Wright-er's Block

In less than three months, I will have completed my Master's degree in communication and have graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

So what? Now what?

I cannot express to you how many times I've asked myself where my motivation is and what my motivation is from before.

This is it, though. No more second-guessing, right? Wrong.

I have, what I'd like to call, in order to personalize my situation, "Wright-er's Block." This is a term for how much I have lost sense, or lost depth perception of where I belong in the "real world" with a career in communication...no--athletic coaching. Ahh!

There is something I especially like in public relations, but I cannot perform that skill...or can I?

Living in your mid-20s is not a picnic. I hope that I figure out my future before the future figures me out. What about my past? The runner.

I am very passionate about distance running...or am I? I spent 15 years as a student-athlete, a runner, Now, I cannot even run. I would like to walk without thinking about how I shift my weight on my knees.

Should I ignore my running past? Never. I embrace it. I embrace it with interest, knowledge and eagerness to learn more about the sport.

There is a small passion of mine to interact and counsel athletes in the sport of track and field. I would really like to continue with coaching, but I cannot forsake the years I've spent gaining an education towards earning a job, a career, in communication or public relations.

In the past year, I've spent much time working to provide Clarion University PRSSA with the best possible experiences. I have connected very well with many Clarion University students and I really appreciate the opportunity. Therefore, will I find my future from work with PRSSA? Come mid-October 2011, I may be able to answer that question.

I will be attending the annual PRSSA National Conference in Orlando, Fla., and I hope to find a lead from social networking with PR professionals and students. I am very excited about learning all of what PRSSANC has to offer! However, where is the answer to my "Wright-er's Block" with PRSSANC?

Is it the joy from the people you meet who inspire you to communicate? Why do you do the things you do? Are you happy with what you have right now?

Give me another 12 weeks and four days, and I'll let you know then. ;-)

My "Wright-er's Block" may be broken if I continue to be myself, act professionally, and just have fun!

Stress and Paradise

Surprised by the title of this blog? No worries.

It seems as though nowadays that college students get so stressed out over classes, finding a job and anything slightly related to worries that they forget about Purpose and self.

This semester I am taking a course, entitled "Management of the Communication Process: MMAJ 559," and one of things in which my professor is stressing in this class is to find Purpose, referring to the title of the textbook.

Learning your Purpose in yourself and your life is not an easy thing to achieve. From personal reflection, I'm learned to let things take care of themselves, and part of the reason why this works is due to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many people may state "Believe in yourself," but you cannot everything by yourself unless you believe that something, Someone greater than yourself can help you. You find Purpose when you accept that that something or Someone who can give you a sense of emotional release and trust.

Trusting people and Christ is difficult, but totally worth it to do so because you reach a sense of paradise. It is especially important to stress patience while the whole process of reaching Purpose occurs.

Let's put this discussion into context.

I am months away from graduating college with two college degrees and finally obtaining a full-time job. My sense of Purpose has been challenged many times through the last six years, and I believe that what I find in "the real world" could be anything. I am patiently waiting, exercising my emotional strength, and believing that God will take over and provide something for me.

Did you get all that? If not, remember that your Purpose is accompanied by passion; and passion cannot be achieved unless you invest time and effort into something that likes you back.

Have faith. Have patience. And good things will come your way. Stress is a mess, but paradise lasts forever.

- JW

Public Relations, Coaching...Who Said Life Was An Easy Decision?

I am really busy right now, but apparently I'm not busy to blog my thoughts for this month at this time. It is Friday. It is raining, and it is wet outside. Rain is one thing, but raining on snow from a previous storm is not so great.

I am feeling just about the same as the weather right now, which is "crappy." The word, "crappy," I believe could be defined as "not feeling so great." So, where am I going with this message?

In less than three months, I must decide what I will be doing to improve my outlook for finding a job by graduation time in December. The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. is a large hub of job-hunting, money-thirsty internship placement giants who help college students discover employers who offer excellent career experience opportunities. These people also help you learn what to expect in your career field and help you prepare for all of it with intense training in the resume-building, portfolio-collecting stages. I really want this opportunity!

I have to get everything arranged before the summer quarter deadline: Friday, March 11. That date is during Spring Break and I think I can handle getting everything completed by then. The financial cost is another concern, but I have faith that everything will manage itself well.

Aside from class assignments, I'm still "plugging away," sending my resumes and cover letters to employers and following up with them, in order to see if they have the least bit of interest in "what I got to sell to them."

