Launch Your Career In College

We Can’t All Be Michael Phelps

2009-02-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

Celebrities know that every misstep, embarrassing moment, or poor decision they make will be broadcast everywhere. Rarely, this can enhance one's image, but more often such personal slip-ups are damaging. View this article about Michael Phelps:

Michael Phelps Apologizes for Hitting Bong So Hard

Amusing, perhaps, since this probably will not harm Phelps's ability to secure endorsements...in fact it may even make him seem a little more, well, human. But if you work in a corporate environment, it is unlikely that you would benefit from such exposure.

So how do you keep your personal life separate from your professional persona in a world where employers check the Facebook pages of job applicants, business is pleasure, and major deals are made over drinks? Depending on the industry in which you work, this issue may be more or less of a problem. Here are a few pointers for protecting yourself:

If you are meeting someone over drinks, DO NOT GET PLASTERED. Some strategies for preventing this are: adhere to a two drink limit; order something non-alcoholic - sparkling water or a virgin daiquiri; or, my favorite, order something gross, like a dirty martini. You'll drink it more slowly, I promise.

Do NOT discuss personal drama with professional contacts. Of course your personal life will come up in a casual setting - this is often how business alliances are made. But do yourself a favor and keep the conversations about your personal life limited to your favorite movies, your pets, or your intramural kickball team.

Harness the power of positive statements. If you are chatting with a potential client or business partner, talk about the things you like, not the things you don't like. You want to leave an impression of energy and optimism, not cynicism.

Get to know the security features on Facebook. If you keep a profile to entertain your friends, there’s probably some stuff on your Facebook page that you wouldn’t want your employer to see. So make sure that your profile is visible to friends only. And don’t become Facebook friends with people at work.

Good luck, and behave!

School As Work

2009-01-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

No matter what you’ve done before in school, this time you put yourself to work. Make professors your mentors, talk to them during office hours, class times, look at case studies they present as catapults toward the career that you want. Every time you are assigned a project or a paper even if it’s a group effort, choose something that will provide you research information and introductions to the companies that you eventually want to join. You might interview the heads of such companies, or ask to write a review of their advertising or marketing.

Do not ignore your classmates or the other students. You more than likely will have them in your life as colleagues even bosses. Talk to the career center while you’re a student to line up interviews for you during the course of your program, unless your current company is paying your tuition. Understand that the career center can be a great connector throughout the years that you spend in school.

Remember, if you are out of sight you are out of mind. This is no time to pick petty fights with the professor or the program about what’s fair or what’s required. But learn to work the system for what you think you need. Always have your end goal in mind. This pro-activity is a starting skill of a great career.

FAQ Part 1

2009-01-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

Q. Will it make a difference in my life if I can’t get into an Ivy League college?

A. Look at it from the other side: just going to an Ivy can’t by itself guarantee you a long, successful career. What does do that is you –if you are willing to take the risk of totally engaging yourself in your daily studies and activities to develop into a more curious, knowledgeable, and confident self. The secret? You can learn to do that in any college. Success does not rely on the elites only. While some US Presidents went to Yale, 98% of their classmates didn’t make political history.

As to having it made if your parents went to Harvard, a common enough thought, just know that those alumni’s children might or might not be successful. Far less than what you think, the college branding of your parents’ background has less to do with what you decide to do with your education and your life. If you’re really determined-- scholarly and ambitious and willing to turn your professors into mentors, you can make your own education pay off. After all, if you succeed at any college, you can usually be admitted to the best graduate schools. It’s they which lead you toward your chosen profession with the best opportunities for contacts.

Q. I am a second semester freshman, living on my own, but I am so disappointed with my college choice that I want to transfer. Where can I go?

A. You can’t transfer yet. But get yourself ready by doing all the following:

Go through the list of clubs, and pick 3 that you could care about. Go to the meetings, then choose the club that seems most interesting and be active in it.
Think of leaving your private apartment for now to experience the community of living in a dorm or fraternity. Make yourself get involved.
Pick one athletic activity - soccer, tennis, crew, or weight lifting – and commit to it 3 times a week. Make friends.
Get great grades: all A’s and B’s. Study hard. Look at your subjects as if they are worlds to explore; find something exciting about them. Talk to your professors in class or during office hours.
Make friends with your classmates and have lunch or dinner with them. Form a study group and make stronger grades and deeper bonds..

