This past weekend was the Interview Day for the class of 2017 Miller Scholars. Gosh, that seems like so long from now! But at the same time, I am already almost half way done with college. I'll be a JUNIOR by the time this class starts college in the fall! Time really does fly, just like they say!
For me, Interview Days are much more exciting now that I am not being interviewed anymore. I enjoy being a host rather than an interviewee. We spent most of the day with the prospective students, guiding them to their interviews, getting to know them, and sharing our experiences with them.
There were several student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a study abroad panel for the students. This was truly an enjoyable experience for me, since I got to talk about my trip to Europe last summer. The only downside was that it made me want to go back again! Every time I look at my pictures or reread my blog posts from last summer, it makes me miss Europe very much. Hopefully, I’ll one day have an opportunity to return.
I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day, especially getting to know my student. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!
P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!
Showing posts with label Miller Honors Program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miller Honors Program. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Monday, November 7, 2011
Business As Usual
A couple weeks ago, I had another excellent opportunity for networking amongst BSU alums. As part of the Miller Scholars program, I was invited to attend the MCOB Alumni Awards dinner. Initially, I wasn’t going to go, since I had gone last year, but eventually decided it would be foolish not to take advantage of this great opportunity. And boy, am I glad I did!
When I arrived, I was told that I would be seated at President Gora’s table. Wow, dinner with the president of the University! Sitting at this table also meant that I would be introduced to important Miller College alumni, as well as award recipients of the evening. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to network with such knowledgeable business men and women.
Throughout the rest of the evening, I spent time with my mentor from the Miller Scholars program. Each of us is paired with a mentor who works with us and supports us throughout our years at Ball State. The Alumni Dinner was a good chance for us to get together and catch up again.
Of course, the most significant portion of the evening was the dinner itself. If you have a chance to participate in an Etiquette Dinner through the Career Center, take the opportunity to learn proper manners for events like these! While it is easy to just follow what everybody else does, you never know when you’ll be seated with the University president or your company’s CEO!
Below are some photos from my evening at the Alumni Awards Dinner. John Huffer, coordinator of BSU’s Photo Services, was kind enough to allow me to use his photos on my blog – thanks, John!
When I arrived, I was told that I would be seated at President Gora’s table. Wow, dinner with the president of the University! Sitting at this table also meant that I would be introduced to important Miller College alumni, as well as award recipients of the evening. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to network with such knowledgeable business men and women.
Throughout the rest of the evening, I spent time with my mentor from the Miller Scholars program. Each of us is paired with a mentor who works with us and supports us throughout our years at Ball State. The Alumni Dinner was a good chance for us to get together and catch up again.
Of course, the most significant portion of the evening was the dinner itself. If you have a chance to participate in an Etiquette Dinner through the Career Center, take the opportunity to learn proper manners for events like these! While it is easy to just follow what everybody else does, you never know when you’ll be seated with the University president or your company’s CEO!
Below are some photos from my evening at the Alumni Awards Dinner. John Huffer, coordinator of BSU’s Photo Services, was kind enough to allow me to use his photos on my blog – thanks, John!
Ball State University MCOB Alumni Awards Dinner 2011
Networking with Miller College of Business Alumni
Conversing with my mentor and his daughter at the reception
Thursday, October 20, 2011
In Reality
A couple weeks ago, a surprising opportunity was presented to me: I was invited to a luncheon with the CEO of Pepsi Beverages Company. What an incredible opportunity! Mr. Eric Foss was personable and professional. The best part is that he’s a Ball State grad! A group of 10 business students were given the chance to eat and converse with a real-world CEO. I suppose you could call it an “immersive” experience!
We were each given the chance to ask a question or request advice about his experience. When I mentioned the importance of international business, he shared with us about the time he spent working out of Hungary. He explained that four things are important to success in his eyes:
One of the best pieces of advice Mr. Foss gave us was this: “No matter what happens in business, family and friends are the most important.”
Before that day, a Fortune 100 company like Pepsi seemed unreachable to me. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet the CEO of one of its divisions, it is very real to me. Mr. Foss is just a regular guy who loves his job and loves his family. He even said to us, “Do what you love and for the company you love.” That’s a kind of job I’d like to have, and one of my classmates that was there today even would like an internship with Pepsi. Our situation with the MCOB Honors Program affords us opportunities like this that are able to turn massive corporations into connections at the tips of our fingers. What could be more real than that? Thanks, Ball State!
We were each given the chance to ask a question or request advice about his experience. When I mentioned the importance of international business, he shared with us about the time he spent working out of Hungary. He explained that four things are important to success in his eyes:
- cross departmental knowledge
- corporate and local experience
- international and domestic experience
- a presence in emerging markets
One of the best pieces of advice Mr. Foss gave us was this: “No matter what happens in business, family and friends are the most important.”
Before that day, a Fortune 100 company like Pepsi seemed unreachable to me. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet the CEO of one of its divisions, it is very real to me. Mr. Foss is just a regular guy who loves his job and loves his family. He even said to us, “Do what you love and for the company you love.” That’s a kind of job I’d like to have, and one of my classmates that was there today even would like an internship with Pepsi. Our situation with the MCOB Honors Program affords us opportunities like this that are able to turn massive corporations into connections at the tips of our fingers. What could be more real than that? Thanks, Ball State!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Career Fair
Every year, there are several opportunities for BSU students to meet and network with companies looking to hire college graduates. Another perk of these events is that many of these companies also have internships available for undergrads. That’s why I attended the most recent Fall Career Fair last week.
