life as an alum

Life can be a hectic cycle of countless things to do.  One of the many things that I have managed to squeeze into that cycle is exercising.  It was one of those things I was pretty good at staying consistent. Unfortunately, when I wasn’t consistent I felt like I was about to pass out on the floor.  This was also the same day I found a gray hair.  I’m really young and it’s not the first gray hair I ever had to pluck to my dismay.  I think it was the fact that I felt old struggling through a workout and finding a gray hair just made me feel worse. 

Once I plucked that gray hair out of my head the next thought that came to my mind was the email the day before about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure being six weeks away.  I realized that I should be grateful that I have a gray hair to pluck because other women on chemotherapy would love to have that gray hair.  I was pumped to get back into shape and raise money for a good cause. My workouts were consistently challenging and I made sure to go for long walks.  My job helped me raise money easily and I even recruited a co-worker to join the IUPUI Kelley School of Business team. Our team raised a total of $1,680.00 out of our $1,000.00 goal!

The morning of the race was really cold.  I wished I had brought more layers or a thicker sweater, but I looked great in my pink gear.  I met up with Kelley School of Business team for the team photo and to pick up my official team shirt.  Angie passed me my team shirt and I noticed it was quite small.  They ordered youth sizes by accident.  Luckily, my co-worker needed a Kelley team shirt and could fit into mine. We took the team photo and split up into our mini teams.  My team of four found ourselves planning team costume ideas as we walked past pink wigs, hard hats, ninjas, and much more. 

The time went by so quickly and we decided to sprint the rest of the way there.  Our sprinting only began when we were near the camera for the jumbo screen and we wiped the fake sweat from our foreheads.  We finished proudly with team high fives and sought after food.  We were able to get some free snacks, win free stuff, and take an awesome picture.  Lastly, we ended our journey by eating a hot dog.  Good friends, good times, good food, and a great cause to make the perfect day!

Did you ever meet someone who was just absolutely professional but had the personality of an automated system? They are essentially getting the job done, but lack that human factor that involves making a connection. I have been fortunate enough to work with people who are professional and have a lot of personality. It is important to be able to be fun and enjoy what you do. There isn’t anything wrong with being effectively efficient and being able to tell a good joke. I am surrounded by the most fascinating people. Everyone is unique in way that brings something different to the company culture. 

One of the most exciting aspects of this company’s culture is the love of College basketball. I am a big fan of basketball and I felt like I struck gold when I started working for a company that loves basketball too. We had a day where we were allowed to wear our school colors and enjoy free food. There was no doubt that my area would be representing IU all the way. I declared some of my co-workers IU just by association. They were really cool about wearing IU instead. My boss went to Purdue and as a joke I have been bringing her a small gift each day, but they all have an Indiana University logo on it. She is really sweet about the gifts and kindly re-gifts them to an IU alum. Nevertheless, it is clearly evident that having a high level of professionalism doesn’t mean you have to lack in personality.

 

 

When people think of ice breakers, usually the thought that comes to mind is some sort of game or random topic to help make the formal atmosphere more relaxed. I started a new job a few weeks ago and like with any new job there is that moment where you make a connection with your new co-workers through some sort of ice breaker. I wish I could say that I spontaneously came up with this exciting topic that just drew everyone in, but that was not the case at all. In fact, I didn’t say anything; my IU Kelley School of Business water bottle did all the talking. The person who was training me looked over and was like “Oh, you went IU?” She got excited and told me she was IU alum as well and mentioned there were a few other recent IU alums that work with us. 

We all clicked right away thanks to my IU water bottle. There was definitely a sense of school pride amongst everyone. Who knew a simple gift of appreciation from the IU Kelley School of Business, Office of External Affairs would become my ice breaker. I was immediately at ease knowing I was surrounded by my fellow IU alumni. 

Coincidently, later that same day in the office kitchen, I ran into IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis alum that I had several classes with before. It took me a second to realize who she was, but I just decided to introduce myself right away and when she said her name it clicked. I remember she used to twirl her hair in class all the time.  She laughed as she admitted that she was very well-known for that habit.  It was quite exciting when I kept meeting all the IU alumni working at the same company. There was an instant bond based on the fact that we all attended the same University. 

