Video Management

I have learned that in life, if you want something done, you must do it yourself. Many different opportunities have shown me this, primarily my internship. I have struggled with figuring out how to be an asset when the internship has nothing for me to do. It would frustrate me and many days, I would end up leaving early. I have also found that there is a lot of patience that is needed in certain work environments. Management style has a lot to do with the outcome of an internship or opportunity. My boss, for example, is not the most organized. His management style ironically is very laid back and does what is in the moment. He has a hard time looking past what needs to be accomplished that day that is due that day, so many days it is hard for him to assign me a project to work on. He is very good at what he does, but his organization skills if improved could help him work on projects further down the line and give him some time to relax.

Communication is also very important in the work environment. For me, I need very good communication with an individual to be able to execute whatever is needed to be done. I like to have specifics so I do not need to go back later and ask questions that should have been asked in the first place. I have found the more you ask, the more you know and understand. Working with certain people, you learn to understand how they think and what they want if they communicate with you enough, but what about someone who doesn't? It can be quite frustrating, trust me. Some days I have felt very lost and confused, not understanding the direction in which my boss wanted me to go, but being an intern you must sometimes take what they say with a grain of salt and just do the task to the best of your understanding. I have found that I now fully understand what my boss wants whether it be post completion of a draft of a project or pre completion because I have asked the questions.

I have recently been working on doing a video of the Open House for Nichols College. I have been working closely with one of my professors and have taught myself how to tape, edit, format, transition, and make a good looking professional video. Keep in mind I have never made a video, so my good may not be that good, however, my professor said I did well for a first timer. My internship was not giving me anything to do, so I took it upon myself to create this video. It is the first link below. It was due to my boss today at 1 pm, and me being the punctual person I am, got it in on Friday. I was so proud of myself for my accomplishments and for taking on this amazing leadership role. I was knocked off my pedestal today when I went in to my internship today and was informed it was not what my boss wanted. I had one hour to redo it and resubmit it. I was frustrated and quite anxious, hoping that my professor (the one who has the software) was around so I could meet the deadline. Thankfully he was and I got it in with 15 minutes to spare. The resubmit is the second link. I know that these situations I may have to face in the real working world, and I am thankful I am getting prepared for circumstances like this now so I know how to handle them then.


http://vimeo.com/110808526

http://vimeo.com/110932351

Movie maker

I can honestly say that I have started to become my own individual. The truth is, if you want something done, you  must do it yourself. That saying has been drilled into me since birth, but it was only recently that I found the importance of the quote. Sitting around waiting for something to do at a job can honestly be quite boring and a waste of time. I was eager to take my own stance in the internship and make something of myself. This past week I have been working with one if my professors on a video that was based around Open House. It is centered around the student- professor connection and the importance of  professors. I am  currently editing it and holping to show it as a  media outlet for prospective students.

Parents 101

Today. I got the opportunity to entertain a family while an Admissions Counselor was on the way to talk to them about their time on the tour. I had never entertained a family before, but being the external social butterfly I was, I didn't think it would be that hard to entertain a family for a little while. Little did I know that there are rules that go into talking to the parents as far as what you are allowed to say and what you cannot say. The simplest things can be the deciding factor for a family on enrolling in a college or deciding upon another school. Some things I learned today include:

1. Never mention money or finances in any way at any point. Every family situation is different and you cannot assume that each family will get provided the same financial help as others.

2, Never give specifics. Never state what time classes start or if teacher comes late. Never give your full life story because general is always better.

3, Never give any bad experiences. Make every situation a public relations event. If a teacher is late, never say that. If you didn't like a teacher, instead say that he was challenging and interesting. Never tell specifics unless parents ask.

This will help me to prepare for more admissions events coming up soon and it will prepare me to talk to prospective students and their parent or guardian.

Wine Anyone?

Today, I got to help host an event today for the faulty and staff of Nichols College. I got to work with Paul and the Admissions team to help host an event that would include wine and cheese and a very informal setting. I learned a lot from this event. For example, I learned that the Admissions department doesn't like putting it on and does it just to play nicely in the sandbox which was very evident when the professors arrived. The admissions department was kissing up to  many professors, however, I didn't know what was going on. I was being the typical friendly me, so I hoped that no professors thought I was being a kiss up. I also learned that having this internship has allowed me to form amazing connections with professors at events like this and many professors were very happy to see.

