My "Professional" Journey (Slideshow)

 

I don't really have a script for my project because I chose to do a slideshow but I would like to use this weeks post to share the topic I chose and why I chose it. I chose the professional journey topic but decided to change it a bit. My career is something I have thought a lot about since finding out only a few weeks ago that I may be able to graduate college a year early.This was never part of the plan, it just worked out this way and while it is exciting to be getting my diploma sooner and starting my life in the real world, it is also pretty terrifying. I always expected that I would have three summers to have jobs and internships to help me decide what I wanted to do with my life, and now I find out this is my last one. So, many sleepless nights and near panic attacks later I decided that while I feel ready to graduate college, I dont feel ready for the real world yet. Graduating early doesnt have to mean being thrown into the real world full force; instead I can use the time to gain life experience and do something I have always wanted to do: travel the world.

"Travel the world" is a lot easier said than done. It takes a lot of planning and a lot of saving, but so far I am on the right track. I am saving the majority of every paycheck I get this summer and planning to work throughout the year too. My best friend is coincidently in the same situation, so we are going to do it together. We both have been following numerous travel blogs that interest us and compiling lists of what we want to see and do abroad. So far on the agenda we plan to visit Australia, Thailand, China, hopefully Tibet, India, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Austria, Germany, Holand and the UK. There has been talk of giong to South Africa, as well as adding a South America portion to the trip, but 6 months is shorter than it sounds. We plan to go in the fall or winter of next year so we can still have the summer to work or get an internship before we leave.

For this project I am going to use prezi to not only talk about what we want to see and do, but to actually map out our route. Obviously with the trip being a year away the plans arent exact, nor are they extremely detailed but doing this project has really helped me map out where I want to go. I am not usually a big fan of prezi because studies have shown that all of the unnecessary movement is distracting, but for the purpose of taking viewers across the globe to not only see, but experience the trip I am planning, I think it has a purpose.

Rough draft podcast - I Got a Second Chance

At the age of 41, I received a second chance and a new perspective on life as the result of a near death experience. On August 8, 2002  I was taken by ambulance to Stanford Hospital where I spent three days on life support,  two weeks in a coma, and several more weeks in hospitals and institutions undergoing therapies to regain my memory and basic functions such as walking, talking, dressing, and feeding myself. Some really smart doctors had told my family I would not live without life support, I would never have brain function but my life today proves they were all wrong. I have recovered from what had been reported to be an irreversible state brought on by multiple organ failure.  To be clear, this all came about as a result of alcoholism.

I did not plan to be an alcoholic it just seemed to happen gradually over the years. I started drinking in high school for fun like all my other friends.  I discovered early on that a couple of beers made my insecurities disappear. In my mind, having a little buzz made me funnier, prettier, a better dancer, singer, friend. A little “liquid courage” and I could be whoever I wanted to be; like a chameleon.  I didn't know alcoholism was a progressive disease.  I didn't know that eventually physically, mentally, and emotionally I would have no choice but to drink. I didn't know that someday I would cross a line that changed everything.

It all started so innocently; I drank for fun, then it was fun but caused problems, and ended with only drinking and problems. Instead of me taking a drink the drink would took me.

For many years my life was pretty good. I “controlled” my drinking. I couldn't stop drinking but why would I want to? I had a great life. Worked hard all week and partied on the weekends. Then things changed. My business was failing, relationships with family and friends were rocky, I didn't go out much anymore and I never could get back to those feelings of ease and comfort I used to have. Alcohol had stopped working. No matter how much I drank those feelings of confidence and belonging would not come back. I couldn't stop but why would I want to?  Eventually alcohol was the only thing that I had left, the only thing that numbed the guilt and remorse I felt for what had become my sad little life. I found temporary comfort in the bottle and the belief that I was just fine all by myself. I didn't need or want anyone’s help or advice.  Besides, I wasn't one of those alcoholics; drinking from a brown bag living under a bridge... I’m fine; leave me alone, I’m fine. I’m fine.