 The seemingly insignificant became very significant  The water bottle that I just happened to leave at my desk and something so trivial that I remember about somebody I went to school with sparked conversation. People often forget that most of the time networking involves just the simplest icebreakers.  Meeting new people can be nerve wrecking sometimes, but remember not to over think it and let it be organic. Sometimes it is just that simple.

I have often found myself having the most exciting day. Then, as I said it out loud, I realized it wasn’t as interesting as I originally thought. I have come to the conclusion that I’m not the only one who has felt like that. I’ve noticed other people feel like they don’t have anything interesting to mention. I was talking to one of my best friends and asked her what she had been up to. She replied, “Oh nothing interesting, I guess. The usual.” Once I got her to give me a real answer I was wondering what her definition of boring was? I found what she had to say to be captivating because she was so fascinated with what she was talking about.

I wasn’t expecting her to say she spontaneously decided to sky dive, but if everyday was like an action movie it would be considered mundane to have the most exciting story to tell. What is wrong with the everyday things? If it were not for those days we wouldn’t enjoy those more “exciting” days. I guess it’s all about perspective. What might seem boring to you might be interesting to someone else. I think it is important to be able to tell your everyday life with excitement. I’m not saying to embellish because there are only so many ways you can make doing laundry sound exciting, but instead tell your story with confidence. If you have a good attitude about the “usual” it is amazing how refreshing it is for others to hear something from a positive outlook. 

Do you ever wonder how are you presenting yourself to others? I think it is crucial to be able to tell your story in a captivating way for the listener. You should never downplay yourself or your accomplishments. I’m not saying to be egocentric, but instead define and deliver your unique message. 

Everyone goofs up, even the perfectionists out there.  I remember hearing stories of goofing up interviews or work situations in my career planning class thinking, “That will never happen to me”, and I know I wasn’t the only one who thought that.  Now, all I can say is “guilty.”  You are going to make mistakes, but it’s how you handle them and what you learn from your mistakes that makes the difference.  I can proudly say, so far, I have not been inducted into the hall of shame for pressing the reply all on an email. 

Almost everyone has had a situation where you’re chatting with someone that remembers you but for some reason you cannot recall, in any section of your brain, what their name is, including me. When this happens, I try to get enough context clues to prompt my memory by the end of the conversation.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work.  To avoid this, I repeat names during the introduction process and try to use them as many times during the conversation as possible without seeming too obvious in memorization mode.  

I can recall a situation that happened to me awhile back that made me think “I’m going down the hall of fame for that one.”  I had a job opportunity that I was so excited about.  My confidence level was sky high until my first oops.  I was sent an email to meet at a particular café, but the way it was worded sounded like I was supposed to meet that next day.  I’m sitting at the café thinking great I’m here first I can mentally prep.  After awhile I called, and come to find out they didn’t mean that particular day.  I figured that I’ve been in the country too long to use the English is my second language excuse.  It wasn’t a big deal and they apologized for the confusion.  The actual meeting day got canceled and rescheduled at the same café.

On the day of the rescheduled meeting, I left work early so I would get there on time.   I was there, waiting, and thought maybe I kept missing them or maybe I heard the wrong name of the café. Then the worst oops happens.  We were both at the same café, but different locations.  It was pure miscommunication.  I called my mentor at the Kelley School of Business, Office of External Affairs, for advice and as usual she helped me with a good recovery strategy. Honestly, I felt embarrassed to call the person after such a big goof up like that, but I did what my mentor told me to do and as a result was given another chance.

I would love to tell you that it all worked out and I got that job, but I kept getting the runaround with cancellations and rescheduling. It just wasn’t meant to be and new opportunities opened up for me later on.  Luckily, I didn’t walk away empty handed.  I learned there is no shame in making a mistake, always make sure you triple check messages, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Lastly, remember anyone can end up being a goof up story for the career planning class.

Time just seems to slip away so quickly.  It was just yesterday I felt like I was transferring to the Kelley School of Business.  I can remember to writing about one of the most influential lessons I learned in life was the difference between being delayed and being denied.  I had plans to get an education, be successful, and make an impact.  The only issue was that life seems to get in the way of most people’s goals.  Every time I seemed to be heading in the right direction, there would be some type of road block.  The road blocks would change from readjusting to a new state, losing a job, financial, individual struggles, or just plain bad luck.  I would question whether I would ever reach any of my goals.

