Find the Silver Lining...and LIVE!

It's Halloween. I am a senior in college who is laying in bed with a nasty case of pink eye that has ruined any plans I had of going out. I have never been out on Halloween or been to the holy ground of Soho in Tampa that is "MacDinton's". So tonight was supposed to be one of those, "Finally!" kind of nights.

To be brutally honest, October has been miserable:
1. A mishap with a t-shirt company
2. A two week long stretch of being sick as a dog
3. Constantly being unhappy with my body
4. Frustration over groups projects
5. Feeling betrayed by a group of friends
6. Not getting into the classes I need to graduate
7. Loving people more than they will ever love me
8. ....

I could probably go on and on if I could remember all the terrible things that happened to me this month. But as I sat here, down on myself about all the things going wrong in my life, one person came to mind...Jessy.

As many of you may know, I recently started an effort to raise money for a past University of Tampa Student and fellow marketing lover, Jessica Moran, who was a member of the business fraternity I belong to and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in February...

At the age of 25.

I have heard so many times growing up, "Things could be so much worse", but it wasn't till I started this effort, Jessy's Story, that the words really took meaning. I only know Jessy through pictures, stories, and the few conversations I have had with her on the phone. But it has been just enough to finally put a face with that phrase, "Things could be so much worse."

Yeah, I could be in a flirty costume dancing my friends, have a super model body I could flaunt every day, and have everything in my life be perfect. But would we ever then be able to see a silver lining? If everything was perfect?

Through Jessy's blog, The Inspiration Initiative, you never see one bit of a "Why me" attitude. Yeah, she has written about being fed up with being cooped up in the house all day, but she still managed to make us laugh and feel comfy with her Target socks and fireplace picture. The perfect interweaving of a silver lining. Her smile. Infectious personality (from what I can tell through the love and support of the website) and her writing, cancer has made Jessy herself a silver lining of life.

A person we can all look to and say, "THAT is how you LIVE, no matter what the circumstances."

So, I encourage you all.
Sit down.
Make a list.
Write down everything you are mad about, have gone wrong, don't like, or whatever makes you say, "Everything bad happens to me".

Then. Think.

What is your silver lining list?

For me:
1. Not having the perfect body, but being healthy and smart
2. Handling the t-shirt situation with finally learning to stand up for myself
3. Being sick, but finally taking the time to RELAX.
4. Group projects being the biggest laugh fest of my week, even if we don't get anything done.
5. Realizing that there are teachers who care enough to help me see out my senior year. No need to panic
6. Loving someone who doesn't love you back is a gift.
7. You DO have friends who care

Next time you are feeling down, find a silver lining in everything. You won' believe all the blessing you already have, even amongst all the misfortune.

Because as Jessy has showed me, even in something as evil as cancer there is a silver lining waiting....

 You just have to find it and never let go.



 

How to Run for a Position in Your Organization...and Get it!

I have held many positions within many organizations throughout my life, both in high school and college. But it wasn't till today when an underclassmen asked me for help with her quest  to be President of a student organization, that I really had to think,

"What did I do to get all the positions I have had?"

 

 

1. Talk it Up- If you are thinking about running for a position within an organization, MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN. No one is going to vote for "that one girl who sits in the back". Start getting involved as soon as you think you are interested in holding your own position. Ask to be a director of someone with an official position, go to as many events as you can, and keep yourself up to date on everything to do with the organization. Not only this, but start spreading the word that you want X position. No one likes to vote for someone they feel had an epiphany during a dream and now thinks they should run for a position. People will vote for those they KNOW have been involved members before and have been interested in the position for some time.  Soon you will go from, "Hey what's that girl's name" to "Organization Superstar".

 

2. Be Confident- DO YOU and be proud. If you don't even have a relatively large position currently and others notice that you are hesitant in voicing your opinion, get upset easily, or seem self conscious.  That is the first thing they are going to scrutinize you for during the voting process. Organizations want (and need) a leader who is unafraid to do what they know is best for the organization and it's members, even if it means being "organization enemy #1". That is what confidence is. It is being able to follow through and believe in everything you do, no matter what others think.

 

3. Don't let your stress show- If there is one thing I have been working on, it's reversing my developed stereotype by others that I am constantly a "stress ball". While I will admit I stress a lot, it does not mean that I am not capable of stressful positions. The world doesn't understand stress the way I do. For those like myself, we are motivated by stress. In order to avoid being labeled, "Too stressed to handle this position", save your complaints and meltdowns for your bestie. As bad as it may seem to fake how you really feel in the moment, keep your worries/doubts for dorm vent 'seshs only.

