Saturday, March 26, 2011

All Work and No Play

This latest blog comes to you from my cube at work! So lately I have been CRAZY BUSY like really, note the crazy busy in bold there peeps!! Last weekend we hosted the Frozen Four for Women's Hockey. It was kinda a big deal, especially since it was the first time the state of PA has ever hosted the Frozen Four. Although it was insane and I worked harder than I think I ever have in my entire life it was the greatest experience and I am soooo thankful to our amazing and best ever Director of Athletics Communication, Lauren. P. Webster, for being the coolest person and the best boss ever! Check out our website www.hurstathletics.com for photo galleries of the sweet event!

Ok so I mentioned that I was at work. True story actually, like y'all know I am an intern at the Erie SeaWolves and we had to be at the orientation for the seasonal employees this morning, and now we get the "pleasure" of coming back to the office to make sales calls!! woohoo.

To off set that sad and depressing note, funny story. Last month I was minding own business cooking a pork chop and my fire alarm goes off! To be fair, it has been being tricky for months, but it wasn't even smokey in my apt and it goes off, and then sets off the one for the ENTIRE BUILDING! ugh. So the fire department had to come and needless to say it was a bit embarrassing. As they were on their way we could hear the sirens going and the policeman waiting with us radioed them saying, "You don't need the sirens guys... it's just a pork chop." Go a head... laugh.. my mom did.

So watch out, stoves and pork chops can be difficult little things.

Also here's a piece of advice. Get a Twitter! :) enough said really.

Rachel's Thought of the Day: Check out Machine Gun Kelly - product of Cleveland Ohio. MGK = wicked sick!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

9 Down 1 to Go

That's right fokies!

We in the home stretch now and it feels SOOOOOOOO good!

To start things off first and foremost I am still on a high from the Duke win over UNC Wednesday! LET'S GO DUKE! Even better Wednesday our Mercyhurst Lakers Men's basketball team won at Clarion to remain undefeated in the PSAC. Unfortunately our girls team didn't win, but they played one heck of a game too!

So this week had been pretty crazy, and I'm sure that next week is going to be just (if not more insane)! A lot of end of the year projects, which seemed pretty far away are kinda creepin up here so I have plenty planned for an exciting study weekend here at the 'Hurst.

Not much going on really besides work and school. Looking forward to this break we're about to get in a couple weeks to recharge the batteries and get pumped up and ready for Round 3!

Peace Homies.

Rachel's Thought of the Week: Use Twitter. (I thought it was lame at first too, but it's all about social media these days and twitter is the bomb!!)

Monday, January 31, 2011

All Tuckered Out... & It's Only MONDAY!

So we meet again.

Today was a busy, busy, busy one. Ugh. What does Class + Work + Internship + Homework equal? Well I'll tell you, it equals a very tired me!

So I have mentioned a few times about having an internship. I've been at the same place for just over a year now, and absolutely love it! Keeping with yesterday's theme I thought I would create a thumbs up thumbs down for having a crazy demanding internship while still being a full time student.

THUMBS UP to the amazing experience you are almost guaranteed to get while being an intern. I am soooo lucky that we have a relatively small staff at the Erie SeaWolves; it allows be to become familiar with more than just the one area that I specialize in. The people you meet and work with also get two thumbs all the way up! Of course you're not going to like everyone you work with, but creating relationships with your co-workers not only helps you to become team players, but also gives you someone to count on. Plus internships look AWESOME on your resume and even if it's only a recommended elective in your program it's great to get you're name out in your desired field.

THUMBS ALL THE WAY DOWN to the crazy schedule you are bound to have. Since you will still most likely going to be taking classes at the same time you won't be a "full time" intern. In my case because my internship runs into the summer I don't start full time until classes are over for the year. However I still go into work for about 20 hours during the week. That means, the 20 hours you used to use on, homework, dinner, extra sleep.. HA GONE! But really though, when you add a time demanding internship on top of classes, and work study, plus homework, a few other clubs and organizations you belong to, it can get intense.

So here are my Top 5 ways to stay sane and healthy, and still pass your classes during your internship:

1 - Make sure that you schedule time for you. The first thing to go is eat and sleep, and you can't forget them! Try setting a sleep schedule when you start your new position. Get up 2 hours before you need to. Not only will you feel more prepared for the day, but you'll also have a few hours to get in a little extra studying, and some breakfast!

2 - Work Out. Get to the gym at least 3 times a week. Even if all you're doing is hitting the treadmill or shooting some hoops, it keeps you active and healthy and gives you a nice break in between study sessions.

3 - Get to know your co-workers. It's really important to create a good relationship with your boss and co-workers. That way if you have a big test, paper or project you don't have to feel bad or awkward asking to leave work early or even take the day off. Chances are you deserve it! Plus knowing the people you work with really help make it a better place to work.

4 - Don't forget about school. Seems simple right? Well when the tired hits, and all you want to do is sleep, skipping one or two classes may seem like a good idea. Right until you're about to take a midterm and you realize that half the test is from the class you missed. Trust me, it will happen, and Trust me you will be pissed. Go to class, and study. It actually works!

5 - If all else fails, just remind yourself why you're doing it in the first place. When you get an internship in your field it's key to remember this is going to help you get to where you want to go in the future. Sometimes you'll do an internship and realize that this career isn't for you. But even if you realize this is exactly what you want to do, you are going to have a few rough days. In sport for example, the hours are long, the pay is little, but the experience is priceless! It's easy to forget where you want to go when the going gets tough, so keep you're head up and remember it only gets better from here!