At first, I really thought it was unnecessary for me to attend the job fair. Why would I go if I don’t need a job yet? Then I went and realized how beneficial it was. First, though, I had to develop my resume. This was kind of a big deal because I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, Ball State has an excellent resource for students: the Career Center. This is a place where students can explore job and internship opportunities, as well as find assistance with interview skills and resume creation.
The Miller Honors Program sets up a “resume workshop” just before this career fair to help us prepare – a benefit of being selected for this program! I learned everything I needed to know to create a basic resume for the fair.
Like I said before, I really didn’t think I would need to be at the career fair. In some ways, I was right. As a sophomore, many companies weren’t interested in even hiring an intern my age. However, they still took my resume and made a note for next year. The benefits started coming in because I was able to make those contacts already for internships I may be interested in next time around. Also, there was less pressure to perform, because I’m just a sophomore. It made a good experience being able to practice networking with real recruiters, even though they won’t be interested until next year.
The moral of the story is that no matter your year, attend a career fair for the experience! There are more coming up this year - check them out here!
At first, I really thought it was unnecessary for me to attend the job fair. Why would I go if I don’t need a job yet? Then I went and realized how beneficial it was. First, though, I had to develop my resume. This was kind of a big deal because I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, Ball State has an excellent resource for students: the Career Center. This is a place where students can explore job and internship opportunities, as well as find assistance with interview skills and resume creation.
The Miller Honors Program sets up a “resume workshop” just before this career fair to help us prepare – a benefit of being selected for this program! I learned everything I needed to know to create a basic resume for the fair.
Like I said before, I really didn’t think I would need to be at the career fair. In some ways, I was right. As a sophomore, many companies weren’t interested in even hiring an intern my age. However, they still took my resume and made a note for next year. The benefits started coming in because I was able to make those contacts already for internships I may be interested in next time around. Also, there was less pressure to perform, because I’m just a sophomore. It made a good experience being able to practice networking with real recruiters, even though they won’t be interested until next year.
The moral of the story is that no matter your year, attend a career fair for the experience! There are more coming up this year - check them out here!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Game On!
The first “home” football game of the season was this weekend! It was exciting because we played IU at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (road trip!) and even more exciting because WE WON!!!!
The Miller College of Business Honors Program reserved a block of seats in the student section for the game, which provided a chance to meet and get to know other members of the program. My friends and I carpooled down to Indy earlier in the evening for dinner at T.G.I Fridays. Yum!
Walking around part of downtown Indy was a great experience – I had forgotten how beautiful it is, especially through the eye of a camera! I could have easily spent much longer exploring and taking photos. Before long, we turned a corner and there it was! The Lucas Oil Stadium was HUGE! Going inside was even more breathtaking; I’ve never been to a football game in a completely enclosed stadium before. Definitely an interesting experience!
I’ll admit, I was a bit of a skeptic going in to this game. I’m not much of a football fan myself and from what I remembered of last year, our team hadn’t been very good. But they pulled together to beat IU 27-20 on Saturday! It was exciting, even for me!
The camaraderie amongst the Ball State fans after the win made the night feel alive. On the walk back to the parking garage, we heard a chorus of “chirp chirp!” everywhere we went. This game is one I certainly won’t forget anytime soon.
Chirp Chirp!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Coming Home
We arrived home in the United States this past weekend. Flying from Charles de Gaulle to JFK to Indianapolis and then driving two hours to my house made for quite a day – 24 hours in fact. To make matters more interesting, my suitcase disappeared when we arrived in New York. It was quite the ordeal and I would have been a mess had it not been for some of my supportive classmates. They helped me figure out what to do and who to talk to. And they stuck with me when we found out a girl from Manhattan accidentally picked it up and took it home with her.
It took a couple days and a lot of hassle, but my suitcase finally showed up on our doorstep yesterday afternoon. After much celebration, I was able to unpack and get settled at home again. I had a lot of fun presenting my family with their gifts too. My sister received a purse from London, my dad a coffee mug from Paris, and my mom a pair of earrings from Kensington Palace in London.
When I had a chance, I transferred my photos to my computer and discovered a grand total of 1,798 photos. And that doesn’t include the ones I often took with Ashley’s camera when mine was inaccessible. Needless to say, it is going to take awhile to sort through and upload the best of the best. I will update past blogs with photos soon!
Another part of coming home is finishing our projects. As I said before, each of us has an individual project to work on for our study abroad class. One of my classmates, Austin Hostetter, kept a blog throughout our trip as part of his project - check it out here! Now that we are back in the U.S. we are responsible for finishing those, as well as other assignments, in the next month. Aside from recovering from jet lag, I am going to be a busy bee!
