Today I'm walking back from class and I see a girl that I know from a class last semester. She wasn't just in the class but we were on the same project team. When we pass each other which is almost everyday I am always the first to say hello, much to her dismay. She always looks like she wants to run and hide when we make eye contact.
Most of us would agree that when we pass someone we know but are not close to on dorm road that is is awkward. Most of us will quickly reach for our cell phones and start fake texting (we ALL do it so don't try to deny it!) but if eye contact has already been made why can't people just smile and say brightly "hey! How are you?"
If you just kind of look away or act like you don't know me you are only making the whole situation more uncomfortable. Why are people so afraid to say hello? I mean if its your old roommate from freshman year that you absolutely can't stand that's one thing but if you spent all semester working on a project and got to know them pretty well a simple "hey" WILL NOT KILL YOU! You will not die of embarrassment and it will be over in just a couple seconds.
People spend more time trying to avoid other people than they would if they actually made some eye contact and said a few words. Try it and if you come down with a serious illness from it let me know!
(Although perhaps with the swine flu in our midst we should avoid talking or looking at anyone right now without a mask on?)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
A burst to my bubble
Most of my complaints everyday are small unimportant things like, it's a little to hot in my room, or I don't feel like going to work or writing that paper; but every now and then the bubble that I seem to be living in bursts, only to rebuild itself later.
Just now I was reading on CNN.com about the WHO's upgrade of the Swine Flu to a pandemic alert, which after some research I learned means it's worse than an epidemic because it affects people in a large region. It moments like this that I realize that I am not in a bubble. It is possible that I could contract the Swine Flu. Although I will go back to my room tonight and warn my roommate of the virus and she will chuckle and say that I am always telling her about a new health warning, I think this is a serious one, just as I was worried about the peanut butter scare a few weeks ago.
It is entirely possible that this problem could get worse and affect myself or people I know. I read that there have been cases in NY, just one state away, of several children staying home with flu like symptoms. There is a chance, I'm hoping, that those children don't have the swine flu, but it really hit home that it is so close.
After the swine flu problem goes away, which can't come fast enough, I will probably return to my bubble of feeling safe until the next outbreak of some kind appears. Its amazing how myself and so many other people often go around knowing there are terrible diseases out there affecting so many people but feeling completely confident that we won't contract them. Now I'm not saying we should walk around afraid to touch door knobs (btw I don't touch a lot of them--don't judge) or being afraid all the time, but I do think it is important to take warnings seriously and be concerned when the WHO is calling this a pandemic, especially when the last pandemic was in 1968 the Hong Kong flu killed over 1 million and in 1918 the Spanish flu killed more than 100 million people.
Lets not become a statistic of the dead, face it your bubble has been burst, now go wash your hands!
Just now I was reading on CNN.com about the WHO's upgrade of the Swine Flu to a pandemic alert, which after some research I learned means it's worse than an epidemic because it affects people in a large region. It moments like this that I realize that I am not in a bubble. It is possible that I could contract the Swine Flu. Although I will go back to my room tonight and warn my roommate of the virus and she will chuckle and say that I am always telling her about a new health warning, I think this is a serious one, just as I was worried about the peanut butter scare a few weeks ago.
It is entirely possible that this problem could get worse and affect myself or people I know. I read that there have been cases in NY, just one state away, of several children staying home with flu like symptoms. There is a chance, I'm hoping, that those children don't have the swine flu, but it really hit home that it is so close.
After the swine flu problem goes away, which can't come fast enough, I will probably return to my bubble of feeling safe until the next outbreak of some kind appears. Its amazing how myself and so many other people often go around knowing there are terrible diseases out there affecting so many people but feeling completely confident that we won't contract them. Now I'm not saying we should walk around afraid to touch door knobs (btw I don't touch a lot of them--don't judge) or being afraid all the time, but I do think it is important to take warnings seriously and be concerned when the WHO is calling this a pandemic, especially when the last pandemic was in 1968 the Hong Kong flu killed over 1 million and in 1918 the Spanish flu killed more than 100 million people.
