Mentoring Group 6
Let me start by welcoming you to this Blog site and having our group participate in mentoring you along your path to finding you Interdisciplinary Self. I hope that we can assist you with questions you have and that we can also share some of our past experiences with you.
Each week one of the mentors will tell a bit about themselves as well as what their IDS study areas are and why they chose them.
They will present a topic for us to discuss and propose some activities as well.. By doing this we hope to help broaden your knowledge of what Interdisciplinary Studies are and how you will use them in your areas of study along with your minor.
We are your mentors:
Nathan Sardinas
Ashley Card Marla Kolter
Scott Fuxan Kristi Sokol
Matthew Horn Aeryel Williams
My name is Nathan Sardinas and I will begin by telling you a little about myself, I enjoy sports, friends, social events, time alone, gaming, and family. Now how did I choose Interdisciplinary Studies as my major? I am now a senior at UCF, but I attended SCF for my first two years, where I got my AA degree. When I transferred to UCF I spoke with the counselors and they pointed me towards IDS.
I decided that I was limiting myself in one career path, which I felt would also narrow my job choices and I have found that this was a right choice for me because it allows me to have 3 areas that I enjoy, Art, Health Science and minor in Marketing. I was glad to fine a path that can intertwine my passion areas and help me use them to format a unique niche for myself in the job market as well as being able to use them individually if I choose.
I am posting an activity for you to do along with some topics for you to respond to. Please pick 5 topics to respond to and limit each topic listed to 100-150 words.
Activity Assigned to Mentees: Find your dream job, post it and state why this is your dream job, and how you think it can relate to IDS.
http://www.monster.com/
http://www.career.ucf.edu/categories/Students/91_13.aspx
http://www.careerbuilder.com/
TOPICS TO PICK FROM
· Who are you?
· WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?
· WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR MAJOR?
· How do you explain IDS to others?
· What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of an interdisciplinary education?
· WHAT MADE YOU BECOME AN IDS MAJOR?
· What is your dream job?
· How do you think your degree will help you get your dream job?
· What are your hobbies?
· How has your college experience been so far? List and explain- Likes and dislikes
· What is your fear about your future career choice
· Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
· What expectations do you have for yourself?
PLEASE PICK 5 TOPICS FROM ABOVE TO RESPOND TO, EACH TOPIC SHOULD BE APROXIMATELY 100 – 150 WORDS PER TOPIC.
ALSO WHEN POSTING TO THE BLOG…respond to a post as a COMMENT not a new post…New posts are for new subjects, or topics; and once you have read the post you can then write a response to the post using COMMENT.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Laura. One of my passions is photography, I enjoy taking photos of wildlife, children, pets. and nature. I live on the ocean in Flagler Beach, Florida, where the sun rise and sunsets are breathtaking. I am part of the Flagler Beach Whale Watch. During the Summer months the the sea turtles come here to nest and I participate in the Turtle Watch. I have to Siamese sisters , Bella & Luna that have me well trained after 13 years.
ReplyDeleteI entered UCF with an AA in what was then called Liberal Arts , aka Interdisciplinary Studies. Coming back to school later in life, my goals were not necessarily career oriented. Having taking an assortment of classes, I knew any one discipline in it self was far to narrow a perspective on all that life had yet to offer.
I wanted to study those interests, put aside over the years, to rekindled sleeping passions, giving rise to new interests. dreams and goals. I was looking for an way to make a difference doing something I loved.
My declared minor is Multi Cultural Anthropology, my area of focus being Judaic Studies/ Hebrew and Ancient Mezzo America.
Secondly I choose Humanities, as discipline it encompassed a wide range of spiritually illuminating and creative subject matter. I focused on World Religions and Woman’s Studies.
In 2003 I finished the areas of study mentioned above. I was able to do some volunteer / work in Central America from 2004-2006. After which I completed three semesters in NYC of photographic studies.
When returning this Spring 2012 I began a Legal Studies. I have had a lifetime of experience with the legal system, including but not limited to: private investigation (criminal defense); Guardian Ad Litem; Guardianships , Custody and a Grandparents Rights case that was heard by the Florida Supreme Court... All of which I was pro active and some of which I was ‘pro se’.
This seemed like the natural progression to complete my IDS BA Degree.
However, the assignments in this class have made me rethink this path. I am no longer sure that the studies of the US legal system is global enough to balance out my other disciplines, in achieving my newly framed goals and dreams...
