Alright kiddos, it looks like we've come to the end of the road. I just got a message on facebook congratulating me on a job well done on here. Guess that means I should stop writing. But I couldn't stop writing without saying goodbye!!!
So, goodbye. It's been a great time. I've had a really fun time posting on here for the world to see what I've been up to.
This is the last week for my internship as well (sigh). I don't think I've let it hit me yet, or the fact that I'll be graduating in less than two weeks, but it's all really QUITE frightening. Everyone keeps on asking me what I'll be doing after this week, and my only answer is that I'll be starting my professional waitressing career until I figure out what I want to do. Here are some possibilities... grad school in the fall or spring, (re)start my search for a real (degree appropriate) job, and ummm... yeah. That's about as far as I've gotten. I guess we could throw in the emergency option of "walk into JHC as if you're still an intern" after graduation plan... but, who am I kidding??? Pittsburgh Police would be there so fast I wouldn't know what hit me... not to mention, I'm not looking to have something like that on my permanent record...
So guess that's where I am... In complete and total uncertainty. When I say uncertainty... I mean COMPLETE uncertainty on all levels of life. About six months ago, I was convinced I had my life all figured out and under control... and now the only thing I know is that on July 1st, I'll be moving into a bigger (and more expensive) apartment... July 12th I'll be turning 23... and that I've got an amazing support system to keep my spirits high until I figure out what I'm going to do with my life. Clarion has prepared me for a lot of different things. The people I have met in life have done the same. But one thing's for sure... I have met the most amazing people and experienced some of the most unforgettable things during my five (yes... five... don't judge me... all the cool kids are doing it) years at Clarion University. There were times that it was tough, and I swore that I hated it there, but in all honesty, I think every person experiences that REGARDLESS of where they go... and in all honesty, I don't think I would change my decision for the world, cause I can't imagine my life any differently than how it's ended up so far. So I guess what I'm saying (to wrap things up) is that although I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, I think things will end up alright. My parents have done a pretty amazing job of raising me, and I think I've had a pretty great experience my past 22 years... so I guess I'll just hold on to that faith that I'm gonna make it, and do exactly what I've always wanted to do, be who I want to be, and be happy with all of the decisions I make and how they pan out...
Maybe I'll post one last post someday... make another blog... let y'all know where it is, so you can read it (if I realy do have faithful readers out there)...
...until next time... this is Allison, signing off. ;P
Okay, seriously... if I let myself right now, I could totally start tearing up over here...
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
p.s.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Found a new apartment. THIS ONE has a living room and a bedroom, and a bigger kitchen. There are things I'll miss about my old apartment, but the size (and location) of this one are both great. It's still in Shadyside, and it's super cute. So I'm very excited about that one...
...and, I've applied to one school for grad school. That's all I'm going to say for now. Tata
...and, I've applied to one school for grad school. That's all I'm going to say for now. Tata
Dear readers...
Hi. I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, despite what you might be thinking. Problem is, I've just been INSANELY busy. Every day has a set schedule. Or at least a list. The list is what I would IDEALLY like to get done on that day. I've been pretty good at getting all of the things done, but sometimes it's tough, and it's always stressful.
I'm wrapping up things at the internship. This is my next to last week. Although I'll be extremely sad to leave (and might even cry... secretively... about it), it will probably be in my best interest to have a little more free time to get some of the projects that need to be done ACTUALLY accomplished.
So... lets recap. What have I been up to since (wow, it's been that long) April 10th?!?!?
Well... a lot of working at the restaurant and interning. One of JHC's clients is about to launch their new website, along with a bunch of new changes to their image, so everyone has been buzzing around trying to get things done with that. There are about 5000 suncatchers that need to have suction cups attached to them with pliers, so I've been working on that a lot.
A couple weeks ago, for opening day for the Pirates, some of the JHC crew and I stood outside (in the bitter cold) and worked a promotion for Heinz, one of our project clients. That was fun. It would have been GREAT... had it not been 40 degrees, cloudy and super windy.
Outside of work and the internship, I went to my first baseball game at PNC Park on the the 13th. I won tickets from KISS-fm and went to the game with my good friend Justin (a.k.a. Whitmer). It was another chilly night, and we weren't winning, so we ended up only staying until somewhere in the seventh inning, but it was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to many more this summer (the next game being this Friday, with one of my best friend's Ashley).
I ALSO went to the Christina Aguilera concert, where Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls were opening. It was a great concert. Very showy, fun, exciting... once again, courtesy of KISS-fm... sort of. You see, Ashley spent the past semester interning with DJ Bonics, so there have been little perks being a friend of Ashley. Bonics somehow managed to have tickets for Ashley and I to go to the Christina Aguilera concert, and they were actually REALLY good seats. I took a bunch of pictures, which I was totally planning on posting on here, but I'm not on the right computer at the moment, so I guess that will have to be put on the list of things I do in the very near future.
