Category Archives: Poonam

Photoshoot and Interview Featuring Bryn!

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This week’s blog post guest starts the one and only Bryn Morgan! We had a hilarious photoshoot in the Browning Living Room and interviewed each other on issues related to work attire and such. Keep your eyes peeled for a surprise visitor.

P: Describe your outfit choices and for what situations or occasions they would be worn.

B: All of the outfits you see in this post are ones I wear working as a Senior Interviewer interviewing prospective Scripps students for Admissions. The Scripps Admissions office is relatively relaxed and I would say most staff members wear business casual on a day-to-day basis.

Bryn’s basic business casual

This first outfit is basic and works well for my job in Admissions as well as interviews that don’t require more than business casual. I wore this outfit for a recent interview. While I love this pink top (it has a fun back!), a variety of other nice tops could be substituted to make a whole bunch of outfits. I’ll talk more about this later, but these black shoes and black trousers are comfortable and professional-looking staples that I wear all the time. For outfits like this one that are made up of blocks of color rather than patterns, I always like to have a necklace or some piece of jewelry like the gold one I’m wearing in this photo to keep things interesting.

Born Shoes, GAP trousers, shirt from Marshalls.

Outfit #2

I have to confess that while I do wear this blouse and skirt often, I have yet to wear these heels in Admissions. I think heels are fun but my feet do not, so when given the chance I usually forgo anything platform for flats. I like this outfit because it’s a little more  formal than the first while remaining colorful and fun (the quality of the picture isn’t high enough for you to make this out, but the pattern on my blouse is multicolor hearts). I don’t know what it is about pencil skirts, but I throw one on and automatically feel twice as professional!

Shirt and skirt from Forever 21, shoes from Urban Outfitters when I worked there and got a fantastic discount.

Bryn in a flowy and fantastic-for-warm-weather outfit and me!

This last outfit is one I have been wearing a lot recently as the temperature seems determined to remain excruciatingly high. It’s flowy and comfortable but still put together. I have a number of more flowy knee-length skirts like this one and they have seemed so much more appealing than pencil skirts or trousers in this weather! Also featured here is my blue and green wooden painted fish necklace that I found at a yard sale and love wearing to Admissions. It reminds me to lighten up every time I see it and has been a great conversation starter. I wore it to a recent interview as Lesley in CP&R had told me during my mock with CP&R that sometimes it’s okay to see individuals’ personalities come out.

Born shoes, skirt from Forever 21, shirt was a hand-me-down.

P: I’m a student and don’t have a lot of money to spend on professional attire. How do I stay cost effective and cute?

B: I talked a bit about how I was able to revamp my work appropriate wardrobe for working in Admissions on a budget in a blog post a few weeks ago and will elaborate here. Basically, I spent the most on two staples: my pair of black Born flats and black GAP trousers. I knew I would wear both items very frequently, and thought that  having comfortable, supportive, and well made shoes that I could wear all the time and will (hopefully) last for quite awhile was worth it. From there, Marshalls and Forever 21 were my saving graces. Inexpensive, cute, and work appropriate clothes abound in both stores, at least this season, and I was able to get a good number of blouses, sleeveless tops, and pencil and flowy skirts for a very reasonable price. Find fun jewelry at yard sales and Goodwill to add some pizzaz to your outfits.

P: Halloween is around the corner—what the scariest clothing mishap you’ve ever had?

SURPRISE

B: What comes to mind is just the other day in Admissions when I looked down after being there for about an hour and realized my blouse was on inside out. Luckily, the staff is extremely sweet and Meg, who fearlessly leads us from the front desk, and I laughed heartily together as I dashed into the bathroom to change. I’m sure now that you’ve asked me this question something truly scary will happen soon…I’ll report back.

P: Besides getting dressed, what’s the most intimidating part of an interview?

 

B: I really love interviews. I loved college interviews the first time around so much that I applied to interview prospective Scripps student four years later. What usually concerns me most is the possibility that I might not be able to get as much across to my interviewer(s) as I would like. For example, in a recent interview I had so much to say about a question they asked that I was disappointed  I was only able to communicate a fraction of it in the short 25 minutes the interview lasted. But I just do my best to let my personality and passion for whatever it is I’m talking about come out, and try not to worry!

In an ideal world, what would your work attire be?

