Complete serenity

April 29, 2012

serenity pink black trees picture and wallpaperFor the first time in a long time, I woke up with a clear head. I thought, “What will I do today?” “Should I write a blog, go to the gym, read The Help, cook a nice dinner for Scott?” My list could go on and on. Why? I’ve finally completed my last final of graduate school. After three years, I’m a MASTER!

Though my last ‘real’ class was last Thursday, I still had a final to complete. A big pain in the you know what final (one question took me three hours, no joke). I had about two questions left yesterday and spent a good majority of the day finishing, proofing and printing that bad boy. Next Thursday is my real last day of school—but the class is meeting at my favorite restaurant in Indy to turn those suckers in, Santorini’s Greek Kitchen, AKA Athens in Indy (HEAVEN).

Waking up this morning, for the first time in three years not having to worry about school, put me in a state of tranquility. No more balancing act between work and school. No more saying no to plans because I need to finish a paper. No more library or Starbucks days to hammer out a case study. I have my life back to do as I please!!!

Don’t get me wrong, if I had to do it all over again, I’d still get my MA. I’m a better writer, researcher and PR professional because of it. My education is something no one will ever be able to take away from me. And man, am I glad I finished before having a husband or kids. Major props to my classmates who juggled work, school, parenting and families—I salute you because that is NOT easy.

Now that I have all this ‘free time,’ I told my friends and family that I’ll have to find some kind of hobby or something to keep me busy. Well, hopefully I’ll be able to share good news by the end of this week—but I have found the perfect thing to keep me busy throughout the summer and the fall…more to come on that later!!

Now, time to read a book for fun… :)

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Posted by Jackie

The A-Z guide to completing grad school while working full-time

April 5, 2012

Four.

That’s the number of classes I have left in graduate school. The end is so close and I’m coasting through these last couple of classes. As I approach the finish line, I’ve had time to look back and reminisce over the many nights and weekends I’ve dedicated to this MA degree. Here’s a little A-Z guide to completing graduate school while working a full-time job.

A-     Abort (What you should do if studying goes past midnight)

B-      Beaches (What’s nice to think about as you start your fifth communications paper)

C-      Clouded (How your mind feels after the professor reviews the syllabus)

D-     Daring (How you feel when you leave work at 5:45 p.m. and class starts at 6 p.m.)

E-      Exhausted (How you often feel at the end of the day)

F-      Friendly (The way you should act toward classmates even if you don’t feel that way)

G-     Genius (What you are!)

H-     Headache (What you often have after a crazy work and school day)

I-       Ice cream (Makes homework more enjoyable)

J-       Jack Daniels (Makes you forget about class altogether. I kid… I kid, but really)

K-      Kittens (Make you smile, every time)

L-      Love (What family and friends provide you to keep you going)

M-    Mad Men (The show to watch that reminds you how awesome your industry is)

N-     Nights (The time of day that you should take classes so you can keep working full-time)

O-     Overwhelmed (A feeling you will identify with often, but get used to)

P-      Pedicure (A great way to reward yourself after a big assignment is turned in)

Q-     Quarter (The change you will need to fill the meter when you don’t want to spend $200+ for a parking pass)

R-      Running (Relieves the stress)

S-      Strong (What you need to be)

T-      Time-management (The skill you HAVE to have to balance priorities)

U-     Unconscious (What happens to you when your head hits the pillow every night)

V-     Values (What to remind yourself to reaffirm why you’re getting the degree)

W-   Wheaties (Breakfast of champions, of course)

X-      Xanax (What you feel like taking, but don’t need to!)

Y-      Yes ‘you can’ (The phrase to tell yourself when you say, “I can’t do this…”)

Z-      Zestful (How you feel when you have four classes left!!)

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Posted by Jackie

Stay creative!

February 21, 2012

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Posted by Jackie

Take me to a beach

January 22, 2012

My last semester of graduate school has started. I’m already overwhelmed with the amount of work I have coming up. I know, I know–one of my goals this year was to stay positive and beat anxiety, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get a little stressed out at times.  Fifteen weeks. That’s all I have left. Sometimes, when I begin to feel really stressed out, I’ll look at a picture (like this one) and feel a whole lot better. I mean, who wouldn’t be calmed by this pic? I took it this past December in Ft. Myers. At least the next time I go to Ft. Myers, I’ll have my MA. Until then, I’ll picture myself on a hammock with this scene in mind.

