked out swimmingly. Everyone is happy and we have a great end-product. We worked together on the things that required a bit more diversity and understood how to complement each other's talents.

It's been an unlikely success story for a college group project.

In another class, I'm facing the opposite situation. The group doesn't communicate well outside of class, and when we are in contact with each other, there isn't much productivity. Group members are trying to micro-manage each other, and tensions have gotten pretty high at points. When nasty e-mails started flying (when we should have calmly talked out these problems during class) I realized how far out of hand things had gotten. We needed to reorganize and cooperate.

A lot of things had to happen for the group to get back on track:

1. We had to put our egos in check. All of us. Myself included. When you get four (or, in many cases, more) people trying to be right all the time, tempers can get high. Working well in a group requires everyone to admit their limitations and own up to the fact that you're generally equals.
2. We had to acknowledge each other's skills. In this particular group, we need to use Adobe programs to make a finished product. I'm the only person with any experience with PhotoShop, which means my contribution has become fairly focused into that area of the project. The other girls in our group have talents spread across writing, organization, planning...not everyone can do everything in the project, but everyone has something to contribute.
3. We had to figure out how to spread the work evenly (as best we could). No one likes to feel excluded, and no one likes to feel like they're doing all of the work. You can't always evenly split it, since everyone's abilities apply to each project differently. However, being shy to responsibility or being a work hog can reflect on you poorly in the end.
4. We had to remind ourselves to smile. We are all stressed out right now. Finals start on Monday and week ten on a trimester schedule is always stressful. I have three large projects due between Friday and Tuesday, and the next few days are going to be very touch-and-go as far as my stress levels are concerned. One of the things I needed to remind myself about was that all of the people I am working with are in the same boat. We are all stressed out right now. So, sometimes the best thing to do is blow off some steam. Laugh, smile, don't be afraid to have fun while you work together. A happy individual generally equals a happy group member. Don't forget that.

Overall, I was reminded of some valuable lessons today about cooperation. Not everyone understands good group dynamics. Most college students don't have the professional and volunteer experiences I have when it comes to cooperation and working together. In fact, I feel very blessed to have these experiences under my belt. In the long run, they'll help me.

Next time you're faced with the task of working with others (especially ones you may not know or haven't worked with before), think about the mindset with which you step into the project. Respect, cooperation, and trust can go a long way. And please, please, please do not resort to sending snobby e-mails rather than sorting out problems in person. That's a wonderful first step towards an unhappy group.

Taking Criticism

I'm studying multimedia, so a big part of my education is through constructive criticism. At times, it can be rough. There are some professors who will take your work and rip it apart bit by bit, piece by piece, until you feel like your very soul has been trampled upon in the form of your hard work and dedication. Really. It gets hard sometimes. The only thing you can do is grin and bear it, though. A lot of the time, you aren't even allowed to defend yourself.

The thing to realize, regardless of how heartless the delivery, the intention is to teach. The process is sometimes very trying. You get the "nicer" profs now and then, but really...sometimes you just want to go hide away in a lonely dark place and cry. It comes with the trade.

You need a thick skin and a sense of humor. Professional criticism is something I've adjusted to. Sometimes when your work is getting ripped apart, you need to be able to find the humor. I'm sitting in an especially harsh Digital Photography critique as I type this, and I'm struck by the change in the students around me. Many of my classmates have never had formal critiques before. In the seven and a half weeks we've been together, there's been massive growth. People talk now. They joke. They laugh. They don't take things personally.

This is something everyone should be equipped with, not just us artists. Sometimes, when life hands you some trial, whether it's criticism or even a personal struggle, a sense of humor and an ability to take a few blows is the best adaptation you can have.

Coming from someone who gets grades for having grace under fire, this really can make all the difference. Humor can be a wonderful coping mechanism, or can be the thing that turns you into a "duck" as my boyfriend would say. (It just rolls right off your back, like water.) So, as I sit here listening to photographs getting ripped to shreds by a very talented but very ruthless professor, I'm reminded of this.

