“I envisioned a company in which any woman could become just as successful as she wanted to be. The doors would be wide open to opportunity for women who were willing to pay the price and had the courage to dream.”
- Mary Kay Ash
In 1963, Mary Kay Ash started Beauty by Mary Kay. Ash’s goal was to allow women to become successful while elevating their self-image. Ash’s dream had become a reality; approximately five hundred women worldwide have become Independent National Sales Directors.
One woman within this company has set high standards for herself and her staff. She is a woman who knows that making one’s goals a reality is based on hard work, perseverance as well as high self esteem, encouragement, and acknowledging one’s support system. Gloria Mayfield Banks is this woman, a graduate from Howard University who also holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an Elite Executive National Sales Director for Mary Kay cosmetics. Banks brings in annual gross revenue of more than one million dollars, has sixty-five thousand women in Mary Kay worldwide and is the first African American woman in Mary Kay cosmetics worldwide.
Banks joined Mary Kay cosmetics in 1988; she wanted to achieve success on her own and helping other women do the same, became one of her primary objectives. Friends and family were confused and questioned Banks’ direction; few of them could understand why a woman who graduated from an esteemed institution such as Harvard would be working with Mary Kay. In an interview with Andy Barth from ABC News, Banks states, “It has been very well worth it.” Gloria’s career has been influenced by both her personal and professional past. She has had to learn how to manage her time, evaluate people and the roles they have had in her life and to assess the cost of drama within her life. Banks gets to the heart of the matter when she states, “My past is my educational environment.”
Banks also attributes her savvy business sense to the information she garnered from different courses she took at Harvard Business School; the courses aiding her to properly differentiate a promising career from a useless one. She states, “I understood the company…where it’s going…not just where it affects me. If I was going to be with Mary Kay for a while, I wanted to know that they were able to carry me as a company.”
Banks has established herself as a very successful and charismatic businesswoman. Reaching her female audience through her business requires hard work to attain her goals. Gloria finds it imperative to train and to enable these women to construct their own circle of influence that is able to be made, changed and maintained. Banks emphasizes confidence and its impact on her eager pupils. She also centers on setting the correct goals by adopting the attitude of “keeping the main thing, the main thing.” Her final step in reaching fellow women is to teach people skills. Banks believes that hard work should definitely be a driving factor in gaining success; “Desire alone will not bring results.”
Banks can definitely be considered a strong role model for the African American community, specifically women. However, she prefers to be recognized as a smart woman, stating, “I don’t have to be Afro-centric to be relatable to African Americans.” She embodies hard work, determination and epitomizes the notion of an indelible work ethic. She also makes many women realize that they too can make a better life for themselves; promoting higher self-esteem, respect and motivation to do the same for others, as well as financially. Banks serves as a leader and role model for the African American community primarily through her children who are ages 27, 25, 23 and 21; she has frequently spoken at her children’s schools and she considers herself to be a role model through association. Banks also has many cds and tapes that women and their children listen to.
Banks states that the qualities that she found helpful when obtaining success was a major sense of self-esteem and becoming knowledgeable in the industry she pursued. Gloria states, “There’s no problem with women working together. Women have worked together for years. Women worked together in families, they work together in church. They work together in all kinds of environments.” Banks can certainly relate to other women who are struggling balancing family and managing a demanding career.
In addition to being one of the top Executive National Sales Directors within Mary Kay, Gloria is also considered a world-renowned motivational speaker; discussing a myriad of topics in addition to attaining success such as people skills, team management and leadership, goal-setting and how to not only get people to work for you, but how to hire them, keep them and enable them to be effective. Notes Banks, “You have to become a risk-taker.”
Banks has truly continued to allow Mary Kay Cosmetics to remain as Mary Kay Ash envisioned when it was first started in 1963; as a conduit through which women can find their niche in the corporate world, help pay their success forward and to become as affluent as they one day had dreamed. “I’ve really been working on my life purpose and I got it. It is to greatly impact others to get what they want and to become who they’ve imagined. That’s what pushes me now.”
Sources:
www.charismafactor.com
www.cnbc.com
www.alicepirola.com
www.marykay.com
www.turningpointmagazine.com
www.youtube.com
Steps to Success
If I were told that I could become successful (and I mean really successful) with five easy steps that were far from rocket science; I would be eternally grateful. Lucky for me, (and the rest of society), I have been. Gloria Mayfield Banks, an Executive National Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics appeared on the “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch and provided the public with the five key steps to success.
