Hey, Everyone! It's Connie. Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. If you're dying to know, I've been busy with school, work, etc. I've also been busy making alot of observations; observations about students, observations about myself, and observations about UWM. So, I started thinking, "What do students, myself, and UWM have in common?" The answer: We're all moving forward toward something. Hopefully something bigger and better than ourselves. But, it seems in all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we occasionally forget why we are here. Why am I here? Well, I have a passion for linguistics and Spanish and I want to pursue that passion. I also hope that someday I can positively influence my community or where-ever I may go through my work in language. I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up, but I know where I'd like to go. Though, I am certain UWM is a great starting point for me.
All that's been said, I'd like to introduce a series of blogs called The College Experience. In these blogs I'd like to challenge you to think about what you want to get out of your college experience. I'll give you some advice and tips on how to handle everyday college life along the way. ;) Perhaps, I can even help you out in someway. In any case, I would appreciate the same, as I am a first year student.
Before we end this little get-together, I'd like to ask you one thing...
Why are you here?
In answering this question we can figure out what we need to get the most out of our college experience.
(Feel free to answer on the blog. Remember, you can remain anonymous!)
Why am I here? Well let's see. I attended undergrad because it was expected of me. Neither of my parents finished college, so it was expected for my sisters and I. I went in with what was deemed a "practical" major (political science) but soon found out that was not for me. So, I did what any teenager would do, I rebelled. Well, at least a little. I chose to major in Theatre with a minor in Communications & Digital Media. I can now direct a stage production, talk about, and make a movie to go along with it. Talented... right? Useful, nope.
ReplyDeleteWant to know how I found that out? I graduated!!!! Upon completion of my college years I went out "in the real world" and found that my degree qualified me to work part time at LESS then minimum wage at Target!!! Theatre & film are intense businesses, either you give your all or you go home. So, I worked for two years at said Target, then decided that with a college education there had to be something else I could do.
I worked for two years in undergrad at the library and LOVED it, so I thought I could find a job at least shelving books at a library. Well, did you know that a Librarian is a PROFESSIONAL position? You have to have a MASTER'S DEGREE! So, needless to say, I had interviews, but no job offers. So I decided to get this master's degree.
That lead me to looking at MLIS (Master's in Library and Information Science) degree programs throughout the US & World. I fell in LOVE with one in Washington D.C., one in Hawaii, and one in England. Then I saw the price tag attached to each one. Having gone to the MOST EXPENSIVE school in my state ($38,000 PER YEAR + room & board) I know what student loan repayments can be. So, I looked at something cheaper. I narrowed it down to UWM & Madison.
Want to know what got me to UWM? They have graduate student housing & Madison doesn't. So, now I'm here getting my MLIS so I can get a "real" job in a library. That's why I'm here. How about you?
Me? Well I'm young and eager to get out in the world. I'm not exactly sure what I want. My intended majors are linguistics and spanish. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to, as cliche as this may sound, make a difference in the world. This is what I live by. Hopefully, at UWM, I can find the best way I can help my world.
ReplyDeleteI Wanted to Change the World
Author Unkown
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.