AnneOnCollege.net

The week before finals and being a music major.

moonprincess8291@yahoo.com (aliceisme13) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:50:00 +0000

As time allows and as the muse strikes, my lovely and talented daughter Megan will share her experiences on life as a freshman in college.

««««««««««««««««««««««««

The Week before final exams.

I am very lucky for only having 3 finals to take this semester out of my original 8 classes. How does this happen? Classes end early, you do well in class and are excused from taking the exam, or there is just no final exam for that class.

My greatest accomplishment of the semester: Passing music theory with an A and not having to take the final exam.

Once my professor said you didn't have to take the exam if you received an A in the class I made sure I got an A in the class. Luckily this was an easy task for me since I'm really good in the subject, but I'm still proud of it.

Typical day for a music major...

Being a music major is not easy. I have to go to class, work on homework, practice my flute, go to concerts... etc. The list can go on forever depending on the day. For example, my schedule tomorrow is insane.

9:30 - music lit

11:00 - cryptography

12:15 - lunch with friends/break

2:00 - core 103 (English)

3:30 - flute class

5:00 - flute party

As of now I only get one break tomorrow and that's mainly to eat lunch. The only benefit about tomorrow is that I know for a fact that I won't have any homework to do.

College Tips

So my college tips that I give to you today (and that I will probably give multiple times) are:

1. Do well in all your classes.

2. Learn to manage your time wisely.

3. Make time for your friends. (The people that never leave their dorms are usually the ones that go insane in the long run.)

If there are any specific questions you would like to ask me please feel free and I will get back to you as soon as I can. =]

Brickfish Campaigns - 12/5/09 Edition

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Check out these current campaigns at Brickfish:

What's Your Overnight Guest Rating, - 127 entries, ends 12/8/09
What's Your Style? Phase II - 10 entries, ends 12/10/09
Share Your Bright Holiday Moments - 422 entries, ends 12/22/09
Junker or Gem? - 1,582 entries, ends 12/22/09
Fabulous Pet Names - 1,643 entries, ends 12/28/09
Steve Madden's SOLE SEARCH powered by Zappos.com - 2,303 entries, ends 12/29/09
Show Us Your Football Spirit - 514 entries, 1/4/10
You could Be The Next Charlotte Russe Design Star - 1,124 entries, ends 1/9/10
Photo Crashers - 881 entries, ends 1/18/10
Show Us Your Best Facial Feature: Part 2 - 5,180 entries, ends 1/18/10
Create An Anti-Bullying Poster - 190 entries, ends 1/27/10
Holiday Photo Fiasco - 319 entries, 2/2/10

Find the campaign(s) that you want to enter, upload your photo, then tell all of your friends, tweet about it, post it on Facebook, MySpace, or your favorite social media site. There are new campaigns starting all of the time and plenty of money and prizes to go around. Who knows, the next winner could be you!

Image courtesy of Brickfish.com

What I Learned Wednesday - I Am GRADUATING Next Month!!!

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post's permalink and not your blog in general, okay?

Okay, this isn't your typical 'What I Learned Wednesday' type of post, but I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I was really happy to be getting a month and half off from school before my final class. Now is the time for family and the holidays are upon us. And I was so grateful not to have class the week of Thanksgiving. All of that changed yesterday.

For those who haven't read my previous posts, I attend Keiser University as an online student. Keiser is very unique in that you take one class every four weeks instead of 4 - 6 classes for three months at a time. This works out to be 12 classes a year since we get 2 weeks off for Winter Break, 1 week for Spring Break, and 1 week off between summer and fall semesters. I have been attending Keiser since July 2007 and am ready to be done.

I was to have a month and a half off with my last class starting January 4, 2010. But yesterday my academic adviser contacted me and offered to switch my last management class for another accounting class. So, now I don't get the break, but I will be finished by mid-December and will graduate this year!

Now to really hit the want ads and look for a job. Those student loans will be due one month sooner. And this means 2010 will start with a brand new ~ more educated ~ me!

