Just so you know, Principessa sent out her cover letter along with her portfolio and resume (which I also helped write) this morning and within a few hours, she received a phone call and they scheduled a phone interview for later in the day.
She said it went great... go me!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Proofreading
So, my friend Principessa just left my apartment. She had me proofread a cover letter she wrote for a job she will be applying for tomorrow.
For some reason I've become the expert amongst my friends in proofreading... specifically with cover letters. A few weeks ago when everybody in Newhouse was stressing about applying for the Central New York Communications Consortium, I received a few different phone calls from friends for advice on the dreaded monster of selling yourself, the "cover letter". I mailed my cover letter out to my friends, I came up with suggestions for theirs, and I proofread a few. And I have to admit-- I enjoyed it.
The simple task of reading through the sentences, listening to make sure they flow and transition while sounding clear, yet eloquent is like a puzzle for my mind. I see it as some look at a Sodoku puzzle, word search, or crossword puzzle. Something about hunting down the grammar mistakes and searching my mind for the perfect descriptive words and phrases is a challenge for me. Proofreading is one of the random few things that give me a great feeling of satisfaction to complete (doing laundry is another, fyi). It is so rewarding and soothing to finish with a complete document that rolls off the page and conveys a complete and convincing message.
All of this applies for proofreading the work of OTHERS. When it comes to proofreading my own papers-- that is another story. It is annoying, tedious, and the most despized part of any paper writing process for me. I have to admit that a lot of times I skip that step, which can lead to a lot of embarassing and frustrating errors.
My disdain for re-reading my own written work has been cultivated throughout my life. I am a long time journal keeper and for as long as I can remember, I have had a "no reading after the words are written" policy. I've always kept journals as a way to release emotion and my innermost thoughts, worries, struggles, beliefs, and experiences. I journal for myself and only myself and those words are for my own emotional release. I believe that by reading those words after I have written them will leave them subject to judgment (even though it would only be my own... I can be my own harshest critic). My reluctance to proofread my own writing stems from this practice.
This is still a habit that I am trying to break in my professional, academic, and personal writing. I've been really tempted lately to read what I've written in my journal from last year while I was abroad. I'm tempted but I'm scared. I'm not sure why... but I'm scared.
Just so you know, I'm not proofreading this right now.
For some reason I've become the expert amongst my friends in proofreading... specifically with cover letters. A few weeks ago when everybody in Newhouse was stressing about applying for the Central New York Communications Consortium, I received a few different phone calls from friends for advice on the dreaded monster of selling yourself, the "cover letter". I mailed my cover letter out to my friends, I came up with suggestions for theirs, and I proofread a few. And I have to admit-- I enjoyed it.
The simple task of reading through the sentences, listening to make sure they flow and transition while sounding clear, yet eloquent is like a puzzle for my mind. I see it as some look at a Sodoku puzzle, word search, or crossword puzzle. Something about hunting down the grammar mistakes and searching my mind for the perfect descriptive words and phrases is a challenge for me. Proofreading is one of the random few things that give me a great feeling of satisfaction to complete (doing laundry is another, fyi). It is so rewarding and soothing to finish with a complete document that rolls off the page and conveys a complete and convincing message.
All of this applies for proofreading the work of OTHERS. When it comes to proofreading my own papers-- that is another story. It is annoying, tedious, and the most despized part of any paper writing process for me. I have to admit that a lot of times I skip that step, which can lead to a lot of embarassing and frustrating errors.
My disdain for re-reading my own written work has been cultivated throughout my life. I am a long time journal keeper and for as long as I can remember, I have had a "no reading after the words are written" policy. I've always kept journals as a way to release emotion and my innermost thoughts, worries, struggles, beliefs, and experiences. I journal for myself and only myself and those words are for my own emotional release. I believe that by reading those words after I have written them will leave them subject to judgment (even though it would only be my own... I can be my own harshest critic). My reluctance to proofread my own writing stems from this practice.
This is still a habit that I am trying to break in my professional, academic, and personal writing. I've been really tempted lately to read what I've written in my journal from last year while I was abroad. I'm tempted but I'm scared. I'm not sure why... but I'm scared.
Just so you know, I'm not proofreading this right now.
Friday, March 28, 2008
What people have to say...
