Author Archives: aborder3@uoregon.edu

For week nine I was able to present my Prezi presentation and give feedback to others on theirs. Presenting was very nerve racking, but I feel I did a pretty good job. I have trouble speaking in front of others to the point where I shake and get very fidgety, but today I think I held it together. The feedback I got was useful and I know I can improve in the future especially if I ever have to present in front of the Business school or anybody. Watching others present was nice as well because it was to hear their stories and why they’re doing it as well. There were some I’d like how they had strong voices and others who were very organized and had a full plan already which was very nice. I was engaged the most when it came towards presenting and receiving my feedback. I learned from this activity how to brand myself and how to present it in a professional way. I also learned what Prezi was, beforehand I’d never heard of it. I’m going to apply this to my future by continuing to improve on my public speaking and presenting in front of others.

For class eight we were able to brainstorm what we were going to put into out Prezi presentations. We seen examples and went over the six important slides you need for your story. The examples I seen were great and gave me motivation on how I want my presentation to look. I know mines need to focus on what I’d like to do at school and where I hopefully see myself when I graduate. Business and Journalism will be the main topics I focus on as far as career wise goes. I want to explain what I’m interested in, what makes me happy and what I want my end goal to sorta be. I was engaged the most when it came towards reviewing what I needed for my presentation. There I was able to take notes and plan on what I intend to present. I learned from this activity what I need for my presentation to be successful and what all I need to add to it. Before today I was confused and not sure what my presentation is suppose to have. I’m going to apply this to my future for my presentation coming up and probably use it for future presentations as well.

For class seven our main focus was our elevator pitch. For majority of the class we went around and in a line sharing our elevator pitches with one another and meeting older business students. The people I met had interesting pitches and I was inspired by what they were doing. As I continued down the line I felt I was getting some what better at my pitch and a little more confident in what I was saying. I kept expressing my interest to major in Business or Journalism and the potential career path I could see myself in. The older students also had a lot to comment on as far as my interests and plans went. I was the most engaged when we did the elevator pitch speed dating line. I was able to learn how to do it and make mines sound a little better. I learned from this activity the basics of a elevator pitch when dealing with professionals. I will use this everywhere throughout my life from job interviewing to when I’m out with my colleagues trying to get ahead with networking.

For week five we focused on experiences that have helped shape us to who we are now. For me working fast food and being on the cheer team have built multiple skills. I know how to work a cashier, I’m familiar with handling money and I have customer service skills. With cheer I was able to gain team working skills, athleticism and rhythm. In class we went over the circle that represents the process of networking. Our guest speaker really helped put it into perspective to where I was able to understand it better. I know I’m going to have to deal with circle and mastering it as I go through my college years. There will be trial and error with certain company’s or jobs that I end up getting an internship with or working for. With this class I was the most engaged when we were going over the circle and the topic of internships. I know most freshman don’t get internships this early, but I can still meet future employers and even job shadow them. I learned from this activity that there’s steps toward getting to an internship and that the first internship might not always be the one for you. I’m going to apply this to my future for when I start browsing over jobs I’m interested in and considering an internship for their company.

At Diversity Career Fair I was able to experience what it’s like to present myself to actual employers. I hope to learn new skills for meeting people in a higher position as well as the do’s and don’t’s in business. The speeches and workshops they gave us really helped with the experience and I learned a few new tips. While at the fair I was able to connect with Wells Fargo and Kaiser Permanente who presented me with a opportunity to possibly work for them. I’ve known about Wells Fargo for awhile I mean I bank with them so I know they have great opportunities for people in school as well graduates. I’m also very familiar with Kaiser Permanente as well because my grandparents are apart of their health services. Those were the two main connections I felt really good about and I plan to apply for both. I felt that I was the most engaged throughout this whole day when I had my last workshop with Lou Radja. His advice about life was so inspiring and I was just happy that I choose that workshop to go to. Overall the fair was a good experience for me, though they weren’t necessarily looking for freshman I was able to introduce my face and gain experience that I could use for next year.