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MisterLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - 11/14/09

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

Blogging for Progress (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount:$1,500
Website: http://www.progressiveu.org/

Student Service Grant (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.studentsserve.org/

A GPA Isn't Everything Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/GPAisntEverythingScholarship.jsp?code=FW_32

Cutting-Edge Careers Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/cuttingEdgeCareersScholarship.jsp?code=FW_88

I Don't Want to Pay for College Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/noPayScholarship.jsp?code=FW_98

New Scholarships

ACDI Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $2,500
Website: http://www.adc-usa.org/

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: January 14, 2010
Amount: $7,500
Website: http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/prof_development/postgrad_scholarships.html

Sweepstakes

FastWeb Thanksgiving 2009 Sweepstakes

Ends: November 29, 2009
Amount: $2,000
Website: http://www.fastweb.com/content/thanksgiving_scholarship_promotion_2009

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

What I Learned Wednesday - Epiphanies Happen When You Aren't Looking

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

Today was much like any other day since I lost my job a year ago [it was a year last Wednesday]. I woke up after everyone else had gone for the day [work, school] and reheated some coffee. I let the dog out, then proceeded to check my email.

I now have a few more email addresses and am juggling several blogs. This year I am actively participating in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month]. I am pleased to announce that as of yesterday I had written 20,085 words of the 50,000 word challenge. In participating in this challenge I am being exposed to many writers. Some of these writers, to me, have far greater talent than I do.

Between managing my blogs [of course I did fall behind on this here blog], schoolwork, family responsibilities, and all those other things I am supposed to concern myself, I have been plugging along towards finishing my novel [or very rough draft] and winning the NaNoWriMo challenge. It is with my mind set towards this goal that I had my epiphany.

First, I wanted to share [part of] the definition of epiphany as given by dictionary.com:

a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.

a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

I actually learned two things since I did not realize where the term epiphany arose - as in meaning #1. But I was fully aware of the term as defined in #2.

It was this sudden, intuitive perception that struck me today. I realized that everything I have been searching for, the meaning I seek was always there. I am a writer. Not that I want to be a writer, but I am a writer.

All these thoughts that run rampant through my mind. Ever since I was a child. As long as I can remember. These are characters waiting to be set free. Waiting for pen to meet paper [or fingers on keyboard to meet screen]. Waiting to be given the breath of life. Waiting for me to give to them the chance to work out their isms. Letting them love, and want, and get angry, and scared. Letting them grow. I am a writer.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MisterLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Saturday [er, Wednesday] Scholarship Roundup - 11/11/09

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

Blogging for Progress (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount:$1,500
Website: http://www.progressiveu.org/

Student Service Grant (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.studentsserve.org/

A GPA Isn't Everything Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/GPAisntEverythingScholarship.jsp?code=FW_32

Cutting-Edge Careers Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/cuttingEdgeCareersScholarship.jsp?code=FW_88

I Don't Want to Pay for College Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/noPayScholarship.jsp?code=FW_98

New Scholarships - Veteran's Day Edition

S.E.VEN Student Essay Competition (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: December 7, 2009
Amount: $10,000
Website: http://www.sevenfund.org/new-models-development/index.php

Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: March 31, 2010
Amount: $3,000
Website: http://www.hqafsa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Scholarships1 Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm ContentID=5332

Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: March 31, 2010
Amount: $3,000
Website: http://www.hqafsa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Scholarships1 Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm ContentID=5332

Military Spouse Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: April 1, 2010
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/military-spouse-scholarships/

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

Bloggy Update

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Sorry for the delay in today's Saturday Scholarship Roundup. I will have it available tomorrow for your viewing pleasure and so you can peruse all of those lovely opportunities to find money for your education.

This month is going to be a little hectic for me as I am a full time student [much like most of you], have a family to tend, chickens on the mini-farm, Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, and am participating in the annual NaNoWriMo in an effort to jumpstart my pitiful writing dreams.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and its premise is to give aspiring writers a goal of 50,000 words in 30 days. The prize is simple: you did it! Oh, and a banner that says you won. It's about the journey as much as the accomplishment, much like our continued pursuit of higher education.

