It doesn't feel like seven months ago I woke up an hour late to get on the bus that would take us to Columbus, to hop on a plane and make our way to Washington DC for PRSSA National Conference where I would later prove myself to be the clumsiest person in our chapter. But after our very last PRSSA meeting on Thursday, the end of the year really began to sink in, and I'm ready for it. But on the other hand, I'm really not. I'll be happy when I don't have to study for exams or write research papers until my eyes cross from staring at my Mac screen for too long, but I'm going to miss the people I've met and become attached to over the last four years.
I can easily say that the people I will miss the most are my peers from the chapter. Within such a short amount of time I have gotten to know every single one of them in one way or another and realized that in each and every of their own ways, they are all talented, intelligent and unique people. I admire them all for what they have brought to the chapter and what they hope to bring in the future, and some I even secretly look to for my own aspirations... As creepy as that might sound. I suppose I'm just inspired to throw myself into everything I do, PR related or not, because I've seen what we all can do, individually and as a chapter. Like I said in my most recent Facebook status, be jealous that I'm part of THE best PRSSA chapter ever, because it's true and although I didn't get to spend as much time in the chapter as I would have liked or was only able to spend one year getting to know certain friends and peers instead of two or three, I can say my time with PRSSA has been incredible.
I'm sure last Thursday's tears won't be the last and May 22 won't be the last time ONU or PRSSA sees me. You can get rid of me, but not forever!
About Me
- Karlie
- I'm a senior PR major at Ohio Northern University, who is graduating in TWO WEEKS! I love sports (namely soccer and hockey) and somewhat fascinated by the entertainment industry. This blog started out as an assignment for my social media class and as it turns out, is my first time as a blogger. I wish I could say I'm a comedian, and I try, but I'm really not. But enjoy anyway.
Showing posts with label ohio northern university. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ohio northern university. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.
This weekend (or as of 12 p.m. today) ONU's Relay for Life took place on the tundra from a 6 p.m. kick off on Friday until just a few hours ago when we announced the total money raised, took our closing lap around the track and began to tear down the tents and stage. I've been involved with the cause for three years now and for a lot of reasons in my family, it's something that is extremely important to me. My sophomore year, I was on a team called A Walk to Remember with many of my friends and roommates on campus and we ended up being the team who raised the most money while I was in at least the top five, if not three, for participants who raised the most individually. This year, I had the opportunity to be one of the chairs of the publicity team for ONU's Colleges Against Cancer committee. I was so excited to be able to do a lot more hands on work as far as PR and communications went, and outside of everything I've done for Firm already. But when I started going to meetings, I realized that it was a lot more unorganized than I had imagined, especially my own committee, which comprised of myself and one other person. It was my first true experience in a working situation with objectives, goals and deadlines to meet, where I had to pick up a lot of the slack for things that should have been done far in advanced, but had yet to be accomplished. Had I been informed of these meetings sooner (because said individual isn't very good with responding to emails) then I know I would have taken enough initiative to make sure our PR efforts didn't fall behind.
It was also an experience where at first, I felt as though I was lost and without much direction at all, which should only provoke that desire to take initiative, but it's difficult when it's your first year doing something new without the help of others. I had no idea where to even begin. I had all of these ideas to promote the cause and spread the word on campus, but it was like no one was listening to what I had to say, or they were so set in their ways of how they've done things in the past, that my ideas were being tossed out the window. I guess, too, that's something I'll need to get used to. But once I got into the groove of doing things on my own, because my co-chair was less than helpful throughout most of campaign, I found that the resources I did have were very helpful and very timely. That made me happy, being someone who tries to be as prompt as possible with responses. But by the time relay came around, I realized that while I was frustrated and didn't have the opportunity to do as much as I would have liked, the stress was worth it. We had a great turnout and I really enjoyed myself this year. I also wish this wouldn't be the only year that I was able to contribute to the committee, because now I know what I could and would have done, should I have been able to take over. My plan, however, is to recruit one of our very lovely PRSSA underclassmen to take over for me and hopefully I can pass along ideas that I had and see them put into place.
Like I said, the entire event was worth the hassle that everything seemed to be at times. While I amount of teams we had this year wasn't nearly as high as what it was in previous years, we were still about to raise $15,200 for the cause. And oddly enough, my role as the publicity co-chair and seeing the success we had this weekend, made me think that if I ever did work for a non-profit organization, the American Cancer Association would be the one.
