Believe

"Believe in yourself"
I think this statement is a cliche, like many things in life.
For the genuineness of success, motivation, etc. this statement applies well.
On the contrary, I do think many times people believe what they want to believe regardless of any other notions. This would be an umbrella statement, because many things such as religion, political party, superstitions, theories, ideas (you get my point). But here I am talking about everyday things, that people believe because strictly they just want to believe it. This goes with relationship outlooks, career, hobbies, etc.
What is most disappointing is that we firmly keep believing and then we are proven wrong, which is what causes depression, struggle, cognition processing, self-esteem and confidence issues, and many things relating to mental health.
Right now there are many things I believe, or another words, since I realize the defect, things I want to believe, but have a hard time making myself at peace with it.
I am at rock bottom of things, and I need to find a way to stay peaceful, improve my health and become the active, outgoing, busy busy honey again.
I don't consider myself a poem writer, but here a try at it:

I believe I am going to live for another 50-60 years.
I believe I am going to be successful in my career as a graphic designer.
I believe I am going to be an amazing dancer.
I believe I am going to be a very involved in the community.
I believe I am going to be a CEO of a company that I find.
I believe I am going to be an author of a published book.
I believe I am going to be able to read, write and speak fluently a foreign language.
I believe I am going to be a great violin player.
I believe I am going to be a director of a movie.
I believe I am going to be a traveler.
I believe I am going to be a great artist (drawing and painting).
I believe I am going to be learn how to forgive completely.
I believe I am going to be able to make a difference in the world.
I believe I am going to be learn to accept compliments and insults.
I believe I am going to complain efficiently.
I believe I am going to overcome my fears and failures.

I can keep making a list of things I believe, but I just realized something, I have made this sound like I have all the time in the world to put it off to tomorrow. I want to turn this list in to I believe __________ now. Instead of adding on more things to list, I am going to start taking these list and turn it into a present state.
I need to start living like there is only today, no tomorrow.
I was reading a book and here is a little insert from it:
A man woke up first thing in the morning he would put on all the music, dance, sing, and just enjoy as if he was celebrating his funeral, this gave him a chance to think about today only, as if he was going to die my next morning.
Its very difficult to do this, but I am going to try my best to live today, and today only.

For some reason, I have a hard time sleeping these days. I am afraid to go to sleep because my mind is always in a negative state of mind. Usually, I can get through the day with keeping myself busy, so I don't think about anything negative or get negative feelings, but when I am going to sleep, I know my mind is going to be empty cause I am going to try to sleep. It takes me over 3 hours to fight all these negatives thoughts and finally fall asleep. Even in the morning, I get aggitated easily, frustrated, angry, hopeless, and all things I have done well preventing all my life.
Again, I need to improve my health and that will most likely take care of rest of things.


Its the impression people believe in, not the reality.

Live as if it was your last day on earth.

Bhula Diya

Song: Bhula Diya
Movie: Dus Kahaniya
By: Anand Raj Anand

kabhi aayato mein padha tujhe, kabhi harf harf likha tujhe - 2
kabhi dil se tujhko pukaar ke, koyi sher apna suna diya
bhula diya, bhula diya, tere ishq mein khud ko bhula diya - 2

yeh ajeeb ishq ke khel hai, jahaan lajjaton mein kami nahi - 2
kabhi maine tujho hasa diya - 2, kabhi tune mukjko rula diya
bhula diya, bhula diya, tere ishq mein khud ko bhula diya - 2

bekhudi mein maza aa raha hai bada, (dil tabaah hai to kya - 2)

teri raah se jo nikal gaye, woh deewaane banke machal gaye - 2
kabhi humne ki teri arzoo - 2, toh bata de yeh kya gunaah kiya
bhula diya, bhula diya, tere ishq mein khud ko bhula diya - 2

kabhi aayato mein padha tujhe, kabhi harf harf likha tujhe - 2
kabhi dil se tujhko pukar ke, koyi sher apna koyi suna diya
bhula diya, bhula diya, tere ishq mein khud ko bhula diya - 2

People will forget

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou.
This is very true, though I do think the "feel" comes from what people have said and done.

