When I'm feeling emotional

I turn to art.

I didn't know then the truth in this song.

There is a specific model of airplane that when it flies above it resonates a beautiful hum over the area. This hum is not like any hum an aircraft has made before or since this specific model. This airplane sings to me; sings to me songs of days past. With one beautiful note I am transported through time and space back to my grandmothers living room floor, where I sit, playing in the warm sunbeams hearing my song somewhere in the distance. I am at my childhood home, playing in the streets with the other neighborhood kids while my song is being played from above. I am in a place where there is no bad or responsibilities. Where the days and the nights belong to me. Life is simple. Life is sweet. 

And with the passing of the engines hum, I slowly come to, sigh, and wait for the next moment I will hear my song again so I that I may revisit peace. 

While I'm feeling inspired...

I better bust out this entry.

As 2013 is about to end everyone is making their resolutions and hoping for a better year to come. Reading statuses like that only frustrate me because you can’t let life pass you by as you HOPE for something to change. YOU have to MAKE that change. If you want a better year, make it a better year.

Instead of making a list of things you want to change (which for most people it ends up being a list reminding them of their failures) why not just actively, every day, work on a better you? I know it is easier said than done but the results are priceless. A happier, more enriched life is worth the work. I know from experience because for years now I have been working very hard at being a better me and making a wonderful life for myself. It’s paying off. So, on that note, I want to take a moment to count my blessings from 2013.

On new years eve 2012 I set out an empty mason jar that I would use to place notes in throughout 2013. I did just that! Now, in no particular order, I am going to pull each note from the jar and remember why 2013 was a good year. :)

4/21/2013: I was accepted to Emerson College (WOO HOO!)

1/18/2013: Somebody radtastic gave me their number and a friendship was born ;)

12/17/2013: Completed my first semester at Emerson

5/09/2013: Was awarded the Next Step Scholarship from Emerson College

No Date: I am thankful for Tom Hiddleston -ALWAYS-

8/13/2013: Hired on the spot @ BHCC Online (insert awesome hourly wage here)

1/11/2013: Was chosen to study abroad in Costa Rica

7/2013: Appeared in the BHCC magazine TWICE! :) 

11/10/2013: Saw and met Andy McKee

6/10/2013: Hired in LifeMap Center for part time— two days later signed new full time contract 

12/29/2013: Went to my 2nd Patriots game! Danced in the rain and enjoyed the season closer 

9/23/2013: Ryan is still coming home to me—his puff

12/12/2013: Offered post production internship at Small Army

10/13/2013: Went to my 1st Patriots game!! We won against the Saints!

9/13/2013: Met Aaron Goodwin, Amy Trimble, Christian Gabriel, Adam Michaels, Zak Bagans, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley! (and other cool people at Scarefest)

12/28/2013: Had a wonderful Christmas get together with my dad

5/18/2013-5/29/2013: Had an amazing time in Costa Rica— and made it home safely :)

1/28/2013: My baby made it home safe from NAMM!

This could be you, a loved one, or your victim. Whether you are texting and driving, drinking and driving, or just plain being an impatient, selfish, reckless asshole— consider life. Nothing is more important than life. Think about the lives that will be taken, destroyed, and never the same. Save a life and put down your phone. Save a life and take a cab if you’ve been drinking. Save a life and drive responsibly. Save a life and educate people on the consequences, fatalities, and prevention of such disasters. 

I also feel the need to state that just because something is filmed doesn’t make it any less real. I have observed others disregarding the message behind such pieces because they feel a disconnect from the stories being shared to their reality. The meaning behind documentaries is to highlight what IS reality. Maybe not your reality but it is somebody’s reality. 

Documentaries like this one are made to show that this DOES happen, HAS happened, and WILL happen without our conscious participation in preventing it. Documentaries not only help educate by bringing information to light but they are created with the hope that it will provide the viewer with the opportunity to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, change their perception, and possibly make an active change in how they live their lives—for the better. For the better of both themselves and society.

Success takes more than a degree

It really upsets me watching people who have college degrees work shitty jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with what they studied. It also really upsets me when some of those people claim "college is a waste" and "my degree did nothing for me."  Yes and no... Either the college you attended did nothing for you, you did nothing for you, or both. I wouldn't place full blame on the degree you received but the institution from which you studied. How many colleges teach career planning along with the subjects offered as part of the curriculum? Too many college graduates are under prepared for the real world because all they practiced in those 4 years was how to regurgitate information. You will need a lot more than memorized theories if you want to have a career. The other half of the blame goes to the student who didn't take the initiative to research, plan (or try to plan) and execute the steps needed in order to work in the field in which they desired. Also, shame on them for allowing themselves to waste their degree, money, and time spent in college.