Basically, I've been a very busy almost graduate... and it's not looking as though it's going to ease up until graduation day. Before I head back to Clarion on the 10th for Senior Walk, graduation, and other nonsense, I have at least one more trip back to Clarion to look forward to (gotta get every single doctor's appointment under the sun taken care of before I'm taken off my parents insurance after graduation), a handful of days at JHC, a handful of days at the restaurant, and a laundry list that is NOT getting smaller (despite how hard I work at it) of things to do... one of them being a paper that I'm required to write on my internship. *Sigh*.
Anyways, I should probably be going. Like I said, 28 hours of things to do in each 24 hour day... and unless we're going to stretch the days for my benefit, I've gotta get a move on... we're REALLY down to the nitty gritty Seniors. It's onnnnnnnnnn!
I'm wrapping up things at the internship. This is my next to last week. Although I'll be extremely sad to leave (and might even cry... secretively... about it), it will probably be in my best interest to have a little more free time to get some of the projects that need to be done ACTUALLY accomplished.
So... lets recap. What have I been up to since (wow, it's been that long) April 10th?!?!?
Well... a lot of working at the restaurant and interning. One of JHC's clients is about to launch their new website, along with a bunch of new changes to their image, so everyone has been buzzing around trying to get things done with that. There are about 5000 suncatchers that need to have suction cups attached to them with pliers, so I've been working on that a lot.
A couple weeks ago, for opening day for the Pirates, some of the JHC crew and I stood outside (in the bitter cold) and worked a promotion for Heinz, one of our project clients. That was fun. It would have been GREAT... had it not been 40 degrees, cloudy and super windy.
Outside of work and the internship, I went to my first baseball game at PNC Park on the the 13th. I won tickets from KISS-fm and went to the game with my good friend Justin (a.k.a. Whitmer). It was another chilly night, and we weren't winning, so we ended up only staying until somewhere in the seventh inning, but it was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to many more this summer (the next game being this Friday, with one of my best friend's Ashley).
I ALSO went to the Christina Aguilera concert, where Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls were opening. It was a great concert. Very showy, fun, exciting... once again, courtesy of KISS-fm... sort of. You see, Ashley spent the past semester interning with DJ Bonics, so there have been little perks being a friend of Ashley. Bonics somehow managed to have tickets for Ashley and I to go to the Christina Aguilera concert, and they were actually REALLY good seats. I took a bunch of pictures, which I was totally planning on posting on here, but I'm not on the right computer at the moment, so I guess that will have to be put on the list of things I do in the very near future.
Basically, I've been a very busy almost graduate... and it's not looking as though it's going to ease up until graduation day. Before I head back to Clarion on the 10th for Senior Walk, graduation, and other nonsense, I have at least one more trip back to Clarion to look forward to (gotta get every single doctor's appointment under the sun taken care of before I'm taken off my parents insurance after graduation), a handful of days at JHC, a handful of days at the restaurant, and a laundry list that is NOT getting smaller (despite how hard I work at it) of things to do... one of them being a paper that I'm required to write on my internship. *Sigh*.
Anyways, I should probably be going. Like I said, 28 hours of things to do in each 24 hour day... and unless we're going to stretch the days for my benefit, I've gotta get a move on... we're REALLY down to the nitty gritty Seniors. It's onnnnnnnnnn!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I hope Jack Horner doesn't mind having a third intern for the rest of eternity
So, I’ve decided that come May 14th, the Monday after graduating from Clarion, I’m just going to walk into Jack Horner as if I’m still interning here. You see, I’ve decided that I never want to leave.
Maybe they won’t notice? Maybe they won’t mind? Okay, they’ll notice, and they’ll mind. Especially when they turn my current desk space into a new interns work area. This plan will NOT work. But wouldn’t it be nice?
This whole “looking for a real job” thing is not enjoyable. I don’t like it, I don’t like the options, I don’t like any of it at all. The only thing I’ve realized from the search is that I really like PR agencies. Agencies are so fast paced—you do it all. The people at Jack Horner are great, you get to deal with all sorts of clients, you get to do all of the things you practiced and prepared for in college.
Yesterday was particularly fun. Freezing, but fun. I was in Clarion Monday morning (home to see family and friends for Easter) when I got a call from my internship supervisor, Stephanie. One of our clients, Heinz, needed people to work a promotion outside of PNC Park during the home opener for the Pirates game. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to help out. So I packed up my stuff, drove home (managed to be not paying attention and missed the Pittsburgh exit… adding 10 more minutes to my trip… got stuck in traffic… adding another 10-15 minutes to my trip), showered, got ready, and headed to the office to meet up with everyone for the event. All we really knew is that we’d be handing out promotional products from Heinz, and that we could dress casually—and warm, since it was freezing out.
