Another day, another dollar...

So my break wasn't really a break. I worked for a week straight after our 4 1/2 day mini vacation to Flint and Detroit. I had my bridal shower last weekend and it could have had a better turn out but hey it is what it is. with the wedding only 30 days away I'm getting a lot of questions about if everything is ready...I WISH! We still need to get all of our RSVP's our hotel reservations done, set up the rehersal dinner and get table linens and photography paid for. I wish I had everything done and all I had to do was just show up and work on my last semester of classes.
Oh yeah this is my LAST semester! EVER! I have my internship at Revue magazine which has been going well, full-time classes and still working at Vanity...and lets not forget I'm getting married! So my plate is pretty full right now. But  honestly I'm ready for this wedding to be over so that I can focus on my business and school and help out more financially here at home. Yeah my fiance doesn't mind but I do so there needs to be a change. I never want too plan a wedding on my own again! I see plenty of brides that turn to wedding planning after their wedding but not me! UGH! I'm counting down to our 5 year anniversary so we can renew our vows on a beach in Jamaica! :P
Enough about weddings....blah! I'm almost done with my Journalism degree...YAY! I hope that this will increase my chances of obtaining a job when all is said in done. But really it's up to God what comes my way and what I listen to when He tells me what to do. I'm making 2011 a new year for me all over and I'm changing a lot: no more drinking (if I can help it!), eating more at home (and healthier!), trying to be more fit and not letting things stress me out or stop me from doing what I want. There are a lot of things I leave unsaid and I want to change that because right now I'm not feeling the satisfaction that I should be and that's not a good feeling. But I can't change the past only the future and that's exactly what I intend to do!

I wrote a poem about marriage and weddings...it's kinda long so I may put it in another post tomorrow. It's been a LONG day and I have another one tomorrow so I should be heading to bed. I just noticed I hadn't blogged in a while and I think it may be more important for me to do so this semester because I don't know when I will have time to go to counseling!

Until next time...

Seeking Assistance

So my last blog post was a bit depressing sorry about that...if anyone read it. But I decided to make use of my tuition and I visited the counseling center today about my anger. I think it went well. My therapist wanted me to go through my life and experiences and talk about what was going on with me and I've never talked to someone with an unbiased opinion and you know what? It was really nice. I got to unload and say things I needed to say. So I scheduled two more appts. I'm looking forward to them because I feel as though I need this to help me with my heavy load and to distress and focus.
I had my community reporting class...not my favorite and I got back another "D" on an assignment...not happy. these are the worst grades of my college career! I have now idea what to do. The class is tough and it demands a lot of us and I just hope I don't burn out! I want to do better so I'm trying to get the best story I can for my first one. Hopefully I can bounce back...
So as soon as I feel a bit of relief another thing comes up. Dear God please help me because I'm nervous.
I need to get back on daily devotionals and pray that God pulls me through!

Back to School!

So this past week was our first week of school. It was interesting...to say the least. I am taking 3 classes this semester and an internship at the Lanthorn (GVSU school paper). I'm excited, overwhelmed, and anxious about the next few months. It will be a lot of planning and praying to make it through since I'm getting married in 5 months too! Busy, busy, busy and somewhere in between I have to have a social life! LOL! Well it is what it is! I asked for it and I'm getting it! But I know I can accomplish all things through God, (yeah, yeah sorry if you don't feel the same but I do!), and good planning. I already had a story due and an assignment for the paper. this week is Labor day so only half week, but still two stories due for the paper, reading assignments, etc. and our parents (moms) are meeting this weekend!

Well here's to my last senior year!

End of the semester review: My take on Journalsim

So today is the last day of classes for me. Next week-FINALS...sn:I despise finals. As the semester closes I think I should got back to my first blog and review the courses I took this semester.

CJR 316 (Editing)- We meet in the preforming arts building (odd) and I thought I wouldn't like the prof or the class but here I am pleasantly surprised that it went better than expected. Me and prof are on pretty good terms. In fact, he helped me put together my schedule for next year when my adviser was MIA. I had some bumps along the way but as of right now I have a "B" in the class which I will admit I had to work for.

CJR 270 (News Reporting II)- I was excited to have a Black prof that wasn't teaching a African American studies class but this soon changed when I got a grasp on her teaching method or rather lack there of. I learned nothing in this class because she taught nothing in this class at least nothing I hadn't already learned in News I. She never handed our articles back in a timely manner and her feedback left much to be desired. I couldn't stand this class for that reason. She always had typed notes but never posted them online or handed them out. She never explained a story before assigning it but always manged to do so the day we were handing it in which was just a$$ backwards to me! I could have done a lot more with my hour and 15 mins spent in this class. I have no idea where I stand in this class so we'll just say a "B."