1. Become a People Magnet
The more people are comfortable being in your presence, the more effective you are as an individual, an aspiring entrepreneur, a mentor and co-worker. “People want to be Celebrated, not Tolerated,” Banks states. Also, a positive physical appearance demonstrates that you are affirmative and confident which speaks volumes to the people you surround yourself with. Creating a positive environment where people can win is also paramount to ensuring upbeat feedback. “Become expert at finding people’s needs and filling them when you can.”
2. Short Term Clear Strategic Goals backed by Big Thinking
Banks mentions that it is imperative to not just dream but to support your visions with specific short-term BIG goals; this places your objectives into perspective while building confidence. Being organized also aids in reaching your aspirations. This can definitely be accomplished by compiling lists. Notes Banks, “Clear goals create passion; passion drives the creativity that pushes you to a place you have never been before. To get the fruit, you must go out on the limb.”
3. Create a Powerful Circle of Influence
Surround yourself with positive people. Tell people who share their negative vibes or personalities, goodbye; it is only temporary while you work toward success. Take advice from people with whom you could trade places with – avoid taking advice from people who just offer it. “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”
4. Work the Numbers
Focus on asking people the next step instead of just assuming their reactions; which is often based on your fear. Also, concentrate on the numbers not just the answers. Do not take no’s personally – keep in mind that the person you are asking does not know you well enough to form an accurate judgment. “Once you are clear that you have something that will make a positive impact on others be willing to asking enough people, make enough presentations, deliver enough explanations so that you are in front of enough decision makers that yes’ will come in volumes.”
5. Study hard to become Skill-based
Know the industry in which you are interested. You cannot educate or lead others if you have not educated or led yourself. Awareness makes change easier to deal with. “Being skilled and knowledgeable turns a professional into a problem-solver and leader; which in turn increases their effectiveness and quickens the pace of moving towards the goal…Put the time in book study, internet study, people study – Class is never out for the pro.”
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
And I Quote (March, 2006) Immigration Piece
And I Quote: New immigration laws in the 'land of opportunity'
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
March 29, 2006
“I think it’s just inhumane… everybody deserves the right to a better life.”- Elger AlroyOn Saturday, more than 100,000 people marched in Los Angeles to protest new legislation calling for more walls to be built on the border of the United States and Mexico. The bill would also makes aiding illegal immigrants a crime. The news has many Hispanics in an uproar, because they believe they are entitled to a life in a country that prides itself on global diversity and helping those in need. Riverside, Calif. resident Elger Alroy, a premed student, was quoting saying, “I think it’s just inhumane…everybody deserves the right to a better life.”
The illegal immigrant question is very controversial in the States, especially in the regions surrounding the country’s southern border. Recently, Catholic Relief Services came to La Salle and performed a play addressing the actors’ experiences from their expeditions to the U.S.-Mexico border. It was a compassionate testimony of innocent men, women and children who try to better the lives of their families. It was a moving presentation, and it changed some of my views concerning the issue.
When my mom was growing up, our town was about 90 percent Italian. Now, Hispanics make up 60 percent of the population. This shows influx of people from Spanish-speaking countries to the States. Many people in my town express anger and hostility toward these people in “their” environment, when they’re really just trying to make a decent living.
Part of me believes that they are reacting negatively because they feel threatened. While I agree that some people take advantage of what America has to offer, I think we as a society often overlook those who work honest jobs and want to contribute their culture, customs and values to our country. I wonder if the primary reason the U.S. Border Patrol and irate American citizens have such a problem with this is because they’re not in control.
I’m not advocating people coming into our country and wreaking havoc, such as the religious fanatics who attack our lives on 9/11. My frustration is compounded when I hear that we are liberating people in foreign countries but do not extend the same courtesy to those who want to become American citizens.
What’s happening on our campus, in our communities and in our minds, hearts and souls? We should search within ourselves, and try to replace feelings of inhumanity with love and compassion for each other. Everyone deserves a right to a better life and a better chance at achieving humanity.