My last drink could have been my last day of my life had I not made a drunken call to my mom in Tahoe. She couldn't tell what I was saying but she heard me say something about blood; she hung up, and called the police. On their way down from Tahoe my parents were in touch with the hospital and told I had died from alcoholism. They were keeping me on life support until my parents could come and say their final goodbyes. My mom told the doctors they were crazy. I couldn't possibly be an alcoholic! That’s how well I hid my disease -not every alcoholic drinks from a brown paper bag or lives under a bridge. You probably have a few alcoholics in your life too.

Much of my miraculous recovery I owe to doctors, nurses, friends, and family who encouraged and prayed for me daily while never giving up hope. The rest I owe to a spiritual experience I clearly remember soon after regaining consciousness. While the details are well defined in my mind, it is difficult to describe to strangers in words however, suffice to say I am a better person today as a result of this significant event. It has reshaped my identity and is the catalyst for many positive changes, aspirations, goals, and achievements in my life.

The months of physical and cognitive rehabilitation were humbling, difficult and often painful. I was inspired and overwhelmed by the kindness of the people, strangers really, who had been so empathetic, caring and nurturing in their thoughts and actions when I was truly helpless. I gained a greater appreciation for virtues like patience, acceptance, asking for and receiving help graciously. Most importantly, I have a deep appreciation of how precious every day is. In exchange for a bottle and a hangover, I have been gifted a second chance at life.

Podcast Rough Draft

Rough Draft

Filling in the Gaps

            For as long as I can remember, my sister and I have been sitting in dentist, orthodontist, periodontist, and oral surgeon chairs.  We were both born missing most of our adult teeth. A rare genetic birth defect (a gift from my grandpa and father) has left us with quite a mess in our mouths. Let’s just say that our smiles looked like jack-o-lanterns. Our parents began the long and expensive process of rebuilding our jaws and mouths when I was just five years old and thirteen years later the job is still not finished. While most of my friends were getting braces, I was already on my second set. I had already been through surgery for my jaw, had posts drilled into my bone along with permanent wires to hold together what was there, and had many false teeth in place to make my smile tolerable.

            This story is not about how awful it was for me, but rather a tale of how this process has defined a direction for my life.

            It wasn’t much of a surprise to learn that few qualified professionals are trained in treating this type of birth defect. This year I have been to my doctors office in Arlington Heights (a 45 minute drive each way) over 30 times for surgeries, which included bone grafts, ten implants, fifteen crowns, and prosthetics on over eight teeth. This work required three surgeons, a periodontist, and a prosthetic expert. My family and I were supposed to go to Atlanta for these procedures and fly back and forth between them, but we were lucky enough to find ONE office in Illinois qualified for the job. This is the crux of the story. The astounding reality is that there is a significant void in medical/dental practices that can deal with this condition holistically.

            My sister and I decided a couple of years ago that our goal would be someday to open our own dental practice in Chicago that would provide all of these services for patients in similar situations. We feel that given our own personal experience, we can offer a compassionate, qualified service to individuals because we have ‘been there’ and can relate to their needs.

            The plan proposes that I will provide the business expertise, and my sister will provide the dental expertise. My sister is two years younger so while she is completing college and dental school, I will be gaining business and communication experience through working and furthering my education.

Serving and helping others has been a natural mission for me my whole life. I am happiest when I feel that I have made a positive impact. I attend a Jesuit high school where service is at the core of our education and have participated in many service projects, which include trips to remote, poverty-stricken areas. Much of my high school service has been working at the Ray Graham organization as a mentor for Circle of Friends, an organization that creates friendships between disabled adults and students from Saint Ignatius.

If my sister and I succeed in opening this practice, my work will be fulfilling because we will be enabling others to get the beautiful smiles they deserve, while keeping it affordable. I don’t want other families to endure the cost and insurance fights my family has experienced in order to obtain appropriate dental care. Getting the insurance company to even look at our case has been a battle, but being denied by the insurance company multiple times has been especially exhausting. My mom is on the phone day and night trying to get some coverage for a procedure that will equal paying for eight years of college.