This is my first Blog and I will appreciate any feedback received from “ The Mentors” Warm Regards :)
I am a photographer as well. I did digital photography 1 and 2 over at Valencia East. I love taking photographs. I too, once had the goal of takign photos for National Geographic, because I want to travel the world. I have lived in 5 states in America. I went to London and Jamaica and I studied abroad in Paris, France. I saw things, I never want to forget, and photography helps us keeps those memories!
DeleteWell hello there photography frieds. Photography is an amazing tool for visual expression. I love it. I've had a bunch of bland work lately shooting real estate and architecture, but I di it none-the-less.
DeleteLura, I fully agree that the legal system lacks any sort of global view, rather, attorneys, in my personal and professional experience, act more as custodians for someone else in a usually narrow capacity rather than use forward thinking and macro approaches to problem solving. Besides, being a guardian ad litem is too much for me anyway. I can't handle the abused/neglected kid thing. Not to say you have to be a guardian to be an attorney, just my perspective. Thanks for sharing!
-Jason Schmidt
Laura,
DeleteIt sounds like you have done some really amazing things! What sort of work did you do in Central America? I agree with you that the US legal system is not all that globalized, but if it is something you have a true passion for I would say stick with it! I feel like so many of the people in our legal system do it just to do it, not because they have a passion. We need more dedication. You can use your outside knowledge to enhance your views and opinions of our country.
Mark, I would agree with you on the legal studies topic save for the fact that I have no intentions of pursuing a career in law. Personal necessity gave rise to what may have appeared to be a passion for law. This semester is my first class on the subject and frankly I can not stay awake for long in the reading. I have discovered that the subject hold no more interest for me. I appreciate this cornerstone course as it has mad me take stock and set some personal priorities.
DeleteRegards
My dream job would have been a national geographic Photographer, however at age 50+, not likely.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be prepared to respond to places and events of humanitarian need, work with indigenous peoples in Latin America,study Biblical Archeological in Israel, be accepted on an Earth Watch or Green Peace Expedition. As I mentioned in the first post I do not feel that i will continue to pursue legal studies any further that this semester. May be Ecology, still open to ideas. The only restriction is I must be able to complete all courses on line.
Coupled with the previous post, I have spoken to how my standing disciplines would facilitate my goals.
Hi Laura,
DeleteMy minor is multicultural anthropology, and I love it. Where have you been in Central America? I am dying to go to Peru, especially after the Ancient Incas course that UCF offers. I agree, I think National Geographic Photographer would be an amazing job. The places you would get to go would probably be mind blowing! Good luck!
have spent most of my time in Costa Rica in reaching special populations, such as orphans, street children, youth with disabilities, and other vulnerable young people. Because Costa Rica is such a Catholic country there is no form of contraceptive readily available to the general population. As a result their are many lost children and single mothers. I have my residency status in CR and hope to relocate there in a few years. Costa Rica has the largest Wind Farm in the hemisphere, all power in the county is from the wind.
DeleteIn the late 90’s the firm I worked for was responsible for the security at the first ever Earth Summit. This was in Brazil. The military wanted the Street children to disappear from view of world media so they drove them into the mountains The city of Rio was surrounded by military who did not hesitate to kill any one trying to return to the city.
Also been to El Salvador during the contra uprising working to supply them jungle boots made by Puma for the US military. Long Story.
I love Belize where there are many Mayan Ruins.
As for Peru, I long to go to Machu Picchu, one of the most powerful spiritual places on the planet. It is said to be a place where the vail between worlds is very thin. A vortex into other realms. I plan to take the course you mentioned next semester hoping that it will be offered on line.
Best Wishes
Laura-The work you have done in the past sounds amazing! I am so jealous of you spending three semesters in NYC! I absolutely love New York City and I have always dreamt of living there! As you said above, I also knew that having only one discipline would not satisfy my educational needs. I was never able to choose only one, so when I came across the IDS degree I was very thankful! It's nice being able to have a broad selection of studies because there are so many areas I am interested in learning about! Pursuing ecology sounds like a great idea for you with all of the background and experience that you have. You should be very proud of all that you have accomplished so far in your life because it is very intriguing! Good luck in this course :)
ReplyDelete-Ashley Card
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI have similar areas in that I also graduated with an AA degree, I wanted to be a Graphic Designer, my passion has always been art. I had to rethink things when the bottom fell out of the economy in 2008-2009..realizing as you did that that was to narrow of a career path. So when I transferred to UCF it was great to find IDS which allowed me to also channel my Art, with Health Science and minor in marketing. I felt this would give me a niche in my own area as far as career choices, and also provide me with a broader area for employment.
You seem to have also followed your passions and have chosen to re- evaluate your career path. I believe this continually happens as we change and grow, I think this is what makes us challenge ourselves and create an exciting future for ourselves.
