Here is a miny bitch rant:
What is unbelievable to me is how expensive textbooks are. I will be spending aboout $600 on four textbooks, used textbooks. I have had it with these prices. It is robbery. What gets me even more frusterated is when you have to purchase these expensive textbook, that is only read or used once or twice.
I think there should be a textbook library at UC, or a system similiar to that of highschools. College is expensive as it is, books don't need to rival the cost.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Goodbye Helen
Unfortuantely, we had to fire our housemother/cook at Beta this week. It was sad because, although kind of weird and creepy at times, Helen was an important individual to the house. She cooked us lunch five days a week and dinner four days a week.
She was fired because we just cant support her salary and food budget anymore. Our chapter was $20,000 in the hole for this year and Helen was the only significant expense we could cut. Although I didn't really care for her food. I appreciate the service she has provided to Beta Nu. We will miss you.
She was fired because we just cant support her salary and food budget anymore. Our chapter was $20,000 in the hole for this year and Helen was the only significant expense we could cut. Although I didn't really care for her food. I appreciate the service she has provided to Beta Nu. We will miss you.
Summer Vacation
My family has decided our summer vacation plans. This summer we are going out to Idaho to visit my dad's sister in Sandpoint and my mom's sister in Idaho Falls. Although Idaho is kind of boring, I do enjoy being immersed in nature. My aunt Joni lives in a real log cabin on a ski mountain. It is fairly isolated from the town and I enjoy the peacefulness.
We will visit Yellowstone National Park. I have been there once before and I really enjoyed it. Fortunately, we are flying this time instead of driving/.
We will visit Yellowstone National Park. I have been there once before and I really enjoyed it. Fortunately, we are flying this time instead of driving/.
Financial Stress
Money doesn't buy happiness. I agree with this statement, however, I also believe that money does buy comfort. As of right now, I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I worked hard in highschool and made a pretty large amount in highschool from my landscaping business. However I have become increasingly lax on spending and am now afraid that I may have to take student loans.
The biggest reason for this is my investment accounts. My portfolio is down about 35% this year. Although it has outperformed the market, it is still causing a lot of stress. In reality, my picks havent been to bad, my portfolio is just significantly being weighed down by Citigroup. Citigroup's year high was around $50.00. I bought in at $19.00, thinking there wasn't a chance it could go lower. Well, now citigroup is fluctuating at around $3.00 a share. It is scary, but at least I am not like my former coworkers who had a majority of their 401k in citigroup. One of my co-workers has lost close to $500,000. That is crazy.
The biggest reason for this is my investment accounts. My portfolio is down about 35% this year. Although it has outperformed the market, it is still causing a lot of stress. In reality, my picks havent been to bad, my portfolio is just significantly being weighed down by Citigroup. Citigroup's year high was around $50.00. I bought in at $19.00, thinking there wasn't a chance it could go lower. Well, now citigroup is fluctuating at around $3.00 a share. It is scary, but at least I am not like my former coworkers who had a majority of their 401k in citigroup. One of my co-workers has lost close to $500,000. That is crazy.
Talk radio
Brushing my teeth, taking a shower, sleeping... these are all things that are built into a daily routine. However, one abnormal routine of mine is to listen to talk radio every day. If I am studying, driving, or at work, there is a very good chance I am listening to talk radio.
I listen primarily to conservative talk radio. My favorite hosts are Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and Mark Levin. Mark Levin is the best, I find him to be very intelligent and absolutely hilarious. I like talk radio, because it allows me to stay up-to-date on current political matters. I DO NOT use talk radio as a credible news source, but rather for entertainment and enjoyment.
Sometimes, I listen to liberal talk radio like AIR America, but after about 15 minutes of listening I want to punch the next person I see in the face. Whether you are a lib or a conservative or a moderate, I encourage you to explore talk radio and find a show that you enjoy.
