Student Empowerment

Hello Everyone,

To everyone who had the opportunity to visit this past weekend, thanks for coming and I hope everything was swell. The Ambassadors, including me, were out in force all day on Saturday as well as involved in the Laker Live-in night. As always, if you have any questions, please Please PLEASE email or comment and I will be more than happy to answer or find the answer to your questions.

So you must be wondering why I entitled this post the way I have, "Student Empowerment". It sounds powerful now that I look at it again, but none-the-less fitting. You might remember from reading my bio that I have been around Mercyhurst for quite some time with going to the Mercyhurst Prep High School, and all of my experience at Mercyhurst has taught me how much Mercyhurst empowers its students. Student empowerment was something that struck me very well in high school and now overwhelms me as it has taken on a whole new level here. I am obviously biased toward Mercyhurst, but I just want to give you a perspective on why I think the authority and initiative that Mercyhurst grants its students is so cool.

First, I want to give you a story that played out last year. Around this time every year the Mercyhurst Student Government sends out a survey, which talks about the events they run and different things they do. Last year was no different and Student Government asked if their were any changes students would like to see happen. The response was overwhelming for them to add full locker rooms to the fitness center. So, student government, having the resources and abilities that they have, took the students wishes to the board of trustees (which the president of student government is actually a member of) and had the plan approved. Student government was able to place their own funds toward the project and other school funds to make new looker rooms with showers to replace the old generic changing area that formerly existed. This is the latest example of the student governments influence, but cases like this are repeated throughout our college community.

Finally, the reason that I bring this up, and I'm going to tease you here, is because recently I have been given the opportunity to make a different as a student. It is a tease because I cannot fully tell you what I am working on yet as I have to wait for the appropriate approvals to go through, but I have been given the opportunity to work with one of my professors to bring about a change that we have both been thinking about. I know that this project will be great practical experience that will one day be able to help me get a job, and I am excited to be a part of it. Now, if you want to get a little more information you could try emailing me, but for now this is all I can say. I am excited to be apart of this project and I know that it is because of the connections that I have at Mercyhurst that I am able to do this. Stay tuned for updates as this grows in the next couple weeks.

I hope my teaser wasn't too bad, but this is just the latest example of what I have to say really counts, which I think will be a great experience to have and will certainly help me in the future. Mercyhurst is a community and that only benefits its students. 

Thanks for reading,
Joe

Back from L.A., back to work

Hello Everyone,

Once again my college adventures have continued and I've thoroughly enjoyed them. I just got back last night from L.A. where I had the opportunity to travel, for the second year, to the National Broadcasting Society national convention. For three days we had the opportunity to both attend convention events and explore Hollywood, which can't get much better than that.

The conference allowed us to network with many professionals in the broadcasting industry and since I am not planning on going into broadcast, I got to understand the industry better. We got to listen to speakers such as Jason Kennedy of E! News, Jacques Thelemaque from Filmmakers Alliance and Mike Von Frend from ABC News. It might seem like a boring thing to do, but when you know that these people have done what you will one day have to do it become much more interesting and relevant.

As for touristy things, we got to spend some time in Universal City, which is the equivalent of Downtown Disney, but for Universal. We had a tour of the Kodak Theather, searched the Walk of Fame and Chinese Theater, as well as went to Santa Monica where we went to the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Ocean. It was a very good opportunity to see all of these places and meet all of these people, all of which is in thanks to Mercyhurst College and the Communication Deptartment, which paid for the trip. THANK YOU!

This term is panning out to be much more... umm... lets say relaxed then last term. All of my classes (Accounting I, New Media, Intro to Integrated Marketing, and Art Appreciation) are important, but simply enjoyable. I'm happy to get back into the swing of things.

Ask around for me if any of you are coming to Laker Live-in this weekend!

Have a good week,
Thanks for reading,
Joe

We interupt your education to go to Los Angeles... oh ya.

Hello,

School is very much so under way once again and I have much high hopes for less stress this term. Thus far I can say that I am excited about every one of my classes without exception, which is nice. This term I have New Media (Comm), Art Appreciation, Accounting I, and Intro to Integrated Marking Online. My schedule has panned out so that for the first time all my classes are not grouped together, which has worked out thus far. I will be interested to see how my opinion will change over the term.

Beyond that, I am excited to report that I was hired by Busch Gardens Williamsburg and will be accepting a summer internship with them. As you all know from my previous posts I have a slight (possible understatement) obsession with amusement parks and hope to eventually work in the industry. Honestly, I don't know what park chain I would like to work in best, but I know that Busch Gardens and its parent company, SeaWorld, is an amazing brand and it will be my honor to add them to my resume.

Finally, as subtly hinted to in the subject line I will be leaving for Los Angeles California this Wednesday to spend the end of the week at a National Broadcasting Society convention. This is not only an extraordinary opportunity to travel, but also to network with people in the media industry, of which promises to be a good time.

Let me know if you are a reader who is planning on the Laker Live-in weekend!
Thanks for reading,

Joe

P.S.- Laker Live-in weekend is March 26-27

What I do when I should be sleeping

(UPDATED)
Hello Everyone,

I am officially back and by officially I mean I am starting to get back into the swing of things... starting.

Classes for the winter term wrapped up on Wednesday February 23, but fortunately I was done on the 22nd, which I rubbed into everyone who was still studying. I fared well with one B and the rest A's, but I can attest to this being my most difficult term on record. Terms may seem to be weird to most people, but you truly appreciate it when you get that wonderful week and a half spring break with absolutely NOTHING to do. It was lovely.

Spring break for me has seemed to move away from the typical mold, meaning that well most head for the beaches, for the last two years I have hit the mountains. This year I made my way out to Salt Lake City where I happily lost and immersed myself in everything but school. Check out some of the pictures below, it was absolutely gorgeous.

Considering reality again, we started classes as of Monday and I can say that I am excited for this term. I have Art Appreciation on Monday and Wednesday nights, a class at ten and two on Tuesday and Thursdays, plus an online course, which leaves me completely free on Fridays... YAY! Regardless of the schedule, the courses themselves seem to be interesting, which makes everything better. As I said I have Art Appreciation and then I have Accounting I, New Media (Comm Course) and Intro to Integrated Marketing Online.

There is a bunch of exciting things going on on campus in the next few months, but I would like to point out the Laker Live-in and Major Day. They go together and consist of students spending the night with current freshman from Saturday March 26 to 27. On Saturday there are a whole bunch of events planned and on Sunday is Major Day, where every department sets up a presentation for perspective students. The best part about these meetings is that you can meet your potential professors and they can tell you exactly why their program is the best, along with answering any specific questions that you may have. I really like to encourage people to participate in this weekend because it was the event that lead to me choosing Mercyhurst, so definitely check it out if you can!

Ok, that is all I got. Time for bed. :-)
Enjoy the end of your senior year, time is of the essence.

Thanks for reading,
Joe