After completing an Associate of Science in Business Administration at Ivy Tech Community College in May 2008, I knew I wanted to go further in my education.  My delay in receiving a college education did not equal being denied.  It helped me learn to become a better problem solver, be more resourceful, and pursue my dreams no matter what the circumstance. I was able to take that lesson and get accepted to Kelley School of Business with a bright future ahead.

The concept of being delayed and not denied has recently been an influential lesson that I realized has even more significance in this stage of my life. I can tell you that sometimes in life you will feel like your being denied because you might have not gotten that dream job you worked so very hard for. The promises of a bright future might seem impossible, but remember that you’re not being denied the opportunity only delayed.  Maybe things aren’t going exactly as planned or you’re starting to doubt yourself.  Whatever your goals might be in life just remember being delayed does not equal being denied. You can and will reach your goals when the time is right.

I was catching up on my IUAA Chapter news and saw an email about donating blood. “Ouch, needles!” Donating blood was on my to-do list, but I haven’t quite gotten to it yet. As I read further down the email I saw a volunteer opportunity at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana with alumni and Indianapolis Public Schools students. I thought it was perfect. I had a chance to interact with IPS students, IU alumni, volunteer at a food warehouse, and get a killer workout! Who could ask for more?  I was so excited about the opportunity that my sister-in-law wanted to get in on the action too.

I arrived at Gleaners with my sister-in-law and met up with the other volunteers. We all had a chance to watch a video explaining the purpose of Gleaners and how the organization goes about helping to provide food for people in need. It is heartbreaking to think of a child contemplating a hungry weekend, or an elderly person who doesn’t have the means to get the food they need to survive. I was grateful that I had a chance to lend a hand.

The alumni had a chance to introduce themselves to the students. We had alumni from all different years and backgrounds. The students were so well-behaved and quite funny. They gathered food together to place in the boxes and alumni taped the boxes together to be placed on the pallets. We became fast and efficient in our process after some bumps along the way. Taping the boxes was not as easy as it sounded. I kept getting my tape jammed, got tape on my sweatshirt, got tape on my shoes, and eventually lost the battle with my tape roller altogether.  I decided to focus on the lifting instead.  

All of a sudden the warehouse got super hot. I was wondering if someone cranked up the heat. I realized that we were working so hard that everyone had broken a sweat. After the pallets were loaded we took group photos and found out that we completed 324 boxes in just a couple of hours. Everyone was ecstatic to find out how awesome we worked together and then it was pizza time! We had some delicious pizza and then said our goodbyes. All in all, we had fun, food, and made new friends. It was the best time ever.  

Sometimes, the weeks can seem like the same old routine over and over again.  It may become predictable, and then there are those days that feel like any other, until something different happens that makes you think, “Well I didn’t see that coming.”  Recently I had a day just like that. I had a million emails and so much to do.  One of the million emails was a message from a friend at the Kelley School of Business Office of External Affairs, notifying me about an opportunity to be a model for the new Glick Eye Institute and a chance to be “famous.”  The famous part was for humor, of course.  Since it was an opportunity outside of the everyday norm, I decided to say “yes!”  On the day of the photo shoot, I was also scheduled to participate in a panel discussion. I had two important randomly scheduled events on the same day.  Luckily, the schedule for each event allowed a short window for me to get from one to the other on the IUPUI campus.

I arrived at the Glick Eye Institute and it was absolutely beautiful.  It had the brand new car look and scent.  I took a quick tour of the building and met up with the photographers.  I arrived early and had to wait for the other models.  I had no idea who would show up and then, to my surprise, my fellow blogger Daisy arrived.  I was happy to know another participant in the photo shoot.  We were chatting and it came up how, on many occasions, people tell me I look familiar.  Daisy thought I was exaggerating when, not even five minutes later, one of the photographers said, “You look so familiar to me.  When you walked in I thought I should know who you are.”  Daisy laughed and I said, “I told you so.”  We discussed how there must be someone in the Indianapolis area that looks like me, or I must generally have a familiar face.  I’ve had multiple instances where people thought they knew me from somewhere, when in actuality it was our first encounter.

