So much of what we crave as humans, is to have our expectations met- in people, in situations, and in life. It's what connects us to billions of people around the world, because we share in common the hope for what we expect, positively, to come true. It's what makes us vulnerable, and ashamed, strong, and proud, even.

GO BIG OR GO HOME

The previous week has been difficult for me, but, I'm so glad I'm back at it again. Discussing elections with a few friends rekindled the old flame, and sort of refreshed my mind with all these thoughts from last year's elections. Student Government has something I've been extremely passionate about and realizing that I've only got 2 more weeks left before my term ends is motivating me to work harder than ever and to finish on the highest note possible. I want this term to end knowing that I did everything I possible could to ensure strong student advocacy and to successfully implement as many changes as possible. I feel SO MOTIVATED AND DRIVEN AND I'M SURE I CAN SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE FUTURE SGS TO FOLLOW. SO THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT, THEY GOT TO GIVE THIS THEIR ALL UNTIL THE VERY END!!

HAVE A GLORIOUS DAY FOLKS

"Cause baby I could build a castle
from all the bricks they threw at me;
and every day is just a battle,
but every night with us is like a dream"

HAPPINESS, SPONTANEITY, CRAZINESS

Being more spontaneous.
Trying out something new for the first time.
Doing something crazy.
Making myself happy

These are all on the list I have for myself. I don't do new-year's resolutions, I just try to make a list of the things that matter to me, and the things I want to change, and based on that I create a list that somewhat looks like the 4 sentences I typed above. I have a tendency to believe anything is possible, and absolutely everything is achievable- the byproduct of this results in me getting involved in one too many projects than I can handle at later times when I'm super-stressed. But, this list is simple, it's short, and it's completely doable on any scale really.

I'm super psyched because I'm following it, and I'm really happy that despite a crazy week ahead, I'm so incredibly happy right now. I can't help the awfully big grin that's not leaving my face, and I think my face will start aching now because of smiling so much. Not that I'm complaining, of course.

If right now I feel like there's no limit to happiness, then that's that and nobody can dull my sparkle right now!

Hope everyone who reads this (including me at a later time) feels super happy and has a fantastic day, week, and month ahead!!

Cheers folks!! 

Best Advice I've Gotten

So I read this post by Jeff Green on Facebook. It's an incredible read. All power to him, haha.

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As a manager who frequently hires college-aged people, may I kindly plead with those of you who are responsible for bearing them (there was initially a typo that said beating and I almost left it) to make sure they understand the following? For better or worse, I am writing this based off of actual experiences that I have had over the past couple of weeks.

1. In the real world, not everyone gets a trophy. If everyone gets a trophy, no one stands out. If you do not stand out, you are not memorable. Be weird, be quirky, be competitive, be something that is going to make me remember you for a good reason. Almost every college student I interview states "drive" as the thing that makes them stand out amongst their competition, but few can tell me where they are driving to. They are basically just wasting gas, and that is bad for the environment. For those who know the answer and can back it up with effort, you will instantly stand out to me.

2. It is not your gifts and talents that make you special, you will be defined by how you use them.

3. Almost every person I interview has a college degree. That alone does not give you a leg up, at least not here. Community service (though not of the court-mandated kind) will make you stick out and is one of my favorite things to see on a resume. So is military experience, foreign languages, musical proficiency, being an eagle scout or any other various activities that show me your ability to dedicate yourself to something for a sustained amount of time. This is especially true if your work experience to date is limited. It shows character, and that is not something that can always be determined by a college diploma. A degree is by no means a bad thing and there are companies out there who will require it, but as I mentioned before, your unique attributes may be the difference in whether or not you are remembered once you leave. (BIG Disclaimer - I am speaking from my perspective here, this doesn't mean every hiring manager feels this way. Don't go home and tell your parents you are quitting college because I said you should. I'm just saying your diploma may get you in the door, but how you represent yourself will likely play a big part in whether or not you get the job.)

4. Work ethic is everything. Feel free to come in with expectations regarding what is in it for you and, if you are inclined, turn down job offers until you find the exact culture you are looking for. When you find it, you had better work your tail off because there is probably a line of people waiting to take your place. A positive, fun work culture is not something you are entitled to for simply showing up, it is a return for the dedication you are showing. Also, it is rare. If you have it, don't fail to appreciate it. And if you don't find it, still work your tail off. That company is writing checks that provide for you and your family. If they aren't treating you well, don't stop working hard, just find something better. Don't ever put yourself in a position where you might leave a company based off of their decision instead of your own.

