What's Happening Wednesday: MU Drag Show

Hey, Mountie Nation!

So, last Friday night (that's a Katy Perry song, isn't it?) I attended the MU Drag Show, hosted by GLO (Gay and Lesbian Organization/Alliance). This wasn't my first time attending the MU Drag Show, so I (more or less) knew what to expect. What I remembered from last year was how the drag show was highly entertaining because of how real and raunchy the performers are. The performers don't hold back... at all, so be prepared. If you're easily offended by profanity, then maybe this show isn't for you. However, if you can take a little profanity, which most college students can, then I highly recommend you attend the next one!

(Photo credit: Adam Wood)

I wasn't sure if I should format this post as a review or a recap, so I decided to kind of mix them together and see what happens! In the beginning of the show, Tequila Daniels walked/strutted/danced out into the crowd to get us hyped up. Tequila plays (what I would assume) host, and does a fantastic job at it. She's probably the raunchiest of all of the performers, especially when she gets the crowd involved in her act. Let me just say that there was whipped cream involved on Friday... you can do what you will with that image in your head.

One of my favorite parts of the Drag Show is watching my fellow Mounties dress up in drag and put on performances for us. It's something that is so interesting to experience because even though they're still themselves, they seem completely different! With all of the makeup, outfit choices, and dance routines, you would never expect these performers to be the students that you surround yourself with daily. The transformation is almost magical.

My absolute favorite part of the MU Drag Shows, though, is the sense of community. Whether you're gay, bisexual, straight, transgender, etc., it doesn't matter. At the Drag Show, hell... at Mansfield in general, you're all just Mounties having a good time and living the good life. 

Till next time, my Mounties!

Mountie Monday: Hoopin' Through MU

(Borrowed from Canyon Hoops)

Hey, Mountie Nation!

For this week's Mountie Monday, I chose someone that I used to share an apartment with! If I were to be asked what my most vivid memory of living with Rosey Boone is, I would tell them about the times in our backyard (whether it was 70° or 40°) when she would practice her hula hooping.

Rosey first started hooping during her freshman year and loves it just as much as when she started... maybe even more! After watching her friends Deirdre and Angel hula hooping outside of Maple (Ah... good ol' Maple), she decided to give it a shot! Hooping definitely wasn't easy right off the bat and it took Rosey around a year to get her first basic trick down.

Hooping has become more than just a fun way to workout for Rosey, but also a way to relieve stress. While hooping, she can't think about homework or the struggles of a college student (lack of cash flow). It also serves as a form of meditation by "wiping away her worries and replacing them with joy!"

Rosey has recently been selected to participate in Hooping Idol! Hooping Idol is basically a Youtube version of American Idol, except they perform hooping routines. This week, Rosey had to choose a hip-hop song to hoop to, which was a little challenging considering that isn't the type of music she would usually listen to.

To support Rosey and her dreams, visit and "like" her Facebook and keep an eye out for updates!


Name: Rosey Boone
Year: Senior
Major and Minor: B.A. Music, minor in Creative Writing
Hometown: Bethel, PA
Organizations: President, Founder of Hula Hoop Club

What made you choose Mansfield?

Rosey: I chose Mansfield because it is a very similar town to where I went to high school.  I felt comfortable here, and after going to Choir and Music Theater Camp during the summer I decided it was where I wanted to go to school.

Favorite professor or class and why?

Rosey: It is really really hard to choose, but my top two classes have to be Global Art with Martha Campbell and Gender Politics with Bosworth.  I also learned a lot in Eastern Approach to Reality and I'm currently enjoying taking the English Senior Seminar with Dr. Harris.  I've really reached out of the box with my Gen. Ed. classes and I do not regret it!

Do you have any advice for students looking to start up their own club/organization?

Rosey: The one thing that I learned really quickly was to not be afraid to ask for help.  There is no such thing as a silly question, and it's easy to get lost in the paperwork and approvals and requests.  The ladies in the CCSI office are very nice and helped me so much with my first request.  A lot of the staff on the top floor of Alumni helped me figure out how to get started as well.  Also, it can be easy to get discouraged if your club doesn't have a lot of interest at first, but as long as YOU are enthusiastic about it, the people who you really want in your club will pick up on that and start participating more.  Your members feed off of your energy.  To some extent, you are going to have to do more work, put in more time, and maybe even some of your own money, but starting the Hula Hoop Club has been so worthwhile for me, it is so worth it!

