Wearing many hats

Maybe it's the Gemini in me, but the phase I had when I wanted to be everything has been coming back again. I mean, career-wise.

Back in 12th grade, just before University, my friend who happens to be the library lady at my school, used to ask me this question every week: So, do you know what are you studying at university? And every week, I would give her a different answer. Biology, Geography, Advertising, Education, Culinary Arts, Graphic Design, Marine Biology, Music, Photography, Theatre, ...list goes on. Never really knew what I wanted to do specifically, cuz I knew I wanted to do them all! Like seriously. I'm not like other kids who went through a list of programs and just said no to all of them, but instead I would say yes to all of them because they all sounded exciting (well, maybe except for law and physics)

After lots of thinking I have decided to study Communications. Well, actually I went to a University in CR to take Advertising. Just to get the feel of being in University. And THEN, I took Communications at York.

Now that I have a Communications degree, now what? I know about all the jobs I could have by taking Communications: Audio and Video Production, Publisher, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Sales and Marketing, Copywriter, Art Director, Lobbyist, Technical Writer, New Media Designer, Media Manager, Media Analyst, Creative Director, Editor, News Reporter, Journalist, etc. Yeah, they all sound really really nice. But it makes me think what other things I am missing.

For example, I like to cook. That's a fact. I love food. I love reading books and magazines about food and cooking. I love enjoying real good food. That's a fact again. I would have really REALLY loved to go to Cooking School. Learning about preparation of food, the different ways of cooking something, the spices, the nutrition value of food, the different tastes, how one food can mingle so well with others, French Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, Latin American Cuisine, Indian Cuisine....they all sound Fantastic! I could just go on and on about food and cooking because it is something I am passionate about. Especially when it comes to bakery. I wanted to be a pastry chef. Making cupcakes, wedding cakes, birthday cakes, cookies, meringues, pies, and all the sweet things.

Another thing I am passionate about, animals. I have a great facination especially on marine animals, or animals that live in water. Shrimps, fish, lobsters, clams, sponges, sharks, whales, seahorses, oysters, squids, corals, etc. Not only I like eating seafood, but I have a great fascination about, for example, how jellyfish move, where they breathe, how they eat, etc. I feel like I could stare at a fishtank for hours, trying to figure out what the fish is doing. I've always been interested in Biology, especially in my last years of high school. I got to learn so much about how things in nature function. And mother nature is a great thing! I feel I could never stop learning about nature. And I also care about the environment and protection of animals.

But what it is like to work at something I have never given thought about? Like a crime scene investigator. It happens that I was just watching CSI, and it made me wish I had taken criminology. These investigators are so brilliant tracking down murderers, and I am quite impress of the technology available to them, for example to track DNA from a strand of hair. A strand of hair!! Well, obviously the show might not portray reality as much, but I'm pretty sure they have cool technology for their jobs! It seems like a great feeling being able to solve a mystery. There is so much wit, intelligence and attention to detail. I wanna be like that! Seems amazing to find the missing piece to the puzzle. So cool. It could also involve biology! DNA testing and such. Psychology. Try to understand how people think and their intentions on their actions.

Whereas I never had the chance to try on different hats (not literally, I've actually worn many funky hats), this guy has. Sean Aiken. After graduation, he didn't know what he wanted to do, so he planned to take any job that comes to him to find his true passion. He made a project called "One Week Job" where he would perform 52 jobs in 52 weeks in a trip around North America.

WATCH HIM ON RACHEL RAY'S SHOW


Luckily he's doing a tour in Toronto and he's coming to York. I'm SOOO going to see him and hear him talk. So amazing! My bf wants to come too!

Miss Bachelor of Arts with Honours

So long, after four years of study cramming and lots and lots and lots of money, I HAVE OFFICIALLY GRADUATED!! =D

I had my convocation last Thursday. I was kinda stressed because it was the only day of the week that rained and was cold. I was just wearing a dress and a regalia. Thought a fall convocation wouldn't be that bad. I thought it would be nice and sunny, not too hot, not too cold, and nice to take pictures with the fall leaves. The ceremony wasn't bad. Thought it would be way too long, but time passed by really quickly (considering that many did not attend convocation). I was sad I was separated from my friend who also took Communications and French. But I was close to another Communications friend and some classmates I never really cared about. Then there was this girl who liked to point the obvious. It is kind of ironic she's graduating and she didn't seem very bright. The other guy next to me said she might be drunk. I would not be surprised. After it ended, I took a few photos with my friend, my mom (who came all the way to Costa Rica to see me graduate) and my boyfriend. I wanted to get some refreshments at the reception, but it was too crazy, I could barely get any food (mostly thanks to this lady who spent the time of her life picking cherry tomatoes one by one and never thought about moving). After that, me, my mom and my boyfriend went to a restaurant to celebrate. It was nice. Wish my dad was there, he would be very proud. But he didn't come with my mom and decided to stay taking care of his business (although he said he wanted to compensate me by giving me some ca$h. yay!)

