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)

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)

Yesterday began course registration.  After two years, I have yet to figure out exactly how the school determines who registers first and at what time.  The best I can come up with is honors college students, athletes and seniors register the earliest.  After that I think it has to do with credit hours, GPA or last name to some extent.  A lot of my friends are in the honors college and registered for class yesterday so before I went to bed last night I was able to check the seat availability for each course I wanted on VIP.  All of the courses still had plenty of seats, so I knew I would be able to get all of my courses without a problem.

I woke up at 8:45 am this morning in order to log onto VIP at 8:50 am which was my registration time.  The registration time is posted at least a month in advance, so I've had it marked on my calendar for quite some time.  Since I already had my ideal schedule and the course codes ready, I was able to log in and out in under 2 minutes time.

I looked at my graphical schedule and I am pretty satisfied.  One perk of being a business student is no Friday classes.  I also have only one Thursday class since my International Business - Exporting and Importing course meets on Tuesdays for three hours.  I also have an 8 weeks Finance course that meets every Monday and Wednesday for three hours.  This means that after the first 8 weeks of school I will be completed with a finance course and will only have four classes to concentrate on for the remainder of the semester. 

A lot of my friends are studying abroad in the spring, so it was a challenge to figure out who was staying at USC for the semester and who to plan my classes with.  Fortunately, I have fraternity brothers and other friends I have made that will have a similar course load as myself.

Have a great evening! I'm off to my Delta Sigma Pi meeting!  There's free pizza tonight!

Posted by Lydia at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everyone that lives on campus is fortunate enough to have a campus mailing address.  I probably check my mail about once every two weeks so that I have a 99% chance of having something to open or read.  About two weeks ago I received a postcard in my mailbox about advisement in the Moore School of Business.  Every student must be advised in their college before they can sign up for classes on VIP. 

In the Moore School of Business, advisement days are based on the first letter of your last name.  I went on Monday as the card indicated, and since I'm an International Business (IB) major I have to see Leslie Wingard to discuss my schedule.  Luckily for me, there were no other IB majors ahead of me, so I only had to wait about 5 minutes to be seen. 

Leslie told me I can graduate on time (May 2009) with a double major in International Business and Finance along with a double minor in French and International Relations.  I can't believe I only have 15 required courses left in college!  We discussed the finance courses available for my major, my IB thematic class, a political science class for my minor and another required business course called Survey of Commercial Law. 

I always get so excited after being advised because then I can log onto VIP and check out the master list of courses.  I wrote down all of the sections and times offered for each course and began to create an ideal schedule.  I have come up with the classes I want to take at the times available, so now I just have to wait until November 13th to sign up for them. 

It's a similar experience during Orientation as an incoming Freshmen.  You'll have someone discuss class requiements with a group of students of a certain college.  The nice part is you will be advised and sign up for classes all in the same day.  

Well I'm going back to the library to study!  Have a terrific Thursday! 

Posted by Lydia at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Tuesday night, my business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi brought in a speaker from the Office of Undergraduate Research.  Her name was Julie and she is the sole person on campus who runs this office.  She is very knowledgeable and willing to work with students. 

She discussed opportunities to apply for research grants.  She mainly focused on the Magellan Scholars program and emphasized that it is never to early to apply.  She discussed the fall and spring deadlines for proposals.  She said the process is not overly complex and about 50% of people who apply receive the grant for up to $3,000.  She also said that there is additional money available for people who are invited to share a project in another place that will cover transportation costs called "The Voyager". 

She said that her review committee would love to see more applicants from a variety of colleges on campus besides the field of science.  She said that the grant can be combined with study abroad.  She said she had a student become a Magellan Scholar who used their grant to go to China and study Wal-Mart.  She also said there are ways to combine internships with the grant money! 

If you are interested in more information, I encourage you to check out www.sc.edu/our 

I hope I can come up with a proposal and apply!  Have a great night!

Posted by Lydia at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since Sunday I have voluntarily locked myself in the library to work on Finance.  This year I'm taking Finance 363 which is the required Introduction to Finance class that every business major takes.  After my first test grade, I knew I had to change the way I studied and absorbed the information from class.  I plan to earn an "A" in this course, and I think acing my second test will lead me on the path to achieving my goal. 