Friday Five: Five Things to Add to Your Mountie Bucket List

Graduation? In less than a month?...

After realizing that graduation is so, so close, I decided to come up with a bucket list (Mountie Edition). Some of these things I have completed and others I haven't... yet. Whether or not you're graduating in a few weeks, I hope this bucket list inspires you to complete something on it or make your own. Even though four years seems like a long time... it isn't. It goes by way too fast, so you better get started now! A huge thanks goes out to my co-workers and supervisors in Admissions for contributing to this list!

1. Be the Mountie for a campus event
2. Paint part of your body to show support for an athletic event
3. Have your picture on mansfield.edu
4. Bake cookies with President Hendrick's lovely wife
5. Visit the top floor of North Hall Library

Already completed the above? Check out these additional items to check off your list!

• Audition for the musical
• Join one club that is related to your major and one that is just for fun
• Chill in a hammock on campus (bonus points: if you set it up near the president's house)
• Dance your ass off at The Hut
• Make friends outside of your major and clubs/organizations
• Personally get to know a faculty/staff member
• Network, network, network
• Study abroad
• Give a tour to prospective students
• Accumulate enough (free) t-shirts for every day of the week
• Spend the night in North Hall Library
• Write an article for The Flashlight
• Have flowers delivered to you during class [Valentine's Day ;-)]

What's Happening Wednesday: #reasonsiLoveMU

Hey, Mounties!

For this week's What's Happening Wednesday post, I thought I would feature something that the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has been working on. Since I'm a member of PRSSA, I'm obviously so excited to spread the word about this awesome contest!

This contest is kind of bouncing off of the #LoveMU idea that Trevor Clark came up with. Now, instead of just making a Facebook status or tweet about why you love MU, you can show everyone! Your Instagram post can be anything from your favorite coffee from Jazzman's to a picture of you and your favorite professor. The options are endless. 

In order to enter, you need to be following @prssamu on Instagram and include #reasonsiLoveMU in your caption. For updates or more information on the contest, be sure to check out the contest's FACEBOOK page.

Good luck, everyone! We're all so excited to see the reasons why you love MU. 

Mountie Monday: The Harrisburg Internship Semester

Happy Monday, Mountie Nation!

For this week's Mountie Monday, I chose to feature the Mountie that earned this semester's The Harrisburg Internship Semester (T.H.I.S.) position. T.H.I.S. is a competitive and paid internship through a stipend and is sponsored through the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). One applicant from each Pennsylvania state university is chosen to represent their school and this year, Kyra Venittelli, was chosen for Mansfield University.

 

Kyra was placed to work at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, one of the smallest departments in the Commonwealth that employs around 110 people. She works in the Secretary's office, who is basically the head of the whole department. Needless to say, he is a very busy person and Kyra works under him.

Kyra is loving her experience in Harrisburg, especially because not many interns or even state employees can say that they work beside their department secretary. The tasks that Kyra is assigned includes attending departmental hearings, assiting in the reviewing and editing of materials for the Secretary and other members of the executive staff, attending departmental conferences, meeting with bureau directors within the department, becoming familiar with department programs such as PACE, OAPSA, APS, APPRISE, OPTIONS (etc.), and much more.

The main goal and purpose at the Department of Aging is to enhance the quality of life of all older Pennsylvanians by empowering diverse communities, the family, and the individual. Kyra and the department she works with does this through the many state programs they have to offer.

Name: Kyra Venittelli

Year: Senior

Major and Minor: Social Work. Minor: Sociology

Hometown: Jackson, NJ

Organizations: Alpha Sigma Tau: Served as Vice President, Risk Management Director, and Alum Liason ;Phi Alpha, Social Work Honors Society: Served as Treasurer; Pi Gamma Mu, Social Sciences Honors Society; Order of Omega, Greek Leadership Honors Society; Social Work Club

Questions:

What made you choose Mansfield?

