Dear blog, I’m sorry for neglecting you.

 

The Wedding Weekend

This weekend I attended the weddings of my two very best friends.  It was such a joy and pleasure being a part of their day, although I have to admit it was a little bizarre to watch my friends walk down the aisle.  I still see them as my girlfriends from high school and college.  I suppose during the last few years I’ve grown up as well but  I am just so proud and excited for them!

The most beautiful aspect of weddings is how families and friends are brought together for such an happy occasion.

The wedding on Saturday took place in Manchester, NH.  The outdoor wedding was everything I had hoped for the bride and more.  It was warm and DRY-which was a blessing in and of itself.  The torrential downpours earlier that day had made the wedding party and the bride a bit nervous but the weather held out and there was no rain to be seen.  The remainder of the night was spent reminiscing, laughing and dancing.  I wish them both all the happiness in the world.

Where there is love there is life. Gandhi

Non-profit brings HOPE IN BLOOM to breast cancer patients

One non-profit organization, Hope in Bloom, Inc. brings hope and joy through the beauty of gardens to breast cancer patients living in Massachusetts.  I stumbled across a Hope in Bloom postcard in Chiara restaurant in Westwood, MA.  The back read:

“We bring joy to women and men coping with the effects of breast cancer.”

My mother snatched up the postcard and thought we should nominate my great-aunt who has been battling breast cancer since May 2009.  Then I thought about my neighbor, battling breast cancer since December 2009, my mother’s dear friend Linda and my great-aunt’s sister, my grandmother, who is a breast cancer survivor.

It seems like everywhere you turn you know someone learning of their diagnosis, battling their cancer or surviving it.  Hope in Bloom estimates, one in seven of us will have breast cancer, translating to a new diagnosis every two minutes.  It’s a reality that affects everyone.  Roberta Dehman Hershon is the founder of Hope in Bloom.  She began when her friend for almost 50 years learned she had breast cancer.  The Hope in Bloom became a reality when Roberta’s friend passed in August 2005.

“Beverly loved flowers and took pride in her garden. Together, we spent hours pouring over catalogs, visiting nurseries, selecting plants and digging in the dirt. When she was no longer able to garden, her friends kept her house filled with flowers. She, like so many of us, took pleasure in their quiet beauty.” Roberta Dehman Hershon

But Hope in Bloom is doing something to “change the landscape”, as they say, to patients undergoing treatment.  The corporation provides indoor and outdoor gardens at no charge to anyone in Massachusetts undergoing treatment for breast cancer.  Gardens are planted at the individual’s home and designed to fit their taste and lifestyles.

Hope in Bloom believes, nature plays an important role in healing and studies have shown that gardens relieve stress and anxiety as well as improve emotional and physical well-being.  The sights and sounds of a garden restore the mind, body, spirit and gardens are beautiful, private escapes from the debilitating effects of treatment.

This is a beautiful organization doing something wonderful for beautiful people.  There are many ways you can help too.  Make a tax-deductible donation, become a partner or join their team of volunteers to help grow and continue bringing joy and supporting those undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Visit their website www.hopeinbloom.org to learn more about Hope in Bloom, Inc, nominate someone you know, volunteer your time or gardening expertise or donate money.  Hope in Bloom is looking to realize its dream and expand to other states as well.

“Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower. ”
Hans Christian Anderson

Bert Jacobs Proves “Life is Good” at UNH Commencement Ceremony 2010

“Life is Good” and it was at the University of New Hampshire’s graduation ceremony last Saturday, May 22.

It was truly a surreal day that marked the accomplishment of UNH students and the passing of four very memorable years.  The beautiful weather gave way to 2,200 graduates from 35 states and 17 countries to receive degrees at commencement.

It feels like just yesterday I was moving out of my childhood home and into the freshman dorms.  Looking back, I’ve managed to survive four years worth of finals, presentations, projects, drank more coffee, seen far too many sunrises and realized cereal and ramen can be eaten interchangeably for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I have also successfully completed my undergraduate degree.  Along the way I’ve had the honor of learning from the most inspiring professors and lecturers, met the most wonderful friends and had the opportunity to study halfway across the world in Florence, Italy.

Aside from the obvious learning experiences, I’ve discovered a lot about myself too.  These past four years have undoubtedly made me a stronger and more confident individual, future and goal driven and really enthusiastic about the next chapter of my life.

UNH’s Commencement was a great way to celebrate the cumulative success of four years and send off its 2010 grads with a very inspiring message, that life is good.  Bert Jacobs, co-founder of the “Life is Good” company was UNH’s Commencement speaker Saturday.

Along with his brother John, the duo created “Jake”, the smiling stick figure who displays his contagious optimism on the front of t-shirts, mugs, socks, dog bowls, tire covers… you name it, Jake is probably on it.  The brothers have since built the company to over $100 million in sales in over 4,500 retail stores in 30 countries around the world.

