December 12, 2009

Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism

I got my final grades – I made all A’s again. So, I have earned a 4.0 in every course that I took since 2007; however, my overall GPA was only 2.9 because of all the classes I messed up on in the 60’s and 70’s.

The moral of the story: Your GPA will catch up to you!

Yesterday, I completed my last assignment and gave my last presentation. If this had happened in 1972, as originally planned, I know I would have raced off campus shouting for joy and probably never looked back; but instead, I found myself a bit melancholy as I walked the halls of the OSU-Tulsa campus for the last time.

It was a bittersweet moment as I drove off campus and thought about how much I would miss the teachers, staff, students and classes that have become a part of my life for the last two and one half years. Suddenly, I realized it’s over. Empty Nest Mom is about to graduate and end another phase of her life. What will I do next?

Today, I’m going to start deep-cleaning my house, something that hasn’t happened since June 2007, when I started this adventure. Then, I’m going to write Christmas cards and decorate for the holidays.

Next, I’m going to Stillwater and participate in the OSU graduation ceremony. After the ceremony, I’ll celebrate my accomplishment with my friends and family; the ones who encouraged me to endure; who listened patiently as I shamelessly bragged about the A I received or heartlessly complained about “all the work I had” as if they didn’t have any; and the ones who prayed for me throughout this special season of my life. I couldn’t have done it without them.

After that, it’s back to writing. I’ll end this Blog; and, maybe someday, when my great-great-great grandchildren want to know what their ancestor did back in the early 2000s, they’ll find my Blog and read it. I hope it will inspire them to finish the course and make them realize that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams.

Also posted on Socially Orange.

I have to finish my presentation for my Mazda Campaign due Monday. After that, check over my social media assignments and I should be done! Counting down to December 12th!

I finished my online resume. You can see it by clicking on “My VisualCV.”

My final project for Social Media is to create an online resume on VisualCV. This made me realize that I didn’t even have a paper resume. Of course, I’m not sure I want a “real” job. I’m most likely going to continue writing as a freelancer. But, this will be a good exercise in either case.

The Samuel Adams Scholarship for Journalism

Do you consider yourself a talented young journalist? Then you’ll be excited to learn that Patrick Henry College is offering exceptional Christian journalism students the opportunity of a lifetime.

Patrick Henry College is offering three scholarships for highly-qualified applicants to the College’s Journalism Major. We will be awarding one $10,000 scholarship and two $5,000 scholarships. These privately funded scholarships will make it more financially viable for talented, dedicated young people to take advantage of the unique education opportunities available to Journalism students at PHC.

To be considered for the scholarships, applicants should apply through the regular application for admission and scholarship. Take care to study and fulfill all the basic requirements.

Fall 2010 Deadlines

• Early Action and Scholarship Priority: November 1, 2009
• The Samuel Adams Scholarship for Journalism: December 1, 2009
• Regular Decision and Financial Aid: February 1, 2010

Founded in 2000, Patrick Henry College is known for its Christian classical liberal arts approach and emphasis on apprenticeship methodology. This dual emphasis provides a potent foundation for journalistic excellence in a spectrum of writing, reporting, and communications disciplines.

Students who qualify for The Samuel Adams Journalism Scholarship will have a strong academic record, outstanding references, and a demonstrated interest and experience in journalism, as shown by a record in high school of internships or paid positions with newspaper, magazines, news websites, or broadcast stations. Include with your application a portfolio that best exemplifies your journalistic work and experience, featuring the following components:

Required:

1. SAT score of at least 1250 (Math and Critical Reading) or an ACT score of 28.
2. A short essay describing your interest in journalism and how PHC’s journalism program would help you achieve your career goals
3. Two letters of recommendation from an employer, supervisor, or mentor addressing your potential as a journalist
4. A résumé focusing on journalistic experience and journalism-related skills
5. A feature story or news story of at least 1,000 words (may be published or unpublished)

Optional:

• Clips of published articles
• Samples of news-related multimedia work, such as videos, podcasts, photos, or web pages (submit on CD or DVD)

To be eligible for The Samuel Adams Scholarship for Journalism, applicants must submit a completed admission application package and journalism portfolio to the PHC Office of Admissions by December 1, 2009.

I met with my instructor yesterday. I have a few pages to edit, then print and bind my project. After that, a presentation on Monday. That class will be done!

I’m not sure about my other class. Still waiting to hear what our final will be. I don’t really like surprises, but I guess I’ll be surprised. I hope we hear this week, since the final is less than two weeks away.

Only 19 days to go!

I’m now working on the final draft of an IMC project that will bring my college experience to an end. I can’t believe it’s almost over. It seems like just a few months ago that I started this journey, and now, here I am less than four weeks away from graduation!

I so appreciate Oklahoma State University, the teachers, and the classwork. All of my classes have been extremely helpful in furthering my journalism goals.

This semester, I’ve learned to create an integrated marketing campaign from scratch, all by myself, about a company in which I really have no interest. (I must stop here and say thank you to the OSU-Tulsa Library staff for help locating resources to help me with this project. I couldn’t have done it without you!) From this project, I learned what life would be like working in a PR firm, where clients would change on a regular basis. I learned how difficult it is to get up to speed on a company in which you have no knowledge, and how hard it is to get motivated to work on a client in which you have no interest! But I also learned, that all clients are interesting once you find out what makes them tick!

In Social Media, I’ve learned about the multitude of social media resources available to journalists and how they are used in marketing. I’ve learned the pros and cons of various media, as well as what to do and what not to do to retain readers. I’ve discovered resources I can use in the future, whether I take a job outside or continue to freelance.

If you’re considering going back to college as a Baby Boomer, don’t wait another minute. Go ahead and enroll. It’s an experience you won’t regret.

For more information about my current semester, see my socially orange blog.

I found an interesting article about how to save money in college that I wish I had read before taking the plunge in 2007. I’m posting a link here and hope it will help someone else in their journey.

How to Save Money in College by Susan Simpson