5. Find something within what you do to make you feel good about it. If you don't find value in something that you are spending the majority of your waking hours doing, chances are you are going to be a miserable person. If you are a miserable person, I don't need or want you on my team.

6. Speaking of team, if you are on one then you need to be a part of it or you need to leave. Being on a team means carrying extra weight when another team member is sick, hurting, struggling, or dying. It also means they will do the same for you. It definitely means pulling your own weight when there is no reason for you not to do so. If you aren't operating with this mentality, chances are you are a mediocre performer at best. At worst, someone is carrying your weight while you slow the whole team down. Again, if this is the case, then you will not exist in this dojo (nor will my "fear" in showing you the door.)

7. I don't care if you are going in to a job interview knowing that there is a relaxed dress code, you had better be dressed up for the interview or I will send you out the door before you get your name out. Weak handshake? I will work with it. Failure to make eye contact? We will find you some confidence. No resume? I'll help you draft one. But you have to get the job before any of that can happen, so you had better make as good of an impression as possible in the interview. Dress for the job you want...

8. Another point about interviews...someone is taking a lot of time out of their day to meet with you. Do them a favor (and yourself one for that matter) and make sure you learn as much as you can about the company before you arrive. Don't blindly send out resumes and then fail to prepare and take notes before you go and meet the person who may become your future boss. If they have a website, look at the dang thing. If they don't have a website, all the more reason why you need to go in with a list of questions to figure out what you are actually interviewing for. A little voice inside my head is going to try to convince me that I should make you feel about 3 inches tall if you waste my time. Don't.

9. I do not expect perfection. I demand it. Just kidding, but seriously, you need to strive for it. You also need to acknowledge that you are currently far from it. A big part of that means asking questions when you do not know the answer so that you can become an expert. If you are making assumptions, you are a liability to your team and your company. Diamonds are not ready to be mounted in a ring at the moment they are found, they must be cut and polished over time until they are at a point that flaws can only be seen under magnification. Make sure you ask questions so that your knowledge, and therefore value, is constantly being cut and polished by those who know more than you. I regret to inform you that on your first day, that will literally be everyone in the office. The faster you can change that, the faster you establish yourself as a key player.

10. Others should want to share in your success. If they don't, you need to ask yourself if that is because of their faults, or your own. No one is going to be waiting to cheer you on at the finish line if you tripped every other runner to get there. Unless you trip the guy that tripped everyone else, then I will high five you. That may sound like a joke, it isn't. Well, maybe a little. But seriously, if someone is stepping on others to advance themselves, call them out or you are simply an enabler and not much better than they are. This is not your middle school friend group, this is business.

(This one goes to) 11. For your expectations, I would advise you to find a supervisor who is legitimately interested in helping you grow and develop your professional skill set. If you are coming out of college with no relevant work experience, then there are very few job opportunities that are beneath you. That said, you should try to find the one that will help you develop a solid business acumen. Despite what you think, you do not know everything coming out of college and you will make mistakes. Find someone who will help you challenge yourself and make sure you take constructive criticism as a compliment. Most supervisors suck at giving it (apparently, so do a lot of parents), so if someone is taking the time to do so then that means they probably care about seeing you become the best employee and person you are capable of being. And I will say the same thing here that I said about culture. When you find this person, do not take advantage of them. They could end up being a lifelong mentor for you.

(I would apologize for the long post here, but I have seen so much stupid stuff on Facebook this week I'm just going to hope that I'm doing you a favor by blocking out a few dozen Trump/Clinton opinion posts. So with that in mind... You. Are. Welcome.) smile emoticon Have a good weekend!

A little gratitude goes a long way

We're all so ungrateful for everything that we've been blessed with. A little gratitude and positivity goes a long way. I wonder at times if I sound too ungrateful and the problem is I don't want to be. A conversation with my sister reminded me how important it is to be thankful for the little things, and the big things too. People have a habit of prolonging and exaggerating everything that they're not happy with, and I find this habit unnecessary for 2 very simple reasons. First, if you're really unhappy about something and want to see change, be proactive and do something about it. If it's your job, change it, if it's your major, go for the one you want, if it's your university, transfer out, if it's your friends, well broaden your circle and find the ones whose mindset matches yours, if it's your body, work out or gym, or start playing sports, and change how you are. Literally anything and everything can be improved and changed for the better, and if you don't want to invest the time or effort into changing it, then don't complain about it. Whining and complaining is something losers do, and by losers I mean individuals who lose out on the better side of everything just because they refuse to go the extra mile for it.