Now after graduation, I was hoping job finding were A LOT easier. Ideally I would just finish university and then I will have a job. Unfortunetly, it is not my case. It is super hard, harder than I thought it would be. Seems like companies almost don't hire you for your degree but for your past experiences. This comes hard on me since I am competing with a lot of Canadians who start working at age 15 or 16. In Costa Rica most people don't work until they are like 18. Disadvantage for me there. Also, many students to part-time jobs while studying. Me, my parents told me to focus on my studies instead. You mean, I could have gained a lot of experience? Um, yeah. I should have also gone to college, where they give you internships in the last semester. College is more hands-on what you want to do. Not essay writing and reading at university. Although graduating from a prestiged university is good too. Can't underestimate the things I have learned in these past four years. Guess I could take experiences I have had at university, either working or volunteering and transfering them to the work force. Another disadvantage I have is that here Canadian people have connections, like friends and families, and I don't. Or barely don't.

What I can still do it to give my best, to not give up, and bring up my passion. Many might have the skills, but not too many have the passion, ammirite? I can also do a lot of research on the industries and companies I would like to work at. By the way, I heard Mad Men is about advertising? Might have to start watching a new show!

Bye bye full-time student, hello full-time job hunter....

Portfolio? What portfolio?

Just in case you don't know, my future plan is to get into an advertising agency in Toronto, and to be specific I want to be an arts director / creative director.

A problem I have encountered, which also applies to some people I know, is that in the hiring process they require a portfolio. Now, what the heck is a portfolio? What does it look like? What do I put in there? I dont' know if I did well research on Internet, but I have rarely came across any creative director portfolio. Yes, there are plenty of websites of them showing off their work, but how does a physical portfolio looks like? Adveritisng people have been telling me that a portfolio is almost a requirement, yet they don't tell me what it's supposed to look like. How am I supposed to start building one if I don't have anything to compare it with?

Another problem, beside NOT knowing what a portfolio looks like, is what kind of material I can put in. You see, at York they don't teach you how to build a portfolio, nor they give you an assignment to design an advertisement. All I do at York is read about communication theories and write extensive essays about them. But how am I supposed to gain experience?

Thank goodness that becoming a VP Communications for McLaughlin last year, it was probably one of the wisest decisions I have made to start my future. If it wasn't because I was VP Communications, I would have no experience building websites, or designing flyers/posters to put around campus. I wouldn't know where else to grab that opportunity.

A lot of these kind of jobs require past experience doing similar stuff, but how am I going to get experience if nobody hires me to do that kind of job?! How am I supposed to learn how to operate Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Java, etc? I have to do it all by myself. I taught myself how to use photoshop, and now I'm teaching myself how to use InDesign. I also had to take an elective course that taught me about the basics of HTML and CSS. Another good decision. Ugh, Communications at York isn't as useful as I thought it was gonna be. I should have applied to a college in the first place, maybe I would have gained more experience.

One of my friends applied to the Creative Advertising program at Humber, and they required a portfolio. Of course she didn't have a portfolio because nothing she did at York required her to make any kind of that work.

How do advertising people expect me to have super amazing 10 pieces of work (the just 'ok' ones don't count) before I start the job and right after graduation? This is frustrating >:G

Closest thing I have found on Internet

Secure obscured

I have been tired of hearing a lot about sexual assaults, robberies, violent assaults, vandalism incidents on campus. It is ridiculous to attend such a great university, yet I feel very insecure about stepping out of my house to go out for a walk around the block.

When future students and parents ask me about York Security system I feel like lieing to them. Yes, it is true that we count with services like GoSafe that goes around campus to pick and drop-off people, CCTV's, blue light emergency phones, indoor safety phones, foot patrols and escorts, etc. Yet, there is at least one report of harrassment, sexual assault or theft every week. Are security staff doing enough?

On facebook I was invited to a group called "We Want A Safer York", started by students who are rallying and making petitions to reinforce the security system at York. Big part of the concern was that there are not many security staff patroling the Village area, a private non-property of York. Whereas the Village mostly encompases students living there, there are also women and children who inhabitat in these residences that are equally put in danger.