Jake even made an appearance on specially designed UNH Commencement t-shirts!

The 2010 Commencement Ceremony was not only UNH’s 140th, but also the first graduating class of the decade.   There was not a better way to end one chapter of our lives and start anew with an inspiring message of optimism.

As the professors and honorary members marched up on stage, Jacobs was easy to spot.  Perhaps the baseball cap and tassel give it away but his bright presence and lighthearted words gave way to an unforgettable ceremony.

Bert Jacobs, self-named Chief Executive Optimist, began by encouraging all UNH grads to view the glass as half full, noting that only one percent of people in the world get to go to college.

“You are lucky.  You are lucky dogs,” Jacobs said.  After talking about the state of the job market, he went on to say, “Life may not be easy for graduates of 2010 but let me tell you, life is good.”

He continued to charm and excite the audience, throwing Frisbees into the sea of graduates and loading tens of Life is Good beach balls into the crowd.  There was never a dull moment when Jacobs was on stage.

His advice: be optimistic; simplify and give to a worthy cause.

“The richness you get from giving, that’s priceless.”

Bert Jacobs was inspiring, charismatic and honest.  He believes down to his core that life is good and his beliefs are contagious.  The Life is Good company is a real life example of how life is good and how determination, heart and a little luck can go a long way.  Congratulations class of 2010!  We did it!

Grads Go Green at the UNH Commencement Ceremony

The University of New Hampshire continues to lead in sustainable practices, paving the way for other institutions but I was shocked when I discovered the robes worn at commencement were made out of recycled plastic bottles.

UNH caps and gowns are made of UltraGreen, a medium weight fabric manufactured using recycled plastic bottles!

UNH also participates in the Grad Green Program.  Students have the option of donating their gowns to be cleaned and repackaged for reuse at the end of the ceremony.  The best part is, you can’t even tell the difference and you can feel better about wearing a recycled gown.

With over 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per  year, donning some instead of throwing it in the ground seems like a nice alternative.  Congrats UNH grads of 2010!

Selling Yourself In a Tough Economy: Teaching You How to Get Ahead

Do you know how to write an effective resume and cover letter?  Can you effectively communicate your skills?  Do you have web presence?  Know how to power through an interview to land that dream job you’ve been drooling over?

Catherine Blake, founder of Sales Protocol International and instructor of MKTG 598: Marketing Yourself in a Tough Economy, guides students through personal branding, identifying students’ strengths and abilities and how to effectively communicate them during the interview process.

My education and experiences at the University of New Hampshire have been incredible and very powerful.  I’ve learned a great deal about myself, working with others, leading and let’s not forget the excellent education in business administration.  The only piece that was missing was how to market myself after school. Through MKTG 598, Ms. Blake has taught me how to leverage my education and abilities in order to land my dream job.

Every May, UNH students have graduated and have typically expected to find an entry-level position with some ease.  Heck, that’s why we attend college in the first place, isn’t it?  We are interested in bettering ourselves and increasing our prospects of finding a great job.

Now ask yourself:

What is it about you, that sets you apart from everyone else?

The job market is becoming increasingly difficult to enter and it continues to change daily.  But there is no time to panic.  Ms. Blake helped me realize that time spent panicking, is time wasted and if there is one thing that Ms. Blake hammers home, it’s that everyone is unique and intelligent and landing that dream job is attainable.

Throughout the semester we learned how to formulate a stellar resume and cover letter, create and increase our web presence through the use of a blog and other social media tools, use Strength Finder 2.0 to discover our unique combination of strengths and develop our value propositions.

Through the professional coaching of Ms. Blake, we also had the opportunity to improve our public speaking and presentation skills and most importantly interview preparation.  The training and tools acquired from Ms. Blake are life-long skills that can be practiced, improved and reused throughout a person’s career.

Marketing Yourself in a Tough Economy has been an incredible opportunity and tutorial in perfecting, polishing and revamping yourself.  That dream job is not going to be handed to you and it’s not going to come knocking at your door.  There is an intense amount of research and practice required in preparation for landing the position of your dreams, but with the skills learned from MKTG 598 I feel confident and prepared to hit the ground running after graduation.  My only regret, is not taking this class sooner.

Catapult-ing toward Success

I recently signed up for Catapult, an organization for young professionals in the greater Seacoast area.  Their mission is to provide a forum for young professionals to network, exchange ideas and share common interests while promoting professional growth in the current and future marketplace.

Sounds like an excellent opportunity to me!

One of their past events included a networking event with local nonprofits at the Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, NH.  The function highlighted the importance of volunteerism and why it is a vital part of the community.  I am really interested in participating in either City Year or AmeriCorps this year, and passionate about giving back to my community.  The network organized by Catapult seems like an invaluable resource for anyone coming out of college.

I’m looking forward to learning more and attending some Catapult events!

Check out Catapult for yourself!