Smile. Nod. And learn. That's sometimes all you can outwardly do.

Disappointment CAN Teach Lessons

Next Tuesday is the Rall Symposium here at North Central College. It is the honors and independent research event that is put on here every year. Earlier in the academic year, I'd been avidly working to get a grant to do personal research. I'd have travelled around the country meeting the leaders of the agriculture in social media movement. The farmers I would have gone to visit are all actually now heavily involved in a not-for-profit organization known as the AgChat Foundation. I didn't know about the Foundation at the time of my early research and proposal, as it was on lock-down until the Foundation's official launch.

Personal life caught up with me. Or maybe just life in general. My first attempt at getting the grant was rejected, and I had to face the reality that I have too many irons in the fire. I needed to focus on me, my health, and surviving college with decent grades. I mean, internships, classes, and my other job(s) are hard enough to balance. I had no right to try and pursue this great opportunity when my GPA is the lowest it's ever been!

If the research plans had worked out, I'd be presenting at next year's Symposium.

Working in the school's Marketing and Communications Department, I've been heavily-involved in a lot of the Rall Symposium prep work. I've been so busy lately that I didn't get to stop and realize how bittersweet it is. I'm sure at this point in my life I couldn't have handled the project, but it's also a bit disappointing that on the 3rd Tuesday of May 2011, I won't be giving my presentation.

Things could be worse. I could be losing my mind right now over a project that I just didn't have the time, resources, and focus for. I could have let down some great people by getting in too deep and messing up what would have been a well-intentioned project.

There's a lesson here. You can't have everything. You can't please everyone. You should never give up on your dreams, but you should be able to sort them into importance. The research trip? It would have been a wonderful opportunity. I've gotten to know the people I was going to be working alongside in my travels, and they're all wonderful people. If I hadn't had the dedication to approach them and talk to them about this project, I probably wouldn't know them as well as I do now, and I'd be missing out. Someday, I might go visit them without having the excuse (or distraction) of a research grant.

Overall, I think the rejection of my project was a blessing in disguise. In the months following the rejection, I've definitely come to terms with the fact that a steady job, and internship, freelance work, and classes are enough to keep anyone busy (even someone who jokes that sleep is for the weak). I don't think I necessarily "lost" any great opportunity anymore. I was just handed opportunities in different forms.

So, am I a little disappointed to sit here coding HTML about an event that I dreamt about partaking in? A little. More than anything, though, I'm grateful. I've learned a lot about my personal boundaries as far as stress and time-management, and I might have never seen that clearly. Besides, there's time for me to do work and research for the rest of my life. I don't need to stack all of it on in my four short years here in college.

Passion.

The title says it all. It's the cornerstone of any successful career. It's the motivation that fills a resume'. It's the thing that keeps you coming back, even when you get knocked down. It keeps you in school when the stress is too much. It makes you pick up that pen and keep filling out job, internship, scholarship, and grant applications after rejection. It translates into other emotions and characteristics...stubbornness, strength, drive. Passion breeds these traits.

Passion is my motivator. Whatever the source of your passion, you need to hang on to it. Dig your claws in and hang on for dear life.

Passion can be a double-edged sword. Too much passion can lead to things like disappointment, burn-out, exhaustion, or even despair. Unchecked passion can backfire. But without passion, what is the point of doing what you're doing?

I'm almost done with my sophomore year of college. I have a few weeks left to a successful internship. I've had my first freelance video production and post-production job. I've gotten hits from news organizations, communications departments, and head hunters. I've been given offers and ideas. I've even created a Monster profile because it's easier to post my resume' there than explain to people why my resume' isn't posted anywhere.