I spent easily over 12 hours preparing for one test.  I also went to my professor's office hours and asked him questions about concepts we had covered in class and had him look at my homework before I submitted it through Blackboard.  This fortunately played to my benefit because my professor gave me 10 bonus points for finding a mistake on his homework answer sheet.  Since he calculates everyone's grades using points instead of percentages, 10 points is phenomenal. 

So today, at 2:15 pm I walked into the Belk Auditorium (in the basement of the Moore School of Business) and took a seat with my answer sheet in hand along with my mechanical pencil and financial calculator.  I took the test out from under my seat and got to work. 

I was so proud that I was able to do all of the calculation questions without a doubt.  I think I may have confused two of the conceptual questions, but that would still give me an "A" on the exam.  We find out Sunday night. 

Well that's all for Finance.  The rest of my classes are busy, I have an Operations Management test to prepare for on Monday.  Enjoy your evening!

Posted by Lydia at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year our campus was lucky enough to have a Starbucks attached to the Russel House bookstore.  Starbucks is a great alternative to the library because it offers a large amount of tables and chairs along with comfortable couches.  The great part is you can talk while enjoying your drink and snack of choice.  You can also people watch since it has a wall of windows that faces Greene St.

Starbucks is open until 1 am which is also a great convenience factor.  Last evening, my friend Megan and I were going into Starbucks to use the bathroom when we spotted two of our friends from our International Business class.  We went over to ask them how they were preparing for the class and they invited us to pull up a seat and discuss the cases from class. 

We decided this would be a more fun and beneficial way of studying than sitting in the library.  In just two hours we were able to go through all of our slides from our professor's powerpoint presentations and discuss the readings we had done for homework.  We also had some great laughs about the class and other topics along the way. 

I must say that after taking my written exam today I did feel like we covered each topic well.  There wasn't a single question on the exam we hadn't discussed and come up with examples. 

If you're an infrequent Starbucks "shopper" I recommend the Chai Frappachino and the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookie warmed in the microwave.  That probably contains a lot of calories, but it's an amazing combination. 

Well Starbucks hasn't seen the last of me.  I plan to make it one of my top picks for studying places on campus.  Maybe I'll have the pleasure of running into you there one day in the near future!

Posted by Lydia at 06:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over the past week or two I have had a test, quiz, or graded assignment in most of my classes.  Some grades I was more satisfied with than others, but no matter what I received I made it a point to go meet with each professor to discuss their class and my recent grades.

From the first day of classes when the syllabi are distributed for each class, you will hear professors reinterate their office hours and their desire to meet everyone in their sections.  I always take note of professors who overemphasize them, because there is oftentimes an incentive for you to take them up on these hours. 

I got a "B" on my first marketing exam and I was unhappy with my grade because I had completed his entire review sheet and reread his notes and handouts.  He appreciated that I went to his office hours and showed him my drive to succeed in his class.  I went over my exam and discussed points of confusion with him.  He took my name down because he said when he goes to give grades, at least I won't be just a name, but rather a name with a face he can associate. 

My Finance professor had a similar reaction.  He didn't necessarily give extra credit for coming to meet with him, but he has learned my name since coming to see him.  He gladly went over my test with me and he even asked me about Delta Sigma Pi (my professional, business fraternity).  Since my Finance professor sees me come to class everyday, sees me come to his extra hours offered on Friday, and he knows I've stopped by during office hours, he knows I care about my grades and how well I perform in his class. 

In all, it's important to meet all of your professors, especially in larger classes where it's not set up like a round table discussion or just a few rows of your peers.  Take an active interest in your education, because college is not like high school.  In a school of 25,000 it's your job to make sure people know who you are.  The university has created programs such as the Out to Lunch Program which enables you to take a professor to any campus dinning facility to eat for free.  Let's just say, you have to eat, so why not make it a date.  Invite your professor, work out a time that works for both of you, and have some conversation that allows you and your teacher to learn more about one another. 

