Utah's weather has been acting like a girl. It can get very cold one day and the next day it's bright and sunny. However, the unpredictable weather can't stop me from feeling excited for the summer.
When thinking of summer, the first things comes to my mind is no more school. Yay! No school means that I do not have to worry about waking up early in the morning, doing my homework, studying for my exams and many more. Summer also means that I can do things that I am not able to do while I'm busy with school. I can take dance lessons, read more books, and travel. I love traveling and I can't wait to travel with my family this summer.
What does summer mean to you? To me, summer is the time to explore, to do things that I want to do, and to refresh myself before getting back to school and work.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Group Presentation
This week I had a group presentation for my Mcom class. I've learned a lot of things during the preparation for the presentation and after observing other groups.
To me the group presentation was much harder than the individual presentation that we did last time. First, a group presentation requires collaborations with other team members. Second, this time together with my team members I had to present in front of a larger group, which creating more pressure and tension. However, from my group presentation and others, I learned that practice makes perfect. A group with good preparation comes off more confidently and relaxing.
To me, I like group work but sometimes I hate it. However I know that I can never escape from group work. And from working in groups, I make friends and learns from others as well. Therefore I will learn to enjoy group work and get the best out of those experiences.
To me the group presentation was much harder than the individual presentation that we did last time. First, a group presentation requires collaborations with other team members. Second, this time together with my team members I had to present in front of a larger group, which creating more pressure and tension. However, from my group presentation and others, I learned that practice makes perfect. A group with good preparation comes off more confidently and relaxing.
To me, I like group work but sometimes I hate it. However I know that I can never escape from group work. And from working in groups, I make friends and learns from others as well. Therefore I will learn to enjoy group work and get the best out of those experiences.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
PRSSA Networking Event
Last month, I went to a dinner hosted by UVU PRSSA chapter. PRSSA stands for Public Relations Student Society of America and is a unit of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America). While PRSA provides professional development for public relations professionals in general, PRSSA targets students who are pursuing careers in PR. The speaker of the event was John J. Seng, CEO and founder of Spectrum. I always want do non-profit PR; however, getting a decent salary with a non-profit for fresh out of college is not possible. Therefore, I've been looking for another career path before I settle down in non-profits. Seng's talk introduced me to health PR, a field I had never heard of PR, and inspired me to do something with health PR.
Seng started as a journalist with a few different magazines and newspapers before he decided that health PR is something that he wanted to do. Then Seng taught us how health PR has changed the public awareness and how to use story telling to influence publics. Seng then told the story of Sam Berns and what health PR professionals have done to raise awareness about the disease. Sam Berns suffers from progeria, a rare disease that accelerates the aging process. Seng felt like people need to know about this disease and he worked with Sam Berns to come up with an awareness campaign about progeria. I felt touched when Seng show a short clip of a BBC documentary about Sam Berns. At that moment, I realize health PR can have the same impacts as non-profit PR. Moreover, health PR provides me the opportunities to work with different clients and learn from different aspects of PR before working for a non-profit and solely supporting that organization. I also had a chance to talk with Seng after the dinner and so far I have benefited a lot from the connection with him.
Before the dinner, I came to a few PRSSA events but I did not feel like I learned something from those events. The dinner at UVU changed my mind and I regret that I was not active in PRSSA. Now I have a better vision about my future. Therefore, I will often come to PRSSA events, network with PR professionals, and expand my knowledge about health PR.
Seng started as a journalist with a few different magazines and newspapers before he decided that health PR is something that he wanted to do. Then Seng taught us how health PR has changed the public awareness and how to use story telling to influence publics. Seng then told the story of Sam Berns and what health PR professionals have done to raise awareness about the disease. Sam Berns suffers from progeria, a rare disease that accelerates the aging process. Seng felt like people need to know about this disease and he worked with Sam Berns to come up with an awareness campaign about progeria. I felt touched when Seng show a short clip of a BBC documentary about Sam Berns. At that moment, I realize health PR can have the same impacts as non-profit PR. Moreover, health PR provides me the opportunities to work with different clients and learn from different aspects of PR before working for a non-profit and solely supporting that organization. I also had a chance to talk with Seng after the dinner and so far I have benefited a lot from the connection with him.