I finally realized the other day that summer has officially arrived for me. Hooray! This also means I need to be finding a job. My luck up until this point has not been so good, but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that I would be gone for two weeks. Now that I am super available, perhaps my luck will improve! The next month will also be exciting because one of my best friends from high school is getting married, and I’m a bridesmaid! Now that I’m home, I can help more with the wedding plans. So exciting!
I hope your days are going well as you wrap up the end of your school year or high school career. I wish you all the best of luck, and as always, feel free to ask me any questions you have about Ball State!
Cheers!
It took a couple days and a lot of hassle, but my suitcase finally showed up on our doorstep yesterday afternoon. After much celebration, I was able to unpack and get settled at home again. I had a lot of fun presenting my family with their gifts too. My sister received a purse from London, my dad a coffee mug from Paris, and my mom a pair of earrings from Kensington Palace in London.
When I had a chance, I transferred my photos to my computer and discovered a grand total of 1,798 photos. And that doesn’t include the ones I often took with Ashley’s camera when mine was inaccessible. Needless to say, it is going to take awhile to sort through and upload the best of the best. I will update past blogs with photos soon!
Another part of coming home is finishing our projects. As I said before, each of us has an individual project to work on for our study abroad class. One of my classmates, Austin Hostetter, kept a blog throughout our trip as part of his project - check it out here! Now that we are back in the U.S. we are responsible for finishing those, as well as other assignments, in the next month. Aside from recovering from jet lag, I am going to be a busy bee!
I finally realized the other day that summer has officially arrived for me. Hooray! This also means I need to be finding a job. My luck up until this point has not been so good, but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that I would be gone for two weeks. Now that I am super available, perhaps my luck will improve! The next month will also be exciting because one of my best friends from high school is getting married, and I’m a bridesmaid! Now that I’m home, I can help more with the wedding plans. So exciting!
I hope your days are going well as you wrap up the end of your school year or high school career. I wish you all the best of luck, and as always, feel free to ask me any questions you have about Ball State!
Cheers!
Better Than Christmas
Our European adventures finally led us to Paris, France. This was the city I had been waiting two weeks to see. Actually, I had been waiting five years to visit Paris. Seeing the beautiful City of Light and speaking the language I’d been learning was something I had dreamed of since high school. The night before we left for Paris was so exciting – I called it Christmas Eve.
We took the train from London to Paris and arrived in time to meet with the headquarters of the Michelin tire company. From there, we checked into our hotel and explored the city. A small group of us decided to wait until dark to go on our walk. It took us four hours to see everything, but we have some amazing photos of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower at nighttime. They were truly beautiful sights. For me, standing under the glow of Eiffel Tower was even better than Christmas.
One of the must-dos on my list for Paris was “go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” However, the day we left for Paris, I found out there had been a mishap with our tickets. A company visit had been scheduled for the same time as our tickets to the top and no others could be purchased. I couldn’t even find more available online. The stunning realization hit me – I wasn’t going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I was heartbroken.
I kind of felt numb, going through the motions of our company visit when I was supposed to be fulfilling a long-held dream. Our French guide who led the tour of the city understood this was something many of us really wanted to do. She made contact with the travel company, who agreed to pay for new tickets, and she worked her magic with the employees she knew at the Tower and somehow returned with tickets for all of us to the top! It was amazing – she’s my new hero.
Reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower was everything I dreamed it would be, and more. The day we were there was truly beautiful. We could see everything a mile away. I can still remember the feeling of awe as I stood gazing at such an incredible city. Even the sky is more blue and beautiful after a moment like that.
Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, I turned the corner of the top of the Eiffel Tower and there stood one of my dance choreography idols – Tyce DiOrio! I gasped and slowly backed up around the corner, “oh my gosh!” Then I peeked again, getting my camera ready to sneak a photo. My day was made.
I loved Paris. Ashley and I spent our free day visiting the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. We saw works of art we could have only dreamed of seeing before – the Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lilies, Degas’ ballerina paintings, and so much more. We shopped along the Ile de la Cite, conversing in French with shop owners and customers. For me, Paris was a city of dreams come true.
The Arc de Triomphe
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens
L'institut de France
The Louvre
Musee d'Orsay
Notre Dame
We took the train from London to Paris and arrived in time to meet with the headquarters of the Michelin tire company. From there, we checked into our hotel and explored the city. A small group of us decided to wait until dark to go on our walk. It took us four hours to see everything, but we have some amazing photos of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower at nighttime. They were truly beautiful sights. For me, standing under the glow of Eiffel Tower was even better than Christmas.
One of the must-dos on my list for Paris was “go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” However, the day we left for Paris, I found out there had been a mishap with our tickets. A company visit had been scheduled for the same time as our tickets to the top and no others could be purchased. I couldn’t even find more available online. The stunning realization hit me – I wasn’t going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I was heartbroken.
I kind of felt numb, going through the motions of our company visit when I was supposed to be fulfilling a long-held dream. Our French guide who led the tour of the city understood this was something many of us really wanted to do. She made contact with the travel company, who agreed to pay for new tickets, and she worked her magic with the employees she knew at the Tower and somehow returned with tickets for all of us to the top! It was amazing – she’s my new hero.
Reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower was everything I dreamed it would be, and more. The day we were there was truly beautiful. We could see everything a mile away. I can still remember the feeling of awe as I stood gazing at such an incredible city. Even the sky is more blue and beautiful after a moment like that.
Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, I turned the corner of the top of the Eiffel Tower and there stood one of my dance choreography idols – Tyce DiOrio! I gasped and slowly backed up around the corner, “oh my gosh!” Then I peeked again, getting my camera ready to sneak a photo. My day was made.
I loved Paris. Ashley and I spent our free day visiting the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. We saw works of art we could have only dreamed of seeing before – the Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lilies, Degas’ ballerina paintings, and so much more. We shopped along the Ile de la Cite, conversing in French with shop owners and customers. For me, Paris was a city of dreams come true.
The Arc de Triomphe
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens
L'institut de France
The Louvre
Musee d'Orsay
Notre Dame
Sunday, May 15, 2011
London Times
London is such a busy city! There is so much to do - I'm glad we have so much free time here. That's kind of a joke though, because it seems like every moment is full. I'm loving each of those moments though.
Friday was our tour of the city, 4 hours on a bus. We did get out at
Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard, which was a surprise.
I'm glad we got to see it though! We also rode the London eye that
day, which was AMAZING! I pretty much doubled my picture count that
day. After group activities were done, Ashley and I went for a walk by
Parliament, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace
again. We took lots more pictures and did some shopping too. That
night was salsa night at the bar in our hotel. There were salsa
lessons and dancing, and it was totally free! Oh my gosh, I loved it!!
Chris, Joey, and Gayle came too, and they all did really well. I was impressed! It was a fun night!
Yesterday, we went to Covent garden. Ashley decided to take a
dance class with me at Pineapple Dance studios, which I am using in
my individual project and we decided on a hip hop class.
It was awesome! We got so sweaty, but it was great! It was good
to experience a class for myself. Then we went down.
to the Pineapple store at the corner and I got a pair of dance pants.
I also found a DVD of highlights from their tv show, which is
fantastic. It should be a big help with my project.
We went to Covent Garden with Gayle and Lesley, so we met up with them
for lunch at a pub. Did some shopping
after that and headed to Hard Rock Cafe for an early dinner. Ashley
and I thought it would be super cool to say we've been to the first
hard rock. Then it was back to the hotel to change for swing dancing!!
I was so excited to find a Saturday Night Swing Club in London!
Getting there was a challenge though. Theyre doing renovations on the tube
and that makes life difficult. Today was awful trying to get around.
But anyway, we made it and it was really cool. Kind of like traveling
back in time. They had lessons in lindy hop, so we took a couple. Then
there was dancing in two other rooms. My favorite part was meeting and
dancing with British people. It was so much fun! Ashley came along
with me, but we only stayed a couple hours so we could get back
before it got too late. I had a fantastic time - it was definitely worth
swing dancing in London!
Today, we woke up tired and sick - both of us. Ashley said, "when I
woke up this morning, I was NOT ready for life" It was so true
though. A day or so after we got to London, my allergies kicked
In and they have been awful. I'm definitely wishing I had brought
more cold medicine from home now!
We had a very successful, busy day today though. King's Cross station was
under construction, but they had a picture spot set up still. It
wasn't the real platform 9 3/4, but it worked for what we wanted. I
was kind of disappointed we couldn't see places from the movies though.
Then we had an extremely long, complicated trip to the Tower of
London. It took forever, but we finally made it. Our group of friends
had yet to arrive, so we ended up separated. The tower was still
incredible, especially the crown jewels!
We did some more shopping in the evening and gathered many souvenirs gifts for family and friends. It has been a fun day, but we are certainly ready sleep tonight! I love London so much - glad we still have two more days here! I have a feeling the end of the week will be rather bittersweet...
Cheerio!
We also went to visit Kensington Palace while we were in London - it was beautiful!
Then we caught a show on the West End - Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. Fantastic show!
Westminster Abbey was majestic and beautiful, inside and out!
Friday was our tour of the city, 4 hours on a bus. We did get out at
Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard, which was a surprise.
I'm glad we got to see it though! We also rode the London eye that
day, which was AMAZING! I pretty much doubled my picture count that
day. After group activities were done, Ashley and I went for a walk by
Parliament, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace
again. We took lots more pictures and did some shopping too. That
night was salsa night at the bar in our hotel. There were salsa
lessons and dancing, and it was totally free! Oh my gosh, I loved it!!
Chris, Joey, and Gayle came too, and they all did really well. I was impressed! It was a fun night!
Yesterday, we went to Covent garden. Ashley decided to take a
dance class with me at Pineapple Dance studios, which I am using in
my individual project and we decided on a hip hop class.
It was awesome! We got so sweaty, but it was great! It was good
to experience a class for myself. Then we went down.
to the Pineapple store at the corner and I got a pair of dance pants.
I also found a DVD of highlights from their tv show, which is
fantastic. It should be a big help with my project.
We went to Covent Garden with Gayle and Lesley, so we met up with them
for lunch at a pub. Did some shopping
after that and headed to Hard Rock Cafe for an early dinner. Ashley
and I thought it would be super cool to say we've been to the first
hard rock. Then it was back to the hotel to change for swing dancing!!
I was so excited to find a Saturday Night Swing Club in London!