Lets not become a statistic of the dead, face it your bubble has been burst, now go wash your hands!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
WE ARE NOT ALL SLACKERS
Today when I was in the house chamber, after having my picture taken with Gov. M. Jodi Rell, which was fun!!, I was talking with Dr. Forst. Dr. Forst is the internship program director and the one who grades our internship assignments. This Thursday we have a 10 paged paper due about the state budget process and one area of the budget that we have had experience with.
During my conversation he made a comment about me only having two days and that it would be incredible if I got it done in time, along with a shocked look when I told him I did the first half last night, staying up until 2:30 am. My question here is - why is it that professors think that just because we have had all semester to complete an assignment that we are going to start in the beginning of the semester? Myself along with almost every student I know tend to wait until the last possible moment to even look over the assignment. This isn't entirely because we are lazy or big time procrastinators, like I find that most professors believe us to be, but rather because we HAVE OTHER CLASSES!!
I have a schedule like many other students that is very busy. I intern 2x per week in Hartford, I take 3 courses on campus the other days, I work 5 hours per week in the school of communications trying to make a little spending money, I am a writer for QUAD News, and I am also partly involved in other organizations. In addition to all that students like me also have to worry about what classes to take next semester, when and where are they going to be interning this summer, finals are a coming up really soon, our mom's wanting us to call home more often, our roommates telling us our laundry smells, our other roommates give us dirty looks from across the room because in a moment of utter exhaustion you flipped out on them last week, your professor just sent out an email saying your presentation is this week not next, it's time to start packing, I still don't have roommates or a place to live next year, my friends blew me off last weekend and I'm still debating if I should make plans with them last week, oh and making time for a trip to the gym a couple times a week to work off the calories you took in last weekend from the 1 a.m. call to dominoes.
So with all our course work plus those issues and a few more I DID HAVE TO PUT MY PAPER OFF UNTIL THE LAST WEEK!! BUT I PROMISE IT WILL BE AMAZING! SO STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M A SLACKER!
During my conversation he made a comment about me only having two days and that it would be incredible if I got it done in time, along with a shocked look when I told him I did the first half last night, staying up until 2:30 am. My question here is - why is it that professors think that just because we have had all semester to complete an assignment that we are going to start in the beginning of the semester? Myself along with almost every student I know tend to wait until the last possible moment to even look over the assignment. This isn't entirely because we are lazy or big time procrastinators, like I find that most professors believe us to be, but rather because we HAVE OTHER CLASSES!!
I have a schedule like many other students that is very busy. I intern 2x per week in Hartford, I take 3 courses on campus the other days, I work 5 hours per week in the school of communications trying to make a little spending money, I am a writer for QUAD News, and I am also partly involved in other organizations. In addition to all that students like me also have to worry about what classes to take next semester, when and where are they going to be interning this summer, finals are a coming up really soon, our mom's wanting us to call home more often, our roommates telling us our laundry smells, our other roommates give us dirty looks from across the room because in a moment of utter exhaustion you flipped out on them last week, your professor just sent out an email saying your presentation is this week not next, it's time to start packing, I still don't have roommates or a place to live next year, my friends blew me off last weekend and I'm still debating if I should make plans with them last week, oh and making time for a trip to the gym a couple times a week to work off the calories you took in last weekend from the 1 a.m. call to dominoes.
So with all our course work plus those issues and a few more I DID HAVE TO PUT MY PAPER OFF UNTIL THE LAST WEEK!! BUT I PROMISE IT WILL BE AMAZING! SO STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M A SLACKER!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Photo op with Gov. M. Jodi Rell
Tomorrow, if i wake up on time after staying up all night writing the budget paper, I will make the trip up to Hartford for my internship. Tomorrow, although I have lots of letters to stuff I will probably be leaving that for the law student intern to do because there will be a CCSU informational event that the interns are encouraged to attend to learn about different issues affecting the state and the legislature. Last time it was about Long Island Sound and the protection of it. Not sure what tomorrow's is about..maybe I should find out? But anyway I also read that tomorrow there will be a photo op for the interns with the Governor M. Jodi Rell. (side note--what does the M. stand for? Another thing I should look into.)
