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As I graduate college, move away from home and begin graduate school in the next few months, it seems like everything in my life is becoming more adult-like. Everything except my wardrobe, that is!
Sure, I have a few nice outfits for interviews and fancy dinners, but as far as being prepared to student teach and NOT be dressed in the same clothes as them, I am not ready!
College students are notorious for stumbling into class in our pajamas and wearing sweatpants for weeks at a time. Although I don’t wear sweats everyday, I’m pretty sure I only have one pair of jeans without holes in them!
In an attempt to look older than the 7th graders I’ll be students teaching, I took my mom’s 30% off coupon and headed to Kohl’s this weekend. I don’t like shopping and I have a hard time finding clothes that fit, but I was determined! After a few hours and my sister’s help, I left with a few professional looking shirts, pants and skirts. I still have a long way to go, but my shopping spree was a step in the right direction!
If I can give one piece of advice from my experience, it is to build your “adult” wardrobe while your in college. If you are going to spend money on clothes, maybe get a nice shirt or pair of pants instead of another Duquesne hoodie. Then, when you graduate and are suddenly adult, you are dressed appropriately!
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK | Tags: career services, duquesne university, internships, jobs
Last week, when the weather felt more like June than March, Career Services gave students a nice surprise in the entrance to the library. They had set up big containers of lemonade and fruit punch with cool Career Services cups that change color when cold! I grabbed a pink cup (that turns purple!) and filled it with some cold lemonade.
The woman from Career Services gave me a lot of information about the things their department offers. Although I am not in the market for an internship or job, I was really impressed that all they had to offer! She told me about the “Ready, Set, Connect!” St. Patrick’s Day themed networking event they had on March 16. She said there would be Duquesne alumni there to network with students and give them career advice. She also told me about how students can get immediate resume help or career advice in the Rockwell Commons Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-3pm, and Thursday and Friday from 10am-12pm.
Here are some additions search website if you are looking for a job or internship:
1. Duquesne Connection, Duquesne’s online job board just for students and alumni: http://duq.experience.com
2. Regional Internship Center: www.TheRegionalInternshipCenter.org
3. Pittsburgh Technology Council: http://pghcareerconnector.com/
4. Check out more at the Career Services website: http://www.duq.edu/career-services/. Click on “Students” then “Job Search Resources.”
-Brittany
After much thought, I’ve decided to go to Emory for grad school next year. I thought I might second guess my decision once it was made, but I’ve remained confident in my choice for the past week. I feel like I can move forward with the process now, like getting ready to move and square away details and my schedule with Emory. After going through this process, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself and decision making. Although I know I have a lot more to learn in the next year, I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned about making big decisions:
1. Make a pro/con list. I know it sounds lame, but it really worked for me. Writing down the pro’s and con’s for each choice helped me think about them individually and gauge how vital each one was to my overall choice.
2. Sleep on it. Even though my choice for graduate school had to be made in one week, I didn’t force myself to decide right away. I literally used every day I was given, and made my choice on the last day. I’ve learned that sleeping on a decision and seeing how you feel the next day is more constructive than trying to force yourself to decide right away.
3. Seek good (and diverse) advice. When making a decision about your life, talk to people who know you! Although you know yourself better than anyone, sometimes friends and family can give you insights about yourself that you had not realized. One of my friends, who moved away from home to come to Duquesne, told me she though I could learn a lot by going away from Pittsburgh for the first time. This piece of advice meant a lot to me because she moved away from her home, and she knows me well. I also talked to family members and colleagues.
5. …but ultimately make the best decision for YOU! By this point in our lives, we are adults and are learning how to make our own independent decisions. Whether it’s what classes to take, whether to live on or off campus, where to work or where to go to grad school, the choice must be yours. It’s your life!
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK, Uncategorized | Tags: duquesne university, Pittsburgh, running, South Side, Station Square
The warm weather seems to bring people outside for the first time since fall. On campus alone, students can be seen sunbathing, doing homework at tables outside, and enjoying their Starbucks on the patio in the Union. Spring is the only thing that keeps me going in winter. During those long months of early dusk and having to run inside on a treadmill, I think about the warm sun in spring! Now that it has finally arrived (hopefully for good!) I’ll share some of my running paths from campus.
