Category Archives: Jessica

Fullbridge Day 6: Technology and Business

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Hi everyone. Thanks for continuing to follow my posts as I narrate my journey as a student participant in the Fullbridge Program.

Day six, we worked on a number of different assignments, including two expository videos. Each person worked individually, and all was quiet as usual. Since recording a video requires peace without interruption, we all took turns working in the open rooms upstairs meant for shared use. The finished products were to be submitted online to our coaches for review and feedback.

For the first video, I summarized a series of documents as an oratory for my boss. I wrote out the information first and memorized it from there. Other participants approached the task from various angles, some of whom spoke off the cuff. Others wrote short notes for themselves, much as someone might do with index cards for a presentation.

The second video required me to assess a possible workplace dilemma and propose a set of solutions to my supervisor. This assignment was shorter because it required less reading and time investment. As such, the information was less about research as it was about understanding work place etiquette. I found this one took less time and was easier to relay in terms of memorization and speech.

The idea was to simulate a work environment in which I would have to communicate with others via video, similar to the way people now use Skype and other similar programs for business purposes. After all, I’ve already had my first Skype interview because of Fullbridge, and it likely it won’t be my last. Given that technology has become essential to nearly every type of career, we have to consider the impact it will have on our future vocational plans.

As for you, do you find the advent of technology to be encouraging or not?  How does technology play a role in the career in which you’re interested?

Fullbridge Program Day 5: Delivering Business Pitches

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Today, I’ll pick up the itinerary again and move on to day five. Speaking of itineraries, it suddenly occurred to me it might be helpful to share the actual Fullbridge schedule we followed. Each day’s work became accessible to us only on the day of, but not beforehand. Looking at my calendar may provide you with better insight into the topics and goals of the Fullbridge Program.

(Click on the image for a closer look.)

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As for day five, we each worked individually on a simulated business proposal. Given pre-made spreadsheets, we figured out calculations using Excel, occasionally consulting each other when necessary. I personally found the mathematical assignments the most challenging of all our work; many of my colleagues voiced similar opinions.

After finishing our PowerPoint presentations, we practiced delivering our pitches within our teams. Our coaches made their rounds, sometimes stopping in for a friendly check in. Looking back on notes and documents from my work today, I came across the short response I wrote for the task:

reflection on my presentation:

“I think my presentation turned out better than I had anticipated. I did not feel overly nervous and my team was receptive and friendly. I asked my teammates about concerns I had with my presentation. For example, I was relieved to hear that I had not talked too quickly, which is an issue I have struggled with before in the past. Visually, the slide layout and images were appealing, and useful. However, I did not include any numbers, which would have greatly enhanced my presentation. In addition, I was told that the words I had used to shape a real-life environment—that of a Chief Marketing Officer addressing the board of two new founders—were effective and engaging. The audience was able to take on the role of the characters because I addressed them as such. And my polished manner helped my audience take me seriously as a professional.” (1-9-14)

Back in the main room, one representative from each group presented in front of everyone. Some of my colleagues volunteered to speak; others were chosen at random by the coaches.This exercise would be beneficial for those who wish to improve upon their oratory skills. Coaches and colleagues alike offered praise and constructive criticism in response. I have to admit– I was keenly impressed at how professional and well-spoken everyone was.

How do you feel about giving presentations? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in-between? What would you like to improve on most?

Fullbridge Overview

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Over the next few days of The Fullbridge Program, I found myself busier than usual, with less time for journaling than usual. So instead of continuing the itinerary today, I will be taking a slight detour before returning back to the usual format of my narrative. In this post, I will try to list an overarching set of pros and cons I noticed and heard from my colleagues during The Fullbridge Program. Keep in mind this is a subjective list, and is solely my own opinion.

Work Day: The amount of information you learn is up to you, and may also depend on the prior knowledge with which you enter the program. Coaches make themselves available to you all day long, so feel free to drop by with any questions or concerns. My coaches were approachable and friendly. On another note, I recommend bringing a bottle of water or a thermos of tea with you every day, and perhaps a snack as well.

Free time: After six P.M., we were free to roam around and make the most of our free time. Most of us usually headed straight to the dining hall, often sitting with other Fullbridge participants. The coaches and guests joined us at times, more so during lunch than at dinner though. Back at the dorms, people watched movies, seniors worked on thesis, and generally did whatever it is college students do during the school year.

Here’s a pic of some of us hanging out after work:

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Food: Personally, I was quite pleased with the food selection. Oxy opened up one dining hall, which served a variety of food, from custom-made sandwiches to salmon burgers. Breakfast foods, such as yummy French toast sticks, were often offered even during lunch. And the open fridge was well-stocked with typical drinks as well as more expensive choices such as aloe vera, Naked juice, and coconut water. Vegetarian options varied by day; the salad bar is always available.

Accommodations: I would describe the residence halls as quite standard, with two twin-XL beds and two desks each. Blankets and pillows were provided by Oxy, though these weren’t adequate enough in the winter chill, even in So-Cal. On an average day, the temperature in Los Angeles drops below the average in Claremont. We were split up into doubles and triples, and all lived on one floor. Everyone shared two bathrooms on the same floor, which worked out without any trouble. Each room controls its own A/C. People tended to hang out in one person’s room to play cards or whatnot. Kitchens were open, but quite vacant. Oxy sports teams also occupied the residence hall, but we had little interaction with them. I didn’t check out the laundry room; I assume they were fine, since I didn’t hear any complaints. The campus’ terrain contains minor slopes and hills, so I did a lot of walking uphill in my dress shoes.

