A few hours before graduation....

My cap and gown are set, my outfit has been picked out, my nails are done, my hair has been washed and set, and all that's left for me to do is graduate. Get up early in the morning, eat something, put on my clothes, shoes, and head out the door to the Izod Center. The hard part is done; now I just have to walk across the stage and try not to trip and fall in front of everyone.

I joined the Alumni Association today, and I logged in and looked around. I have to update my profile next. I also have to do my Loan Exit Interview for school and send it back. But first things first: I have to graduate. I just wish that more of my family and friends could join me; I had been dropping hints, letting them know the exact date, time, and location of the graduation. But just to have their well wishes is truly a blessing.

So I'm hopeful that I'll get to mingle with my fellow graduates before commencement begins. Even if it's just, "Hi, how are you?" and "Congratulations", it's nice to know that we're all in it together. And again, I hope to be an encouragement to my niece down the road when she's in college; she'll see that there's no obstacle big enough to hold her back--unless she allows it to. I just want any and everybody to learn from my example, that if you want something enough, you'll continue to push through.

Two more days....

I can hear the strains of not only "Pomp and Circumstance" playing in my head, but also "We Are The Champions" by Queen. "It's been no bed of roses/no pleasure cruise...." Yes, it was hard work, but I did it. WE did it, the class of 2010. We are the champions, my friends. And there's no doubt that as Berkeley alumni, we'll keep on fighting to the end.

So my clever--read "sneaky"--co-workers had a congratulatory breakfast set up for me at work this morning. I had NO idea, but I really appreciate what they did for me. I only wish I could return the favor tenfold. But a lot of people were asking how I managed to work full-time in addition to caring for other responsibilities and STILL manage to finish school. I told them that by nature, I'm a big-time procrastinator (which is something I've alluded to once or twice on this blog), but when it's something important, you have to really train yourself and just do it. Having said that, I told them that if I could do it, they could. And they really can; it just involves discipline and a thorough examination of one's circumstances.

The only downside is that my sister won't be able to attend my graduation; she couldn't get the time off from work, and in this economy, he who has the gold makes the rules. In this case, the one with the gold is my sister's employer. I'm somewhat disappointed, but I told her that it would be streamed lived via the Internet so that she could see the graduation. To my fellow graduates and new and soon-to-be graduating students, much success in your future endeavors.

Countdown to graduation....

In exactly one week from today, I will be walking across the stage at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, receiving my Bachelor's degree from Berkeley College. It's going to be an exciting and happy time in my life, because by then I will have accomplished what I set out to do. I can hear the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" playing in my mind as I type these words. I can see myself seated among my fellow graduates, while my family is seated in the audience, watching me receive my degree. It's a reality.

Not to be discounted are my fellow graduates (and if you're reading this blog and you're a fellow 2010 graduate, congrats!!!!), who've worked hard to get where they are, too. Their families and friends will also be sitting in the stands, cheering them on and congratulating them for pushing through--particularly when they had moments of difficulty and wanted to throw in the towel (or maybe that's just my case, but thank God for the wonderful support system I was blessed with).

And last but certainly not least, the faculty are to be congratulated, as well; they gave us the tools we needed to successfully navigate our "Road to Success", whether it was in the classrooms, through financial aid, or career services. Posting the information regarding certain trips and/or school events helped many of us to get involved in different aspects of student life. For this, I and my fellow graduates are truly grateful. I still miss logging into Blackboard and checking out these events, but I look forward to sharing my post-graduate life with current students and fellow Berkeley College alumni.

I FINALLY got my cap and gown....

It took two trips to Berkeley College in Newark (because I'd misread the email about when I could come and pick up my regalia), but I finally got them. Also, the graduates who are getting their Bachelor's get a decorated hood to go with their graduation regalia. When I got back to Newark the second time, I could see people coming and going with their caps and gowns. And once I got to the Student Center, things were in full swing.

It was pretty simple, actually; I stated that I was there to pick up my cap and gown. I was asked for my name and they were able to find me on the list. The girl distributing the caps and gowns sized me up--literally--pretty quick and said, "You're about five feet." She also said she'd be there the day of graduation to help me out with the hood just in case I had trouble putting it on. And I thought that was it, but I was invited to sit down and have food and mingle with other students. There was a lot of laughter and good feelings--and why not? This was definitely something to celebrate; we'd made it.