Immediately following the photo shoot I had to rush to the panel discussion at Kelley School of Business.  I forgot how crazy IUPUI traffic can be.  I rushed, within the speed limit of course, and ran through the gerbil tube on Michigan Street to get to the class where the panel discussion was taking place.  I was happy to see some familiar faces.  My fellow Young Alumni Council Indianapolis members were there and I felt calm as I tried to catch my breath while simultaneously introducing myself to the class.  The panel discussion went smoothly.  Everyone had something to contribute and I was so proud to be a part of it.  Walking back to my car I thought that having a familiar face isn’t so bad after all.  When I saw people that I knew it gave me a chance to be at ease.  I’m not sure if my case is just someone out there who looks similar, but as an alum I want to be familiar.  People feel like you’re approachable when you look familiar.  Whether you are a student or alum, you should want to be that person in a community, networking, or campus event that someone sees as a familiar face. 

 

I had the pleasure of attending my first blogger luncheon, where I got to meet some of my fellow bloggers in person.  It felt like the meeting of the minds. We brainstormed great ideas and I had a chance to get some advice.  I have to admit I drifted off a bit when they got a little too technical, but that happens.  All in all, being around the other bloggers was quite interesting.

Later that evening I attended a reception and meeting for the Young Alumni Council Indianapolis.  We were told to park inside the hotel parking garage.  This should have been an easy thing to do, but it turned out to be somewhat difficult.  I entered the parking garage of camouflaged doors.  Finding a space was easy, but finding a door that lead to the hotel was tricky.  I decided to park near a column and looked around to find a door. I saw that the column had a black door that said elevator.  It didn’t look real, but I grabbed the handle and suddenly someone stepped out very startled.  It was really funny because she was so surprised, but I was just happy to know it was a real elevator.

Once again, I had a chance to network and enjoy the company of council members, faculty, and staff.   I had a chance to catch up with some friends and meet some new faces.   The nacho bar was looking extremely tempting.  I’m bouncing around from group to group having the most interesting conversations when I was introduced to Jayme Little.  He is the Director of Alumni Programs and I thought for a second he had telepathy.   After the introductory part of our conversation, he said, “come on, join me at the nacho bar!”  I thought, “Ok, obviously he is a mind reader and this is a sign that I must go to the nacho bar”.   He was so fun to talk to and we both enjoyed the awesome nachos.

It can be intimidating when you’re trying to make conversation with new people, but it gets easier with practice.  If you are on the hunt for employment opportunities, and someone asks what you are up to, it is the perfect opportunity to let them know. It usually leads to “I know someone that can help you with that.”

After the council meeting, other council members were brainstorming where there are job openings and how to help me find what I’m looking for. I was appreciative of their efforts and the best thing that they said to me was “it’s not a problem because we are part of your Kelley network.”

Later that night I thought about what it meant to have a Kelley network. It is something we hear all the time while we are students and transitioning into becoming alumni but it was right there in front of me.  I contemplated on how my fellow council members were eager to take the time to figure out how they can assist me in my job search. I remembered the times I needed advice and I could make a quick phone call to Office of External Affairs or email someone at the Kelley School of Business Career Planning Office.  This is when I realized that this is what it means to be in a Kelley network.   All of these people are here to support me and I am ready to do the same for them.

I know many students and new alums can still feel shy or even intimidated at times when it comes to networking, but it is important to feel comfortable around your Kelley School of Business network. We are all here to support one another.  One simple connection brings so many people together and you shouldn’t be fearful of expanding your network.  Most of all remember to show your appreciation.  A simple thank you goes a long way. 

What does having a Kelley network really mean to you?

Finding your niche can be challenging whether you’re a student or an alum. I can recall being a student at  Kelley School of Business Indianapolis and wondering where I fit in.  It wasn’t until my senior year while working at my undergraduate business internship that I began  to feel close to the answer.  I felt like I was on this never ending quest to figure out exactly who I would be as a young professional.  No worries, it wasn’t a deep quest where I meditated for hours while fasting and backpacking through mountainous regions.  It was more like reflecting on encounters with people I met along the way.  One thing that stood out to me was how the memorable people have been the ones who took the time to simply spark a conversation, have lunch, tell a joke, and, of course, have a venting session.