If I step back for a second, away from the craziness, and look to see where I am in my life right now--I think I'm doing pretty awesome!

I'm tackling leadership skills, problem solving skills, critical analysis skills, writing skills, management skills, giving great advice, helping others achieve and much more. Do I deserve a huge "pat on the back?" Maybe. Probably. Who knows what will happen to me with my strong steps towards success.

There is one person who is rewarding as I continue on my path towards receiving my first job and state of independence--God. He is AWESOME!!! Always believe that He is doing AMAZING things in life, even when you feel like "crap." Believe in Him.

That's all I have for the month of February. This weekend is the PSAC Indoor Track & Field Conference Championships. Let's go-go-Golden Eagles! AND...because I'm faithful..let's go ROCK!! Cheering for both teams this weekend (How did I get caught in this rivalry mess? Ha ha.).

See you in March!

Story of a Cry Out

I cannot concentrate right now because of my health issue...so, my January post is about the precious necessity of the knee's meniscus ligament.

Last September 2010, I injured my right knee's meniscus while running during a long run of 80 minutes. I noticed this different feeling in my right knee after running around the track. I decided to run back to apartment and stretch. The next day, I tried using the cross training exercise equipment to reduce the amount of stress put on my knee--that did not help me.

I took myself to see one of the certified athletic trainers. They said I may have a torn meniscus and may need a MRI scan...but...in the meantime, I needed to rest, ice, compress and elevate my knee to help it heal.

Three months later, after using the trainer's advice, I went to my primary care doctor. She said that I had patellar tendonitis, which involved fluids under my knee cap. She also said that I needed a X-Ray and see a physical therapist.

The X-Ray came back normal, I saw my PT doctor on my first visit and everything was fine...until my second visit.

The physical therapist told me to warm up for 10 minutes on the stationary bike, and that was okay. He told me to stretch my quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. That was okay. Then, he said he wanted to evaluate and look at my running gait for any problems with how I run. THAT WAS A MISTAKE!!

Within 24 to 48 hours after running for 1 to 2 minutes on the treadmill to evaluate my knee...I was back to pain again. My medial meniscus flared up again. I don't know if it's any worse than it was three and a half months ago.

I want a MRI scan NOW! ...I want to heal my right knee NOW. I'm being patient. Isn't there a reward for being patient?

What if I injure my left knee's meniscus while walking around to stabilize my right knee? Why do I need to re-injure myself?

Running is out of the question. I will stay in shape with the stationary bike as long as I can. I will be satisfied just to use 20 minutes on the bike...but I'm still waiting. I'm STILL WAITING!!

I'm crying on the inside...and out. I want someone to save me. I deserve WAY MORE!!! Will someone, please, help me?

Until February...

- Jaime

Hello 2011: I've Been Waiting for Your Arrival

It is January. It is cold outside. It is time for another hit at the textbooks for the spring 2011 semester at Clarion University!

I have really good feelings about this semester for a few reasons. First, this is the last semester of taking full-time graduate courses. Next semester I will be taking one graduate course and completing my portfolio, non-thesis graduation requirement. That's reassuring and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I will feel like a deer standing in headlights when it comes time to physically doing and completing a project, rather than the same routine of reading, writing and studying, which I've known for so long.

Secondly, this is the first semester of two where I will be president of Public Relations Student Society of America. I am very excited about this position! This opportunity will be a chance for me to enhance my leadership skills, network with public relations professionals and help undergraduate students. That is what I really want to do--benefit the undergrad communication majors at CU. I have several ideas that I am anxious to share with the executive board and the rest of the chapter. More than likely, I will be blogging about those ideas later this year.

Third, it is track and field season! It is time to get back to developing workouts, assisting with travel endeavors and helping Clarion Track & Field get ready for the Cook Forest Half-Marathon/5K...eventually. I created a professional team brochure which I am excited about to use for recruiting this year via Coach Bevevino.

This is the year when I will finally define myself and improve to the extent of showing greater signs of professionalism. No more student lifestyle. No more living on frozen dinners. haha. And...I might actually get back to running again, after nurturing my right knee's assumed torn meniscus.

I like to think of my life right now as Jordin Sparks' "One Step at a Time." "It's gonna happen when it's suppose to happen..And we find the reason why one step at a time."

Until the next January post...
;-)

2010: Went Back to School Again

It's time to blog. Oh, yeah. Time to synthesize what my life was all about in 2010. Please excuse my immature manner, but I truly believe that the year 2010 was about my second chance to take my inexperienced young professional self seriously. "In 2010, I went back to the books again."