Before I actually had to dress in professional attire 5 days a week in Beirut this summer, I thought I would hate feeling constrained to certain styles and items of clothing. It turns out I love dressing in professional attire and have especially been enjoying putting together outfits for Admissions this semester. In the future, having the flexibility of business causal would likely be preferable to wearing suits every day of the week, but I am delighted to find out that I don’t at all mind dressing up for work as it definitely leaves my options more open than if I were against being part of a workplace with a dress code.

Dear readers, we could do with some laughs and would love to hear your scary stories of clothing mishaps in interview or work settings! 

What are you worth?

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Personal finance. Two incredibly intimidating words that, if I am to be quite honest, completely escape me. My knowledge of ‘personal financing’ extends to withdrawing and depositing money into my bank account. Beyond that, I’m at a bit of a loss. Which is why, when I learnt Life After Scripps was offering a workshop on personal financing, I immediately hopped on that train. As I was relieved to find out, so did a good portion of the rest of my class.

Professor Dillon—who is the most adorable and hilarious woman—led the crash course to a room full of “desperate seniors.” One of the reasons leaving Scripps feels so daunting is because for the first time in my life, I will be fully responsible for myself. I’ve never simultaneously paid rent, bought a car, managed bills, bought groceries, and worked—though that is exactly what the majority of the world is balancing. So while being wealthy does not necessarily fall under my perception of success, being financially independent does. Like most of the other students sitting in that room, I have so many visions and hopes for the future, and almost all of them require me to be in a financially secure position. This workshop was my first introduction to the steps in that life-long, ongoing process. Though I am by no means now an expert, I’ve highlighted a few points that may begin to demystify personal finance for you like it did for me:

Budgeting

A successful budget, also known as a spending plan, is contingent on creating a thorough and accurate cash flow statement.

Cash flow statement (or net income) = total income – total expenses

Total Expenses:  As Professor Dillon heavily stressed throughout the hour, the only way to control your financial life and build wealth is to know exactly where your money is going. That means following every, single penny. I’m not careless with my money, but I certainly can’t claim to keep a meticulous record of every late-night Yogurtland trip or spontaneous Target run. All those seemingly small expenditures add up to a significant, and often surprisingly large, amount. There are so many resources and tools available now to simplify the challenge of tracking your money—from online banking, to budget spreadsheets, to personal financing software. Apparently the new rage revolutionizing money management is a free site called mint.com. Valinda at CP&R recently discovered this handy innovation and, in her words, has “never been more excited about personal finance!” 🙂

Total Income: Your total income should be based off your net pay, i.e. your take home income after all taxes and deductions. Retirement savings accounts like a 401(k) or 403(b) are considered pre-tax deductions, meaning that money is deducted from your wages BEFORE taxes and put into your savings account, thereby reducing your taxable wages (that’s a good thing, yay!). You have probably heard this countless times in the past, but saving now means you are multiplying your wealth for later—all because of a magical little trick called compounding interest. Professor Dillon convinced me—‘open a savings account’ was just added to my growing to-do list for the weekend.

On another note, though this wasn’t a focus of the workshop, one line Professor Dillon said that really stuck with me was “Remember, your first job is not your career.” Most of the time, my post-graduation anxiety stems from the fear that I wont find or receive my dream job/internship/fellowship by May and will be forced into an arbitrary position completely unrelated to my passions and plans (shudder). Those are what I like to call my there-is-no-life-after-Scripps attacks. However, when I heard that line, it hit me—in a rare moment of comfort and reassurance—that seldom does a person’s first job define or limit their career path. While I would obviously prefer to be doing something I truly love this time next year, I am slowly coming to terms with the realistic possibility that I may also find myself back home in Texas working locally. Not that I am embracing that option—just understanding that it wouldn’t be permanent or reflective of the future.

P.S. In response to the title of the post, I just did the math (net worth = what you own – what you owe). As it turns out, I have a negative net worth. Awesome.

Post-mock, pre-real interview thoughts and reflections

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First and foremost—a huge congratulations to everyone who submitted Fulbright and Watson applications last week! We did it—wahoo! On Friday, I had my mock-interview in preparation for the actual Fulbright interview this week. It was so helpful that I decided to share some general tips that I think can apply universally to any interview:

1) It is okay to pause. During interviews, I am so anxious to start talking that I immediately plunge into an answer. I sometimes end up missing the actual point of the question (not ideal) and a train-wreck of fragmented thoughts instead spills out. Silence in an interview feels terribly awkward, but actually pausing a moment to think about the question and mentally outline a response will help you immensely. It is perfectly, 100% acceptable to take a second (though it may seem like a painful eternity to you) to organize and collect your thoughts. Ultimately, you will sound more articulate, qualified, and confident because your reply will be well formulated and structured rather than a jumble of disjointed ideas.

