College is Great, but I'm Trying to Make Money

I have recently learned that I might be able to graduate early, which is fantastic. College is the best time of my life and I understand that I might miss it, but college is also expensive, even though I have tuition remission. I think graduating early might be the best option for me, I will save a few thousand dollars on tuition and books, get to work more hours, and keep up on my bills. A few of my friends have suggested against doing it but I think saving money is the best option in the long run. I would still live in Ada for the last semester, but will not be going to class and will be able to work more often.

Although this is not a definite, there is a real possibility that I can do this. Moving up your life up 6 months is a scary thought. I have always planned to graduate in the Spring of 2019 and would start my life from there, but now, the thought of moving my plan, or lack thereof, up is weird and intimidating. Everybody has to grow up one day though. I'm looking forward to the next part of my life but I love college and almost everything that has to go with it. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made and I think I am ready for the challenge.

Working in Admissions

I have worked in the admissions office at Ohio Northern since the end of my freshman year now. It has been one of the better things that I have done in my college career. Not only do I get paid to work there, but I get to talk to families about the college that I love. There are some drawbacks to the job, like stuffing papers when there are no tours to give or having to wake up early in the morning when I would much rather be sleeping. I really enjoy getting to talk to perspective families and listening to their goals and future while trying to convince them why Ohio Northern may be the best place for them.

Today, the Pharmacy College hosted the interview day and I was tasked with walking potential students from place to place. Getting to talk to kids and allow them to relax before there interviews is what makes my job enjoyable. I also had two kids in my group that I had previously gave a tour. Seeing that they came to the school after I had given them a tour was a great feeling. Working in admissions is definitely the most fulfilling job I've ever had. 

Thanksgiving is Better Than Christmas

Fight me. I will listen to your opinion and you can listen to mine, but I am right. Thanksgiving is better than Christmas! You ask why, I say because Thanksgiving is everything that Christmas should be about, without the commercialization. Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with your family. Now, in today's society, Christmas is all about gifts and Black Friday sales, feeling obligated to go to church and nothing good. Sure, families get together to "celebrate" but all that people focus on is the gifts. Obviously, not every family is like this, but the large majority are.

Thanksgiving on the other hand, does not get clouded by handing out gifts. In fact, Thanksgiving gets clouded by Black Friday gifts at the end of the day. So, Christmas is ruining another holiday because of its selfishness. Sad! Thanksgiving is purely a time for families to sit around a table and stuff their face with amazing food. To enjoy each other's company and watch football and say what we are thankful for. Thanksgiving is great because it is not about the commercialization of Santa Claus and gifts for all, but the remembrance of everything that we have in life. Granted, the celebration is really about the settling of America, which is not the best history lesson to learn. But, it is still the better celebrated holiday.

Big School Fraternities are Dying, What's That Mean For Mine?

Large campuses are continuing a trend of suspending all fraternities off campus, not allowing any functions to happen. Ohio State is the most recent school to suspend all interfraternal relations indefinitely. Other schools that have done this include, Florida State University, and Penn State have all suspended their fraternities. The University of Michigan has suspended all Greek social events on campus. Why? Well, the death of a pledging member of a fraternity has been the reason at two schools, i.e. Penn State and Florida State. Overwhelming sanctions and university rules infractions have been piling up against multiple chapters at the campuses at Ohio State has led to their suspension.  Unfortunately, these events continue to give Greek organizations a terrible reputation.

Small campus chapters have a very different way of running things within their organization from their big campus counterparts. They are not filled with underground hazing operations that endanger new members, are not fueled by socials that involve copious amounts of alcohol and differ greatly than the campuses that have suspended their fraternities. Unfortunately, we have the same names on our walls. To keep our charters and to continue to be productive members of the university and society, we must continue to meet the standards upheld by our values and mission statements. Work with the university to continue to improve Greek culture. There is a trend in the United States to give a bad reputation to fraternities, all we can do as a small campus chapter is continue to prove our worth.

Being the Front Line of Ohio Northern Admissions

Since spring semester my freshman year, I have been a bear ambassador for Ohio Northern University. Working here, we stuff papers for mailing out information about the university to potential students all across the nation, we answer phones, but most importantly, we give tours to prospective students. That is the most important part of our jobs, whether it be on a regular Thursday afternoon, or during a large preview day for the entire university. Giving a successful tour is one of the most satisfying jobs I have ever had.