I am excited to meet the governor. I think it will be an exciting time. I am hoping that it won't be a crazy event with all 90 interns because then I will get nothing more than a hand shake with her.
Well now it's time for a QUAD News staff and E-Board meeting...look for updates tomorrow about my time with Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Don't forget to visit WWW.QuadNews.Net.
I am excited to meet the governor. I think it will be an exciting time. I am hoping that it won't be a crazy event with all 90 interns because then I will get nothing more than a hand shake with her.
Well now it's time for a QUAD News staff and E-Board meeting...look for updates tomorrow about my time with Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Don't forget to visit WWW.QuadNews.Net.
Our professors are right..Networking is the key!
For two years or more teachers have been saying that networking is the key to finding internships and jobs. At first I was a bit worried, although I don't have a shy personality the idea of networking was a bit confusing and I wasn't sure if I would be any good at it. I knew that at home my family knew a lot of people and that helped during hs to get school projects done but how was that going to help me get a job in Washington DC?
Now just two weeks away from my second year in college, looking forward to a summer of classes and just one more year here at QU, the concept of networking has fallen into place. It really isn't that difficult at all. All there is to it is meeting as many people as you can and getting their contact information and staying in touch because you never know when that person might be able to lead you to yet another opportunity to meet someone else.
Here's an example that I am really excited about. When I started my internship with the CT General Assembly I met Chris Zavagnin, an assistant clerk for the environment committee who, just through conversation I learned, happens to be friends with Mindy Crane (now Mindy Glabe) who was the State FFA President a few years back, an organization that I was a part of as well. A couple weeks ago I asked Chris if he could get me in touch with Mindy because I remembered that she worked for the Department of Ag for a while.
So now I have been emailing with Mindy for a couple weeks and she has put me in contact with someone who currently works for the department of Ag, Ralph Otto that I am going to try and schedule and appointment with to meet during my week in DC next month. Mindy also gave me a name of a friend who is a legislative aid for a congressman that I am going to try and meet while I am in DC.
So my point is that networking is a great thing and you never know what opportunities will pop up just by introducing yourself and getting a business card. (click link to make free business cards of your own--just pay shipping)
Now just two weeks away from my second year in college, looking forward to a summer of classes and just one more year here at QU, the concept of networking has fallen into place. It really isn't that difficult at all. All there is to it is meeting as many people as you can and getting their contact information and staying in touch because you never know when that person might be able to lead you to yet another opportunity to meet someone else.
Here's an example that I am really excited about. When I started my internship with the CT General Assembly I met Chris Zavagnin, an assistant clerk for the environment committee who, just through conversation I learned, happens to be friends with Mindy Crane (now Mindy Glabe) who was the State FFA President a few years back, an organization that I was a part of as well. A couple weeks ago I asked Chris if he could get me in touch with Mindy because I remembered that she worked for the Department of Ag for a while.
So now I have been emailing with Mindy for a couple weeks and she has put me in contact with someone who currently works for the department of Ag, Ralph Otto that I am going to try and schedule and appointment with to meet during my week in DC next month. Mindy also gave me a name of a friend who is a legislative aid for a congressman that I am going to try and meet while I am in DC.
So my point is that networking is a great thing and you never know what opportunities will pop up just by introducing yourself and getting a business card. (click link to make free business cards of your own--just pay shipping)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Quinnipiac Vs. The Real World
Every Tuesday and Thursday my cell phone alarm rings at 8am, to the dismay of my roommate who has also asked that I find a new song really soon, and I roll groggily out of bed and start getting ready for the day. As you know I am a legislative intern for the CT General Assembly so not only do I have to get dressed but I have to look somewhat presentable, which isn't an easy task when your roommate is a super light sleeper. After tip toeing around the room getting ready for the day I head out to wait for the shuttle.