Kyra: It was convenient to where my parents moved to in Troy, PA and I liked that it was a small campus, which I knew would lead to more leadership opportunities and strong relationships with the university faculty members.

Favorite professor or class and why?

Kyra: Favorite professor is Dr. Nancy Sidell. She is just so knowledgeable in the field of social work, and is the type of professor that will push you to do your best, and expects nothing less. She is the type of woman and professor that enters a room anc has an immediate presence, and effortlessly commands respect without even realizing it. She has taught me so much, especially in my practice course with her called Practice with Individuals.

Favorite event at Mansfield and why? 

Kyra: I really enjoy Homecoming. I love the football games, and when all the different Alumni come up from the University and my sorority. It's just a fun and busy weekend full of events.

Favorite memory from Mansfield:

Kyra: This is a hard one because I have so many. I have a ton of fun memories with the friends I made at Mansfield, especially with my sisters like Stephanie Zimmerman, Brianna Burkhart, Megan Webster, Alyssa Mackie, and Suz Adams. But looking past all the fun I had at Masnfield, my favorite memory of all is when I received my letter from the General saying that he was happy to congratulate me on being picked as the student representing Mansfield University for the T.H.I.S program. It's funny because that letter was sitting on my apartment's kitchen counter for two days because I thought it was a bill statement from the university so I was really trying to put off opening it! But when I finally did, I was so elated that I jumped up and down while my roommates hugged me. I was just so excited.

​So far, what is the most important thing you've learned from your internship?

Kyra: If anything, I have learned so much about politics and state government through this internship. Before I started, I knew very little about it, so it was pretty overwhelming and intimidating at first. I have met so many people through the process including several Department Secretaries, different members of the House of Representatives, Senators, and have been to several events where the Governor spoke. Another thing I gained from my internship is how networking is KEY. Networking in government (or any job) is essential, it happens all the time. I have met so many people through networking that have been so kind to help me out whether it was in regards to advice or contact information for potential employment opportunities. My advice to anyone looking for advancement in their careers, epecially college graduates, is to network with anyone and everyone, period.

Bottom line, this internship has taught me so much, and I feel like I have truly grown as a young professional through the experience. I feel like all college students, regardless of their major, should experience an internship and get themselves out there.

Five Reasons Why the Career Center is Your Best Friend

(Borrowed from Career Center)

Even though college can be a ton of fun, some students (including myself) tend to forget the main reason why we're even here. The main point of college seems to be gaining an education that will help you score your dream job. This week, I decided to talk about the Career Center at Mansfield. The career center will be your best friend at some point in your college career but I highly suggest you check it out sooner rather than later!

• Professional Clothes Closet

If you're stuck in a rut and can't fork out some cash to buy a suit for your interview, the Career Center has a closet that contains professional clothing of different styles and sizes. The Career Center understands that sometimes (meaning, a lot of the time) college students are broke. Suits are expensive but if you don't wear one for an important interview, it could be the difference between you and another candidate. Luckily, the Career Center is willing to help us out.

• Resume Tips

A few weeks ago, I scheduled an appointment with Nichole Lefelhoc to make sure my resume was up to par. It wasn't. I know it can be depressing to get a paper back from a professor with a bunch of red marks all over it, especially if you worked really hard on it! This is how I first felt but then remembered that I wasn't being graded. Nichole was there to help me write the best resume that would catch all of the employers' eyes. What Nichole wrote down on the paper was things I would've never thought about... but made so much sense!

• Mock Interview

Interviews terrify me. I'm not sure if they terrify you or not... but they should. Tough questions will most likely be asked during an interview and there is so much riding on them. Don't fret, though! The Career Center comes to save the day, once again! If you schedule an appointment for a mock interview, whoever is interviewing you will be alerted of the job you're interested in and will do their reseearch 

mock interview- practice.

• Mountie Career Connection

One of my professors once told me that one of the best things about Mansfield is how alum are willing to help current students out and give back. The Mountie Career Connection is a resource for both students and alumni/employers to connect for internship and career opportunities. 