There are about fifteen tour guides that works for the admissions office and it is actually an honor to be able to do this. You are one of the first people that a prospective student sees on campus. Of course, there is the admissions counselors and academic meetings that are very important to the process and more important, but the tour guide is important as well. Having the university trust students with giving tours of campus to potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars coming through the door. I really enjoy seeing the excitement on potential students' face when they see the dorm room or the different aspects of campus that they really like. It is really an awarding experience. I would recommend applying to any student that really has a passion for Ohio Northern. 

Do I Believe Conspiracy Theories?

I am not going to tell you my answer right away, to ensure that you actually read the post. There are many conspiracy theories out there, a few with some validity, some with absolutely none. They are interesting and can be useful to burn hours off your life when your Netflix show ended. There is JFK, the moon landing, Sandy Hook, 9/11, and many more. First, Sandy Hook happened, it is real, do not tell me otherwise. How people can tell me that little kids did not die and were not taken from their family. You are wrong, don't ever tell me that, I will hit you in the mouth. I can understand some people thinking 9/11 was a conspiracy, but there is no dispute that actually happened. I don't believe in the 9/11 conspiracy, either. I like to think all Americans, including George W., are good people and would not do that to their own country.

There are a few that I would not be surprised to be true or at least somewhat true. The moon landing being faked, I'm skeptical on that one. Is it likely that we did actually land on the moon with Mr. Neil Armstrong and company and stick it to the Russians, yes. Is it possible that we faked it with great photography skills, not as likely, but yes. Why have we never been back? These are the questions I need answered. JFK's assassination is pretty sketchy. Lee Harvey pulling that once in a lifetime shot? Very questionable. Multiple gun shots reported within seconds of each other, very skeptical. Definitely not a job he did by himself. 

The one conspiracy I truly believe is that aliens exist. I was told that this may not actually be a conspiracy but just a belief, so I will take it a step further. Aliens exist and the government knows about it. This universe is large, uncomprehendingly large. There is no way that we live by ourselves or even the most advanced life form. I am one hundred percent behind that belief. So do I believe in conspiracy theories? No, not really. I am not one to go searching for YouTube videos for hours and hours on different ones. I think they can be enjoyable at times, but all in all, listen to the facts.   

Which Sport is Truly America's Pastime?

I've talked before about how sports is one thing that can bring people together no matter their walk of life. They can also spark debates and cause people to hate each other, it just depends on how level headed you are or who you root for. One debate that pops up frequently is which sport is America's pastime. Baseball has always been called the national pastime due to it being one of the oldest recognized professional sports in America. Things have changed over the years though. Baseball is no longer the most popular sport in the United States. Football and basketball have caught and surpassed baseball as the most popular sport. There is no way to truly analyze what America's pastime is. We could look at figures of the most views on television or take a poll of the what fans favorite sport is, but America's pastime is different than the most popular sport.

To me, pastimes are what the countries are known for or any region or location. In this discussion, we're only going to deal with sports. Japan and the Caribbean Islands' pastimes are baseball, Europe's is soccer, and Canada's is hockey. Every country has their own pastime, but what is America's. People will say it is baseball, but when people think of an American sport, they think of football. Football has been the most popular sport for a while now and baseball has been declining. I am an avid baseball fan and would like to think baseball is still the most popular sport, but I know that is not true. Football is now the sport that people think of when they think of Americans, so is it considered the pastime? Yes, I believe so. Baseball will always be called the nation's pastime because it has carried the label for so many years, but it really is not. Football is the most popular sport and is not going away any time soon. 

What is Going on With This Weather

This weather has been the most peculiar weather that I have ever encountered in my short life. It has been hot, cold, hot again and then hot some more. Living in northwestern Ohio, you grow accustomed to cold weather starting in September and not ending until mid-April. This year, it has been hot all summer and hasn't

quit yet. I like warm weather as much as the next guy, but I have been looking forward to sweatshirt weather. We have gotten glimpses of it here and there, but in general, there has not been an entire week in which it has been cold enough to wear a sweatshirt everyday. There is something about watching football or walking around campus in frigid weather and freezing toes; I kind of miss it.

I'm going to assume that the reason behind this is global warming and the overall temperature of the earth increasing. Am I concerned about the earth dying? Yes. Am I concerned it's going to die within my lifetime? Not particularly. Do I know anything about the environment and how to fix it? Absolutely not. But, it still is a concern that we have to deal with. I trust the minds of the greatest scientists and scholars in the world to find the solution though. The solution may be to move to another planet eventually and ruin that one. Hopefully Elon Musk figures something about before he dies because he may be our only hope.