Rachel's thought of the day: Drink Milk. (and oreos.) :)

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Ok, so this week I am inspired by one of my favorite people in the whole world. My sister, Bekah O'Connor. This lady is probably one of the funniest, greatest people I know. Anyway she has recently started her own blog in hopes of becoming a social media phenomenon.


Here it goes,
Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Mercyhurst College Edition:

The lack of snow removal in the parking lots gets a BIG THUMBS DOWN in my book. Don't get me wrong I love this place more than dino chicken nuggets (which I love a lot) but come on people! I am constantly scoffing at the commercials where the vehicles go off-road into the snow. Like who needs a car that can do that? However my eyes are rolling less when I think of the advantage I would have parking if I had those extra capabilities. Rest assured though you can purchase an underground parking space if you want.

TWO THUMBS WAY UP to Mercyhurst College Athletics. Ok, so one of the things that you are going to be concerned with when choosing a college is what else is there to do besides going to class? Have no fear! Not only do we have events that LSC, MSG, and SAC put on every weekend, but we also have 24 AMAZING sports teams (2 of them are even DI!!). Pretty much every weekend you can find a sport to watch whether it's football, basketball, hockey, volleyball... the list goes on!! It's not just that we have a lot of sports, but we're pretty darn good at them too! Check it out the sports we offer at hurstathletics.com


Thought of the day/week: Check out the blog that inspired this post at http://thumbsindifferentdirections.blogspot.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Yo.. Yo.. Yo..

Hey guys! Christmas and New Years are over and its been back to work and school as usual. I recently started my internship again and that has been keeping me busy (yes, with all that extra time I had to spare.)

Besides the fact that I officially have my entire day scheduled from now until September life is GREAT! Classes are once again fantastic and we are starting the advising process for our Spring Trimester.

Which leads me to this topic: Advising. Whether or not you go to Mercyhurst - which you should - this is something that you are going to have to do. Some things that I've learned over the years?

1 - LISTEN TO THEM! I mean come on.. they are getting the big bucks to help you!
2 - They are there to HELP, not plan your life. So don't go into an advising session expecting them to lay out everything for you. That's the cool thing about college, you actually get to pick and choose what you want to take and when you want to take it.
3 - 8:00 a.m.'s? Not as bad as you think. Ok, Ok, they can seem brutal.. AT FIRST, but really it's so nice to get your classes out of the way in the morning to leave you with your afternoons free for.... studying!
4 - Make sure that you have everything you need. i.e. the schedule you made and some alternate courses.
5 - Be on time!

The first couple times I had advising I was a little ummmm unorganized to say the least, but I was really lucky to have a great adviser who really helped me get everything in order. (**cough** **cough** Mrs. Kim Zacherl!!)

Rachel's Thought of the Day/Week: Paint a picture.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Home for the Holidays!

Hey hey hey!

So it's been a little crazy these past few weeks. New classes, new teachers, new assignments, it's crazy but good!

Although it's a little crazy sometimes classes are great! I'm taking Accounting II - Managerial, Business Law I, Communications Techniques, and New Testament. They really are good classes and I would have to say that I am lalalalalaloving Comm Techniques. It's a whole lot of fun, plus I can really see myself using these things in the future, and to me that's sometimes the best part of taking a class.

So yeah, that's the exciting happening in my academic life!

I picked my sister up from the airport the day we finished for break and we spent the day in Erie having dinner, and watching Hockey... it was great!

Now I'm home for the holidays and it's awesome. I have more than missed having a break and being able to enjoy time with my family. I am really looking forward to when my oldest sister comes home from Boston on Christmas Eve.

We start back for classes on Jan. 3 and that's also when I start my internship with the Erie SeaWolves... again. I'm looking forward to going back and getting more experience in my field.

This internship was the best thing I have done so far within my major. Yeah it's stressful, it's crazy intense, it's long hours, but it is the best experience that I could have ever asked for!

Not only is this an exciting time for myself, but I'm sure you guys are too. Yeah it's the holidays, Christmas breaks are coming up, but I know that when I was a senior in High School this was about the time that I was really starting the pick and choose process of where I wanted to go to college.

So Happy Holidays! Hope it's a good one!

Rachel's thought of the day: Play snake on Facebook. =)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

F.I.N.A.L.S and a Fresh Start

Finals time already!!

GAHHHH, I honestly have no idea how this happened so quickly but I just had my last class of the term?!?!? Ummm I am not o.k with that. Three days of finals stand between me and a giant table piled with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and the greatest people I have in my life... a.k.a my family.

This term has been hectic and crazy and busy and I can say that I have learned way more than a lot. And I am already looking forward to next term starting already.

I am also REALLY looking forward to something that many people in Erie wouldn't mind going without... winter!

It is BY FAR my favorite season. You get all the great stuff, Christmas decorations, SNOW, blankets, cool hats and mittens, boots, hot chocolate, and my favorite COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!

That's right peeps I am a fanatic of college basketball, more specifically the DUKE BLUE DEVILS!

I am also really looking forward to starting my internship again in January. I will be keeping you updated on being an intern and a full time student, because believe you me, it is the hardest craziest, most intense thing; and you will love it.. at least i did/do.

O.K. There really isn't a lot more to say except GO LAKERS (PSAC Championship Football game THIS SATURDAY!) and fingers crossed finals go well!

Rachel's thought of the week: Check out Tyler Ward (youtube) not only does this guy do amazing covers he has some spectacular original pieces as well, and totally worth checking out!