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
March 29, 2006
“I think it’s just inhumane… everybody deserves the right to a better life.”- Elger AlroyOn Saturday, more than 100,000 people marched in Los Angeles to protest new legislation calling for more walls to be built on the border of the United States and Mexico. The bill would also makes aiding illegal immigrants a crime. The news has many Hispanics in an uproar, because they believe they are entitled to a life in a country that prides itself on global diversity and helping those in need. Riverside, Calif. resident Elger Alroy, a premed student, was quoting saying, “I think it’s just inhumane…everybody deserves the right to a better life.”
The illegal immigrant question is very controversial in the States, especially in the regions surrounding the country’s southern border. Recently, Catholic Relief Services came to La Salle and performed a play addressing the actors’ experiences from their expeditions to the U.S.-Mexico border. It was a compassionate testimony of innocent men, women and children who try to better the lives of their families. It was a moving presentation, and it changed some of my views concerning the issue.
When my mom was growing up, our town was about 90 percent Italian. Now, Hispanics make up 60 percent of the population. This shows influx of people from Spanish-speaking countries to the States. Many people in my town express anger and hostility toward these people in “their” environment, when they’re really just trying to make a decent living.
Part of me believes that they are reacting negatively because they feel threatened. While I agree that some people take advantage of what America has to offer, I think we as a society often overlook those who work honest jobs and want to contribute their culture, customs and values to our country. I wonder if the primary reason the U.S. Border Patrol and irate American citizens have such a problem with this is because they’re not in control.
I’m not advocating people coming into our country and wreaking havoc, such as the religious fanatics who attack our lives on 9/11. My frustration is compounded when I hear that we are liberating people in foreign countries but do not extend the same courtesy to those who want to become American citizens.
What’s happening on our campus, in our communities and in our minds, hearts and souls? We should search within ourselves, and try to replace feelings of inhumanity with love and compassion for each other. Everyone deserves a right to a better life and a better chance at achieving humanity.
And I Quote (April, 2006) Journalists Risk Lives to Provide Truth to Readers
And I Quote: Journalists risk death to provide readers with truth
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
April 5, 2006
“As journalists are being kidnapped, detained and killed, it becomes exceedingly hard for them to do their job in Iraq, and it is we, the general public, who lose from it.”— Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Journalist Jill Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor was released Thursday, after being held hostage for three months by a group called the Revenge Brigades. She was abducted on Jan. 7 while on her way to interview Adnan al-Dulaimi, a Sunni Arab politician. The group demanded that various women detainees be freed from imprisonment, and threatened to kill Caroll if their demands were not met.
Carroll is certainly not the first journalist captured since the beginning of the Iraqi conflict. Many have been detained as prisoners of war, exploited on TV and even killed. Since 2004, 39 reporters have been kidnapped, and six have been killed, including Tom Fox, a member of the Christian Peacemakers Teams.
Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, stated, “As journalists are being kidnapped, detained and killed, it becomes exceedingly hard for them to do their job in Iraq, and it is we, the general public, who lose from it.” To say that we “lose from it” is unfair to the reporters, and the fact that they are risking their lives to provide us with the truth.
While she may have meant something entirely different, Cooper seems to be suggesting that we are the only ones who lose a precious variable in these circumstances. She also mentions that their jobs have become “exceedingly hard for them to do.” Tell us something we don’t already know.
As a person who is looking into the writing aspect of communication, it is extremely frightening to imagine that these people are victimized when truth is an element. Truth is not a respectable ideal to those who implement fear and torture to get a point across. Journalists are taken advantage of when innocent civilians of Iraq and the troops that are still stationed there. Sure, we “lose from it,” but we also go to bed at night in a comfortable atmosphere. May we always remember those who have fought for our country, regardless of the circumstances, and who have lost something most valuable: their lives.
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
April 5, 2006
“As journalists are being kidnapped, detained and killed, it becomes exceedingly hard for them to do their job in Iraq, and it is we, the general public, who lose from it.”— Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Journalist Jill Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor was released Thursday, after being held hostage for three months by a group called the Revenge Brigades. She was abducted on Jan. 7 while on her way to interview Adnan al-Dulaimi, a Sunni Arab politician. The group demanded that various women detainees be freed from imprisonment, and threatened to kill Caroll if their demands were not met.
Carroll is certainly not the first journalist captured since the beginning of the Iraqi conflict. Many have been detained as prisoners of war, exploited on TV and even killed. Since 2004, 39 reporters have been kidnapped, and six have been killed, including Tom Fox, a member of the Christian Peacemakers Teams.