The lady taking class pictures kept me cracking up during the entire process. And when she was done, I was given the card and the login to access my pictures online in about three weeks. It was an all-around good feeling; I'd wanted to mingle with other Berkeley students, and finally I did.

Your profile.....

http://mashable.com/2010/04/08/managing-online-reputation/

So I talked a bit about this a few blogs ago, based on the information posted by fellow Berkeley blogger Vanessa Gomez. But it bears repeating: guard your online reputation. Many people are not aware of how their online activities, profiles, and certain pictures (remember the one of you hugging the pinata and holding a wine glass in hand?) can influence how others view them--particularly prospective employers. As the article brings out, your reputation is earned. While you may feel that your personal life shouldn't affect how a prospective employer--and perhaps your fellow students and faculty--views you, it is very important to conduct yourself in a manner that is above reproach.

Do you really want to be viewed as the life of every party, yet nothing is ever mentioned about how well you did in school or what projects you've worked on either in school or with your current employer? This is something that can adversely affect you in the future, for prospective employers will see you as someone who doesn't take things seriously, and that can curtail your future--at least temporarily.

Work on building up a good reputation in school and/or at work, making sparing use of social networks and being sure to keep the personal elements of your life offline. You'll be grateful for it in the end.

Spring NYC Career Fair....

So I just checked out Career Services, and there's a Spring New York City Career Fair next Friday, April 16, between 8:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. So if you're a student or recent Berkeley graduate either looking for a job or looking to change careers, then this might be for you. I'll even see if I can make it part of that day, just to see what my options are. It's nice to have put in the work and now you're seeing the payoffs of it: the career of your choosing. You're encouraged to bring plenty of resumes and dress in business attire. Before I entered the 9 to 5 working world, I just didn't see the point of a resume. But it really is a summary of your working career over the years. Now, I make sure that I submit a resume with every employment application I fill out. Simply put, your resume can help to determine whether you and the prospective employer are a match for each other (along with the interview and selection process, of course).

Transportation is being provided from the various campuses, so what are you waiting for? Register with Career Services and get going!! The location will be The Radisson Martinique on 49 West 32nd Street in New York City. So put your best business foot forward, get the information, and get your career on track--whether you're looking for work while in school or you've graduated and want to get your career off the ground.

There will be over 50 companies present, which means there will be over 50 opportunities to make your best impression. Best wishes to you all!!!

And as an aside, congratulations to all new, returning, and graduating students.

A lot has changed....

For one, I'm not logging into Blackboard to view assignments for my current classes. Also, when I have logged into Blackboard, the whole format and focus has changed. Instead of Content Collection and Student Self Services, the focus is completely on alumni activities and Career Services. Not that I'm complaining; I'm just commenting on the obvious change. But it's a change that I've worked toward, and I'm proud to have made it.

Speaking of having made it, I still have to obtain my cap and gown--which I hope to do sometime this week or next week. I know I'm not officially a graduate of Berkeley College until I cross the threshold of the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, but the cap and gown pretty much confirms it. I hope to get lots of pictures so that I can post them to my blog, as well. This is a proud moment that I hope to share with all, current students and staff alike. My family and friends are a given, since some of them will be present.

Now that I'm finished with school, I plan to make more use of the Career Services tab. Even though I may not be leaving my current employer just yet, it never hurts to look around and see what else is out there. Also, it'll help me keep my skills up to date (I also plan to utilize what I've learned in classes, as well) and help me to compete successfully in the job market. While I've concluded one chapter in my life, this isn't good-bye. I plan to keep in constant contact with the faculty and alumni at Berkeley College, and I'll continue to give advice to continuing and new students as long as I'm allowed.

So this is it.....

This is really it. I'm graduating in a month from college. I'm excited and scared at the same time--excited because I've finally achieved my goal of not only going back to school, but also graduating. But I'm scared because I don't know what's next; I've always been used to a routine of going to work, caring for personal matters, and then doing my coursework. But I'm sure it's just anticipation of what's to come that has my stomach in butterflies, not any sense of dread or fear of failure.