Before the dinner, I came to a few PRSSA events but I did not feel like I learned something from those events. The dinner at UVU changed my mind and I regret that I was not active in PRSSA. Now I have a better vision about my future. Therefore, I will often come to PRSSA events, network with PR professionals, and expand my knowledge about health PR.
Monday, March 30, 2015
My remote meeting experience
Last Thursday, our team did an online meeting using Google Hangouts. Due to scheduling conflicts, it was difficult for us to physically meet. Moreover Alexis flew to Texas that day. Therefore, an online meeting is the perfect solution for us.
Most of us have been using Google Hangouts before so we're all familiar with the logistics of Google Hangouts. The reasons why we choose Google Hangouts because it's free and easy to use. In addition, Google Hangouts can accommodate a big groups of people without making people to pay for the services.
We all started out the meeting smoothly without any technical issues. However, we all feel a little bit of awkwardness because it was the first time that we conducted an online meeting. After having some small talks, we got into the main points of the meeting. While discussing solutions for our final project, we were able to see what we are talking about and where we're at by take advantage of the screen sharing feature. The meeting went really. Both the audio and the video worked smoothly. And most importantly, we accomplished the goals we set and planned ahead what we need to do for the final project.
Overall, the meeting just feels like a face-to-face meetings to me. I did not have any difficulty expressing my opinions as well as interacting with my team members. The online meeting made me realize that I need to take advantage of the online meeting services more often.
Most of us have been using Google Hangouts before so we're all familiar with the logistics of Google Hangouts. The reasons why we choose Google Hangouts because it's free and easy to use. In addition, Google Hangouts can accommodate a big groups of people without making people to pay for the services.
We all started out the meeting smoothly without any technical issues. However, we all feel a little bit of awkwardness because it was the first time that we conducted an online meeting. After having some small talks, we got into the main points of the meeting. While discussing solutions for our final project, we were able to see what we are talking about and where we're at by take advantage of the screen sharing feature. The meeting went really. Both the audio and the video worked smoothly. And most importantly, we accomplished the goals we set and planned ahead what we need to do for the final project.
Overall, the meeting just feels like a face-to-face meetings to me. I did not have any difficulty expressing my opinions as well as interacting with my team members. The online meeting made me realize that I need to take advantage of the online meeting services more often.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Never underestimate yourself and others
I went to see the Imitation Game the other night with no expectation at all. I did not know what the movie is about and I thought it's going to be some kinds of boring biographies. And the movie turns out to be a very compelling and meaningful story.
"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." This quote first reminds me to never underestimate others. Sometimes we unconsciously judge someone. However, you never know what's going to happen. Some people will end up change the world. Some people will do things that matter. Second, I learned that I should never underestimate my own worths. Sometimes I give up when I did not even try. I assume things are too hard for me and I probably can't do it. However, each of us is born with a purpose. And it's very important to understand our strengths and abilities so we can maximize our potentials.
So what does that quote mean to me? Recently when I am applying for jobs, I thought that I won't qualify for the job and shy away from the opportunity. Now I learn that I need more confidence and take every chance I can get.
"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." This quote first reminds me to never underestimate others. Sometimes we unconsciously judge someone. However, you never know what's going to happen. Some people will end up change the world. Some people will do things that matter. Second, I learned that I should never underestimate my own worths. Sometimes I give up when I did not even try. I assume things are too hard for me and I probably can't do it. However, each of us is born with a purpose. And it's very important to understand our strengths and abilities so we can maximize our potentials.
So what does that quote mean to me? Recently when I am applying for jobs, I thought that I won't qualify for the job and shy away from the opportunity. Now I learn that I need more confidence and take every chance I can get.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Presenting with a flip chart
This week I had an opportunity to apply the presentation skills I have learned in my Mcom class into practice. Overall the individual presentation allowed me to learn from others and improved my presentation skills. And personally I learned to be flexible and creative when dealing with unexpected situations.