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Posted by Jackie

2012 Resolutions

January 10, 2012

It wouldn’t be a New Year without resolutions, right? I’m not one to usually make (or keep) resolutions. Fortunately, there’s never been anything I wanted to change about my life. But since (I think) 2012 is my “year of change,” I decided to go against the grain. After much thought, I realized resolutions don’t have to just be about physical changes—like drinking less soda or working out more. Instead, I think my resolutions fall more in line with mental and emotional changes. So I decided to mix it up. This year I will:

  1. Balance my time between work, school and play (I need to do a much better job at this!)
  2. Stay positive (in relation to work and school anxiety.)
  3. Embrace change (even if that means cutting my hair, GASP!)
  4. Reconnect with my faith (always been a believer, just need to be more consistent.)
  5. Eat only ONE piece of bread where bread is offered (okay, this is my stupid/silly goal, but I love bread and butter, and well, now I’m limited to one piece when eating out.)

So there they are! I’m always true to my word so I look forward to meeting these goals and becoming a better me.

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Posted by Jackie

My growing reading list

November 2, 2011

I love to read. I just wish I had more time to read…for fun.

Once I complete grad school, one thing I am looking forward to most is pleasure reading.  I don’t have the time now and I feel guilty reading for fun when I should be reading a textbook or working on an assignment.

But the end is in sight and soon and I will be able to do as much reading as I want. So I started a reading list of all the titles I’ve heard great things about. The last book I finished was Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin. The following books are on my book list and I plan to read Heaven is for Real once I am done with my fall classes (my mom’s copy)!

Feel free to comment and share with me your favorites too! I will add them to my list. Thanks!

  1. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
  2. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
  3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  4. Second Chance by Jane Green
  5. Hunger Games 1, 2, 3 by Suzanne Collins
  6. Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
  7. The Pact by Jodi Picoult
  8. Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
  9. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  10. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  11. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

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Posted by Jackie

The value of continuing education in PR

September 15, 2011

The question was asked at last November’s Hoosier PRSA luncheon. “Would you recommend graduating college seniors dive right into a Master’s degree, or should we work in the field for a couple of years first?”

During the luncheon in November, known for the month of Half Day with a Pro, the aspiring Purdue student asked her question to the distinguished panel of APR professionals. They answered their wise, honest opinions that it is good to get a couple of years under your belt before going after an M.A. degree in PR, or some communication field. The question was then opened to the audience for feedback. I never spoke up.

For some people, working in the field for a couple of years prior to obtaining a graduate degree is completely logical. For me, I was determined to achieve that competitive edge early in my career. Following my Butler 2009 graduation, I immediately started my graduate work in IUPUI’s M.A. in PR program, concentrating on PR Health Care and Life Sciences; one of the three different areas of management. The flexible, part-time program was perfect for my schedule as I also was just starting an internship at Borshoff.

Though the program is specifically designed for working professionals with three to seven years of experience, I am proof that this claim is not necessarily true. In fact, working (now full-time) at Borshoff, while completing my graduate degree has been one of the smartest things I have ever done. I write better, think more strategically, research effectively, proof with a critical eye, and can lay out a campaign in perfect ROPE method with ease. In other words, I am ‘mastering’ the field (no pun intended) and applying what I learn at work, at school, and what I learn at school, at work. It’s the best of both worlds.

Looking back, I wish I would have spoken up at the November Hoosier PRSA luncheon. I would have explained to the girl and audience, that it depends on the person and the stage of life they are in because it is different for everyone. Now just happen to be the right time for me to complete my degree, and I am a better PR professional, with my coworkers and my clients, because of it.

For more information about IUPUI’s M.A. in PR program, click HERE or follow on Twitter at @IUMastersinPR.

See this post on the Hoosier PRSA website.

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Posted by Jackie

Recollections

December 26, 2010

2010 was a great year.  A big year! I like to think that 2010 was the year that I transitioned from a post-college grad to a young professional. Well, actually that is exactly what happened. This year marked my first year as a working professional. I’m official — I’m a real person. Not that I wasn’t real before, but now I get a nice chunk of change taken out of my paycheck. Therefore, I’m real. 

