JamieatGMU

It just gets more and more like a tv show everyday. After a very sleepy presentation by Chuck Todd, I introduced Dean Flagal and we heard a wicked funny presentation about college admissions.

We then made a brief stop at the mall where we used our food vouchers to get whatever. I didn’t end up spending any money… minus the smoothie I was dying for… because I decided I want some GMU clothing to take back home.

The worst part of the day was at the Capitol. We waited forever to go on our tour and one of the leader-ladies was so rude and pushy and talked to us like we were five-year-old morons. The tour was brief, rushed, crowded, the guide was not loud enough, and overall just not worth the wait at all. To top it off we then had to wait forever to leave the building and couldn’t sit down. We finally got to leave, but to our surprise it was just to wait some more to get a group photo done when the entire group wasn’t even ready yet. awesome.

One of the more interesting things of the day made headlines: the Capitol shooting. It’s crazy to think it happened only an hour after we had finally departed the grounds.

We preceded back to campus… heard a boring speaker (excellent nap opportunity)… and then got to go hangout or attend a media related workshop. Already having experience in how broadcasting works, I opted to go with my group and actually learn journalism… what a concept. Lauren went over some basics and helped us prep for our press conference tomorrow by helping us formulate topics to discuss and to overall understand what it entails.

Highlight of the day… DANCE PARTY. After Lauren’s lesson we partied it up with Zac’s tunes and mad candy. We then took the party to the area between the dorms and I busted it out. Kate captured it all on video so I can’t wait to see those get posted. Definantly a good end to the day and a great prep for tomorrow’s gala…

G’nightt

So… today was a wicked good day, even if we did have to get on the bus mad early. The discussion at the National Press Club was the best we had seen yet. All for of the guys actually discussed why we’re here… new media. We’ve heard the same thing over and over but this was actually fresh and current… the way a journalist should be talking. It’s all in the present and future… not the past. All four of the panelists we’re extremely informative and interesting to listen to! Definantly a nice change :]

The museaum tour-age was neat because I’ve never seen any of it before. I saw the Hope Diamond, Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, First Lady Gowns, and so much more. It was really fascinating except for the Air and Space Museum. My friends and I were completely uninterested… so we sat in McDonalds for that one… stuck french fries in Kris’ ears.. checked out the “scenery”. it was all good.

While we were waiting for the bus this man started to talk to us all sitting on the side walk. It was a little odd he was just carrying on about stuff. Turns out he was trying to ask for money and that really pissed me off. I hate people who claim to be out of work and collect change. There are always minimum wage jobs available and an unemployment office to visit.

At the Arlington GMU campus we had some dinner… it seems the same food keeps popping up in different forms… good thing all I like to eat is salad and desert anyways. After dinner we all divided up into to seperate groups to listen to speakers who play different roles in the industry. My speaker is a movie critic for a local talkshow as well as Fox TV. He graduated from Mason and was so incredible. He’s only in his twenties… has a pretty successful career considering he’s doing what he loves, and actually explained the ins and outs of radio. I really didn’t know much about radio, granted I’m not completely clueless to it. He explained everything we needed to know about breaking in to the business, understanding what we need to do, what he does, and how to keep it fresh. Most of what he said about radio and talking on his show can be applied to any aspect of the journalism field. I was actually mad the session had to end, that’s how much I enjoyed it. From what I hear though, all of the speakers were phenominal which kind of sucks that we had to sit through that awful journalist monday morning, yet we all missed out on three extremely informative and interesting individuals.

The night D.C. tour was also great. It’s so cool to see all the monuments and hear about all the history in our capital. The bus driver/ tour guide was so well-informed. I was really impressed by all the little facts and details he knew about all the different things there are to see in Washington.

Granted by 11 p.m. I’m now exhausted, today was the best day so far.

So today was even better. It started off a little rough… the guest speaker was not so great. It was really boring but kind of entertaining because the people in the row in front of us were taking “notes” with their netbook… but really the only thing they were doing was taking pictures with the webcam.

After that we did a kind of boring/ confusing simulation lab thing but then headed to the Newseum. It was awesome. The only negative thing I’d have to say about it was that we didn’t have enough time in it to possibly get an overview of everything. We got some great photo-ops of the Capitol. There were also some really neat exhibits ranging from topics like 911, Obama, White House Dogs, The Berlin Wall, Pulitzer Prize Photography, to criminals. It was all really neat… especially the gift shop. Obama bobble head dolls and finger puppets… what’s not to love?

After dinner we heard from a panel of political journalists, PR people, and teachers. One of the panelists is a journalism professor here at George Mason and was incredibly knowledgeable in my opinion. He was definantly fast on feet to think of responses and with his vareity of experiences within the field, I really felt like I could trust his information.

It was also really nice to briefly de-brief tonight. I got the opportunity to actually go to the convenience store, pick up a coke and some batteries, and sit outside with my friends. We goofed around and met a new friend with an awesome Southern accent and avoided my stalker?… yeah….

So besides the fact that it took me forever to figure out how to actually blog, I think I might become addicted. It seems like a really awesome way to express yourself and get your opinions in writing, even if no one will ever read them.

My first day here was a little strange but I know I’ll adjust easily. On the plane I sat next to a girl heading to the conference from Rhode Island so that was pretty cool to already know someone before arrival. The day was a little slow going with the 5 hours for arrival times but it turned out to be a good day.

We heard from the creator of C-Span who was really interesting and cool. I just wished he talked about his involvment with the media and such more than ours. But I guess it’s good to hear from everyone else here too. I realzied there are alot of kids here who know exactly what they want in the field but also plenty like me who have no clue.

I really like my advisor, she’s really down to earth. My roommates are also pretty chill except for one. One is a little on the strange side with Twilight and all that obsessional crap but it’s all good I suppose.

But yeah all the stuff they have planned is really cool… I’m really exciting for it all! It’s going to be long and packed days but I’m pumped for the experience and outcome.

I’ve attended Salem High School for my entire high school career. I am very involved in school: varsity field hockey, National Honor Society, Class Council, Student Council, and Video Yearbook. In the past I have worked on the school’s print yearbook and have also written forone of  the school’s paper. This coming year I am very excited to be the Producer of my school’s video yearbook.

Outside of school I also try to stay very involved. I have sung in a local choir for several years now. I also actively donate blood and do various other charitable works. One of the more interesting things about me is that I own my own business: Divalicious Designs. I “embellish” flip-flops and sell them at a local botique in town as well as at local craft fairs and to family and friends. It was really cool to be offered to have my designs carried at the store and even cooler when my town’s newspaper picked up the story.

I have such a wide variety of interests that it has been impossible for me to really nail down what I want for my future. I have gone from wanting to be President to a carpenter to broadcast journalist. My main career concentrations are ever-changing but throughout the past year they have all stemmed around media and advertising and such. Even so, I have always wanted to go into the Peace Corps and that’s the point I’m focusing on in my life right now.

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