I've always been interested in what people have to say. I like original thoughts. I like learning from those thoughts. I've always wanted to be one of those people that can say profound things without even trying. I'd actually settle for less than profound... I'd love to say something that was considered inspirational, thought-provoking, beautiful, and unique. I come across so much that fit this descripition in the most random places in my own life. Ever since around sophomore year of high school I've been recording all those little things in what I call my "quote books".
I write down quotes everywhere that I hear them. Movies, music, books, and people I meet all are resources for some of entries in my book. During high school, choosing a quote for my senior yearbook was a tedious process. And since then, my collection has doubled. However, if I had to choose right now, one of my favorite quotes that I try to live by is by Desiderata.
"With all of its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."
A. It basically sums up the way I feel about life. I hate it sometimes. I hate how evil people can be. I hate how others, including myself, let that evil happen. I hate how there are things that you can't change and things you can't prevent. I hate how we all have expiration dates-- and that you can't change or prevent that. But, still, a day doesn't go by that I am absolutely blown away by the beauty and the pleasure that is in this world-- so much so that it makes the sham, drudgery, and broken dreams bearable.
B. I particularly love this quote because of where I found it. It is the only quote in my books that I allow where I found it to influence how I view it. My friends actually make fun of me because I am shameless in where I find things. Disney channel movies? Birthday cards? Professors? All fair game. And I love them all equally for it. But this one I found when I was looking through my mom's high school year book. It was her senior quote. Knowing how tediously I selected my own quote and how well Desiderata's words speak to me... it means so much to me that somehow, all those years ago, his words meant something to my mom. (As the ridiculous admiration that borders on obsession I have for my Mama Dearest becomes clearer, this will make more sense).
C. Strive to be happy, but don't be wreckless. Life can be a bitch, but don't give up on it. What better words are there to live by?
I write down quotes everywhere that I hear them. Movies, music, books, and people I meet all are resources for some of entries in my book. During high school, choosing a quote for my senior yearbook was a tedious process. And since then, my collection has doubled. However, if I had to choose right now, one of my favorite quotes that I try to live by is by Desiderata.
"With all of its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."
A. It basically sums up the way I feel about life. I hate it sometimes. I hate how evil people can be. I hate how others, including myself, let that evil happen. I hate how there are things that you can't change and things you can't prevent. I hate how we all have expiration dates-- and that you can't change or prevent that. But, still, a day doesn't go by that I am absolutely blown away by the beauty and the pleasure that is in this world-- so much so that it makes the sham, drudgery, and broken dreams bearable.
B. I particularly love this quote because of where I found it. It is the only quote in my books that I allow where I found it to influence how I view it. My friends actually make fun of me because I am shameless in where I find things. Disney channel movies? Birthday cards? Professors? All fair game. And I love them all equally for it. But this one I found when I was looking through my mom's high school year book. It was her senior quote. Knowing how tediously I selected my own quote and how well Desiderata's words speak to me... it means so much to me that somehow, all those years ago, his words meant something to my mom. (As the ridiculous admiration that borders on obsession I have for my Mama Dearest becomes clearer, this will make more sense).
C. Strive to be happy, but don't be wreckless. Life can be a bitch, but don't give up on it. What better words are there to live by?
Jumping Right In
Why am I here? I don't mean that in a philosophical "what is my life's purpose?" type of thing. I really am just wondering why am I here in my apartment, on a Friday night, watching Law and Order: SVU and starting a blog? My friends are all at the bar and I can't even muster the energy to take a shower!
I decided to start a blog because I want to be more in touch with what everybody is calling "new media". By everybody, I mean those I come across that are interested in the future of public relations and most media-focused jobs. I am a college senior, not interested in grad school at the moment, and desperate to be as prepared as possible for the world that I am about to become a part of. I don't really think that my blog will have a huge impact on the world and I don't really think that many people will want to read what I have to say. These first few entries will probably be a waterfall of thoughts because I've had this blog in my mind for quite a while.
So let's jump right in...
I decided to start a blog because I want to be more in touch with what everybody is calling "new media". By everybody, I mean those I come across that are interested in the future of public relations and most media-focused jobs. I am a college senior, not interested in grad school at the moment, and desperate to be as prepared as possible for the world that I am about to become a part of. I don't really think that my blog will have a huge impact on the world and I don't really think that many people will want to read what I have to say. These first few entries will probably be a waterfall of thoughts because I've had this blog in my mind for quite a while.
So let's jump right in...
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