Ann Cooper, Executive Director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, stated, “As journalists are being kidnapped, detained and killed, it becomes exceedingly hard for them to do their job in Iraq, and it is we, the general public, who lose from it.” To say that we “lose from it” is unfair to the reporters, and the fact that they are risking their lives to provide us with the truth.
While she may have meant something entirely different, Cooper seems to be suggesting that we are the only ones who lose a precious variable in these circumstances. She also mentions that their jobs have become “exceedingly hard for them to do.” Tell us something we don’t already know.
As a person who is looking into the writing aspect of communication, it is extremely frightening to imagine that these people are victimized when truth is an element. Truth is not a respectable ideal to those who implement fear and torture to get a point across. Journalists are taken advantage of when innocent civilians of Iraq and the troops that are still stationed there. Sure, we “lose from it,” but we also go to bed at night in a comfortable atmosphere. May we always remember those who have fought for our country, regardless of the circumstances, and who have lost something most valuable: their lives.
And I Quote (February, 2006)- Tribute to Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King
And I Quote…
Negativity towards future of civil rights discounts current efforts
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
“In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.”
- Ronald Waters, Professor of Political Science at University of Maryland
The world has recently suffered the losses of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott Kingm two of the most influential and prominent civil rights activists in history.
Parks, who refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama in December of 1955, sparked a movement that increased awareness of the injustices toward African-Americans. The Montgomery bus boycott, headed by Parks, the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was meant to show that the black community would not stand for oppression and longer, and instead would fight for equality.
Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a strong activist for civil rights, was a woman of strength and devotion. She continued working toward her husband’s goal of a better nation to make his dreams become the future generation’s reality.
A recent Associated Press article that stated that many African-American advocates of the movement are deeply troubled with the condition of the future movement. They fear that as more and more icons pass, the fight to establish better race relations and all the energy will be focused on the efforts of the past rather than focusing on pushing for equality in the present.
I have always believed that it is imperative to acknowledge the past, especially the people who have paved the way for us, I agree that we should not neglect all that needs to be done during this day and age, but we always need to pay homage to those who have come before us.
Ronald Waters, a professor at the University of Maryland, stated, “In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.” I could not disagree more. Perhaps Waters is stating that since we were not present during the 1960s and 70s, we do not share the same passion to fight as people who had lived during that time; fighting against things like racial tension the conflict in Vietnam. Or maybe he is suggesting that the work has been done, and now all we have to do is sit back and revere the people who have passed away and thank them for making a difference. There are probably people in our generation who are not doing anything to change the present condition our society is in, however I can vouch for the young adults who continue to persevere despite speculation and obstacles.
If our generation had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, then we at La Salle would not have decorated the seats in two of the shuttles in commemoration of Ms. Parks to show her perseverance and to inspire a movement of our own. If we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not have adopted the “Under Construction” theme for Black History Month; if we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not be advocating for a Black Studies Program where African Americans could learn more about their culture and through which Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and others could enhance their knowledge of history.
In response to Waters’ statement, I have one of my own that embodies all of our efforts to combat discrimination and the negative impact it has on our society. “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” – Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
“In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.”
- Ronald Waters, Professor of Political Science at University of Maryland
The world has recently suffered the losses of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott Kingm two of the most influential and prominent civil rights activists in history.
Parks, who refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama in December of 1955, sparked a movement that increased awareness of the injustices toward African-Americans. The Montgomery bus boycott, headed by Parks, the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was meant to show that the black community would not stand for oppression and longer, and instead would fight for equality.
Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a strong activist for civil rights, was a woman of strength and devotion. She continued working toward her husband’s goal of a better nation to make his dreams become the future generation’s reality.
A recent Associated Press article that stated that many African-American advocates of the movement are deeply troubled with the condition of the future movement. They fear that as more and more icons pass, the fight to establish better race relations and all the energy will be focused on the efforts of the past rather than focusing on pushing for equality in the present.
I have always believed that it is imperative to acknowledge the past, especially the people who have paved the way for us, I agree that we should not neglect all that needs to be done during this day and age, but we always need to pay homage to those who have come before us.
Ronald Waters, a professor at the University of Maryland, stated, “In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.” I could not disagree more. Perhaps Waters is stating that since we were not present during the 1960s and 70s, we do not share the same passion to fight as people who had lived during that time; fighting against things like racial tension the conflict in Vietnam. Or maybe he is suggesting that the work has been done, and now all we have to do is sit back and revere the people who have passed away and thank them for making a difference. There are probably people in our generation who are not doing anything to change the present condition our society is in, however I can vouch for the young adults who continue to persevere despite speculation and obstacles.