The Quinnipiac shuttles are their own story alone, from the nice drivers to the crazy ones to the cranky ones, oh and lets not forget the ones who turn the heat up all the way and make me want to stick my head out the window like a dog. Waiting for the shuttle to take me about 2 miles to where my car is parked can be anywhere from a 10 minute success to a 30 minute failure. Once I have made it to my car I head off on the 40 minute drive to Hartford, trying to rush if the shuttle made me later than I had hoped to be while being careful of where the cops are sitting. A couple weeks ago I got a ticket for speeding. Once I get to Hartford and park in Lot C, which is of questionable safety levels, where I then have to wait for yet another shuttle to take me to the Legislative Office Building, LOB. I am then ready to start the best part of my day. (read my other posts for more about my internship)
At somepoint around 4pm it's time to head out and I do the shuttle-drive-shuttle experience all over again. Until recently I thought I was cranky when I got back to QU because I was tired from the commute but I was wrong. All day at my internship I spend my time with real people, doing real work, leading to a real future, and then I come back to the bubble. QU is a bubble. I have realized that when I am back here at QU the issues that student are dealing with don't have the same level of importance as the issues I learn about and hear about in Hartford, real issues that affect people's lives in CT.
I think I am becoming annoyed by the issues here at QU because they just don't seem as important to me anymore. I think more students should leave QU and experience real world issues to gain some perspective on the issues they spend hours stressing out over here at QU, like what kind of pizza the cafe is serving today.
The Quinnipiac shuttles are their own story alone, from the nice drivers to the crazy ones to the cranky ones, oh and lets not forget the ones who turn the heat up all the way and make me want to stick my head out the window like a dog. Waiting for the shuttle to take me about 2 miles to where my car is parked can be anywhere from a 10 minute success to a 30 minute failure. Once I have made it to my car I head off on the 40 minute drive to Hartford, trying to rush if the shuttle made me later than I had hoped to be while being careful of where the cops are sitting. A couple weeks ago I got a ticket for speeding. Once I get to Hartford and park in Lot C, which is of questionable safety levels, where I then have to wait for yet another shuttle to take me to the Legislative Office Building, LOB. I am then ready to start the best part of my day. (read my other posts for more about my internship)
At somepoint around 4pm it's time to head out and I do the shuttle-drive-shuttle experience all over again. Until recently I thought I was cranky when I got back to QU because I was tired from the commute but I was wrong. All day at my internship I spend my time with real people, doing real work, leading to a real future, and then I come back to the bubble. QU is a bubble. I have realized that when I am back here at QU the issues that student are dealing with don't have the same level of importance as the issues I learn about and hear about in Hartford, real issues that affect people's lives in CT.
I think I am becoming annoyed by the issues here at QU because they just don't seem as important to me anymore. I think more students should leave QU and experience real world issues to gain some perspective on the issues they spend hours stressing out over here at QU, like what kind of pizza the cafe is serving today.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sitting in the CT State Senate Gallery
Right now I am sitting in the front row of the Senate Gallery at the CT General Assembly. The Senators are voting on nominations for members to boards of different things. Bring an intern here has been a great experience that is soon coming to an end. I am an intern for Senator Ed Meyer. I would strongly recommend this internship opportunity to anyone interested in politics. Even if it isn't you major it's a great place to learn about how our government is run.
One thing that I have found particularly interesting is the role that the media plays in state politics. There have been a couple issues that I have learned about by researching legislation and speaking with different people here in Hartford that sound much different on the evening news. It makes me wonder what other issues get a spin on them in the media from what the legislature really meant. People trust the media to be a liaison between our state and the issues to our lives but if an issue is shown in a different way than it's original meeting. I guess my point is that although I am a communications student and part of student media I have that it is very important to question everything. Question the media, question rumors and ask questions until you have an honest idea of the truth.
During my internship I have learned to ask questions. I am no longer afraid to ask questions and keep asking until I understand. I have learned to do effective research both by talking to experts as well as by reading documents and looking up information.
The Senators are still voting. Just as a side note to my points about questions and answers....it is SOOOO cool being here at the Capitol!!!
(back at QU now)
As luck, or coincidence, would have it my fortune from my fortune cookie that I just ate with dinner says this "Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential."