In my experience, I have barely seen any security staff around the Village at York. I aknowledge the presence of security bodies wandering around campus, but definetly not beyond the university boundaries. And it is in the Village where most sexual assaults and robberies occur. Yeah, there are plenty of cop cars and (well take a guess) parking enforcement police. But when it gets dark at night, it is mostly students walking on the quiet dark and lonely streets of the Village. Some women are careless enough to walk by themselves late at night. I don't even want to imagine what happens on every thursday that is Pub Night, where some girls get drunk and some guys get a little frisky.

I don't know about the GoSafe operations, but in my experience, it is a very poor security service offering to students on campus. First of all, this year they changed the type of transportation. Last year they were couple vans going around campus. This year they changed those vans into a SINGLE mini bus that comes by every half an hour. This is what I find ridiculous! If anything they should ADD on more vans or mini buses, not pack couple vans and compact it into one mini bus. There should be dropping off people to wherever they need, not picking up a few spots for pick up. And hours of operation should be EXTENDED, not diminished. A lot could happen on 30 minutes waiting for the mini bus to come. This reminds me of the time I called the service to pick me up by Winters College because I needed to get to the other side of the campus, Calumet College. I called, and I waited all by myself at like 10pm for like 45 minutes and they never came. I was so frustrated for waiting so i walked by myself. This is not the only case. Most of the times I have called them, it always took them a while to get me. There was one time, when I was at my friend's apartment, a little bit over the Village. I called them at 1.40am, and they said they stopped their service already, when on the website it clearly states that their working hours is until 2am. They also told me that they could not do anything beyond the York Boundaries. But I Need To Get To My Residence On Campus!!! Can't they even like, wait for me in one spot so that they can walk me back to res? ugh. And aparently I am not the only one with bad experiences. heard from a friend, who was trying to help a drunked friend to get back to residence, that the GoSafe people told them that they wouldn't take that person because they don't want any puking in the van. If anything, they are the ones who really need the van. There was also this time when couple friends wanted to get a ride to the Village from campus. They said they could take the ladies, but not the guys. Hmm...as if guys were in less danger of getting an assault than girls. I was also reading on the facebook group, and someone commented that even the mini bus driver was being mean.

I know the GoSafe can't be that bad, can it? I can't totally bash about it because a good friend of mine used to work for it. I mean, I know they try what they can do. They make sure to follow the good instructions they received, but sometimes you gotta look further, thinking about helping out somebody with their safeness, rather than thinking it is 'just' a job.

Although I still think that York security system should be reinforced. Also, people should stop walk by themselves at night, leave their expensive belongings alone, dress provocatively, listen to ipod and stop paying attention to their surroundings, be mischief. People should stop being stupid.

Vote for me, my friend

It didn't take me a current election period and campaign posters all over university to realize one thing: that student elections are mainly accounts of popularity.

Ever since I was in middle school, it was usually the kid who was the most popular who won the elections for president in school. Wearing the colours of your friend's campaign is sign of support, and if you went to the other candidate, it was like a friendship betrayal.

Needless to say, that it's all about the candidates' public image, how they protray themselves to others publicly. I remember when I was young in like grade 5, I was torn between two campaigns because my friends group got divided into two: one going for purple and green, and the other for yellow and orange. Did I know what their slates were about? Nah-uh. But the puple and the good looking guy running for president was enough to attract my attention...and my vote.

As I grew older, things changed slightly. With the campaigns going on this week at my university, it was inevitable for me to notice two guys I had a crush on are running for one slate. Yes, I voted for them. But also, one of my friends was running for the opposite slate. I voted for him too. So I basically voted for people I knew. But contrary to my younger years, I did read what each candidates were proposing to improve university and student life. Thought I didn't really care much since I am going to be out of this place next year anyways.

But elections, let me emphasize it, it's about popularity. Even I have experiences that before, in the good way. Last year I ran for VP Communications for my college, and through a series of clever posters, fond speech during candidates debate, and friendly socializing mostly with residence people (which accounts for a vast amount of people as potential voters), I won the position. I didn't win because people were more interested about my visualization of the college compared to my opponents, but because I sold myself to them to vote for me. The results were pretty close, but I think the big advantage I had was that I had the vote from residence people, whereas my other two opponents have little contact with the new residents. I can say I had 75 friends at that time.

At least this kind of elections happen majorly in student elections. At least some people do take politics as a serious issue, and study the candidates well before electing them as rulers. It's a shame most people don't take it seriously.