Hell Week April 21, 2008

So it’s come to that time again, and the last time for me.  Hell Week; the week where you are responsible for about 6 projects, 6 presentations and along with that, an internship paper that hasn’t even been started.  It will be such a relief once the week is over but there’s so much standing in the way of me and the finish line right now.  It’s almost here though and I’m so excited to get out of school and move on with my life.  I think it’s about time me being in my 5th year of college.  I think anyone would agree.  Call me crazy, but the idea of getting a job and moving onto a new chapter in my life is actually pretty exciting.  No projects to worry about, you have most of your nights open to relax and best of all, you’re making money!  Being a poor college kid for 5 years, this can make anyone happy.  I understand I’ll have bills to pay, but now I can actually have the option of splurging on that gorgeous pair of stillettos i always have to pass up in the mall because I have no money.  Things may change for the better. Nice

Gotta Love the Movies April 14, 2008

  So this past weekend I saw the movie “Prom Night” which everyone has been so hyped up to see, me being one of them.  As you know, it was a remake of the original which starred Jamie Lee Curtis years before.  It was your typical teenage slasher movie and I had my doubts about whether it would be a good movie or not.  Before going I knew it could be one of two things;  It was going to be really pathetic and watered down to the point where it wasn’t scary, or it was going to be a stupid teenage horror film.  Believe it or not, after seeing the movie, I was mistaken.  I loved it!  I think it’s one of my favorite horror movies which I will definitely purchase when it’s out on DVD.  Usually I’m not the kind of person to buy a movie when it’s released unless I though it was worth it.  Well I’d like to tell all you movie-goers out there that are having second thoughts;  Go and see this one!  Brittany Snow was amazing in lead role and everyone was really great as far as acting goes.  Usually in these kinds of tenneage movies you expect the acting to be really fake and horrible but this one was different.  The movie was a little predicitable but there were some things that even got by me.  So overall, the movie was great and I’ll definitely be waiting to buy that one when it comes out on DVD.

Change of Mind April 7, 2008

    So I may have mentioned it before but I’ve had a change of mind on where I’d like my job path to begin.  I was always into the idea that I would get into Entertainment PR when I graduated from Rider but I have to say, in the past month I’ve gotten very turned off to the idea of PR.  Maybe it’s just some classes that have disinterested me, I don’t know what the reason is but I have no desire to go into that field anymore.  I would like to get into promotions/marketing as of now in either the Fashion or Entertainment industry.  The idea of promotions just seems to satisfy me a lot more than the idea of writing press releases and communicating with editors all day.  Obviously there’s a lot more to PR than just what I listed but the desire has just gone elsewhere.  The industries that I would like to get into fascinate me but I do realize they are very competitive which makes me a little nervous when trying to land a job.  Hopefully I’ll b able to land something that will make me happy.  I know everyone has to start low on the ladder but maybe there is such thing as that “great first job.”

Reality March 31, 2008

So the job search has begun… I finalized my resumes.. have an app with career services and even started applying already.  I went out and bought all that professional paper for the resumes and envelopes…Now all I have to do is get them out there.  So much stress from my parents already with getting a job and everything.  Everytime I call them up just to say “hi” it’s “So, did you find a job yet? You should really get on that and fast!  You’ll be be graduating in no time!”  Ugh, like I haven’t heard that for the past three months.. I kno!  I”m looking fowars to graduating because I’m sick of school, but I just hope I’m happy with being at home when I’m out.  Parents add a lot of pressure when it’s time to grow up so I think it’s gonna be pretty tough the first couple months out of school.  We’ll see.  All I wish for is a full time job and fast, with a decent salary. 

Spring Break March 20, 2008

I can’t believe there’s only about a month of school left.  A little scary when you think about it.  Has anyone started job searching yet?  Job searching has been stressing me out the most these past couple months.  Mostly because I haven’t even started yet!  Of course I’ve been on job search engines and browsed around, but nothing has really caught my eye yet.  Some of those descriptions are so intimidating too with all those requirements that are expected of you.  I felt like I was trying to read a foreign language!  I’m hoping to get my resume up on some sites in the next few days just to give me a little bit of a push.  Better than nothing right?  I’m hoping that in a few months I’ll be sitting in an office thinking, “Hey what was I stressing out about? Here I am with a full time job and everything worked out just the way it was supposed to.”  I’ve had many chats with some of my friends that have been working in the real world for about 2 years already.  They probably get annoyed at me because I ask so many questions but it’s nice to be able to talk to people that have already been through these things that I’m currently stressing out about.  Makes life a little bit easier.