I listen primarily to conservative talk radio. My favorite hosts are Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and Mark Levin. Mark Levin is the best, I find him to be very intelligent and absolutely hilarious. I like talk radio, because it allows me to stay up-to-date on current political matters. I DO NOT use talk radio as a credible news source, but rather for entertainment and enjoyment.
Sometimes, I listen to liberal talk radio like AIR America, but after about 15 minutes of listening I want to punch the next person I see in the face. Whether you are a lib or a conservative or a moderate, I encourage you to explore talk radio and find a show that you enjoy.
Blogging
I wanted to give an assessment as to how I feel about blogging. Honestly I don't see what the big hype over blogging is. I understand that blogging might be interesting if you are following an author, athlete, or celebrities blog, but who cares about what I have to say .
If people enjoy blogging then more power to them. I do not. The only potential problem I see with blogs is that it is sometimes seen as a credible source for news.
If people enjoy blogging then more power to them. I do not. The only potential problem I see with blogs is that it is sometimes seen as a credible source for news.
Beta Theta Pi Conflicts
As you are aware I am a member of Beta Theta Pi. I was just initiated a quarter ago. Being a fairly strong and opinionated person, it hasn't taken long for me to clash with certain members. Specificallly, I have been at constant odds with those in recruitment, in which I am the contact chair.
Those in charge refuse to take risks and are unwilling to think outside of the box. Recruitment is probably one of the biggest challenges facing our chapter and it is taken with a grain of salt. I feel as though I am constantly coming up with big, outside the box ideas and am constantly being told that we are unable to do that because we are to small. I have had with these close-minded people and do not want to work under them anymore.
Those in charge refuse to take risks and are unwilling to think outside of the box. Recruitment is probably one of the biggest challenges facing our chapter and it is taken with a grain of salt. I feel as though I am constantly coming up with big, outside the box ideas and am constantly being told that we are unable to do that because we are to small. I have had with these close-minded people and do not want to work under them anymore.
Nancy Zimpher
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Nancy Zimpher for the outstanding work she did as president of the University. Her work and dedication is evident and she has enhanced the reputation of UC. I applaud her for going against the majority to fire Bob Huggins, although he was a great coach, he lacked the standards that President Zimpher enforced. Good Luck in NY!
Golf
The greening of the grass always brings about a sense of excitement within me. Why? Because it marks the beginning of the golf season.
I have been playing golf since the age of 5 and I absolutely love the game. I was a great golfer in the seventh and eighth grades. Going into highschool, a lot was expected of me from my golf coach. I was one of the best on the team that year. Unfortunately, it was my best season in high school. My landscaping business took priority over golf, and my skills suffered as a result. I do not have any regrets about that, I just view golf now as a recreational sport now rather than a competitive sport.
Hopefully, I will be able to hit up the links this weekend.
I have been playing golf since the age of 5 and I absolutely love the game. I was a great golfer in the seventh and eighth grades. Going into highschool, a lot was expected of me from my golf coach. I was one of the best on the team that year. Unfortunately, it was my best season in high school. My landscaping business took priority over golf, and my skills suffered as a result. I do not have any regrets about that, I just view golf now as a recreational sport now rather than a competitive sport.
Hopefully, I will be able to hit up the links this weekend.
LHP or KBS?
I am currently facing a difficult dilemma: should I apply for the Carl Lindner Honors PLUS Program or stay in the Kolodzik Business Scholars. It has been a dilemma I have been personally debating for over a month. LHP is the premier business honors program in the region. I applied last year, but was denied admitance. LHP is a full ride scholarship including a paid, two week study abroad plus the best co-op offers. It is a great program, but my heart is in KBS.
KBS is only a half ride and doesn't pay for international study abroads, but I love the program. The program director, Marianne Lewis, is an incredible resource and the students are much less arrogant and more down to earth than LHP. LHP people seem all the same to me.
If money wasn't an issue, I would stay in KBS, but I am beginning to fear that I amy have to start taking student loans at the end of my sophomore year. I wil take time this weekend to make my final decision.