If you do all this, like some many freshmen before you who took this advice, you will find a family of friends and a way of belonging. Even though you will be able to transfer at the end of your second year, you might find yourself not even think of leaving.

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T12:40:00.001-08:00

You look to the President of a country as a leader and a great motivator. This President is thoughtful, prepared, inclusive, and non-complaining. He does not blame or finger-point; he is both realistic and optimistic. He is an excellent guide for all of us. Whether you are struggling to find your identity or you know exactly what you want to do, you will need courage - the courage to develop your abilities and to explore. If you are afraid, what will make you stronger this year? Start by looking for examples of courage and perseverance. Here are some other positive actions you can take:

1. Choose an elective course to improve skills that you have.
2. Try something totally new that will take you on a new path.
3. Develop more team skills by joining a club.
4. Join a volunteer committee.

In these endeavors you will apply the huge social skills of learning from each new person and you will gain a deeper understanding of your own goals and talents. Additionally, you may discover that your activities lead you in a wholly new direction. Start by celebrating with a local inauguration party tonight - you may meet someone new!

Paying Your Own Way Through College

2009-01-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

Are you prepared to pay for your education? You may need to be, according to this article from the New York Times:

Students Covering Bigger Share of Costs of College

Although finding a way to pay your own way through college can be a challenge, the satisfaction you get from taking care of yourself is immeasurable.

Barack Obama's Citizen's Briefing Book

2009-01-15T09:53:00.000-08:00

President-elect Barack Obama has created an online forum where any citizen can submit a policy idea. Once the idea is submitted, fellow citizens can vote up or down and comment on it, creating a stimulating debate about the issues of the day. The most popular ideas will comprise the President’s Citizen’s Briefing Book. You can submit your ideas here:

Citizen's Briefing Book

This is modern democracy in action, and I encourage you to participate, and to think about how this type of forum might apply to your leadership positions - now and in the future. When you are leading a project in class, or a club meeting, how receptive are you to your peers' suggestions? Do you listen when one suggestion comes up more than once? A good leader knows when to adapt, and always listens to those she supervises, whether or not she decides to take their suggestions.

News of the Day

2009-01-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

Quality over Quantity
Quantity of students that is...MIT is dispensing with huge, lecture style classes in favor of smaller, more hands-on classes. Read about it here:

At M.I.T. Large Lectures are Going the Way of the Blackboard

Start Working on that Personal Essay

Fresno State is moving up its application deadlines. Could this be a trend? Read about it here:

College Abruptly Moves Up Deadline for Applications

Transparency for Universities

Student loan and credit card scandals may soon end. Read about how the I.R.S. may be regulating universities here:

I.R.S. Considers Pressing Schools to Further Reveal Their Business Activities

Hilary Clinton's Big Interview

2009-01-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

Today, Hilary Clinton is undergoing a very public job interview. How is she proving that she is unquestionably the best candidate for the job? There are several strategies that she uses that you should use in all of your job interviews too:

1. Remember the accomplishments of those interviewing you and congratulate them.
2. Mention shared views and achievements corresponding to your own.
3. Behave like you would in the position for which you are being interviewed. Hilary Clinton is already answering questions as the Secretary of State would.

By using these strategies, Clinton is showing belonging. She is positioning herself as one of them and one who is able to handle the job. By showing herself to be their equal, she is not a supplicant hoping for approval - she already has it.

Phys Ed - would you still hate it...

2009-01-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

...if P.E. were to focus on lifelong fitness rather than team sports? Read this NY Times article here:

Moving From Team Sport to Lifelong Fitness

How do you think P.E. has harmed or benefited you? Do you think the focus should shift toward overall fitness rather than athleticism?

Inspiration

2009-01-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

When you set a truly meaningful goal, others will be inspired to come to your aid. Nothing inspires generosity like true desire for success. Read this tale from the NY Times here:

The Neediest Cases

How Are You Financing Your College Education?