Getting there was a challenge though. Theyre doing renovations on the tube
and that makes life difficult. Today was awful trying to get around.
But anyway, we made it and it was really cool. Kind of like traveling
back in time. They had lessons in lindy hop, so we took a couple. Then
there was dancing in two other rooms. My favorite part was meeting and
dancing with British people. It was so much fun! Ashley came along
with me, but we only stayed a couple hours so we could get back
before it got too late. I had a fantastic time - it was definitely worth
swing dancing in London!
Today, we woke up tired and sick - both of us. Ashley said, "when I
woke up this morning, I was NOT ready for life" It was so true
though. A day or so after we got to London, my allergies kicked
In and they have been awful. I'm definitely wishing I had brought
more cold medicine from home now!
We had a very successful, busy day today though. King's Cross station was
under construction, but they had a picture spot set up still. It
wasn't the real platform 9 3/4, but it worked for what we wanted. I
was kind of disappointed we couldn't see places from the movies though.
Then we had an extremely long, complicated trip to the Tower of
London. It took forever, but we finally made it. Our group of friends
had yet to arrive, so we ended up separated. The tower was still
incredible, especially the crown jewels!
We did some more shopping in the evening and gathered many souvenirs gifts for family and friends. It has been a fun day, but we are certainly ready sleep tonight! I love London so much - glad we still have two more days here! I have a feeling the end of the week will be rather bittersweet...
Cheerio!
We also went to visit Kensington Palace while we were in London - it was beautiful!
Then we caught a show on the West End - Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. Fantastic show!
Westminster Abbey was majestic and beautiful, inside and out!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Roman Around
Rome is such a beautiful city! It took me awhile to get used to the different language and currency, but oh my goodness, there is so much to take pictures of! I have close to 400 from Rome alone. Our souvenir count has gone up, as well. T-shirts, postcards, bobbleheads....
Here's what we saw in Rome:
We made sure to eat authentic Italian food, too: pizza, lasagna, calzone, gelato, and more!
Leaving Rome this morning was a sad moment; I feel slightly nostalgic already. However, most of that is left behind when I realize we are now in LONDON! And it is certainly a fantastic city, and we've only seen parts of it! More to come on that later...
While we were in Rome, I made a list. This is my own version of a "When in Rome" list:
Here's what we saw in Rome:
Colosseum
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
U.S. Embassy
EnLabs (an entrepreneurship incubation center)
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza Navona
Pantheon
Vatican City (including the Sistine Chapel, Vatican museums, and St. Peter's)
We made sure to eat authentic Italian food, too: pizza, lasagna, calzone, gelato, and more!
Leaving Rome this morning was a sad moment; I feel slightly nostalgic already. However, most of that is left behind when I realize we are now in LONDON! And it is certainly a fantastic city, and we've only seen parts of it! More to come on that later...
While we were in Rome, I made a list. This is my own version of a "When in Rome" list:
1) everything goes fast - traffic, people, the metro, time...)
2) lemons actually DO grow on trees! Who knew?!
3) "sleep and eating should be constants in my life...they aren't anymore" -my roommate, Ashley
4) try the language, eat the food, and talk with Italians - it's fun!
5) learn how to say, "no grazie," trust me.
6) there are obelisks in almost every piazza - make "the tall, pointy thing" your group's rendez-vous spot.
7) take lots and lots of pictures! And make sure you're in one every now and then.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Benvenuti!
Our study abroad adventure began today in Rome! We took a flight to New York to connect to Rome, so that was exciting. The plane ride was looooong though. It was definitely worth it...
Rome is so exciting, I can hardly believe I am actually here!!!! It just keeps amazing me that I travelled 12 hours, toured Rome, Italy on a bus, stopped by the Colosseum, walked to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain, AND had an authentic Italian dinner all in what seems like one day!
I am so thrilled to be blogging from Europe! Pictures will come soon, probably in a photo blog later on. Meanwhile, I'll continue posting as time permits; we are busy busy busy over the next two weeks!
Rome is so exciting, I can hardly believe I am actually here!!!! It just keeps amazing me that I travelled 12 hours, toured Rome, Italy on a bus, stopped by the Colosseum, walked to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain, AND had an authentic Italian dinner all in what seems like one day!
I am so thrilled to be blogging from Europe! Pictures will come soon, probably in a photo blog later on. Meanwhile, I'll continue posting as time permits; we are busy busy busy over the next two weeks!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Finally
My roommate, Becca, got a calendar for me at Christmas that has the Eiffel Tower on it. The French script on the cover reads “Nous irons dimanche,” which translates to “We will go Sunday.” Every day it gets closer and closer to Sunday, May 8th I cannot stop thinking,
“Nous irons dimanche…”
For those of you who don’t already know, this Sunday I will be leaving for Europe on a two-week field study. Yes, Europe. FINALLY!!!!! I’ll be going with the Miller College of Business from Ball State. We will spend the two weeks travelling between Rome, London, and Paris. I have a feeling this is going to be the most amazing two weeks of my life.
It’s not all fun and games though. We each have individual projects to work on while we are there, because we are getting course credit for the trip. Our group has been meeting all semester (a mostly great group of honors business students, I’ll have you know) in preparation for the trip. We are also going to be visiting local businesses in each city, which is an excellent opportunity to observe international business.