If there is one thing I am really proud of it is how Bunker Hill Community College wants to prepare students to be successful in every aspect of their lives. That is why the new LifeMap center was developed in the first place. Same with the Learn & Earn Program where students who study Biotechnology, Business Administration, Computer Technology, Engineering and Visual Media Arts gain paid work experience at some of the largest businesses in Massachusetts. Internships play a large role in gaining real life experience, work related experience, as well as a way to narrow down your career objectives. At Bunker Hill we have a long list of departments and services that are all committed to helping students discover their career and educational objectives and give them the tools necessary to achieve their goals.

It takes research, planning, hard work, and commitment to be successful. It also takes more than just attending class and submitting homework. Potential employers look for individuals who get involved on and off campus. Of course getting involved helps you to stand apart from your competition but it also teaches you how to appropriately interact with others. You learn invaluable interpersonal skills that will allow you to be more successful in both your professional and personal life. It may seem like common sense that interpersonal skills are a must but you would be surprised how many people lack the ability to communicate effectively or are unaware of their non-verbal cues. Having worked for over two years at a 2 year institution I have interacted with a wide variety of people. It saddens me to say  that the level of disrespect, psychological projection, blame, and straight up insulting interactions I have witnessed and suffered through myself shows there is a problem. I understand in certain cases it can be the individual who might suffer from say a mental illness or as humans sometimes we can have a bad day and treat others poorly because of it. But I am getting off topic... More than history, science, and math needs to be taught in our school systems.

When making the decision to pursue an education it is so important to ask yourself the right questions.

Questions to ask yourself:

Identify your educational, career, life goals:
Do I have any hobbies? If yes, what are they? How could they be incorporated into a career?

What makes me happy? How can that be incorporated into a career?

What do I hope to achieve in one semester? (4.0 GPA, join a club, etc.) 

What do I hope to achieve by continuing my education? 

Where do I see myself in the future? Overall, what is my "big picture"? What steps can I take to get there?

Educational Plan/Course Selection:
What is my program of study?

What requirements must I fulfill in order to complete my program?

Do I meet all pre-requisites? If not- which development courses do I need to take? How will they fit into my academic timeline? Or, which introductory course do I need to take first before taking a core course?

Which courses, if any, are taught only once a year (just fall semester/just spring semester)? How does this affect my academic timeline?

Begin exploring transfer options:
What is my career objective? What major will guide me to my prospective career?

Which schools offer my major?

Once a list of schools is compiled-- what are their general education requirements? Do my courses fulfill their Gen Ed requirements? Compare course descriptions.

Do any of my core courses match the core courses offered at the schools on my list?

If I am unsure what classes/credits might transfer, contact the admissions office at prospective schools. Set up a time to meet, discuss everything via email, and/or take a campus tour--learn more about the schools. 

What does each school offer me outside of the classroom? Internships? Professional network? Connections to the industry I want to work in? State of the art facilities? Community? Sports? Clubs?

Develop Financial Plan for continued education and life after graduation:
How much does it cost to attend? 

In state or out of state tuition?

How much aid have I used so far? Grants? Subsidized Government Loans? Unsubsidized Government Loans? Mass no interest loan? Scholarships? 

How was each financial aid section distributed? 

What do I currently owe? 

What is the interest rate on my loans? In x amount of time it takes me to complete my degree-- how much will I owe + interest?

Depending on the repayment plan-- what will my monthly payments be?

How much money am I currently making? What are my expenses? Will I have enough at this wage minus expenses to afford my student loan payments? 

How much is tuition and fees for my prospective schools of transfer? 

Will government aid be enough? Or will I have to consider private loans?

There is so much planning that should occur when deciding to go to college. First it is important that you truly want to go to school and are willing to put in the time and commitment to complete your degree. It won't look good to employers if you cannot finish something you started.

If you do not know what you want to study at first that is ok. Not everyone knows what they want to do with their lives but what they do know is that they want to get an education. If you do not know what to study maybe apply for the general education program, take several different elective courses and pursue your options during your first year. Once you become a second year student you should have a better idea of the direction you would like to bring your life. If not, seek the help of an advisor, career counselor, volunteer at organizations or companies, intern, go to www.myplan.com and browse the different careers and majors... just stay active in discovering yourself and set short-term, mid-term, and long term goals.

Actually, the most important things you can do while in college is volunteer at organizations/companies, intern, join clubs on campus, and stay active within the community. Not only are you learning interpersonal skills, but being involved is how you are going to build your network. Networking is very crucial when applying to jobs. You never know how someone can and will play a certain role in your life and in helping you secure a position or by passing along information of opportunities. Ask the successful people that you know how they got to where they are. I bet most of them knew someone who assisted them in landing the position/s needed to be successful.