At first I felt worried when prof. Middleton announced that all students have to present with a flip chart. I had never presented with a flip chart before and the flip chart looked like a strange and scary creature to me. Fortunately, each of us was given four times to present and receive feed backs before receiving the grades. I was extremely nervous on the day of my presentation. And I made a terrible choice by picking a station with a bended flip chart. As a result, my flip chart kept falling off. While rehearsing my presentation in my mind, I was nervously thinking of a way to fix my flip chart. And then I realized there was a giant pin hole on top of the flip chart. Immediately I tried to tuck the flip chart to the top of the easel. After that small incident, I felt so much better and regained my confidence.
From my experience, I learned that things happen no matter how well-prepared I am. The key to overcome the surprises and unexpected events is to have a positive attitude. Being calm, accepting the fact that incidents are parts of life, and searching for alternative solutions will help me turn the negative into positive.
At first I felt worried when prof. Middleton announced that all students have to present with a flip chart. I had never presented with a flip chart before and the flip chart looked like a strange and scary creature to me. Fortunately, each of us was given four times to present and receive feed backs before receiving the grades. I was extremely nervous on the day of my presentation. And I made a terrible choice by picking a station with a bended flip chart. As a result, my flip chart kept falling off. While rehearsing my presentation in my mind, I was nervously thinking of a way to fix my flip chart. And then I realized there was a giant pin hole on top of the flip chart. Immediately I tried to tuck the flip chart to the top of the easel. After that small incident, I felt so much better and regained my confidence.
From my experience, I learned that things happen no matter how well-prepared I am. The key to overcome the surprises and unexpected events is to have a positive attitude. Being calm, accepting the fact that incidents are parts of life, and searching for alternative solutions will help me turn the negative into positive.
Friday, March 13, 2015
What I learn from Susan Boyle
On Wednesday prof. Middleton showed the audition video of Susan Boyle to demonstrate that we must have confidence in ourselves. Every time I watch the video, somehow I get very emotional. Perhaps the life story of Susan Boyle inspires us to live our dreams. Perhaps Susan Boyle makes everyone feel ashamed because they make judgements based on her appearance. And perhaps her voice brings out the very best in everyone.
From watching Susan Boyle, I have more confidence to chase my dreams. She dares to make a statement about herself. She dares to prove that she can sing. You might wonder where her self-confidence comes from. As prof. Middleton said, the key is she knows her values. Susan Boyle knows that she can sing. She knows her voice is valuable. And she showed a phenomenal performance that wows the whole world. Another thing that I like about Susan Boyle is she inspires the minorities to prove their worth. Some people may behave in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable and some people might communicate differently from what we usually do. However, what really defines a person is his/her values. Alexis from our class wrote a great post on judgment. From Alexis's post, I learn that we need to respect each individual and help them maximize their potentials.
Each of us at one point might experience the feeling of being an underdog. We all have struggle in our lives and Susan Boyle is the light of hope. If I have a purpose in life and know my values, I can make impossible things possible. And I will make efforts to live each day purposely.
From watching Susan Boyle, I have more confidence to chase my dreams. She dares to make a statement about herself. She dares to prove that she can sing. You might wonder where her self-confidence comes from. As prof. Middleton said, the key is she knows her values. Susan Boyle knows that she can sing. She knows her voice is valuable. And she showed a phenomenal performance that wows the whole world. Another thing that I like about Susan Boyle is she inspires the minorities to prove their worth. Some people may behave in a way that makes us feel uncomfortable and some people might communicate differently from what we usually do. However, what really defines a person is his/her values. Alexis from our class wrote a great post on judgment. From Alexis's post, I learn that we need to respect each individual and help them maximize their potentials.
Each of us at one point might experience the feeling of being an underdog. We all have struggle in our lives and Susan Boyle is the light of hope. If I have a purpose in life and know my values, I can make impossible things possible. And I will make efforts to live each day purposely.
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