2009-01-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

Beware of the lure of credit cards. You should always seek student loans first, and be aware that credit card companies are lobbying you, hard. In some cases, there is an uncomfortably close relationship between universities and credit card companies. Read the following:

The Debt Trap

Do you have a credit card? How much do you use it and how?

Comics as Teaching Tools

2008-12-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

From Wired:

How Comics Can Save Us From Scientific Ignorance

Would science be more interesting if it were taught in comic book form?

College Admissions Q&A

2008-12-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Fantastic article from NYTimes on admissions:

Q&A College Admissions

See my previous post about admissions anxiety:

The Waiting Game

What are your feelings as you await the decisions of admissions committees?

Thanking the Ones Who Love You

2008-12-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

As children we were taught to make a Christmas list and to plead for the things we wanted. But after opening our much-coveted gifts from Santa, did we ever think to write a heartfelt thank you letter? Probably not! Yet, part of being “nice” is remembering to thank the people who go out of their way to help you - without thought of personal gain, or who sacrifice their own goals to allow you to achieve yours.

This Holiday Season, think about the love that motivated your parents or high school teachers and mentors to send you to college, and think about all that you have accomplished with their help. Take the time to thank them for everything they have done, and show them your work. Seeing you flourish is their greatest reward.

Thanking people should be a lifelong habit. It feels good, and it strengthens bonds that will help you throughout your very bright future.

The Waiting Game

2008-12-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

The waiting game has begun. You've submitted your application and all you can do now is hope and pray that the anonymous committee at your first choice school likes how you've presented yourself. You've worked incredibly hard, and now your work is in somebody else's hands.

You deserve this respite. But do yourself a favor, and use the time to reflect upon your accomplishments and where you want them to lead you. What if you don't get accepted into your first choice? Will all of your hard work be for naught? Not at all. This competitive and unfortunately prevalent attitude is harmful and wrong-headed. Who got you to where you are today? Was it the mere name of your elementary school or high school that qualified you to apply to college? No, it was you. It was YOUR hard work.

The point is that NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO you will find smart people and a laboratory in which you can discover your identity and goals. If you do not get into your top choice, or even your top three choices, don't think you've failed. Think about what you want to accomplish in college and how you'll do it at any of the schools where you applied. List the ten people you admire most. Do you know where they went to college - if they even went to college? Like life, college is only as good as you make it. Use your creativity and forge your own identity, wherever you go. When you do get those acceptance letters - and make your decision, look up the alumni of the schools you got into. I'll bet you'll be impressed.

Good News for UC System

2008-12-08T16:31:00.000-08:00

Let's hope these gifts will help current and future students to afford their college educations. From the LA Times Homeroom blog:

Gifts For UC

How are you planning to pay for your college tuition?

Four Years Abroad?

2008-12-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

You just might get a better deal and a richer experience by attending an international university. Here's what the NY Times says:

Going Off to College for Less (Passport Required)

Thanksgiving Hiatus

2008-11-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

I will not be posting during the week of Thanksgiving, but check back on Monday, December 1st for continued posts!

Best holiday wishes,

Adele

Verbs to Highlight Your Skills

2008-11-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

Here we go:

accomplished
achieved
activated
administered
analyzed
approved
arranged
attained
budgeted
built
changed
closed
conceived
completed
consolidated
conducted
constructed
created
coordinated
customized
converted
counseled
dealt
defined
decreased
delegated
delivered
designed
directed
distributed
discovered
devised
developed
effected
encouraged
engineered
established
enlarged
evaluated
estimated
expanded
facilitated
forecasted
formulated
founded
generated
governed
improved
implemented
increased
influenced
initiated
innovated
inspected
instituted
instructed
integrated
introduced
interviewed
investigated
invented
launched
led
maintained
managed
molded
monitored
motivated
negotiated
operated
performed
persuaded
presented
presided
processed
produced
programmed
projected
promoted
proposed
provided
purchased
recruited
related
reduced
recommended
redesigned
reshaped
researched
reevaluated
reviewed
revised
reorganized
selected
sold
simplified
strengthened
solved
sorted
staffed
started
streamlined
stressed
stretched
structured
succeeded
supervised
supported
taught
traced
tracked
traded
transferred
trained
traveled
transformed
trimmed
uncovered
united
unified
updated