My first full working-year out of Butler isn’t the only reason why 2010 is distinctive. A lot of great memories were created this year that I will cherish forever. 

This year…

  • I moved into my cute “Pottery Barn” home with a friend who has become more like a sister
  • Marked my one-year as a graduate student at IUPUI
  • I traveled out-of-state for my first client event — this led to three more out-of-state trips
  • I visited Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, California, Colorado and Ohio
  • I celebrated two years with my amazing boyfriend (and counting!)
  • I was promoted at work
  • The Butler Men’s Basketball team made it to the Final Four in Indianapolis
  • Two of my best girlfriends got married
  • I was a bridesmaid for the first time
  • I was reminded how much I miss college when I visited my brother at Michigan
  • I was reminded how much I don’t miss college when I visited my brother at Michigan (disgusting frats for one, ha!)
  • One of my best friends delivered her handsome son Camden (and I was there!)
  • I had the best Fourth of July ever in Michigan with friends
  • I started my blog
  • I took a vacation, a real vacation, to Florida with my boyfriend
  • Reminded me that even at 23, I’m still, and always will be, “Daddy’s little girl”
  • Reminded me that the bonds of friendship are strong regardless of distance or how often you see one another
  • Reminded me that family is forever 

Was 2010 the best year ever? Maybe not, but it was one hell of a year because it challenged me to prioritize and balance; balance work, with school, with friends, with family, with love. I think 2011 and 2012 are going to be huge.  My boyfriend will graduate from pharmacy school and I will receive my Master’s degree. I still have a lot of questions with unknown answers. I’m only hoping that this next year will bring me a little closer to those discoveries.

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Posted by Jackie

Little Life Updates

December 19, 2010

It’s been more than two weeks since I last blogged. Pathetic, I know. There has been so much going on! First, I took a little R&R and went to Florida for a week; Punta Gorda, about 40 minutes from Ft. Myers, to be exact. I know—rough life. But, oh-was it SO worth it. I went with my boyfriend Scott and two of our friends (Nicole and Jason–on right in pic).  We had a great time, and though the weather could have been a little warmer, it wasn’t too bad laying out in 68 degree weather. Much better than what Indy has been getting!

Upon my return, I felt rejuvenated, relaxed and ready to take on work….and school again. Yes, school. I thought it was done too, but it turns out my group members and I had to revamp some of our paper and turn it back in. No worries, though. It had the same focus and we didn’t have to do too much reworking, but it did cause me to spend an additional six hours on it; six hours that could have been spent working out, watching Gossip Girl, or Christmas shopping. Luckily, it REALLY is all done now. I submitted the paper back to the professor last Thursday. Let’s cross our fingers on that one…

But then, my heat went out.  I really don’t know how pioneers, Indians, and our Founding Fathers did it. My house was 69 degrees one day, and dropped to 41 degrees by night. I know it doesn’t sound too bad, but when you are in it—it’s awful. With no heat, it is so hard to focus on anything besides thinking how cold you are. It turns out that the furnace in the home I am renting was 27-years-old. Yeah, that will do it. The gas valve was shot and it was trying so hard to catch (when the pilot light was lit) but it was no use. I survived two nights of no heat. Luckily, Scott brought over additional space heaters to keep me warm. A new furnace was installed on Thursday! I worked from home for the six-hour process and am thrilled to have heat again! Merry Christmas to my roomie Beth and me.  Thank you landlord.

So now, it is the week of Christmas and I get to go home and see my family! Three more full days of work and it’s another mini vacation! Something I am really looking forward to this holiday season is seeking WICKED! My family and I are going and I’ve never seen it. I have only heard spectacular things; I can’t wait!

With Christmas around the corner, then New Years, it is only a matter of time before 2011 is here. I plan to do a blog post about my 2011 PR-Resolutions (time for more PR blog posts!) With a new year comes a new class for school, new travels for work and new obstacles/projects to face. 2011 is going to be a great year, but for the time being, I’m going to soak up as much 2010 that’s left–and do it by watching Christmas movies, reading good books, and just…relaxing.

Happy Holidays!

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Posted by Jackie

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