Class three was pretty interesting especially with the guest speaker we had. I loved his speech and the points he made about being ready and how he would’ve never imagined being in the place he’s at now. I was engaged the whole time in class with our guest speaker. I will apply what he said to my future by staying prepared and to continue to practice. In our books it asks about motivation and a time I felt really challenged. My sophomore year of high school I failed Algebra 3-4. It was a hard time because I had never failed any classes before and I thought I was good at math at one point. I found inspiration to get it together and pass this class the next year because I wanted to graduate on time and I knew I was able to pass this class with a better score.  My feelings at the time were determined and eager to retake it and get all my credits for Junior year. With that I use that for motivation in college by always using tutoring hours and seeking help from friends when needed. My future accomplishments will provide my family and I with stability, inspiration and they’ll be proud.

For class two we were able to go over words that describe us as leaders and the three that stick out mainly to us. For me it was that I’m dependable, friendly and ambitious. I choose those words because I feel they’re essential towards being successful in the business field or any field for that matter. I found that those three stuck out to me the most because people can count on me and I’m one of the nicest people ever. My ambition to do better and keep going also sets me apart from others as well. At any job you need to be dependable or else you’re going to get fired. You don’t get very far being the mean person at work so it’s good to be kind and make good impressions. Also having a drive that motivates you to keep going surpass your achievements is very necessary. I was engaged the most in class when it came to finding words that went with our activity. Class was pretty short so there weren’t many times I wasn’t engaged. I learned from this activity traits about myself and that those are questions you’ll likely get on an interview. I’m going to use this in the future by remembering the things that make me stand out and be ready to explain whether it’s an interview or talking to someone in a higher level

The first class of winter tern was interesting and refreshing to see familiar faces from last term.  We were able to start the day off with an activity that involved all of us getting relatively close to each other. As the class went I noticed a few faces missing from the previous term which was disappointing. We basically learned how the rest of term will play out and what’s expected of us at the end.  I looked into the article Tayah suggested for us and searched on jobs that are related to my field of work I’d like to do. I’m not necessarily sure what my end goal is, but I know I want to pursue something in Journalism. After looking at a few I jobs in that industry, I liked the idea of working as an editor of a magazine or an AR director at a radio station. I honestly want to become a personality whether it’s in radio, magazines, television somewhere at least along those lines. I know somewhere in there you can incorporate business with it which is what I hope to minor in. As far as the class goes I was the most engaged when it came to the LinkedIn profiles because that’s one the first steps towards building my career. I wasn’t really that engaged in the class game at the beginning. From week ones class I learned how useful a LinkedIn profile is and I plan to use it for the rest of my applications.

As we conclude the first ten weeks of BBL it’s time I reflect on the things I feel I progressed in. Throughout this term I was able to come together with people who I identify with and have a real strong team behind me for BA 101. We all came in this together with taking our first college class at the University of Oregon and also having a place where we could feel like leaders and not alone in this journey.  For this term there were a few things I feel I did great in and then there were some I feel that might need a little improvement. One thing I felt I did really well for fall term was going to every single Business class which was at eight in the morning and I’m not a morning person. I actually struggled with that in high school I usually skipped classes that were that early. I knew this was an introductory into the school of Business and I needed to be there every step of it. Something else I think I did good this term was actually try. I tried my hardest to study and understand Business along with math as well. Two things that could have improved this term though was getting help earlier and utilizing office hours. I felt intimidated by my professors not that they had anything to do with it. I probably could’ve done better by going up to them and asking for help or further explanation. It also would’ve been better if I had asked for help earlier instead of when I feel as if I’m going to fail the class. Luckily, I’ll be taking BBL next term where most of us will be in Economics together and I can use my resources better. After phase one of BBL I would score myself with branding my uniqueness as somewhat average. I feel I am unique, but my shyness kept that from showing as much. When it comes to using my resources to overcome challenges I would score myself as advanced. I was able to ask around for help and get free tutoring along with asking former classmates for help as well. For taking co-curricular opportunities I would say I need some improvement. I didn’t focus too much on that this term and was more focused on other things. As far as using teamwork to reach goals I would say I’m exemplary. I never had any problem asking a friend for help or creating a group of people to work together because in the end it always benefited me. For planning my academic and skills development I’d give myself a advanced score. I like the idea of planning and looking ahead at what I need to do and know to be successful. As I conclude this I can say my first ten weeks of BBL was a learning experience for myself and what I need to work on to be better.