On that note, be nice to everyone! You never know when you might run into them again and if they might be your boss someday. What goes around certainly comes around.

And finally, it isn't just about who you know. You may know someone who could get you that job you've been eying... but will they? Are you someone with integrity and reliability? Use your time at college to build who you are and become that person no company could turn away. 

I stand corrected...

Maybe my initial reaction was a bit harsh. I contribute my growing pains to the fact that since 2006, with the exception of my holiday temp job at The Gap, I have been lucky in terms of work...and spoiled. As a Stagehand and Orientation Mentor I was able to make my own schedule with varying hours from week to week. I enjoyed collaboration as my coworkers and I teamed together to put on a show. I had the opportunity of working with new people every shift as well as work with those I have built strong relationships with. I was always active, lively, and physically involved with my work as it kept me on my feet. I didn't have to worry about a dress code or having to look sharp every single day. I had both freedom and responsibilities. My work was unconventional by North American standards (yanno, the whole "nine-to-five" as they say) but if it wasn't for that type of environment I don't think I could have held a job.

Though I still can't wrap my head around the concept of working most of my time away while life passes me by... at least that is how I see it. We spend so much time labouring and so little time enjoying the fruits of our labour. And though I still do not wish this to be my future or how I spend the rest of my life... I am enjoying going to work every day!

I have happily arisen from bed each morning to get ready for the day ahead of me. I show up with a smile and leave with a smile. I enjoy the company of who I work with and I am enjoying the variety of projects that I have taken on from day to day. I have also started helping students again which of course fulfills a certain part of me.

I "suffered" briefly through the transition from my ideal work environment to a less favourable one. However, it really isn't that bad. The more I reflect the more I realize the similarities my current work environment shares with my previous. I work with a wonderfully diverse staff and student body. I absolutely cherish my interactions with them as it enriches my perception of the world. The projects I am involved in actually hold importance and allow me to be a part of something bigger. I may be a bit restricted when it comes to the hours I choose to work but I do still get to choose my hours. Although I may not be as physically active as I would like I am not tied to desk all day either.

Overall I am satisfied with my job and because of this it becomes easier to be there every day 7 hours a day.





I still don't want a desk job as a career. :)

I am employed full time. Woah is me.

There is no way to express my thoughts on the matter without sounding ungrateful. I am by no means ungrateful. I am so unbelievably appreciative for the stability in my life and every opportunity that I am able to seize. Including working a full time job that consists of me spending hours on end behind a desk and computer while taking me away from the human interaction, among other things, that I once enjoyed. Welcome to the dreaded monotony of adulthood.

It is no wonder so many people get depressed by their jobs. I have only been at my new job for a week and I am having deep, meaning of life contemplations. It boggles my mind that the majority of people, at least in north American society, willfully slave away most of their time.. and for so many people, they slave away at jobs that don't make them happy, don't pay them enough to live, and don't contribute to their growth within the company or as a person. The more I think about it the more it seems like a pandemic. But I digress.

On my way to work the other day I was walking through the parking lot thinking to myself "Here I go again... time to get use to being an adult and serving my time Monday through Friday, nine to five... Time to face reality. Time to get use to this mind numbing, daily-grind-bullshit. It is my future after all."

Then it hit me. No it isn't and no I don't. No I don't have to conform to society and its standards of living. Isn't that the reason I decided to continue my education to begin with? So I don't have to work retail, food services, or be caged in an office building? So I don't have to give up who I am and what makes me happy just so I can live another day of being unhappy and not doing what I love? I decided to pursue an education so I could study what makes me happy, gain experience within that medium, network with others involved in my field of interest, and then become employed doing a non traditional job. A job that allows creativity; offers variety, such as interacting with many different people, performing various tasks, or working in different locations; an environment where close supervision is not necessary and I am free to make decisions on my own; and most importantly a job that benefits the community and enriches society.

Granted, I still have a ways to go before I reach that point. I am only working a "summer job" before I transfer to Emerson. That isn't to say that my current position isn't important. Instead of working with students directly I am now responsible for playing a role in the development of the new department created specifically for student success.  It was over a year ago that I sat in meetings with the Dean and other student leaders discussing what needs to be included in the new philosophy and department. Now, here I am fortunate enough to be employed by that department helping continue with the growth of the foundation. I am also thankful that during a time where securing a job is scarce and many people are out of work-- I have a place that is creating work for me. I am expanding upon the experience I already have and becoming a more valuable person because of it.

Someday I will do what makes me happy and get paid for it.