Have a great Saturday!

Posted by Lydia at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The end of any semester always means it's time to take EXAMS!  This semester I was lucky that two out of my six classes didn't have an exam, but that meant I still had four more exams to prepare myself to take.  On Thursday I had my Macroeconomics exam followed by my MGSC 291 (Stat) exam.  Then Friday was my Managerial Accounting Exam. 

I prepared for over a week in the library for the exams.  I calculated all of my grades ahead of time so I could figure out the grades I needed on each individual exam to either get an A, B+, or B in each of these three courses.  I think this was smart, because I didn't need to stress myself out over Economics or Statistics because the best I could get in each class was a B+, and that was only if I aced each exam.  I dedicated a few days to each exam and I was able to pull a "B" in each of these courses.  The Statistics was the hardest exam because it was a cumulative standard exam for all sections of the course.  I think this was bad because I don't know if my professor taught the material as well as the others.  In the future, I recommend that you find out if an exam is standard and make sure you talk with students in other sections and get copies of their worksheets and reviews in order to stay ahead of the game.  It was also sad that the Statistics exam almost caused me to miss Grey's Anatomy!  Thankfully I was able to catch the majority of the episode and watch the beginning online. 

My accounting exam was my easiest exam even though it was standard and on a Friday night because I had done wonderfully all semester and I knew how to prepare for the exam.  I skimmed each chapter in the book and worked on my review questions the night before and I pulled an "A" for my final grade in this course. 

My last exam was a take home exam for my Business Communications class.  This was the most relevant exam I have ever taken.  It was a 7 part test that consisted of my resume, a cover letter to an internship I would like to apply for, a list of my references, and an evaluation of my team members to name a few of the parts.  I know that this exam will help me when I go to look for a job this summer! 

Move out from the dorm went pretty smoothly since my mom came and moved my stuff into storage in Cayce.  Luckily I got to sleep during the 8 hour drive while my mom drank her coffee and drove her mini van.   

Posted by Lydia at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi everyone!  I'm sorry for my long absence.  I got carried away with the end of the school year, moving out, and spending time with my family.  However, I still want to let you know how the school year turned out. 

The last week of classes came and went so quickly.  My last class of my sophomore year was MGMT 250.  It was filled with mixed emotions because I was relieved to turn in my group 20 page final report, but I was also sad to be completing my favorite class, leaving my most entertaining professor, and my new group of friends.  In this final class, I also found out I was voted "Most Valuable Player" by my classmates.  This was an awesome feeling and helped me realize that people are truly always watching what you do and how you perform. 

Since my class ended at 12:05 pm, I decided that I would treat myself to lunch and an afternoon at the Strom Thurmond pool.  I spent the day working on my tan, hanging out with friends in the pool, and playing beach volleyball.  It was wonderful because I also met a lot of new people and some of the USC athletes.  The best part was playing beach volleyball on a team with girls from the USC Basketball, Tennis, and Volleyball team!  We even beat a team of five guys!

I followed this relaxing afternoon with dinner at Moe's with my best friend Joanne ('09 Pre-Med).  We spent our dinner reflecting on the year and making a game plan to study for exams.  Our plan was to keep each other accountable and make sure we spent ample time studying for each class.

Read my next entry to find out how my exam week went and the results.   

Posted by Lydia at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This semester I decided to shoot for the stars when I enrolled in Astronomy 211 which gave me 18 credit hours.  This is considered an overload in college since most students take between 12 and 15 hours to stay full time.  Astronomy 211 is a self-paced course that requires 15 completed units over the course of the semester.  This means that I have to study and take tests on my own and sign up and attend labs in my free time. 

At the beginning of the semester I felt extremely motivated and my plan was to have the course completely out of the way by Spring Break.  Unfortunately, school quickly picked up pace and I had tests and projects in my other classes to worry about.  I put Astronomy 211 on the back burner until recently.  I have spent my Sunday nights, my Monday and Wednesday mornings, and my Friday afternoons in the Astronomy Center for the past 2 weeks and I managed to complete the course Tuesday!! I was jumping up and down and I am so glad that I am guaranteed 3 credits of “A’s” on my transcript for the semester.