It was also an experience where at first, I felt as though I was lost and without much direction at all, which should only provoke that desire to take initiative, but it's difficult when it's your first year doing something new without the help of others. I had no idea where to even begin. I had all of these ideas to promote the cause and spread the word on campus, but it was like no one was listening to what I had to say, or they were so set in their ways of how they've done things in the past, that my ideas were being tossed out the window. I guess, too, that's something I'll need to get used to. But once I got into the groove of doing things on my own, because my co-chair was less than helpful throughout most of campaign, I found that the resources I did have were very helpful and very timely. That made me happy, being someone who tries to be as prompt as possible with responses. But by the time relay came around, I realized that while I was frustrated and didn't have the opportunity to do as much as I would have liked, the stress was worth it. We had a great turnout and I really enjoyed myself this year. I also wish this wouldn't be the only year that I was able to contribute to the committee, because now I know what I could and would have done, should I have been able to take over. My plan, however, is to recruit one of our very lovely PRSSA underclassmen to take over for me and hopefully I can pass along ideas that I had and see them put into place.
Like I said, the entire event was worth the hassle that everything seemed to be at times. While I amount of teams we had this year wasn't nearly as high as what it was in previous years, we were still about to raise $15,200 for the cause. And oddly enough, my role as the publicity co-chair and seeing the success we had this weekend, made me think that if I ever did work for a non-profit organization, the American Cancer Association would be the one.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Do the Math: Three Laundry Room Pet Peeves
There are few things that really annoy me enough to consider them pet peeves. One is people who drive under the speed limit, another is people who don't use their turn signals and these last couple have only been realized upon spending a number of years living on ONU's campus. Our laundry room system generally sucks. Enough said. But is it? To my understanding Student Senate has heard numerous complaints regarding various aspects of doing laundry if you live on campus and of course the year after I graduate is when they plan to do something about it. Though I don't actually care because it wouldn't solve my newly founded pet peeves, which are as follows:
3. It costs $2.25 to wash and dry a single load of laundry - Granted, I know it could be worse and I know that paying to wash clothes is part of any deal when you live in an apartment building. Since my sister moved out she and I have been in an on going battle for who gets mom's quarters and she usually wins because for her, laundry is $1.25 to wash and dry. Anyway. The fact I feel like this is a giant wash of good quarters leads me to avoid doing laundry on campus as much as I possibly can. Instead, I wait until the next time I go home where I can do it for free, and I won't have to wait (but that's later to come). However, on days like today when I can't afford to wait ten more days, I have to load up the laundry basket, head downstairs, out of my section of Lake View and into the next building where I'll more than likely spend close to five dollars in quarters.
2. Not everyone is good at keeping track of time, thus clothes are often left to tie up washers and dryers - When you're a busy college student, losing track of time is somewhat understandable. Everyone has been guilty of forgetting that they have clothes in the washer or dryer at least once, myself included and felt like a bit of a hypocrite because this is one of the things I complain about. I hate when people leave clothes sitting for much longer than the time limit has been up. Too, too many times I've been tempted to fix this issue myself by removing someone else's clean clothes to make room for mine, but I don't because after much discussion with my sister, came to the conclusion that it was rude and I wouldn't appreciate someone else touching my things. Understandable. But it's still annoying when my journey to the laundry room requires me to exit my building and travel into the next and then back again with a full basket of laundry when washers and/or dryers aren't free. That also brings me to my final pet peeve...
1. In Lake View there are only a total of three washers and four dryers for the entire apartment complex - What's worse is I'm pretty sure people in live in University Terrace use this laundry room as well, but I could be mistaken. Last year I thought four washers and dryers for everyone in Stadium View was bad, but this is kind of ridiculous, especially for someone like me who doesn't have the best luck or timing when I decide to actually do laundry. I suppose I understand that not every residence hall can have as many washers and dryers as there are students living in them, but sometimes the ratio confuses me even though not everyone does their laundry at once. Though it always seems like that when I choose my laundry days. If we could just borrow the six or seven extra machines from the freshman dorms that would be great. I feel like I've at least paid my dues when it comes to waiting to wash my clothes.
3. It costs $2.25 to wash and dry a single load of laundry - Granted, I know it could be worse and I know that paying to wash clothes is part of any deal when you live in an apartment building. Since my sister moved out she and I have been in an on going battle for who gets mom's quarters and she usually wins because for her, laundry is $1.25 to wash and dry. Anyway. The fact I feel like this is a giant wash of good quarters leads me to avoid doing laundry on campus as much as I possibly can. Instead, I wait until the next time I go home where I can do it for free, and I won't have to wait (but that's later to come). However, on days like today when I can't afford to wait ten more days, I have to load up the laundry basket, head downstairs, out of my section of Lake View and into the next building where I'll more than likely spend close to five dollars in quarters.
2. Not everyone is good at keeping track of time, thus clothes are often left to tie up washers and dryers - When you're a busy college student, losing track of time is somewhat understandable. Everyone has been guilty of forgetting that they have clothes in the washer or dryer at least once, myself included and felt like a bit of a hypocrite because this is one of the things I complain about. I hate when people leave clothes sitting for much longer than the time limit has been up. Too, too many times I've been tempted to fix this issue myself by removing someone else's clean clothes to make room for mine, but I don't because after much discussion with my sister, came to the conclusion that it was rude and I wouldn't appreciate someone else touching my things. Understandable. But it's still annoying when my journey to the laundry room requires me to exit my building and travel into the next and then back again with a full basket of laundry when washers and/or dryers aren't free. That also brings me to my final pet peeve...