I am glad that you are a part of this group and we hope that we can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Good luck with you choices, and continue to grow and broaden you life experiences.
Nate Sardinas
Laura, it sounds like you define what it means to be an interdisciplinarian. Like yourself, I teetered back and forth for a while before I discovered IDS and the freedom it gives students. Initially, I planned to study digital media but soon after realized that in order to make it in that industry I'd have to fight tooth and nail against others who were more skilled and had experience before college. So I went back to the drawing board and that's when I learned about IDS. Having two contrasting fields (Behavioral/Social Science & Humanities) has allowed me to expand my knowledge immensely; my minor (writing) is the catalyst for my varied disciplines. Implementing all three has been a challenge but the experience getting there is what it's all about. Have fun in the course and good luck with all of your future endeavors. Also, you should try going here
ReplyDeletehttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot
Submit some pictures. I'm sure if they like what they see your age won't mean squat.
Matt Horn
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI am also from the beach! It is one of my favorite places. I cannot be away from it for too long or I start to freak out. It is such a peaceful place yet it also is invigorating. I have not been to Flagler beach yet but I hope to visit someday. I love you are a part of the Whale Watch! That sounds very exciting. Do you go out on boats and look for them? What kinds of whales do you usually see? I also watch the sea turtles when I go to the beach. They are such fascinating creatures. You sound like such a well-rounded, intelligent woman. I am sure where ever life takes you next, it will be a good adventure. Good luck!
Kristi Sokol
Kristi,
DeleteDuring the Winter months the Right Whales migrate south with their calves from the north Atlantic seeking warmer waters and plentiful food sources of the Caribbean. They got their name “Right” from the day of whaling they were the known as right whales to kill.
We divide up the coast line into sections and there are volunteers scheduled round the clock. For the most part they watch from shore with binoculars and the like. Some of us watch from the comfort of our high rise condo. When whales are spotted we call in and then they are monitored by aircraft. This year the waters in the North have been too warm. Thus far we have not spotted any below Georgia.
I am too old to be recognized by national Geographic however I am always up for adventure. Warm Regards
My dream job would certainly involve music production and audio engineering. I would like to delve more into the world of production rather than just engineering Production would give e more control and the ability to influence sound and the direction of a given project. I love being a knob turner and a button pusher, but the production role allows for the knobs and buttons to define my creative vision rather than someone else's.
ReplyDeleteI think I can nail two questions in one. How has college been so far and why IDS?
ReplyDeleteI started college in the fall of 2003 immediately following high school. I started as a guitar performance major. This lasted until my junior year (2005) when I took a leave of absence from school to focus on a few professional goals. When I came back to finish in 2008 for what I though to be my final year, I discovered that due to some administrative snaffous in the music college my major was not listed properly and I was placed into a track for which I never signed up. Despite numerous attempts I was unsuccessful in having my major swapped property to what it should have been. Since then I've taken a class or two here and there to stay active while working on my professional growth until I could figure out a way to finish with out taking the eighteen (18), yes 18 classes that the music college was saying I'd have to take to finish. I landed in IDS last semester. I've found I like it quite a bit. I always thought using a multi-faceted approach to problem solving was a given...little did I know it was something I could actually study.
Though the administrative ringer I've been run through with UCF has been an absolute nightmare, the extra time I've spent here and the additional classes I've taken have truly allowed me to gain a perspective on work ethic and persistence that I don't see myself having without experiencing what I have thus far.
-Jason Schmidt
Jason,
DeleteWow that sounds really frustrating! Way to keep positive about it though. It sounds like in at least one way we followed a similar path. I received an AS in film production in 2008 and decided to take a leave of absence from schooling to pursue that career. It was a fairly successful few years, but I realized if I did not finish my schooling now, I probably never would. Best of luck!
Jason,
DeleteIt sounds like you have learned your way around UCF and have had your share of issues here as well. It is good in one way, it gave you the opportunity to explore your areas, and decide if that was the way you wanted to go. Its good that IDS provides you with some choices and a broader area of focus rather than just one discipline.
Glad to have you hare.
What did/do you do with film production? It's something i've always been interested in but never had the time to really approach seriously spending all of my time in audio. I've got a friend who does editing and archiving for a production company in town. I always think its pretty cool to bump into someone who knows production and what it actually takes to pump out a professional product!
DeleteI worked primarily as a camera assistant, changing out Lens, loading film etc. But we were trained in all aspects from audio to the electric departments.
