Dear de Blog,
I feel like I didn't give you a conclusive ending, so here is one last post. You should feel special because this is the first post I'm not doing for school; you're already graded. Don't worry, you got good marks.
Don't really have too much to say, but I'm gonna' give your link to all of my Facebook peeps, so here's a shout out to them.
But yeah...hm...good times. Well, I'll catch ya later, or not. We'll see.
Anyway, it's been real. At first I was fighting you, but now, I find myself reflecting back on it all as I say goodbye. Ya know, CARBS, The Office, tons of annoying grammar rules that I'm surely breaking in this post. MCOM...yeah. Hm, maybe Bilbo and Smaug will end up being friends. Wouldn't that be an Oliver (T/t)wist.
Alex Nielson, de Blogging out.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
De Bloggit: Desolation of de Blog
My presentation is gone. It is done and never to be seen again. It is now in ruins...desolation. After all of that practice, I will no longer make reference to Pam & Jim while talking about 30 second elevator pitches. Good times.
Before I look onward, I'd like dwell on the past a bit more. It was really a different experience, using flip charts to present. Never done it before. I was happy to see some others present and have a few warm-up rounds before I was actually graded. There were some good hooks. One about the Pony Express and another with a guitar particularly stuck out to me. The use of tablets in presentations was also neato. Aside from cool ways to present, there was some quality content shared. Like I really ought to be able to manage my e-mail better now and I really am considering making a website for myself, using a technique or two I learned there. (I know we're pretty tight, de Blog, but I may have to move on). I'm gonna' make a difference in my life with these new insights.
Still, just like when teaching Sunday school, I feel like I do the most learning when I'm presenting. I'm very grateful for some of the tips I got to improve upon my methods. At first I was droppin' way too many "um" bombs, not smilin', and wrote things out during the presentation before I said them. I changed my ways. Still a few "um"s here and there, but I improved. I'll continue watching myself on that.
My goal for future presentations is to have a very clear purpose in mind, give answers to the questions on people's minds, and make it meaningful to them. Ya, know make it matter and be memorable. Of course, I'll have to get rid of the junk, really identify the situation, and practice, practice, practice until I master it.
Before I look onward, I'd like dwell on the past a bit more. It was really a different experience, using flip charts to present. Never done it before. I was happy to see some others present and have a few warm-up rounds before I was actually graded. There were some good hooks. One about the Pony Express and another with a guitar particularly stuck out to me. The use of tablets in presentations was also neato. Aside from cool ways to present, there was some quality content shared. Like I really ought to be able to manage my e-mail better now and I really am considering making a website for myself, using a technique or two I learned there. (I know we're pretty tight, de Blog, but I may have to move on). I'm gonna' make a difference in my life with these new insights.
Still, just like when teaching Sunday school, I feel like I do the most learning when I'm presenting. I'm very grateful for some of the tips I got to improve upon my methods. At first I was droppin' way too many "um" bombs, not smilin', and wrote things out during the presentation before I said them. I changed my ways. Still a few "um"s here and there, but I improved. I'll continue watching myself on that.
My goal for future presentations is to have a very clear purpose in mind, give answers to the questions on people's minds, and make it meaningful to them. Ya, know make it matter and be memorable. Of course, I'll have to get rid of the junk, really identify the situation, and practice, practice, practice until I master it.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
De Bloggit: An Unexpected Journal Entry
Well, I know it is unusual for me to post in de Blog/my journal before class, but today I had an unusual experience. I attended a professional networking event. The event was being held by the Now I Can Foundation which is designed to help children with disabilities become more able. They told us about some of the activities they have for the children, how they get their funds, and some of the promotional events they organize. They also gave us a quick tour of the place. Not to mention fruit and donuts. All in all, it was alright.
I also found it to be an interesting learning experience. Being around professionals like the president of so-and-so and manager of this-and-that made me a bit more aware of some things. Mostly I did felt like I was doing pretty well: I arrived on time, came dressed properly, madeeye contact, and asked thoughtful questions. But I was far from flawless. For example, I noted that I introduced myself as "just an ungraduate." I was told to get rid of the just. I gotta' make myself look good. There's no need to belittle myself. Also, even though I was conversational, I really don't remember too many names nor did I get contact info. If I had a more clear purpose, I would get more clear results.
To conclude, I'm glad I went. I saw what to expect from a professional networking event, what I did well, and what I ought to improve. And improve I shall. In the future, this experience may come in handy. Perhaps my increased awareness and skills will land me a job. As Smash Mouth put it, "You'll never know if you don't go."
I also found it to be an interesting learning experience. Being around professionals like the president of so-and-so and manager of this-and-that made me a bit more aware of some things. Mostly I did felt like I was doing pretty well: I arrived on time, came dressed properly, madeeye contact, and asked thoughtful questions. But I was far from flawless. For example, I noted that I introduced myself as "just an ungraduate." I was told to get rid of the just. I gotta' make myself look good. There's no need to belittle myself. Also, even though I was conversational, I really don't remember too many names nor did I get contact info. If I had a more clear purpose, I would get more clear results.
To conclude, I'm glad I went. I saw what to expect from a professional networking event, what I did well, and what I ought to improve. And improve I shall. In the future, this experience may come in handy. Perhaps my increased awareness and skills will land me a job. As Smash Mouth put it, "You'll never know if you don't go."
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