Take a look at the people around you. You can tell who's found their passions. They're the students who stay up until 4 a.m. working on a project relating to their intended career, and don't mind. (I was once told that I was the happiest all-nighter partner a friend had ever had. We were doing PhotoShop work. Why wouldn't I be happy?)

Think about your goals. Think about where you want to go. Are you happy with what you see? Are you happy, or just content? Don't settle for something that just makes you feel "okay" about what you do. It's never too late to re-evaluate your dreams. I've found mine, now go make sure you've found yours.

"Run with it."

It's amazing how many wonderful resources schools have...that students never hear about. Students never seem to hear about the research grants, the unsung scholarships, the internships, and the job opportunities that often abound on college campuses. I recently found out about a wonderful opportunity, and I had a light-bulb go on over my head.

The Richter Grant. This research grant can be given to a student, or group of students, who are working with or independently of a professor or faculty member. It's an exclusive thing as my school, yet people don't seem to pursue it as strongly as they ought to. Maybe it's because it isn't heavily publicized. The grant can reach up to $5,000 and can be done in just about any field of study.

I'm going to apply for it. I mean, I need to make sure my plans would work out beforehand. I need to check with some connections in my field to see if the project would even be well-received. A rough outline is that I'd like to spend a few weeks travelling the U.S., meeting with agriculturalists and farmers about the ways in which social media has effected their personal lives, their operations, and agriculture in general.

Agriculture has become an increasingly popular topic on Twitter and Facebook. It's the place to be if you want to meet some tech-savvy ag folks. I'm going to take one of my passions, agriculture, and my career, media studies, and turn them into something worth noticing. At least, if all the tiny working parts fit together.

I pitched the idea to a few people on Twitter, and even a professor. They all said, "Run with it." While it was great encouragement to try and pursue this project, it made me aware of something deeper.

I'll never know whether or not I can get this project through, unless I try it out. I mean, it's a fairly-straightforward idea. I can't let the risk of being turned down scare me away from pursuing a great goal. Tenacity and fearlessness (with a hint of wariness) have gotten people pretty far in the past. Why should I be any different?

In other news, I'm still waiting to hear back on the interview I had last Thursday. If the news I get back isn't good, I'll put my chin up and keep going. Here's hoping things DO work out though!

Building Experience

Careers/internships/jobs/what have you are hard to find.

Let's be honest, here. We're in recession, some would even call it a depression. The economy's down, and while a lot of companies are willing to take on unpaid interns, the market is still a bit more slim than it has been in the past.

This is the time for building experience, without necessarily having a job. I'm finding new, interesting ways to do this everyday, and it's exciting!

I'm an interactive media studies major, with specialization in design. This, in a nutshell, means I do graphic design on crack. I'm also an English minor, meaning that any freelance or volunteer writing jobs are a great addition to my bank of experiences. While this can't necessarily be applied to any career field, it's important to look around, do some research, and figure out what volunteer opportunities can be considered "career builders."

Since age 15, I've been doing low-key graphic design work. In the last year, I've had two pretty significant projects: business cards, and the body wrap of a truck. Yes, I designed a truck. It was a 14-hour design job, and I learned a lot about PhotoShop and designing for 3-D objects. To see my truck, click here. Owned and operated by Dan Dandurand of Momence, IL, and sponsored by the Kankakee County Corn Growers Association, this E85-powered competition truck is the cornerstone of my graphic design portfolio.

You'd be amazed how many people would be impressed by that. Apparently, designing body wraps for pro-stock pulling trucks is a rarity.

I also write occasional pieces for small, local newspapers and journals. My favorite to write for is the local Farm Bureau newspaper. In fact, I'm scrabbling last minute to do a special commentary piece on wind energy and it's introduction into our county. This will be my third piece for the publication, and I'm incredibly excited about it.

