Interesting Weekend

The weekend has come and gone and its time to get back in business. Saturday my school had a show called "Beauty Within". We decided to run a hair show for family and friends to raise money for Domestic Violence Abuse. The show went really well and the students really had fun with it. My Sunday on the other hand was not so good. First thing in the morning I realized my long time fish named Jimmy died. He was happy swimming in the morning and then by the time 10am came around he wasn't really swimming anymore. I cried, I pouted but in the end everything was ok. I knew he was in a better place.

Later on that day I decided to go to the pet store and see if I like any other beta fish to replace my Jimmy. The fish tank looked very sad and empty without him so I needed to replace him quick. Once I was at the store I walked around and came across one of those large talking parrots that hang out on a stand and talk to you. For some reason this parrot was looking at me strongly and swaying back and forth. At first I didn't know what that bird was doing so I just went to turn around and walk away to keep looking for a pretty fish. As soon as I turned around the bird jumped off the stand and started flying towards me! it clawed its feet in my hair and attached itself to me! Now this bird was about one foot long and quite heavy! I ran around the store screaming because I had this huge bird stuck in my hair!

When the clerk came out he took the bird out of my hair and said the bird has been doing it all week. I thought to myself that maybe they should tie this bird down since they know the issue that's going on with this bird! Apparently the bird got attracted to my neon green ski jacket and my long hair that was down. He must have thought I was a friend or something! So not only did I loose my fish but then I got attacked by a bird too!

So I thought that was the end of my bad luck but little did I know. Later on I decided to go get a small bar table so I can put my wine on it and my wine glasses. I went to the store, got one and it took me about an hour and a half to put it together. This little bar table was really a pain in the but to put together. When I was finally done I wanted to go it a test run and come to find out that the bar does not hold standard wine glasses, it has a be a specifically fitted glasses! I was so frustrated at that point I just took the whole thing apart again and returned it.

Lucky for me Monday was a lot better. On a better note, whenever the weather gets cooler and the leaves start turning colors I get in the holiday spirit. Before we know it all those holidays will be around the corner and we will all be in a celebration mood. I think that my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I think its my favorite because I never got to celebrate it in Europe and now its like an additional holiday I get to celebrate. I love getting the family all together and talk about things we haven't had a time to catch up on all year. its great having those people around you that get together with you at least once a year to show you that they care.

Log In

Yet another week has passed by and today is finally hump day. For the longest time I didn’t know what people meant by hump day but I finally asked someone and got my answer. Wednesday is called hump day because it’s in the middle of the week. It’s that day where we are finally half way through the week and we are getting over the hump of the week being almost over. The answer was so simple this whole time and I can’t believe I didn’t get it.

For some reason I sometimes have issues logging into my Berkeley account after I have not logged into it for a while. The other day I was trying to log in and it was not allowing me to. I knew that Berkeley has created new passwords for students where the password is more complex and not so easy to crack, but my new password was still not working. The good thing about Berkeley is that they always have help available.

When I couldn’t log in I simply went to live chat help on the Berkeley website. They transferred me to the right department and I got to talk to a woman that was very helpful. She reset my password and within 5 minutes I was able to log into my account without any problems. I was able to do all that without even picking up a phone. Just a few clicks and my problem was solved. Many times I hate talking on the phone, staying on hold, and having to explain my situation 5 times to 5 different people. This service was great and very helpful.

There are many events going on at Berkeley all the time but one caught my eye that I am very interested in. Berkeley is presenting a play called B Free Franklin that is acted out by students of Berkeley College. This play is playing on many dates and everyone should come out and see this play to support Berkeley students.

Media Everywhere

Ever notice the power of online media these days? Who would have thought that college, stores and almost anything can be ran online just a few decades ago? Today the possibilities are really endless. What is most important today that each company stays on top of its game and Berkeley is doing just that.

Ever notice all the websites that Berkeley is on? Here is just a few to give you an idea: MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, Flickr, and Blogger! I think it’s a great idea that Berkeley stays connected to its students not only on a student level but a personal level too. I have always said that college is not only bout the education but about the experience as well. Students like to stay connected and it’s important that the college stays connected with its students.

Today I was reviewing my college statements online and seeing what I paid for my tuition. As we all know Berkeley is a large investment just like any college and then it made me wonder where did all that money go to. I pondered and it didn’t take me long to realize all the benefits that I got at Berkeley versus a typical state college. First off you will never get the small classes you get at Berkeley at a typical state college. Professors are great and they always had time for you to meet one on one. In addition to great education you had great activities too. College is what you make of it and if I didn’t participate as much as I did my memories would not have been as fond as they have been.