Competent Psychology

In my one and only semester of Psychology Grad School, the term competent was used widely. Our professors would talk a lot about being competent psychologist, competent in course work, competent in our State Exams, our PPL, EEPS, and State Licensing, etc., etc. All these exams and presentations and I always felt discouraged by that, and I confronted myself and my issue with my professors, and they said, you will do and you will learn, you won't even realize the automatic process. I never felt competent.
I am sitting down reflecting on that and doing some research on that.
Accodring to Webster Dictionary the meaning of competent is having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualifie.
It is an adjective and the synonyms for competent are adapted, adequate, all around, appropriate, au fait, being a pistol, capable, clever, complete, crisp, decent, dynamite, efficient, endowed, enough, equal, fireball, fit, fool, good, know ins and outs, know one's business, know one's stuff, know the answers, know the ropes, know the score, no slouch, on the ball*, paid one's dues, pertinent, polished, proficient, qualified, satisfactory, savvy, skilled, sufficient, suitable, there, up to it, up to snuff, up to speed.
Some of these are ok, I wasn't expereinced enough in psychology, it would happen through school, I wasn't efficent, I wasn't skilled, etc. etc. and yeah I would learned all this throughout my schooling and learning.
I had a terrible incident happen in my 1st semester of grad school in psychology, but ever since beggining I couldn't just connect myself with psychology. I have always had a passion for it, since 10th grade, and I love it, and truly aspire psychologist, but for some reason, once I entered that program, I couldn't connect with it. I have always been very caring of people who have been hurt or with mental issues/concerns, and I still am, but I couldn't get my mind or my heart on that emotional/mental level to be a psychologist. I still love psychology, have a passion about it, love to learn it and apply it, but don't think its mentally healthy for me to be a psychologist.
I have changed so much in the past year that I run away further and further from emotional thins and have turned into a logical/business like mind whether it comes to relationships, school, work, activites, etc. I don't like to think about how I feel or what my heart is going through, I just want to mentally, logically, and stratigically think and just deal with things. I love people (friends, family, etc.) but I know that in my mind, not in my heart. It's like my heart is just numb and not functioning and I am quiet happy with this.
I am doing a M.F.A. in Graphic Design now, and I feel some what competent due to some past internships, experiences, classes, etc. and I am here with an open mind that I have a lot of learn in this Masters. I do feel a competent, but I am sure that I am goign to be very competent within 6 months to a year with a lot to learn. I am happy and like the fact that so much emotional turmoil doesn't go into it.
Honey

Fear

Yoda

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. - Yoda

M.F.A. Graphic Design Degree Plan

I am working on my M.F.A. in Graphic Design, and I need to figure out my degree progress.

I remember when I sat down to do my undegrad, I went through 100's of printed and note paper of designing my degree plan. Plus, my obsession of color coating and organizing. One of these days I need to figure my M.F.A. degree design.

ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL

MFA – Graphic Design

SEVEN SEMESTER BREAKDOWN MODEL 63 units

First Semester 9 units

GS 615 MS: History of Graphic Design 3 units

GR 616 MS: Making Ideas Visible 3 units

GR 617 MS: Type Forms 3 units

Second Semester 9 units

GR 618 MS: Visual Literacy (prereq. GR 616 & GR 617) 3 units

~ Progress Review will be conducted at end of semester ~

GR 619 MS: Type Compositions (Prereq. GS 615, GR 616, & GR 617) 3 units

GS *** “Art Historical Awareness and Aesthetic Sensitivity” 3 units

Third Semester 9 units

GR 600 MS: Visual Communications Lab (Prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617,

GR 618, & GR 619) 3 units

GR 601 MS: Type Systems (Prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617,

GR 618, & GR 619) 3 units

GR 605 MS: Digital Design Studio 1 (Prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617,

GR 618 & GR 619) 3 units

Fourth Semester 9 units

GR 612 MS: Integrated Communications (Prereq. GR 600 & GR 601) 3 units

GR 613 MS: Type Experiments (Prereq. GR 600 & GR 601) 3 units

*** *** Elective By Advisement 3 units

MIDPOINT REVIEW

Fifth Semester 9 units

*** *** Elective By Advisement {Required GR 604 – Nature of Identity (

prereq. GR 612)} 3 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study (Required GR 801 – Thesis Refinement) 3 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study 3 units