I took this course because science is not my favorite subject and it is usually something that requires a lot of attention from me in order to be successful.  Astronomy was a great science course since it was meant for a self-motivated person like me.  If you’re not a “science-friendly” person and you can motivate yourself, then I highly recommend Astronomy.  Be weary of the fact that a good chunk of students don’t succeed in this class because they continue to put it off and dig themselves a big hole. 

Now, I have time to focus on studying for my finals exams for the next week or so!

Posted by Lydia at 05:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every semester, every single person on campus (who is not about to graduate) is assigned a time on VIP (vip.sc.edu) to log in and choose their classes for the upcoming semester.  Class registration requires a lot of planning in my humble opinion if you want to get the classes, the times, and the professors you want. 

The first step is to be advised in your respective college on campus.  I was advised during the month of March in the Business School for my major classes, International Business class, and my minor classes.  Advisement is the perfect time to ask questions and look at the big picture to stay on track and graduate on time. 

After I had my list of classes, I logged onto VIP and looked at the different sections on the master schedule in order to configure my "ideal" schedule.  I also had a list of good substitute schedules in case classes became full by the time it was my turn to sign-up.  Once you have your unofficial schedule, it is important to check VIP right before your sign-up time in order to make the necessary adjustments if a section you wanted becomes full. 

Then, at the moment the clock changes, you must enter your information to VIP and start typing the course codes (that hopefully you wrote down ahead of time) in order to make this part of the process last less than 2 minutes! 

On Wednesday, I was able to register at 8:50 am, and I had my course information ready to go so I could type the 6 digit code as quickly as possible.  The nice thing was that even though I'm not in the Honors College I had a great sign-up time, but I can't figure out how that time was determined.  My only guess is GPA or Hours Earned in College.  Either way, that's motivation to take AP classes in high school and to maintain good grades in college. 

Let me know if you have any questions!  The process is similar during Orientation for incoming Freshmen, but you will definitely be guided by a group of advisors. 

Posted by Lydia at 07:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's time to meet the other 59 students who worked hard, got involved, and sweated through a few essay questions.  Tuesday afternoon, there was a gathering for the class of 2009's International Business students.  It was a business casual event where everyone was able to mingle, eat some food, and meet the International Business professors. 

After everyone's picture was taken for a pictureboard, we all filed into a room where the faculty was introduced and details of our newly accepted class were revealed.  My arms became covered when goosebumps when I learned that the IB Faculty is comprised of all PhD professors who graduated from places such as MIT, Harvard, and the Wharton School of Business.  It is also interesting to note that the professor teaching Business in Latin American is Hispanic and the woman teaching Business in Asia is Asian.  I definitely think this brings a great angle to the program.  In regard to my specific class, the average GPA was a 3.89, about half of the class is honors college students, and we are the most diverse class in regard to foreign languages and involvement on campus.  Quite impressive I must say.  I was also interested to learn that the International Business program now accepts 60 students per year instead of 50.  This still keeps the program competitive but your chances also increase just a smidge! 

Also, I know a lot of you have probably heard the myth that you need languages such as Chinese or Japanese on top of French or Spanish to be accepted.  This is not true.  Of course the program loves to see successful students who are studying Arabic or an Asian dialect, but I met plenty of other students like myself who were accepted with one foreign language and great credentials.  Personally, I recommend you do what is best for you! 

I'm really excited about the Fall and I will finally get to take my first International Business course about Globalization and also my first Finance course, which is my second major.  This is also the first summer I have homework.  Our class has to read The World is Flat: A Brief History of 21st Century for the IBUS 310 class. 

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know! 

Posted by Lydia at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A lot of people, including myself, chose USC because it is ranked #1 in the nation for International Business.  USC students tell everyone they are either an International Business major as a freshmen (which is completely incorrect) or that they are International Business hopefuls or plan on applying (which is well received among others) since no one can apply until the second semester of their sophomore year. 