Financial Aid Calculator

2008-11-21T10:31:00.002-08:00

Useful tool from LA Times Homeroom Blog:

Financial Aid Calculator

No More New E-mail

2008-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today's college students already have their own digital identities, so Boston College won't be giving out new email addresses. Will other schools follow suit? Read about it here, from Read Write Web:

Colleges Stop Giving Students New Email Accounts

Common Resume Mistakes

2008-11-20T11:12:00.001-08:00

Here is a handy list of resume DON’Ts:

Don’t write a general job objective that reflects what you want from life, such as “a challenging position that will let me learn and increase my skills.” Instead make your objective fit the job you’re applyling for exactly. It should be brief and to the point, even if you are not sure what that entails. The recruiter wants to know what you will do for the company, not what it will do for you.

Don’t list your salary requirement, except when explicitly asked, and even then, only state a range of what is normal, after you find this out from your career counselor.

Don’t include your GPA unless it is impressive.

Don’t reveal any personal information, such as what you look like, your religion etc…

Don’t use jokes or gimmicks. In most cases an off-format resume will just annoy the person sifting through resumes by creating more work for them. Most likely they’ll toss it before they even read beyond the gimmick, so just resist the temptation.

Don’t be afraid of sounding too strong. This is not a time to be modest and hope some recruiter can read between the lines and see how smart your really are.

Don’t have any typos, misspellings, sloppy language, or smudge marks, which will almost certainly disqualify you. This is the easiest mistake to avoid but it is surprisingly common! So proofread, proofread, proofread then give your resume to somebody who will proofread again with fresh eyes.

Next up, a list of verbs that you can use to highlight your skills.

10 Most Expensive Colleges

2008-11-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

CNN Money published this list today:

10 Most Expensive Colleges

Resume Smarts

2008-11-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

A resume is a document stating that you exist as a real person who has gone to college and experienced some kind of responsibility. Think of the resume as a qualifier that allows you entry to any job search.

Your resume has to look professional. In other words, it has to look like most of the resumes of those people who are already in the workplace. For guides, look at sample resumes for the industries you are interested in; there are dozens of resume books in the career center, libraries, bookstores, and online. Use good sense, too. Submit your one page resume on white paper and/or online with one font and one type of bullet.
List and group your recent accomplishments in categories such as “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” Specify what you have accomplished academically, including honors and awards, as well as your relevant accomplishments in co-curricular activities. Don’t pad your resume with phony club memberships or awards. Only include items in which you truly learned, grew, or were rewarded for your genuine hard work.

Your resume should fit on one page. Keep in mind that if you are applying for a competitive job, the person reading your resume will be receiving hundreds of resumes. They will not be scrutinizing each resume closely, so keep yours concise, and highlight the most important accomplishments.

Finally, stay away from resume templates such as Microsoft Word’s Resume Wizard. This is an instant red flag that you are inexperienced. And, before you submit your resume anywhere, have an experienced friend or adviser proofread it for you.

Your resume should be tailored to the job for which you are applying. Although the basic document will remain the same, you will want to emphasize certain skills for certain positions. Take a close look at the skill requirements and responsibilities listed in the job posting, and edit your resume accordingly – and, of course, truthfully.

Next up will be a list of common resume mistakes. Check in tomorrow!

A Breakdown of Your First Job Search

2008-11-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

After you have selected a few organizations or fields in which you’d like to work, it pays off to organize the job search process, as well as you can. It will take planning and time – if you do not do excellent and precise work on your resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation, then you probably will not get an interview.

Here’s an overview of the entire job search process that you’ll be going through:

Prepare a focused and clear resume to suit each job for which you are applying.

List five references from your professors, coaches, sponsors, and employers. At the end of your resume, state that references are available. Write the list on a separate sheet labeled “References.”

Get five letters of recommendation from professors and employers.

Learn all you can about the many kinds of organizations and the wide variety of jobs within them from your career counselor, professors, internships, research papers, the web, and from libraries or bookstores.

Research the organization before you interview with them. Demonstrate that you are familiar with them and can meet their requirements.

