Introducing... Chico the Cheeky Monkey!

This is Chico.  I know you're probably asking, "Where's Peep the Sheep?"  Peep is still around. Currently, she's hanging around with her buddies who are the future mascots.  And yes, I know the Asian New Year doesn't start until February 8, 2016 but for the sake of convenience, we're introducing Chico the Cheeky Monkey in January.

If you're new to our 100 Days of Career Exploration campaign or need some reminders, we're using the Asian New Year calendar to introduce major and career exploration.  What do animals have to do with major and career exploration, you ask?  Nothing.  Why aren't we using the Bruin Bear since it's an established school mascot?  Because there are no bears in the Asian New Year calendar of animals.

The Lunar Year is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities as well as ancestors.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year)

We use the Asian New Year because of the personality and career traits for each animal year which ties in very nicely with personalities for major and career exploration.  If you unsure about a major or want to explore other options or you just want to follow a silly puppet around campus, you've come to the right place.  In the upcoming weeks, we will be holding a scavenger hunt at the South City, Jordan, and Taylorsville Campuses to encourage students to join in the fun and find out about the great career resources we offer at the college.  We also have an author coming on campus on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 and she will be conducting presentations at the South City and Taylorsville campuses.  Maybe visit a classroom or two.  She's the inspiration for this 100 Days project so look out for more information!

Follow us on social media and start working on your 100 Days of Career Exploration today!  Every week check on the blog for new activities and a list of events happening around the college.
Twitter:     @slccadvising
Facebook:  Salt Lake Community College
Instagram:  100daysslcc

The End of Peep the Sheep

Today we've reached 100 days.  100 Days of Career Exploration for the Fall 2015 semester.  Our very first 100 days project and man, time flew by quickly!  It all started when my supervisor went to The King's English Bookshop in June to watch an author speak.  I happened to be flying out to Denver for a conference so I wasn't able to attend.  When I returned from my trip, my supervisor was excited and started talking about 100 days projects in the art world and how we should apply this to our major and career exploration.  As we began to brainstorm, we came up with the idea of using a heavy social media campaign, mascots, and in person events to promote the campaign.  There were quite a few hoops to jump through.  We had to get clearance from many powers-that-be to cancel our Fall Majors Fair and try out this new 100 days campaign.  We then had to create a budget, events, timelines, and ideas from (pretty much) scratch.  We gathered bits and pieces of information online but no other institution has tried something like this before so we were pulling things out of the air. Literally.  

In my very first introductory blog, I explained why we decided to use a mascot besides the Bruin Bear. Don't get me wrong, the Bruin Bear is awesome!  But we wanted something that would catch people's attention and make them question, "Who is that sheep, monkey, rooster,...?"  Plus, using the Lunar New Year and its career and personality components aligned directly with our idea of this 100 days campaign.  As we head into finals and winter break, I challenge you to reflect back on your 100 days experience.  Even if you started a little later, think back to your last 100 days.  What have you accomplished?  What would you like to work on?  What things left you with food for thought?  We'll be taking a break, Peep and I, and will return refreshed and ready for another 100 days on January 11, 2016.  We'll also be introducing Chico, the Cheeky Monkey.  We started our very first 100 days campaign with a reggae band, games, selfie booth, and a lot of hullabaloo.  We exit our very first 100 days campaign on a quieter, reflective note.  Take the time to reflect on a major and career and we'll see you in 2016!

Best of luck with finals!

Enjoy the holiday season and winter break!

If you've been following along and would like to join us in a focus group in January, please email me (michelle.tuitupou@slcc.edu).  We're aiming for Friday, January 15, 2016.  Give us some feedback so we can continue to build 100 Days of Career Exploration!

But First, Let Me Take a Selfie

I just googled my name.  (And yes, I can use google as a verb.)  There was some interesting information that came up including previous addresses, phone numbers, and family members names. There were also places I've never lived, people I've never met, and phone numbers I've never seen associated with me. How are these things tied to me?  Your digital footprint is out there and everything you do online can have an effect on you either in the present or in the future.  Why would that be important, you ask? I'm young and I can block my profile, you say?  In this day and age, your digital footprint says a lot about you and many times, employers will google your name to see what comes up.  So that compromising selfie you took when you were bored, or the choice words you used on an angry post, or the video you posted during that crazy party?  All of those things could come up at some point in time.  Usually it's not the most opportune time, either.

In an article from Rasmussen College (http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/main/your-digital-footprint/), it states "Generation Y'ers don't always understand that technology can be like Pandora's Box - with all of the good resources comes other things."  Everything you do online is tracked or stored somewhere in the world wide web, good and not so good.

When you're researching majors and careers, keep in mind your digital footprint can play a crucial role in whether you receive a job offer or not.  The internet is convenient when exploring majors and careers but always use those tools wisely.  And don't forget to google yourself once in a while.  Your digital footprint says a lot about you!  

The Aunt Betty Syndrome

Imagine you're sitting with your family for Thanksgiving dinner (or insert any other holiday where family will be attending).  Aunt Betty (again, insert name of relative that fits this scenario) is there, sitting in her usual spot, and she looks across the table at you.  Then comes the million dollar question.  (Choose from the following...)