So this is a topic of conversation on Twitter, as well--who's graduating this quarter. Well, a few months--and many tweets ago--I lamented ab0ut what I would do now that I was graduating. Mike tweeted back that I should stay on as an alumni blogger. So, this is what I intend to do. I will continue to blog about the things that are going on in my life post-graduation, as well as continue to offer my own personal experiences as guidelines for everyone from first-year students to those graduating in the near future.

I'll also continue to check Blackboard for any upcoming events that Berkeley has planned and see if, as an alumnus, I would be able to FINALLY partake of any of those activities. ;)

The end of my journey here at Berkeley....

Yes, I've taken my final test and submitted my final assignments for both my Finance class and my internship. And now, I look forward to taking my place among my fellow graduates at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 30, 2010.

While I'm glad to be graduating, I wished I had done better in my finance class; however, I did pass it this time around. A little more time and attention given to the chapters would've helped me tremendously, but I didn't go below a "C", I can say that much. But I don't intend to let this be the last of my educational journey. I still have every finance book that I have ever purchased and I will continue to use these as references for when I enter the financial field. I also want to continue to be an inspiration to you all to never give up, and really, really study--even if you think you "got it" the first time; perhaps there were some things that you missed when you merely skimmed over the material. But alas, I won't put a negative spin on a positive situation. I PASSED!!!! And I'm GRADUATING!!! That deserves some applause in itself. Not to sound self-aggrandizing or anything, but I'm really happy. And relieved, to be honest. Although I don't intend to put away everything I've learned for good, I do intend to take what I feel is a well-deserved break. Perhaps I'll go back to school and get my Master's in the future. But for now, my upcoming graduation is enough for me. I did it, and I lived to tell about the experience.

And a big, hearty congratulations to ALL of our seniors who are walking in April; we did it!!!

One more week, and I'm finished....

As I said previously, I feel relieved and happy, yet a little sad. I can't believe it's almost over--both in a good and a bad way. However, as I had mentioned in a previous blog entry, I can always come back for my Master's degree. And if I decide to any time in the near future, I know that Berkeley College is the college for me. With all respect for other learning institutions, I have to say that I have never been challenged in a way that benefited me the way that I have at Berkeley College. Also, even though I haven't been able to connect face-to-face with other students, I still feel that I've been able to connect with them via my classes (discussion boards), online clubs, and this blog.

It's amazing that when I first decided to re-enroll in school, I had serious misgivings (I thought I was too old, I wouldn't remember anything, etc.). I prayed, I stuck to my guns, and I changed my "study" habits (barely studying sometimes); and when I saw that I was slipping back into an old, familiar, destructive pattern, I made some adjustments. It was a little hard, particularly since I was doing everything online this time, but I convinced myself that it would be for the best in the long run.

Already, it's paid off in regard to where I work, and I feel that it will continue to open up opportunities for me in the future. Also, I've been invited to be a peer mentor, which makes me feel honored. I've often thought about being a tutor and a peer for some students, but that I was actually invited suggests a lot of confidence in my abilities. No matter what happens in the future, I will not regret the decision I made to re-enroll in school. And I will always hold a place in my heart for Berkeley College as the school that helped me to reach my fullest potential--not just as a student, but as an individual.

As the quarter nears its finish....

I get more and more excited. Soon, April 30 will be here, and I'll be with my fellow students at the Izod Center in Rutherford, New Jersey, getting my Bachelor's in Finance. I cannot stress enough what this means to me; it leaves me with a great feeling. And it lets me know now that anything I put my mind to, I can actually follow through on it and achieve it. There are no more excuses or "shoulda, coulda, wouldas" for this young woman; I will face all of my major decisions and situations head on. This is what Berkeley College has taught me and prepared me for.

