MBA Program Update

So I got the phone call today. Unfortunately I was at work. The representative from Portland State University informed me that no I was not accepted to the MBA program due to my low GMAT score. If I said I was surprised that would be lying.

The first time I took the GMAT, I deserved the low score. I didn’t study enough and pretty much didn’t take it seriously. But the second time, I dedicated time at least five days a week to study. I would either wake up early and study, study at lunch, or at night. I made myself a notebook of math and grammar cheat-sheets. I still remember the formula for the distance between points. While I was taking the GMAT the second time, I felt pretty good about the test. Until I got the preliminary results. Then I felt like crap. After all of that studying, I got the same score. Really? I mean REALLY????

And the money. $500 that I could have used for something else. I could have given myself 500 paper cuts which would have been less painful than all the studying. Or bought a large hammer to smash my head repeatedly…After I got my preliminary score, I tried to fool myself and say that yeah they will accept me. As if pity will gain you acceptance into a graduate degree program. Obviously I have debunked that.

So now I doing the whole internal soul searching thing…what do I want? Why do I want it? How else can I get it?

The thing is I wanted the MBA for personal and professional reasons. Not just to be better than my little brother. Because God knows I will never make the kind of money he does. At least I can be better educated with more student debt. Cause that equals out, right? I thought obtaining an MBA would allow me to be eligible for promotions and obtain a better job.

I love Digital Marketing. There are so many things I want to learn: SEM, PPC, website analytics (beyond Google Analytics). But breaking into a job that would allow me to do this requires experience. How do I gain said experience. Then there are those no-sayers (like Penelope Truck) who poo poo an MBA. So I started looking at taking classes through PSU’s Development Center. Most of the classes I want to take are during the day. You know when I’m working…

So Plan B is slowly being flushed out. I have a few months to decide if I want to try and take the GMAT again, apply to a school that doesn’t require it, or shelve the idea for now.

Waiting…

I’m still waiting for word on my application for grad school at Portland State University. I despise waiting. So I’ve been trying to keep myself occupied with music, running, and reading.

Recently I discovered a deep love for Blues music. Thanks to Pandora, I’ve created a great station and have been exploring all types of music that is classified as Blues. I’ve found that I don’t enjoy Jazz music as much probably due to the brass section. I enjoy guitar and percussion more. I’ve also been listening to The Black Keys and recently Mumford & Sons. Both The Black Keys and Mumford & Sons are coming to Portland in October. I was able to pick up tickets to The Black Keys show. They originally had one show on a Monday night but added a Tuesday show! Mumford & Sons sold out in a day and a half so me and my friend are going to Seattle. A nice early birthday gift!

On the 8th of this month, I attempted to run 20 miles. I only made it 17 due to getting lost, chafe, and basically poor planning. Yesterday I tried the same route out again and made it! I’m running parts of the actual marathon course to get a feel for the terrain. The route goes over the St. John’s bridge which is a huge, old suspension bridge. I am scared of heights. Actually terrified is a better word. But I’ve run across the bridge twice now.

And reading. I’ve been reading a lot. Magazine, blog posts, books, papers. And its been good. Very good. But still I am waiting…

Birthday Musings

This Friday is my birthday (October 30th). Now that I am over a certain age, I no longer feel its necessary to tell people exactly what birthday it is. But its my birthday. A few years ago, I started an evaluation period of my life. I choose to do it around my birthday rather than around New Years Day. For the week leading up to my birthday, I start making lists of important accomplishments and goals for next year.

I try to evaluate each year taking into account the various events that have taken place* (war, birth, death, etc) to see how I did. This years asterisk is definitely the effect the economy had on my job, financial aid opportunities for Andy, and his continued difficulties finding part-time work.

This year was definitely a ‘mixed blessings’ kind of year. My layoff in allowed me to re-prioritize the things in my life. But it also had a terrible impact on my 401k and our savings. I was able to take classes at the community college that I had been eyeing for the last year or so. I’ve developed great relationships with individuals who saved me during the months I was laid off. Andy and I were able to have a pretty great time this summer camping, splashing around (I refuse to call it swimming!), and traveling to get oysters. And I now have a job that I enjoy!

I don’t want to lose any momentum that I’ve gained. I need to continue taking classes on Adobe Creative Suites4 because it’s definitely a use-it-or-lose-it type of skill. Photoshop will be the next class that I take. I also want to set up a few websites for myself one of which will show case some of the work I have done in the last year. And of course there is the marathon.

I’ve put some of my writing and craft projects on hold for the time being. I recognize that at times I do bite off more than I can chew. I want to be able to devote the time, energy and passion to projects that I take on. I am also electing not to volunteer with the Portland chapter of the American Marketing Association again this year. I do think that I might volunteer with the Oregon Road Runners Association.

I am channeling a lot of time and energy into a side work project that is providing me with a lot of valuable experience. I’m also getting to work with a small company which I absolutely love! The vast majority of the project will be complete at the end of the year (or I will have figured out how to better juggle all the activities I’m involved in) and I will then take some additional classes. At that time, I will probably reevaluate what I’m spending my time, energy and passion on. So stay tuned!

Andy’s Graduation

On Friday June 12th, Andy graduated from Portland Community College with an Associate of Science degree.

Here is Andy!

Andy

While I was taking photos of him, Andy recounted all of the things he would not miss about junior college and the classes he would no longer have to endure. This last term he fulfilled the math requirements needed to obtain his Bachelor of Science degree so he was pretty happy when he realized that he wouldn’t have to take another calculus class.