1. Here is a link to MapMyRun.com, where users can route runs to get distances or share with friends. This is a 5.17 ish mile run from campus, but it can me easily shortened by turning around earlier. This run starts by going down the South Side steps and crossing over to the “Jail Trail.” Turn left at the trail, taking it past the jail and to the Smithfield Street Bridge. Run across the bridge, and turn right down the steps on the other side of the bridge. You’ll be in Station Square, where you can take the trail past the restaurants and hotels, and turn around wherever you please. http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/pa/pittsburgh/318126926560493837
2. Here is the link so a shorter run around Duquesne campus. MapMyRun.com says if you circle campus using Forbes Ave. to Stevenson Street, behind St. Martin and Towers on Bluff Street, and back to Forbes using McAnulty Drive, the run is 1.21 miles. To make it longer, simply do the loop 2 or 3 or 4 times. You can switch it up by changing directions each time. http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/pa/pittsburgh/272126926607532384
3. Here is a link to a slightly longer run. MapMyRun.com says this route in 4.53 miles. You begin by going down the South Side steps to the “Jail Trail” and turning left. Take the trail all the way past the Birmingham Bridge to the Hot Metal Street Bridge. There is a separate walking/running path of the Hot Metal Street Bridge, which is awesome! When you get across the bridge, you’ll be in the South Side. The map takes you down East Carson St. to 10th Street. Turn right onto the 10th Street Bridge, go through the tunnel, and end up back on Forbes Ave. You can make this run longer by continuing on East Carson Street until it becomes West Carson Street and you are in Station Square. There, you can run on the trail through Station Square (like in run #1) and take the Smithfield Street Bridge back to campus. http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/pa/mt%20pleasant/561126926643894534
These are just a few runs I do while on campus. If you have another other routes, MapMyRun.com is a great tool, and please share them with everyone by commenting on Facebook or posting a comment on the blog! I could always use a new running route!
Be sure to run with a friend!
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK, Uncategorized | Tags: duquesne duke, duquesne university, newspaper
If you want to get the feel for a town or city, you pick up their local newspaper. If you want to get a feel for the pulse of Duquesne University, take a look at the student newspaper. If there is something exciting going on, a newsworthy story, or a University event, you’ll find in the Duquesne Duke. The newspaper is written by students for the University community. Take a look: www.TheDuquesneDuke.com
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK | Tags: Emory University, graduate school, University of Pittsburgh
On Friday afternoon I went to my mailbox and was surprised to see a letter from Pitt. I had been expecting a response to my application in March, but by 4pm on Friday my mind was on the weekend, not school or graduate school! I 
opened the envelope and read the first line. I’d been admitted to the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Pitt, and now I have a decision to make! I was equally excited, proud and suddenly stressed. As I read over the letter, I found that, not only did I have a big decision to make between going to Emory or Pitt, but Pitt wanted my decision on Monday (today)!!!! That left two days to decide what school I’d attend next year and where I would live. Needless to say, my weekend was not as carefree as I had hoped. I spend the days weighing the options, discussion the decision with my friends and family, and making a huge pro vs. con list. There is a lot to consider: the school, the size, where I would be living, and whether or not I want to move away 
from Pittsburgh for the first time. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make the decision in two days, so I called the Office of Admission at Pitt this morning and asked for some more time. They gave me a week extension to decide. I have to keep thinking, getting good advice, and deciding what is best for me. I’ll let you know what I decide!
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK | Tags: Chatham University, Girls Going Places, Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy
On Tuesday, I accompanied two of the high school girls in my after-school program to an entrepreneurship conference at Chatham University. The conference was called “Girls Going Places.”
I had never been to Chatham University, and it was neat to see the quaint campus in the middle of bustling Oakland!
The girls were a bit unhappy that they would be split up upon arrival, as they were assigned to separate tables with girls from other schools. It gave them a chance to meet new peers and get to talk to the two professional women assigned to each table. I had to sit at the chaperone table, but that didn’t stop me from benefitting from the lectures and lessons of the day!