For me, though, it is mostly fun – even with my project. My idea is to focus on entrepreneurship in Europe, specifically dance studios in London. This is so interesting to me, because it is so relevant to my major and plans for my future. I’m especially excited to be immersed in my major so early; I can’t wait to share my final project with you!
Also, I’ve officially finished my freshman year of college! My last finals and move out were on Wednesday. It’s nice to be home, if only for a few days before jetting off to Europe. Be on the lookout for new posts the next couple weeks. Yours truly has been asked to continue blogging this summer and next year, as well! I am looking forward to continue sharing my college experience with you!!
“Nous irons dimanche…”
For those of you who don’t already know, this Sunday I will be leaving for Europe on a two-week field study. Yes, Europe. FINALLY!!!!! I’ll be going with the Miller College of Business from Ball State. We will spend the two weeks travelling between Rome, London, and Paris. I have a feeling this is going to be the most amazing two weeks of my life.
It’s not all fun and games though. We each have individual projects to work on while we are there, because we are getting course credit for the trip. Our group has been meeting all semester (a mostly great group of honors business students, I’ll have you know) in preparation for the trip. We are also going to be visiting local businesses in each city, which is an excellent opportunity to observe international business.
For me, though, it is mostly fun – even with my project. My idea is to focus on entrepreneurship in Europe, specifically dance studios in London. This is so interesting to me, because it is so relevant to my major and plans for my future. I’m especially excited to be immersed in my major so early; I can’t wait to share my final project with you!
Also, I’ve officially finished my freshman year of college! My last finals and move out were on Wednesday. It’s nice to be home, if only for a few days before jetting off to Europe. Be on the lookout for new posts the next couple weeks. Yours truly has been asked to continue blogging this summer and next year, as well! I am looking forward to continue sharing my college experience with you!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
One for One
Tonight, I’m sitting in my room thinking about how quickly my first year of college has flown by. I’m also sitting here completely amazed at how much has changed, how much I’ve changed. I still marvel at the fact that we’ll be moving out in just three weeks – some days it seems like we just moved in!
But most of the time it doesn’t feel that way.. Because things aren’t the same as they were in August. For one thing, I have wayyyyy more friends than I think I’ve ever had. They’re pretty fantastic – without them, my year would have been totally different. My class of Miller Honors students has become more of a close-knit group of friends (being stuck on a bus for 3 hours together does that to you). You know what else is different? I’m a Christian now! Being part of my Bible study and CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) has truly changed my life.
Coming to Ball State has opened my eyes in so many ways. For one thing, I can now see how many incredible opportunities students have here. The possibilities are endless. Literally. Some days, my roommate and I are stressing about which opportunity to choose because there are so many! But I love it when we realize just how lucky we are to have these opportunities. The world is ours – I mean, really. I’m going to Europe on a field study next month! I never could have done that a year ago. My mind is now open to some amazing opportunities for internships over the next three years too.
Something else my eyes have been opened to this year is the fact that we are not alone on this world. College, and especially Ball State, presents so many opportunities to get involved in something bigger than yourself, whether it be in the local community or in the rest of the world. Let me tell you about something I recently experienced.
TOMS Shoes sponsors a really cool international event every year called “One Day Without Shoes.” The idea is that people around the world go barefoot for a day to spread awareness for those who never have the choice to wear shoes. TOMS has a one-for-one policy: for every pair of shoes bought, one pair is donated to a child in need. So cool! I just love this idea and decided to participate on April 5, 2011.
The photos below are from a barefoot walk entitled “Take the Walk” that coincided with One Day Without Shoes. About 50 of us walked a mile around campus in our bare feet!
But most of the time it doesn’t feel that way.. Because things aren’t the same as they were in August. For one thing, I have wayyyyy more friends than I think I’ve ever had. They’re pretty fantastic – without them, my year would have been totally different. My class of Miller Honors students has become more of a close-knit group of friends (being stuck on a bus for 3 hours together does that to you). You know what else is different? I’m a Christian now! Being part of my Bible study and CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) has truly changed my life.
Coming to Ball State has opened my eyes in so many ways. For one thing, I can now see how many incredible opportunities students have here. The possibilities are endless. Literally. Some days, my roommate and I are stressing about which opportunity to choose because there are so many! But I love it when we realize just how lucky we are to have these opportunities. The world is ours – I mean, really. I’m going to Europe on a field study next month! I never could have done that a year ago. My mind is now open to some amazing opportunities for internships over the next three years too.
Something else my eyes have been opened to this year is the fact that we are not alone on this world. College, and especially Ball State, presents so many opportunities to get involved in something bigger than yourself, whether it be in the local community or in the rest of the world. Let me tell you about something I recently experienced.
TOMS Shoes sponsors a really cool international event every year called “One Day Without Shoes.” The idea is that people around the world go barefoot for a day to spread awareness for those who never have the choice to wear shoes. TOMS has a one-for-one policy: for every pair of shoes bought, one pair is donated to a child in need. So cool! I just love this idea and decided to participate on April 5, 2011.