Well, I received this GREAT news on the Friday before Spring Break.  I opened the letter and it began with the phrase "I am pleased to inform you that...".  This was one of the most exciting pieces of mail I'd ever received through campus mail! 

I no longer feel like a "wannabe".  I applied to International Business with a solid GPA, quality essays, leadership experience, and one foreign language (French) and I was selected.  I love seeing hard work pay off, especially because I know that the creme of the crop apply for this program.  I also feel relieved since a lot of people tried to intimidate me my freshmen year by telling me I had no chance since I wasn't studying two foreign languages and because the language I chose wasn't Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic.  This is untrue.  The program wants a good mixture of languages, but GPA is definitely the top factor from everything I've gathered. 

Well, I have advisement on Thursday with the International Business advisor and I am stoked!  If you have any questions at all about IB (as it is commonly referred to in the Business school), I now feel more apt and a tad more qualified to answer questions. 

Posted by Lydia at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It seems to me, that about once a month in college, everyone (no matter what their major) experiences a week full of tests, projects, and the like.  Well, this past week was mine.  It included a presentation, an Economics test, an Accounting Test, an Accounting quiz, and a French test.  After learning all of that material, my brain feels like porridge, at least figuratively. 

From this week, I have come to realize that the library exists year-round!! It's not just open during exam week at the end of each semester.  I have definitely utilized it to the fullest.  I've used the individual study rooms, the main floor study tables, the computer lab, and I've even ordered a drink from the mini food place tucked in the back corner. 

In case you didn't know, I'm kind of an impatient person when it comes to grades in school.  I'm really hoping that all my grades get posted this weekend or at least by classes on Monday and Tuesday!! I can't handle waiting.  At least without the grades though I can continue enjoying my day without fretting over anything. 

I am also so thankful for the Starbucks on campus.  I tend to spend my money there quite frequently, especially since it's just a hop away from the library.  I think just this past week I spent $30!  For a college kid (and probably most people in general), that's a nice chunk of change. 

Well, I'm looking forward to this weekend and spending some time at the gym next week!  Sunday night is my next intramural co-ed basketball game!!  Feel free to send me your thoughts, questions, etc!

Posted by Lydia at 09:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday I made my debut in my MGMT 250 class on live television.  I finalized my individual presentation about my future career and presented it to the class while at the same time being recorded.  I discussed my desire to go abroad and teach English.  This is something that genuinely interests me and I believe it will also boost my résumé.  I discussed my yearning to return to France and stay with a host family to teach them English much like my host family this past summer taught me French.  I am hoping to be able to participate in this program during and after college more than once in a variety of countries!  

The rest of my class is full of business majors, but I found it interesting the variety of careers that my peers were looking to pursue.  There was a guy in my class that wants business skills to further his music career, a few future accountants, a future lawyer, and a future businessman who refuses to wear a suit another day in his life. 

These presentations were all about five minutes long and we were expected to ask the presenter questions at the end, read their memo about an article they read related to their career, and write down comments to give them a peer grade on the project.  The peer grading is in effect a large portion of everyone’s grade.  

After class, I watched the video of myself.  It was really interesting to watch my subconscious habits that I did not know I had.  I was very happy with my performance, but by watching myself on video I was able to see that I glanced down at my note cards more than necessary.  However, I was thankful to find that I’m not an “umm” person, a swaying person, or a person who tends to play with jewelry.  

Well, I’m relieved to be finished with one major project and now I can enjoy the rest of the presentations Wednesday and study for my tests in the meanwhile!  

Posted by Lydia at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As long as I can remember I have always had a teacher that was a fan of assigning group projects.  I was always the kid that dreaded having to work with other people, not because I didn't like the people in my group, but because I somehow always ended up in a group with people who didn’t want to pull their weight.  Just when I thought times had changed and group projects were a college "myth" I began taking MGMT 250 this semester.  This class is Business Communications and the majority of each student’s grade is a semester long group project.  

On the first day of class we had to speak in front of the class about ourselves so that everyone could make a list of people they wouldn’t mind working in a group with for a semester.  On my list I wrote down four people I already knew because I did not want to end up with people that would potentially dump all the work on me.  

