Random Blogger! :D

What’s the most important thing to have to be able to survive in this world? I was contemplating the answer to this question once, when my friend randomly asked. I could not answer right away and hesitated because the answer seemed difficult. Was the answer a great paying job? To be ambitious? Or was it to have large sums of money? Eventually, after witnessing people’s relationships with each other, I assumed that the answer was trust.

To me, trust is very important because it is not only hard to gain but very easy to lose. From experience, I learned the hard way. I have lost a friend’s trust because of my wrongdoings (I accidentally lost her favorite pencil in the 7th grade). However, she forgave me in the end. I had to gain her trust again by showing to her that I am capable of borrowing a pencil and being able to return it in the end. Such a process may seem meaningless and simple, but to me, it meant very much. To have someone’s trust makes one feel not only happy but credible and provides a sense of worth. One becomes more confident. When my friends turn to me to help with their problems, it means that they trust me enough to ask for advice and believe in my opinions. I was very happy to know that they had entrusted so much faith in me, so I strive harder to help them.

With all personal relationships, one has to build in this world, I truly believe that trust is a very important factor. It is from trust that people have lasting relationships (whether personal or business), gain promotions, and it opens many more doors of opportunity.

Eileen Lin
	[Street Address]  |  [City, ST ZIP Code]  |  [Phone Number]  |  [E-mail Address]
Objective
[A position as an intern.]
Skills Profile
–     Proficient in speaking Cantonese –     Proficient with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet –     Amateur in Photoshop –     Novice at Web Designing: CSS/HTML
Employment History
[Office Employee, U.F.B.C.O]		7/7/2008 — 8/28/2008
[Harlem,NY] –     Filed papers –     Data entry –     Photocopies –     Design flyers
[Office Employee, B&M IMPORT]		7/7/2007 — 8/25/2007
[NY,NY] –     Filed papers –     Data Entry –     Payroll using Quickbook
Honors & Awards
–     Phi Eta Sigma, National Honor Society

Yilian Lin

FRO 2000S

Career Story

As a little child, my parents have always asked me what I have wanted to be. I never really had one straightforward answer; and because of that, my family would suggest different careers including doctor, scientist, lawyer and pharmacist. However, even though I did not know what I want to do in the future, I knew that I absolutely did not want to pursue those professions. I certainly did not have the detail-oriented quality required for all those professions. So to get a clearer idea of what I was interested in, I took the Strong Inventory.  As my results, I had 3 careers that showed up on my list: Cosmetologist (Hairstylist), Singer, and Elementary School Teacher.

Though, I had elementary school teacher as a result, I believe that I might not enjoy that kind of job. Unfortunately, one of my flaws is being impatient. To be able to teach kids, I would have to have immense patience. I have had experience in taking care of little kids (which include babysitting my little cousins) and based on that experience, I’d prefer 5th or 4th graders. However, even then, I would not be able to teach children due to my impatience. In order to become an elementary school teacher, I would need a bachelor’s degree with education, child development and communication courses completed, as well as a teaching certificate. I’m currently not interested in taking courses involving neither education nor child development. In addition, teachers need to develop creative teaching methods. This poses another problem for me. I think I am creative in terms of graphic design, not in teaching methods. I will have a tough time trying to come up with new ways to motivate children to learn.

I lowered my head to see the next career on the list: Singer and Musician. When I was little I wanted to be a singer. Although I did not sing much in public, I enjoyed singing very much. I began my music education foundation at elementary school, where I learned to play music. Music is a profound part of my life; I have grown up listening to my family singing along with their archaic music. As a subsequent consequence, I would sing along too. I learned how to play the clarinet and flute during my elementary and junior high school years. During high school, I learned piano. It was during these years that I learned the different mechanics of melody, rhythm, and much more about music. I have met the requirement of performing live in front of people.⁴ Many of my friends believe that I can sing well. (They heard me sing at karaoke places.) To become a singer, a producer has to seek you out and produce you.² I believed in their opinions – and have gone to different auditions to try out. Not all singers need a degree – it all depends on the talent.