DeleteJason,
DeleteYour situation sounds very similar to mine. Like you, I jumped into college right after high school and about a year in decided to take a hiatus and tend to other priorities (work). Before long, about a year, I had a change of heart and realized that if I didn't finish I'd regret it for the rest of my life. Originally, I was on a Business track but after taking multiple accounting classes realized that I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. That's when IDS entered the picture and it was smooth sailing from there. I'm glad you found something that you're satisfied with. I'm sure once you're done with school you can still make something out of your passion for music.
Wow, Jason, you too? They had loads of trouble switching me to IDS at first. In fact, my change of major papers where lost by the department, and I only found out 2 days before I was trying to finalize my schedule (the problem class being Cornerstone, of course). I also found out about the length of the Music minor, and couldn't see how I'd be able to fit it in to my current course load. After talking to several of my professors, I found out that my current major was nothing like what I'd anticipated, and I couldn't stand to try and change who I was and how I thought to meet someone else's requirements to graduate. I'd finished most of the requirements for a Civil Engineering major, excluding several 4000+ classes, and was told that I could use them towards an IDS degree and attain exactly the professional skills I desired. I'm surprised to see someone who had such a similar experience to mine, it's almost eerie. What instruments/mediums do you use, by the way?
DeleteHey Everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mark Maddox. For fun I like to do a variety of things such as running, tennis, seeing movies, and playing video games. I suppose I am most passionate about anything 'geek' related. I currently run a growing geek blog where I supervise a group of 15 writers. In many ways it is my dream job.
When my friends and family ask me about IDS I basically tell them that I have multiple areas of study that our linked, or at least relate. Prior to hearing of IDS from an advisor I had never heard of it, and it sort of seems like that is the case with most people. At my job (Disney) I am asked what I go to college for about 15 times a night, sometimes I say IDS but nobody gets it so most times I simply say one of my areas of focus. It is sort of frustrating. In fact when I was deciding wether or not to become an IDS student one of my biggest 'cons' was I would have to explain what IDS is for the rest of my life. lol. I think its worth it though. I decided to become an IDS student because I realized that multiple areas of study can be applied together to truly prepare you for a career.
In 10 years I hope to be working for a marketing firm, preferably dealing with marketing for films & tv.
Mark
DeleteI had the same issue I had an AA in Art and then transfered to UCF, I realized that that was a narrow career choice and that only the best of the best are the big money makers. So I decided to broaden my areas and incorporate them into other areas of interest that I had. I am now hoping to create a niche for myself in the job market that incorporates all 3 areas. It is hard to explain to others what IDS is because so few people have heard of it and it can become frustrating.
Im sure you will find you dream maketing film career when you are finished with your BA. What do you do at Disney now???? Interesting place to work.
Glad to have you on board if we can help just shout out your questions.
I drive the Monorail. It is fun, but certainly just a part time college job, nothing I hope to be doing much longer. It is an interesting place to work just based on the variety of people you get to meet.
DeleteMark,
DeleteSounds like you have a lot to keep you busy. I always find the response I get when telling someone my major amusing: "Inter what?" When explaining it to others, a typical response is: " I didn't know a degree existed like that."
Mark,
DeleteI know exactly how you feel. I try not to describe my degree as IDS, because the reaction I immediately get is "What's an interdisca whatever do?" I usually describe it as an IT degree, or add on "with Computer Engineering" or "Digital Media focus" depending on who i'm talking to.
A good friend of mine from High School works part time as a character at Disney. She's pretty short, so she's usually Minnie, Stitch, or someone short. She loves it and hates it for the same reasons you mentioned, and agrees its just a part time college job.
Hey Mark! I can totally relate to how annoyed you feel sometimes when telling people about the IDS degree. I work at Publix so often I will get asked what I am going to school for. At first I used to tell them IDS and then go through the whole explanation of it, but now I just simply state business (which is my minor). It gets very irritating because half the time even after I have tried to explain it, the person still has no clue what I am even talking about. I feel that a good percentage of people are unaware this degree even exists, but I believe it will get more popular with time since it is such a flexible one to have. Especially now days since jobs are scarce, it is good to have a more broad degree showing you have skill in more area than just one!
ReplyDelete-Ashley Card
When I explain IDS to others I begin by, briefly, explaining how in the constantly evolving and interconnected world it takes a very "interdisciplinary" approach to compete and effectively problem solve. This usually begs the question, what is interdisciplinary? I respond simply by saying that the interdisciplinary approach is that of taking multiple minds/approaches/positions and using them to tackle an issue from all sides rather than singularly to most effectively and efficiently get from point A to point B. The response I get is usually, "that makes sense." I think so.