I was convinced for a while that my next step was to find a job right after college. That's what most people do, right? They go to college to get some knowledge..and never go to Jupiter to get more stupider. Haha. (I think you understand my point) Well, when you spend over seven months after stepping off the commencement stairs at graduation, you really ask yourself: What next?

Thoughts of frustration were "getting to me" and I was stuck in a twilight zone of believing I would stay hopeless in never finding a job. Never lose faith when you reach this situation, my friends. Opportunity is just around the corner. I was bound for school--again.

I learned about an opportunity to become a graduate assistant at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, in the heart of northwestern PA. The graduate assistantship opening was available for a GA coach in women's track & field/cross country; the head coach was leaving and the GA coach was graduating.

I also considered the fact that Clarion University had a Master's degree program in communication, and I thought that going for an advanced degree in communication-public relations would enhance and strengthen the "basic" skills in PR, which I obtained from Slippery Rock. Going to Clarion had nothing to do with athletics in my decision. It was a decision based on academics alone.

After finally been admitted to the M.S. program, I was not sure if I was going to be successful as a student. I finished my first semester with all A's, but there was still the problem of my GA coaching position. I was lacking imperative qualities and needed improvement in certain areas. I will admit. I was a little uncertain. Most importantly, I wanted to feel more comfortable at Clarion. For only three and a half months, I felt out of place. So, what did I decide to do? I stayed the summer in Clarion.

During the summer, I stayed on Liberty Street, near 5th Ave.--the main road of travel in town. It was a nice experience. I visited some interesting places around Clarion County, Pa., and some awesome people. Then, fall classes arrived...

I met the people of Koininia (coin-na-nee-ah), and Katie Black and Dean Alley, two people close to my age who lead the Christian fellowship organization. This group helped me socially connect and become more involved with on-campus activities.

My job duties as GA coach improved a great deal that semester, too. I would like to add that I created a team brochure for Clarion track & field/cross country as part of one of my public relations writing assignments, and I hope that that brochure becomes very beneficial, in terms of recruiting and promotion for the future.

I would like to leave you with this interesting remark on my college years, thus far.

2005: Graduated high school and still alive to arrive in college.
2006: So-so year, and felt like I was picking up fallen sticks.
2007: One year closer to what should feel like heaven when I graduate.
2008: It was soooo great!
2009: That year was mine! I finally graduated from Slippery Rock University.
2010: I went back to school again at Clarion University.

2011: Am I finally near heaven? Because I think I'll be earning my Master's degree...hopefully.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Thanks for reading. 8-)

"What I Like About You" -- The Coaching Experience

Well, it is that time of the month (and, no. I'm not talking about the other time of the month). It's time to share what's on my mind.

It's Advent season. It's indoor track & field season. Ah. Yes. Track and field.

I'm pretty excited about track as coach for next spring 2011 semester. The Clarion University women's track team is currently getting ready for our first meet of the season at Edinboro University in January, and it's going to be a good one. Hopefully.

Being a coach is sometimes indescribable. It's nowhere near easy and everywhere difficult. Since I am not an education major, nor have a teaching background, I find it fun at times and not-so-fun other times.

Some people ask me if I enjoy coaching, considering those people to be family or friends who have known me as a competitive runner for most of my life.

I like to observe the situation as an opportunity to "think outside the box." For example, substitutions. If it's rainy outside, use the indoor track facility at the student recreation center. If hill workouts do not carry positive feedback from your sprinters, then tell them to do a set of stair climbing and dales for a certain amount of time.

Much of my early coaching experience has been observations and memorization. I am memorizing the type of dynamic warm-up, agility drills and basic workouts which the sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers are currently completing. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to learn and experience what they're doing. It's also a small flashback to some earlier days when I, myself, did similar drills as a middle distance runner.

The biggest challenge I have facing me, beyond experience, is self-confidence. I would really like the ladies whom I work with to trust me and fully understand that I am a helpful guide. I really want to see them excel in the classroom, not get behind with grades, and develop a stronger, positive attitude.

Will I ever coach again in the future? Who knows. For my slow start sake, let's hope that I get a full-time, entry-level job first before I commit anywhere for a volunteer coaching position.

Right now, I'm excited for the opportunity to get Level 1 coaching certification by USA Track and Field in January at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md. I think it will be beneficial to attend the coaching clinic, have that training "under my belt," and feel confident while talking to other coaches about their athletes' abilities outside of distance running.

- JW