If you’re still on that job hunt or not exactly where you want to be yet, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that it could always be worse.  One of the best things to do is to remember to have a sense of humor and take the time to reach out to others. Who doesn’t love a good laugh?  I can recall during the Kelley School of Business Back to Business Week at the end of our Snack Attack we were cleaning up and putting away the boxes.  Instead of breaking apart the boxes like a normal person I decided that everyone should karate chop them.  I wish I could say I had the best karate chopping skills, but the other volunteers were much better.  The point is that we had good laughs and made a normally insignificant moment, such as cleaning up, into a fun and memorable experience.

As an alum you continue to try to figure out where you can be most effective and how you can make the greatest impact.  The main thing to remember is that most of the time it doesn’t take much to make a meaningful impact on someone.  It might sound cliché, but it’s certainly true that one act of kindness can go a long way.  You don’t need to save someone out of a burning building, we have firefighters for that, but just take the time to listen.   Life can get pretty tough out there so remember to keep that sense of humor and make the best out of the encounters you have with people. 

 

Time is something you can never have too much of and as an alum you find out that it only gets more hectic.  Work life balance is hard to accomplish without trial and error.  There will be times when you have an “Oops was that today?” moment, even though you had already put in your schedule with several different reminders.  This may happen more frequently than you expected it to.  It almost feels like that time you had the crazy idea of taking six difficult classes in one semester. 

As a new alum life can feel a bit chaotic when it comes to balancing work, social life, family life, and more.   You might start to feel like you’re being pulled in multiple directions at once, but your time is truly valuable.  The best thing to do is take a step back and remember all the times someone took the time to do something for you or managed to fit something into their crazy schedule.  As a new alum your popularity instantly increases because you are needed at many events.  It’s important not to view these invites as another thing to add to your list, but opportunities to enjoy being around the people that helped you become the outstanding person you are today.  There is nothing better than reuniting with your Kelley School of Business team to do something fun for the community.

The 3^rd annual IUPUI Regatta is a great example of how much fun it is to participate in community events. The first two years of the IUPUI Regatta I was a student and it felt even better to come back as a Kelley School of Business alum, especially since the first year I didn’t know what a Regatta was.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I had to ask what a Regatta was because I knew I wasn’t the only one guilty of that “duh” moment.   Thanks to my undergraduate business internship I had a chance to find out what the Regatta was by participating in it, and of course my good buddy Google to make sure I knew what I had to prepare for.  

I’m not quite as brave as the faculty, students, and fellow alumni who race on the waters of the canal on a canoe, but I did get a chance to enjoy hosting the tent games.  This year was even more fun because Robert, a fellow member of the Kelley IndianapolisYoung Alumni Council, joined me to help make our clown toss game the most exciting and entertaining game ever.  Robert put his head against the clown toss board with a comical smile and conveniently caught bean sacks to help out those who might have missed.

It was quite a funny sight because sometimes Robert got hit with the bean sacks and other times there were other Kelley School of Business casualties getting hit from a poorly aimed toss.  We had two year-olds slam dunking bean sacks and adults challenging each other to the best toss.  Children were lining up to show the adults how to get it done. The Deans and faculty members were showing off their tossing skills.  Even the IUPUI mascot got in on the fun!  People of all ages enjoyed our game because we had so much energy and wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. At the end of my shift I had basically lost my voice from all the excitement of the game and the race.  

All in all, the time that I spent that Saturday was definitely worth it.  Yes, life can get extremely busy but it is always worth it to invest time in people.  I had a great time taking pictures with Alumni, supporting the teams, clown tossing, and most of all engaging in the community with my Kelley School of Business family.

You’re a graduate and officially an alum.  Now what?  The best case scenario is that you had a job prepared and waiting for you.  The realistic scenario is that you’re on the job hunt.   It will start to feel like a full-time job just to search and go through the interview process.  The interviewing can start to feel a little overwhelming at times.  It’s important to be prepared for the interview, and  ready to think on your feet.  The benefit of being a Kelley School of Business alum is now you’re part of a large and diverse group of professionals that have experience and have been where you are now. This is where networking can benefit you greatly.