 

4. Interview No No's-

• Show up late
• Show up without a resume
• Show up dressed casual
• Fidgit
• Do not look anywhere but the interviewers eyes

 

5. Practice your speech or interview questions- My favorite way to practice for a speech or an interview, is to record my answers or my speech using my recorder on my laptop. This allows me to play it back, while doing anything. Hearing yourself say your speech over and over will not only help you memorize the words but the tonal inflections you need to use to deliver an entertaining and emotional speech. Same tips go for an interview, the more you practice not just what you are going to say, but how you are going to say it, the more official and "right for the job" you will appear to be.

 

6. Read your application answers out loud- Don't write your application question answers as you would a homework assignment. Instead, write them as if you were giving it as a speech and re-read them to yourself. This form of writing is not only is more entertaining, but it often communicates a more emotional, raw tone with your reader and is more appealing for them to read.

 

7. Meet with the past holder of that office- Make a coffee date with the person who you would like to succeed. Ask them questions about their best experiences, worst experiences, advice they would give to someone in their shoes, etc. Again, this will put you in the "spotlight" as someone who is not only interested in this position, but has taken the time to get information directly from the source.

 

8. Don't hold back- I hate bragging about my accomplishments, no matter how brag worthy they are. But the weeks leading up to your election night or whatever process your organization uses to elect officers, IT's OK to brag a little. I am by no means saying go overboard, "I am the best person to ever live", but don't hold back on all those great accomplishments you have previously had and worked so hard for. If you never share them, no one will ever know what you are capable of and HAVE done before.

 

 

Good Luck!

 

Love,

Meredith

 

 

 



Tips from an Insanely Busy College Student

People ask me all the time, "How do you get it all done?" And while sometimes I don't know how to answer myself, I will admit I use multiple processes and tricks that help me survive what some would say is an "overbooked" life.

Tools to Survive an Insanely Busy College Life

1. RefWorks- www.refworks.com is your BEST FRIEND! No longer do you have to try to remember what source you got what from. Refworks is my go-to for citation. It allows you to open folders for each paper you are working on and put each source you use into folders by the particular assignment. Not only that, but if you are getting sources from a database (such as the ones the University of Tampa subscribes to), there is an automatic "Export" button which does the entire citation for you. The best part is that when you are done acquiring all your sources, there is a button that allows you to turn all of the sources in that folder into a bibliography (in the exact format your professor requires). Did I mention it is in alphabetical order too?

2. Trello- www.trello.com - Trello is for To-Do List Lovers! This website allows you to create running to-do lists and mark each projects urgency and share with others. Those you share with, can select certain items on that to-do list that they will work on. Perfect for group projects and assigning certain parts to efficiently get things done (and hold people accountable, as Trello shows you the name of who elected to handle the to-do list item).

3. Google Drive- It actually scares me how many college students DON'T know about Google Drive. It is the best way to work on group projects. In Google Drive, you can create spreadsheets, documents, and presenations all with the ability to collaborate and share with others. Google Drive is through the interenet, so you can access your drive documents through any computer. Forgot to print something on your way to class that was due today? Simply run to the computer lab, log onto your Google Drive, and pull up the document. Google Drive also saves your work automatically, so no need to panic when your computer crashes.

4. Keep your Email Inbox to 20 messages OR LESS- I can not stress enough the importance of email etiquette. Nothing is worse than not answering an email, whether you genuinely forgot or are unable to manage the 2,000 you get a day. I encourage you to read every email immediately as it comes in. If it is an easy answer, JUST ANSWER IT. You don't have to write a story. Sufficiently answer what the person is asking and move on.

If the email requires a little more time, reply to the person that you understand their request and leave it in your inbox with the red flag marked.

ALL OTHER EMAILS SHOULD BE FILED INTO A SPECIFIC FOLDER OR DELETED. Don't let your inbox pile up with a mix of important and unimportant emails. It will only lead to you loosing the important ones and never responding. Which is super, super, super frowned upon.

5. Use your email inbox rules- Each email platform has the ability for you to automatically file incoming emails based on keywords, who they are from, and subject. This will also help you deplete any confusion in your inbox and make it easy for you to find emails from certain people, about certain classes, or projects.

6. Carry a Small Notebook- Go to Wal-Mart and buy yourself a little notebook and TAKE IT EVERYWHERE. You wouldn't believe all the things you forget because you think, "Oh, I will remember". But face it, we forget a lot. So whenever you are at a coffee meeting or when you have a great idea pop into your head, write it down in this notebook. It will become your "Bible of Your Life" so to speak. I have been able to harness so much more of my creative ideas because I can actually remember them now, instead of saying, "Darn, what was that amazing idea I had in mind".