Young Entrepreneur Launches Toward Success

Are you a professional living or working in New Hampshire?  Do you have something you’d like to sell?  Maybe you’re looking for a job?  Or maybe you’re just looking for a business directory of trusted providers, a real estate agent, automotive garage?

Yeah, there’s CraigsList, LinkedIn, even the YellowPages, but what if you were to combine all these tools in order to create a more professional and organized site.

Ben Collins, a 22-year old senior at the University of New Hampshire has created an online resource for business professionals to network and browse a Web-based marketplace with a business directory, job listings and for-sale listings.  MarketConnector.com was launched in early March and aims to cover the entire state of New Hampshire.

Beginning his freshman year at UNH, Collins saw an opportunity to bring together a lot of elements, such as job searches and finding services and did so in a manner that businesses and professionals would be interested in joining and networking.  The site has also been programmed so that Google will be indexing businesses who sign up, improving their position in Google results.

With little experience in Web site design, Collins relied on the support of friends, family and businesses while building the idea for his site from the ground up.  Three years later he has a product he can be proud of.

“The mission is to make local commerce more efficient,” Ben Collins

Businesses and professionals are welcome to sign up on the Web site now and Collins is hoping to get as much feedback as possible from users.

So go ahead and give it a try!  Find me on MarketConnector.com.

Follow the Leader or Be the Leader

I have had a lot of amazing opportunities leading in both informal and formal roles throughout my college career.  My favorite part of leading is working with others, showing support and reaching a goal as a team.  I embrace the challenges that come with leading and when I emerge, I have usually learned a thing or two about working in teams and a gazillion more things about myself as an individual and team player.

As the VP of the professional business fraternity at my university, I work extremely hard, at times struggle, but nine times out of ten, completely enjoy my position as a leader.  With 47 members that are part of the fraternity (and we continue to grow!), that’s 47 opinions, ideas and paths.  The rest of the executive board and myself have the responsibility to merge and coordinate these minds in order to form a strong team.

As an individual, I’m driven, focused and strive for perfection.  As a leader, I enjoy supporting others around me, and helping them achieve their goals as well.  Coupled with my strengths in empathy, responsibility and WOO-winning others over, I enjoy working with others and building relationships.  I value communication and honesty and feel that I exemplify these behaviors when I lead.

I am also a very people orientated leader, and as I’ve learned from my Organizational Leadership class I lead heavily from the Human Resources perspective.  I am focused on people’s emotions, satisfaction and overall enjoyment when participating in the fraternity.  I feel confident that when people are happy, feel involved and are working in constructive teams towards a goal that both the leader and the team feel passionate about, then success is that much closer.

As a leader I do not respond to negativity, yelling or any other ridiculous behavior.  I prefer to settle conflicts privately and resolve problems before they effect other team members or damage relationships among the group.

I take a lot of pride in my position as VP and am honored when members feel comfortable coming to talk to me or asking advice.  This past April, my fraternity nominated me for the “Unsung Hero” award for the university’s yearly leadership banquet.  Although I did not win, I was very excited and proud that I was even considered for the award.

After graduation I am looking forward to returning to a leadership position and having the opportunity to continue in developing my skills as a leader.  For myself, it takes a lot of  hard work and dedication, new experiences, constant practice, and trial and error to get better, smarter and more adept as a leader.  The more I experience and grow, the more I can contribute and help support the people I’m leading and that’s a win-win situation.

“A leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” John C. Maxwell

Career Goals

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, “So…what’s your plan after you graduate ?” I wouldn’t have to shudder at the thought again!  I would be able to use my pile of nickels to buy some beachfront property, a boat, maybe even travel the world?  The possibilities are endless.

The possibilities for the future are even more endless.  I can continue to intern, get my graduate degree, work, volunteer, travel the US (travel the world!), take some time off, live the life of leisure on my parents couch(that’s not an option, nor would I want it to be…but it’s nice to think about) or put my entrepreneur degree to work and start my own business…like I said, endless.

Once I graduate I would love to take a month to travel the US.  I had the opportunity last Spring 2009 to live in Florence, Italy and travel around Europe.  Traveling was one of those ahh-ha moments, I realized how small the world really is and how how much it has to offer, the people, the different cultures, the food (can’t forget about the food!).  I have never learnt so much about myself or the world as I did in those five short months abroad.

I would also love to volunteer for some time and have been considering the AmeriCorps.  I have a lot of energy and drive to help others and as an alternative to joining the workforce, I believe my time would be best spent working with others, developing relationships and committing a year to the development and aid of families and areas in need.  I feel especially passionate about volunteering in the US, as I believe you can’t successfully help others until you help yourself.

As far as a career I have a number of fields and interests.  I would love to be in energy or healthcare and work in sales or really any position that involves people and communication.  I get revved up and inspired by others’s energy and do my best when I’m building and developing relationships.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a whirlwind of adventures, interesting jobs and amazing people.

“So, what’s your plan after you graduate?”