AP Stylebook: My New Best Friend

I am LOVING my co-op at RIT University News and it has just a week! Everyone here is really nice and helpful and I'm learning so much! 

Here, we use AP style when writing press releases.  I have never used the AP format before this week and I'm plunging into it.  It reminds me of the time freshmen year when I wrote my first real paper in college when I had to use APA format for the first time. It makes me wonder how so many people come to use different formats other the MLA (the format I was formally taught in high school).  I even remember my teacher stating "This is the format you will use in college and in your career.  The other formats don't really matter." Now, I think I had a fairly good English education but this is ridiculous. If I feel so behind in formats, how did others feel? I can honestly say I have never used MLA format once in my higher education. I have heard similar complaints from my classmates at RIT.  I think teachers need to reevaluate how much time they spend on formatting and the types of formats they cover.  I understand it can't all be taught, but an introduction would be nice.

After adjusting to APA format (which I still have to reference on occasion) here pops another challenge! AP format! 

Thanks to the stylebook and the editors at University News who are kind enough to explain the technique, I am slowly but surely catching on.  My goal is to have read through the AP stylebook by the end of the month.

I will master you AP format... if it's the last thing I do!

The Hunger Games

Wow. Just wow.

With all of the hype around "The Hunger Games," I thought, yeah, okay, sure, whatever. The style of the book is in 1st person, not usually my cup of tea (plus I couldn't stop comparing it to Twilight...). But I am so impressed and can't put it down.  I know it's seems I'm jumping on the bandwagon

I finally caved and bought the book a few days ago on Spring Break.  I bought a cheap version at Barnes & Noble and thought: what's the harm? It's not like I've never bought a book that I didn't like.

For those of you who don't know about "The Hunger Games" it's about a futuristic society created after the fall of North America. The Hunger Games is an annual televised competition between the Tributes (teenagers between ages 12 and 18) of the 12 districts of Panem (the new society).  One boy and one girl is chosen from each district.  Only this is not some competition, it's a fight to the death and the last one standing wins. 16 year old Katniss volunteers after her sister, Prim (who is 12) is chosen.  Katniss fights for her life in the games using her special skills and charm.

The story deals with many issues such as starvation, poverty, oppression, and the effects on war in a light way so many can understand the meanings and context.

Now that I have read the book, I will most definitely be pumped for the movie which releases March 23rd. In the meantime, I think I'll stop by Barnes & Noble to pick up the other books in the series "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay"...

College Bucket List

So it's been awhile. Sorry. I even promised there would be more content this time!  I guess getting back into the swing of things was a lot harder than I thought!  I feel like I always have something to get done. But no matter.

Lots of lists lately too :-)

So I'm coming up on the last part of my undergraduate college experience and I remember when I came in there were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to try (a list in my head of course).  I think I've actually completed (or will complete in the next year) most of the list. Lookin' gooddd.

1. Study Abroad
Somewhere, anywhere. Mostly, England. Definitely, England. GUESS WHAT! I'm going to England, Summer 2012. I will even get to go see other countries too!

Bader International Study Centre

2. Be in a College Play or Musical
This one was completed the first quarter being at RIT. Fall of 2009, RIT Players Presents: A Night of One Acts. I was in "Stage Directions" with my best friend Meghan (we didn't know it at the time) and Tyler Puglisese, directed by John Oliphant. And the rest my dear friends, was history.

RIT Players Logo

4. Become an Eboard Member of a Club or Organization
I have spent 2 long years as the Communications Officer and Advertising and Public Relations Manager of The RIT Players.  I'm running for President and Vice President next week! Vote for me!

5. Join a Sorority
Being at RIT, you don't get much girl time. I've always wanted to join a sorority but was too afraid (I heard horror stories).  But this quarter I am taking the plunge and joining Alpha Xi Delta.  Here goes nothing!

6. Be a Resident Advisor
It always sounds like a sweet job that came with so much responsibility and leadership experience that would benefit me in the long run.  I didn't stop until I was hired last Spring for the honors residents halls which turned into a Senior Resident Advisor position this quarter. I absolutely love the job so much, I'm thinking of a career in Student Affairs!

Gibson Staff August 2011

7. Join the Honors Program
So I was touring RIT and the Honors program was mentioned that the top 10% of the incoming class would be accepted into the Honors program.  I wasn't initially invited and of course that drove my motivation and determination to show the Honors program that I would excel in college.  By the end of my freshmen year, they offered membership as a late entry honors student.

8. Have a Double Major
I was originally going to change my major from Advertising and Public Relations to Marketing and then I thought about it and took some more communications classes (I could always make it a minor) and eventually decided that it was the right path for me. But I was so interested in so many areas and classes that are super interesting are limited. I got into honors psychology and loved almost every minute of it. After just 2 classes I signed up for a double major in Psychology.  Confusing where I want to go to grad school even more!

9. Become SG Student Government President
Yeah. This one. Never gonna happen.  I never got into Student Government any of my years here at RIT  and seeing as how the elections for next year are coming up, it's safe to say that I can keep this one in my dreams.

These are obviously been the ones at the top of my mind lately and I'm sure I've blocked out the ones I haven't come close to completing.