1.)  I hope to walk away with 10 new articles for my portfolio.  If everything I completed is published at this moment  ( I know some will be published later this month)  I reached my goal of having 10 articles for my portfolio.  Whether I will use them or not is another blog post for another day….by the way,  I’m hoping to finish at least three more which will bring my total to 13.

2.)  I want to learn a new skill to enhance my marketability as a multimedia journalist. I learned how to use CCI. Does this count for anything? I don’t know I guess that depends upon what news company I will work for.

3.) I want to learn the basics of SEO. (In my defense, everything presented in orientation that one time was too complicated at that moment. Since I’ve mentally prepared myself, it should be easier next time around if I ever get to it. I didn’t quite get to learn more about SEO here at the Oklahoman, but just because I’m leaving it doesn’t mean I have to stop studying. This will be a goal I can look forward to accomplishing.

What’s next for me…Job search…AmeriCorps…non-stop aggressive campaigning for a job (I know it sounds stalkerish, but I want a job in journalism). I hope this blog has been just as entertaining for you as it has been for me.

Word cloud made with WordItOut

1.) Never be afraid to ask questions - In whatever field your in, professionals who have been in the business have accumulated wisdom. Most professionals, not all I warn, are willing to mentor newcomers and dare I say teach them the ropes. They make themselves available to answer questions one may have. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had questions for other journalists in the News and Information Center at OPUBCO. When I asked, other journalists were more than willing to help. Besides, asking questions can keep you from screwing things up.

2.) Always take advantage of company offers - At OPUBCO, employees are given many opportunities to grow.  The same goes for Interns. Interns are not just interns; they are treated as employees which is one reason why I’ve loved my time here.  Among the many opportunities offered to OPUBCO interns is a writing coach. Because I attended at least one coaching session, I left with tips to improve my writing which will help me after I leave the company.  Sometimes taking advantage of personal development workshops and events can be added to your resume if you participate.

3.) Make yourself stand out for something – If you’re comfortable with just doing enough to get by, step out of your comfort zone.  Interns who don’t push themselves to achieve the very best may stand out for all the wrong reasons.  I believe everyone  in the OPUBCO Summer 2011 Internship class was recognized with different awards for contributions that were made. Certificates from companies hold a lot of merit when your looking for a job. Employers are going to want to know what you contributed. In addition, you never know if your internship is going to lead to a job.  The company is not going to hire someone who just showed up and did a small amount of work just to say something was done.

Street Kingdom

I was a little upset with Street Kingdom. I’ve watched them dance in Rize, so I know how talented they are. If anyone deserved to win Season 6 they did because they fought so hard to overcome their circumstances. Surviving in South Central L.A. is not easy due to the amount of violence they have to live through everyday. Krumping became their escape. It gave them hope. Unfortunately, they were not able adapt as well as they should have on stage. In spite of their loss, I still love Street Kingdom and all they are doing to make a difference in their communities.

Beat Freaks

As an all female dance crew Beat Freaks continually amazed me on ABDC season 3. I was rooting for them to win, but they were beat out by Quest Crew. Here’s a clip of Beat Freaks dancing during the Illusion challenge.  This is hands down one of the most impressive routines I have seen  in ABDC’s history.

Jabbawockeez

Many talented dance crews have graced the stages of America’s Best Dance Crew since being founded by Randy Jackson. But, Jabbawockeez has always been among my favorites. While Jabbawockeez, is not first on this post, they will always be able to say they were the first crew to win ABDC. 

I’m back with another TOP 3.   I say “I’m back”  as if  I’ve actually been  gone somewhere and haven’t been blogging regularly…to continue… I always enjoy reading and hearing about stories where people triumph over adversity.  It always inspires and encourages me along the way. So, I want to share the TOP3: poems that are inspirational.

The first one its not a poem, but today it will be.

Smile - words by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, Charlie Chaplin composed the music, sung by Nat King Cole

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

A Creed To Live By - Nancye Sims

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing
yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don’t set your goals by what other people
deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.
Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them
life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don’t be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don’t dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don’t run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you’ve been, but also where you’re going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
each step of the way.

Passion Of Life - POOJA NATARAJAN

To achieve something great in the world you need Passion
To fulfill vision, a great leader’s courage comes from Passion
Whatever it may be, you must find your Passion
If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

Never underestimate the power of passion
Without passion religion is spiritless
Without Passion history is meaningless
Without Passion art is useless
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

When you take up a mission with passion
There are no dreams too large
No innovation unimaginable
No frontiers beyond reach
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel
Our reason is the pilot that steers her
Without winds the vessel would not move
Without a pilot she would be lost
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

There is no end and there is no beginning
There is only the passion of life
Passion is universal humanity
Passion is the genesis of genius
Follow your passion and success will follow you!

I hope you were just as inspired by these poems as I was.

-Tiffany

1.) Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy

2.) History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
Maya Angelou

3.)I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
E. B. White

- Tiffany

1.)  Cost – I hate how new technology cost so much, yet it breaks down so often.  To make matters worst technology always fails during the most inconvenient times. Now, how much sense does it make for my computer to fail during the time frame where it would be most useful.

2.)  The Way Things Work – When components get old, they burn out and began to fail. Now I wouldn’t complain so much if it didn’t cost so much to buy or fix.  While this sounds the the human aging process,  it is much different considering the fact that you don’t have to pay to be born (FYI your parents may have to pay, but you don’t).

3.)  Childlike Behavior – Have you ever noticed, that when you tell a computer to do something, sometimes it behaves like a child and doesn’t do what you tell it to do? Then, when you go to ask for help and the other person does exactly what you did  all of a sudden it works and you look like the crazy inexperienced person.