If you would like to follow along with my progress, check out the widget below. Every time I update my word count, this widget will update. When I win [because I will win] PARTICIPANT will automatically change to WINNER and I will then be ready for a long winter's nap

What I Learned Wednesday - People Don't Like Change

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:35:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

I am now in my second week of my Ethics & Legal course and had an entirely different topic to post, then I saw this on Wheel of Fortune:

We hold these truths to be self-evident

My husband and I were discussing its origin. He said it was from the preamble. Well, when I think preamble I think to the Constitution of the United States. I am quite familiar with the preamble to the Constitution as I still have it memorized from the fifth grade when we had to recite it in front of the class. And that was a loooooong time ago.

So, I did a search and found he was not incorrect in that it is from the preamble - of the Declaration of Independence. But you probably knew that, didn't you? So, why am I talking about this? And what does it have to do with people not liking change? Well, I read the rest of that preamble and, much as I always do when I start reading these things, I started having these wild thoughts.

Let me continue with the preamble:

that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

Did you know wherever 'men' is listed it literally means 'men'. Women were not a part of our forefathers' thinking when it came to equal rights. In fact, men of color [is that correct?] were given the right to vote before women of any race by a little over 50 years.

Here is what started my wheels turning:

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

It is our right to alter or abolish our government if it is no longer fulfilling its duties to the citizens it serves. That is right, the government works for its people, NOT the other way around.

But it gets better:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Our forefathers knew we would rather bitch and moan and suffer under an intolerable government then do what it takes, do what our forefathers' did, and take a stand for what is right for the people and tell the government it needs to shit or get off the pot!

Here is my favorite part:

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

It is not just our right to remind the government who is really in charge, but our duty as United States citizens to abolish our government if its powers become so vast as to be destructive towards are inalienable rights of 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'.

It is time we told our government officials they can no longer sit on their seats for decades, but that they need to have term limits. They do not need to be as stringent as the Presidential term limits, but no one person should be allowed to stay in office for more than 10 years in a row. Maybe we enforce a term break by 4 years, then they may be re-elected, after all, if they are that good, then you will put them back in office after their short leave of absence.

Sometimes I think we've forgotten all our forefathers' gave up just so we can have the freedoms we hold so dear. Greed and power have clouded our thinking. We are no better than we once were with the haves and the have-nots, the religious persecution, our modern day caste system. Don't we want something better for our children? For ourselves? I know I do.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MisterLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

FastWeb Halloween 2009 Sweepstakes

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:39:00 +0000

This one ends November 1st and is super simple to enter. Really, it takes seconds.

Just head on over to FastWeb and register if you do not have an account. It is free and a great resource for scholarships, internships, and just about anything to do with college.

If you already have an account, then click here to be taken directly to the entry page. This is considered a scholarship and, yes, that makes a difference to you or your parents when it comes time to file those tax returns.

What can you win? Good question. Does $1,500 sound good to you? That will pay for some of those really expensive textbooks, or you can make that stretch even further and check out Chegg.com. [Just click on my link at the top right of this page and save an additional 5% when you rent your books from Chegg.] See, now you've just stretched that $1,500 even further!

Other information as taken from FastWeb:

The FastWeb Halloween 2009 Sweepstakes is open to registered FastWeb members who are legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and who are at least thirteen (13) years of age. Residents of Maine who are under eighteen (18) years of age are not eligible to participate in this promotion. Void in Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law. This Sweepstakes is governed by US law and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Entrant must have Internet access in order to enter the Sweepstakes. Each Entrant must be the rightful owner (or have authorized use) of the e-mail address identified in the Entrant s entry. Sweepstakes begins on or about Thursday 10/22/2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT) and ends on or about Sunday 11/01/2009 at 11:59:59 PM (EDT)

Good luck!

