Latte News

Job Hunting....

Grace allen — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:00:43 GMT

Okay so it has really been a long time since I last wrote. Since graduating from college, I have tried to find a good job, help my parents with reconstruction of our house, and prepare for my brother's wedding. Sadly I have had little time to focus on writing...

So here's the most exciting news: I got a new job! Due to the difficulty in finding a good, secure job, I have spent the last six months applying and interviewing with many businesses. The search was painstaking and discouraging. But in the end it was worth it all. Why? Because of the things I learned...

1. Dress your best! (First impressions are important to securing a good job)

2. Follow up (Re-turning potential employers' phone calls promptly is important. It is important to show them that you are serious and really want the job.)

3. Believe that you can do the job! (Lack of confidence is evident to your interviewers)

4. Network (Securing a good job is helpful when you know people within the company. Get to know people and don't be afraid to sell yourself!)

5. Follow through (Remember all the positive qualities you promised during the interview? Follow through and be your company's best employee.)

A Change in Life

Grace allen — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:30:39 GMT

Most high schoolers have no idea what to study in college. So it is no surprise that many experiment with future careers during their first year. But what about college graduates? How many actually graduate only to turn around and get a new degree?

Well this is my newest dilemma. For the last three years I have strived for my college graduation with the hopes of going into the work force to live out my newly achieved degree. But now, I scan all the catalogs of near by colleges in hopes of earning another degree. How crazy is this?

I spent hours upon hours studying faithfully, while inwardly trying not to think about my future. I thought I loved my degree. I thought that it was what I wanted to do. But I was wrong. I did not truly love my degree in Communication Disorders. It only took a few conversations for me to see my real desire. What was that desire? Nursing. I have a desire to be a Nurse. Although it is not a major change but it is definitely different from what I had done.

So here I go - on to my changed life and new career.

College & Reality

Grace allen — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:32:43 GMT

As if college isn't stressful enough, we are given exams. Not just exams, but cumulative exams. Ones that cover the entire semester. So admittedly, it doesn't sound too bad, but wait these tests cover only four days! Okay, that is totally wrong.

Many college students spend the entire semester with little sleep, little social life and too much schoolwork. Anyway, here I am trying to resurrect grades, finish projects, and pack. Of course, I figured that many of my class grades are set for the semester so I probably won't study as hard as I should. Honestly, if my grade is a solid letter grade, then failing the exam isn't going to change it. So why study?

Anyway, there are only four days left of my undergraduate years. I cannot believe where the time has gone! It seems like only yesterday I was looking forward to graduating from high school. The years spent in planning what I would be like or where I'd be after high school seem so pointless now. They were wasted when I could have been spending them on more profitable things like community service, etc.

I guess I would encourage others to focus on what is important here and now. Yes, plan for the future, but make sure it is obtainable and realistic goals.

My Family

Grace allen — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:44:39 GMT

With the Christmas holiday right around the corner, I dash between classes hoping to finish with my sanity. I have only one full week of classes left before exams. Most students are trying to decide how to organize their final projects, which exams to study for, and when to leave for Christmas break, but me...my mind is on my family.

Right now I am writing a paper about my history, so I have spent some time researching my family. I must admit, I have always enjoyed my family history, but write a paper on it? My mind is too stretched to stretch anymore. If only my teacher could see this. But on the bright side, I have learned more about my family that I believe I have ever known. It is full of intrigue, romance, and sadness. Such a great basis for a story! But alas' I am off the topic again.

The topic: My Family History. As I delved into my history, I discovered that my great-grandfather was an indentured servant from Italy. To think that I am so close to "slavery" [so to speak]. The debt was paid off. My dad grew up within a close-knit Italian-American ethnic group. My mom, on the other hand, had not. She moved quite a few times in her childhood. A close-knit community like my dad had grown up in was foreign to her.

I grew up close to my extended yet limited extended family. I did not see them very often, but we were within several hours of each other. Then everyone grew up and moved away. Now I have three siblings in different states far from home. With the changing times, this is no surprise. Travel, communication, and society has made it all easier to move far from family while still keeping in touch.

Overall this paper has made me more appreciative, understanding, and knowledgeable about my family and "the times" than before. I will admit that even though this paper has been stressful, it has been beneficial. I will always be grateful to my teacher.

College

Grace allen — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:00:31 GMT

As the hourglass of my college life is quickly slipping away, I realize how much I am going to be glad I am gone, but miss it at the same time. Such torn feelings surround my heart as my college professors talk about our upcoming finals.

With less than a month, I want to quickly share what I have learned from my experience. Here are a few lessons I have learned:

1. Sharing a room with several other girls can be traumatic.

2. College guys are not all they appear (this is to the High school girls).

3. Phone bills go up quickly so get a good phone plan prior to leaving for college.

4. Never procrastinate!

5. Set several alarms in case you are in the habit of missing the first two. :-)

College is not something to be feared, but looked forward to. So prepare your freshman child, friend, or relative by giving them helps tips. Mind you, helpful tips! Don't scare them away with your college horror stories or the latest college drama news. Let them learn about the college world, worry free! Have fun!

About the Author

Grace allen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:25:27 GMT

Welcome to my webpage. It is a privilege to share with you my love of writing. Let me first start with my early childhood and the different events that lead me to this place.

I was raised in a Christian home. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior on March 5, 1990. This is the beginning of my story.

When I entered school, I began at a small private Christian school. But that was not for me. My parents decided that home-schooling my siblings and me was the best decision. So my parents, without college eductions, home-schooled my family. I continued through to my senior year. While I was learning at home, I took the opportunity to study at the local community college. I studied American Sign Language and child development classes. It was a huge experience for me.

After graduating from high school, I entered a large Christian University. There I received a B.S. in Communication Disorders with a minor in Psychology. It is my goal to attend graduate school in the near future to receive a masters' in Speech Language Pathology.

It is my desire to use my writing to share with the youth in this world the love of God and my love of writing. Writers are not born, they are taught. I want to help mold and shape their creative minds.

Writing stories, poems, or letters. I have a deep love of all. Language, specifically the English language, fascinated me. At night or with friends, we would tell stories. My friend and I liked one story so much that everytime we were together we would create more "books" in our imaginative series. To my regret we never wrote them down. Because of this, I decided that I want to write down every story I create.

I hope to learn from the other authors here. Again it is a blessing to be able to share with you my life story and how I came to this place. May God be praised.