Turns out I'm not the only one, either; the graduation speeches that we had to type up for our internship gave me some insight into my fellow students' personalities and how they all struggled to get where they were. Some were teenage parents, some had to travel distant lands, some came from less-than-desirable family circumstances--and they all persevered. Now the payoff for all of our hard work will be that piece of paper in hand, and we will carry that self-determined spirit with us not only into the workplace, but throughout our lives. Because if Berkeley College has taught me anything besides academics, it has taught me perseverance. When I think of what I went through to stay afloat financially and continue with my education (determined not to throw in the towel), I have to really give thanks to God for guiding me and not allowing me to give up. I made arrangments with Student Accounts and made every effort to keep up my end of those arrangements. I knew that there was a good chance that if I dropped out of school for the semester until I got my finances together, I stood a good chance of not returning at all to continue to pursue my educational goals.

To those students and faculty who are reading this, I hope you all continue to encourage each other and reach your educational goals together. And never stop learning, for I don't intend to; I will continue to learn beyond the halls (or computer) of Berkeley College.

My graduation speech....

Is it really that time already? This is our assignment in Business 482 this week. We have to write about what inspired us to go back to college and what kept us going when we may have wanted to quit. Who were the main inspirations in our lives? How do we feel now about accomplishing our goals?

For me, so many people--professors, friends, family, and co-workers--contributed to my decision to go back to school and get my degree. Even my supervisor (who allowed me to work with our financial system for my internship) said to me that she wanted to see me get my degree. I just knew that I needed to go back to school to brush up on my skills, so part of the motivation was my own. I feel a sense of accomplishment in that this time, I didn't stop in the middle of my schooling to care for other matters; I simply worked around my schedule and made the necessary arrangements to be able to accomplish everything I needed to.

The professor also mentioned having a spiritual base and whether this contributed to us deciding to go back to school. For me, the answer is yes. I prayed that I would be able to go back to school and finish without getting sidetracked in my daily life (spiritual, family, work).

So if I were to sum it up, there were many deciding factors in my going back to school and sticking to it, despite various obstacles. My mother, who is a single mom, is probably my greatest inspiration; she raised three of us while working full-and-part-time and still managed to graduate from college (she also had a wonderful family support system). I find this to be the case now that I'm helping to raise my 13-year-old niece. There are young ones looking at and depending on you; you have to be and set the example.

Be very careful....

So I just browsed through Vanessa's blog regarding how employers gather information about you from surfing the 'Net; I have to say, it's spot on. How your employers view you before you even get to the interviewing process is extremely important: it can mean the difference between not even getting the first interview and getting called back for a second interview. Let's face it, most employers want candidates who can be relied on to be professional and discreet--which you cannot be when you post silly or, at worst, risque blurbs in your online blogs (thank goodness for the guidelines provided by Berkeley; it helps me to be discreet in other areas).

So having said that, I am certainly glad that I have not posted any information that future prospective employers can use against me. Berkeley College has prepared me in this area, particularly with the Business 220 (Placement Seminar) course. You don't want to give your prospective employer a chance to reject you before you even open your mouth. So along with dress, grooming, and being well spoken, it's important to be well thought of. If your employer thinks highly of you during the interviewing process, he or she is more likely to hold you in high regard should you be selected as the best candidate for the job. The opposite holds true, as well, unfortunately; if you make a poor impression on the interviewer (if he or she conjures up a mental image that is less than desirable based on things you've posted on the Internet), there's a good chance that you won't get the job you wanted; or if you do, your employer may wonder how much company time will be spent doing work vs. networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter. Enjoy them, but keep them to a minimum. And by all means, keep your personal exploits your personal business. You'll be grateful for it.

In a little over a month....

This winter quarter will be over, and I'll be graduating. Time is going by MUCH too fast for me, but in a way I'm glad. I'll have my degree in Finance and be able to work in my chosen field. I am definitely glad I decided to go back to school and get my Bachelor's. There's just a sense of contentment and accomplishment that I'm feeling right now that I didn't feel when I didn't finish school the first time. When I worked for the employer prior to the employer I'm with now, I felt trapped in that position and in that job. And the manager even said to me that because I didn't graduate from college and didn't have a degree, this was why there were others promoted over me. So it showed me that employers still consider that "piece of paper" important....no matter what field you hope to enter into.