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - Opportunities Ending 10/31 & 11/1

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:28:00 +0000

So many scholarship opportunities are ending this weekend that I wanted to put these in a special post so they are not missed. Hurry, you still have a little time to get your application[s] in for these awards!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Saturday and Sunday

$1,000 GPA Isn't Everything Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/page/account/quickApply.jsp?scholarshipID=gp&code=CD25-144-32

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $20,000
Website: https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page.jsp?navigation=15

Career Stimulus Scholarship + Paid Internship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount:Up to full tuition
Website: http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/entries/EntryForm1.aspx?tsource=shrscsp&tid=100&key=shrsel17890_Banner

Blogging Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

Eugene S. Thorpe Scholarship
Deadline: November 1, 2009
Amount: $2,000
Website: http://fee.org/contest/eugene-thorpe-essay-contest/

Ruth Stanton Community Grant
Deadline: November 1, 2009
Amount: $500
Website: http://www.actionvolunteering.com/apply.htm

Scholarships for Student Leaders (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: November 1, 2009
Amount: Varies
Website: http://www.naca.org/Pages/Home.aspx

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - October 31, 2009

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:27:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

FIRE's "Freedom on Campus" Student Video Contest (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: November 6, 2009
Amount: $5,000
Website: http://www.thefire.org/index.php/contests/

Blogging for Progress (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount:$1,500
Website: http://www.progressiveu.org/

Student Service Grant (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.studentsserve.org/

A GPA Isn't Everything Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/GPAisntEverythingScholarship.jsp?code=FW_32

Cutting-Edge Careers Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/cuttingEdgeCareersScholarship.jsp?code=FW_88

I Don't Want to Pay for College Scholarship
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/scholarships/noPayScholarship.jsp?code=FW_98

New Scholarships

Graduate and Undergraduate Assistance Program (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Varies
Amount:Varies
Website: http://www.schev.edu/

National Organization for Women Poster Contest (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: December 1, 2009
Amount: $600
Website: http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/posters/contest.html

CKSF Movie Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: December 21, 2009
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.cksf.org/

CBC Spouses Education Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: June 1, 2010
Amount: Varies
Website: http://www.cbcfinc.org/scholarships

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

What I Learned Wednesday - You Are How Old?

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

In my final week in Management Law and Employee Relations we touched on a few more forms of discrimination and the dos and don'ts of employers when dealing with unionization. Interestingly, an employer may not allow antiunion meetings in the workplace, but may send letters to employees' homes.

FMLA [Family Medical Leave Act] covers you taking time off to care for a parent, but not an in-law [mother-in-law or father-in-law]. I did not know this. To some degree I disagree, but do understand the need to draw the line somewhere. I mean, if you take care of your cousin and uncle should you be able to take time off with job protection? What about a second or third generation relation? How many people do you believe would take advantage of this? I am sure many, many people would, while others would not. You know what they say about a few bad apples...

The most interesting bit of discrimination I learned was in regards to age discrimination. Did you know that it only is considered age discrimination if the discriminated party is age 40 or older? To me that seems like a case of age discrimination in and of itself!

When I was 19 I was openly and blatantly discriminated against due to my age. I was a little slow in realizing this was happening, but my boss [then 38] pointed out that I had no case as it was my word against hers and no one would ever believe me. Well, looks like the joke is on her! I did not qualify anyway. That was 19 years ago [WOW, really?] and she probably still is a teller making barely anything in a field where no one respected her. See, she was discriminated against due to her sense of, or lack thereof, style. That and she did not have the proper "look" to work in the fancy smancy Palm Beach office.

What about you? Have you ever felt discriminated against due to your age? What about other reasons? Employers are getting smarter and know how to get around these laws, but you should know your rights and how to stand up for yourself if you feel you or someone you know is being treated unfairly. Know your company's whistleblower policy and if you can file an anonymous complaint through this type of program. But be sure you are being fair in your complaint. Take an honest look at yourself and make sure it is discrimination and not just that you are unqualified or not ready for those other functions. In other words, don't cry wolf! It hurts every legitimate claim when you do!

