Leadership Roles in Campus Activities

Servant leadership is a personal philosophy that describes how one can manage with love at the core of relationships, with respect in the center of communication, and with compassion as a guiding principle. It describes leadership as serving others, so they can be empowered, acknowledged and appreciated. Servant leadership is a way of being that brings deeper meaning to the activities of the leader while nurturing those being led. There is a sense of sprituality in servant leadership, too; not a Bible-thumping approach, but how the leader’s personal spirituality plays itself out in daily life.

Autry begins by describing “five ways of being” for servant leaders. This simple list is below, along with my interpretation of what they mean:

Be Authentic - be real, at all times
Be Vulnerable - share your genuine feelings
Be Accepting - welcome diversity of thought
Be Present - be in the moment
Be Useful - be a resource for others in service to them

The core of servant leadership is love. I would guess that word doesn’t come up in too many “management” classes. However, it comes up all the time in the leadership classes, along with words like empowerment, teamwork, forgiveness, encouragement, caring and compassion. One of my favorite things about being in the leadership program is the focus on the humanity of leadership. Our most important resource in any group or at any company is the people. Leadership of those people is a calling. Doing it well is a blessing, to both the people and the leader.

With the heart of a servant leader, who can we serve today?

College Student Depression and Suicide

John McCain lost the Election. My prediction was accurate, as McCain was trailing significantly in many of the major polls up until votes were cast. I did not predict it would be this huge of a margin. In fact, I thought it would be headed to a recount. McCain ran a vigorous campaign, but it just was not enough at the end of the day.

Congratulations to the Obama campaign for their hard fought win! I mean I am not celebrating. Quite frankly, I am pretty depressed at this point.

Right now, I am concerned about the threats to our liberties now with President-elect Barack Obama. I mean, after all, he will be trying to limit our freedom of speech (fairness doctrine), he will take away our guns, our taxes will skyrocket (only to “balance the budget”), and prepare yourself for massive (and I mean, massive) earmarks in our budgets. Let us not forget, Obama will pull us out of Iraq and we will just talk about our foreign policy problems (and much ado about nothing). The hypocrisy of hope has won, and now, we are DOOMED! Welcome to the Dictatorship!

Another important part of my post is a comment that I have been making repeatedly tonight to family and friends. Tonight marks the re-birth of the Republican party. We have been punished again by Americans, who have witnessed how we have strayed from our core principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility. We need to remain true to the conservative, common sense principles our party has stood for in the past. We have strayed, and it is time to return. As a party, we need to come together and unite as one under these principles. (Note: I will begin to blog about this tomorrow or later this weekend.)

I am also worried about our future, our prosperity, our economy (jobs will be getting harder and harder to find…thanks to Obama) and our peace of mind (a.k.a. security). My future children and grandchildren might not experience the liberties and freedoms that I cherish. We might end up in a dictatorship. Who knows? Maybe, something positive will happen out of this. I guess I am being pessimistic, maybe a little ticked off, maybe emotional, or maybe a tad sleep deprived. I am left to wonder what’s next in this saga.

Getting your First Internship

Finding an academic internship in college can be a worthwhile experience that can not only help your college career, but it can help you get a job in your chosen field once you graduate. If you are currently looking for an academic internship, here are some helpful tips to remember when looking.

Meet with your college counselor and complete the appropriate forms needed for an academic internship. Your counselor will probably have a list of companies that students can apply to for academic internships. Do not limit your options to only those listed.

Search the Internet for possible internship openings that you would be interested in. Ask your counselor, parents and professors for any recommendations. Look outside of your college area for summer internships.

Set up interviews with prospective internship employers when they are visiting your campus.

Research the company and write a resume before interviewing. Use this face-to-face meeting to get a better sense of the company and job duties, and show off your qualifications.

Work with a counselor or faculty sponsor to evaluate what academic components are needed in order to receive college credit for your internship. You may need to complete a final paper or mid-term evaluation to receive college credit.

Attend any pre-internship meetings that your university or employer recommends. If you are unable to attend, make sure they know why.

5 Tips to Fight Obesity - the Freshman 15 lbs

It is important to remember that many college students put on extra weight when starting college. The plethora of fast food meals available on campus, as well as lack of parental discipline can sometimes be overwhelming to teens. This leads to the dreaded Freshman 15, or extra 15 pounds many college students put on their first year of college.

Obesity in the America is growing at an unprecedented rate. We should all take heed of this and for our health sake, beware. Here are some tips to keep you from putting weight on when you come to college:

1. Drink water! Avoid purchasing colas or other drinks packed with sodium and sugar, which increase obesity.


2. Learn to cook at home. While the dorm room may not be the ideal place to cook, if you can microwave a hot dog or put together a sandwich, you can save money and calories. Greasy fast food meals are a leading cause of American obesity.
   


