Did it really make a difference?!?!

So, as we looked over our degree audits to make sure we are on track for graduating, we were instructed to look to find what classes made the biggest impacts on us here at Westminster College. I began thinking about all of the classes I've taken, some of which I found pointless and others that I am VERY grateful I took. It brought me to a few of the most important in my college career.

First, there were a few outside of the broadcasting major that made a very big impact on my life. First, speech class from Freshman year. I really enjoyed this class because it gave me confidence that I could do well in public speaking. Then, I would have to say my sociology classes because they really opened my eyes to see that I can do well and enjoy a range of things. Finally, aside from my theatre classes, which were extremely beneficial to me and my future, I would have to say Intro to Political Science was extremely important. It was in this class, during election year, that I decided I wanted to drop my Political Science major and focus solely on my Broadcasting major.

Inside the broadcasting major, I would have to say that Radio and TV announcing was my most valuable course. In this class, it really brought us into the limelight and made us either shine, or realize that we REALLY needed to work on it.

As for the professors outside of the broadcast department, I would have to say that Dr. Phyllis Kitzerow made the biggest impact in my college career. Her Deviance class that I took freshman year was the very first time in my life that I figured out what kind of learner I am and how to study. It was the first time in my life that I ever walked into a test (the final might I add) and walked out 45 minutes later know that I got every answer right. Her teaching style made me more confident about my intelligence and I am grateful for that. So much so that in the spring of my junior year, I chose her Minority/Majority class solely because she was teaching it. I could have taken any blow-off elective, but instead I chose to take that.

I have more to say about 2 others, but since they are in the broadcast major, I am not supposed to talk about them. I will just have to thank them at a later time!

Until next time,
Kirstan :)

Wait a minute......I'm graduating?!?!

Today in capstone we looked over all of our credits and turned in our application for graduation. And as we did this, it hit me like a ton of bricks that in just under 3 months, I will be a Westminster College Alum. That's crazy. So, in the wake of this and the fact that I have ALWAYS loved quotes, I started to look up quotes about graduation. I found some really awesome ones that I thought I would share:

~"All our dreams can come true...if we have the courage to pursue them. " -Walt Disney

~"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

~"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." -Milton Berle

~"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it." -William Arthur Ward

~"My father always told me, 'Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life.'" -Jim Fox

~"You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world." -Tom Brokaw

Those were some of the ones I really enjoyed or felt I could relate to, and I thought the one from Tom Brokaw was really appropriate considering who he is and what he does. However, my all-time favorite is this:


~"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992

I have always loved that quote, because so often people feel and fear that they won't succeed or won't be good enough. I think it is important to shine, and not be afraid to live up to what you know you can be and make your dreams come true. So I say go for your dreams, and accomplish them, and never be afraid of people being jealous or making them feel small. Every single one of us was given the ability to be someone and do something amazing. So dream it, find it, and believe in yourself, and you can achieve it.

Until next time,
Kirstan :)

and how do you feel about that?!

So this week we are supposed to check out the blogs of other people that our classmates had already looked at. I noticed that Stevi and Liz both looked at Pixel Wrangler's site, so I thought Id check it out too. In the most recent entry, it talks about filming and taking pictures of dead people and it got me thinking about my views on that. Although I do feel like showing even the most graphic of images is important in telling news honestly, I don't think it is something I care to do. Maybe that is why I do not want to do news in the future. Personally, I'm not into the whole "sensationalizing" thing. I don't feel like I could interview a mother who's son just died and say "So, how do you feel about that?" or "Can I take a picture of your son's dead body in that car that is wrapped around the tree?" It just isn't me, because if I were in those shoes, I wouldn't want anyone taking pictures of me for the whole world to see. But, I know that is how news works, and to make it fair and accurate, that is what needs to be done. So this is just another great example of why news just isn't for me. On the other hand, maybe someday you'll see me on the big screen getting eaten by a monster in a horror film, and then, it will be okay, you can take my picture :)

Until next time,
Kirstan :)

2016

So after capstone on Thursday, I really have a little bit of a better insight into life and the future. I had to laugh a little at the fact that some of the guys had names picked out for their children. It made me chuckle. It was really good to hear about what other people think they will be doing in 10 years, and nice to have to REALLY think about what my life might be like ten years from now. I could really relate to Stevi and Amy with the whole law school thing. I really would like to look into entertainment law because I feel it is something I would enjoy. Also, it was really awesome to hear that Aidan is interested in the entertainment business as well. I'm going to try to help set her up with some people I know from the industry.

Growing up, I had a lot of BIG dreams:
1. Be in the Olympics for soccer or softball.
2. Go to law school to be a litigator.
3. Be an actress.
4. Live in California.
5. Be the President of the United States.

Now obviously, the Olympics didn't quite happen. AND...I'm not so sure I really want to be the president anymore. As for the rest, it is almost scary to see them happening and on the right path. It is exciting, but you never really expect to see the things you dreamed about as a little kid start to come true. But hey, I guess dreams really can come true if you believe.

On a different note, I checked out the site trent.blogspot.com, just to check out someone elses blog about the industry. Since this one was all about celebrities, it was kinda interesting to read. However, I am surprised how many people are so interested in the personal lives of celebrities. I mean, I confess, I sometimes like to read the goofy "celeb news" magazines, but since I've moved to California, you see them everywhere. I've realized that they are just people who happen to have jobs in the public eye. So what's the big deal? I don't care about who they are dating or what their kids look like. Hopefully when I'm famous someday, I'll be able to avoid all the drama.

So, thanks to capstone, I have decided that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. And from what I heard from my fellow capstoners, I am pretty sure they can too :)

Until Next Time,
Kirstan :)

goals

I have put together a list of 3 short term and 3 long term goals. Hopefully this will keep me on track.

Short Term
1. Put together a good resume.
2. Network and take the LSAT.
3. Graduate.

Long Term
1. Have a steady job.
2. Live in my own place.
3. Be done with Law School at Pepperdine.

That's it for now!

Kirstan :)