            Ironically, a genetic flaw has provided the roadmap to my future. Obviously, I would have preferred regular visits from the tooth fairy, however that situation not being the case, I am thankful my family has been able to provide me with a beautiful smile and an optimistic future. 

Parents and Privacy

I cannot even count the number of times that I have had to explain social networking and privacy to my parents. After over a year of my mother being on Facebook, she still does not understand how it works and continues to make embarrassing Facebook faux pas.  From commenting on my friend’s pictures(who she doesn’t even know), to mistaking wall posts for private messaging, she really should not even be allowed to have an account. Ironically however, despite her technological incapability, she is more active on Facebook than I am. She can spend hours Facebook stalking old friends, she uses status to announce her every action and she comments on nearly every post on her newsfeed. I find it very interesting the way that my generation uses social networking vs. the way older generations do. For my age group, each social networking site has its own purpose. Twitter is for random thoughts and “status updates,” while Facebook is for more general communication. Instagram is to share cool photos and Vine is used to take videos. But for our parents, they haven’t managed to differentiate between these seemingly similar but different services. It seems that they use Facebook for all of the above. I have seen this with all of my family members on Facebook, of which I have many. Both of my parents, all of my aunts and uncles and even my grandmother is on Facebook. 

The other recent development I have noticed regarding parents on social networking: using social media for keeping tabs on their kids.  This is a phenomenon that I have been witnessing a lot lately among my younger siblings friend’s parents. Never has it been easier for parents to stay up to date on their kid’s social lives. As of the last six months, my mother not only has a Facebook account, but an Instagram, Twitter and Vine. My 16-year-old sister recently just got in trouble based on something that was posted on Facebook, and my Mom is on a daily basis keeping close tabs on my little brother’s “questionable” friends via social networking. What kids are struggling to realize is that their transparency applies to parents too. 

 My mom's most recent post....pretty sure I am friends with all of these people on FB. 

Privacy

Who is viewing my profile on Facebook and how do I know these are people I want to have access to my page?
Clearly I need to know more about privacy settings on Facebook. When I read Making Sense of Privacy and Publicity by Danah Boyd, I got a tingly sensation up the back of my neck. I wondered if I was one of those people who misunderstood Facebook’ privacy changes.  I’m already a bit paranoid about my personal information, thoughts, and whereabouts being posted to friends but now I’m even more concerned.
On the other hand, those confusing privacy settings have worked for my advantage. A few years ago I tracked down two business associates who owed me money and was able to reconnect with them from information they posted. I also investigated a person who hit me in bad car accident last year. She uses Facebook daily and was posting to her page at the scene while I was being loaded into an ambulance!
 I must admit I enjoyed playing detective and secretly tip toeing through this woman’s world. She hadn't posted anything incriminating and her photo albums did not show her as a heavy drinker. Knowing this information made me feel better.

Why are pictures of drunk or naked people funny? I don’t know but sometimes they are. At least Paris Hilton kept her friend's anonymity.

I think it’s partly because it is at someone else’s expense that I am entertained by people’s faux pas with social media.

I remember a news story of a person who, on the way home from her interview, tweeted that Cisco had just offered her a job. Instead of sharing her excitement and gratitude for the great opportunity she tweeted she would have to consider the “fatty paycheck” against the commute and work she hated.

 Apparently the Human Resources Department was following her and before she made it home, the job offer was rescinded. In addition to losing her job opportunity she also had to deal with the embarrassment of backlash because her story was all over the news and social media.

This is not an unusual story just one of many that makes me think twice before posting something I think is witty or funny.

You are the One Millionth Visitor!!!1!!!1!!1one!

"Why are there always these stupid ads on every website?" 

"Because if not, the internet would only exist for crappy blogs and amateur porn."