3. Walk to class. Sure, the bus or driving may seem faster, but the added laziness will set you back around the belt area. Not only does this burn calories, but it will also ease you into a running routine if you so decide. When was the last time you saw a professional runner with an obesity problem?
   


4. Take an exercise class. My college offers many courses such as running, basketball, golf, karate, etc. These can be taken for college credit and often times they are at no extra charge for full time students.


5. Go easy on the beer. Lets face it, we can't deny that some college students drink. As if drinking didn't have enough consequences, beer contains calories which add to the problem of student obesity. The best solution is to stop drinking all together. If that isn't your style, maybe you should cut back on the amount you are drinking - who knows, you might enjoy the party more.

Getting Scholarships and Grants

Getting scholarships and grants can be something many college students dream of but only few actually achieve. Follow these steps to get on the right track:

• Find a directory of these at your local campus library, or online directories like FastWeb
• Put an application in for your FAFSA
• Write as many scholarship essays as you can
• Ask fellow student friends or teachers about their experiences with scholarships

Paying for college can be easy if you are persistent in your efforts.

College Student Health Insurance

Getting sick can create a disaster for college students for a number of reasons. First, if you end up missing class you are behind in your studies and need to gather notes from classmates. Second, where do you go to the doctor?

Many colleges offer cheap or "free" (included in the fees everyone pays) health insurance for its students. This usually includes a list of commonly used medicines, basic health exams, mental health counseling and preventative services like birth control.

If you would like more information, contact your local campus health department and ask them about it. You may already be covered, or could be for a small fee.

Finding College Housing and Apartments

When starting college, many students either live in the dorms, or try to find housing within walking distance to class. While the dorms can be much easier, they are often not the cheapest route. In some locations, dorms can cost two to three times the price of renting an apartment or house on campus with roommates.

Where do you look for college housing? Often times your college or university will have a department dedicated to student housing. Also, campus newspapers have listings of rentals as well as roommate ads. Some people look at http://www.craigslist.org/ for local roommate matching as well. It is important to remember that while the internet is a great resource, I have always found the best deals through word of mouth. Most of the apartment complexes and house owners with smaller advertising budgets also pass the savings along to you.

Budgeting Student Spending with Financial Planning

As a college student, money is always tight. Many students must pay for college out of their own pocket (or with financial aid) and are not able to work very much while in school. The key to responsible spending is based around budgeting.

I know it does not always sound like fun, to make a list of your income and expenses, but it is crucial to know where you are at. Many students go through college (or life) without knowing where they stand - simply happy that they are not 'in trouble' financially.

So start right now, make a list of:

1. All your income (monthly)


2. All your expenses (monthly)


3. All your assets / money saved total


4. All your liabilities / debt you have accumulated (including credit cards)

This is a good starting point for understanding where you stand. It is the building block for doing more advanced analysis.

Blog Students Gets a New Look

I recently installed the Neo theme on the page, which can be found at http://hackosphere.blogspot.com and downloaded/installed fairly easily. You will notice a huge difference in how quickly pages load if you click on the menu options to the side.

Student Parking: Get Your Parking Pass Now!

The Fall semester is right around the corner as July comes to a close, do you have your student parking pass yet? Many incoming college freshmen (and older students that procrastinate) put off getting their parking pass until the last minute.



College parking, unlike most High School parking, is usually quite a bit more competitive. The trend in off-campus student housing is increasing to the point that more and more students need parking passes. These students don't always get the same "mandatory" bus service in which High School students receive. Also, since college students are older, many more of them own cars.



Procrastination of this kind often leads to disasterous results. Many students will be stuck with a parking spot which is so far away from their classroom building that they will have to walk a considerable distance. Other students waiting until the last minute are usually completely out of a spot all together and forced to drive around campus in search for parking meters. Since parking meters often have an short limit on how much time you can purchase (before returning to refill it) this can lead to a hefty parking ticket. Beware, on many college campuses the entire parking labor force is reliant on funds from parking tickets to fulfill budget requirements. What does this mean? Thats right, you will be slapped with parking tickets on average of about $25 per time.


All this leads me to my final conclusion, which is to remember to get a good parking pass now before they are all taken!

Dangers for Students and Parents to Prepare for in the Fall Semester

As August draws near, students everywhere are growing anxious to begin class. While college and meeting new people is very exciting, it is important to remember the dangers which lurk as well. On college campuses, drinking alcohol excessively is one of the leading causes of vandalism, physical violence, sexual assault, and in some cases death.