7. Read you Planner Before Bed- Every night before climbing in bed, I get out my planner and see what is happening the next day. This allows me to get organized and orient myself around any assignments that I need to have completed, coffee dates I have lined up, etc. So many times students write things in planners and then never read them.

8. SAY "NO!"- This I am still working on, but I have gotten so much better since my freshman year of college. I always thought that the perfect business girl had to always take on every project and finish it with a bow on top. Not only is this NOT POSSIBLE but it's not sustainable. You will end up wearing yourself out, which will in turn lead you to not doing good work. Instead, try to find a balance. It's hard, I know. But learn to put things that are important to you first, with reason. Yes, I am sure going to the bar might be important, so put that first...sometimes. But also know that school work is important too. Again, it's a balance. No one finds it on their first try.


I am by no means the expert of "busy", sometimes I still get super stressed with my busy life. But these processes and systems helps keep everything together. Just remember though, everyone has days where they feel overwhelmed. It's all part of being a leader.

Love,
Meredith

My Letter to a Brainwashing Job Recruiter

                                    

Dear Mr. Recruiter,

             I appreciate the time you took to present the perks and glam of your company, along with your factually supported personal beliefs, to eager, naïve, job seeking college students.  But I will pass on your ever practiced offer to live an ordinary life. Your company, while it may be a great "career", with fancy pensions, promotional abilities, and the ego boosting, 9-5pm, all benefits included "package", is NOT what I was put on this earth to do.
            I may be younger, less experienced, and naïve, but I promise to pursue a career that pays off in more ways than just dollar signs. I can not tell you how many alumni I talk to on a daily basis, who have been hypnotized by glittering job pitches (such as yours). Within 3 months, they are so depressed about their life and realize they are not reaching their full potential. Where does this leave them? A recent college graduate, already looking for job #2 at the age of 23, with an almost non-existent self-esteem. This is a problem.
            Not only does your speech convince graduates that money is the goal of after college life and success, it also persuades them to take the easy road to money, devaluing their potential. As a society, we need to stop preaching that making the most money is the only way to prove who we are. In my opinion, money is the worst example of a successful person. People who make the most money are no longer human. They do not work for a purpose, for something greater than themselves, or what they always dreamed of doing.
             But I do want to thank you, for reminding me in the midst of an overwhelming senior year, why I work so hard. The late nights in the library, never going to the beach, missing nights with friends, and countless tears. It's all an inner drive, to become my destined self : The person who  puts smiles on children's faces from here to China, enjoys working overtime off the clock, and constantly worries about money being tight. Yes, I want to do ALL of these things.
            Because you know what, those things make for a LIFE. And a "Life", is the all encompassment of living your destiny, to always do things you never dreamed your could do, that are bigger than yourself. But most importantly experiencing the unexpected twists, turns, tragedies and triumphs.
           I hope to see you in the future. To shake your hand, myself where I am meant to be, and hopefully you finally understanding that...

"Money doesn't buy happiness"

 

 

Sincerely,
 

Meredith L. Brown

10 Moments in College You Should Never Forget

 

 

Moment- a space in time when something moving happens, maybe life changing, impactful to the point that it is engraved in your mind and heart; when a "feeling" during that specific space in time is indescribable

 

Today, I found out that a former alumni of the university was in a deep coma. I was kind of frozen.

 

What could it possibly be like, to be in a space between alive and dead?

 

The possibility that you could wake up, not remembering anyone, anything, or any moments.

 

As a 21 year old girl, I have lived through 662,695,992.

I am sure the alumni lived through a lot of seconds as a student here at UT, but I am sure he never took that time to stop and cherish the handful of moments that made up his time here. The one's that may essentially be lost in time.

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

10 Moments in College

 You Should Never Forget 

 

1. Move-In Day-

Oh do I remember how I cried. My parents were barely down the road when I called, "You have to come back, I have made a big mistake". I hadn't even been alone but a half hour, but suddenly my life had changed, for what I thought was the worst. My mom's response, "Too late now." As uncomforting as that was, I am glad I stuck it out. UT has changed my life

 

It's the first time you face a challenge bigger than you have ever imagined. You are finally on your own. Always remember how you felt then and how you feel now. Suddenly you will remember, I CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

 

 

 

2. That great night out-

As freshmen, and maybe even a sophomore, we all struggle with the balance that is "going out vs staying in and studying". I NEVER go out. And I regret it. While my grades are awesome, I have missed out on so many great moments college has to offer because up until recently, I thought my grades defined who you are in college. But they don't.