ReplyDelete-Jason Schmidt
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI am taking entertainment marketing and we are currently learning about the music industry. It is so fascinating! I definitely support the artist having creative freedom. I have also had my troubles with UCF. In the end though, it builds character and patience. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
Mark,
I also am interested in the marketing field pertaining to film and television. I have always been passionate about the entertainment industry and hope to break into it after I graduate. When did you know you wanted to pursue this field? Describing IDS to others is so frustrating! It is like what I am describing to them is so complicated. After I describe my areas of study I usually relate it to the career I want to pursue and tell them how these subject will help. This gives them an idea of the benefits of the major.
Best to both of you!
Kristi
Hello, I'm Rachel. I've lived here in Florida all my life. I'm from south Florida but I moved up here to Orlando for UCF. I've been enrolled since 2007. I originally was studying Digital Media but I was not happy with what I was doing. I was not and still am not fond of web design and coding. Switching to Interdisciplinary Studies was an important step for me because I wanted to do something I enjoyed. I was always told if I wasn't doing something I liked, to change it. Since switching, I've felt like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I find I enjoy my life much more. My focuses are in Behavioral & Social Sciences and Humanities, with a minor in Digital Media. I chose Digital Media for the minor because I did not want my credits to go to waste.
ReplyDeleteMy dream job is to become a Video Game Producer. I would like to work for Blizzard or Bioware. Ever since I played my first video game, I was enamored. When I think of how exhilarating and happy I am while playing, it encourages me to bring this joy to others. I have many great ideas involving character concepts and game themes. My imagination is a huge gift that I treasure always. In person, I am also great in dealing with others. That skill is beneficial to my career because the Producer also doubles as the go between for the different departments. My areas of study will assist me in my career because humanities, psychology and sociology will benefit in social interactions and providing the type of game that people would love.
In ten years, I see my self as the Executive Creative Producer at either Bioware or Blizzard. These are my two favorite video game companies and it would please me to no end if I got a career with one of them. I will also be living on the west coast or Texas, depending on which studio I work for. Not only will I have received my degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and my minor in Digital Media, but I will alos have a Masters in interactive Entertainment from the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy or FIEA in downtown Orlando. Of course, I would have a family, many pets and an extensive collection of video games in a large house. I would attend as many conventions as possible and always be friendly to fans of my video games and I.
Most of my hobbies involve other people joining in. My favorite hobby is playing video games. My favorites are Dragon Age, Mass Effect, World of Warcraft and Kingdom Hearts. The systems that I have are a Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and a PC. Another one of my favorite pastimes is tabletop gaming. I play two days a week with a group of friends that have become to so that I refer to them as my brothers. I try to also go see a movie every weekend. It's a great social activity and they are so much fun to watch. My favorites are Across the Universe, Pirate Radio, and the Underworld series. Maybe I can work on an Underworld video game once I enter the industry.
I have many people asking me what I study here at UCF. When I tell them Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in Digital Media, they don't really understand any of that. Digital Media is easy to explain, I just tell them it's about computers and video games. As for IDS, the answer that most people are content with is that it's basically Liberal Arts. However, some people wish to delve deeper. Sometimes I tell them that I major in electives, but not the serious questioners. I explain that I study three different overarching categories and find a way to incorporate them together for my chosen career. They are usually very impressed with my dedication and the way that I describe it to them. I get excited whenever I talk about my studies.
I hope I did this assignment right. Each paragraph is about 100-150 words about five different topics. I hope it's not too long-winded!
Hi Rachel,
DeleteYour post makes me want to change my "Dream Job"; I've been an avid WoW player since Beta, and have always secretly dreamed of working for Blizzard on their Cinematics team. My real world caught up with me though and I kind of shelved that dream when I realized I'd have to move all the way to California.
I must admit though, the little spare time I get I've been devoted to Skyrim lately rather than WoW. I'm sure that'll change with the new expansion!
I studied Digital Media over at Valencia, and that's one of the biggest parts that got me dreaming about the Blizzard Cinematics idea. Video production and editing is really awesome and a great way to express your creativity, but it's VERY time consuming. I also like web development, but again, doing it right is very tedious. I can't stand coding/programming though!
Rachel,
DeleteIt appears alot of us have done the same thing, started off in one area and then changed to another. It is hard to decide what to do for your entire life when you havent been exposed to alot at that point. I know so many people who have degress that do not like the work they are doing and are either going into different areas, or going back to school.
I also love gaming, and would hope to get a job with you when you are the produceer of some huge company and do the art work and graphics for the systems.
