A Gamecock by Nature

Two months later and I still want to return to Romania to spend an extensive amount of time there.  Fortunately, I receive emails regularly from the Office of Fellowships on campus which updates me about the big scholarships I can apply for now that I am a senior.  The one that caught my eye was the Fulbright because it is an opportunity not only to return to Romania, but also a chance to teach English at a university in either Transylvania (the area I visited this July) or Bucharest (the capital). 

After perusing the Fulbright webpage (http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html), I went to the Fellowship office and got all of the details and deadlines for the Fulbright.  The online questionnaire was probably the least stressful part of the application as it involved my contact information, the program I was applying for, my involvement and awards at school, and the details of my three recommenders.  I selected people to answer the recommendation questions that knew me well and had observed me in different capacities.  I was very fortunate that one of my recommendations is actually coming from the Head of the International Division of City Hall in Cluj-Napoca, Romania as she spent the entire 10 days in Romania with me.  My other two recommenders are here at USC - Mr. Scott Verzyl, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Dr. Laura Lambdin, a fabulous Lecturer of Management and the professor who supervised our excursion and camp in Romania. 

The most critical parts of the application is the two essays - the Personal Statement and the Statement of Purpose.  These are concise essays that allow me to write about myself, my experiences, how I know I will be a good teacher in a foreign country and how this will help me when I return.  The hardest part to me was my overwhelming desire to focus solely on my experience in Romania this past July instead of my entire collegiate career.  Lucky for me, Margaret in the fellowship office spent time speaking with me face-to-face in order to get to know me better and give me a better sense of direction in regard to my essays. 

The final portion of my application involves a campus interview with two people.  This is the only portion of the entire application process where I will have a chance to verbally state my case as to why I'm the right Fulbright candidate for the job.  I'm looking forward to it as I'm excited to discuss this opportunity further and I will receive feedback on my application. 

I highly recommend that all students begin their search for fellowships early in their tenure at USC.  There are so many opportunities available that it would be a shame for any one of you to miss out.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!  I'll keep you all posted on my application. 

Posted by Lydia at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not only did I survive 10 days in Eastern Europe, but I cannot wait to return.  Romania is a gorgeous country with mountains, open fields and very well kept cities.  I traveled from Columbia, South Carolina with 10 USC students and one business professor, Dr. Lambdin sponsored by the Moore School of Business in July.  The trip was long but by the time we arrived in Romania we were all pumped to begin our journey. 

I was very fortunate to be selected to participate on this trip.  Our group spent most of the spring semester working on the business classes and cultural classes we were going to teach to the camp of high school students.  As part of the Global Business Immersion Camp we had to prepare lesson plans and think of creative ways to get the high school students to interact.  I taught a business course along with my friend Jordan about business etiquette which included business attire, resumes, business cards, interviewing over a meal and handshaking.  We taught the class 5 times alongside two Romanian university students as the purpose of this trip was to pass over the camp to the Romanian university students.  The high schoolers loved the course and enjoyed the opportunities we gave them to practice shaking hands, identify appropriate and inappropriate clothing pictures and compare Romanian business dinners to those in the USA.  It was extremely rewarding to also see our Romanian university students take over our class and really teach it themselves. 

Along with my friend Rae we prepared a cultural lesson plan about basketball and games.  We taught groups of students some popular games in the USA such as Horse, Around the World, Knock Out and 3 vs. 3.  I must say Knock Out was probably the favorite.  In the case of rain (which it did rain on the 2nd day of the camp) we played electronic Catch Phrase with the students.  This was the perfect game because it forced the students to practice their English in a creative way.  By the end of the camp the Romanian teachers wanted to purchase the game for the English classes and the students wanted one to play with their friends.  Another big hit was the card game called Egyptian War. 

It is important for me to share with you that Romanians absolutely love Americans, which as you may know is very difficult to find in Europe nowadays.  The students hung on every word we said and constantly wanted to hear us speak and they wanted to learn as much as they could from us.  It was interesting for me to find out that many of the students improved their English by watching Cartoon Network through their adolescence. 

As part of the trip we traveled throughout Transylvania and visited places such as Bran (Dracula's) Castle, Peles Castle, the gorge (beautiful water and mountain area) and Romanian businesses.  We went to a Christmas ornament factory, Farmec (cosmetics company) and took a drive on the new superhighway they are building.  The Christmas ornament factory was so neat because we were able to see the workers hand blow glass balls as well as hand paint each ornament.  They are actually currently filling an order for Pier 1 throughout the USA! 

The women of City Hall were the ones who took care of our arrangements.  They were absolutely incredible and even arranged for us to meet the Mayor in Cluj-Napoca.  He was a very nice man and they say he will probably become the next Prime Minister of the country. 

