Who says education will get you where you want to be?

Having spent 4 years in University studying Psychology, and then another year doing a post graduate degree in Public Relations, I thought for sure that I would walk out of that institution into a great job that I would love. Sadly enough, it has been almost a year since I have graduated and the closest I have come to this is literally asking "would you like fries with that" as a server at Swiss Chalet. And yet, people I look up from my highschool, who hardly finished their diploma are clearly more successful than me! They have jobs, they may not love them, but they have a consistent income. What is the point in going through so much schooling to get to the job you "love" if there is nothing out there and instead you stand practicially unemployed after spending thousands and thousands of dollars getting yourself there!

I understand that the economic climate is bad right now, but it has gotten to the point of pathetic. Should we really continue to tell the smart kids in school to carry on, and get a great education so they can do what they want, when really they won't get to do anything at all?
I had the choice of doing a masters in Psychology, or take a different route in a more applied and creative field of PR. So that is what I did. I often look back on my decision and debate, could things have gone differently. Speaking to friends of mine, it seems not. Having finished their masters last summer as well they are working at Metro, Garage clothing, and struggling to get into their field.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad that I went through the path I did. I love the field I have chosen and the things I have learned, but I beleive the preperation for leaving these schools needs to be changed. Students minds shouldnt be filled with all the jobs they are going to be offered, it should be filled with the reality of the difficulty they are going to be facing and the challenges that exist in entering the real world.
Stop lying and tell them the true. Its a tough world out there, so get ready for rejection, failure, and consistent let downs.

Skittle Skat

A friend of mine had sent me a link to the Skittles website yesterday. I figured this link would perhaps bring me to the website and show me the creation of a new flavour, a new packaging or a new partnership. However, instead it was something quite different. The skittles company has changed their website into their twitter page. By doing this when you log onto the website you are required to tell whether you are over the age of 18 (because skittles are quite scandalous), and then a twitter page pops up and a smaller navigating box stays in the left hand corner. This small box allows you the options to go back to home, games, learn about the company etc., quite the same type of stuff that is found on a typical page, however this information is now taking a back seat to the twittering that is happening on the main page. The main question to ask is, is this PR ploy risky or rewarding? When reading the twitter posts it is hard to tell. For example, some people enjoy the opportunity to tweet about skittles and express happiness with the product, while others take the opportunity to cut it down and insult the PR tactic that has been used. However, although there may be some bad publicity being brought up, the point is that it has got people talking. There are skittles conversations happening all over the place. Thus, the tactic has reached its goal, and therefore created a buzz around the product.

As well I believe this ploy does a good job or marketing towards an older age group. Using the frequently used social media Twitter, it allows the company to target adults as opposed to young children and broaden the interest in the product. It's even got me blogging about it!

Although it is risky I think it was a positive risk for the company because it brought the product into public interest, even if just for a short period of time.

What are your thoughts?

Risky or Rewarding?

Long time no blog

Just like to meniton I am still here, debating and contradicting lifes happenings and pop culture as I see it. Jumping into a new semester I see myself posting a plethora of interesting topics sure to ignite your interest in questioning what we see happening around us.
Thanks
Jen

I'm dreaming of a caucasion holiday

Yesterday I had heard a new country song featuring brad paisley and the boys of blue collar comedy. When listening to the wording, it really made me realize how far our obsession in political correctness has gone. In the song they bleep out words such as Christmas, white, new, little, drummer, boy, etc., because everything can offend someone. It's so ridiculous, its hilarious! How silly we must look as a culture when it we are seen essentially "hiding" what we want to say and blanketing every celebration as a "holiday". In a country where we are supposed to respect and appreciate every ones differences it seems contradicting that instead we encompass all celebrations under "happy holidays". I am proud to say Merry Christmas. I don't even believe in God or Christ, but I am not offended by people wishing me a Merry Christmas. I don't expect people to wish me a "Merry Santamas". If someone were to say Happy Hanukkah, I would never be offended. Therefore, why is everyone so bent out of shape with saying Merry Christmas? Even if you don't celebrate it, you might as well have a merry one!

I believe in Santa Claus!

When visiting a younger member of my family this weekend I was filled with Christmas spirit. This continued right up until the moment he blurted out in front of some of the child population, "Santa doesn't exist!". Although this was shocking to hear this seven year old say this, the most horrific thing he added was "that's what my teacher told me".
Teachers hold the power to change the lives of children every day. But when a teacher uses this power to steal the innocence from the children it seems to be such a shame.
It makes sense that a child would learn the truth of their world (as true as it may be) from their peers and from their own deductive reasoning. However, I completely disagree with a teacher being able to steal this belief from a child. If a teacher can't tell their students that a god doesn't exist, that why can they say that Santa doesn't?

Simply Impressed

I Came across this picture in my random searching and I felt the need to share.

Commercial Colleges

When watching TV it makes sense that many products that have commercials seem more credible. When you are at a store and you see a brand of juice that was recommended on a commercial, it seems more reliable than one you have never heard of before. However, it seems the opposite for colleges, universities and perhaps schools in general. Maybe it is just me, but I trust colleges that have commercials far less than those who don't. I have never seen a commercial for Harvard, McMaster, University of Guelph, Western, or Queens. However, many times, especially on "Peach tree TV", I see commercials for these crazy colleges that have people convincing me to go back to school. It is because of these commercials that I do not take the school at all seriously. Perhaps it is because I am not the demographic they are trying to reach, or maybe its because of the air conditioning school that boasted "get chyou a cooool job" that just ruined it for all of them. I found it to be an interesting paradox that when it comes to important choices sometimes advertising just doesn't cut it at all.