Sixth Semester 9 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study 3 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study 3 units

GS *** “Cross Cultural Understanding” 3 units

Seventh Semester 9 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study 3 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study (Required GR 650 – Design Seminar/Portfolio) 3 units

GS *** “Professional Practices and Communication” 3 units

FINAL REVIEW

Total 63 units

Degree Requirements:

Studio 27 units

GR 600 MS: Visual Communications Lab (prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617, GR 618, & GR 619)

GR 601 MS: Type Systems (prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617, GR 618, & GR 619)

GR 605 MS: Digital Design Studio 1 (prereq. GS 615, GR 616, GR 617, GR 618, & GR 619)

GR 606 MS: Design – Publication Narratives (prereq. GR 600, GR 601, GR 613 & Dept. Director approval)

GR 607 MS: Digital Design Studio 2 (prereq GR 601, GR 605)

GR 612 MS: Integrated Communications (prereq. GR 600 & GR 601)

GR 613 MS: Type Experiments (prereq. GR 600 & GR 601)

GR 616 MS: Making Ideas Visible

GR 617 MS: Type Forms

GR 618 MS: Visual Literacy (prereq. GR 616 & GR 617)

GR 619 MS: Type Composition (prereq. GR 615, GR 616 & GR 617)

Studio Directed Study 18 units

GR 800 MS: Directed Study (Required: GR 801 – Thesis Refinement)

GR 800 MS: Directed Study

GR 800 MS: Directed Study

GR 800 MS: Directed Study

GR 800 MS: Directed Study

GR 800 MS: Directed Study (Required: GR 650 – Design Seminar/Portfolio)

Academic Study 12 units

GS 615 MS: History of Graphic Design

GS *** “Art Historical Awareness and Aesthetic Sensitivity”

GS *** “Cross Cultural Understanding”

GS *** “Professional Practices and Communication”

Elective By Advisement 6 units

*** *** Elective By Advisement {Required: GR 604 – Nature of Identity (prereq. GR 612)}

*** *** Elective By Advisement

Misc.

GR 695 MS: Collaborative Project (studio or elective credit)

GR 699 MS: Special Topics (studio or elective credit)

GR 900 MS: Internship (elective or directed study credit)

Total 63 units

Mind Body Ulcers

Your body responds to the way you think, feel and act. This is often called the “mind/body connection.” When you are stressed, anxious or upset, your body tries to tell you that something isn’t right. For example, high blood pressure or a stomach ulcer might develop after a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a loved one. The following may be physical signs that your emotional health is out of balance:

• Back pain
• Change in appetite
• Chest pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Extreme tiredness
• General aches and pains
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• Lightheadedness
• Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing)
• Sexual problems
• Shortness of breath
• Stiff neck
• Sweating
• Upset stomach
• Weight gain or loss

Poor emotional health can weaken your body's immune system, making you more likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally difficult times. Also, when you are feeling stressed, anxious or upset, you may not take care of your health as well as you should. You may not feel like exercising, eating nutritious foods or taking medicine that your doctor prescribes.

I developed a very bad ulcers since November/December which is getting worse day be day, and I can't seem to defeat the pain mentally. I have always been strong, and have dealt with stress and emotional crisis well. Crying it out, being optimistic, writing things down to get it out of my heart and to organize my thought process. Dancing. Diving myself in school work, volunteer work, job, working out, etc. But now my pain has took over all of this. It dictates my life and has made me so weak. The more I try to reach surface level, the more I am drowned at the bottom of the sea. I have never at any part of my life, or specific emotional crisis have had someone fully support me, understand me or guide me through it. I have developed a strength to deal with everything on my own. In stress, mental or emotional crisis, people without knowing would make things worse for me, and that sometimes just made me stronger and stronger, mentally and emotionally. In my physical pain, thats not the case. People actually know I am suffering from pain, ulcers, stress causes more pain, etc and instead of being supportive, which I am not even asking for, I would rather be left alone, they are making it worse. The biggest difference is that before with so much opposite force I was able to get my self emotionally together, but that doesn't work for my stomach pain. I get worse and weaker and things get more painful. And its emotional things that makes my pain worse and I am not able to deal with the emotions or the physical stomach pain.
A part of me says if I would have dealt with everything and not bury it before, my health condition wouldn't be so bad.
Another part of me says, if I had the right people in my life, I wouldn't be in this condition, but I hate blaming anyone, even if it is their fault.
I had a discussion with my psychologist/professor and she said,
People deal with things, emotions, problems, pain, and all the other human emotions, and they release things out of their body, some in healthy ways (jogging, talking about it with good support system) and some in not so healthy ways (alcohol, sex, drugs) and some just don't do anything to it and bury it, but they don't realize they bury it in their body, not outside of their body, so in some way, shape or form they body has to find a way to release it, and it does that through serious diseases, and health problems.
I have to emotionally be happy! I don't care about the past, nor do I want to think or live in the past. I just want to be happy now, deal with whatever I am given, part by myself, part by others and move on to a better future.