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MisterLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - October 24, 2009

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

$1,000 GPA Isn't Everything Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.cappex.com/page/account/quickApply.jsp?scholarshipID=gp&code=CD25-144-32

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $20,000
Website: https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page.jsp?navigation=15

Career Stimulus Scholarship + Paid Internship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount:Up to full tuition
Website: http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/entries/EntryForm1.aspx?tsource=shrscsp&tid=100&key=shrsel17890_Banner

Blogging Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

New Scholarships

Watson Travel Fellowship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Varies
Amount:Up to $38,000
Website: http://www.watsonfellowship.org/site/index.html

CKSF Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: Varies
Website: http://www.cksf.org/http://www.cksf.org/

Student Service Grant (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: November 15, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.studentsserve.org/

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

What I Learned Wednesday - Let's Talk About Sex, Baby

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:39:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

That got your attention, didn't it? It is so not what you were thinking when you stumbled upon this post today. This past week we learned about sexual harassment in the workplace. Interesting stuff, to say the least.

Did you know that sexual harassment does not have to have any sexual overtones? Really. A great example would be a woman working in a male-dominated field such as construction. If the men harass this woman just because she is a woman, say things like 'you can't do this or that as well as a man' then that is construed as sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment in the form of you do this for me and I do that for you is called 'quid pro quo'. And when it creates an abusive, offensive, or intimidating environment it is considered creating a 'hostile work environment' [see construction example above].

If you give in to a sexual relationship then remove yourself from said relationship and lose your job, position, or are otherwise punished it still is sexual harassment. It does not matter that you once consented.

This should not be carte blanc for everyone to go and complain of harassment that is nonexistent. If your boss [or any other co-worker] creates an unpleasant work environment by issuing unwelcome remarks or gestures, then you should speak to the person next in line. If that does not solve your issue, then you should look into your company's policy regarding these types of situations. Know your rights and things will go much smoother in your work environment.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MckLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - October 17, 2009

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:30:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $20,000
Website: https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page.jsp?navigation=15

Career Stimulus Scholarship + Paid Internship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount:Up to full tuition
Website: http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/entries/EntryForm1.aspx?tsource=shrscsp&tid=100&key=shrsel17890_Banner

Blogging Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

New Scholarships

Adult Students in Scholastic Transition "ASIST" Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $2,500
Website: http://www.executivewomen.org/ScriptContent/community/comm_scholarship.cfm

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: December 31, 2009
Amount: $1,000
Website: http://www.gkscholarship.com/

James "Rhio" O'Connor Memorial Scholarship Fund (courtesy of FastWeb)
Deadline: February 26, 2010
Amount: $5,000
Website: http://www.cancermonthly.com/scholarship.asp

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

Peer Pressure and Its Negative Effects When It Comes to Choosing Your Major

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:58:00 +0000

I came across this great article on Unemploymentality which then points to the original article on Boston.com [yes, I am giving both credit]. This speaks to my thoughts on choosing a major based on what others say you should do [for the money] versus what you want to do. Go check it out :

When friends make you poorer

What I Learned Wednesday - Be Careful What You Say

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

I am getting down to the nitty gritty, the down and dirty, the crux of the matter. Yes, I am finishing up my final classes towards my degree. Everything I have learned over the years, in class, in the workplace is being reinforced and reiterated in these final courses.

This past week we discussed a case where a potential employer approached a prospective employee about employment within their organization. Boy, could I have used more forms of the word 'employ' in one sentence? That was a rhetorical question.

In this case the company assured the prospective employee they would have continued employment as long as they maintained position performance reviews. This person accepted the position. She received two highly praised positive performance reviews, then six months later was terminated without explanation. The question was posed as to whether this employee was entitled to any restitution.

Given the majority of employment is at-will, meaning, may be terminated by either party at any time for any reason as long as it is within the law, the employee would have to prove breach of implied contract. Those words spoken by the representative during the recruitment phase may very well come back to haunt the employer as this is a valid argument for wrongful termination.

