I am so happy and honored to be an HMP minor.
There were obstacles in starting a minor during my senior year. Most people that I explained my dilemmas to would simply say "well, you tried!" as if I would ever give up something I felt strongly about. I am the type of person that will skip sleep altogether, work 5x harder than others, and do what I need to do to get where I want to be. Giving up was not on my radar. I was currently taking 2 HMP courses. I only realized the extent of my struggles to get this minor once the time and room schedule for spring semester was released. HMP 721 was not on the roster to be taught, a crucial course for the minor. Additionally, I had heard that my financial management course at Paul would satisfy one of the minor courses, though I had a hard time confirming that with anyone. There is no system for tracking minors within UNH, or specifically within the HMP department, which is a good reason for the lack of advising/communication available to minors. I met with a professor, who suggested I send an email, that landed me in the office of the director of undergrad studies for HMP at 8am on a Monday in November. I came prepared with several alternate courses at other institutions to satisfy the 721 credit and a plan to take 401 during J-term.
His advice and the joint approval from he and Dr. Bonica led to me taking an online Northeastern course for 8 weeks starting mid January, and both 401 and 722 during spring semester. It was a whirlwind of an 8 week stint between my courseload at UNH, a 16 week course condensed into 8 at Northeastern (trust me, corners were not cut), and a job. I think I am better for this experience. One of my comments at the end of my NEU course was that the material was bountiful, the expectations were high, the deadlines were often, but I proved to myself I could do it, and I learned more than ever along the way. If I had heard ahead of time how difficult and strenuous that class would be, I may have doubted my abilities. I gave it a go because I believe I can rise to the occasion. I never considered giving up, and I feel incredibly proud to be finishing my time here with such a great minor.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Monday, April 24, 2017
Class 4/14- Colleen, David
During today's class, Colleen and David spoke about leadership effectiveness, styles, and crisis leadership (PR standpoint). For pre-work, we were asked to read and article and take a quiz. The quiz asks a series of relevant and irrelevant questions and preferences. After taking the quiz, I received the label of "authoritarian" which I find to be a negative term. Yes, I like rules and I certainly follow them and feel more comfortable with them for myself, but I do not impose on others or create and enforce them.
Onto the presentation- it was fantastic. There were great examples from all ends of the spectrum, health, government, and business. There was an awesome interactive activity modeled after UMich that allowed us to deal with PR scandals and devise a plans for an abusive healthcare beneficiary.
One of the first few slides gave me the great advice and ensured that I am on the right path in my style. The slide basically read, "Don't allow emotions to get in the way. Don't take things personally. Keep a positive mental attitude." Keeping my emotions at bay is a common theme for me. My mentor at my internship this past summer applauded me for this skill. It was also a theme when I took the emotional intelligence quiz from earlier this semester. I do, however, take some things personally in the workplace. If anyone has suggestions for how to keep my personal feelings from being hurt- even though I don't let it show or affect my work- please let me know! Thanks!
Onto the presentation- it was fantastic. There were great examples from all ends of the spectrum, health, government, and business. There was an awesome interactive activity modeled after UMich that allowed us to deal with PR scandals and devise a plans for an abusive healthcare beneficiary.
One of the first few slides gave me the great advice and ensured that I am on the right path in my style. The slide basically read, "Don't allow emotions to get in the way. Don't take things personally. Keep a positive mental attitude." Keeping my emotions at bay is a common theme for me. My mentor at my internship this past summer applauded me for this skill. It was also a theme when I took the emotional intelligence quiz from earlier this semester. I do, however, take some things personally in the workplace. If anyone has suggestions for how to keep my personal feelings from being hurt- even though I don't let it show or affect my work- please let me know! Thanks!
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Religion in the Workplace, Vicki Wilmarth
At the beginning on my Women in Business meeting today, I was asked by the vice president if I will be going home this weekend. I was asked along with another girl that confirmed she will be traveling home. For a quick moment, I wondered why I would be going home- and why she would ask me. Within about two seconds I made the connection, Easter. I happily informed her that I am Jewish and was home Tuesday and Wednesday for Passover. Although this happens to me a lot, the holiday crept up quietly for me. This semester is incredibly busy and filled with memorable days.
Religious assumptions are everywhere. I know that 75% of Americans reported being Christian in 2000. So, yeah, maybe its a safe bet. As I go into the workforce, however, I think it is a bet not worth making. Vicki Wilmarth agrees, "Just assuming that all of your employees believe the way that you believe is naive and could be legally costly." (2008) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects me from discrimination and harassment in the workplace for religious reasons.
In this same article by Wilmarth, she outlines several rules to live by when it comes to religion in the workplace. My favorite point is the first, "While it is important that you find out if your employees have religious issues affecting their jobs, don't try to engage them in a theological debate or reform their religious views." I appreciate that point because often times I am questioned for my beliefs. The situation or audience dictates what I share. Sometimes I bypass a religion conversation altogether by just agreeing or staying quiet. I certainly do not openly share that I am Jewish to everyone. When it comes from friends, I usually know that they mean no offense. Especially in NH, not many students know Jews. In fact, I have been the first for many. I find it a mitzvah to educate the uninformed about the religion (I know it is an easy one to hate) although sometimes I get tired or fed up by those who only question and won't listen. I have not yet decided how much I will share in the workplace after graduation. Please do not interpret this as shame or embarrassment, I simply don't want to wonder (or be told) how everyone around me feels about it.
Religious assumptions are everywhere. I know that 75% of Americans reported being Christian in 2000. So, yeah, maybe its a safe bet. As I go into the workforce, however, I think it is a bet not worth making. Vicki Wilmarth agrees, "Just assuming that all of your employees believe the way that you believe is naive and could be legally costly." (2008) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects me from discrimination and harassment in the workplace for religious reasons.