Egg Story

An egg falls from the 4th story and it doesn't break, why? Luck by chance.
Same egg falls from the 3rd story and it doesn't break, why? Confidence.
Same egg again falls from the 2nd story and it breaks, why? Over Confidence.

Crab Story

There was guy who wanted to go catch crabs, and so another guy took him in a boat with two buckets to the middle of some lake and said, "here this is the perfect spot to catch crabs."
So they threw down the net, and caught lots of crabs. They put the two crabs in two different buckets. The guy put a lid on one of the buckets and didn't put a lid on the other bucket, so the other guy asks, "well, why did you do that, the crabs can get away from that bucket too, so put lid on that one also" and the guy replies, "no, it is not necessary, that bucket doesn't need a a lid because every time a crab is trying to get out of that bucket, there are other crabs in the same bucket who are pulling him down, thus no crabs are going to get out of that, but the other bucket needs a lid because every crab that is trying to get out of that bucket, there are other crabs in that bucket who are helping the crab get out, thus each crab can get out with each others help, hence it needs a lid."

Responsibilites, forgivness, people, relationships, etc. etc. etc.

I don't understand why people run away from responsibilities or why they walk away from a simple, effortless resolution.
Everyday I get a step closer to "letting it go" or "forgiving" everyday, and the person brings me a step closer to stress, and undesired, un needed issues.
I don't think I have ever run away from responsibility, or something that I say I am committed to, or own, and un necessarily, I get blamed.
Today, Ms. Lina was talking to her sister. They always talk, about the most random and un necessary topics. I am listening to Ms. Stubborn ramble about her mother not giving her gold when she got married, and all the other children (5 bro/sis) got gold for their marriage, so I immediately, these words uttered out of my mouth, "I will give you as much as gold you want, don't tension yourself and sit here and talk about what happened 22 years ago, let it go..." (I have heard these conversations before and I let it be, because I understand the need to vent, or talk through something, but over and over again!!!) and immediately, the she hands me the phone because the sister wants to talk to me. I never talk to her, and out of no where today, she was out to teach me a lesson. I grab the phone and she says "honey, what do you know, you don't understand anything. I see her going through hell, she doesn't want gold, she wants mental support, and its not about gold, its about the politics between parents and children and how the older brother rules the house and didn't allow anything to the three younge sisters. Is that fair, honey?" I reply, "I didn't say it was fair, I am just saying that it is past, and not past few days or months ago, its past 30 YEARS ago!" She says, "You won't understand, no matter how much gold you give to her, she doesn't want that, its not her age, and she won't be satisfied with gold, because it is not part of her need or desire anymore." I respond, "Yes, I understand, I told her that I am willing to give her whatever she wants" and then silence. Again, she says, "Look what Jack did, he left the house, doesn't talk to your mom, doesn't do anything for her, doesn't give her any attention, and YOU, YOU also left for Seattle, you could have done psychology in Boise or you could have changed your subject so you could study here." I respond, "What Jack is doing is wrong, but when I went to Seattle, I told her that I will take her with me, let me settle down, then she can come live with me and they don't have psychology PhD here, I finished my Bachelor's here and then I went." She says, "Well now your doing Computer Graphics, and again you are going to leave, now what" and I respond, "And I have told her that I will take her to San Francisco with me, take care of her and won't have to worry." and she loudly says, "You know you are just selfish, and you are going to leave, not take care of her, and you don't realize what you put her through, and forget you trying to buy a property for her, that's not going to happen, or I doubt you will ever do anythign for her" and that point tears flooded down my eyes, I gave Ms. Lina the phone, took my laptop, came in my room, closed the door and cried about this, and stomach pain.