Amazing! I really did not know this. Most employers will tell prospective employees that employment would be contingent upon performance, so I really did not believe this meant a whole lot. Although, this does explain why my former employer had me sign an acceptance letter stating my employment was at-will, as well as, having all employees sign paperwork showing they understand employment is at-will. We must cover out butts, people.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MckLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - October 10, 2009

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarships (courtesy of Zinch)
Deadline: October 15, 2009
Amount: $50,000
Website: http://www.zinch.com/Scholarships/ScholarshipView.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amylowell.org%2findex.html&s=6814

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $20,000
Website: https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page.jsp?navigation=15

Career Stimulus Scholarship + Paid Internship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount:Up to full tuition
Website: http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/entries/EntryForm1.aspx?tsource=shrscsp&tid=100&key=shrsel17890_Banner

Blogging Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

New Scholarships

{cricket cricket}
No new scholarships to report this week. I will keep searching, though. And if you hear of anything great, please share so everyone can get in on it.

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

Brickfish Campaigns

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Check out these current campaigns at Brickfish:

DKNYMEN Director Challenge - 38 entries, ends 10/22/09
What's Your Style? Phase 1 - 151 entries, ends 10/22/09
Elite Influencer Network - 64 entries, ends 10/27/09
Touch It. Love It. Share It. Win It. - 98 entries, ends 10/27/09
The World Pink Mosaic - 289 entries, ends 11/1/09
Back in Black and White Photo Challenge - 9,539 entries, ends 11/5/09
Design Your Health Care Rally Sign - 266 entries, ends 11/9/09
Pet and Doll Parade - 850 entries, ends 11/16/09
How Does Prscilla of Boston Inspire You? - 46 entries, ends 11/16/09
Makeover Your Makeup Bag - 51 entries, ends 11/16/09
Show Your Memories with Your Favorite Chuck Jones Characters - 346 entries, ends 12/3/09
Show Us Your Football Spirit - 1 entry, ends 1/24/10

What I Learned Wednesday - OH CRAP - I'm Late!

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

Technically it still is Wednesday and I am not late. I do like to have my WILW post ready and scheduled to go first thing in the morning. I know, I apologize. You were waiting for my post all Tuesday night and when you woke up this morning - NOTHING. Sigh.

There is an old saying:

Why put off until tomorrow that which you could do today

My daughter, Megan is good at keeping with this saying. She makes sure all of her homework or other necessary to-do's are done before she goofs off and hangs out with her friends or gets drawn into a good book. She does not worry about last minute scrambling.

Me? Well, I have one class a month. My last class required a 500-word essay each week. This was due by midnight Saturday. When did I write my paper(s), you ask? Saturday. Oh, yes I did. Sometimes these papers were not written until Saturday evening. You read that correctly. Can you say - procrastinate?

Well, that is what I did with this post, too. I procrastinated. More importantly, I forgot. I procrastinated so much that I actually forgot Wednesday was looming and my post did not get written. Until just now.

Now, you may be asking, what did I learn? I learned I need to create a schedule so I can better manage my time. I need to actually use my schedule once it is created. And, this is the most important lesson, and I may actually learn I have more time to do those things I want to do and those things I love to do.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MckLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Do You Know What Your Student Loan Obligations Are?

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:34:00 +0000

I do not know about you, but I am tired of hearing people say they "did not know" when it comes to loans, payments, obligations. If you do not know, then ask.

Did you know if you break the law and tell the cop or the judge that you "did not know" they will tell you it is no excuse? Really. Why, you ask. Simple, because ignorance of the law is no excuse. The same goes for loans, payments, obligations, you see where I am going here, right?

And since I do not want you to "not know" the deal with your student loans I am going to share some great information sent to me from SimpleTuition.

Six Tips for Managing Your Student Loans Successfully:

Both the borrower and co-signer are each responsible for the loan’s repayment. Even if you are a co-signer (taking out the loan with another person) you are also on the hook for the loan. Make sure your fellow borrower knows their responsibilities, as well.