This is definitely a country I plan to return to in the future.  My best recommendation for all of you is to look into opportunities to travel while at USC, whether it's study abroad, a faculty led trip or another type of fellowship or scholarship.  There's tons more I would love to share about the trip!  Feel free to post a comment or question.   

Posted by Lydia at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Moore School of Business is a very generous college.  I have been very fortunate to reap the benefits of being a business student at USC.  This year the Moore School selected a handful of students to be part of the Moore School Emerging Leaders Program.  It was a pleasant surprise when I read the email informing me I had been selected.  After reading the email, I had to fill out a profile about how I believed I acted as a leader and I had to have two other people fill out a profile about how they perceived me to be as a leader.  After the results were processed by one of the academic advisors, I learned that most people view me as sometone who searches for opportunities to take risks and also fosters collaboration among others. 

The advisor also hosted a "mini conference" about leadership and its role at USC and in our organizations.  This seminar enabled us to share our insights and learn more about our personal leadership styles.  I learned that I enjoy a very participative leadership style and use my charisma to positively impact groups and goals.  My favorite quote from the lecture was by the authors Kouzes and Posner.  It state "leadership is the act of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations." 

As an Emerging Leader and a rising senior, I had the opportunity to travel to Champaign, Illinois to attend the LeaderShape Institute for six days last month.  You're probably thinking, "how fun can a leadership conference during your summer really be?"  Well let me tell you, this was the most life-changing and impactful six days I've probably ever experienced.  The Institute had 58 students from universities and colleges across the country who wanted to learn how to lead with integrity.  It was such a diverse group of students based on background, religion, experiences, organizations, and visions. 

It is hard to express in words how much of an effect this week had on me, so I will just tell you what we did.  Every single day was jam packed with learning.  We met as a learning community to watch clips from movies and videos, we talked about our roles as leaders in our organizations and played games that reflected opportunities to show our integrity.  We spent our free time bonding with one another through deep conversations and playing games such as Jenga, Egyptian War and logic games.  We wrote encouraging notes to one another throughout the week and placed the notes in one another's hand designed brown bags.  In our family clusters of 12 people and headed by a facilitator we discussed our passions and our vision for our school, community or the world.  This group of people saw me laugh, smile and cry.  They were such a supportive group of people who truly wanted to see me succeed with my vision.

The Institute made me realize that there are so many other people my age that want to cause great things to happen.  It was a very motivational experience and I loved being given the opportunity to attend LeaderShape. 

My recommendation for each of you is to come to college and seek out every opportunity you can to learn about yourself and others.  For me, I was very fortunate that LeaderShape found me.  Stay positive, work hard, and great things will happen!  Let's go Gamecocks!

Posted by Lydia at 05:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I blinked and this semester disappeared.  I remember as the last week of school approached, it seemed like just a few days prior I had been back in Tampa on Spring Break.  My days were filled with classes, meeting with Delta Sigma Pi pledges for interviews, and going to the gym whenever possible.  My evenings were filled with studying for the never-ending tests, group project meetings and other extracurriculars.  By the time the weekends rolled around I was exhausted but I didn't let that stop me from managing my social life with my studies. 

It's crazy for me to think that six semesters ago I entered college with a mixture of feelings and emotions.  I was anxious to move away from home, go to a new school and meet new people.  I was also worried about whether I would like my roommate and if I would pick the right activities to spend my time.  I must say I now have a different mesh of feelings and emotions toward the next chapter up and coming in my life.  I am enjoying the summer before my senior year of college - my last 2 semesters!  This is the last summer break I will probably ever have before the reality of the real world sets in. 

As all of you are finishing up your senior year of high school, some of you are probably excited that it's over while others of you may be worried that your "glory days" are over.  I recommend you spend this summer getting to really know yourself.  When you enter college, beginning with the day you move into your dorm, you will meet all kinds people from all different backgrounds and with all different interests and past experiences.  I recommend you give every single person a chance.  Get to know as many people as you can and don't limit yourself. 

Freshman year is by far the easiest year to meet people and build incredible friendships.  Everyone surrounding you is experiencing the same thing and wants to meet the students next to him/her in class, the students down the hall and the students he/she passes everyday walking around campus.  I recommend you take that chance to open up, put a smile on and extend your hand.  For a lot of people, something changes between freshman and sophomore year.  A lot of students move off campus and spend less time on campus beyond their assigned class times.  Enjoy the freshman experience and the opportunity to live on campus.

By your junior year, you will realize that most of your friends have the same major as you.  This school year, 9 out of my 11 classes were in the BA (Business building).  I saw the same students wandering the halls, in the elevators and in my classes.  My regular group of friends become the brothers of Delta Sigma Pi (Professional business fraternity) and the students I studied with for tests.  This is not by any means a bad thing.  However, I do think it's healthy to have friends of a variety of majors and interests so that you do not always feel like you're competing with everyone around you.  As a business major, all of us are constantly applying for the same opportunities in the Moore School, internships and soon we will be applying for the same jobs. 