Sounds spectacular. It is always better to find a job that is our passion, that way it isn't work, its passion.
It soulds like you are on the right track and that what you want to do is you passion, and IDS gives us the opportunity to broaden our areas and work in more than one discipline.
Good luck and I know you will reach your goal.
Rachel
DeleteIts sounds like we share a lot of similar interests, minus the one relating to becoming a video game producer. I'll continue playing the Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls series and continue to ponder on what goes into making them. It hurts my brain thinking about it.
Hi everybody my name is Michael, and I am in my 5th year at UCF. I was born on Kadena Air force Base on Okinawa, and I moved to Rockledge, Florida when I was 5 and I have lived here since. I am really outgoing and I like to stay active, I can’t stand just sitting around and doing nothing. In my free time I like to skate, box, workout, dance, work on my car, and draw. Art is a very big part of my life, it is something that I have done since I was young I can’t picture myself doing anything else.
ReplyDeleteI like to do a lot of things for fun, because I am very opened minded to try new things as long as it doesn’t involve heights, spiders, or swimming. My favorite thing to do for fun is to hit on chicks lol, (I no it sounds sketchy but I’m just trying to be honest). When I say hit on girls I don’t mean like those guys that can’t take a hint and just constantly nag a chick when she is obviously wants him to go away. When I hit on a chick I don’t bombard them with random compliments, I just make them laugh and sneak a little compliment here and there. I guess another way you can put it is that I like to flirt a lot, which sounds kind of bad but it’s the truth lol.
I hate having to explain this to everybody that asks me about my degree. I started out as a digital media major and when I told somebody what my degree was they would usually respond with oh that’s so cool or something along those lines, but know when I say I’m in IDS I just get this weird look followed by a little awkward pause before they ask me what it is. Then I follow up with that I major in the areas of Art and Computer Science and then they just say ok like what I just said made no sense at all. So because of this recently I have just been telling people that I am an art major.
My dream job is to be a freelance graphic designer, I am open to the idea of working for a company, but I like the idea of freelancing because I would have the freedom to choose what I work on. When I was younger I always knew that I wanted to do something with art, but for the longest time I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. A couple of years ago a came across deviantart and I got an exposure to all the different styles and jobs that you could get and I fell in love with graphic design. I believe that graphic design best fits my style as an artist.
-Michael Bishop-
Hi Mike
DeleteI also wanted to go into graphic design, but when the economy bottomed out I realized the area was very narrow, limited to the above exceptional people in the graphic market so I transferred to UCF and changed my major to IDS.
I find that it allows me a broader area of study and that it will help me promote myself in the job market to several different job arenas...I hope that you continue on in your quest to be a graphic designer and welcome to the blog...
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?
ReplyDeleteHi! My name is Devin McGhee! I am currently a senior, and I graduate in the summer (CANNOT WAIT)! For fun, I love to shop! I am a freelance wardrobe stylist and personal shopper. So, for me, shopping is both for work and for play. I also really enjoy traveling. The next place I would like to visit would be South Africa, Egypt, or Dubai.
Devin McGhee
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN IDS TO OTHERS?
ReplyDeleteWhen explaining IDS to others, I always say it is sort of like having two majors and a minor. You get to focus on two major areas of study, and a minor or your choice. To me, it's like having a double major with less time spent in school. The cool part, is that you do not have to focus on one subject all four years of your college career. That is how I would typically explain IDS to someone who is unfamiliar.
Devin McGhee
WHAT MADE YOU BECOME AN IDS MAJOR?
ReplyDeleteI became an IDS major because I can be indecisive at times. In my four years at UCF, I have changed my major about three or four times. Sometimes it seems like i just want to study everything! So, with being an IDS major, I was able to choose my top three interests, and focus on those three, instead of simply one major. So, the fact that I could explore various areas of study, is why I chose to be an IDS major.
Devin McGhee
Devin,
DeleteWelcome tot he blog, I also have changed my major acouple of times and find that IDS suits me the best as it allows me to have areas of study and minor that broadens my disciplines. Otherwise I would only have the major discipline, like Art and that would be limiting for me in career choice. I feel this gives alot more opportunity in the career market and makes me able to find my own niche in the real world.
Glad to have you hear and hope to help if we can.
Who are you?
ReplyDeleteI am a 22 year old guy from Casselberry. Basically born and raised in Florida making me want to get out of here as much as possible. I have traveled to NYC, DC, Niagara Falls, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, and a few other places I'm sure I am forgetting. My favorite place so far is Charleston SC so far though. It is just a great atmosphere, and a leisurely laid back lifestyle that very much enjoyed. I also like being outdoors to camp, hike, and most other things. I use to play sports a lot when I was younger but I have been caught up a lot in work and school these days.