We got there at 2:30, and ended up standing outside until 5:00, handing out Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce (a Heinz product, of course) to those leaving the stadium. Apparently I didn’t spend enough time outside determining how many layers I’d need, because I was convinced that a shirt, sweater, coat, scarf and pants would be plenty. Not the case. I think we were all freezing before we started, and I’m almost positive that I didn’t completely thaw out for almost two hours. It was a cold, cold, COLD day to be passing out barbecue sauce… But, it was SOOOOO much fun. I love those sorts of things. Talking to people? Fun! Anything involving not sitting in a cubicle? Fun! Making clients happy? Fun! Having less than a month left where I will get the opportunity to do those sorts of things? Not so fun.
Anyways, I guess in short, I’ve really been enjoying my time at the internship lately. But, a wise man once said, all good things must come to an end.
…and in other news… with absolutely no transition from one to another… life is good. Friends are good, family is good, Easter was nice, I’m still pretending to be ready to graduate, I’m looking at an apartment on Wednesday, waitressing is fun, and I’m really excited for this baseball game with Justin on Friday. Basically, I really have very little, if anything to complain about. (With the exception of this whole coldness thing and never wanting to leave JHC)
Hope everyone is having a good week! Until next time…
Maybe they won’t notice? Maybe they won’t mind? Okay, they’ll notice, and they’ll mind. Especially when they turn my current desk space into a new interns work area. This plan will NOT work. But wouldn’t it be nice?
This whole “looking for a real job” thing is not enjoyable. I don’t like it, I don’t like the options, I don’t like any of it at all. The only thing I’ve realized from the search is that I really like PR agencies. Agencies are so fast paced—you do it all. The people at Jack Horner are great, you get to deal with all sorts of clients, you get to do all of the things you practiced and prepared for in college.
Yesterday was particularly fun. Freezing, but fun. I was in Clarion Monday morning (home to see family and friends for Easter) when I got a call from my internship supervisor, Stephanie. One of our clients, Heinz, needed people to work a promotion outside of PNC Park during the home opener for the Pirates game. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to help out. So I packed up my stuff, drove home (managed to be not paying attention and missed the Pittsburgh exit… adding 10 more minutes to my trip… got stuck in traffic… adding another 10-15 minutes to my trip), showered, got ready, and headed to the office to meet up with everyone for the event. All we really knew is that we’d be handing out promotional products from Heinz, and that we could dress casually—and warm, since it was freezing out.
We got there at 2:30, and ended up standing outside until 5:00, handing out Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce (a Heinz product, of course) to those leaving the stadium. Apparently I didn’t spend enough time outside determining how many layers I’d need, because I was convinced that a shirt, sweater, coat, scarf and pants would be plenty. Not the case. I think we were all freezing before we started, and I’m almost positive that I didn’t completely thaw out for almost two hours. It was a cold, cold, COLD day to be passing out barbecue sauce… But, it was SOOOOO much fun. I love those sorts of things. Talking to people? Fun! Anything involving not sitting in a cubicle? Fun! Making clients happy? Fun! Having less than a month left where I will get the opportunity to do those sorts of things? Not so fun.
Anyways, I guess in short, I’ve really been enjoying my time at the internship lately. But, a wise man once said, all good things must come to an end.
…and in other news… with absolutely no transition from one to another… life is good. Friends are good, family is good, Easter was nice, I’m still pretending to be ready to graduate, I’m looking at an apartment on Wednesday, waitressing is fun, and I’m really excited for this baseball game with Justin on Friday. Basically, I really have very little, if anything to complain about. (With the exception of this whole coldness thing and never wanting to leave JHC)
Hope everyone is having a good week! Until next time…
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Real quick (and I'm serious this time)
Happy Easter everyone! Hope everyone has an excellent holiday.
-Alli
-Alli
Thursday, April 5, 2007
There's always something to ramble about
Well, well, well… snow on my porch steps this morning. Yet I wore a sundress on Tuesday, since it was 75 degrees? Weird Pennsylvania weather.
Anyways, I should probably write a lot more frequently than I do. I know I posted 3-4 blogs last week in two(ish) days, but I can think of a half dozen times that I said to myself “I should talk about this in my blog”, and now can’t think of much of anything.