• What are you majoring in?
• When you are starting college?
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• Cousin So-and-So is getting his degree in May.  What are you doing with your life?
• Why can't you be like your sister/brother instead of living in your parents' basement?
• What are you going to do with your life?

There are many more questions that could be added but you get the idea.  So what do you do first thing Monday morning after the long weekend full of family and questions?  You head to your nearest community college, apply for admissions, and register for classes.  You're not sure what major you want to pursue but Aunt Betty's comments and questions got you thinking about your life and future.  You meet with an Academic & Career Advisor and you tell him/her, "I'm just here to do my generals."  Which is true.  Aunt Betty said you should go to school but she didn't help you figure out a major and career path.  

Too often, students feel pressure from family and friends to attend college.  Which is not always a bad thing since you have your foot in the door.  Did Aunt Betty's annoying yet kind way of saying get your stuff together make you go to school?  Was it your parents telling you to go to school or get a job or do SOMETHING that got you moving?  Were your friends pressuring you to hang out with them at school since THEIR parents are forcing them to go?  Whatever your reasons, you're here. So now what?  What makes you stay?  What motivates you to continue each semester?  What drives you to complete a degree?  Those are important questions to ask yourself each and every day as you strive to complete a program.  But now it's for you, not Aunt Betty, not your family, not your friends, YOU. Take advantage of the resources available to you in school.  Resources that help you decide on a major and career, help you plan out your semesters, help you find a job, help you with tutoring, help you with understanding how to be a successful college student.  Aunt Betty inspired you to start college, now it's up to you to finish.  So next time you are at the table with family at insert holiday here and Aunt Betty asks you about college, you'll have a well thought out answer to give her and the rest of the crew.  You may even have your graduation date readily available so she can prepare to attend the celebration.  Hopefully with a nice check and a card.  

For resources to assist with major and career exploration, visit http://www.slcc.edu/academicadvising/careeradvising

Will your real self please stand up?

As we approach our 100 days benchmark in this first ever "100 Days of Career Exploration" project, it's time to reflect on the past 75+ days.  A lot of information has been covered, dissected, mulled over, discussed, and posted on social media.  One recurring theme has been in regard to career assessments and their importance.  In this new world of technology, free assessments can be found just about anywhere.  Sometimes that's all students need to make a decision on a major and career. Most times, students need something more comprehensive.  An assessment that comes with a one-on-one advisor session with an interpretation and a deep discussion on results and validity. Those types of assessments cost money but fortunately, SLCC offers the cheapest in the state.  Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory cost $25 for one or $40 for both.  So what's stopping you from finding your True Type (personality)?  

Stephen Colbert felt the need to find his true self.  After many years of being a comedian, writer, producer, actor, and media critic, Colbert moved into the late night television host position replacing David Letterman.  In this role he had to begin playing himself.  But who is Stephen Colbert?  Ask yourself the same question.  Who are you?  What do you like to do?  Where do your interests lie? What do you want to be when you grow up?  Watch this funny clip and then...  Will the real you please stand up?  

The Money Shot

I'm not a photographer and I don't have any formal training.  I HAVE been taking a ton of pictures this semester for this #100daysSLCC campaign.  And I've been using my trusty old iPhone.  Partly because I don't have a camera to use and mostly because even with a camera, I don't know a lot about adjusting to light, getting a nice shot that doesn't have a yellow tinge, and not wanting to be responsible for a camera I don't own.  So my iPhone camera has been the "go-to" for pictures.  Quite honestly, it's been easy to use since I can pick up Peep and go at any time.  The more pictures I've taken and the more I post to this blog, on Twitter, and on Instagram, the more I think about photographers (people who actually know their way around a camera) and that "money shot".  The picture that says a thousand words.  That one angle, subject, setting that tells the story and stirs feelings within people.  One of my teenage daughters has that eye for photography. She knows how to get that certain angle that catches the light in just the right way where a flower looks as if it's in 3-D.  Or she can angle the camera (she uses her phone, too) so the color is vibrant and the focus is on a flower or a bunch of flowers.  She can even get up close and personal to catch the water drops on a flower petal.  It takes time, effort and patience.  Not unlike exploring majors and careers.

The "money shot" in major and career exploration is not going to fall into your lap.  You have to go out and search for it.  If you live in the city and want to get a great shot of a bear in the wild, obviously you need to travel, hike, search, camp, and do whatever it takes to get that golden picture. The same holds true for major and career exploration.  You have to research, study, interview, job shadow, volunteer...  Whatever it takes to find your money shot and a major.  The satisfaction of looking through your photos and finding that ONE shot that held all of the perfect elements of lighting, action, angle, and color is the same feeling you will receive when you land on a major and career decision.  So, have you decided on YOUR money shot?

Button Bar

Introducing our #100daysSLCC BUTTON BAR!

Coming next week!

Monday, 11/16:  Taylorsville Campus

Student Center Hallway, Noon-2pm

Tuesday, 11/17:  Taylorsville Campus

AAB Foyer, Noon-2pm

Wednesday, 11/18:  South City Campus

Near Information Desk, Noon-2pm

Get your Chinese Zodiac animal button, postcard with career information, more major and career exploration information, and fill out the 75 Day Benchmark application to receive a prize and a chance to win a tuition waiver or $300 bookstore gift card!