1. In Lake View there are only a total of three washers and four dryers for the entire apartment complex - What's worse is I'm pretty sure people in live in University Terrace use this laundry room as well, but I could be mistaken. Last year I thought four washers and dryers for everyone in Stadium View was bad, but this is kind of ridiculous, especially for someone like me who doesn't have the best luck or timing when I decide to actually do laundry. I suppose I understand that not every residence hall can have as many washers and dryers as there are students living in them, but sometimes the ratio confuses me even though not everyone does their laundry at once. Though it always seems like that when I choose my laundry days. If we could just borrow the six or seven extra machines from the freshman dorms that would be great. I feel like I've at least paid my dues when it comes to waiting to wash my clothes.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Countdown to Operation: Coffee Consumption -- 2 Weeks to Go
Frequently, I find myself thinking about the fact I chose to go to school three hours away and in literally the middle of nowhere Ohio. The idea of going away to school was cool at first and as I get older, the novelty hasn't exactly worn off yet because it still resembles future independence once I'm able to move out to have my own real apartment. However, the challenge with living three hours away is that I can't just pick up and drive back home whenever I want, especially when it costs me anywhere from $2.75-$4.25 to take the turn pike and now that gas prices are reaching a ridiculous per gallon amount as well. Sometimes when I weigh the options, the drive home just isn't as worth it as I thought. There are times when I made special trips home aside from Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring and soon-to-be Easter break, such as going home for the weekend just to go with my mom and sister so she could try on wedding dresses. However, other than that, I can count on a single hand the number of times I've gone home and the times I had any visitors from home. If you're wondering, it's five until Easter.
I haven't been too homesick since my sophomore year here at ONU, but every now and again it still hits me even after being here for three years and two and a half quarters. It's difficult not to be at least somewhat disappointed when you call home that night to find out that your family went out for dinner for grandma's birthday, the grandparents 40th anniversary or more recently, tonight when the family came over to celebrate my sister's 26th birthday (who is also an April Fool's baby, go figure :) ). It's even less fun to receive text messages and phone calls that say "we miss you," "can't wait for you to come home," and "wish you could be here" because honestly, so do I. I feel like I miss out on a lot of these family gatherings during the school year, and while I talk to my family on a regular, sometimes obsessive, basis it's not nearly the same to hear about a nice dinner out than it is to actually be there for it.
But thankfully in just two weeks (long or short depending on how things go) I'll be packed up and on my way home for a nice long four day weekend. I'll be able to see my three dogs, all of which I wish I could bring back with me, my parents, my sister and the rest of my family. More importantly, I'll be able to spend another wonderful Easter tradition with them when we go out to dinner where I can get fancy and dressed up because come on, who doesn't like to do that? But even more importantly, Easter Sunday means Lent is over and I can officially go back to putting my precious coffee maker into good use. Let me just say, this will have been the longest 40 days I have ever experienced and I will not miss it. But it's a sacrifice, so I suppose that's the point. And when I pack my car back up again on Monday and drive all the way back to little Ada, I'll only have 4 terrifying weeks to go until I put on my cap and gown and cross the threshold into the real real world.
I haven't been too homesick since my sophomore year here at ONU, but every now and again it still hits me even after being here for three years and two and a half quarters. It's difficult not to be at least somewhat disappointed when you call home that night to find out that your family went out for dinner for grandma's birthday, the grandparents 40th anniversary or more recently, tonight when the family came over to celebrate my sister's 26th birthday (who is also an April Fool's baby, go figure :) ). It's even less fun to receive text messages and phone calls that say "we miss you," "can't wait for you to come home," and "wish you could be here" because honestly, so do I. I feel like I miss out on a lot of these family gatherings during the school year, and while I talk to my family on a regular, sometimes obsessive, basis it's not nearly the same to hear about a nice dinner out than it is to actually be there for it.
But thankfully in just two weeks (long or short depending on how things go) I'll be packed up and on my way home for a nice long four day weekend. I'll be able to see my three dogs, all of which I wish I could bring back with me, my parents, my sister and the rest of my family. More importantly, I'll be able to spend another wonderful Easter tradition with them when we go out to dinner where I can get fancy and dressed up because come on, who doesn't like to do that? But even more importantly, Easter Sunday means Lent is over and I can officially go back to putting my precious coffee maker into good use. Let me just say, this will have been the longest 40 days I have ever experienced and I will not miss it. But it's a sacrifice, so I suppose that's the point. And when I pack my car back up again on Monday and drive all the way back to little Ada, I'll only have 4 terrifying weeks to go until I put on my cap and gown and cross the threshold into the real real world.
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