I am very grateful for the education I received and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love to stay connected and see how much Berkeley is still changing today. I love getting e-mails that new career fairs are being planned out and that new events are going on for not only current students but alumni too. Stay connected online and check out all the benefits that Berkeley has to offer through many channels that Berkeley offers.

Wear Sunscreen

I was driving to work the other listening to a radio station and I heard a very interesting song. This song is called “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrmann and I was shocked how much meaning this song really had. Please view this video here or look it up on YouTube.




When I first heard this song it made me laugh a little. When they said stretch, I stretched, and I bet you did too. When they said floss I thought about how much I hate flossing but do it anyway. One thing I noticed about this song is that no matter what age you are this song will still have a meaning to you. When you are older you will realize how this song was really true. When you’re younger you will think about the advice its giving you and see how it can apply to you.

This song really motivated me on the day that I was driving to work. Whenever I drive anywhere now or have a bad day I try to listen to this song to put a smile on my face and I wanted to share it with you. In case you can’t view it here are the lyrics:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97. Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen
would be it. The
long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the
rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my
own meandering
experience... I will dispense this advice now

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh,
nevermind, you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until
they've faded. But trust
me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself
and recall in a way
you can't grasp now, how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous
you really looked. You are NOT as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that
worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by
chewing bubblegum. The
real toubles in life are apt to be things that never
crossed your worried
mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle
Tuesday

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't
put up with people who
are reckless with your's.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're
ahead, sometimes you're
behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with
yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the
insults. If you suceed in doing
this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank
statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do
with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22
what they wanted to do
with their lives; some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still
don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're
gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll
have children, maybe you
won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40. Maybe you'll dance
the funky chicken on
your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do,
don't congratulate
yourself too much or berate yourself either - your
choices are half chance,
so are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can... don't be
afraid of it, or what
other people think of it... it's the greatest instrument
you'll ever own.

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in
your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines they will only make
you feel UGLY.

CHORUS
Brother and sister together we'll make it through.
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there.
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there for you.
And I'll be there just helping you out whenever I can.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they
might be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they're your best link to your
past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future

Understand that friends come and go, but for the
precious few you should
hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography
and lifestyle because the
older you get, the more you need the people you knew
when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes
you hard. Live in
Northern California once, but leave before it makes
you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths. Prices will rise,
Politicians will
philander, you too will get old. And when you do, you'll
fantasize that when
you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians
were noble, and children
respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe
you have a trust fund,
maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never
know when either one might
run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're
40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with
those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia; dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past
from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly
parts, and
recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

CHORUS

Everybody's free. Everybody's free.

Milestones

Hello everyone! Summer is gone and the weather is getting colder by the day. I was almost surprised how after Labor Day fall made an entrance right away and didn’t spare the summer any time. It’s officially been a year since I have graduated college and boy what a journey it has been. I was lucky to still be able to participate in a lot of Berkeley activities which made me feel like I was still in college but now that I’ve moved away it’s a lot different.

Many times people feel that once you hit 21 all your birthday milestones are over. First you become a teenager, then you have your sweet 16, then you become legal and turn 18 and lastly yours 21 and now you can drink and get into every bar and club (Except boys, sometimes they require you to be 23! He he). From my experience yes, your age milestones are over but you are far from finishing reaching certain milestones.

Now I totally see why people should go to college right after HS rather than work and then go. Once you start earning that money and you get the taste of that money it’s hard to set it aside. Once you earn money you have the tendency to spend it. Maybe you will move out, maybe you will spend it on something that needs monthly payments and then you can’t stop working to go to college because those payments have to be made. Word of advice, if it’s possible, go to college right away!

My latest milestones have been getting my first full time job, getting your first out of college car and moving out on your own. Getting my first full time job was very liberating. I now support myself and I no longer rely on someone else to care for me. Getting your first car feels very achieving because you know you earned it. It’s your baby and you now care for it more than any other car you have had before because you know that you’re responsible for it. If you break it, you have to fix it!

Moving out on my own had definitely been the biggest step for me by far. It has its good sides and it has its bad sides. The good side is that it’s very freeing. You can do what you want, when you want, don’t have to tell anyone where you are going, when you will be back etc. You do things as you please and you have all the freedom you want. On the downside it can sometimes get lonely. I’m very family oriented and sometimes it’s hard for me not to have them around. Another downside is now you need to make rent payments and buy food! You never know how much living on your own costs until you do it so throw those estimates you may have made away!