I was given the task of setting up the food and the wine and other alcohol for the event. I had to get a cart from the basement of the admissions department and fill it with the food trays that needed to be brought over to the Black Tavern. After a few times of misdirection as far as where to store the food until the Black Tavern was open, I also had to get the glasses, cups, napkins and toothpicks while waiting for the Black Tavern was being opened. Finally, when the Black Tavern did open, I got to set up the wines and lay out the trays of food. I learned quite quickly that red wine does not go into the fridge (I still don't know why) and white wine does. I enjoyed what I did for the event, though I felt I didn't really do a whole lot of planning and organizing the event. I did still have fun and I was able to make some great connections.

Fridays

Today was a lot different than the other days I have gone to work. There were so many prospective students in the Admissions Office when I arrived and yet it felt like no one was there. The top floor was abandoned, only to hold the life of a living plant in a few offices and some ambassadors climbing the stairs to get to papers printed off the printer or to go get a t-shirt for a prospective student. The divide in the office was incredible. Katie and the rest of the Admissions Counselors, minus Paul were no where in sight and there was not a trace of any kind to determine where they were going. I assumed they went to a high school to talk to the students. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was eerie.

I was invited once again to accompany a tour by my friend Brian. He and I have now worked a few tours together and have gotten the hang of each other's style. I have also found some helpful hints along the way. For example, we always discussed who would say what on the tour as well as not talking over one another. Having a game plan from the start helps to make the tours look and feel more fluid and comfortable. The family's react to our optimism in a positive light.

I also got to hand out fliers today made my Paul Brower inviting all of the faculty members to a wine and cheese reception where they would meet the new additions to the admissions department as well as casual socializing.

Fridays are slow, so I didnt do much. I hope though that I get to do more soon..

Lazy Days

Today, I went to my internship expecting to have a bustling day getting ready for Open House and next week's Homecoming weekend. Instead the office was quiet. Actually, unusually quiet that it was weird. I thought that most people were at lunch,  but apparently there were in a meeting or something. Katie was out of the office going to pick up her rental car and Paul was busy working on his own projects and such today.

I talked to the Katie Moulton, the new lady who is running Student Retention and the retention department of Nichols Admissions. We discussed improvements upon the retention of the school and how to make sure the students are satisfied. Having a role as an Resident Assistant, I have been able to be the inside eyes and ears for the residents to listen into what they have to say as far as what they want from this school. I got to bring up concerns with the residents as far as housing, programs and opportunities to help them to stay on campus. The rest of my internship consisted of me sitting and waiting for Paul for me to give an assignment and then leaving to go send a girl to the trainer. While he was gone, the fire alarm went off and by the time we were allowed in the building, there was only 5 or so minutes left. Paul's assignment for me was after he printed out a newsletter, to distribute them into the professors mailboxes. But since the fire alarms interrupted the process, I think this project will be held off until Friday. Today was quite boring and frustrating for me.

New Challenges

Today, my internship started early. In fact, I got part of my assignment yesterday for my internship. Paul decided to sit with me and my friends yesterday at lunch and we discussed many things. Of those included my idea to get a volleyball team started. Many students in my hallway have expressed the desire to join a volleyball team.

I had previously mentioned it to Paul and expressed the amount of student retention and the benefits it has to having a team on campus. Yesterday, he asked me to set up a table at the college club fair with some information on the first meeting and a sign up for people who may be interested in the team. I was interested in the fact that not only the fact that I got this club off the ground so quickly, but also that the fact that there were so many girls interested in joining the team. I felt like this was one step to event planning, since I organized the logistics of the club and got members to sign up, as well as setting up applications for people to coach the team. Many questions were asked about the team and thankfully I did have some assistance. I had some girls to sit beside of me to help answer volleyball vocab and runs and such.

After the college club fair, I went to the Admissions Department to help Katie with some last minute paperwork. I was asked to set folders up for each of the admissions counselors with information and handouts in folders. There was over 200 folders that I needed to fill, so Katie asked to call in for backup and some of the other campus ambassadors pitched in. Included in the folder we had to put duplicates of certain items, such as "core cards" that a student fills out with his name and major and hometown. I wondered why this was and Katie informed me that it was because of the opportunities. Students talk and like to stick together. Students can also market by word of mouth and give others brochures for the college.

Today overall was a very good day. I got to practice my skills of group work to effectively get all the folders done and I got the chance to  also help plan and organize the making of the volleyball team.