KBS is only a half ride and doesn't pay for international study abroads, but I love the program. The program director, Marianne Lewis, is an incredible resource and the students are much less arrogant and more down to earth than LHP. LHP people seem all the same to me.
If money wasn't an issue, I would stay in KBS, but I am beginning to fear that I amy have to start taking student loans at the end of my sophomore year. I wil take time this weekend to make my final decision.
Profound Change in Q2: Part 2
The second profound change is that I am preparing myself to take up a language with hopes of eventually becoming fluent in it. I am currently studying Arabic via Rosetta Stone software with plans of entering the program in the fall.
I decided to take Arabic, because with a flattening world, a global perspective is needed, especially in business. With a degree in OM, I want to start a global logistics and outsourcing firm that works primarily in developing countries. I am specifically targeting Northern Africa. I chose arabic because it is the primary language of most north african countries.
As I have stated, I have already began studying. It is without a doubt the most difficult undertaking I have set out to accomplish. However, I look forward to the challenge.
I decided to take Arabic, because with a flattening world, a global perspective is needed, especially in business. With a degree in OM, I want to start a global logistics and outsourcing firm that works primarily in developing countries. I am specifically targeting Northern Africa. I chose arabic because it is the primary language of most north african countries.
As I have stated, I have already began studying. It is without a doubt the most difficult undertaking I have set out to accomplish. However, I look forward to the challenge.
Profound Change in Q2: Part 1
This quarter was a quarter of significant change and personal discovery. i am going to have a series of postings that discusses each of these changes.
Change #1: Change of major.
I am fortunate to be a part of the Kolodzik Business Scholars Program. This grants me the privledge of being directly admitted as freshman into the college of business. I came into the fall quarter as a stated finance major. This was due largely to the fact that I worked for Citi Smith Barney and planned to work their after graduation. After discovering all of the different mjor choices, I decided I truely had no desire to be in finance. So, I switched to a double major in finance and entrepreneurship because I want to either a) own my own business or b) work for a venture capital firm.
I have since switched again, I am now an Operations Management major. Although I would love to take classes or major in entrepreneurship, I feel as though it is unnecessary to have a degree in that field. I chose OM because I want to control all aspects of a business. I am still learning about the major, but from what I can see it is perfect for me.
Change #1: Change of major.
I am fortunate to be a part of the Kolodzik Business Scholars Program. This grants me the privledge of being directly admitted as freshman into the college of business. I came into the fall quarter as a stated finance major. This was due largely to the fact that I worked for Citi Smith Barney and planned to work their after graduation. After discovering all of the different mjor choices, I decided I truely had no desire to be in finance. So, I switched to a double major in finance and entrepreneurship because I want to either a) own my own business or b) work for a venture capital firm.
I have since switched again, I am now an Operations Management major. Although I would love to take classes or major in entrepreneurship, I feel as though it is unnecessary to have a degree in that field. I chose OM because I want to control all aspects of a business. I am still learning about the major, but from what I can see it is perfect for me.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Procrastination
If you are wondering why I am about to create 16 posts in one night, it is because I am constantly procratinating in almost everything I do. Procrastination is one of biggest hinderances.
It amazes how I recognize this weakness and although I try to take steps to reduce procrastination, I inevitably continue to procrastinate. My best example of this is the book I had to read for Management Skills Practicum. I bought the book before the quarter even started, planning to finish by midterms. I ended up finishing the book two days before it was due and pulled an all nighter the night before to complete the paper.
My new years resolution should of been to work on not procrastiniating.
It amazes how I recognize this weakness and although I try to take steps to reduce procrastination, I inevitably continue to procrastinate. My best example of this is the book I had to read for Management Skills Practicum. I bought the book before the quarter even started, planning to finish by midterms. I ended up finishing the book two days before it was due and pulled an all nighter the night before to complete the paper.
My new years resolution should of been to work on not procrastiniating.
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