Spring Break
Working for the campus phonathon has been an interesting adventure over the past year. I’ve had quite the collection of phone call conversations. We basically call alumni, update their information, and ask if they would like to contribute to the annual fund this year. Usually these conversations last 3-4 minutes, depending on whether or not they hang up on you. Some nights are really boring because you can call 80 numbers and not a single person will answer. This year they’ve tried changing a few things to make more money, including having a longer conversation with the alum. So we ask when was the last time they’ve been on campus, if they had a good time, have any favorite memories, etc. Most of the time, you get one word answers, and the impression comes that they want off the phone as soon as possible.
So not quite the most thrilling job, but I must admit I’ve had some pretty unusual conversations. I currently hold the record for longest conversation with an alum: 1 hour + 15 minutes. I think the record before I broke it was also held by me and that was 25 minutes with an elderly man that perhaps just needed someone to listen to him. Seventy-five minutes on the phone! I am the first to admit I have phone phobia + don’t enjoy picking up the phone to call someone I don’t know. It takes me a good 5 minutes to prep before a call, and it usually involves breaking out in hives. Well, okay, not really, but for some reason I never quite caught onto the girly teenager fad of gabbing away on the phone. My cell phone has been really good for me in getting rid of this phobia because I guess if I can walk or drive (not recommended) while calling someone, I’m slightly distracted from the nervousness. I know, I never claimed to be normal.
Anywho, the record-holding conversation was with an alum who was out ice fishing and drinking a few Bud Lights. It was an…interesting conversation, to say the least. Another good conversation I’ve had recently was a bit theological as I got into my capstone project with a guy in graduate school who was a philosophy and religion major. In that same evening, I spoke with a mass communications alum. The phonathon advisers love it when you have a connection like same hometown, major, campus organizations, etc. This alum happened to have worked for The Tack, so turns out we did have some things in common. I told her about my bleak future outlook at the moment, and she directed me towards www.linkedin.com. She mentioned it was similar to Facebook, but it was more for professionals to “link in” with each other. I asked if it was a “it’s about who you know” type of thing, and she said definitely. It’s always great to hear that what you’ve been learning about the past four years will mean nothing come June. *sideglance* But I went and checked out the website anyway. I uploaded a picture and typed in some information but got lonely quickly as I noticed my friend total was a big 0, and there was no Newsfeed to make me aware of any recent break-ups.
But if you’re looking for a way to do some networking, I’m going to recommend LinkedIn anyway. It looks like a good tool, and really at this point, any/everything helps.
According to Men’s Health magazine (and conceivably my BFF who assured me his sources are legit), the best time to start being friends with an ex is after six months. Apparently during these months, anger is eventually set aside and clarity ensues that all is best without that other person in your life. These months also give you a chance to evaluate your life as once again single or to find someone else to fill the spot the aforementioned ex was filling. What Men’s Health failed to mention, however, was the best time to start unblocking your ex’s ways of communication with you. Do you allow them to see your profile again on Facebook or contact you via e-mail/MSN again?
And then there’s the issue of making the first move: who does it? Does the breaker-upper do it or the breakee? Does it make the breakee seem desperate to make contact with this ex again and a plea to wanting to get back together? Or does it make the breaker-upper seem like a complete jerk for waiting so long to initiate contact again?
But lets face it, how often is being friends again after a nasty breakup really that feasible? Relationships are a finicky business, and yet, we try so hard to maintain them. While singles like to unite in their aloneness and independence, those that are part of a couple find it their mission to set their single friends up. They can’t possibly live without their current partner, how could anyone actually be happy in solitude? Psh, how can anyone actually be happy in confinement?
Despite my reserves about commitment, I am again approaching wedding season, aka, June through September. During these months, my weekends are dedicated to telling my high school friends and classmates they look adorable in their overpriced wedding dress, no they didn’t spend too much on the stupid favors that say “Jenny and Troy Forever,” and of course they’re making a mistake, but that shouldn’t let them stop now that there is hundreds of dollars in wedding gifts on a table somewhere. They thank me for my genuine honesty and assure me they’ll be there for me when my big day comes. Joy.
I’ll just be sure to have a box of kleenixes available when the day comes they need to sign off on the divorce papers. ♥
Here s a video blog about the Buena Vista Men advancing to the NCAA D3 Sweet Sixteen! Click below to play.
Happy International Women’s Day!
While you may crinkle your nose at such a silly proclaimed day, remember that March is also National Women’s History Month. 
All over the world efforts were made today to protest abuse against women and to empower the female gender. Since the day is practically just beginning in the United States, we still have plenty of time to make a difference. Maybe you could start by making one less sexist comment today or letting a female know you appreciate her in your life. Huge parades of protests and rallies work too but aren’t necessary to making a difference in one person’s life.
Sidenote: Any Where’s Waldo fans?
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