Disclaimer Notice

If you're here looking for some good writing, close the tab right now. This is a blog that started off as a writing solace and instead turned into a place to rant off about anything and everything. So, this is going to be an awful lot of just penning down my thoughts, and then deciphering the confusion in emotions, with a not-so-gloomy outlook, or an ambivalent ending, if not a total-downer one.
Peace out. You've been warned.

More RANTS

What does it matter, even if you're spiraling to success and have great things ahead of you? What does it matter, if the people who matter the most to you don't see the hard-work, commitment and dedication that you give to everything you commit yourself to? Be it homework, extracurricular roles, projects, friendships, or even relationships, almost everything requires work. Even if things are handed to you on a silver platter, you still need to pick the fork and knife and cut into the meat. Nobody does that for you.

Sometimes people close to you can say stuff that can be quite difficult to absorb. Why? Because you want to see the people you love wholly appreciate the work and effort you give in to whatever you're passionate about. You want them to be proud of you, for everything you've done and everything you continue to do. You want them to be as happy for you as you are for yourself. And, if they're your support systems, then you sometimes need them to, more than you want them to.

I hope that I can be super-supportive to the people who're close to me. Incredibly few things that are as precious as people following their true passion. I only hope that I don't change this mindset years from now and that I can continue to want to follow my dreams and turn them into reality.

When you get down to becoming pragmatic, lots of things stop mattering. It won't matter that you that you have a different career path in mind, if time is of essence, you'll sometimes go for options that aren't even remotely attractive or close to what you'd initially planned. Also, while I'm calmly ranting out, I'm going to change the title of my blog because these posts are more of rants than actual writing, and might as well make the reader aware while I'm at it. Here's the thing, people can be shit and it's shit when you care about what they think. It'd be SO much more easier if we could all just switch off our emotions at times and not care about just people, in general. I guess with all things human, you got to accept every part of it, and that means being okay with caring a bit too much for people too.

PEace out.

Woes of a 21 year old

I've got a crazy amount of assignments due this week, 2 mid-term exams, one which is tomorrow, and quite a good amount of places I need to apply and follow-up with. That aside, as I edge closer to stress-crying, I need to word this out. Mostly, because words help me sort my thoughts out and this is my word haven for the task.

Earlier this year, I visited my university's main campus, and that is when I had my first encounter with a deaf person. It was a reality shock for me, because as much as I would like to think of myself as a well-informed individual on important issues like gender discrimination, racial discrimination, religious bias, and the stereotypes that engulf our society, I cannot believe I had not thought about the Deaf community- the problems they face, the technology that still needs to be worked on to make resources more accessible to them, and most importantly, making people and our own communities more deaf-friendly. That was when I decided to start an initiative to make our campus more deaf-friendly, and I actively started learning American Sign Language (ASL). A deaf friend of mine took a lead on this and I helped out to teach ASL to anybody who wanted to attend weekly classes that we were offering on campus. We got an amazing outpour of great feedback and support from our campus community. My reason for writing this blog post is not to post about the initiatives I've been working on, but, because I think my mind is edging to a moral dilemma right now.

Do we do tasks like these because we truly want to help make a positive change or do we also love the attention that these tasks bring along? Yes, it's noble to think of the former, but, how realistic is the latter? If we did truly feel that the reasoning was to have a positive impact, then why post about it on social media? More importantly, why does it matter to me that someone is getting a lot of attention for posting a video about it? Is it because I started the initiative and it's something I'm incredibly proud of? Does that make me hypocritical because if other people are posting about this, they are in a way garnering people's attention towards sign language, which means the initiative was successful?

The fact that I've even written down the questions above is annoying me because this is such a petty thing, and I'm actually taking time out to type it all up when I have so many more important things that I could be working on. It's frustrating, to say the least, to be rational and stress-induced emotional at the same time. It's not helping me finish my exam-prep, it's not helping me decide if I want to order food at 2 AM, and it's definitely not helping me calm down. Hunger does NOT bode well with me, and when I'm hungry, I'm the last person you'd want to be around. That being said, I'm going to return to my ingenious plan to conquer my task-list. It's the least I can do and I owe it to myself to excel at these brilliantly time-consuming plans that I made during the start of the semester.

Here's to ranting, wording out silly things, and then feeling better about it.

Cheers.