The photos below are from a barefoot walk entitled “Take the Walk” that coincided with One Day Without Shoes. About 50 of us walked a mile around campus in our bare feet!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Build-A-Business
Yesterday, I had the unique opportunity to visit the national headquarters of Build-A-Bear Workshops in Saint Louis, MO. My business program, along with the Pre-Business Living Learning Community, travelled to attend a company visit there. We hit a few bumps along the way, including a major one that left us stranded at a McDonald’s somewhere in Illinois for 3 hours, but we finally made it to St. Louis!
The story of the company’s founder, Maxine Clark, is one that really impresses me. Before the trip, I read an article in BizEd, the AACSB magazine. What she has done with her company in about 15 years is so impressive. She says business students “must have drive, passion, and commitment - and it also helps if they have a single great idea.” I thought this was so inspiring, especially since I’m studying entrepreneurship.
Maxine Clark created a fun environment for her customers and for her employees too, as we saw yesterday. All of the people we met seemed to be fun-loving, with their desks surrounded by their own Build-A-Bear friends. I found it really interesting that dogs and children are allowed in the office, which makes for a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. It seemed so simple an operation; I kept forgetting we were at the headquarters of Build-A-Bear, an internationally prestigious company.
As we sat in the Bear University where they train employees, we listened to representatives explain the main operations of the company to us, including sales, marketing, and the products themselves. It is always interesting to me to learn more about how much work goes on behind the scenes to present such a fantastic company.
This trip is another reason I’m so honored to be a student at Ball State and a member of the MCOB Honors Program. These kinds of opportunities are invaluable experiences that not every college student will have. Besides, spending an entire day with my Honors classmates is an experience in and of itself, especially spending 3 hours stranded at McDonald’s! We’re already becoming a tighter-knit group, which I think will be beneficial as we continue through college.
Thanks to those who put on the trip and especially to Build-A-Bear for having us!
Class of 2014 Miller Honors at Build-A-Bear Headquarters in St. Louis, MO
Taking a tour of Build-A-Bear Headquarters
Bear University
A life size “cub condo” at Bear University – just my size!
The story of the company’s founder, Maxine Clark, is one that really impresses me. Before the trip, I read an article in BizEd, the AACSB magazine. What she has done with her company in about 15 years is so impressive. She says business students “must have drive, passion, and commitment - and it also helps if they have a single great idea.” I thought this was so inspiring, especially since I’m studying entrepreneurship.
Maxine Clark created a fun environment for her customers and for her employees too, as we saw yesterday. All of the people we met seemed to be fun-loving, with their desks surrounded by their own Build-A-Bear friends. I found it really interesting that dogs and children are allowed in the office, which makes for a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. It seemed so simple an operation; I kept forgetting we were at the headquarters of Build-A-Bear, an internationally prestigious company.
As we sat in the Bear University where they train employees, we listened to representatives explain the main operations of the company to us, including sales, marketing, and the products themselves. It is always interesting to me to learn more about how much work goes on behind the scenes to present such a fantastic company.
This trip is another reason I’m so honored to be a student at Ball State and a member of the MCOB Honors Program. These kinds of opportunities are invaluable experiences that not every college student will have. Besides, spending an entire day with my Honors classmates is an experience in and of itself, especially spending 3 hours stranded at McDonald’s! We’re already becoming a tighter-knit group, which I think will be beneficial as we continue through college.
Thanks to those who put on the trip and especially to Build-A-Bear for having us!
Class of 2014 Miller Honors at Build-A-Bear Headquarters in St. Louis, MO
Taking a tour of Build-A-Bear Headquarters
Bear University
A life size “cub condo” at Bear University – just my size!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Burberry World
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture and meet the CEO of Burberry, Ltd.
Angela Ahrendts is a Ball State grad who has worked her way up the corporate ladder to the position of CEO in the English company famously known for its trench coats. She majored in Fashion Merchandising while at BSU and became president of DKNY awhile after graduating.
Since she’s been with Burberry, she’s been working to bring the company into the modern media world. Her company recently launched its new Website, Burberry World. It involves more interaction with videos, music, and photos and creates a unique experience for visitors. Burberry also is the first luxury brand to have its own social networking site, Art of the Trench. She is the cofounder of the Burberry Foundation, which works to give back to children in need.
While I personally am not a huge fan of luxury brands, I did find her presentation fascinating. What she is doing with her company is unique and interesting. Her innovation and motivation impressed me. I especially enjoyed talking with her at the reception afterward. She has a kind, warm personality. She even seemed genuinely interested in having our business field study group visit while we’re in London this summer!
All in all, it was an interesting experience. One of the excellent opportunities I’ve been given as a Ball State student and member of the Miller Honors program.
Below are some of my Miller Honors classmates with Angela Ahrendts.
Angela Ahrendts is a Ball State grad who has worked her way up the corporate ladder to the position of CEO in the English company famously known for its trench coats. She majored in Fashion Merchandising while at BSU and became president of DKNY awhile after graduating.
Since she’s been with Burberry, she’s been working to bring the company into the modern media world. Her company recently launched its new Website, Burberry World. It involves more interaction with videos, music, and photos and creates a unique experience for visitors. Burberry also is the first luxury brand to have its own social networking site, Art of the Trench. She is the cofounder of the Burberry Foundation, which works to give back to children in need.