Small Town Kid in a Big City

This past weekend, myself and twelve other classmates traveled to Boston for the Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference. The conference was great and all of built great relationships with public relations professionals and learned from the best public relations specialist around the country. Although, we went for the conference and learned a lot, the best part of the trip was experiencing the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The culture of the city is amazing with the great history and amazing buildings and atmosphere. I have been to a few cities in my short life, not many but a few; Boston is by far my favorite.

Growing up in a small town and not going on vacation to large cities, one does not get exposed to much. As I have grown older and have started to travel more and even work in larger cities, I am getting a feel for where I may want to live when I graduate college. I do not want to live in a big city forever or maybe even at all, but there are many job opportunities in cities that are not available in the small town of Ada, Ohio.

While in Boston, I enjoyed the endless amounts of restaurants and different viewing sites and "tourist traps" that you could experience. I am not sure if I could handle living in such a small space though. Most of the residential buildings were wall to wall and no room for space. I enjoyed walking throughout the city while people watching but did not enjoy being an half hour drive away from one side of the city to the other. There were many things that I enjoyed, but I probably would not enjoy them for an extended period of time. I have a little bit of time left before I have to start worrying about moving and finding a job and looking where to live, but it still gives me a little bit of stress to think about moving into a city after living in a town of three thousand for my entire life.

My Pop (Soda) Addiction

I am addicted to pop, soda or coke if you're in the south. I am addicted to the carbonation and the high fructose corn syrup of the sugary beverage and it is extremely difficult for me to quit. It started when I was a young lad and would spend summer homes by myself. My mom always kept our fridge in the garage stocked full of Pepsi for my dad and I would also take advantage of the delicious beverages being on hand. I was around the age of 10 when I started to stay home by myself during the summer time, so since the age of 10, I have been regularly drinking pop. Many times, I would wake up and eat a smore's Pop Tart and drink a can of Pepsi. I know that is the breakfast of champions. It's an extremely unhealthy habit and it has stuck with me throughout my life.

Recently, I have started to try and eat healthier, cooking chicken and rice, working out more, but I still drink pop. It is quite frustrating that I cannot get the crave of pop out of my mind. I want to quit drinking it but any time I get the chance to drink. I've been trying to stop but we will see how it goes.

Twitter 280 Character Limit

Twitter recently initiated a test run of allowing certain users to tweet with double the previous characters of 140 to 280. The test run just started and there are mixed reviews so far. Some say that the idea is dumb and others enjoy the option of putting more content out on their favorite social media platform. I am on the side of it being ridiculous and not necessary.

Twitter was known for its 140 character limit and how you had to tweet a conscious thought in a limited amount of characters. It was fun and engaging to try to fit a story in 140 characters. The dread of having to commit a spelling error on a tweet just to fit it in the character limit. The increase in character limit will only lead to political debates being longer and crowding up more of a user's timeline. Nobody was asking for 280 characters, yet here we are, receiving them for no reason at all.

The tweets describing the 280 character fiasco:





As you can see, the Twitter-verse responded in typical fashion by making fun of it. I love Twitter and there are some improvements that need to happen, i.e. editing tweets, but more characters is not one of them.

Homecoming Weekend

This weekend at Ohio Northern University is Homecoming Weekend. Starting Friday with the Homecoming Dance and ending with a scholarship brunch on Sunday, the weekend will be full of activities and fun for the entire weekend. Whether it be the football game, the several dinners for alumni with every organization, or just getting to catch up with old friends, Homecoming is a fantastic time for everyone, alumni, students, and family.

My fraternity usually has a good crowd our alumni come back every year and we're expecting good numbers once again. Each organization's homecoming is better than the overall one in my opinion. It is something special to share having Ohio Northern as a common factor between student and alumni, but it's an even closer bond between people that were in select organizations while they were a student here. I enjoy interacting with alumni from both Ohio Northern and from Delta Sigma Phi, but there is a deeper connection when you interact with your fraternity brothers from past generations. We host a dinner for them and have a special ceremony to remember brothers who have died in the past year. It is truly something special to see brothers, new and old alike, to remember those who have came before us.

Homecoming is a time for alumni to come back and see how the improvements in their university, but it can be much more than that. It is a time for students to learn from those who came before. Interact with them and ask them about their experiences. I enjoy talking to old Delt Alumni and asking them about their experiences while they were an active brother. I love the parade, football game, and every experience of homecoming.