Transportation: To my surprise, several students brought their cars with them to campus. People sometimes drove out to the nearby CVS, and even out to Griffith Observatory on our one day off. Within walking distance, the downtown area offers a selection of stores, cafes, and shops. During the year, students have access to Bengal buses, but these weren’t available to us since it was winter break at the time.

Have any further questions? Comment below and I’ll answer them in my next post. 🙂

Fullbridge Day 4: Consider the “Typical” 8-Hour Work Day

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To my readers, I would like to ask: How many of you are currently considering a career in business? And what do you imagine a “typical,” eight-hour work day to look like?

As I sit in front of the computer typing this up, I find myself surprised at the sparse amount of information I recorded just four days into the program. The fact is, working                      a so-called “typical” work day often lends itself to boredom, as I learned during my time with the Fullbridge Program.

Continuing with the theme of finance, day four focused on the income statement and the balance sheet. While I enjoy economics and business, I found some of the material to be a bit dry. Another day in front of the computers didn’t raise much excitement among us. On a random tangent, I will admit I was pleasantly surprised to notice many students (including myself) jotting down notes by hand. In the day of rapid technological advancement, I worry sometimes that everything’s gone digital all at once.

Much to everyone’s relief, today was also our first (and only) “casual day.” I actually shocked myself by showing up in sweatpants and a top, sneakers, and a beanie. For those who know me, this is not my usual attire. Appreciating “the little things in life” indeed.

On this day, I also found myself amazed by how quickly a one-hour lunch break comes and goes. Lunch seemed like a great relief the first few days; but by day four, the break became just another part of the usual routine.

Sitting in front of a computer eight hours a day, with a one-hour lunch break in-between, for the fourth day in a row, gave me perspective on what it would be like to have a desk job. If such were the case, I would invest in a comfortable chair. This is not a joke. Health and wellness must be taken into consideration, especially when one maintains a sedentary work life such as this. It is important to consider the cost/benefit of a particular career path, particularly since many require you to work upwards from a low-level desk job.

And aside from work, you may find it worthwhile to continue a hobby or sport of your liking– if only to maintain your sanity. But with one’s busy schedule, who has the time? Even as college students, we constantly struggle to balance a life of social interactions, academics, health, and sleep, to name a few. The particulars vary with each individual, but the idea holds true for most.

I strongly encourage you to figure out what a balanced lifestyle means to you, so as to be better prepared for the “real world” out there. The motley of clubs and activities we juggle in undergrad may be more than we can handle later on in life. Choosing to prioritize marriage, family members, and/or a time-heavy career will only add to this equation.

My purpose in sharing these thoughts is not to discourage you. Rather, I am trying to provide honest and realistic insight into the probability that you will one day work a job at which repetition may very well be the norm. You may wake up around the same time every day, receive a one-hour lunch break, go to the gym, take care of the kids, so on and so forth. Before you know it, a routine will start to develop– probably for the sake of efficiency and productivity. 

So while we’re still in college, I hope we can pause and take a moment to appreciate the freedom and spontaneity with which we can approach life.

 

Fullbridge Program Day 3: Personal Finance

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Day three of Fullbridge focused much less on group activities and required more attention to individual tasks. The workload was quite dense, and none of us wasted time chatting. On-task and quiet, we immersed ourselves in a world of tutorials, videos, PDF files, and Excel. Most of us listened to music while we worked. I frequently stood up to stretch and give my back a break from sitting too long.

Personal finance stood at the forefront of the day’s work, complete with facts and figures full of jargon. We explored a range of financial settings. These included learning the difference between variable, fixed, and discretionary expenses, as well as the value in renting v. buying a house. While I did not find this information immediately applicable for myself, I knew it would help to know the information later down the road— perhaps after I graduated from Scripps. Even now, some students choose to live in a house with others instead of opting for on-campus housing.

Another topic fell under the category of how to choose a bank based on a three-pronged guide: fees, convenience, and interest paid. Although many of us may already own savings or checking accounts, CDs or mutual funds, we can always benefit from securing additional knowledge. After all, the economy literally changes overnight and new policies appear more often than we might think. Personally, I would have appreciated information about traditional banking v. online banking, given the recent shift to the latter.

By the end of the day, my mind had accumulated a wealth (puns!) of information about personal finance– enough to make me rethink my spending and saving habits. I reflected on the way I had spent my paychecks last fall, and resolved to act more thoughtfully this semester. I set a new budget for myself, and have followed through with it this spring. As of now, I’m happy to say my piggy bank’s been nothing but smiles.

On a tangential note…

My personal accomplishment of the day was working out at the gym for the first time since my arrival at Oxy! Given how difficult it is to find any extra time outside of work, I felt extremely accomplished. I imagined what it would be like to find similar pockets of time for fun or recreation in the future, and am thinking about it still.

When one works an 8 A.M.-5 P.M. work week, one either has to work out early in the morning, or late at night. Eat. Get dressed. Drive to the gym. Work out. Shower. Get dressed again. Sit in traffic. Work. Eat again. Sleep? Throw in a family and kids (which I’d like in my future), and no wonder people in the “real world” can seem so stressed out! The eight-hour workdays at Fullbridge have led me to think more concretely about the kind of lifestyle I hope to adopt in the future.

What priorities do you currently stress in your life? How often do you take the time to sit down and re-evaluate these priorities? Does a budget make its way into the picture? I hope your piggy bank finds a reason to smile. 🙂