Just a quick tidbit today: I just watched some NFL highlights on Youtube yesterday, and, not surprisingly, the majority of eye popping highlights come from plays made by running backs and wide receivers. They jump, twist, catch, hurdle, truck, and high step their way into the endzone...well, not all of them. But when some get in, they have these elaborate dances they do to celebrate a touchdown. Some of these players have scored so little that it seems that they spend more time practicing their celebration dances, not their fundmentals.
I though about that for a minute, and then I realized how it applies to life: You can't play hard if you don't work hard; that is, you won't have moments of glory and happiness of you don't put in the work to get there. You can't achieve your dreams by making plans of what you'll do when you get there. It's planning HOW you get there that counts.
Work hard to play harder- that's my suggestion to you!
Showing posts with label University of Dreams/Dream Careers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Dreams/Dream Careers. Show all posts
The Plan Leads to the Celebration
Monday, November 15, 2010
Today, I have reached a milestone that I've been waiting to reach for about two months now. It's taken longer than I expected, but I've done it.
I, Jeremy Nelson, finally feel totally comfortable at my job.
When I was an intern at Kurtis Productions through the University of Dreams Program (Now Dream Careers), I was told during our orientation session that it usually takes interns anywhere from one to two weeks to finally feel totally comfortable in their new roles. Naturally, I expected that to carry over into my new job at the Department of Transportation. Wrong!
It's a little weird, because I'm used to working in big open spaces and not rows and rows of cubicles. At first, I felt a little closed off rom the rest of the office, partly because my cubicle is in a corner in the very back of the office. I knew I wasn't going to get an office or anything, but I didn't think I'd be this far away from people, either.
Don't get me wrong; the people at my job are freindly and quite easy to get along with. But when I have to leave my cubicle to complete a task of some sort, I only really have time to say "Hi!" and "How are you?" because I want to stay on task. Of course, that makes this whole ordeal my fault in the end for not sticking around longer, because I'm under the influence that everybody else has important work to do, not time to jab with the college student.
Of course, assumptions are terrible things, and I soon realized that people here really don't hesitate to take the time out to ask you how your day is going or how your life is going in general. Unfortunately, it took me two months to really understand that. Well, late is better than never, right?
If you're at a job and feel alone or shut out, make a conscious effort to get up and move around the office in your few spare minutes. Don't hesitate to actually talk to the people who you say hello to on a daily basis- you'll find that it means something to you and them. I wouldn't turn it into a full on conversation, but 90 seconds to trade weekend stories goes a long way.
I, Jeremy Nelson, finally feel totally comfortable at my job.
When I was an intern at Kurtis Productions through the University of Dreams Program (Now Dream Careers), I was told during our orientation session that it usually takes interns anywhere from one to two weeks to finally feel totally comfortable in their new roles. Naturally, I expected that to carry over into my new job at the Department of Transportation. Wrong!
It's a little weird, because I'm used to working in big open spaces and not rows and rows of cubicles. At first, I felt a little closed off rom the rest of the office, partly because my cubicle is in a corner in the very back of the office. I knew I wasn't going to get an office or anything, but I didn't think I'd be this far away from people, either.
Don't get me wrong; the people at my job are freindly and quite easy to get along with. But when I have to leave my cubicle to complete a task of some sort, I only really have time to say "Hi!" and "How are you?" because I want to stay on task. Of course, that makes this whole ordeal my fault in the end for not sticking around longer, because I'm under the influence that everybody else has important work to do, not time to jab with the college student.
Of course, assumptions are terrible things, and I soon realized that people here really don't hesitate to take the time out to ask you how your day is going or how your life is going in general. Unfortunately, it took me two months to really understand that. Well, late is better than never, right?