 

The times I have gone out (dancing with my friends, late night frozen yogurt runs, or simply having a wine night with my girls) are some of the nights I cherish most.

  

I want you to go out dancing with your girls, go to a party with the cute boy down the hall, and celebrate your 21st in style. These are moments that matter, not your teacher placing a piece of paper that has an "A" written on it. 

 

 

 

3. Being rejected-

Remember freshmen year, not getting on to the dance team or not getting into the sorority you wanted. Look at you now. You wouldn't be where you are today, which is hopefully satisfied and content, if you weren't rejected back then.

 Rejection is often the closing of a window, and the opening of a door. Look back, and smile.

 

 

 

4. When you failed your first test-

Fun Fact, I failed my first college test!

 Yep! I did. And yes...I cried.

 But looking back now I laugh.

 Remember, your grades don't define you. Mine sure don't...clearly.

 

 

5. When you got your heart broken-

They break your heart, so someone better can put it back together.

 

 

6. When a friend drifted away-

Think of all the friends you have gone through from freshmen year to senior year. Half of the people I was friends with as a freshmen I never talk to or even see anymore. And that's ok.

 Just as we change, so do others. It's ok. Some friends are forever, some aren't.

 

 

 

7. When you realize you are half way done and you don't know where you're headed

 Being lost is hard to define. Are you "lost" or simply in a space between two destinies of your life?

 

 

 

8. The holiday breaks with your family or when a family member passes unexpectedly

Being away during college makes you realize how important family is.

Suddenly Christmas at home means more than it used to.

And we realize those we love, won't live forever.

 

 

9. Your proudest accomplishment

Maybe it was an award from the school, the job offer you have always dreamed of, or the winning touchdown pass in the championship game. Whatever it is, it was great.

 That moment where you had such a rush you can't define it.

 

 

10. Graduation-

I haven't graduated yet, but I am sure this is one moment I won't forget.

Friends, family, crying, and finally getting that piece of paper I have worked so hard for.

 

 Something NO ONE can take away from you.

 

_____________________________________________________________ 

 

In honor of the alumni, who lies in the balance between the known and unknown, I encourage you to remember "Your college moments". He probably didn't think these were all significant moments, but they are definitely something he has lived through and has impacted him... and the same will go for you.

 

For many of you, these moments haven't happened. So be in the moment when they do. Because moments are important, not seconds.

 

 Unlike seconds, moments can be relieved.

 

 

20 Things You Experience as a Senior in College

I am only one month into my senior year, but it is definitely feels like I am Rapunzel in the beginning of Tangled singing, "When will my Life Begin", trying to juggle everything that it means to be a senior about to enter the "Real World".

20 Things I Have Experienced as a Senior in College this far:

1. Getting out of bed is a struggle

2. Working out takes a back-seat

3. Brace yourself for 1,000 group projects

4. As a result of the 1,000 group projects, you suddenly become the GROUP LEADER of all of them-(a.k.a. A Mom)

5. Trying to figure out what you are doing with your life after you graduate

6. Consistently having visions of saying goodbye to your friends

7. Senioritis is already at an all time high...(did I already mention it's only October)

8. Cringing at the thought of going home to Mom and Dad after graduation- If I get yelled at one more time to "Clean (or "red" as my mother says) up the dining room table I am going to go insane"!

9. You change your resume about every other day? -Some higher power just needs to pick the best format and template and we should all just stick with that. No more of this "1 million different he-said, she-said" of what the perfect resume looks life.

10. Going home for Thanksgiving is now more an inconvenience than a necessity

11. Sleep? What is that?

12. The underclassmen become super annoying

13. The urge to do everything because it's "The Last One"

14. You are over your closet sized "room"

15. You are tired of people telling you, "You don't want to graduate, trust me"- Well, trust ME. I have been waiting to graduate since my mom used to push me out of bed to go to AM Kindergarten.

16. The realization that your parents are about to cut you off-Don't forget about those cell phone bills, car insurance, and that wonderful college loan that is waiting for you with open arms.

17. Regret of all the things you didn't do, but now wish you would have

18. Using count downs like, timeanddate.com to remind you 24/7 the amount of time you have to endure that 4 hour accounting class or hit as many happy hours as possible

19. Feeling old already-18 is the new 21.

20. That ready or not, your life is about to change...again.