See, it doesn't have to be hard to find interesting experiences in your field. It takes some research, some networking, and a lot of ambition. A great place to start for these types of opportunities is childrens' organizations. 4-H and FFA projects range across a wide variety of areas. You could be the mentor a child needs to finish their computer programming project for 4-H. You might be the marketing intern who could help an FFA member sell a few more of their SAE items. High school organizations can always use a volunteer, especially specialized ones. You could assistant coach the math team or tutor kids in biology. These opportunities are all around.

You just have to be willing to pursue them. They could make all the difference in your hunt for internships, and, in the long run, or search for a career.

Bunnies, Musicals, Packing, and Jargon

It's official: I no longer raise rabbits.

The bunnies are still in my possession, yes, but thanks to a breeder in Indiana, and possibly one in the Pacific Northwest, I'll be out of Mini Rex within the month. That means no more poop, no more food dust, no more major allergy attacks...it also means that another tie to childhood is severed, but I'm definitely more positive about it now.

Today is busy. I have some video to work on, and I'm leaving early. Why? Because my lovely boyfriend of 5 years surprised me with Jersey Boys tickets for Christmas. If you don't know what Jersey Boys is, see more info here. I know, I don't come off as be a theatre geek, but I am. I'm always up for a good musical.

Anyways, I'm excited and wanted to flaunt that a bit.

I start back to class in less than a week, so I'm starting to get into packing mode. I'm going back to school with more stuff than I came home with (which is terrifying, because I brought a LOT of stuff home with me...) so there's a lot of...creativity...involved in packing. That, on top of work, on top of other obligations, makes for a busy Kelly.

SO, I've had another revelation regarding my industry. You know, this whole "creative media" thing. Whilst thrusting my random thoughts onto others via Twitter, I found myself impressed with my own array of jargon. I never thought of it that way, until someone asked me what an FTP was.

I know jargon. I'm an interactive media jargon master! This by no means makes me a master of anything other than words, but it kind of feels like a tiny milestone. I can hold a conversation with someone in my field, and know what the heck the random letters and abbreviations are.

"Can you encode the MOV's into FLV's and upload them to the FTP so I can apply them to the PHP?"

That sentence pretty closely matches the instructions I was given by my supervisor yesterday. Seriously. The most exciting thing is the fact that I knew exactly what he was talking about. Sure it was a long, tedious task full of waiting and rushing and waiting and more rushing...but I didn't have to ask him what he was talking about. Spiffy, right?

I'm starting to make the observation that most milestones are small. A big project may come every now and then, but learning is a long process. You can't really measure it, unless you're doing so in life experience or time, and even then it's an incomplete measurement. There's no good way to look at what you've done over an internship and say that one single thing defined it. The experiences you gain are taken in small steps. Like, say...understanding what your boss is talking about when he uses very field-specific terms.

Yeah. Pretty much, I'm a rockstar of media jargon.

Learning to Deal with Co-Workers

My current internship puts me in a unique position. I've been here long enough to build up some credibility and authority in my specific field, but I'm still an intern. This position, this expert-and-intern conundrum, creates some awkward situations with co-workers.

I don't blame them in the least. It's probably tricky for an adult who has a degree and has been a professional for years to be instructed by a college kid. I ran into one such problem with a co-worker here, and it's still being slowly hashed out. In fact, we'll probably still be smoothing out wrinkles when I return over spring break or summer vacation.

This is a valuable lesson. For my entire career, I'll be facing co-workers, employers, superiors, and equals, who may or may not want to hear my opinions. They may not appreciate my feedback. Regardless of how smoothly we'll work together, we'll have to continue to do just that: work together. This specific co-worker and I have a very good relationship when we don't work together on specific projects without being overseen by our supervisor. We both know that we can get along well. There's just a gap that we have to continue to work on.

I'm happy with how things are going on that front, altogether. I've gained important experience on how to handle a difficult co-worker, and we reached the end of a fairly big project in record time. The outcome is great, the product is awesome, and our supervisor is satisfied.

Mission accomplished, and lessons learned. I'd say that a good outcome all around.