If you're at a job and feel alone or shut out, make a conscious effort to get up and move around the office in your few spare minutes. Don't hesitate to actually talk to the people who you say hello to on a daily basis- you'll find that it means something to you and them. I wouldn't turn it into a full on conversation, but 90 seconds to trade weekend stories goes a long way.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
This summer, I worked for a company called University of Dreams. Basically, 125 college students intern in Chicago for 8 weeks of their summer and have an awesome time. The company also does this in 12 other cities, but I was chosen to work for their Chicago program as a summer staffer.
We summer staffers were given a 2 day orientation, a one day break, and then came move-in day for the students. The dorm we were housed in was Baumhart Hall, one of Loyola University’s many housing complexes. Anyway, Baumhart is located on Pearson Avenue, which is a one way street. All throughout the day, we helped students move their stuff from their parent’s cars/airport vans/ taxis, and got them registered.
This is where the two day orientation came in- we were instructed to be incredibly cheery throughout the day, because it was to be a long one. Now most cars/trucks/vans that stopped down Pearson that day were eager students ready to spend their summers in Chicago…notice I said MOST.
We had been moving students in for about 4 hours, and we were in full cheer mode- the students were excited, we were excited, and it was an all-around great atmosphere. There were 8 of us staffers, and by this time, we had naturally paired off to grab students and move them in. I was partnered with Kim Hoffman who had participated in the London Program in 2008. She was a Chicagoan, like me, and she was a published author. I liked her right away- she was goofy enough to be fun to hang around, but she also had a serious side….after all…you can’t be a published author unless you have half a mind to start a book AND finish it. She was a great sport with the pictures, as she was willing to do the goofiest stuff for the camera. Kim and I had become a pretty competent duo on the street; we’d flag a car down, introduce ourselves, send the student to the registration table, and move them in. It was simple and effective.
Kim and I had our fair share of missteps though; on more than one occasion, we flagged down an empty cab, which didn’t make the drivers too happy, and we had flagged down cars which had nothing to do with University of Dreams. After explaining the situation to these confused drivers, we sent them on their way, having a good laugh in the process.
About 5 hours into the day, an extremely small car came driving down the street - it wasn’t as small as a Smart car, but it wasn’t as big as a DeLorean, either. Initially, Kim and I shrugged it off, since there was no way that two people and eight weeks’ worth of stuff was in that car. But it started approaching our curb….slowly…then slower….then it stopped right in front of our building. Kim and I gave each other an “oh, shit!” look, and rushed the car in a fashion not too different from a dog who rushes the front door when he hears a key enter the lock.
The passenger side door opened, and this lady in her twenties stepped out. She was really pretty, and stylish in a way that I’d expect a 20-something to be.
“Hi, I’m Jeremy!” I said, almost a little too enthusiastically.
“I’m Kim!” Kim replied, in the same, overexcited cultish camp counselor manner that I had nearly perfected that day.
“I’m Gina.”, the 20-something replied.
“And I’m Kenneth” ,said the driver, a bald black guy who wasn’t intimidating enough to be a bouncer (nor did he have the stature in a car that small), but was cool enough that he’d be a good person to grab a beer with.
We all shook hands after exchanging pleasantries, and then….it started.
Kim: “So let’s get you checked in”
Me: “…and while Kim takes you over there, I’ll start grabbing your luggage.”
Gina and Kenneth didn’t look as excited as Kim and I.
Gina: “Umm…what?”
Me: “Oh, crap.”
Kim and I then realized that neither Gina nor Kenneth was a student in our program.
Kim: “Oh wow, we thought you were a student in our program!”
Gina: (after having a good giggle) “I’m flattered, but no. I teach just a couple blocks away, and he (Kenneth) drops me off here, since it’s the easiest place in the area.
Me: “I’m so sorry! We must have looked crazy bum rushing your car like this.”
Gina: “Actually, no. Kenneth and I thought that there was something new going on out here, but we didn’t think it was your program.”
We all awkwardly said goodbye; Gina walked away to work, Kenneth drove off, and Kim and I had our best laugh to that point.
Kim: “Who did she think we were?”
Me: “Valets…that’s the only reason I could see them pulling up to the curb!”