• Additional Online Resources

The Career Center's website has so many online resources that I had no idea about! If you are starting to write your resume and want a few tips, then there are worksheets, step-by-step guides, and additional tips to help you out. Another interesting tab on the Career Center's website had information for life after college. This page has personal money management tips and salary & benefits information, and more. The resources provided on the Career Center's website is perfect if you just want some quick tips to save you a trip to Alumni!

What's Happening Wednesday: Senior Transitions Conference 2014

(Borrowed from Career Center)

What's happening, Mountie Nation?

This past weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to attend this year's Senior Transitions Conference. The conference sounded interesting enough and it was in Harrisburg. The last time I visited Harrisburg, I was in middle school. I figured it was about time that I graced the state capital with my presence again (kidding!)

I'm not going to lie... the early morning on Saturday (5:30 a.m.) was pretty rough. I didn't even sleep the night before because I had so many different things to do that night. With that said, as soon as I got on the bus, I passed out. A few (unconscious) hours later, we arrived! I expected our hotel to be located downtown but it was actually a few miles away from it, which I thought would suck... but ended up being relaxing, after all. After checking in with the conference and receiving our shiny and new leather portfolios from PSECU, we headed over to the main ballroom for some refreshments and mingling. At first look, you would think that this was a conference just for MU students. There were so many Mounties compared to the other schools' students. Still, it was nice to some familiar faces outside of the classroom.

(Photo credit: Ashley Wray)

After experiencing an etiquette lunch, which was definitely an interesting experience, we all got to choose which session to attend. The first one I chose was "Alternatives to the Workforce Panel", mostly because it was something that I've never given much thought. During this session, we learned about other options such as applying for the Peace Corps, Americorps, and graduate school. I already knew that graduate school wasn't something I was interested in, but learning about the volunteering opportunities was really refreshing. Personally, I don't think any of those options are for me, but it was amusing to hear about something after graduation that didn't involve submitting your resume to several different companies, waiting for a call.

(Photo credit: Ashley Wray)

The next session that I chose was called "Job Searching". There were other sessions that I definitely could've learned from, but this one seemed to be the session to make a priority. This session definitely wasn't as interesting as the first because the speaker went over some stuff that I've learned in my communication classes. The non-communication students were much more engaged in the presentation and had many questions for the speaker, which was great!

(Photo credit: Ashley Wray)

The last session of the day was "How to Brand Yourself". Again, I've learned a lot of the points the speaker was making from my communication classes. With that said, I didn't gain much new knowledge from this session but I could definitely tell that other majors did. If you're a communications student, I highly recommend choosing sessions that aren't within your comfort zone. Choose the session that you feel you need to be the most educated on, even if it doesn't sound entertaining.

After networking with students from different schools, professionals, and faculty of different schools, we were allowed to officially check into our hotel rooms and get ready for dinner out on the town. This might've been my favorite part of the trip because I love exploring cities. A few friends and I decided to grab some dinner from Arooga's, which was pretty good! Definitely check it out if you're in town and want to grab some wings and relax.

A few hours later, the bus arrived to take us back to the hotel where many students from different schools were mingling with each other. I lied before when I said checking out Harrisburg was my favorite part of the trip. This, networking with students from different schools, was my favorite part of the trip. Even though we all attended different schools, the other PASSHE students and my fellow Mounties instantly turned into a big family!

(Photo credit: Ashley Wray)

By the end of Saturday night, everyone was completely beat and ready to catch some z's. The next day was a much shorter one! Basically, our resumes were looked over and given tips, we had mock interviews, and ate some lunch while watching our keynote speaker. The keynote speaker didn't actually speak for that long. A lot of the keynote address was a documentary about doing what you love, which was completely inspiring. Even though I was seriously exhausted from the lack of sleep, I was sad to leave! Harrisburg was fun while it lasted and I almost wish we had one more night to experience the beautiful city.

Next year, if the Senior Transitions Conference is going on, I highly recommend you attend it! My experience was one I'll never forget and don't expect anyone else to, either.

A big thanks to Ashley Wray and the Career Center for allowing me to borrow some photos from the conference!