Monday we were assigned our group.  I was placed with two people I know and two people I did not know.  

Now here comes the big twist.  I love my group because everyone is motivated and willing to work!  This was a huge and delightful shock.  During Wednesday’s class our group began discussing the product we wanted to develop and create a twenty minute presentation about.  After class, we met at one of my group members' apartment and we were able to accomplish a lot within one hour with very few distractions.  Our group came up with the product, the product's components, the region we will sell our product, and we divvied up the research for each group member. 

We all left the apartment proud of our progress and we are all looking foward to working together over the course of the semester!  I'm even very excited and I'm actually going to start my research this weekend. 

I definitely love how college can change one's outlook on things.  Have a great night!

Posted by Lydia at 04:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today was a super second day!  I started off my early morning by leaving Capstone at 6:45 am and power walking to Strom because the wind was so cold it literally pierced my face.  My friend Joanne ('09) forgot to set her alarm, so I had to keep myself motivated to accomplish all of my upper body work out.  I must say I felt great, especially because I was able to increase the weights on most of the exercises! 

I returned to Capstone and got ready for my 9:05 am class.  I had Economics 222 in the BA early this morning.  My professor is absolutely hilarious!  He loved to kid around with everyone and had a sarcastic wittiness when he spoke.  He won't have any trouble keeping my attention, even if the class is at the crack of dawn.

After Econ I had an hour break so I decided to sit in Gibbes Court and work on my MGSC 291 homework.  The great part was I was able to get my work done before walking back to the BA for my last class of the day!  Now I can scratch that off the list (probably one of my favorite things to do).

As I searched for my Management 250 class it turned out to be hidden down a hallway on the second floor that I didn't know even existed.  The classroom was completely intact with full screen for computer presentations and the rows were shaped like a half circle.  My teacher was extremely enthusiastic and happened to have also lived in Tampa before!  During the class period we presented ourselves to the classroom and had to pick the four people in which we want to complete our semester long group presentation.  I'm really excited I knew a few people in there and based on everyone's impromptu speeches it sounds like we have a very diverse class. 

It was a relief to be done by 12:05 pm!  I have desk hours from 1-3 pm so I'm going to gather my books and start cracking them open.  Let me know if you have questions about absolutely anything!

Posted by Lydia at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's finally the day we've all been waiting for...well at least it is for me.  Today was my first day of classes to start the Spring 2007 semester.  My favorite part about the first day is finding my new classes, getting the syllabus, meeting some new people, and getting finished early!  Luckily enough today met all of those expectations. 

Let me back track for a second though.  I got out of bed at 6:52 am today voluntarily.  I made myself leave Capstone at 7 am so that I could go to Strom and work out for an hour.  I figure 3 weeks of early morning work outs will lead to a great habit for this semester!  It was great seeing the other motivated people in the gym and getting under the squat machine for the first time since my junior year of high school.  I even felt better because I walked to the gym despite the fact it was raining. 

I got back to Capstone about 8:20 am and grabbed some yogurt from Gibbes court before getting ready for class.  I had Management Science (MGSC) 291 at 9:30 am in the BA (Close/Hipp building).  The class is pretty much a statistics class.  The teacher is a bit monotone, but at least he's organized and had everything really well laid out on the syllabus.  After I got out of this class a little early I bought a chai tea from Jazzman's Cafe in the basement of the BA and walked over to the Humanities classroom building (not to be confused with the Humanities Office Building - a very common freshmen mistake). 

This semester I am taking my last French class (French 309) to fulfill my French minor.  I already love the class!  The teacher is very lively and she has a clear French accent.  My class also finally has more than one guy!  I met the guy who was sitting behind me today whose name is J.P. ('09) and happened to live in the same dorm as me last year.  I also got to see a lot of the students who studied abroad with me this past summer in Tours, France!  The class will consist of reading 3 plays and has no final exam.  I'm thrilled! 

Since class let out almost an hour early my friend Jordan ('09 Business) from my fraternity and I grabbed some lunch at the Carolina Colloquim!  It was great to sit down and catch up with her over some healthy food!  She's currently working on trying to get an internship with Gucci!!  I'm so excited for her. 

