Career

New Years 2007 & Project 365 Resolution

Every blog and their mom seems to be looking back on 2006. It definitely has been a busy year with lots of different things going on. I say this every year, but each year seems to get better and better. Let’s see if I can break down my own experience for you in a sensible manner. In the end, there will be my resolutions for 2007. No worries, it won’t be the usual “drink more water” or “exercise more.” Instead, I’m looking forward to more meaningful changes.

2006 gone by…

Year 2006, where it is six years after the new Millenium, I went sky diving, I started my portfolio, I quit Banana Republic after 5 years, I turned 21 years old and we had the opportunity to experience a date such as 06.06.2006, or 6/6/6 for short. Scary, but interesting none the less. The year 2006 also meant my considerable investment with my fraternity.

Three years ago, my chapter house has been in troubled times with excessive substance abuse and negligence on all responsibilities. Then, a turning point with the senior class of 2005, who took it upon themselves to take the initiative to enhance the quality of our experience. Given that momentum, our executive board has continued a vision of higher standards to lead the greek community back into a brighter light. Rewarded by our own international fraternal organization, and by our local university community, we have proved that 2006 has been a successful story of our efforts. My personal contribution has been specifically on career development and leadership. This involvement became a significant theme in my life moving forward.

Thinking about my career and my impact on my peers as a team player went into overdrive. It was pretty much all I talked about and thought about. So much, that 2007 will be a time to start letting go a little and trusting in progress working out for themselves. I’ve really become a tight ass, strung up on responsibilities and idealistic obligations. However, it has given me the chance to work at Microsoft, and seeing first hand, what it’s like to work for such a large software company in their IT department.

Through it all, Microsoft is a great company. Let me explain more in detail that you are probably wondering about: Benefits = Great; Pay = Great; People = Nice; Management/Organization = Good/Needs to be flatter; Quality of work = Good; Passion = Intermittent. Overal all, you can see that interning at Microsoft as their Technology Evangelist for the CRM platform internally was pretty cool. It afforded me the experience of high demand responsibilities and interaction with key stakeholders between various organizations on all levels of management. I mean, General Managers and Vice Presidents read and responded to my work. Even more interesting is that a newsletter I’ve been using to market our team has created competition with the General Manager’s PR (think manager’s manager’s manager’s manager). In the end, I was grateful to have the opportunity to work with a company like Microsoft. It’s unfortunate though that I found no appropriate path afterwards to move into a full time position (in IT). A disclaimer: my comments are soley based on my onbservations personally and by listening to other intern experiences. This by no means is truth for other parts of Microsoft.

My next step? Well, I accepted an offer to a great part time job at the Center for Environmental Visualization at the College for Oceans and Fishery as their Graphic Designer. From what it sounds like, I may also be an User Interface Designer too. Yay! On top of that, they are looking to build it into an internship program - which I get to help develop - that may lead to a full time position. woot!!

School wise, I’ve completed my required courses to earn a BS in Informatics at the Information School ending with a sweet Senior Capstone. More importantly I’ve found my calling to be an Interaction Designer and found my inspiration through my professor, Axel Roesler at the Art School at the University of Washington. The final 20 credits before graduation will focus on HCI, Usability, User Experience and Interactivity through media and information technology (nerd talk is sexy, no?).

Photography has finally started becoming a serious hobby and it has been long over due. Every since picking up my Nikon D50, I feel in control and more creative with what I can do as I capture the events of my life so that I can share them with you, my friends. Bless Flickr for being such an addiciting inspiring service.

2007 to come…

So with 2007 on the way, there are many things to look forward to and more goals to add to the pile. First I want to mention that my sister Sharon is pregnant, so number 2 will be on the way! She feels it is going to be a girl again. Deep down inside though, I wish she felt it was going to be a boy. I’ll still love the new addition anyways. You guys already know how much I love my niece Lauren.

With 2007, I want to start Project 365. Before during my Xanga days, I used to reflect a lot on my daily/weekly moments. Reading those gave me a lot of insight about what I was thinking about and what actually went on, with detail. Being busy doesn’t allow me to do that anymore. Now since “pictures are worth a thousand words,” I will take a picture(s) each day for the whole year to capture my life. You can do it too, especially new owners of a wicked cool Mac with the built in iSight. You can find useful links to make Project 365 easier for you thanks to a special Lifehacker post.

Last, I want to be more charitable. We are blessed with such fortunate lives and we want even more things that makes our lives better. We compare ourselves with others who are just as comfortable with their lives. Don’t get me wrong, our parents and your parents worked hard to give us our quality of life. On the other hand, what I’m hoping is to just give some of my time that I spend on myself and help out others. Realizing potential in others is something I’ve been experiencing a lot lately, so why not help others realize their opportunities as well? I’ve found a great website that tracks the various charitable organizations internationally. Whether you believe these organizations are worth your time, whether the money you invest is going someplace needed than for salary, or if the research is really making an impact, I urge you to check the website out and to look to your local community and see what they know about how to help others. Get involved! There is something to do if you’re bored with life, help others.

So cheers to 2006 and I welcome 2007 with open arms and an open mind.

© 2006 Fieldnotes.