A Place In This World

I have 3 days of classes left at Messiah College. All of my finals are on May 8th and 11th, so only two days of those. Then May 16th is graduation! I am excited, and relieved to be done with all of this work.

College went much faster than I expected it too. Sure, some days
and weeks seemed to go on forever, but every time a semester came to an end I stood there wondering where the time went. I definitely can’t say the same about high school. I can’t explain why that is. Maybe because I took more time to savor the moments in high school? I don’t know.

My biggest problem right now is second-guessing myself. Earlier this year, I starting dreaming big for my future, and was totally ready to make those dreams happen. Now I wonder if my dreams are too big, and if I am really up to the challenge. I have to be up for it though. I need to go to California and let myself grow up and become who I have always wanted to be.

I am going to leave you with some quotes that I have always loved and seem very appropriate for this time in my life…

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
e. e. cummings

“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
Henry David Thoreau

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” - Alan Cohen

And some fitting song lyrics:

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game

Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down…

I’m through accepting limits
‘Cuz someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But ’till I try, I’ll never know

Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love - I guess I have lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down…
-Defying Gravity, Wicked

So, I sat down and made a list of all the things I have due before I graduate. I realized I have 13 major assignments to complete in 5 weeks, plus 3 tests, and then finals! Needless to say I am stressed. Today is going to be a pretty rough day. I have 3 of those assignments due tomorrow and being the procrastinator I am, I have of course waited until the last minute. You think I would have learned my lesson by now seeing that I am a senior. Oh well, I guess I just have to lock myself in the computer lab until it is done.

In better news CURE International approved the proposal for the campaign PRSSA is working on for them. I am excited to start making some head way!

On Monday I finally heard back from Disney. I got accepted to the Disney College and Internship program in California! I am so excited. I just hope I use this program to gain experience, network, and jump start my career with Disney. Ultimately, I would love to do public relations with one of their record labels or their TV or movie division. I just hope this can help me eventually reach that goal.

No matter what I know it will be a good experience for me. I have only lived away from home for one semester of college. The rest I have spent commuting. I loved commuting because it saved me money, I got to spend a lot of time with my family and pets, and I got home-cooked meals everyday. Moving across the country will definitely put me out of my comfort zone, but I feel like I am ready for that. I feel like I need a big change to grow as a person.

In other news…one more day and then it is Spring Break! I am so ready for this break. Although considering I have two rather large projects due the day I come back, and I am going to be working at Rita’s Italian Ice, I do not know how much of a break I am going to get. Oh well, at least I now have California to look forward to!

Yesterday, two independent music artists came into both my Media and Everyday Life class, and my senior seminar to speak. Their names were Will Gray and Reva Williams.Will Gray’s music is a mix of hip-hop and folk, and Reva is in folk band called Gretel.

In my media class they spoke to us about preserving the industry of media, because that is the field many of us plan to work in. They talked about how downloading music or movies for free might not hurt rich big name artists and directors, but those big name artists and directors are the ones that pay for unknown musicians and film makers to do their work. They explained that we are slowly killing the careers we want to pursue. They made a lot of sense.

In my senior seminar class they focused more on what it takes to follow your passion. They talked about the sacrifices they have to make to continue playing music as a career, but they also explained how they have this great network of people who help them keep going, and who they lend a hand to in return. I have to admit hearing about the way they have struggled to follow their dreams is a little scary, but they also seem to be really happy. They wanted to show us that it is hard, and things won’t go just the way you planned, but if you are doing something you love it makes it all worth it.

I am still waiting to hear back from Disney. I am going nuts! I can’t take any of my next steps until I find out if I am accepted or not. If I am accepted then I need to work at Rita’s Italian Ice over the summer until I leave for California. If I don’t get accepted I need to fix up my resume and start looking for a job in the area. I really do not want to have to look for a job around here right now because with the economy the way it is people are getting laid off, not getting hired. That means there will be a lot more competition for fewer jobs. At least if I get in this Disney program it is a way of getting my foot in the door. Even if I don’t get a job with Disney it is a great way to make contacts in California, and there are a lot more PR jobs out there than there are in central Pennsylvania.

I guess I just have to trust that if I do not get into the program, then God has another plan for me. I just hope He helps me figure out that plan when the time comes.

With hope,
Liza

I’m new to blogging on Messiah’s Website. I guess the best place to start is to tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Liza. I am a 21 year old senior communication major with a public relations concentration. I am the founder and president of Messiah College’s Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. My other activities include being the commuter representative in Student Government Forum, the chairperson of Communication Committee for Student Forum, and a student representative for the college’s Gender Concerns Committee.

Outside of school I sing in a rock-worship band called The Edge on Saturday nights at New Creation Community Church. I also love to spend time with my friends and family (especially my 2 nieces). I am a TV and pop culture junkie. Seriously, ask me anything about pop culture and I have the answer. I can even name Brangelina’s children in order from oldest to youngest. Perhaps that isn’t something I should be proud of, haha.

Right now, I am waiting to find out what my next step will be in life after graduation. I applied to a Disney College and Internship program, and I should find out if I am accepted within the next week or so. If I get accepted I will be moving to California to work at Disneyland Resort and Theme Park while taking a seminar course in which I get to learn from and network with Vice President’s of all the different divisions of Disney. After one semester of that I am eligible for an internship, and with any luck I can turn that into a job! My absolute dream would be to work in public relations for one of Disney’s record labels, or their TV channels.

Wish me luck!