I'm back!

So, the summer is nearly over and I haven't really written much of anything in my blog. However, I've been having a lot of urges to write lately, so I figured I should give this another go. I don't have anything creative or insightful to say, so I guess I'll just talk about one of my favorite subjects: me! *Laughs*

It feels like, ever since I was a junior in high school or so, everyone has been asking me about what my plans are for the rest of my life. Where are you going to go to college? What's your major? What do you plan to do with that major? And every time I finally came up with an answer to one question (after taking forever to agonize about my lack of a plan), another question would inevitably pop up.

I never really knew what I wanted to do. The only thing that I really enjoyed doing was learning about other cultures (specifically their languages). So, when it came time to go to college, I decided I would become a Spanish teacher. There's just one problem: I didn't want to be in school for the rest of my life (at least until I retired).

As you can see, this was a fairly large problem. I began looking for an alternative solution. I knew I had found the right major for me when I saw that the international business program at UMSL requires one to study abroad for at least a little bit. So, I finally found my major! But then, what was I supposed to do with that once I graduated?

This question has haunted me for the last two years because I simply didn't know the answer. After all this time worrying about my lack of a plan, I finally (finally) have one! Oddly enough, my life's plan was inspired by a T-shirt at Target. Anyway, here's my plan for the next five years or so of my life:

I am currently employed at Toys"R"Us Express, which will be closing its doors in January. I will continue to work there for the rest of the semester, which starts on Monday. However, come the second semester, I will hopefully be placed in an internship at Scottrade. For the last two semesters of my senior year, I will hone my skills at Scottrade (which was recently listed by Forbes magazine as the 27th best company to work for AND has it's headquarters approximately 16 minutes from my house).

Upon graduating from UMSL, I will either be hired on at Scottrade or I will apply for the rotational program at Edward Jones. This is the only part of my plan that I am unsure of. While Scottrade, despite the horrible economy, is continuing to grow and improve as a company, Edward Jones has a more global focus, which is what I am looking for. Additionally, Edward Jones was listed as number 2 on the same Forbes list of best companies to work for and its headquarters are literally across the street from Scottrade. Also, the rotational program would allow me to work in a different department for three month periods over the course of a year before finally placing me in whatever department fit me best. The downside is that this program is probably very difficult to get into and there would not be the same amount of advancement opportunities that could reasonably be expected from a company like Scottrade.

Either way, wherever I wind up, I plan on working (and hopefully rising through the ranks at least a little) for whatever company for four years. During this time I will also become involved in community projects and preparations for the GMAT.

After the time is up, I will apply to the schools with the top MBA programs in the country. While Harvard would be lovely, it unfortunately does not have a program designed specifically for those of us who wish to focus on international business. The school that I am leaning towards shooting for instead is Columbia University.


So... That's my plan so far. Thoughts?

It seems that many family members have their own blogs now, and since I live so far away, I felt as if this might be a nice way to keep in contact. That and I will soon be embarking to Barcelona, Spain and I would like a way to share my adventures via the internet with those in the States and I had no better ideas.

It's been a long time since I've had a blog. The last time I faithfully kept one, I was 17 years old and still in high school. It was the "cool thing" back then, shortly before the invention of MySpace and Facebook (although now it is hard to imagine a time before them). It occurred to me the other day that I am of the last generation to remember a time before the Internet. I felt a brief wave of nostalgia for a time before the Interweb, but came to accept that time changes all things (especially technology). Besides, without it, I wouldn't be sitting here blogging, would I?

I have always professed that my least favorite technological device is the cellular phone. Over the years, my resentment for them has grown out of their incessant interruptions whenever I am with others my own age who (for some reason) seem incapable of turning them on silent or ignoring them for the duration of our time together (sometimes unable to even wait until the end of a conversation before texting some unknown individual). To me, this is the equivalent of attempting to carry on a discussion with someone all the while he/she intermittently whisper something in the ear of a third person that he/she has not bothered to take the time to introduce me to. It is, in a word, rude.

Also, they make me feel as if I am on a sort of electronic leash, able to be contacted at any time. Since I do not hang on my cell phone's every beep, I often do not realize that someone has attempted to contact me (possibly several times). This causes whoever it is that has been texting/calling me to feel as if I have slighted them or purposely ignored them (putting a great strain on my friendships). Or at least it used to. I believe that by now my friends have come to understand my relationship with my phone and realize that I mean no offense by not replying straight away.

All this being said, about a month ago I forgot my phone on the charger before heading out the door for school. At first I felt a rush of liberation, but this was short lived. I soon felt the loss of having the power of my iPhone at my fingertips, which was replaced with a stab of panic when I realized I wouldn't be able to call to tell Gabrielle where to meet me after school to drive me home. I underestimated her foresight, as she was waiting for me outside of my classroom when it came time to go home. It is with a sigh that I concede to being a slave to my phone, if only because it would appear to be impossible to survive in this modern time without one.