Applying for Internships/Jobs

Applying for internships and jobs can be very stressful for a young professional in college. On top of all of the school work that has to be completed, you also have to find time to apply for jobs and internships, which can be a long, strenuous process. Many students are stressed enough when it comes to school work, but then add the stress of putting your future career in the hands of a few applications, resume and cover letter. Here are a few tips to have a clean application and minimize the stress of applying for jobs.

1. Use your resources 

Many colleges and universities offer help to build your resume and write an efficient cover letter. Career services is a great way to have someone with professional experience to look over your resume and cover letter to ensure there are no mistakes. Even if you did not have any mistakes on your resume, it is peace of mind to know that other people have gone over them. There are other places you could look for help as well. Asking professors that have had experience in the field is another way to get help with your applications, resumes and cover letters. Using different resources ensures that you get plenty of advice and different opinions on how to create a great resume.

2. Double and triple check

Double checking to make sure that you have no grammatical errors is crucial when applying for jobs. Many employers will throw your application away if they find any grammatical errors or errors in consistency on a resume. Double checking and then triple checking and then checking again is a great way to combat mistakes on a resume and a cover letter. Having others look over your resume and cover letter is another way to catch mistakes that you might have missed.

3. Try to relax

Stated earlier, applying for jobs is a stressful task. Your future is riding on someone liking one piece of paper or not. It can be a very stressful time but it is also important that you keep a clear head. It's hard, but stress can cloud your judgement and hurt your applications. I recommend taking a break from your applications and getting a coffee or even taking a nap so you are not staring at applications for hours upon hours. Having a clear mind can allow you to catch more mistakes that you may have made or even think of something useful for your letter or resume that you had not added yet.

Following these directions does not guarantee you a job, or even a fantastic resume or cover letter. They are nice steps that I have found when applying for jobs and writing my resume and cover letters. Good luck to everyone who is applying for full-time jobs and internships.

Business Casual vs. Business Etiquette

Last night, I attended an etiquette dinner hosted by Dean John Navin and the Dicke College of Business Administration. While attending, the class of 2019 learned how to properly hold our glass, plate and napkin while networking. We learned proper ways to eat our dinner and different table talks that would introduce easy conversations. It was helpful and I was able to brush up on my etiquette techniques, but it was not something I would want to do frequently. Being professional while representing yourself and your company is essential to being a great business professional, but it is not the best way to do business.

Professional settings may be great for networking and for politics, but if you want to really get to know someone that you may be doing business with, a casual setting is a better option. In a casual setting, i.e. a restaurant, bar or on the golf course, it allows for a more comfortable setting and not as stress on being politically correct in how you hold your silverware. The conversation is more relaxed and it's easier to get to know someone's true character. There is not a constant buzzing of other people's conversations in the background so you can focus on your specific conversation. Handling of sensitive information is easier as well, especially in a secluded place like the golf course, where verbal interactions can contain information that not everyone needs to know.

Being able to act professional is important to any young college student looking for a job and for people who have been at their job for thirty years. Although it is a great skill to have, the most important settings to have business meetings and conduct deals are outside of the professional settings.

Hurricane Harvey and the Unification of America

It's sad that it takes a natural disaster of this magnitude to bring the American people together, but it seems to be happening. This week, the category four Hurricane Harvey has destroyed many cities and countrysides in the state of Texas. The aftermath of the hurricane has seen families torn from their homes and many buildings, churches, highways and almost anything in its path destroyed. Thankfully, many powerful opinion leaders and charitable organizations and businesses have donated millions of dollars and significant hours of volunteering to help.

With the current state of the US, on the heels of a nuclear war with North Korea, in turmoil with racial and homophobic issues, and the President of the United States being one of the most hated people of all time, it is great to see a country come together for a greater cause. People of all colors and of all backgrounds are sacrificing their own lives to go into the floods in Houston and the surrounding areas to look for victims, animals and anyone still in need of help. Celebrities have also started campaigns to raise money for the hurricane relief. Probably the most successful of those campaigns has been J.J. Watt, player for Houston Texans who raised $6 million at this moment and has a goal of $10 million. He has used social media and his powerful videos of pleading to his fan base and anyone who will listen to help the survivors. Rival teams in the NFL, MLB and NBA have also been donating to the cause.

It is awful what has happened to the state of Texas and it does not seem to be getting better. Although, this disaster has ruined the lives of many, it has made some realize that our petty differences are not of relevance. What is relevant is realizing we are the same species and are in the life together. We all have our own struggle, pain, ambitions, dreams and lives. Coming together as one is more important than fighting our own people. Hopefully this storm can help people realize that life is short and we are in this together.