2) Select, in advance, a list of five achievements/ experiences/ qualities that you definitely want to incorporate into the interview. For instance, personally significant moments in my life (that are relevant in a Fulbright context) include studying public health in India, working with AmeriCorps last summer, building community through spearheading various South Asian organizations on campus—and so on. By pre-preparing concrete cases that truly define me and speak to my interests, I can be presented with any question and be prepared with a solid answer. Entering the interview with five specific points to highlight, I will adapt them to a question and work to weave them into my response. The goal is that this will help eliminate any curve-balls and make it so that you are not scrambling for an example to draw on during the interview.

3) Don’t shy away from your own greatness. The hardest question in any interview for me is “We have many strong applicants—why should we choose you?” I feel wildly uncomfortable by questions that so directly shine the spotlight on me and my qualifications, and I know others share this unease as well. My friend recently had a mock interview at CP&R for medical school, and while describing her involvement on campus, she failed to mention that she serves in positions of leadership—including president—in many of the organizations. In emphasizing the important and meaningful work of the organizations, she unknowingly downplayed her role and minimized her own outstanding contributions. It has been extensively proven that women are socially conditioned from childhood to be modest and humble. The resulting hesitation to take ownership of our personal merit and success means that we are constantly devaluing our strengths and experiences. (Did you know that one of the reasons for the wage gap between women and men is that men will aggressively negotiate a salary while women are much more likely to accept an offer immediately without any discussion?) An interview is meant for you to market yourself, and while I’m not encouraging you to lavishly embellish every minor detail of your life, I think it is imperative that we actively work on being comfortable with self-promotion and proudly voicing our unique achievements and ambitions. Don’t short-change yourself.

Life After Scripps (happening NOW!) is offering various workshops that address this critical issue. Be sure to check out ‘Negotiating Skills’ on Tuesday and ‘Crafting Your Identity: Personal Branding and The Post-Scripps Transition’ on Wednesday for expert guidance and advice on how to effectively communicate your worth.

In reference to last week’s blog entry, my friends vetoed the black blazer and grey pants combination (Where would I be in life without them to dress me?). Here are some pictures featuring our interview outfits if you are searching for a little inspiration:

Not the most flattering of pictures (it was really early in the morning in our defense), but Emily and me in the Motley beforehand doing mock mock-interviews.

Bryn (another fellow blogger!) and me after our interviews at the lovely CP&R staff lunch. 

My friend Monica looking super trendy for her mock-interview on Friday as well. Yay!

It is Officially Application Crunch Time

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I think I heard a collective sigh of relief emanate from Claremont Monday at 5:00PM as several seniors hit the ‘submit’ button on their Fulbright/ Watson fellowship applications. I am so incredibly thrilled to be applying for an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Fulbright in Malaysia, but I am also looking forward to nearing the end of the Part 1 of the process (Part 2 is the interview with a Scripps committee). It has been hard to keep focus on thesis and school work because all of my free time these past couple of weeks has been devoted to application editing, editing, and oh yes… more editing (I think I can recite my statements from memory at this point).

My decision to apply for a Fulbright was prompted by several reasons. First, I knew I wanted to take a couple years off before applying to graduate school for my masters in public health. I think it’s important that I give myself the time to gain a full and deep understanding of global health through experimenting with different jobs, internships, and research projects before I dive into a specific grad program. Because right now I am learning towards international health, being abroad after graduation was a high priority. As I was investigating the range of possibilities to gain international experience, the ETA Fulbright program in particular stuck out as a fantastic opportunity. Not only would I get to explore a country I’ve never been to, but I would also get to teach English and propel a mission that I feel really strongly about. My time studying in India evolved this passion. Working in rural villages (which is where 70% of India resides), made me confront and accept that reality that mobility and advancement is only imaginable and truly achievable through knowledge of English. Language access is a HUGE barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty and marginalization, something I had never completely understood prior to studying abroad because I come from a privileged position where English and all the opportunities it affords were never questioned.