If our generation had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, then we at La Salle would not have decorated the seats in two of the shuttles in commemoration of Ms. Parks to show her perseverance and to inspire a movement of our own. If we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not have adopted the “Under Construction” theme for Black History Month; if we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not be advocating for a Black Studies Program where African Americans could learn more about their culture and through which Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and others could enhance their knowledge of history.
In response to Waters’ statement, I have one of my own that embodies all of our efforts to combat discrimination and the negative impact it has on our society. “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” – Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
Pure Magic
Pure Magic
A hundred years ago, taking a simple picture was an arduous task. It was said that the reason people in the picture looked so miserable was because it took so long to capture a simple image. Nowadays, the click of a camera’s shutter and the limited amount of space a camera takes up in a woman’s purse is symbolic of new-age technology that has taken our generation by storm and that makes special occasions such as milestone birthdays, graduations and weddings seem like anything but distant memories.
Not only with photography has preserving life’s special moments improved, but with videography as well. In a world where people often find themselves working in cold, unfamiliar environments that disable them from truly reflecting the person they are, a passion for re-creating what is considered by many the most important day of their lives is beautiful. Video is the ability to not only literally record life’s occurrences, but to be the conduit through which two people can re-embark on the journey of the beginning of their lives together. Family, close friends, and future generations are also beneficiaries of a talented videographer. They are allowed to partake in the ceremony that has, for as long as we can remember, joined two people in love. A talented videographer will allow his or her passion for capturing the rituals and festivities to be evident in his or her work thereby creating a masterpiece enjoyed by all and re-creating a milestone for those who participated.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “I dream my painting and then I paint my dream.” For many little girls, the idea of planning their fairytale wedding is their life-long fantasy. They spend every waking hour thinking and developing the best day of their lives. Video enables them to see their wedding not only as a day where the three tier, chocolate cake was delectable or the rose center pieces spiced up the air with their fragrance but a dream that has been painted into reality but still embodies pure magic.
A hundred years ago, taking a simple picture was an arduous task. It was said that the reason people in the picture looked so miserable was because it took so long to capture a simple image. Nowadays, the click of a camera’s shutter and the limited amount of space a camera takes up in a woman’s purse is symbolic of new-age technology that has taken our generation by storm and that makes special occasions such as milestone birthdays, graduations and weddings seem like anything but distant memories.
Not only with photography has preserving life’s special moments improved, but with videography as well. In a world where people often find themselves working in cold, unfamiliar environments that disable them from truly reflecting the person they are, a passion for re-creating what is considered by many the most important day of their lives is beautiful. Video is the ability to not only literally record life’s occurrences, but to be the conduit through which two people can re-embark on the journey of the beginning of their lives together. Family, close friends, and future generations are also beneficiaries of a talented videographer. They are allowed to partake in the ceremony that has, for as long as we can remember, joined two people in love. A talented videographer will allow his or her passion for capturing the rituals and festivities to be evident in his or her work thereby creating a masterpiece enjoyed by all and re-creating a milestone for those who participated.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “I dream my painting and then I paint my dream.” For many little girls, the idea of planning their fairytale wedding is their life-long fantasy. They spend every waking hour thinking and developing the best day of their lives. Video enables them to see their wedding not only as a day where the three tier, chocolate cake was delectable or the rose center pieces spiced up the air with their fragrance but a dream that has been painted into reality but still embodies pure magic.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Maintaining Sanity
Maintaining Sanity
Job searching. A job in itself. Long days in front of the computer researching vacant positions with companies and organizations suited to the major studied and perfected; endless emails reiterating what my name is and from what esteemed institution I matriculated from. Updated resumes and appropriate cover letters taking up space on my hard drive and jump drive. Interminable stacks of index cards filled out with information about each job that peaked my interest with side notes about each follow-up call that was placed. This has been my life for the past two months. The idea of impending financial obligations, possible apartment options, really being on my own for the first time, are daunting things to contemplate. However, I am not the only one in the proverbial boat. There are several aspects of my life that I should consider myself fortunate to possess even if a job is not currently one of them. These are things that perhaps my fellow graduates of 2008 can find comfort in as well.