I definitely recommend you all check out this website.  http://web.sa.sc.edu/  It lists all of the student organizations on campus which will hopefully help you decipher clubs you would like to get involved in from the beginning of your journey at Carolina.  Good luck!  Let me know if you'd like any additional information!  Happy hunting.

Posted by Lydia at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

USC is very fortunate to have the #1 ranked International Business Program for undergraduates.  This program attracts students from across the world.  Students interested in applying for the program should strive to maintain a high GPA and prove to be well-rounded in college.  There are a variety of ways to get involved at USC such as Student Government, Fraternities and Sororities, Carolina Service Council and University Ambassadors to name a few.  Prospective students should also go to the Study Abroad office and work on planning a trip for either a semester or summer that best fits into their schedule.  Applications are due February 1st of a student's sophomore year so start planning now. 

The International Business Program has professors from top universities such as MIT, Yale and Harvard.  The program consists of 60 seniors and 60 juniors.  The graduate IMBA (International Master's of Business) advisors worked this past spring with the Int'l Business Advisory Council to teach career workshops.  These workshops discuss professional dress, interview preparations, resume building, emotional intelligence, etc.  The International Business Advisory Council, of which I am a member, also planned fun activities such as dinner at Monterrey's (Mexican restaurant) and a night of bowling.  The Council also created an alumni directory, collected job and internship information and planned a senior banquet that Dean Teegan attended. 

The International Business students are a highly motivated and diverse group of people.  Students come from a variety of backgrounds, have different study abroad experiences and are active in an array of organizations.  If International Business is something you are considering, then keep your eye on the prize.  You will meet lots of students who are prospective International Business students from the day you tour the school until the day you turn in your application.  One of the best ways to prepare yourself as an ideal candidate is to begin looking at the online application now in order to assure yourself that you can answer all of the questions sufficiently. 

Let me know if you have any more questions!  Good luck and stay focused!

Posted by Lydia at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over Christmas break, I worked like a dog to put away money and spend time with my friends.  Now that I am back at school and almost a month into the semester I have come to realize that my time gets committed very quickly.  As I go to sleep each night, my mind can't stop running through lists of things to do.  I've come to a point where I can't get in bed at night without making a written list of things I have to do the next morning. 

This semester I am taking 5 courses: Corporate Finance, Investment/Porfolio Analysis (Finance), International Trade, Business Law and International Organizations.  They're all definitely a challenge.  I have multiple semester long projects, exams and quizzes regularly.  The funny thing is, as difficult as they all appear to be, I'm truly enjoying all of my courses.  All of my professors are extremely qualified and have the semester organized. 

On top of classes, I'm busy staying involved with Delta Sigma Pi!  This is going to be the semester to top all previous semesters.  I have so many weekend adventures to look foward to between LEAD Provincial (Conference) in Alabama this month, Formal in Charleston and Spring Fling in April. Of courses there's going to be tons of professional speakers, pledge activities, and other events in between.  I'm also playing on two basketball teams this semester and applying for internships with my spare minutes.

So your question is probably when do I sleep!  In college, six hours during the week is a blessing.  Weekends are where I catch up on my Zzzzs. 

Well for those of you who are busy applying like the high school senior who commented on my last post, keep your grades up.  Grades are so important and they really do follow you for a long time.  Even though USC is now only accepting applications on a space availability basis, don't be discouraged.  For those of you who have already applied, let me know if you have an questions about what to expect.  As always GO GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Lydia at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's my Junior year and it is finally starting to settle in that I really only have a three semester left in college which consists of 15 more classes.  It's so hard to believe that I'm past the half way point since I still remember Freshmen year so vividly in my mind. 

The number one thing on most juniors' minds is "internship."  All of us want one that will give us experience that will essentially be beneficial when we are applying for jobs throughout our Senior year.   Well luckily for us, the Career Center on campus offers a program free of charge called JobMate.  This program has a search engine that allows students in all majors to look for internships available, companies that are visiting the campus, and on and off campus job opportunities.  Another component of this program is a personal profile.  You can upload your resume, cover letters and save jobs that interest you.  There is also a way to RSVP to events and sign-up for interviews.  Thank goodness for technology!  You can be in your room, the library or back at home in your respective state and still access this program online. 

By Junior year it is expected that we are all logged into this program and have had our resumes approved by the CareerCenter so we can upload them.  I have completed this stage and now I'm busy researching the opportunities available.  I do not want to miss any deadlines or events. 

I highly recommend that all of you come to college with a resume or list of activities.  You will edit it as you gain college experience and get involved at Carolina, but it is always beneficial to have a starting point.  I hope you're applications are going well.  Let me know if I can do anything to help. 

Posted by Lydia at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)