In this same article by Wilmarth, she outlines several rules to live by when it comes to religion in the workplace. My favorite point is the first, "While it is important that you find out if your employees have religious issues affecting their jobs, don't try to engage them in a theological debate or reform their religious views." I appreciate that point because often times I am questioned for my beliefs. The situation or audience dictates what I share. Sometimes I bypass a religion conversation altogether by just agreeing or staying quiet. I certainly do not openly share that I am Jewish to everyone. When it comes from friends, I usually know that they mean no offense. Especially in NH, not many students know Jews. In fact, I have been the first for many. I find it a mitzvah to educate the uninformed about the religion (I know it is an easy one to hate) although sometimes I get tired or fed up by those who only question and won't listen. I have not yet decided how much I will share in the workplace after graduation. Please do not interpret this as shame or embarrassment, I simply don't want to wonder (or be told) how everyone around me feels about it.
The Other Side of Difficult Conversations
During Monday's class we were able to have a guest lecturer, Chris Armijo, via Skype call. The technology was surprisingly cooperative, which was a relief following Professor Bonica's difficulty in technical presence during his conference.
Major Armijo spent a majority of his time explaining his experiences and how he got to where he is. His stories were interesting, his journey through the reserves and then active duty were not typical.
Towards the end of the class he was addressing the topics outlined ahead of time. He was discussing difficult conversations, many points that Kyle and I had made last week, when I was able to ask a question that I have been wondering about since my last job and our presentation. Kyle and I felt it was more inline with the class to discuss things from the manager's perspective but I had questions about difficult conversations initiated by the junior employee. Major Armijo stressed the importance of being prepared. Having data, stories, and a concrete plan going forward is very important. He explained that if we are looking for a specific outcome, we need to voice that, otherwise we are leaving it up to the manager to guess what we want.
During our presentation we discussed the importance of having a plan in mind before beginning the conversation. Major Armijo explained that it is important regardless of the initiator.
Major Armijo spent a majority of his time explaining his experiences and how he got to where he is. His stories were interesting, his journey through the reserves and then active duty were not typical.
Towards the end of the class he was addressing the topics outlined ahead of time. He was discussing difficult conversations, many points that Kyle and I had made last week, when I was able to ask a question that I have been wondering about since my last job and our presentation. Kyle and I felt it was more inline with the class to discuss things from the manager's perspective but I had questions about difficult conversations initiated by the junior employee. Major Armijo stressed the importance of being prepared. Having data, stories, and a concrete plan going forward is very important. He explained that if we are looking for a specific outcome, we need to voice that, otherwise we are leaving it up to the manager to guess what we want.
During our presentation we discussed the importance of having a plan in mind before beginning the conversation. Major Armijo explained that it is important regardless of the initiator.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Communication and Follow Through
The importance of communication, follow through, and understanding that all people will come back into your life is increasingly important as I go through this semester. I am currently on my third run-in within the past 3 months with having to deal with previous mistakes I've made in relationship cultivation and maintenance. None are crazy bad, I don't actively ruin friendships etc but I have a bad reputation with responding. I have always had this issue, I don't know where it stems from. Whether it was before freshman year when trying to find a roommate ahead of move in, or back in high school when friends expected more effort on my end, "ghosting" my way through life has been easy. Now, that girl from before freshman year is the president of the business organization I am in and the friend from back in high school is a connection my current best friend is hoping I can make for an event she is hosting later in the month. Why am I so poor at responding? Sure, ending friendships is fine, but ending them poorly or with no reasoning/explanation is immature and ultimately bad for my adult self.
Improved response time has been my revolution every new years since 2015. Have I gotten better? Definitely, kinda. It really depends on the situation. Time sensitive? Absolutely. Not important in my book or theirs? Not so much. My biggest motivator is knowing the weight I feel on my shoulders knowing that I still need to respond to someone. Considering I am doing better, it is disappointing to now be dealing with previous poor performance in this category.
Improved response time has been my revolution every new years since 2015. Have I gotten better? Definitely, kinda. It really depends on the situation. Time sensitive? Absolutely. Not important in my book or theirs? Not so much. My biggest motivator is knowing the weight I feel on my shoulders knowing that I still need to respond to someone. Considering I am doing better, it is disappointing to now be dealing with previous poor performance in this category.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
First Week of April!!
How the time has flied. Only six weeks until graduation, yikes. This week has already proved busy, further postponing my ideas of 'senior slump' or 'senior spring'. Kyle and I presented on Monday, I had an exam this morning, a paper worth an exam grade is due tomorrow, followed by my mid semester evaluation for this class. The weather today also postponed my excitement for spring, although 70 degrees early next week is keeping me going.
I want to write about Kyle's and my presentation given this past Monday. Contrary to how we presented (many laughs on my end), I had a migraine and Kyle was on his last leg of a cold. Weirdly enough, the class was kind of a blur for me. Kyle and I are getting together soon to work on the primer chapter and hopefully he can fill in some of the gaps in my memory. I know I was pleased with our performance, especially considering our respective ailments. I am sure I was chugging water the whole time, something that probably hindered my professionalism during the presentation, sorry!
I want to write about Kyle's and my presentation given this past Monday. Contrary to how we presented (many laughs on my end), I had a migraine and Kyle was on his last leg of a cold. Weirdly enough, the class was kind of a blur for me. Kyle and I are getting together soon to work on the primer chapter and hopefully he can fill in some of the gaps in my memory. I know I was pleased with our performance, especially considering our respective ailments. I am sure I was chugging water the whole time, something that probably hindered my professionalism during the presentation, sorry!
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