A family is often a conglomeration of interesting people who just happen to be related to one another, each with a unique story waiting to be shared. Yet, families are comprised of more significant elements than stories of creepy Uncle Stan at the end of the summer barbeque. They are support networks when others’ pessimism shreds one’s dreams. They are the only people who will laugh, (sincerely), at one’s corny jokes when nobody else will. Family is also a positive force rehabilitating the youngest of their brood when he or she cannot get his or her head above water. Traditions are instituted, providing moments of nostalgia when mental recuperation is needed. When young members of society are trying to earn their place in the working world, eager and willing to learn, (even if it is door-to-door sales), one thing that is promised to them is the backbone that is family. Family could be considered a flicker of light in a dark room, a glimmer of hope when all seems impossible. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot be driven out by darkness, only light can do that, hate cannot be driven out by hate, only love can do that.” That is family.
It is easier to wake up each day and face one’s personal circumstances when one can truly appreciate the simple things in life. Each individual might have his or her own personal collection of what constitutes the simple things. For me, it is the way my dog runs to me when I walk in the door. It is the ability of knowing that when opening my eyes in the morning, I can look out my window and see the sun shining. It is sitting at my computer with my favorite song on composing a piece that I know those who care for me will love. It is appreciating the roof over my head and food in my stomach that is graciously received each night as I sit down with my parents. For me, it is definitely the simple things.
A friend once told me that to come to one’s faith is a journey. It is a journey that perhaps is never finished, that which results in enabling one to constantly grow, both spiritually and emotionally. It is this faith that, despite how well-defined it is, aids an individual to persevere until his or her goals are achieved. Faith is certainly not a simple thing in life, but just as rewarding.
When it was suggested that I write a piece about job-searching that my peers could easily relate to, the approach taken was probably not what those individuals had in mind, but Robert Frost once wrote about taking the road less traveled. When the endless follow-up calls and emails are no longer proving effective and you are sitting at your computer frustrated and on the brink of self-deprecation, remember these three tools to what could ultimately help you achieve what you and your families know you are destined for: Greatness.
Job searching. A job in itself. Long days in front of the computer researching vacant positions with companies and organizations suited to the major studied and perfected; endless emails reiterating what my name is and from what esteemed institution I matriculated from. Updated resumes and appropriate cover letters taking up space on my hard drive and jump drive. Interminable stacks of index cards filled out with information about each job that peaked my interest with side notes about each follow-up call that was placed. This has been my life for the past two months. The idea of impending financial obligations, possible apartment options, really being on my own for the first time, are daunting things to contemplate. However, I am not the only one in the proverbial boat. There are several aspects of my life that I should consider myself fortunate to possess even if a job is not currently one of them. These are things that perhaps my fellow graduates of 2008 can find comfort in as well.
A family is often a conglomeration of interesting people who just happen to be related to one another, each with a unique story waiting to be shared. Yet, families are comprised of more significant elements than stories of creepy Uncle Stan at the end of the summer barbeque. They are support networks when others’ pessimism shreds one’s dreams. They are the only people who will laugh, (sincerely), at one’s corny jokes when nobody else will. Family is also a positive force rehabilitating the youngest of their brood when he or she cannot get his or her head above water. Traditions are instituted, providing moments of nostalgia when mental recuperation is needed. When young members of society are trying to earn their place in the working world, eager and willing to learn, (even if it is door-to-door sales), one thing that is promised to them is the backbone that is family. Family could be considered a flicker of light in a dark room, a glimmer of hope when all seems impossible. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot be driven out by darkness, only light can do that, hate cannot be driven out by hate, only love can do that.” That is family.
It is easier to wake up each day and face one’s personal circumstances when one can truly appreciate the simple things in life. Each individual might have his or her own personal collection of what constitutes the simple things. For me, it is the way my dog runs to me when I walk in the door. It is the ability of knowing that when opening my eyes in the morning, I can look out my window and see the sun shining. It is sitting at my computer with my favorite song on composing a piece that I know those who care for me will love. It is appreciating the roof over my head and food in my stomach that is graciously received each night as I sit down with my parents. For me, it is definitely the simple things.
A friend once told me that to come to one’s faith is a journey. It is a journey that perhaps is never finished, that which results in enabling one to constantly grow, both spiritually and emotionally. It is this faith that, despite how well-defined it is, aids an individual to persevere until his or her goals are achieved. Faith is certainly not a simple thing in life, but just as rewarding.