Ms. Lina's Sister,
First of all, you have no right to say anything to me. None! Zero! Maybe you should dwell on your husband's actions instead of mine and defining values and relationships for me and Ms. Lina. I have zero respect for you. I use to respect you, listent to you, talk to you, but not from last 3-4 years. I don't like you, and I have let things be for your sisterhood to stay alive. You talk about me leaving my mom, to study, to make her and my future better, and what about when she left me, and look where my family is standing right now. 4 different opposite poles. There have been times when my mom has run away from her responsibility towards me- TWICE! Once because of you! but I have never ran away from her. Never! Regardless anything- my health, education, realtionships, ANYTHING! You don't know what I have done for her. I have tried to make her feel special with greeting cards, flowers, presents, taking her to movie, taking her shopping, doing waht she asks me to do, trying my best to give her the mental support. I have put my tears, my feelings, my happiness aside for her and done it with all my heart. If I don't tell you these things you wouldn't know and consider me selfish, and if I tell you then you think I am being selfish by listing off this. But you know what you focus on, the times that I didn't do something because I was busy with school, or work or maintaining my other, thus less important, but other relationships, or myself. You focus on the time when I walked away cause I couldn't handle the pain, the trauma, or the fights. At 15 I wasn't strong enough to do what it takes to put your husband behind bars, that too when I was too dependent on other family, dad, mom, etc. But now, being used to no one being on my side, I am strong and independent enough to do what it takes to teach you a lesson. The reason I am not doing it or won't ever do it is because of yours and my mom's relationships and because I know how to put the PAST BEHIND and not live it and make myself miserable. I would rather focus on now and future, and try not to change anything. One of these days, sit in fron of me and have real converstation. Get something straight, I will never run away from my responsibilities and duties towards my mom, even if she took a knife a ran it through my stomach. I will never forget my duties towards her, my brother and my father. It doesn't matter to me whether they are living in a different continent, I will always be there for those three no matter what. I don't forget my responsibilites and what is right. Whatever they have done thus far is more than enough for me to feel that I will always be the only daughter and sister that needs to play that role.
I have tried over and over again to forgive, but I can't! I will not forgive and I give up even trying to forgive ruthless people, but I will not run away from responsibilites.
Honey

Write A Letter

In Creative Writing you were taught to write it out to clear your thoughts, organize yourself and your ideas and to just let things out.
Write a letter and take all your feelings out.
You know that you have buried so much in your heart. Write it all out, read it and then destroy it.
You'll feel better.
Take a journal and just write it out!
Honey

You can Do It!

Once again, like the nights in Seattle, the random nights in Boise I am facing serious health issues.
My stomach hurts too much, and the diagnosis and different people's opinion is just way out of hand.
I know my body, I know what I need to do to take the first necessary steps and then the doctors, medication and other people can come into play with all this.
My nutrition/health and stress is a big problem and those are the first necessary things I need to take care of to deal with this. Mentally if I can deal with that, physically I will improve in matter of days.
Nutrition Health
Eat proper food: breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks.
Everyday breakfast: A fruit (banana, grapes, etc), and a glass of milk with cereal, biscuit or pancakes.
Lunch: Milkshake, edamame beans, fruit, healthy food.
Dinner: Proper food: daal, rice, roti, beans, vegetable. Full dinner meal.
Icecream everyday and 34oz water.
Since my stomach is in a bad condition, I need to start out slowly eating and then improving on weekly basis with amount of food I intake.
EAT PROPER FOOD AND THAT WILL DO WONDERS TO YOUR HEALTH HONEY!!!!!!

Go to gym: exercise, dance, yoga, workout, and enjoy yourself.
4-5 times a week go to Gym.
Dance class schedule:
Monday 4:30, Tuesday 6:30, Thursday 9:30, Saturday 11:30 and Sunday 4:30.
Corefit class schedule:
Monday 9:00, Tuesday 5:00, Wednesday 9:00, Thursday 5:00, Friday 9:00.
Go to gym whenever you are feeling down and release your energy there.
It will make you healthier and you'll feel better: energized.