Yes, me and technology have a love/hate relationship. And yes, this blog did help to relieve some stress.

- Tiffany

1.) Stay inside - For all you outdoorsy people, if you absolutely have to go outside I suggest eating tons and tons of popsicles and snowcones and slushes.

2.) Take cold showers - Who takes a hot shower in the middle of a  hot, hot, hot, hot summer. That  would be like having to take a cold show in the winter.

3.) Drink  ice cold drinks - while drinking ice cold drinks, its very helpful if you do so under the air conditioner or right beside a fan blasted on the highest power.

*Disclaimer: If you follow this guide, I am in no way responsible for you receiving a cold and therefore assume no liabilities.  Why can’t I make this disclaimer in small print like irresponsible companies do.

@Krystal Wagner it pangs me that I can’t put swimming on this post since I can’t swim.

1.) If a snapshot in time could be taken, I wonder if my generation (Generation Y/Millennials) would be considered as “A generation in conflict.” Many say our generation can change the world, because we are more open-minded and tolerant than previous generations. But, with a culmination of  events and conflicts such as terrorism, war, violent revolutions, the recession, the national debt, social security, unemployment, natural disasters occurring over the entire nation, etc.  How will this generation respond? Will they be equipt to lead when the baby boomers are dead and gone generation. Yes, previous generations have had to cope with some of the same issues, but not all at the same time, which is making it harder for me to believe that generation Y is ready to lead.

2.) I wonder how many U.S. citizens that lived through the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl are living today?  Why? I think it would interesting to sit down with someone from that era and have a conversation in order to figure out what they would say about the Great Recession.  I often wonder  what advice would they give to my generation.  This idea has been done before by The New York Times, I just wonder what it would be like to hear from someone in Oklahoma.

3.) What would happen to the world if the United States where to fall? Honestly, I don’t want to think about this, but when it comes to the point where the government are close to shutting down government, because they can’t agree on what’s best for the American people, we have to come to the realization  that the U.S. failing is a real possibility.

-Tiffany

For the majority of my childhood I’ve had to cope with the negative affects and effects of having epilepsy due to a brain injury I received while I was at the skating rink when I was young. I have not had a seizure for at least 6 years know nor have I had to take medication for epilepsy. I haven’t really discussed the disability I once had, but sometimes I feel as if I am still coping with having once had a disability. Through it all I most consistently remind myself of these three things below when problems arise.

1.) Remembering the important things in life - More than one time this week I’ve had experiences that have brought me to tears. I  had been upset with myself for misplacing items that would have cost more money to replace. So, I cried  from being so upset and  frustrated with myself for not remembering important things. At my age, I should have no problem remembering.The hardest part is not knowing. Not knowing why I forget things as much as I do. Not knowing the effects  of the many seizures I  had while I was a child. And not knowing whether the medication I had been given  by doctors has caused long-term effects that I still have to cope with today.

The lesson I have learned is:  To take things slow.  While somethings may be harder for me at times,  I have to remind myself to just take things slow and my circumstances will get better.

2.) Basic and Simple task - Tasks that are simple and easy to do are things  I have trouble with at times. As a journalist, this especially becomes a problem. Basic information is crucial to every story. If journalist cannot get the basic information in a story than more than likely his/her career becomes short lived. The other day, I was just reminded by an editor to try and remember to include the basic information in a story, and I immediately came down on myself for forgetting to include that information.    I’m pretty sure it crossed my mind to include the information he was asking for  in the story, but I became so involved in the story itself and all the details I wanted to include to make it a good story that I forgot about the basic information.  In spite of him saying that I did a good job on the story, in my mind I didn’t. I always strive to do my best, so it is very disappointing to know that my best is not good enough.

The second lesson I have learned is: Never be too critical of yourself. It’s never easy  to cope  a disability nor is it easy to overcome. But if you keep trying to achieve your goals, eventually you will succeed.  Persistence pays off.

3.) Equality - I’ve never been one to think of myself as having a disability, but the reality is I did have a disability. I believe most people who have a disability want to be treated as an equal.  The ironic thing is, as much as you want to be treated equal, there are some situations when you placed on an unequal playing field due to a disability and necessary accommodations may need to be made.  In spite of adversity, I  strongly believe in the adage, you can do anything you  put your mind to just like anyone else. Even if you have to accomplish things in a different manner, the only thing that matters is that you believe in yourself.

The third lesson I have learned is: Remember the positive things more than the negative. When you have bad days, deal with them accordingly, but don’t dwell on the negative. Cherish all the positive moments in life.  Celebrate every victory, even if it is small. Smile in the face of adversity.

1. Murrah Federal Bombing April 19,  1995 – Before 9/11 many Americans were too comfortable with the notion terrorism was something that often happened overseas. The aftermath of acts of terrorism were too often only seen through the portrayal of media in nations that were at war or under the leadership of a dictator.The OKC federal bombing had been one of the first major terrorist attacks in the U.S. since Pearl Harbor. And it all too quickly changed the lives of many Oklahomans. Many Oklahomans today still are affected by the aftermath of this terrorist attack.

Video posted by AssociatedPress at youtube.com

2. May 3 Tornado – When an F5 hit Missouri, many Oklahomans already understood what it was like to go through such a severe storm. Several cities in Oklahoma were devastated including areas close to neighborhood I used to live in.  Out of this tragedy came so many stories of survival and a sense of what a community is supposed to be.

Video posted by GualdAnubis at youtube.com

3.  2007 ice storm – This is the first time, I truly understood what life would be like without all the modern gadgets and invention we enjoy today. For, at least two days we were without electricity and heat. There were no working phones. And for those who lived in the country and drew water from wells, many did not have running water due to frozen pipes.

video by briandjin2 at youtube.com