IT’S OFFICIAL: I AM ONE STEP CLOSER TO MY DREAM OF MICHAEL PROPPE BEING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES COMING TRUE!!!!!!!
Had to make this tumblr official because in all seriousness I am SO happy and excited that my buddy Michael Proppe is running for president of University of Michigan CSG with youMICH. This usually isn’t my thing to get involved with student government elections but hear me out: NO ONE DESERVES IT MORE AND NO ONE WILL DO A BETTER JOB THAN MICHAEL PROPPE.
Easily the most likable person I know; easily the most reliable, hard-working and trustworthy person I know. If I’m going to let anyone be the student leader of the BEST school in the country, it’s going to be Proppe.
This is hands down easiest and best choice I’ll make: I’m voting for Michael Proppe for President, Bobby Dishell for Vice President and the rest of youMICH on March 27-28! And you know what? You should too :) Because ya know… it’s all about YOU.
PROPPE&BOBBY2013, LEGGO.
Interviewing and recruiting is officially over for me, and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved. I’m excited for a summer in Cincinnati because I know being with Procter & Gamble will be an incredible experience, and I worked so hard to get there.
Throughout these last few months and recruiting season, I learned two things: I keep cool and I keep it real.
Keeping Cool
I didn’t really realize this until someone pointed it out to me a week ago but I’ve been surprisingly calm during all of the recruiting process. I’ve felt stressed, sure, but haven’t lost my cool and have been relatively relaxed. I knew what I wanted, I set my goals, I prepared myself early and I took the steps to get feedback from friends and Career Services for interviewing. I only missed class once and that was just Monday in Milwaukee, so I was never stressed about catching up. I made sure I knew my priorities, which I think helped me calm down. And everyone I met who I made a good connection with made me comfortable and allowed me to be myself.
It helped not talking too much about recruiting during recruiting. I was unfazed about competition and really just concentrated on getting myself through instead of worrying about if others would get through too. I figured the company knew best who would fit with them and so if I didn’t make a cut, it just wasn’t meant to be. I also was selective about what I applied to. I think in total, I ended up being picky and only applying to 5 places, two of which were my absolute top choices and were the two I stuck with till the very end. With that, I was able to concentrate on just those 5, know about the companies, and have a rather flexible schedule during interviewing.
Keeping It Real
I’ve never been the girl to fake it to make it. The “networking” definition from the business school mentality is schmoozing to get a job. And that is just so uncomfortable for me. I’ve always dreaded it, it’s awkward, and I hate it. Instead, I value real relationships and not wanting to know someone just because they could get you a job.
I found that throughout the process, I was genuine when I wanted to get to meet the recruiters and employees, sincere in wanting to hear their stories and I got comfortable with a few people that I made real and great relationships with. Those people were so earnest and incredible to me that I’m humbled that they took so much time out of their days to get to know me as well. I appreciated all the feedback I was given, and it was great because with the companies I pursued, I felt completely at ease in interviews, lunches, dinners, and corporate visits with those people.
I also tried to be as honest as I possibly could through the process with not only others, but myself. I originally had 2 top choices and after the corporate presentation to one, I was shocked and found I didn’t like them. It was a weird moment because originally I had really felt like I wanted to work for them but with the vibe I got from the company, I really couldn’t see myself there. And with that, I kept an open mind for other companies that ended up climbing the ranks and made me really appreciate the corporate culture of places I probably wouldn’t have thought about working at before. I ended up gaining so much more respect to those companies, one of which replaced the other one I didn’t like as one of my top choices.
And at the end of the process, I needed to be honest with myself and others on making a final decision. Again, I’ve never been one to fake it and leading someone on is also not the way I operate. As said before, there were 5 I applied for, but only two that I really wanted. Once I got an offer from a top choice, I bowed out gracefully from the process for 3 of them so that in the chance I was going to get an offer from them, they could give it to someone else. And in the end, it was between my top two who were both great and incredible companies. But I had to be honest with myself and made a really really really tough decision that I’m pretty sure I teared up about because I just knew how difficult it was going to be to turn it down. I just knew in my gut that one of them would be a better fit for me and so I decided to go full force and go with it. It was so so so exciting finally making a decision but also a little nerve-wrecking as I had to turn the other down. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do to tell my decision to people I so respected and developed great relationships with. But I think I handled it the best I could have, I haven’t burnt any bridges (which I am so relieved about) and I think I matured because of the experience.
Looking back, I don’t think I would change anything I did through these last few months. I got to meet some incredible people, learn about amazing companies, find out what I wanted and didn’t want, got to eat great food (just kidding…but actually the food was GREAT), but most importantly, I’m so incredibly happy with my decision and really excited for what the summer has in store for me at P&G! It’s great to see that hard work really does pay off and that mentality will move on through the summer as I know I’ll have to work even harder in Cincinnati.
So if there’s any advice I could give to my sophomore buddies who will be going through this process next year or anyone else going through an internship search… keep your cool and keep it real.
Maybe it’s just a bad memory but I can’t ever remember a football game that we’ve lost with under 30 seconds remaining on the clock. As a student that is.
We have been so fortunate to always be on the other side. Think Illinois 2010 where we went into triple OT just to win that crazy game. And who can forget Notre Dame 2011 where Roy Roundtree caught the game winning touchdown with just 8 seconds remaining on the clock. Even this year with the field goal to win MSU and the score to bring us into OT against Northwestern. We have always been on the winning side. The happy side. The “HAHA man would it suck to be them” side.
