From PSU Berks, to an Internship, to a Job

36 days until graduation and counting! Wow! I seriously cannot wait. Hard work truly pays off. Because of this, I am able to graduate a semester early thanks to working hard in all of my classes and taking a few extra credits each semester. It has come to the point in the semester where the amount of work is just in overload.

More importantly I am going to talk to you a little bit about my internship.  I have been interning at Target since June and I love every minute of it. My first interaction with Target as a potential employer was in my BA321 class with Professor Laurie my sophomore year. Then I saw Target again at our career fair. Target looks specifically for juniors going into their senior year. At the time, I was only a sophomore. I interviewed for the internship and sadly did not receive an offer, but I didn't give up there.  My junior year Target was yet again at our career fair and I saw a few familiar faces. I interviewed with them again and was offered an internship! I was so excited! Their internship program was 10 weeks long over the summer, working 40 hours a week. I couldn't be happier working anywhere else. 

Unlike other internships, where you are getting coffee or filing paperwork, Target gives you a massive amount of responsibility. I learned the role of Leader on Duty and how to run the store efficiently. I interned specifically in the Guest Experience work center. My mentor, Christy, just went above and beyond in training me how to be an executive in a Target store. At the end of my 10-week internship all of the interns in my district had to present an Operational Review in front of about 25 people. It was quite nerve racking knowing that my future was on the line. After the presentations were all over all of the interns left and all of the Store Team Leaders and a few of our District Leaders stayed and decided who they would plan to offer an Executive Team Leader position to upon their graduation. They let us know what day to be expecting a call. I happened to be on vacation in Myrtle Beach during that week. 

I anxiously sat by my phone in our hotel room awaiting the call.  I was ecstatic when I answered the phone to find out that I was receiving an offer! I couldn't believe it! The best part about this was that I could go into my senior year knowing that I was going to have a job after I graduate. This semester I have remained at Target as an extended intern. My focus currently has been in Human Resources. I was able to assist our Human Resources Executive, Jaime, with our 4th quarter planning and hiring. In retail 4th quarter is obviously the busiest time of the year and we worked hard to hire close to 60 seasonal team members for our store. My start date with Target as an executive is January 13th and I am extremely excited to start my career.  Thanks to the connections Penn State Berks has made with Target, I was lucky enough to have this great opportunity presented to me.

-Kate Harley

Healthy Eating Choices

One of the great things about college is the freedom of choice. The transition into college likely will allow most people more freedom than they have ever had before. You can choose which classes to take at what times, which clubs to join, when you want to wake up and go to sleep, the list goes on. One key choice that you assume control over in college is what you eat.

Tully's the dining hall at Penn State Berks

College dining halls are notorious for offering unhealthy options, such as pizza, cheeseburgers, and french fries. Many students love to rush to these items again and again for their daily meals, excited that no one is telling them to eat healthy. Not being told what to eat is a great freedom, but college is a time where many people establish lifelong habits. I know that I never drank coffee before college, but now I am drinking it daily, and I am confident that drinking coffee will be consistent in my life from here on out. If you can learn to make healthy choices in the dining hall, this will hopefully turn into a lifelong habit that will serve you all of your life!

Thankfully, in addition to typical fried options which are fine in moderation, Tully's, the dining hall at Penn State Berks, provides a plethora of healthy options. Each day there is a fully stocked fresh salad bar that offers multiples types of lettuce, fresh vegetables, as well as fish and meat options as a protein source. Also, with each meal served, a vegetable is also offered, so take advantage of that! Another great option is Tully's Deli Station, where they offer sandwiches, wraps, hoagies, and more! It is easy to order a healthy and tasty sandwich from the deli! Another awesome healthy eating tip, is to drink a lot of water! Instead of grabbing a Pepsi at lunch, why not just drink a large cup of water? It's healthy for you, and it's free, which is great for your meal plan balance!

Wherever you go to college, remember that it is a perfect time to establish healthy eating habits that will serve you all of your life!

- Taylor Green

In November, We Wear Purple!

On February 14, 1993 my life changed forever.  I would no longer be known as Kayla Marie Acker but rather Kayla Marie Welch. Two of the most wonderful and loving people took me into their life and made me one of their own, part of their family, their daughter. They changed my life for the better and, because of what they have done, I have been able to achieve my dreams and be loved like no other.

November is the beginning of Adoption Awareness Month. Many people when they hear the term “adoption,” relate it to the famous film “Annie.” However, that is not an accurate portrayal of adoption. Adoption is a very emotional journey. It is a long legal process where children, who will no longer be raised by their birth parents, become permanent and legal members of another family while still possessing the genetics and developmental traits of their birth family.

Since I was adopted, like other children, I know it’s an ongoing emotional process. Many children, like myself, go through a lot of emotions such as feeling unwanted, questions about their birth family, identity problems, and self-esteem issues. Although, many different issues occur to children who are adopted, it is always brighter at the end of the rainbow and you can get through it!

It wasn’t until this past summer that I actually shared my story with others. I used to be embarrassed and ashamed of being adopted. I thought that I was a freak, a misfit, and my parents didn’t want me. Since I found out that I was adopted when I was fifteen, telling people I was adopted was something that I kept to myself, but now I share my story. I let others know that whatever you are going through, you can get through it. All that is unique about you just makes you that much more beautiful a part of the world. So embrace your differences and share your story!

Wear your purple and represent Adoption Awareness Month!

- Kayla Welch

Keeping Out of the Stress Danger Zone

How’s it going guys! Hope everyone has been having a wonderful week and you are all enjoying the colder weather. I know I have because it means the start of Wawa’s sale on lattes and hot chocolate. Just a tip if you’re near a Wawa’s, which we are … literally its right down road.

It has been one crazy busy week for me. Between exams, homework, and work I was exhausted, but there are a few things that definitely brightened my week. I thought I’d share with you some tips on keeping out of the stress danger zone. 

1. Work a day ahead. I know it’s hard with everything we deal with as college students, but working a day ahead definitely helps should sudden work, problems, or activities present themselves.

2. F-R-I-E-N-D-S. It’s one word that means a whole lot. Just taking some time to relax, have fun, and talk with friends definitely relieves some of the tension you build up when you are trying to deal with everything yourself.

Plus, with friends like these the stress just melts away. 

3. Join a club. I know everyone says that, but it’s really nice to have an event or meeting that you look forward to being at because you really enjoy what you do.

Working the Open House! Had a great time and 

apparently I need to find a blue cardigan? 

4. Take it one day at a time. I know it’s hard to do sometimes, but focus on one thing at a time, a day has 24 hours so make 18 of them count and get the minimum 6 hours of sleep. You’ll feel better and ready to conquer the day as every Lion does.

I hope these tips help a few people, because I definitely used them. Enjoy the rest of your week and I’ll see you around!

-Tye Morales