Kim: “True, but then why are we valets wearing Dreamer shirts?”
Me: “Good point.”
We summer staffers were given a 2 day orientation, a one day break, and then came move-in day for the students. The dorm we were housed in was Baumhart Hall, one of Loyola University’s many housing complexes. Anyway, Baumhart is located on Pearson Avenue, which is a one way street. All throughout the day, we helped students move their stuff from their parent’s cars/airport vans/ taxis, and got them registered.
This is where the two day orientation came in- we were instructed to be incredibly cheery throughout the day, because it was to be a long one. Now most cars/trucks/vans that stopped down Pearson that day were eager students ready to spend their summers in Chicago…notice I said MOST.
We had been moving students in for about 4 hours, and we were in full cheer mode- the students were excited, we were excited, and it was an all-around great atmosphere. There were 8 of us staffers, and by this time, we had naturally paired off to grab students and move them in. I was partnered with Kim Hoffman who had participated in the London Program in 2008. She was a Chicagoan, like me, and she was a published author. I liked her right away- she was goofy enough to be fun to hang around, but she also had a serious side….after all…you can’t be a published author unless you have half a mind to start a book AND finish it. She was a great sport with the pictures, as she was willing to do the goofiest stuff for the camera. Kim and I had become a pretty competent duo on the street; we’d flag a car down, introduce ourselves, send the student to the registration table, and move them in. It was simple and effective.
 |
| There were so many people moving in at once that we cometimes couldn't distinguish students from non-students! |
Kim and I had our fair share of missteps though; on more than one occasion, we flagged down an empty cab, which didn’t make the drivers too happy, and we had flagged down cars which had nothing to do with University of Dreams. After explaining the situation to these confused drivers, we sent them on their way, having a good laugh in the process.
About 5 hours into the day, an extremely small car came driving down the street - it wasn’t as small as a Smart car, but it wasn’t as big as a DeLorean, either. Initially, Kim and I shrugged it off, since there was no way that two people and eight weeks’ worth of stuff was in that car. But it started approaching our curb….slowly…then slower….then it stopped right in front of our building. Kim and I gave each other an “oh, shit!” look, and rushed the car in a fashion not too different from a dog who rushes the front door when he hears a key enter the lock.
The passenger side door opened, and this lady in her twenties stepped out. She was really pretty, and stylish in a way that I’d expect a 20-something to be.
“Hi, I’m Jeremy!” I said, almost a little too enthusiastically.
“I’m Kim!” Kim replied, in the same, overexcited cultish camp counselor manner that I had nearly perfected that day.
“I’m Gina.”, the 20-something replied.
“And I’m Kenneth” ,said the driver, a bald black guy who wasn’t intimidating enough to be a bouncer (nor did he have the stature in a car that small), but was cool enough that he’d be a good person to grab a beer with.
We all shook hands after exchanging pleasantries, and then….it started.
Kim: “So let’s get you checked in”
Me: “…and while Kim takes you over there, I’ll start grabbing your luggage.”
Gina and Kenneth didn’t look as excited as Kim and I.
Gina: “Umm…what?”
Me: “Oh, crap.”
Kim and I then realized that neither Gina nor Kenneth was a student in our program.
Kim: “Oh wow, we thought you were a student in our program!”
Gina: (after having a good giggle) “I’m flattered, but no. I teach just a couple blocks away, and he (Kenneth) drops me off here, since it’s the easiest place in the area.
Me: “I’m so sorry! We must have looked crazy bum rushing your car like this.”
Gina: “Actually, no. Kenneth and I thought that there was something new going on out here, but we didn’t think it was your program.”
We all awkwardly said goodbye; Gina walked away to work, Kenneth drove off, and Kim and I had our best laugh to that point.
Kim: “Who did she think we were?”
Me: “Valets…that’s the only reason I could see them pulling up to the curb!”
Kim: “True, but then why are we valets wearing Dreamer shirts?”
Me: “Good point.”
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