If you don't repay your loan on time or according to the terms in your promissory note, you might go into default, which has serious consequences and will affect your credit rating.

You must make payments on your loan even if you don't receive a bill or repayment notice. Billing statements (or coupon books) are sent to you as a convenience, but you're obligated to make payments even if you don't receive any reminders.

If you apply for a deferment or forbearance, you must continue to make payments until you're notified the request has been granted. If you don't, you might end up in default.

Know who your loan “servicer” is. The servicer is the entity that will handle billing and payments, and it is often a different organization from the lender who made the loan. You should keep an eye out for communication from the servicer.

Remember to notify your loan servicer when: you graduate; withdraw from school; drop below half time status; change your name, address, email or phone number; or transfer to another school.

SimpleTuition is the smart way to choose student loans. Dedicated to helping students and their families through the confusing education loan process SimpleTuition provides innovative and effective tools, resources, and most importantly, choices that help students and families make the best choice for them.

Saturday Scholarship Roundup - October 3, 2009

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

College is expensive. Nothing like stating the obvious, huh? Good thing there are TONS of scholarships available to help offset some or all of those costs. So what are we waiting for, let's get this show on the road!

Thanks to FastWeb.com for providing information on these and other great scholarships. Want to be in the know on the newest scholarships and internships available? Why not join FastWeb today. It is free and it is easy. Join FastWeb today.

Thanks to SallieMae for providing information available for those noted below. Sign up for SallieMae's scholarship finder today and find scholarships that match your profile.

Scholarships Ending Soon

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Deadline: October 6, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: https://gilmanapplication.iie.org/IIE/public/Default.aspx

FastWeb's Third Leg of their Scholarship Triathlon
Deadline: October 7, 2009
Amount: $1,500
Website: http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/1559-scholarship-triathlon-leg-three-win-1500?utm_source=nlet&utm_content=fw_R1_20090916&g=1

Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarships (courtesy of Zinch)
Deadline: October 15, 2009
Amount: $50,000
Website: http://www.zinch.com/Scholarships/ScholarshipView.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.amylowell.org%2findex.html&s=6814

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $20,000
Website: https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/page.jsp?navigation=15

Career Stimulus Scholarship + Paid Internship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount:Up to full tuition
Website: http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/entries/EntryForm1.aspx?tsource=shrscsp&tid=100&key=shrsel17890_Banner

Blogging Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: October 31, 2009
Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/our-scholarships/blogging.htm

New Scholarships

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (courtesy of marketwire)
Deadline: Varies
Amount: $10,000
Website: http://www.artandwriting.org/

"New Models of Development" 2009-2010 SEVEN Fund Essay Competition (courtesy of Zinch)
Deadline: December 7, 2009
Amount:Varies
Website: http://www.zinch.com/

Mooching Scholarships (courtesy of Zinch)
Deadline: December 31, 2009
Amount: Varies
Website: http://www.zinch.com/

Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program (courtesy of Zinch)
Deadline: January 15, 2010
Amount:Varies
Website: http://www.zinch.com/

Sweepstakes

Sallie Mae Monthly Drawing
Ends: ongoing
Amount: $1,000
Website: https://www.collegeanswer.com/global/about/about_disclaimers.jsp#rules

GoCollege Lucky Draw Scholarship (courtesy of SallieMae)
Deadline: Monthly
Amount: $250
Website: http://www.gocollege.com/lucky-draw-scholarship.html

Is Your College Green?

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:35:00 +0000

No, I am not talking about building color or school colors. I am talking about earth-friendly. What kind of impact is your school making? Is it for the greater good? Find out if your school makes the grade.

What I Learned Wednesday - No Quick Fixes

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Join the fun, post what you learned this week, and link up below. The code for the image is located in my sidebar. All I ask is you link back to this post. Oh, and make sure you link to your post and not your blog in general, okay?