But now, I know what it feels like. Truly. To think you had it and then just watch it crumble. Like Illinois, Notre Dame, MSU and Northwestern felt. Crushing. It really was.
I usually can watch SportsCenter after a loss of ours. Yes I feel bitter but it’s not too bad. Today I couldn’t. I didn’t want to see the highlights or the top plays. It was just too sad for me.
It’s weird being on this side but I guess not everything always goes your way. You really can’t win them all. But I am thrilled at how they played against the SEC. I am so honored, proud and thrilled that I have gotten to witness so many times the unbelievable efforts of Denard Robinson, Roy Roundtree, Jordan Kovacs and all the other seniors of Team 133. They have made my college experience so much better. Through those crazy “Curse you Denard for almost giving me a heart attack!” moments to those where we just dominate another team, I can’t thank them enough for being great leaders, and being classy on and off the field.
How lucky were we to have guys like them?
I wish the Team 133 seniors the absolute best in their future endeavors. Leaders & Best. Go Blue and Beyond.
Junior year has now come into full swing. It has come with finally getting to take classes I’ve been waiting for since first day of freshmen year, the reuniting of some very peppy and hilarious Michigan interns, new work and a ridiculous amount of studying. I am doing my best not to blurt out to my marketing professor out of the blue one day about how madly in love I am with his personality… although if I did I’m quite sure everyone else and their mother would agree that he is hands down the best. So very great that if he somehow stumbles upon this, I won’t even be embarrassed. I am also trying my very hardest not to absolutely hate finance with all my heart. I keep reminding myself each day that someday and somewhere I will use this even though that reminder is becoming more and more sarcastic each day…
Regardless, it has been a great trip so far and I’m looking forward to many more weeks of stress but with breaks of football, hockey and basketball scattered through them to keep me sane.
However, there is one big thing about junior year that has been an eye-opener. I have always been the girl that yearns for advice from those above me, more knowledgeable than I and more experienced as well. And anyone that knows me well enough knows how much I appreciate, respect and adore the people who have given me advice and I look up to a select few as role models. But the scary thing is…the tables have turned. I’m now the advice giver. More than any other year, I have now been thrown in situations where more and more people are asking for my advice. MY ADVICE. What in the world?! And it’s from all different people too. From those younger, to those experienced few that I had sought advice from….are now asking my opinions on important matters or what my experience in -insert whatever here- is and what they should do to improve in that area. It is honestly a daunting task and I’ve never really been one to consider myself an expert in anything. Sure, I’m good at certain things but I’ve always known that there are things I can learn in the area to be even more knowledgeable. I’ve been giving people advice on social media. What classes to take. What classes not to take. How to deal with stress. How to network. How to make the most of something. The list goes on. It’s a very strange position. What makes me so credible? I don’t even know the answer to that one. But I honestly thing I am and always will be someone who is more than willing to help out in any way I can. It is because I’ve been given incredible help and advice over the years that the LEAST I could do is help someone else…am I right?
I’ve been given incredible opportunities and been able to learn more than I ever thought from the people I sought advice from. It’s my time to give back. Upperclassman status is the real deal, my friends. Time to be the giver.
I’ve always thought myself lucky to have formed really really good relationships with my high school teachers. To the point where I’m still very well-connected with many of them, update them with my life and I visit the high school every time I’m home. I have some awesome role models in them. From opening doors for me, to making me love subjects I thought I never would, to even challenging me to have the drive to go further than I thought I could, they’ve done it all.
So visiting the high school to me is always a treat because I get to hear their stories about how loud and crazy their classes are or how brilliant and successful others are. It’s cool going back to my roots and seeing where I really consider my career aspirations started. It’s also so strange to see high schoolers; they’re so little! Really proud of the seniors though. Can’t wait for the new Wolverines to come to Michigan. Can you believe it? Class of 2016? What the hell? Where has time gone?
It’s also great to hear about my teachers’ stories about how they are doing. This is a tough economy as everyone knows and unfortunately, it has hit our education system so far. See the picture above? I actually worry about that. It’s unfortunate because teachers are really the hardest workers. At least my teachers were. They, like above, should be paid like doctors…or investment bankers. It’s not just about math or reading; a good teacher installs more than just that. I’ve learned so much more about life lessons, have great role models, and have had doors opened for me because of them.
But they’re staying strong, even through this hard times, and that’s great to see. You know you’re passionate about something when you can push through obstacles like they have. Teachers deserve the world, they really do.
Man oh man, time flies. And yes, I’m a bit nostalgic about high school but I remember how much happier I am in college.
My birthday isn’t for a while but every time birthdays come around, there’s always at least one person that says, “Do you feel any older?” And usually, my answer is “No, not really.” But I think, when my birthday comes, I’ll say, “Yes,” this year.
Not “old” in the sense that I’m getting wrinkly and am losing my hearing.
More “old” in the sense that I can honestly say that I think I’ve grown to be a better person in the last year, maturing, and also learning so much about myself.
Finished up with my Sophomore year in college, I think it’s a good time to reflect. This year was filled with so many different things. My freshman year of college, I came in not knowing what to expect, getting a taste of what it was like to fail, realizing that things just don’t come to you and that you have to go get it. I found that classes weren’t a breeze like they were in high school and how the “real world” was actually only a few years away.
With all that in mind, this sophomore year was a huge progression. This year, I feel like I’ve figured out more about myself. And here’s how I’ve grown up.
Thoughts and prayers to Joe Paterno, his family and our friends at Penn State. Tonight, We Are.