How do you explain IDS to others?
I usually explain disciplinary studies to others as being a course that has two majors and one set minor that you choose from the start. Being that it usually loses them at having two majors with only one degree I don't often delve to much farther than that. After all, our modern lifestyle likes the abbreviated version of just about everything. The ones who get past that fact though, usually ask what you can actually do with the major, so then I describe the fact that it is centered around being able to attack an issue from multiple directions rather than just one.
How has your college experience been so far?
My college experience so far has been a landslide which I always hope is actually a parabola. I started off alright, and then lost interest in most of what I was doing. I was an engineering major at the time and was having a hard time understanding a lot of the professors and all the lectures had their slides online. Soon enough I was tripping up and rolling down into withdrawing from classes and looking for another major is the brief version. I jumped into interdisciplinary and other than that it has just been a financial kick in the rear.
What is your fear about your future career choice?
I have a pretty firm belief that everyone's fear about their future is that they will end up not enjoying their job. After pouring so much time money and effort into a degree it is hard to not worry about that at some point or another. Other worries would be not finding a job at all, or ending up not making the kind of money you will need to support yourself and a potential family in the future. All of that aside though, I suppose I am interested in making sure I find a job that is still along the lines of physical science, and convincing them that a communications background is good for business.
What expectations do you have for yourself?
Expectations for oneself, now that is always a fun topic of conversation. I suppose I can't say I expect to win the lottery or stumble across a large sum of money with no effort put behind it. I generally expect to be a standard working class lad we see every day. I don't expect to have an invention that will make a fortune or plan to be the rich guy who has 3 cars or anything because why set yourself to constantly feel like you could have done better. Instead I expect myself to make a fun life, one with new experiences as often as possible, and hopefully a good dog to stand by my side. Sounds like a good life to me.
Hi Mike,
DeleteI feel for you, I see alot of myself in what you have said. It is hard to find a life time career at such an early age and we are all worried about what we will do when we get out, if there will be a job for us, if we will like it, if we can make the money we want and how we will pay for the college education we have all strived to recieve.
I also dont want to say I dont have high expectations for myself, but the reality is people try to overachieve all their lives and all it gets them is chasing themselves into an early grave....
I want to have the same things, a good job that I like, an income that is liveable and allows for some extras, and a person in my life who appreciates me and what I do.
Glad to have you in the Blog...hope we can help
Mike
DeleteYour last paragraph sums up exactly how I feel. You can't expect to be the best at anything and everything because you'll always sell yourself short and waste an immense amount of time doing it. Work at what you're good at and things should fall into place.
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteSorry for such a late posting, I'll try to get this up earlier in the week, but my work schedule is pretty demanding. I was also out of town the past few days, and just got back in this afternoon. So, without further delay, here's a bit about me.
Who are you?
My name is Shaun Stettner. I’m 27 and have just returned to UCF. I grew up in South Florida, and graduated John I Leonard High School in good ole' Greenacres, FL in 2003. I immediately came to UCF and after 3 semesters found myself academically disqualified due to the poor decisions that I had made. (I lived on campus with friends from high school, and we let our new found freedoms get the better of us).
Since then, I’ve graduated from Valencia [Community] College with both an A.S. Digital Media degree, and an A.A. General Studies degree. I figured, it took me 6 years to get the A.S., what’s another semester to add an A.A. as well?
I’ve been working full time since originally leaving UCF, so it’s been tricky balancing the coursework and attending classes. I've been enrolled both Full and Part time since then, and am very grateful for Online classes, or else I’d probably not be where I am today.
• WHAT MADE YOU BECOME AN IDS MAJOR?
I chose IDS for my “comeback” because I really couldn’t see myself settling on any one single major. The closest choice that I had was a degree program that UCF cut last year for Network Security. I don’t recall the exact program name, but one of my coworkers was in the final graduating class. We talked about the program and the areas that he was studying, and it seemed a perfect fit.
When I heard the program was being cancelled, I was pretty disappointed, but when I learned about the potential with IDS, I was much impressed. I’m able to go for an Information Technology minor, with a Computer Engineering area of focus, which will allow me to focus on network security classes, basically “a la carte”. The icing on the cake was that my A.S. Digital Media degree already fulfilled an Arts area as the second half. IDS gave me a path that was relevant to my field, and cut the time I would have left until graduation in half.