When it was suggested that I write a piece about job-searching that my peers could easily relate to, the approach taken was probably not what those individuals had in mind, but Robert Frost once wrote about taking the road less traveled. When the endless follow-up calls and emails are no longer proving effective and you are sitting at your computer frustrated and on the brink of self-deprecation, remember these three tools to what could ultimately help you achieve what you and your families know you are destined for: Greatness.
"The Poor Little Rich Girl"
Gloria Vanderbilt Piece
It is a beautiful day. The air is warm and a mild breeze kisses my face. There are a few scattered clouds that hang idly in the crystal clear sky, where the sun is shining brightly yet playfully dances in between the tree branches. There it is. Towering above me. The huge stone mansion that seems to endlessly reach into the heavens, a tremendous sight that seems intimidating but gentle all at the same time. The mansion now offers tours to groups of eager tourists who wonder what it must be like to be that wealthy. The Vanderbilt Mansion, a place that many stare at, awe-struck, a place that could be defined as anything but a humble abode.
The Vanderbilt Mansion was home to the famous Gloria Laura Vanderbilt, born in February, 1924 to parents Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and Gloria Laura Mercedes Vanderbilt. Tragedy struck the Vanderbilt family when Mr. Vanderbilt died from a throat infection causing internal hemorrhages. Gloria was left without a father and as an heiress to her father’s incredible fortune all at the ripe old age of one. In addition to being fatherless and affluent at that early age, Gloria also found herself in the middle of a nasty custody battle between her mother and her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney who deemed Mrs. Vanderbilt an unfit mother. Gloria’s aunt won the custody battle making her the child’s custodian.
After many years and three marriages, Gloria married Wyatt Emory Cooper and had two sons, Carter and Anderson Cooper who later became CNN commentator and head of Anderson Cooper 360. In 1979, Murjani Corporation marketed “Gloria Vanderbilt designer jeans” which propelled Gloria into the fashion industry becoming a noted icon. Ms. Vanderbilt was also a renowned author, painter, and actress.
I lag behind my exploration partner (who is always up for a historical journey), to take a picture of this beautiful and mind-numbing National Historic Site. The shutter clicks and the technological benefit of instant gratification enables me to see clearly the ridges in the columns that are aging well; the cracks not too visible. I feel as though I am there with the men who must have worked tirelessly on what could very well be considered an architectural masterpiece. I imagine Gloria standing next to me as a young girl and then as a young woman, happy to call this place home. I am jarred back to reality by my modern-day Lewis calling me to admire the scenery from a different angle. As I walk to where she is, I turn back and gasp at the regal beauty that emanates from this gigantic structure. I reach my friend and she points to the Hudson River, a naturally beautiful spectacle. I gaze out over the cliff to the water below and I acknowledge that not only are my surroundings breathtaking but hosts to history as well.
The Vanderbilt Mansion was completed in 1839, in Hyde Park, New York, home to other historical greats, Franklin D. Roosevelt being one of them. The mansion costing Mr. Vanderbilt $27,000 was the only house in Hyde Park that had electricity, relying on a hydroelectric power plant to function. Mr. Vanderbilt could have fancied himself an exceptional gardener; the lavish, Italian-style gardens being proof of his immense green thumb. Large, formal gardens were common fixtures of most estates during that time. Unfortunately, after his death, the gardens were no longer well kept. The flowers wilted and died and the life that once thrived within the garden was no longer apparent.
Today, the Vanderbilt Mansion has been affirmed as a National Historic Site and allows visitors to bask in its greatness; the mansion looking just as majestic as when it was first erected. The gardens have been revitalized by the F.W. Vanderbilt Garden Association and are looked upon with reverence by masses of people each day.
I have exhausted my poor camera, but it is ever faithful to me, still recording the jaw-dropping sites I have been fortunate to witness. I just cannot get enough of the Hudson River flowing peacefully below, the great weeping willow to my left, that if given the chance, could tell great stories of past family gatherings underneath its gentle branches, or the moderately sized guest house ahead of me that reflects the sun’s smiles. My eyes finally rest on the mansion, looming in front of me, so tall that I feel dizzy if I stare at it too long. Its large windows, glossy oak doors and the strong, sturdy columns that support the mansion are demonstrative of the family that frequented its hallways and that made history; a realization that helps a young woman ready to embark on her life’s journey prepare to create her own history. I walk away smiling…
“Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, there you long to return.”