So when I took the job with my current employer, I knew I wanted to go back to school at some point and bring my skills up to date with the current workplace technology. I do feel that my going back to school has helped me with my current employer, too; I've actually been given more responsibility in addition to what I was hired for. This is the type of progress that prospective employers will consider on a job interview. So even if I have to stay in my current position a little longer, I don't consider it being stuck anymore. I feel that as my educational training increases, so do my responsibilities at work. And this keeps me from getting bored and listless.

Again, though, I wish was able to interact more with the student body in person (and more than just sitting with the students in the computer lab in the Newark campus, doing our homework). I hope to be able to come to a Berkeley campus one day and share my experiences face-to-face.

MBA

So this week in Business 482, we're discussing whether we want to continue in our education and pursue a Master's degree in our chosen fields or whether we would stop after obtaining our Bachelor's degree. And it got me to thinking: would I really want to stay in school another few years, trying to obtaining my Master's degree? And if I did, would I stop for a few years and then resume my education? Or would I just continue on, knowing that time is not necessarily on my side when it comes to pursuing my career goals? This isn't the type of decision that requires a lot of planning and forethought; I can't just decide on a whim that I want to go back to school. When I re-enrolled in school and chose Berkeley, I gave it a lot of thought even then, and then I planned ahead.

This is not to discourage anyone else who plans to continue on in their educational goals. I just wonder if it would be something that I would consider down the road. I know that I was able to motivate myself (and other family members and friends motivated me, as well), and just getting back into school was an accomplishment in itself. I don't want to say that I'm fine where I am; I'll just say that I'll have to ponder if I really want to continue on. Again, it would require lots and lots of planning and adjustment of my work and home schedules. Now does this mean I won't go back for my Master's? No, it just means I'll have to carefully weigh my options.

Week 7 already?!

I really can't believe that we've been going for seven weeks. It's a good thing, though, that I've been keeping so busy that I've barely noticed that we're near the end of the seventh week. In three more weeks, I'll have to submit a final paper, as well as a weekly journal detailing the duties I had to perform during my internship, for my Business 482 class. Focusing primarily of the financial aspects and duties of my current employer has really opened my eyes to how important accounting and bookkeeping are to not only run a company, but to keep it afloat. An examination--and a thorough re-examination--of accounting policies and company procedures can help management identify the strengths and the weaknesses of the corporation, and how to minimize the financial weak spots as much as possible.

Also, in my Finance 315 class, we're covering bond (debt) instruments and how these are repaid. A thorough examination of the different types of bonds can help investors make the right financing decisions. The drawback with bonds, however, is that if a company is ever to go bankrupt, an investor may never receive any return or portion of his or her investment, as the company must paid all its other debts first; and then whatever is left over goes to the repayment of the bonds. Government-issued bonds are seen as more secure, as the government is seen as having the means for repayment. What I also discovered is that while some bonds may not be practical for earning returns, they may help in financing long-term retirement. The chapter also referred the reader--me--to different websites to see the different interest rates for different types of bonds. A good way to do research on one's own beyond the classroom. ;)

Technology in the workplace....

So this is what we're discussing in Business 482 this week--the impact of technology on the workplace, and how in some cases it has helped or hurt--or both. I talked about how the technology and the computer systems we use at my place of employment make things a lot easier, considering how they used to do things years ago (I work for what used to be the YWCA of Summit). A co-worker told me that instead of doing things by computer, they would actually register people by hand and that the lines would be almost around the corner and down the street on registration days. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and now almost everything our members want to register for can be done either online or in person--whereas before, there was only one option.

However, I pointed out in our discussion that our system was not perfect by any means, even though it made certain processes easier and quicker. I explained to the professor and the students that sometimes our webserver and/or accounting system may shut down, which pretty much slows up our workload and leaves us at the mercy of the computer system and/or software until the problem is resolved. And even with registration, sometimes the log-ins that customers have created for themselves do not work (usually it's because the username and password are not in sync with the customer's account number). But this is the world we live and work in--conference calls done by computer, work done from home using the company's software, etc. This is the world we find ourselves in, fellow students. We're getting a taste of that right now (particularly if you're an online student like myself and have to type in responses instead of raising your hand in a classroom).