One thing that I have found particularly interesting is the role that the media plays in state politics. There have been a couple issues that I have learned about by researching legislation and speaking with different people here in Hartford that sound much different on the evening news. It makes me wonder what other issues get a spin on them in the media from what the legislature really meant. People trust the media to be a liaison between our state and the issues to our lives but if an issue is shown in a different way than it's original meeting. I guess my point is that although I am a communications student and part of student media I have that it is very important to question everything. Question the media, question rumors and ask questions until you have an honest idea of the truth.
During my internship I have learned to ask questions. I am no longer afraid to ask questions and keep asking until I understand. I have learned to do effective research both by talking to experts as well as by reading documents and looking up information.
The Senators are still voting. Just as a side note to my points about questions and answers....it is SOOOO cool being here at the Capitol!!!
(back at QU now)
As luck, or coincidence, would have it my fortune from my fortune cookie that I just ate with dinner says this "Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential."
should we be nervous?
This morning I was reading this article in the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/world/asia/15korea.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp "North Korea Vows to Restart Plant and Boycott Talks" and the one thing that came to mind while reading this is should I be nervous about N. Korea? This article stresses the seriousness of the issue but it also reads like any other article about any other issue or day, and that makes me somewhat nervous.
I follow the news more than a lot of my peers here at Quinnipiac, but still I am not a news junkie, although I might be if I had more time to sit down and read the paper, but from this article and a few other stories I have read and heard about the issues with N. Korea I am feeling a bit nervous about the situation. I am wondering how the rest of the country is feeling about this. I can be certain that my roommates and a couple of my friends know nothing about this issue but if a nation with a history of being unresponsive to diplomatic relations is building a nuclear facility and refusing to talk with world leaders shouldn't be all be a little bit afraid?
The one short quote from President Obama just says that "Rules must be binding...Violations must be punished." What kind of punishment are we talking about here? I am sure, more hoping than sure, that President Obama has more a of a grasp on this issue than just a comment like this that turned up in the Times, but still I would feel much better if I were to start hearing more about this issue from perhaps the White House itself. I think that the American people need to know more about this issue and whether we should be nervous. I'm sure there are probably a whole bunch of articles and statements out there about it but how about the people who don't follow the news everyday? Shouldn't they be informed too? The more it's talked about the more people will learn about it, so I think there needs to be more in the media about it!
I follow the news more than a lot of my peers here at Quinnipiac, but still I am not a news junkie, although I might be if I had more time to sit down and read the paper, but from this article and a few other stories I have read and heard about the issues with N. Korea I am feeling a bit nervous about the situation. I am wondering how the rest of the country is feeling about this. I can be certain that my roommates and a couple of my friends know nothing about this issue but if a nation with a history of being unresponsive to diplomatic relations is building a nuclear facility and refusing to talk with world leaders shouldn't be all be a little bit afraid?
The one short quote from President Obama just says that "Rules must be binding...Violations must be punished." What kind of punishment are we talking about here? I am sure, more hoping than sure, that President Obama has more a of a grasp on this issue than just a comment like this that turned up in the Times, but still I would feel much better if I were to start hearing more about this issue from perhaps the White House itself. I think that the American people need to know more about this issue and whether we should be nervous. I'm sure there are probably a whole bunch of articles and statements out there about it but how about the people who don't follow the news everyday? Shouldn't they be informed too? The more it's talked about the more people will learn about it, so I think there needs to be more in the media about it!
Monday, April 13, 2009
First day of blogging
Ok well I have finally done it! I created a blog! I have one year left of college and I know that soon those 500 business cards I ordered are going to need to be recycled because I will no longer have access to Chelsey.Hood@Quinnipiac.edu and so I have created my new "grown-up" email address; CHood214@gmail.com, which by the way I am not sure I like yet and truthfully I would like to find the owner of the Chelsey.Hood@Gmail.com address because that one would be much better, at least until I get married.
So here is my first blog. Professors here say in almost every class I take that blogging is important and that we should all have one, so now I do. I'm not really sure what I want to talk about in my blog yet, so I thought I would just start by introducing myself. But now I am wondering to who am I introducing myself to? Will anyone even read this? I am not much of a read of blogs thus far in my life but perhaps I should read some to get some ideas. Most that I have seen looked like just responses to news clips that I saw on Yahoo! this morning. I do a lot of responding in classes, perhaps I'll just use my blog to vent and brainstorm?