No more calculus!

Andy’s mom Shannon was able to come into town to attend the ceremony as well.

Andy & Shannon

You can see where Andy gets his good looks.

Close up

What?

Once again, I apologize for my lack of communication lately. Andy and I have been really busy lately. And you all know that I can be kinda lazy sometimes. Especially during allergy season. This years pollen count is higher than the previous years and I look like I am either sick or hungover. It’s been lovely!

I’m curious as to why the most popular post on this blog is “Baba Ganoush Recipe”. It has gotten twice as many views as other posts. Anyway, I will be writing on Andy’s graduation, his hydrogen torch, and an update on what Andy and I are up to.

End of the Term

Yes, it is once again, the end of another term of school. Andy is in full swing getting all of his projects finished, papers written, and tests studied for. He graduates from Portland Community College with his Associates Degree on June 12th at 7pm. Both myself and Shannon, Andy’s mother will be in attendance. As soon as I am able to, I will post video of Andy’s hydrogen torch in action. I’m busy finishing up non-school projects and finishing up my InDesign class.

Letter to My Younger Self

I’ve been concentrating on my other blog, school stuff, and an important project. Andy is stressing out that half of Spring Term is over. He has so many important projects to complete: hydrogen torch, poster for Microbiology, and a national test he has to take for chemistry. We’ve been so busy that we’ve both been going into school on Saturdays! Andy goes into open lab and I make use of the computer lab to complete my InDesign homework.

I’ve been trying to think up a good, positive blog post for all the loyal readers out there. I decided to write a letter to my younger self. Okay, okay I got the idea from watching two minutes of “Lake House” (before I turned the channel to something worth watching). I thought how interesting it would be if I could warp time and space and send a letter to the Aleta that is ten or even fifteen years younger. What would I say? Well, let’s take a look:

Dear My Younger Self,

Don’t freak out. This is a letter that is defying both time and space to give you important advice. Pay attention and focus. First off, that outline you created at age sixteen detailing what you would accomplish at certain stages of your life wasn’t too realistic. Take it out, laugh at it, and put it aside. You aren’t going to win the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature by age 24. I’m sorry. And that also goes for the Pulitzer too. Maybe at age forty or fifty.

Second of all, it doesn’t matter if your family understands you or not. They love you. That’s what is important. Get over all the petty injustices that your brother and sister put you through. It doesn’t matter. Remember that you aren’t the center of everyone’s universe and everyone is basically figuring this stuff out as they go along. Most people are just doing the best they can. Give ‘em a break.

Learn all you can about different pieces of software and computers. It will come in handy when you get older especially the spreadsheets. Say you’re sorry when you mess up. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make amends. Don’t listen to all the naysayers. Follow the path that you are interested in. In the end, it’s your life.

Don’t spend all your cash on beer. Buy stock in companies like Exxon Mobile and ConocoPhillips but stay away from a company called Enron. It’s too good to be true. Go to more concerts (but wear some earplugs when you stand near the speakers!!) and remember that life is a marathon not a sprint. So be good to your knees!

There are tough times ahead of you but there’s a hot guy that you haven’t met yet. You’ll know him when you see him. Try to buy him a beer.

Try to get more sleep and quit smoking as soon as possible. It’s a nasty habit.

Yours,
Your Older Self

Dreamweaver Homework

I just finished my first assignment for my Dreamweaver class. Click on the link and take a look!

Active Shooter Alert Drill

Due to the school shootings in recent years, colleges have had to come up with a plan if there is an ‘active shooter’ on campus. I was in the ladies room last week and noticed a large poster advertising that there was going to be a drill today.

Andy had explained to me what a student was supposed to do if the alarm was sounded: students are to gather at the back of the room, turn off the lights, and if possible cover the windows.

I completely forgot about the drill and was in the computer lab when the alarm sounded. The computer people told us all in very calm voices to gather in the middle of the lab and get down on the floor. They shut off the lights as many students listening to iPods stood up confused.

Knees popping, I slowly crouched on the floor staring at the other irritated students. Gathering in a group doesn’t make sense to me. I sat there thinking about Battleball aka Dodgeball. In playing Battleball as a middle schooler (trying to run away from Jackie Cain who had an arm like a NFL Quarterback) I soon realized that by huddling up with the other scared girls (seriously Jackie’s arm was amazing!) I was an easy target for one of those little hard balls that always seemed to find my left ear. Incidentally I still have a flinch and hold my left ear every time something is thrown at my face.

I found that by separating myself from the group, I had much better odds of survival. It seems that if an armed gunperson is looking for victims, a bunch of students huddled together on the floor makes an easy target. I think that hiding under my desk (much like the tornado drills of my childhood) would be a sound strategy.

What do you think?

School

This is the first week of school for both me and Andy. After looking at so many job descriptions that required specific software experience, I decided to take a few night classes (as to not interrupt my job search per the Employment Office) learning Dreamweaver and InDesign. I am really excited about both! A new cool website it on it’s way!

Andy is taking chemistry, microbiology, and calculus! I know-wow! We did go and visit Corvallis last week. It was a good visit that could have gone a bit smoother if we would have both prepared more. We didn’t eat breakfast so by the time lunchtime rolled around, I got pretty cranky. We finally got everything in order and were able to stop for a sandwich and beer at a pub by the campus. I believe it was called Clodfelters. The food, beer, and service was excellent.

Well, better run! I have homework!