The College Task Force report to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has released some startling statistics this year.

Drinking by students ages 18 to 24 contributes to an estimated 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year.

Taking a stand against excessive drinking early in the transition to college is one of the most important things students can do in these peer pressured times. It has become commonly accepted that the first 6 weeks of the first semester are critical to a first-year student’s academic success. Since some unfortunate students are initiated into a culture of heavy drinking in these first 6 weeks and are inhibited from successful adaptation to college life.

To read a full article on this topic, visit:
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/NIAAACollegeMaterials/collegeFactSheetForParents.aspx
...and don't forget to have some fun this fall!

The Truth About Starting Salaries at Top Schools

When deciding where you wish to attend school at, it is important to consider the cost of tuition and the projected benefit. I am writing to advise my readers of some unconventional wisdom passed down to me from one wiser than myself.

It seems like common sense among my classmates, but is beginning to become misinformation fast. The myth I speak about is that a higher ranked school will guarantee you a better education and a higher starting salary. While this may be true for some, this is not the case for everyone.

When researching schools, I encourage you to look beyond the number posted as the average starting salary. Many times the average starting salary is not the true starting salary. This all depends on how the stats are compiled. Many of the schools take a survey of the students who have accepted jobs before graduation and use this data to build the statistics. The tricky part about this is that many people who are in school because their job required it, have promised salary increases for when they graduate. This is not an accurate measure because they are being paid a premium for the years of service which they have already put in at the company. The starting salary of a new hire and an experienced employee are rarely equal, so it is important to take this into account.

True Wealth is a Grateful Soul

Money has been a large theme of this blog and of my life in general. I suspect (if you are reading) it is of yours as well. Money is important to the world, money is important to our daily personal lives. In my opinion, modern economic theory is based on the principle that money is the placeholder of value. This is to say that when we exchange work for cash, we do not want the cash specifically. What we truly want when we work is the value of that money, what we can potentially get when we exchange it again. Especially in first world countries, this is not always equated to durable, neccesary goods.

But what good does money do if it does not serve a higher end? There are many examples of financially abundant people which are spiritually and emotionally miserable, and vice-versa. The opposite is also true - those with money who are incredibly fulfilled. So what makes true wealth?

True wealth is a grateful soul. I am currently going on a four day fast in the name of God to reveal to myself the true abundance in front of my eyes. There are many simple pleasures in which we have overlooked in the pursuit of success. It is often that as we pursue these goals we also increase the 'cost' of our own happiness. I will be happy when I reach this goal, I will get happiness when I pay the price for that goal. Sooner or later, we have paid the price so many times our pockets (metaphorically) are empty. The truth is that wealth is right in front of you and the sooner we embrace that mentality, the sooner it will manifest in our lives.

Leveraging your Student Loans Against Each Other

With the popularity of my last post about student debt, I decided to write another post discussing the topic.



Last year, I was put in a bad position with my student loans. I couldn't work full time and take classes full time while maintaining my GPA as I did in the past. I had to make the decision to take out private loans to pay my rent with - bad decision. These loans carried a high interest rate, a few points above the standard govt loans.



However, this year everything is turning for the better. Since I am now 24, my FAFSA can reflect the accurate economic data of myself being financially free of my parents. This year I have received a nice amount of Federal grants/loans which I can use to pay off private loans as well as school. This will save me money in interest payments in the long term. With hypothetical numbers:

Private Loan: 7%
Govt Loan: 3%


I will take the govt. loan out to repay my private loan. I am also aggressively paying down these loans as I work this summer. While I could use the traditional 10 year payment plan, this is a rediculous idea for an overachiever such as myself. Can you do the same?

Pushing Ahead in my GMAT Studying

So anyway, I have spent about 10 hours studying for the GMAT since my last post.

I have realized now that I overlooked the fact that I cannot use a calculator on the quantitative section. This should not be too large of a setback, however I had to review a few really simple things such as long division (since I have been so used to working with a calculator). Yeah, it is a little embarassing but everyone needs a refresher after a few years away. I suppose my quant skills will go way up.

I'm glad that my accounting experience has taught me to be so quick and efficient with my work, because I can tell one of the challenges I will have will be with the time constraints.

Note: One of the links in the following post is acting funny and asking for a password for some reason. :/

Inspirational GMAT quote: "When adversity strikes, some get bitter, others get better!"

Useful Stories in the News for College Students

Student Loan Advice for Undergrads
Discussing a new service called Graduate Leverage for students.
http://wbjournal.com/j/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2004&Itemid=129


Another developer enters student housing market
The market for small investors purchasing houses and renting them to college students gets more competition.
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/07/05/top/20720792.txt