While I personally am not a huge fan of luxury brands, I did find her presentation fascinating. What she is doing with her company is unique and interesting. Her innovation and motivation impressed me. I especially enjoyed talking with her at the reception afterward. She has a kind, warm personality. She even seemed genuinely interested in having our business field study group visit while we’re in London this summer!
All in all, it was an interesting experience. One of the excellent opportunities I’ve been given as a Ball State student and member of the Miller Honors program.
Below are some of my Miller Honors classmates with Angela Ahrendts.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Miller Interview Day 2011
This past weekend was the Interview Day for the class of 2015 Miller Scholars. We will have a full 4 classes of honors students for the first time next year! For me, Saturday was especially exciting since I was not being interviewed this time around. I remember my own Interview Day was what made my college choice final - Ball State and MCOB was exactly where I wanted to be! This year though, I enjoyed being a student host rather than an interviewee. We spent most of the day with the prospective students, guiding them to their interviews, getting to know them, and sharing our experiences with them.
There were several current student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a panel for the parents. It was interesting because I was the only freshman on a panel of sophomores and juniors. For the most part, I was unable to answer questions, especially those about internships and preparedness for them. But whenever there was a question about transitioning to college life or being a freshman on campus, it was all me!
I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day 2011, especially getting to know my student interviewee. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!
P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!
There were several current student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a panel for the parents. It was interesting because I was the only freshman on a panel of sophomores and juniors. For the most part, I was unable to answer questions, especially those about internships and preparedness for them. But whenever there was a question about transitioning to college life or being a freshman on campus, it was all me!
I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day 2011, especially getting to know my student interviewee. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!
P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Miller Scholars & Honors
I first learned about the Miller Scholars & Honors program 3 years ago when it began. I knew then that it was something I wanted to be a part of, even so far down the road. And here I am today, writing a blog about my experiences as a Miller Scholar.
The Miller Scholars are representatives of the Miller College of Business (MCOB) at BSU. These students are labeled some of the “best and brightest” of the college, which is quite an honor. The program provides full tuition for about 10 students in each freshman class. The scholarship also includes a study abroad stipend, networking opportunities, and more.
Aside from the Miller Scholars, there are also 10 students from each class selected to be Miller Honors students, who have the same opportunities without the scholarship. On a day-to-day basis, there is no distinction made between us. We are all classmates and we are all part of the Miller Honors Program. We really are becoming a close-knit group of students.
As a Miller Scholar, we have each been matched with a Miller Mentor, who is a MCOB alumnus and who wants to be involved with the college. My mentor is the CEO of his own company, which makes him a great contact for me since my major is Entrepreneurship. He has already been an excellent mentor, who genuinely cares for me and my future.
In October he invited me to attend the MCOB Alumni Awards dinner. This is an annual event that is attended by a large number of alumni, which makes it a great networking opportunity. As a freshman, I was honored to attend. At the dinner, I joined a table of my mentor’s associates, his son (who graduated from the MCOB in Entrepreneurship) and his son’s fiancée, as well as several other current students. I even had the opportunity to meet the VP of World Travel at the Walt Disney Company, who is also a Ball State grad.
As I continue through the College of Business, I can foresee the Miller Honors program providing me with even more excellent opportunities that will make a difference in my future.
If you have an interest in the Miller Honors program, definitely check out their website! The deadline for the 2011-2012 Miller Scholars is January 31, 2011. Also, applications for the 2011-2012 Miller Honors Programs are due March 1, 2011.
The Miller Scholars are representatives of the Miller College of Business (MCOB) at BSU. These students are labeled some of the “best and brightest” of the college, which is quite an honor. The program provides full tuition for about 10 students in each freshman class. The scholarship also includes a study abroad stipend, networking opportunities, and more.
Aside from the Miller Scholars, there are also 10 students from each class selected to be Miller Honors students, who have the same opportunities without the scholarship. On a day-to-day basis, there is no distinction made between us. We are all classmates and we are all part of the Miller Honors Program. We really are becoming a close-knit group of students.
As a Miller Scholar, we have each been matched with a Miller Mentor, who is a MCOB alumnus and who wants to be involved with the college. My mentor is the CEO of his own company, which makes him a great contact for me since my major is Entrepreneurship. He has already been an excellent mentor, who genuinely cares for me and my future.
In October he invited me to attend the MCOB Alumni Awards dinner. This is an annual event that is attended by a large number of alumni, which makes it a great networking opportunity. As a freshman, I was honored to attend. At the dinner, I joined a table of my mentor’s associates, his son (who graduated from the MCOB in Entrepreneurship) and his son’s fiancée, as well as several other current students. I even had the opportunity to meet the VP of World Travel at the Walt Disney Company, who is also a Ball State grad.
As I continue through the College of Business, I can foresee the Miller Honors program providing me with even more excellent opportunities that will make a difference in my future.
If you have an interest in the Miller Honors program, definitely check out their website! The deadline for the 2011-2012 Miller Scholars is January 31, 2011. Also, applications for the 2011-2012 Miller Honors Programs are due March 1, 2011.
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