- Leonardo da Vinci
Sources:
www.biography.com
www.biographybase.com
www.nps.gov
www.time.com
www.vanderbiltgarden.org
It is a beautiful day. The air is warm and a mild breeze kisses my face. There are a few scattered clouds that hang idly in the crystal clear sky, where the sun is shining brightly yet playfully dances in between the tree branches. There it is. Towering above me. The huge stone mansion that seems to endlessly reach into the heavens, a tremendous sight that seems intimidating but gentle all at the same time. The mansion now offers tours to groups of eager tourists who wonder what it must be like to be that wealthy. The Vanderbilt Mansion, a place that many stare at, awe-struck, a place that could be defined as anything but a humble abode.
The Vanderbilt Mansion was home to the famous Gloria Laura Vanderbilt, born in February, 1924 to parents Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and Gloria Laura Mercedes Vanderbilt. Tragedy struck the Vanderbilt family when Mr. Vanderbilt died from a throat infection causing internal hemorrhages. Gloria was left without a father and as an heiress to her father’s incredible fortune all at the ripe old age of one. In addition to being fatherless and affluent at that early age, Gloria also found herself in the middle of a nasty custody battle between her mother and her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney who deemed Mrs. Vanderbilt an unfit mother. Gloria’s aunt won the custody battle making her the child’s custodian.
After many years and three marriages, Gloria married Wyatt Emory Cooper and had two sons, Carter and Anderson Cooper who later became CNN commentator and head of Anderson Cooper 360. In 1979, Murjani Corporation marketed “Gloria Vanderbilt designer jeans” which propelled Gloria into the fashion industry becoming a noted icon. Ms. Vanderbilt was also a renowned author, painter, and actress.
I lag behind my exploration partner (who is always up for a historical journey), to take a picture of this beautiful and mind-numbing National Historic Site. The shutter clicks and the technological benefit of instant gratification enables me to see clearly the ridges in the columns that are aging well; the cracks not too visible. I feel as though I am there with the men who must have worked tirelessly on what could very well be considered an architectural masterpiece. I imagine Gloria standing next to me as a young girl and then as a young woman, happy to call this place home. I am jarred back to reality by my modern-day Lewis calling me to admire the scenery from a different angle. As I walk to where she is, I turn back and gasp at the regal beauty that emanates from this gigantic structure. I reach my friend and she points to the Hudson River, a naturally beautiful spectacle. I gaze out over the cliff to the water below and I acknowledge that not only are my surroundings breathtaking but hosts to history as well.
The Vanderbilt Mansion was completed in 1839, in Hyde Park, New York, home to other historical greats, Franklin D. Roosevelt being one of them. The mansion costing Mr. Vanderbilt $27,000 was the only house in Hyde Park that had electricity, relying on a hydroelectric power plant to function. Mr. Vanderbilt could have fancied himself an exceptional gardener; the lavish, Italian-style gardens being proof of his immense green thumb. Large, formal gardens were common fixtures of most estates during that time. Unfortunately, after his death, the gardens were no longer well kept. The flowers wilted and died and the life that once thrived within the garden was no longer apparent.
Today, the Vanderbilt Mansion has been affirmed as a National Historic Site and allows visitors to bask in its greatness; the mansion looking just as majestic as when it was first erected. The gardens have been revitalized by the F.W. Vanderbilt Garden Association and are looked upon with reverence by masses of people each day.
I have exhausted my poor camera, but it is ever faithful to me, still recording the jaw-dropping sites I have been fortunate to witness. I just cannot get enough of the Hudson River flowing peacefully below, the great weeping willow to my left, that if given the chance, could tell great stories of past family gatherings underneath its gentle branches, or the moderately sized guest house ahead of me that reflects the sun’s smiles. My eyes finally rest on the mansion, looming in front of me, so tall that I feel dizzy if I stare at it too long. Its large windows, glossy oak doors and the strong, sturdy columns that support the mansion are demonstrative of the family that frequented its hallways and that made history; a realization that helps a young woman ready to embark on her life’s journey prepare to create her own history. I walk away smiling…
“Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, there you long to return.”
- Leonardo da Vinci
Sources:
www.biography.com
www.biographybase.com
www.nps.gov
www.time.com
www.vanderbiltgarden.org
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