March 11, 2008

So this past weekend, I took a trip to NY with a friend.  My friend surprised me with “The Little Mermaid” Broadway tix.  I have to say I was so impressed with this show.  “The Little Mermaid” is already my favorite Disney movie, but this show was just breathtaking.  Costumes were amazing as well as the set.  Many of the actors portrayed great talent as well. The only thing that I was a little disappointed about was some of the changes the plot took.  Many scenes were added in that had never happened and many were taken out.  I know that this has to be done because not everything that’s portrayed in a movie is possible on the stage.  Also, I felt that the actress that played Ursula, did not really do her character justice.  She wasn’t as conniving, or as sneaky as the Ursula from the animated movie.  Her voice was the complete opposite from what it should have been.  The character in the movie has a very raspy sort of deep voice and in the show her voice was high and squeaky which didn’t really make the character for me.  Overall though, everything else about the show was amazing.   Everytime I go into the city, whatever show I’m seeing never ceases to amaze me.  I’ve seen so many shows and I still have a list of the ones I want to see.  My next show in line is definitely “The Lion King.”  I would definitely recommend “The Little Mermaid” to anyone who enjoys Disney or even Broadway.  It’s definitely a show you don’t want to miss.

c

Summertime March 5, 2008

Summer is almost here and I’m very excited.  Every summer, absolutely every weekend is dedicated to the Jersey Shore.  My parent have a shore house in Lavallette so that’s where most of my summer memories are made.  I love being able to go down and sit on the beach all day with friends and just have nothing to worry about.  Nights are all about going out and having a good time. Maybe going out for a night of dancing or even to go see your favorite cover band perform somwhere.  And best of all, the cold weather is gone so you can do more outside.  It’s only a little over 3 months away and I can’t wait.  I live for my summers, can’t you tell?

Freestyle February 25, 2008

  So I’m so ready to be done with school.  I’m counting down the days until graduation.  Yeah, it’s my senior year and those that are already out into the real world tell me to enjoy the last few weeks of college while it’s still here.  I have to say, the cons definitely outweigh the pros here.  I’m so sick of the projects, internships, the papers and the stress.  It’s my fifth year and I’m so done with it.  It’s gotten so old and the senioritis has defintely started to take its toll.  I’m actually looking foward to having a full time job (that I’ll hopefully enjoy) and having my nights and weekends off to do whatever I please.  I can go out on the weekends without worrying about what projects are due when and having to cancel plans because i have to cram for some test.  Ughh hate when that happens.  So to make a long story short, I’m unlike your typical senior college kid who’s trying to live it up and trying their best to enjoy what they have left of school.  I cannot wait to get out.  Thanks Rider for all the good times and memories but it’s definitely time to say goodbye.

campaigns for the Internet February 20, 2008

I think it would be difficult to run a campaign for the Internet. But in order to be successful you would have to apply Gladwell’s theories.  The Stickiness Factor would have to be involved, meaning the site would have to memorable or some kind of message would have to stick with you.  You would need the right people to be interested and to help your site “tip” if you will.  Power of context would apply as well meaning be aware of the circumstances and time of your campaign.  It will all play a part in the effect.  Color schemes shold be thoroughly planned out making sure the site is eye-catching but at the same time not too overwhelming.

   Be sure to include entertainment in order to interest those who visit your site.  Graphics, games, clips you name it.  You don’t want someone to go to your site to give it one good look over and then leave never to return.  You want to include things that will keep your visitors attention and make then want to come back for more.  KEEP IT UPDATED!  No one will want to come back to your site after they’ve thoroughly been through the same stuff that’s been on there for months.  Keep it updated weekly with new information, new graphics, you name it.  This will ensure that your visitors stay happy with your site and come back every week(maybe even more often than that).  With this proper planning, your Internet campaign is sure to be a success.

Gladwell vs. Watts February 10, 2008

I thought that the article about Duncan Watts and what he thought about Malcolm Gladwells ideas were very interesting.  Watts definitely had contrasting ideas to those presented in “The Tipping Point.”  The main idea of contrast was about the idea of Influencers.  Gladwell believe that these are people who you need to start trends.  They are popular, connectors and they are the sole reason that trends hit their tipping point.  Apparently, it all has to start with these people.  Watts on the other hand said that Influencers have nothing to do with it.  He believes that these trends start randomly.  He also believes that society has to be ready for a trend in order for it to go anywhere.  He said, “If society is ready to embrace a trend, almost anyone can start one, and if it isn’t, almost no one can.”  He had also emphasized that any average joe can start a trend which goes totally against what Gladwells views were.  Part of me wants to fully agree with Watts because his discussion about influencers just sounds so much more logical.  The title of the article basically sums up what Watts thinks.  Marketers are spending a billion dollars a year on targeting influentials.  Watts believes they are wasting their money.

   It’s hard to find similarities in the views of these two individuals.  Watts didn’t totally shoot down Gladwells idea of Influencers.  But he did tweak the term a bit to fit his opinion.  He believes in something called “accidental influencers.”  He believes that every trend has to have a mover or a hipster to start a trend, but the people that start the trend accidentally fall into this role which makes them an “accidental influencer.”  I found this to be very interesting.  Watts is an intelligent man and I give him much credit in all the research that he had performed in order to form his own opinions.  Both of these men are very intelligent, but at this point I think I would like to agree with Watts’ ideas rather than those presented in “The Tipping Point.”