These wise words from a computer science teacher at my high school have always rang true in discussing the business model that is the Internet. One of the biggest misconceptions that is espoused by both computer newbies and extreme programmers is that the Internet is truly free, in the sense of both non-payment and freedom of information. However, like the concept of "free lunch", nothing is truly free, and everything has its cost on the Internet. Unless hosting your own site or playing around in the dark recesses of the World Wide Web, every website you visit has an agenda. The internet rests in a very weird place of being both a great business prospect and not a business at all, and in order to make any real money from a non-paid service, advertising is the only way. Because there will always be a cheaper alternative on the internet, accurate and precise advertising can make or break an online company.

The ability to pattern match searches, posts, interests, and other things in order to create viable ad campaigns is one of both great convenience and intrusion. I have been able to see both the upsides and downsides of this method of advertising in my life. For instance, Pandora Internet Radio has been on both sides of this equation. Using all of my searches and insertions for variety in their songs, they have been able to craft me radio stations that perfectly suit my musical tastes, which keeps me coming back to the product consistently, with such classy tunes as the Star Wars Cantina theme.

However, because age was a factor in the way advertisements appeared on their website, they interpreted “18 year old male” as an opportunity to advertise nothing but Taco Bell, without knowing I would rather eat a deep fried shoe than even consider Taco Bell (the shoe probably has more real ingredients.

Furthermore, most ads now try way too hard to acquire attention in ways that are intrusive, mostly interrupting what you are currently doing. The ability to close those windows easily was a lot like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anEuw8F8cpE

            But, alas, new ads are harder to turn off and more intrusive, as if a giant car on your screen was the reason I didn’t want a Fiat 500. I didn’t want a Fiat 500 because it has enough space to hold a drink and some lose change. Anything else is a stretch.

            Overall, the internet’s methods of advertising can improve our quality of life, but not if I get to see giant tacos flying all over my screen.

It Started With Myspace (Internet Privacy Week 3)

When Myspace first became popular, I was in seventh grade and going through an awkward stage (though, at the time, I did not realize it). As a thirteen-year old, I felt very cool; I was fearless. However, my uninhibited, overly confident and extremely naive behaviors eventually came back to haunt me. 

One day, my best friend and I decided it was time to enhance our Myspace profile pictures. We put on matching pleated Polo Tennis skirts, grabbed a camera, and went around the neighborhood on Razor scooters in search of good ‘photo opps’ (photo opportunities). We took turns taking the most ridiculous photos of each other―photos of each other climbing fences, sitting in fountains, laying on top of random people’s cars, standing in front of our town’s population sign etc….Being the young, immature, and foolish 13 year-olds that we were, we unthinkingly decided to post all of these incredibly ‘revealing’ photos all over Myspace. We didn’t stop to think about all the pedophiles and psychopaths out there who now had complete access to find out how old we were, what we looked like, where we lived, where we went to school, and where we frequently hung out with friends. A few months later, my father stumbled upon my Myspace account, and needless to say, he was livid. It wasn’t until then that I realized I had put myself in harms way, that besides all the fun and games, there were many potential negative consequences associated with Myspace (social media). 

Nowadays, Myspace, is not as popular as it once was, but the consequences of social media have not gone away. In fact, they’ve only become more prevalent. In 2007, Myspace had reached its height at around 120 million users. Since then, it has been on the decline. But, in no way, shape or form did the decline of Myspace relieve us of the consequences and potential dangers associated with social media. The death of Myspace gave birth to a new monster: Facebook. In April 2008, Facebook had ‘caught up’ to Myspace, both social networking platforms had around 115 million users each. 

Today, Facebook today has 1.1 billion users, almost 9 times the amount of users Myspace had at it’s height. Other social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, have created new obstacles and potential consequences associated with social networking. My generation is one of the first generations to share everything online. It has become a 'cultural' or 'generational' trend to disclose anything and everything online, without much thought. However, as we've grown and matured, many of us have realized the harm in "over-sharing." But, unfortunately, the damage has already been done. Once we post something online it is there to stay, forever. 

This is a spoof video about Myspace. The video is a bit dated, but the concept/message of the video applies to modern social media sites like Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Vine etc..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBOfD2JBv0w