Write a cover letter to explain why you are applying for the job.

Demonstrate that you know and can meet the requirements for the job through classwork and real work experience from internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and/or a fellowship on or off campus.

Learn about the structure and art of interviewing through workshops and practice with career counselors to improve your self-presentation.

Convince the employer of what you can do for the company, rather than ask wht it can do for you. Get coaching from yo9ur career counselors about best and appropriate questions and answers.

Practice interviewing through your career center’s on-campus program to polish your presentation skills.

If there are no jobs available at the company on top of your list, consider the second choice for a trial year, learning as much as you can.

Go to conferences; follow up with ideas and people, including attendees and speakers, as well as the placement room where jobs are posted.

Take the risk of linking with others, finding shared interests and values to talk about. This life skill will do more than just help you get the job: it will put more enjoyment into it.

You are going to be in charge of your career and will be solely responsible for yourself. You will get to shape your life from now on; no one else will. But for sure, you will keep returning to the job search process throughout your career. There’s no shortcut for the anxiety it brings. Over the next few weeks, I will elaborate upon the tips I’ve listed here, and tell you how to practice the lifelong skills you will use in searching

Hunting for Your First Job

2008-11-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

The Boston Globe's Job Blog has some great advice for new or soon-to-be grads:

Job Search Tips List-O-Rama

How Much Do You Know About Your Health Insurance?

2008-11-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

Are you getting adequate insurance through your school? How well has your school educated you about your policy, its terms and benefits? The information may be hard to find especially if your school is getting kickbacks from certain providers. Here's an excerpt from today's NY Times article on Attorney General Anthony M. Cuomo's investigation of the problem:

"The investigation by the attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, appears to be focused on the adequacy of disclosure of policy terms and costs to students. Investigators also appear to be looking into whether colleges are receiving any improper payments in exchange for requiring students to use a particular insurer."

Read the whole article here:

Cuomo Investigating Colleges’ Deals With Health Insurers

Need a Loan?

2008-11-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

If you are having trouble paying your tuition or anticipate that you will, read this article from CNN Money. It may put forth some ideas that you haven't considered:

Five Alternatives to Borrowing from Banks

Financial Aid Becoming Scarce

2008-11-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Without the help of your institution or of Uncle Sam, this is the time to be resourceful and open-minded. From the NY Times, an examination of universities' struggle and perhaps failure to maintain need-blind admissions:

Colleges Struggle to Preserve Financial Aid

Students Look to Two Year Colleges

2008-11-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

A pro pos of my last entry, here's an article from NYT:

Applications Surge for Courses at CUNY’s 2-Year Colleges

Why Community College Could Be Your Best Choice

2008-11-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

At a time when tuition is rising and competition to get into well-known universities is stiffer than ever, the stress of choosing a college can be overwhelming. Some students will gain acceptance to their top choices but will wonder how they will pay for tuition. Others will be disappointed that they have been admitted only to their “backup” choices. Others will not apply to college at all, knowing that they will not be able to afford it.

These ambitious students often laugh off community college as the domain of their unmotivated, unfocused, or anti-intellectual peers. How wrong they are! Here are a few benefits of community colleges:

Low tuition – for example, Santa Monica College in Los Angeles charges $26 per unit. For a full course load of twelve units per semester, that adds up to $624 for a full year of courses.

Professor interaction – unlike at major research universities, community college professors are there for one reason: to teach.

Small classes – again, you will have ample opportunity to contribute in class and to form relationships with your professors and peers

Time to explore – you will have two years to take classes in a number of disciplines and to hone in on your major

Easy transfer to larger universities – many universities accept as many transfer students as they do new freshman. Often the acceptance rate of transfer applicants is higher.

By the time you transfer, you will be focused and ready to take full advantage of the large university where you will complete your last two years of study. You will have saved a huge amount of money during the exploration process of your two years at community college, and you will have forged close relationships with professors that will serve you for the rest of your career.

If you are worried about paying for college, or getting into your dream school, I strongly urge you to consider community colleges in your town, your state, or even out of state. You can take charge of your life, experience a new city, a new community, and a world of opportunities.