So about me...my name is Chelsey Hood and I am a junior at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT and a life time resident of East Haddam, CT. I am a public relations major with a minor in political science. I have narrowed my education down to this: I study public relations for the skills it teaches me about communication but I study politics because it is my passion. My passion for politics, I think has been a part of me for longer than I realize, but it really grew during President Obama's campaign. I guess that puts me in a boat with a whole bunch of other college aged people who became inspired by Obama. My curiosity of the world of politics led me to take some PO classes and even to a three week trip in Washington DC this past January where I did the tourist thing with my mom before joining my classmates for a 10 day intensive seminar where I heard from and visited various speakers who included political figures and journalism icons. The trip ended with the inauguration, which was the most incredible experience. People ask me all the time what was it like, but all I can say is amazing. It's hard to put into words the feelings I had, and those I didn't because it was so cold, but honestly it was just amazing. This trip to Washington gave me, what my professor called, Potomac Fever, and I just can't wait to graduate and move down to DC. As hard as it might be to leave home next year, the time I spent in Washington gave me that intense feeling that it is where I am meant to be for the rest of my life.
Now that I'm back, and the spring semester is coming to a close everything I have done since that trip has been working towards building a future in Washington. This semester I have been a legislative intern for the Connecticut General Assembly, working for State Senator Meyer's office. This internship has again increased my love of politics and has taught me so much about how a career in politics might look for me after school. I have also just accepted an offer to intern with Senator Christopher Dodd this summer in his district office, which I am REALLY excited about!!
so...how did I do? Are you bored to death? I hope not. This was my first attempt at a blog and hopefully someone will read it...more to come in the future. Find me on Twitter Chood214
So here is my first blog. Professors here say in almost every class I take that blogging is important and that we should all have one, so now I do. I'm not really sure what I want to talk about in my blog yet, so I thought I would just start by introducing myself. But now I am wondering to who am I introducing myself to? Will anyone even read this? I am not much of a read of blogs thus far in my life but perhaps I should read some to get some ideas. Most that I have seen looked like just responses to news clips that I saw on Yahoo! this morning. I do a lot of responding in classes, perhaps I'll just use my blog to vent and brainstorm?
So about me...my name is Chelsey Hood and I am a junior at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT and a life time resident of East Haddam, CT. I am a public relations major with a minor in political science. I have narrowed my education down to this: I study public relations for the skills it teaches me about communication but I study politics because it is my passion. My passion for politics, I think has been a part of me for longer than I realize, but it really grew during President Obama's campaign. I guess that puts me in a boat with a whole bunch of other college aged people who became inspired by Obama. My curiosity of the world of politics led me to take some PO classes and even to a three week trip in Washington DC this past January where I did the tourist thing with my mom before joining my classmates for a 10 day intensive seminar where I heard from and visited various speakers who included political figures and journalism icons. The trip ended with the inauguration, which was the most incredible experience. People ask me all the time what was it like, but all I can say is amazing. It's hard to put into words the feelings I had, and those I didn't because it was so cold, but honestly it was just amazing. This trip to Washington gave me, what my professor called, Potomac Fever, and I just can't wait to graduate and move down to DC. As hard as it might be to leave home next year, the time I spent in Washington gave me that intense feeling that it is where I am meant to be for the rest of my life.
Now that I'm back, and the spring semester is coming to a close everything I have done since that trip has been working towards building a future in Washington. This semester I have been a legislative intern for the Connecticut General Assembly, working for State Senator Meyer's office. This internship has again increased my love of politics and has taught me so much about how a career in politics might look for me after school. I have also just accepted an offer to intern with Senator Christopher Dodd this summer in his district office, which I am REALLY excited about!!
so...how did I do? Are you bored to death? I hope not. This was my first attempt at a blog and hopefully someone will read it...more to come in the future. Find me on Twitter Chood214
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