The final week of my Money and Banking class was about economic factors and the interest rate target. Not unlike our current predicament, the example mentioned a slumping economy, high unemployment, and the threat of inflation on the horizon. We were to decipher this information and decide whether the target interest rate should be lowered or raised. Here is my response:

This reminds me of a level. We move it a little up and then a little down trying to get the bubble to be in just the right spot, to be level. When the economy slumps the central bank steps in and makes its adjustments in an attempt to inch up the economy. The problem with making an economic adjustment is that the effect of today’s adjustment will not be fully felt for up to twelve months. This [is discussed on page 448 and] is called the transmission lag. So, unlike our level where we see an immediate fix, any change inflicted by the central bank will take some time and will need to consider its future effect.

Inflation is generally thought of as a dirty word, but inflation on a smaller scale can be a good thing. The central bank should look at lowering the nominal interest rate to foster economic growth, stimulate employment, and be mindful of this as the threat of inflation looms on the horizon. The goal is that leveling effect with minor adjustments to correct the balance.

While this was not completely foreign to me, it does clarify a lot. As much as we would like for everything to be all better with a little bailout here and a lot of bailout there it does not seem to work quite that simply. Furthermore, if we make too sharp of an adjustment we will be forever trying to find balance, but actually become more and more unbalanced.

What have you learned this week? Grab the button from my sidebar, then add a link to your post below using MckLinky. Not sure how to link up? Leave a comment or send me an email (or both) and I will happily walk you through it.

Top Paying Degrees - How Does This Influence Your Major?

asbender20@yahoo.com (Anne B) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:02:00 +0000

I love getting these emails telling me the top paying degrees. As if that will really matter to me if it is not something of interest to me. I know they are just trying to be helpful, but be helpful to whom? and at what cost?

««««««««««««««««««««««««««

According to FastWeb, these are the Top Paying Degrees:

1. Chemical Engineering ($59,218)
2. Electrical Engineering ($55,333)
3. Mechanical Engineering ($54,057)
4. Computer Science ($53,051)
5. Civil Engineering ($48,998)
6. Economics ($47,782)
7. Management Information Systems ($47,407)
8. Finance ($46,442)
9. Accounting ($46,292)
10. Business Administration/Management ($43,256)

««««««««««««««««««««««««««

Now what? Am I supposed to change my major or decide to major in something just because it is considered a top paying degree? Loyal reader Luna commented last week on just this very thing. Well, not this very thing, but in response to my quandary on my choice of major. Luna started out as a Computer Science major. [Notice Computer Science is number 4 on the list above.] After spending some time actually working in that field, Luna decided it was not for her. Luna is now a Business Management major and happier for it. [Business is number 10.] There is a good $10,000 difference in those two yearly incomes. Does this mean Luna made the wrong choice? Absolutely not.

Is it the money or the love of what you do that makes you successful?

I am an Accounting major [number 9]. I will be receiving my degree in January 2010 and can look forward to making a whopping $46,292 (on average) per year. I was making $39,000 + benefits without the degree. This is not making me think I made a good decision in returning to school. And, to top it all off, there are NO JOBS where I reside. None. Zip. Nada. And those few random positions listed by temp-to-hire companies want you to have a Masters degree. For no more money! You have got to be kidding me.

Oh, and that is not even the worst part. Really, there is more. I do not want to be an accountant. I know, why did I choose to study accounting if I do not want to be an accountant? Well, my thinking was it is what I know. I have an Associates degree in accounting and have worked in the bookkeeping, office management, accounting field for the past 15 some odd years. And there was the slight possibility I would be moving back to my old stomping grounds in South Florida and I did not want to start at the bottom, AGAIN. Therefore, the continuation only made sense. I never moved. In fact, so much changed where I was working that I ended up losing my job when new management came in and I was deemed incompatible - read: had a mind of my own and did not mind using it.

What does this mean to you? Did you choose your major based on salary? And do you think it is the money or the love of what you do that makes you successful?

image courtesy of swamysk.