CJR 290 (Journalism History)- Now in the beginning of the semester I knew for a fact that this class would be the toughest for me just because I DON'T LIKE HISTORY! I find it very boring most of the time. I do like to learn how things work or get started but I don't like to listen to it in a blah PowerPoint presentation by a South Korean prof who sounds as if he has a mouth full every time. Nothing against him and I guess his English is decent for only being here since 2004 but man it was like an hour and 15mins of me zoning out every Tuesday and Thursday. What makes it worst is that HE KNEW HE WAS BORING! But didn't change up his lecture style to compensate. the class may have been more interested if the material was presented differently. Last semester I had a 8:30am class and it was so engaging you felt guilty if you missed it! But anyway he was a easy grader and I have another "B" to add to the report card.

CJR 364 (Article/Feature Writing)- As predicted it was my favorite class of the semester. It taught me about myself as a journalist...I'm a feature writer! I like the human interest stories something I can be creative with and paint pictures with. I loved writing for this class. The prof was awesome! He always made sure we understood the story idea before hand giving us plenty of examples and letting us be creative. It was always a class discussion and even though he gave us a lot of information I know it will aid us in the long run. He even wrote me a letter of recommendation for a scholarship and it was the most heartfelt letter I've ever read!
I do believe I will be getting an "A" in this course! :D

Overall I've learned a few things about journalism and writing from this semester: 1) AP style is way easier than MLA, APA, Chicago style, etc. 2) People REALLY don't like talking to reporters even if you are a student! 3) When looking for easy sources, friends CAN and WILL fail you by not responding even though they're on FB! 4) Organization and good questions will get you far or threaten your story.

I still will be a journalist and combine it with my photography because I like to write and photograph so why not do both! Next year will be my last but that means 2 degrees in 6 years which isn't too bad. I will be interning at the school paper, the Lanthorn :) and I will be studying abroad this summer to the UK for the month of July. There are still plenty of chances to write, photograph and experience, I plan on taking them all!

Classes-First Day back at GVSU Recap

So yesterday was my first day back to classes after a okay Christmas break. I say OK because I realized after not working for 2 weeks my dream photography job was only seasonal and I spent two weeks on crutches since I jacked my knee up doing God knows. Anyway, classes, which are all Journalism courses, seem to be going well so I figured I would recap them for you.

CJR 316- Editing
My first class of the day, my professor came in and didn't speak to us for at least 10-15 minutes. It was really awkward. But once he got to talking he seemed pretty cool. Old timer with plenty of experience in Journalism, worked for the GR Press I believe, which oddly enough he's 1 of 2 of my profs who do. He had us introduce ourselves with the normal name, year, hometown and then he wanted to know our dream job. So after each introduction he gave his own personal opinion of our choice. In the end he had us take a "test" to see where our editing skills were at. I don't think I did to good without my AP book...

CJR 270- News Reporting
Only class I have with a female professor, who's Black, which is kinda a big deal here in West Michigan especially since she's not teaching an African-American/Women's studies course. She seems like she could be bitchy and not as helpful as my last News Reporting prof who was AMAZING! We had an in-class assignment due in 30 because she wanted to see were we where with our skills. I wasn't stressed I just thought she should have stop yakking a bit earlier so I it would be a more interesting story. Feeling indifferent about this class.

CJR 290- Journalism History
This will be my most difficult class for 2 reasons. 1) I don't like history, it's not my strong suit. Which is weird since my grandma taught history/social studies for years. 2) My professor is from South Korea and has only been in the states since 2004. He's a nice guy but his English is very poor. So a combo of the two and I foresee disaster! I'm going to try and survive and get that B I'm aiming for.

CJR 364- Article "Feature" Writing
This will be my favor tie class. I am really interested in feature writing which is a big plus. Not to mention my professor isn't too bad either. It's a 6-9 but he seems like he'll keep it interesting. I will be writing my butt off in this class but I expected I would be doing a lot of that this semester. We started on a in-class assignment which is a memoir. I started writing about a childhood accident and was in the groove and had to stop! LOL! No I have to finish it but I gotta find my groove again.

Overall I know that plenty of writing will be in my future which is good. I'm hoping this semester will help me improve my multitasking abilities. I haven't had to write on a consistent deadline and I'm sure there will be plenty to go around. I just hope I don't regret it by the time April comes!

Happy writing!
~Ly