So, I went to a Pittsburgh Young Professionals meeting on the 27th of March. It was held down in the Southside. I went with my supervisor at my internship, Stephanie, the other PR intern Emily, Stephanie’s friend Bryson, and Bryson’s intern. It was a lot of fun. I' m not sure I'm quite ready to join, as I have YET to get a post-grad job, but I know at some point down the line, it'll definitely be something I'll want to get involved with. Not to mention, it’s always nice to go out and do something, especially when it has anything to do with networking.
I talked about how important it was to network when I was at home to speak at the PRSSA meeting. Getting your foot in the door is the first step (obviously). It's a lot of what I attribute to getting where I am today.
I also talked about a lot of other things, such as my experience at Jack Horner so far-- all of the things I’ve learned, what I do, what I think I was prepared for, what I felt I wasn’t prepared for—basically anything and everything that flew off my tongue in the 20ish minutes I rambled. It was a really great experience, and I really enjoyed coming in to speak at the meeting.
Oh… and for those of you that have been asking me what I plan on doing post-May 12th… I’ve started applying for jobs. Yes, it’s true. Allison Potter has jumped on the bandwagon of hopeful future professionals. I’m not expecting my dream job right off the bat, and have basically been applying to anything and everything that looks more than tolerable, but at least it’s a start. I actually have two job interviews tomorrow, so hopefully I’m interested in one of them, they’re interested in me, and I can stop worrying about being a professional waitress for the rest of my life.
My friend/(semi)co-worker, Kristen, has me very excited to have a regular 9-5 job. She started out waitressing at Walnut Grill with me, and coincidentally now works at JHC as well. I have faith that I’ll find something. Given the opportunity, I’m very eager to learn, which I know have a lot to learn, but at least I have the drive to do so. Hopefully someone sees that in me (soon, please) and gives me the chance to prove to them that I can kick some toosh in the professional world. Any ideas for jobs people? Send them my way!
...and in other news... guess who won tickets to the Pirates game for April 13th? (hint: me). I'm pretty pumped, as I've NEVER been to PNC park, and I've only ever been to one game-- like ten years ago. I don't really care either way for baseball, but I hear going to the games is LOADS of fun. More news on that in some future post...
That is all. I’ m outta things to talk about for the moment. Ciao.
…oh, and Happy (almost) Easter everyone!
Anyways, I should probably write a lot more frequently than I do. I know I posted 3-4 blogs last week in two(ish) days, but I can think of a half dozen times that I said to myself “I should talk about this in my blog”, and now can’t think of much of anything.
So, I went to a Pittsburgh Young Professionals meeting on the 27th of March. It was held down in the Southside. I went with my supervisor at my internship, Stephanie, the other PR intern Emily, Stephanie’s friend Bryson, and Bryson’s intern. It was a lot of fun. I' m not sure I'm quite ready to join, as I have YET to get a post-grad job, but I know at some point down the line, it'll definitely be something I'll want to get involved with. Not to mention, it’s always nice to go out and do something, especially when it has anything to do with networking.
I talked about how important it was to network when I was at home to speak at the PRSSA meeting. Getting your foot in the door is the first step (obviously). It's a lot of what I attribute to getting where I am today.
I also talked about a lot of other things, such as my experience at Jack Horner so far-- all of the things I’ve learned, what I do, what I think I was prepared for, what I felt I wasn’t prepared for—basically anything and everything that flew off my tongue in the 20ish minutes I rambled. It was a really great experience, and I really enjoyed coming in to speak at the meeting.
Oh… and for those of you that have been asking me what I plan on doing post-May 12th… I’ve started applying for jobs. Yes, it’s true. Allison Potter has jumped on the bandwagon of hopeful future professionals. I’m not expecting my dream job right off the bat, and have basically been applying to anything and everything that looks more than tolerable, but at least it’s a start. I actually have two job interviews tomorrow, so hopefully I’m interested in one of them, they’re interested in me, and I can stop worrying about being a professional waitress for the rest of my life.
My friend/(semi)co-worker, Kristen, has me very excited to have a regular 9-5 job. She started out waitressing at Walnut Grill with me, and coincidentally now works at JHC as well. I have faith that I’ll find something. Given the opportunity, I’m very eager to learn, which I know have a lot to learn, but at least I have the drive to do so. Hopefully someone sees that in me (soon, please) and gives me the chance to prove to them that I can kick some toosh in the professional world. Any ideas for jobs people? Send them my way!
...and in other news... guess who won tickets to the Pirates game for April 13th? (hint: me). I'm pretty pumped, as I've NEVER been to PNC park, and I've only ever been to one game-- like ten years ago. I don't really care either way for baseball, but I hear going to the games is LOADS of fun. More news on that in some future post...
That is all. I’ m outta things to talk about for the moment. Ciao.
…oh, and Happy (almost) Easter everyone!