This is why business and technology courses are so necessary in this day and age; you could be left behind in the workplace by failing to keep up with the latest technology that are part of employers' companies. You also have to continue to practice what you've learned as far as business and technology are concerned, so I plan to keep my CIS skills fresh by using the books that I used for class to practice and stay ahead of the curve.

Ethics in business....

So this week in Business 482, we're discussing situations that have occurred in our places of employment that could be considered unethical. We've all had some tales of deception to share, particularly with regard to the business of sales. We all pretty much shared how there was deliberate withholding of information with some of our employers; others shared how some workers who weren't exactly licensed or trained to perform certain tasks would still perform these tasks for the company. This leads me to think: does the company really have the customers' interest or their bottom line at heart? What if someone were to be seriously hurt by some misdeed performed by someone at the company?

These are the things you'll have to face if any of you are either working or are business students; where will you draw the line? No one else can be your conscience; you have to make these decisions on your own. Will you do something that you feel is morally wrong or unethical if it means a consistent paycheck? What do you consider unethical? These are decisions that you will have to face every day of your working lives--well beyond the classrooms of Berkeley College.

I offered some insight regarding a company I used to work for; this company has since been in the newspaper in an unfavorable light for "unethical business practices". To sum it up, I was a part of a company where we would have to withhold information from customers in order to make our offer attractive. The thing is, I didn't know that we were being dishonest until I overheard a conversation between two of my co-workers; I decided that I needed to seek employment elsewhere. But this is a decision we all must face. Follow your conscience, and you'll always make the right decision, fellow students.

I just made the President's list!!!!

So I got a letter in the mail today from Berkeley College, and when I opened it, there was a letter of congratulations telling me that based on my performance from last quarter, I had made the President's list!!! I am SO happy about this; prior to last quarter, I had done okay, but not well enough to even think about being considered for a Dean's or President's list. Now I really feel that all my hard work is not for naught, that I really can achieve anything I put my mind to. After a whole quarter of second-guessing myself and thinking, "I could've done this or that better" and feeling that I wouldn't get the grades I wanted, I not only got A's in every single course, but my scholastic achievement did not go unnoticed.

It just goes to show that no matter how much you have on your plate, you can achieve it if you focus and cut out the unnecessary clutter (too much t.v., recreation, etc.; these things have their place, but it's like dessert AFTER dinner, and even then, not so much). And again, I have to commend Berkeley College for being ahead of the pack when it comes to distance learning. Berkeley understands that people returning to school have full lives and need to be able to find a class schedule that suits them while still working and caring for families, etc. The Online Distance Learning program is a wonderful program, and I foresee more students making use of this service in the near future.

This is exactly why I would recommend Berkeley College to anyone looking to go back to school; the courses and the professors will challenge you, but in a good way. And you'll actually get the benefit of using the skills you've acquired in the classroom in a job setting.

Graduation is right around the corner.....

I mean, literally. I just got a Tweet on my cellphone from Berkeley College via Mike that our commencement ceremony is April 30, 2010. That's on a Friday, so I'll definitely be taking off from work. I am really, really excited now. It's not just a dream; after my internship and this Finance course, I'm officially done with school and will be graduating. Should I decide to go back for my Master's, I know that I'll definitely be going back to Berkeley College. And I will continue to blog as an alumnus for Berkeley College, the way that Aleksandra and Vanessa are. Learning and growing doesn't stop after you've graduated from school. Besides, I want newer students and those students who are thinking about throwing in the towel to read this blog one day and draw strength and encouragement from it, because one day, they'll be in the same situation--about to call themselves Berkeley College graduates.

As I stated at the beginning of my journey, when I first made the decision to go back to college, I had no idea what I was in for. There were many times when I felt like and thought about giving up. But I thought about my niece, who is still in school, and I wanted to show her that you don't give up when you hit a rought patch or two. And also, anything worth having is worth working for. Everything doesn't come easily; sometimes a little more time and effort is required. I want to wish the students of Berkeley College continued success at this time, and I will continue to blog to inspire you and encourage you to keep going.