Life has been really good to me though so I really can’t complain. I have great people around me that do help me get through certain things when life gets tough. It’s very important to keep people close to you and never burn bridges because this world is small and you never know who you may need.

New Job

In my graduation speech I said, “When one door closes, don’t get discouraged because life is just waiting for you to open a better one”. This statement is so correct that it encourages me every day. As you all know I have been job searching for quite some time, and I’ve come across many different obstacles. Many times you feel really discouraged and sometimes even depressed that you may not be able to find anything. All I have to say is that being patient really is a virtue and if you work hard enough your work will pay off.

Beginning of July I started my new job as a Student Service Coordinator at Concorde School Of Hair Design. Concorde is a school for students who are looking to become a cosmetologist and want to get their license. My job is to be the student coordinator and take care of various duties for the students. Majority of my time is spent counseling students about their grades, attendance, and student problems. A big part of my job is also creating school activities, fundraisers, and anything that may make the school more fun and enjoyable for students.

The best part of the job is that I get to have fun on the job! I feel like I am right back in college creating events and running activities for students. Being the SGA president was just that and lucky for me I can bring a lot of that experience into Concorde. Prior to me the school did not have a Student Service Coordinator so it’s great to be able to start from scratch and create everything new that surprises the students.

Now, all fun and games aside, I have to stress to you how important it is to network and always put your best foot forward. The Executive Director of the school knows me from Berkeley College because she used to work there. All my work with the school, volunteering, representing the school and even blogging gave her a good picture of how I am as a person but also as a worker. Every time you do something remember that someone is watching. It may not be a pay off right away, but everything will come back to you in time.

Now as I mentioned my quote earlier, remember everything has its place and time in your life. If a certain door does not open it simply means that it is not meant to be. I have interviewed for many jobs that I would have learned to like but I knew from the start it was not my ideal job. Then came around an opportunity where I knew the job would be something that fits into my life well and something that I would really enjoy.

Back In Business

Hello everyone once again! It has been a while since I have written a blog but I have a good excuse! There have been a lot of changes going on in my life and catching up to them has been quite a challenge even for me. For starters, as I mentioned I got 2 baby puppies who have been growing quite fast. They sure are a handful but they bring many joys to my life. I have moved to Matawan, NJ where I live very close to the beach and enjoy it very much. My last change is that I have found a new job. In addition to that I will be having a lot of visitors starting next week so it was important to get the new apartment put together fast so family and friends can have a nice place to stay.

I'm going to start off where I left off last and try to bring you back up to speed. Last time I wrote Berkeley was still struggling to keep its TAG grant because congress tried taking financial aid away from proprietary schools. One morning I got a random call from Dean Hughes asking me if I was busy and if not if I would be available that day. Lucky for me, I was available because I was still in the midst of a job search and I had the afternoon available.

That day, which was a Wednesday was the last day that we had a chance to meet with the governor of NJ and tell him how we feel about him taking away financial aid from Berkeley. It so happened that this day was New Jersey's birthday! There was an event going on in Trenton where Governor Corzine would be at. Wwould try to speak to him then because this would be the last day before a decision on the budget would be passed. I got to Berkeley around 10:30 am and we left to drive all the way to Trenton. We got there about 3 hours early but we definitely got a good seat. By the time the event started there were about 300 people there.

When the event ended I was on a mission to find the governor and try to speak to him. I knew that he was going to cut the cake that was in the shape of NJ, so I went by the cake to wait for him. At first I thought I probably looked a little ridicules but then I thought of how many students I am doing this for. He cut the cake and started to walk away. I got in line of where he was greeting people and I finally got to speak to him when he came towards me.

I expressed to him how important TAG is to students and what a difference this fund makes to the students. After he found out what I wanted to talk to him about he tried to ignore me. I caught up to him again and told him that its not fair that he is singling out Berkeley College and that he should do something about that. He said that he will "try" even thought I knew he was just saying that to get me away from him.

I was not happy with how Governor Corzine treated me and Berkeley Students. I don't know where he gets the idea that our students are not good students and don't deserve this financial aid grant. Later on in the week I found out that he did pass the budget but without Berkeley in it. I was disappointed because I know many students will have to drop out. Some people are so closed minded and it worries me that people of that kind of power like Governor Corzine is one of them...