Economic Slowdown Reaches Harvard

2008-11-11T12:53:00.001-08:00

The weak economy will likely impact tuition and the availability of grants and scholarships at major universities. From CNN:

SLOWDOWN REACHES HARVARD'S DOORS

Watch for my next entry about the benefits of attending community college before transferring to a larger institution.

Are You Thinking of a Career in the Arts?

2008-11-10T13:52:00.002-08:00

CNN Money has some tips on how to make your creative aspirations work with your income needs after college:

YOUR HIGHLY EDUCATED DISHWASHERS

The "Good Student" Trap

2008-11-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

"What can college do for me?" It sounds like a good question, and indeed we are programmed to ask it. Yet, successful people will tell you that it is the wrong question. It represents a common mistake that prospective college students make: to assume a passive stance toward their college experience. System dependency lies deep within us, reinforced by our teachers from kindergarten through high school. It doesn't change when we graduate, but lurks inside, keeping us back from being our best selves. Rather than learning the subject in our heart, we've learned it by heart. Such obedient disengagement is what I call the "good student" trap.

To avoid the "good student" trap, we must identify what excites us and actively pursue that, from college onward into our careers - it will make all the difference between feeling fraudulent and feeling alive. You can gain everything if your attitude is to expect more. Once you find that studying history or art or anthropology can be much more than just obediently following orders, your academic pursuits can lead you to new worlds of experiences, courses, contacts, and later, careers.

If you could describe your own expectations of college before you set foot on campus and compare that to what you actually experience, you might be as surprised as the many students who responded to my online survey. In that survey, as many students were disappointed that college was less intellectually challenging than they had expected as those students who found it to be more challenging than they had expected. More than half of those responding expected that college would be a difficult place to make friends.

Disappointment in college comes from misusing college, by treating it as school instead of life. To reframe your attitude, train yourself to approach college in the same positive, productive, active way that most successful people approach their careers, and in the very same way they approached college. Success is a result of taking charge of your life, including college, far beyond just passively accepting what is put before you.

In addition to lengthier articles about how to take charge of your college experience, watch for news clips and articles that I will be posting everyday about the college to career transition.

Beyond Talent

2008-11-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Talent, ambition, and technical ability – you possess the first two attributes, and you are on your way to achieving the third. And all three are healthy prerequisites for a successful career.

But there is another, hidden set of non-technical skills that few teachers, professors, or bosses take the time to impart. These are the learned, social skills that achievers begin practicing in grade school, and continue to hone – even master during college and afterward. Few have acknowledged these all-too-often self-taught skills. But they are essential tools that you will need as you embark on your career.

I will use six non-technical success skills to frame our discussion of specific scenarios and topics that will help you to address your questions, and help you to achieve a meaningful college experience – that will segue into your first job in your chosen field, one that truly inspires you.

Below are the skills I have identified over thirty years of career coaching and intensive study of highly successful achievers in myriad fields of work. I use them in my work with college students, entry-level employees, and mid-career professionals. They are the six non-technical skills that will guide you through college and beyond:

Exploration
Do you listen to your instincts or are you a prisoner of your obligations?
Risk
Do you develop new relationships and try out new ideas despite the fear of rejection?
Connection
In your social interactions are you more like a guest or a host?
Presentation
Do you wait to be discovered or do you position yourself so that your talents will be indispensable?
Elevation
Do you see yourself as a cog in the wheel or have you apprenticed yourself to a mentor?
Magnification
Do you share your knowledge with bright up and comers as your mentors did?

Over the years, I have written many books and countless articles about these non-technical skills, and how to develop them. I have coached people in all stages of learning, in both fabulous economic times and terrifying ones. Right now, we are living in a time of downsizing, layoffs, job-changing, which causes grief and anxiety – and intense competition for highly desired careers. In this turbulent climate, I would like to make the six success skills available to you, so you may memorize them, use them as tools, and successfully find a job before graduation.

When you do enter the workforce you may want to "graduate" to my career blog: http://dradele.livejournal.com/, which uses the same principles you will find here, and explores topics relevant to individuals in all stages of careering. As you continue your education in college and throughout your career, I look forward to your comments, questions, and success stories!