The last career that I saw on my paper was the cosmetologist profession. It’s strange because, I recently asked my mom to let me attend hairstyling school. It seemed fun to help people with their hair, and make them not only prettier but happier too! I even asked my hair dresser about becoming a hair stylist, and she recommended it. She happily said, “You should go for it!” I will take some classes at barber school over the summer and learn to be a hairstylist. It will help exercise my creativity (by developing new styles and techniques) ^5,6 and I will be able to meet new people. I am very shy in public, so I hope that by meeting many people daily will help get rid of my timidity.

Sources:

1)      “Barbers, Cosmetologists, and Other Personal Appearance Workers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos332.htm>.

2)      “Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos095.htm>.

3)       “TeachersKindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos318.htm>.

4)       “Occupation Profile – America’s Career InfoNet.” Welcome to America’s Career InfoNet. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.careerinfonet.org/acinet/occ_rep.asp?nodeid=2&optstatus=000110111&next=occ_rep&jobfam=27&soccode=272042&stfips=&level=&id=1&ES=Y&EST=musician>.

5)   “Occupation Profile – America’s Career InfoNet.” Welcome to America’s Career InfoNet. Web. 08 Mar. 2010. <http://www.careerinfonet.org/acinet/occ_rep.asp?nodeid=2&optstatus=000110111&next=occ_rep&jobfam=39&soccode=395012&stfips=&level=&id=1&ES=Y&EST=hairstylist>.

6)  “39-5012.00 – Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.” O*NET OnLine. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. <http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/39-5012.00>.

I found these sources using the information given during Freshman Seminar. I used both the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Usa.Gov website to lookup the 3 careers: elementary school teacher, musician/singer, and hairstylist.

The results of the Strong inventory came in.

For me, I only had one code: Artistic.

I knew that I was more of an artistically-driven person, but I did not know what careers to pursue. The Strong inventory had provided some careers that I may want to pursue, based on my results.

At the top of my list was Retail Sales Representative – something that I would NOT want to go for. Though I am interested in marketing, I don’t believe that I will make an efficient sales representative.

Next right after, was cosmetologist. I have actually considered a career related to cosmetologist – a hairstylist. Chemistry is my most dreaded subject, which drove me away from being a cosmetologist. But, I hope to take hair styling lessons in the future; maybe for a side job?

Flight Attendant was further down my list; and sounded the most interesting. I mean, traveling everywhere and get good deals on flights? ;D Sounds good. However, the hours and the pay are quite discouraging to me.

All in all, the strong inventory was pretty accurate in describing how my personality is.

As the title says, I believe I have many weaknesses, but I guess I have some strong points too?

For one, I am not a terrific writer. I remember that back in high school, I had to write essays for English class; I always got a B no matter how hard I tried. I don’t know I could not get a higher grade. In English class, I hear other classmates read their responses to the passage and they seem to have a more sophisticated style to their writing that I could never reach.

What I am more concerned about is that I am too conscientous of what others think about me. I always get this feeling that everyone is watching you, analyzing every thing I do and say – and because of that, I get afraid to be myself on many occasions. I am too afraid that people will not accept me for who I am, thus I try to keep myself restricted. I don’t know how to break out of it and I would like to get rid of this weakness. I want to be more like myself and care less of what other people think. Sometimes, I suppress my own beliefs to math other people’s beliefs. Such as this one time where a few acquaintances and I were talking about a situation that I did not agree on, but I just agreed on it to be accepted.

Procrastination is another weakness of mine. I don’t procrastinate too often. I try my best to not to – I plan out things ahead using my planner and try to stick to my plans.

In terms of strengths, I believe I am a good listener. Whenever my friends have a dilemma, they usually tell me of their problems. I usually stay mostly quiet in the conversation (I don’t really say much) but my friends still appreciate it. At the end of the conversation, my best friend would thank me for listening to her while she rants. It’s what friends are for, right?

I think I’m decent at graphic designing. Though I only know the basics, I think I do a decent job with it. Web designing too; I’m an amateur at those, but I am willing to learn!