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I plan to be working for the Department of Defense, either as a contractor or federal employee as an Enterprise IT Administrator or Information Assurance Security Officer. I am currently employed in Research Park with a defense contractor for the US Army as a Systems Administrator, at the Field Technician level. It’s an awesome job, but can get pretty redundant fixing computers, managing printers, and directly interacting with the LAN users (about 1300 of them).
Based on my current plans, I would still be working with the users, however in a higher position with much broader responsibility.
• What is your dream job?
I don’t necessarily see myself in my dream job in 10 years, but it wouldn’t surprise me. My dream job is to be an Enterprise Architect for the EAD team. Their primary goal is to deliver new products designed to enhance the capabilities of the networked workforce.
The group develops in-house software database applications, including web sites and SharePoint databases for collaboration in keeping the entire organization’s IT business needs running, but they also bring in new capabilities to enhance the daily work. Some of the applications that our group has worked on have been looked at in being distributed or released for wider use throughout the Army networks, so the impact that they have is quite significant.
• How do you think your degree will help you get your dream job?
I strongly believe that my degree path will help me get my dream job because within the EAD group, they are made up of a number of SMEs (subject matter experts). We have specialists in software development, web development, server management, and a number of other areas, and I believe that having a well rounded degree can prove that I have the capabilities to perform at the levels needed of the position.
Welcome Shaun
DeleteI am glad to hear you are still sticking at trying to find your career path, and that even though it didnt work out originally you continued to work at it.
Also your dream job seems realistic, and attainable, you will have the degree mechanisims to get you there and the job background as well.
It is also nice to see enthusiasim in the area of future careers. I know that I was bummed out when the economy took a nose dive and felt that I was competeing with master degrees and prof. out there in the work world; and yet, since IDS is helping us attain 3 areas of study, not just one area it seems like we will have our own niche in the job market.
Glad to have you in the blog, good luck with your dream job.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteWhenever I think of creating video games I always think of Grandma's Boy. Such a funny movie! They have the best jobs! I believe that you should find a career that you love doing and it sounds like you are on your way. I also started out in a different field and ending up not liking it which eventually landed me in IDS. Explaining it to others can be tricky. I try to explain how my areas of study will come together for the career I am focusing on and they usually understand. Good Luck with everything!
Michael the ladies man!
It sounds like you have some smooth moves. Thanks for being honest! lol Do you use any lines that usually work? I feel like I have heard them all...Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? Is your dad an astronaut because you are out of this world...haha. I also love to keep busy.I love to workout, play with my dog, and of course shopping. Your personality sounds like you are very outgoing which can get you very far in life. It is so important to make connections!
Devin, you might just be my new best friend! Personal shopper, I am dying! I absolutely love fashion and plan to move to New York or L.A. in the near future. What type of occasion do you like to style for the best? What are some of your favorite designers? I have also changed my major several times, so frustrating. I am interested in a variety of subject and could not choose just one. I also believe that it takes many skills to succeed not just one. I hope to shop with you soon :)
Mike,
Finding a job I love has been a huge issue for me. I know I want to be in entertainment but I am not exactly sure what specific job. I have nightmares about hating my job. I finally convinced myself to go with the flow and figure things out as I experience them. I am also born and raised in Florida. It was a good place to grow up but I am ready to see the world! I love how you said you want a good dog by your side. I am obsessed with dogs! I just got a brand new maltese puppy that I adore. Good luck with everything!
Shaun,
Congratulations on your hard work. I believe that IDS is a great degree to have with any job because you can show them that you many skills to help in multiple of ways compared to someone that only knows one thing. Also our degree is flexible so if you decide to change jobs it is easy to fit your resume into the companies criteria. You should definitely be proud of yourself for coming this far and don't get discouraged. Good luck!
Best,
Kristi
http://jobview.monster.com/Sr-Analog-Mixed-Signal-Design-Engineer-Audio-D-A-Converters-Job-San-Jose-CA-106851611.aspx
ReplyDeleteWow, my first search and it already returned an awesome looking job! This job is right along the lines of what I do every day for myself! I love fiddling with synthesizers and microphones and I'm super fascinated by the conversion of digital to audio signal, as well as plenty of experience with amplifiers and the like, being a musician! After I read on to the skills necessary I cried, being that I have experience with 4/5 of what they're asking for, as well as a more than basic understanding of cadence and composition! I can't believe I found this on my first try. I would definitely need experience in an actual studio to count for the 5 years of amp/audio design. Since that's the general direction I'm trying to head, though, it seems perfect. I only wonder how many jobs like this one get posted a year, though, it seems pretty specific.
Erik
DeleteThis sounds like your dream job...you will just have to keep searching and im sure there are more jobs like this one out there.
Good luck...