While I’m trying not to put all my eggs in the Fulbright basket—given how competitive the fellowship is— it is still hard to invest so much of your energy and time and self into an application and not feel both hopeful and vulnerable. The last application I recall completing that was this extensive would be college applications, and similar sentiments of excitement and anxiety are resurfacing. However, I am trying to channel those feelings into being proactive. I just downloaded a Malaysian news application, ‘The Star ePaper,’ onto my iPhone and made it my goal to read at least two articles a day to make sure I’m staying current on the latest happenings in the country. Right now, I am waiting to meet with a friend from CMC who is actually from Malaysia so she can share any thoughts and insight she has. I also scheduled a mock interview this week with CP&R, so preparations for that are underway. I’m mentally racking through my closet as I type, trying to assemble an appropriate interview outfit. (Can I wear a black blazer with grey slacks? Help! Stay tuned for a later post on what concoction ends up coming together.) While the process can seem overwhelming at times, all of these actions have helped me feel calmer and more confident in my application, as well as more prepared for the upcoming interview.

Sending lots of calming, de-stressing vibes to all my fellow seniors! I had an orange jasmine tea with almond milk for the first time at the Motley yesterday, and it was very delicious, soothing, and of course, caffeinated. I HIGHLY recommend it for a little kick to push through the weekend. Hang in there and best of luck, friends 🙂 Please share any other tips you have for preparing and managing applications– I know I can use them!

I wish I had a time machine…

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I wish I had a time machine to rewind a year and begin again the incredible adventure that was study abroad. Just a couple of weeks ago marked the official One Year Anniversary of when my program began, and because of that I have been reflecting on my trip much more frequently. I find myself thinking about what I was doing this time last fall (planning a trip to the Taj Mahal) and wishing that I could re-live and re-absorb those incredible moments. The SIT program I chose was based in New Delhi, India with a focus specifically on the health and human rights of vulnerable populations throughout the country.

During the time when I began applying to study abroad, I was questioning and rethinking my decision to be pre-med. It was an internal debate that left me everyday feeling more conflicted, and I was slowly starting to think that I had made a premature commitment to medicine. I had very recently begun developing an interest in public health, but was too cautious to abandon my structured plans for med school in place of a field that was still really vague and undefined in my mind. I wanted to be able to experience public health issues and practices personally in order to determine if it was a field I actually found stimulating and fulfilling. It was this train of thought that led me to petition for the program I did. I was also beyond thrilled by the idea of returning to India (which I had visited several times growing up) as a student living in the country.

SIT is known for its experimental, field-based approach to learning. That could not be truer. For five months I was constantly immersed in the country’s dynamic spectrum of health disparities, not just through just textbooks and lectures, but also through direct connections and interactions with people and their communities. Another component of many SIT programs is an Independent Study Project (ISP), which you design and complete entirely yourself. My field study concerned the vulnerability of Kothis and Hijras, two high-risk sexual minorities, to HIV/AIDS and was beyond a doubt one of the most transformative learning experiences I have ever had. My program challenged me to face the scars underlying India’s wonders, but this only left me with a truer love for the country. I could literally go on for hours about my program and ISP, but to keep myself from writing a novel I will stop here and just say to please feel free to contact me whenever if you are interested in more details/ information.

Hanging out with adorable school kids in a rural village in Jamkhed, where we were working with an incredible organization called the Comprehensive Rural Health Project.

My friend Tania (also a fellow Scrippsie!) and me riding an elephant to the top of a fort in Jaipur, India.

To put simply, I left India inspired and impassioned to pursue global health as a career. But even setting this realization aside, I reflect on and treasure the seemingly unremarkable moments in which I felt truly integrated into the society. I loved eating street food, haggling in markets, learning to read and write Hindi, etc. Off-campus study was one of the highlights of my life so far, and I while I recognize that it is not for everyone, I would strongly encourage you to consider your options. There are few chances to live as a student in a new environment and gain an understanding of the place with a depth only afforded by complete immersion. From gaining a heightened sense of independence to a new appreciation of home, the personal merits of off-campus study are unparalleled. Take advantage of the amazingly strong and supportive Off-Campus Study department we have at Scripps! They make study abroad SO easy and accessible regardless of your major or financial aid status. Freshmen/sophomores: any ideas of where you may want to go? Seniors who went abroad, how do you feel about your off-campus study experiences? I’d love to hear your stories and thoughts— share away!

My lovely host family and me celebrating Diwali, the grand festival of lights that enlivened the entire city for nights.

And finally, a picture that I just love. The sign says “Smile and Serve” and was posted in an overcrowded, understaffed government hospital in Aligarh. You can see the long queue of patients waiting in the hallways.