First, the girls played a board game that taught them about loans, investing and starting a business. They then reflected on the experience as a group. One of the girls said she learned that if you don’t claim your work, someone may take credit for it. Another explained how she invested in a failed ice cream store, and losing money was discouraging to her. Others made lots of money off of their investments, and the biggest earner won a prize at the end.
Next, the girls got to ask questions of the professional women at their tables and neighboring tables. These were local women who are entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh community and who were willing to share their insights with the next generation of businesswomen. The girls got lunch, snacks, and listened to guest speakers.
Most of the girls at the conference had come with their schools, and the chaperone table was filled with teachers and school guidance councilors. I picked their brains and learned what they thought about the field of education, as I am considering getting my master’s in teaching next year. Just like the high school girls got advice for their futures, I got the chance to talk to educators and get advice on my future too!
-Brittany
It seems like just yesterday I was sitting the library finishing up homework and counting the hours until Spring Break. In the blink of an eye, we are back to the grind, trying to hang on until May.
I had a fun week in Atlanta and got a chance to look at the Emory campus, including the building that houses the graduate program I got accepted to. I am still waiting to hear from the other two schools but I am getting excited about what is to come after graduation.
Speaking of graduation, the University graduation ceremony is exactly two months from today. If you are a senior looking for info on graduation, your mom has been hounding you for the dates and times, or you want to support your fellow students by attending, here is the link to all the info: http://www.duq.edu/graduation/
-Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK | Tags: Emory University, graduate school, MAT, olympic hockey, Spring Break
I am currently sitting in the Pittsburgh airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta. I have to admit I was jealous of everyone packing their bags on Friday for the Bahamas, Florida, or home. I was glad when my boyfriend and I planned a last-minute visit, and glad to get out of the snowy weather! (It’s supposed to be in the 50’s this week in Atlanta!)
If you’ve read my earlier posts, you’ll know that I have been (im)patiently waiting for an admissions decisions from the grad schools I applied to, or a response from some jobs that I applied for. I finally heard something back on Friday, and it was good news! I got accepted to the Masters of Arts in Teaching program at Emory University! I was so relieved to hear back from somewhere so I know that I have at least an option for next year. I was also really excited about getting admitted to this particular program. It is a one-year program, starting soon after I graduate from Duquesne in May. It is also a small program, with 20-30 people in it each year. I have been reading everything I can find about the school and program online since hearing of my acceptance, and get more excited the more I read!
I plan to wait to make my decision about next year until I hear back from the other two graduate programs, but I am excited about the next step, whatever it ends up being!
On a sad note, I caught the final goal of the US vs. Canada hockey game as I arrived at the Pittsburgh airport. At least we earned silver…?
Happy spring break, Duquesne.
Brittany
Filed under: Bloggers, BrittanyK, Uncategorized | Tags: Pittsburgh Voices of Youth, Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy, Speak Up Oliver High School
One of the main components of the after-school program I work at is service. The high school students must complete at least 10 service projects by the end of the school year, and the Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy where I work at Oliver High School has completed about 7 projects so far.
To fund a big project idea the students had, I recently applied for a grant through Pittsburgh Voices of Youth. The project we request funding for is called “Speak Up Oliver High School.” If our group wins the money, we will work with the non-profit called PAX/Real Solutions for Gun Violence to set up a special text messaging code for Oliver High 
School. Students and community members can use the anonymous text code to report a weapon in their school. The text alerts the nearest police department, which we would set up beforehand with PAX.
There were originally about 35 awesome projects that requested funding for their unique social development projects. Earlier this week, a panel from Pittsburgh Voices of Youth narrowed the projects down to 7 finalists, and “Speak Up Oliver High School” is one of the finalists! It now comes down to a vote, and the top 3 projects with the most votes on March 15th are each awarded up to $15,000 for their project!
To learn more about Oliver PYLA’s project and read about the other 6 finalists, click here: www.pghvoicesofyouth.org/vote
Please vote for “Speak Up Oliver High School” and help the kids in my after-school program win the grant for their awesome service project idea!
-Brittany
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