 By the time you graduate you might have heard the term networking nearly a million times, but many people still don’t understand the idea.  It is not about loading a list of contacts and expecting them to give you a job like a magical genie.  It is about building and nurturing professional relationships.  This eventually helps build that top of mind awareness.   You want to be the person that first pops in someone’s mind when a job opportunity opens up.   The best thing you can do is attend events and have conversations with people.  

One of my funniest interviewing experiences was as a result of networking.  I got an email from my previous employer, who was told by someone in the developmental office, who was informed by a Kelley School of Business Indianapolis alum that their position would be open.  I was the first person that came to mind in the developmental office and the Kelley School of Business Career Planning Office when they were told about this newly open position.   I also met the person who would be leaving the company through one of the networking events on campus.  I truly felt like Kevin Bacon at that moment.

I immediately sent an email with my resume.  I received a call the next day for an interview.  I began doing research and was falling truly, madly, deeply in love with the company.  I checked out their Facebook page, companies they worked with, blog posts, and their website.  

Imagine you have found your dream job just to find something to be a major deal breaker.   Simple things people hardly think about can be an issue, such as having pets in the office.  For the very few who are not crazy about animals this would be a major curve ball.  What would be the probability of this happening?

I glance at one area of the company website that says must love dogs and tolerate cats.  I thought, “oh yes, I love that movie!”  Then my denial began to fade and I realized I would be joined by feline friends during the interview.  The average person would not find this to be an issue, but I was distraught by the idea.  I took some advice and decided to go for it.

I get to the interview, sit down, and think I’m doing great.  I immediately spot a cat and feel slight panic inside.  The other cat comes into the room walking near my bag and jumps onto the desk.  Normally, I would have given an uncomfortable fearful stare, but I mentally prepared myself to look calm.  The cats began to fight in the background and I’m thinking “what did I get myself into?”

Mr. Frisky cat got around my leg and bag again until the other interviewers walked in.  At that point I realized that if I could survive the awkwardness of witnessing a cat fight that my panel interview would be less intimidating.

Nevertheless, there will be a time when you really have to evaluate what is important to you.  There will be times when you realize that no matter how awesome the company is that the company culture may not be suitable for you in the long run.  

You finally made it to the other side! Your days of jammed packed schedules, juggling crazy jobs, and trying to squeeze in a few hours of sleep are over. You’re finally done with group projects, research, homework, undergraduate business internships, taking exams and the obligations of college. Then you realize that you still have to do all that stuff you were obligated to do anyways. Ironic isn’t it? No worries, life as an alum is so much more than what you did as a student, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves and focus on the first step to entering your new life as an alum.

You’re officially an alum when you graduate. I completed my coursework at Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, an accredited business school, in December 2010. My transition as an alum was slightly different than a May graduate due to the wait for the graduation ceremony. It was weird to have completed all of the requirements, but be in graduation limbo.

I’m not going to lie, I wanted to do back flips at the end of my last semester, but it still didn’t feel real to me. It didn’t begin to sink in until March when I got an email prompting me to order a cap and gown, and congratulating me on my degree completion. One of the most important emails a December graduate will receive lets you know your diploma is ready to be picked up. I was very excited to have proof of my hard work in hand, and ready to put it in my hall of fame (a.k.a. a frame in my living room).

I was so thrilled I could hardly wait to wear my cap and gown. It may have been the only time I didn’t mind looking like a penguin with a platter on my head. Parking was almost impossible to find and Commencement was crazy with multiple graduations and ceremonies simultaneously starting and ending while you look for your spot. The great part is you get to see everyone again.

All of the graduates are nervous, excited, and soon to be very hungry by the time you get to that moment. Yes, the moment you walk across the stage and get your diploma case. If you want the full experience of getting your name announced you had to go to your school ceremony right after. This is where the real reunion takes place and the Facebook graduation pictures are taken. You finally hear your name and get that rolled up paper symbolizing a diploma and a weight lifts off of you. The moment finally arrives when you say “Yes, I did it!”