My final class was Accounting 226.  I am taking the same teacher from last semester and I'm hoping to get an "A" this go around.  It's a large class of about 80 students and thankfully I know a good amount already.  Unfortunately she decided to teach the first day until 1:45, but at least there's no homework!  I'm also lucky because my good friend Megan ('09 Business) who's also in my fraternity sat next to me in class.  She also sold me 3 text books I needed for $90!  This is an enormous savings!

Well classes are done and I'm busy doing laundry.  I've run out of gym clothes since I started going twice a day.  My washer should be done by now so I'll be sure to fill you in tomorrow with my Wednesday classes!

Posted by Lydia at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s Tuesday afternoon and all of my grades are finally posted!! Can I have a drum roll please? 

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to maintain my priceless 4.0, but for the difficulty level of my semester I am proud of my performance.  I was able to earn four “As”.  I earned an “A” in MGSC 290, POLI 315, FREN 310 and in my 1 credit RA (Resident Advisor) class.  I made a “B+” in ACCT 225 and a “B” in ECON 221.  Not too shabby, but this is definitely my motivation for next semester.  I’m hoping to make up for it by getting an “A” in the next level of accounting and the other half of economics. 

It’s a relief that this semester is over and I can finally relax!!  I left Columbia on Monday morning and arrived back in Tampa Monday afternoon.  My planes actually boarded and left on time!!  I was thrilled!  I left a quiet campus excited to see my family and friends and have a chance to get excited about Christmas!  I finally looked at the calendar and Christmas is now just a few days away!!  Where did the year go? 

I hope you all ended your first semester's well and that the college applications are looking good!

Posted by Lydia at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The worst feeling in the world is waking up on your own after you've already turned off your alarm clock more than an hour prior! Tuesday morning was exactly that.  I had set my alarm for 8 am and after turning it off I thought it'd be a great idea to just set my phone alarm for 8:15 am.  This would have worked if I hadn't accidently pressed 5:15 am!!  So 9:30 am rolled around and I lunged out of bed in a panic!  I had to be at my Management Science test at 9:30!  Good thing I'd straightened my hair the day before because I literally threw on clothes and ran to the BA (Moore School of Business).  Needless to say I was able to take my test and I actually made a "B" on the test. 

As stressful as my day started out, it did get progressively better.  When I went to accounting in the afternoon I found out my quiz was pushed back to Thursday.  This was a drop of good fortune since I know I really need to spend time reviewing. 

The highlight of my day though was my trip to Wally World (aka Wal-Mart) with Joanne ('09 USC).  I had to buy a gift for my "secret snowflake" and do a little bit of shopping for myself.  Usually when I've had a bad day I treat myself to some form of chocolate, but today was an "unusual" day.  I made my way back to the sporting goods department and bought two 3-lb walking weights!  They are the coolest things ever!  Now I can work out on the way to Starbucks! 

Hopefully Wednesday will be better!  Good luck on finishing up classes!

Posted by Lydia at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's hard to believe that there was school the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.  In my opinion, these are probably two of the most complained about days.  For the most part, I did not benefit in any way by attending classes that met on Monday because half of the students in my classes weren't there.  However, I decided to stick around and go to class because my Econ professor decided to stick a test on the Tuesday before break and my Accounting teacher continued to teach new material to better prepare us for the final in her class.  SO basically class wasn't a waste of my time, it was just unfortunate timing because I wanted to be back in Florida as soon as possible.  I vote this gets changed for next year so we can spend a week at home for Thanksgiving break!  That'd be the life!

My Economics test was on perfect competition and monopolies and I'm hoping I got an A, which in his class is 77% or better!  If I did, this will relieve me of a lot of pressure during exam week.  Especially since my economics exam and my accounting exam are on the same day! 

Well, now it's time to pack my suitcase and get ready for the airport! 

Congratulations to everyone who has already received their acceptance letters!!  Good luck on your upcoming decisions!

Posted by Lydia at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)