In Seattle, every evening you use to go to Tully's or Starbucks and just read. You read three amazing books: Alchemist, Eat Pray and Love and Eleven Minutes. You enjoy reading, it reduces stress, and is keeps your mind motivated. So, take some time everyday or 4-5 times a week to just read. You have so many books that are still waiting to be finished and on your to read list.

Watch one movie a week. You use to love watching movies, its great "time pass" and it relaxes you. Once a week, in theater, on tv or on computer, watch one movie!!!!

You use to stay so active and happy before, mentally and physically.
Involved in activities, doing all different things that you like, volunteering, art, dancing, going out with people, and now you have become boring, and very weak, physically and mentally.
You function best when you keep yourself busy and happy so do that. Stop worrying about other people more than yourself. You come first, everyone else comes after.

Simple,
Get good sleep.
Wake up early.
Eat good food all day long.
Read, watch movie, go to gym, do things you like.
Focus on school and company.
Be healthy, stay happy.
Fuck the rest of the world. It's your life, not there's. At the end of the day it's about how you feel, not someone else.
Relax!


Help for Stress:

Stress management strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

Stress management strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
• Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk.
• Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter the amount of stress you’re under.

Stress management strategy #3: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
• Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.

The Curve of Forgetting

The Curve of Forgetting describes how we retain or get rid of information that we take in. It's based on a one-hour lecture.

On Day 1, at the beginning of the lecture, you go in knowing nothing, or 0%, (where the curve starts at the baseline). At the end of the lecture you know 100% of what you know, however well you know it (where the curve rises to its highest point).

By Day 2, if you have done nothing with the information you learned in that lecture, didn't think about it again, read it again, etc. you will have lost 50%-80% of what you learned. Our brains are constantly recording information on a temporary basis: scraps of conversation heard on the sidewalk, what the person in front of you is wearing. Because the information isn't necessary, and it doesn't come up again, our brains dump it all off, along with what was learned in the lecture that you actually do want to hold on to!

By Day 7, we remember even less, and by Day 30, we retain about 2%-3% of the original hour! This nicely coincides with midterm exams, and may account for feeling as if you've never seen this before in your life when you're studying for exams - you may need to actually re-learn it from scratch.

You can change the shape of the curve! Reprocessing the same chunk of information sends a big signal to your brain to hold onto that data. When the same thing is repeated, your brain says, "Oh - there it is again, I better keep that." When you are exposed to the same information repeatedly, it takes less and less time to "activate" the information in your long term memory and it becomes easier for you to retrieve the information when you need it.

Here's the formula and the case for making time to review material: Within 24 hours of getting the information - spend 10 minutes reviewing and you will raise the curve almost to 100% again. A week later (Day 7), it only takes 5 minutes to "reactivate" the same material, and again raise the curve. By Day 30, your brain will only need 2-4 minutes to give you the feedback, "Yes, I know that..."

Often students feel they can't possibly make time for a review session every day in their schedules - they have trouble keeping up as it is. However, this review is an excellent investment of time. If you don't review, you will need to spend 40-50 minutes re-learning each hour of material later - do you have that kind of time? Cramming rarely stores information in your long term memory successfully, which makes it harder to access the material for assignments during the term and exam preparation.

Depending on the course load, the general recommendation is to spend half an hour or so every weekday, and 1.5 to 2 hours every weekend in review activity. Perhaps you only have time to review 4 or 5 days of the week, and the curve stays at about the mid range. That's OK, it's a lot better than the 2%-3% you would have retained if you hadn't reviewed at all.

Many students are amazed at the difference reviewing regularly makes in how much they understand and how well they understand and retain material. It's worth experimenting for a couple weeks, just to see what difference it makes to you!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (but only if it gets published)

Many times, the difference between whether a news release or feature article is published, or not, is the quality of an accompanying photograph. Take a little time to review theses simple tips (with camera in-hand), practice your techniques and in no time you'll be submitting photos that editors just can't help but run.

1. Get in the zone- most cameras rely on a "focus zone" to achieve autofocus of pictures. Make sure you know where the zone is (or how to adjust it). Use the "halfway press" to lock focus on your subject and then re-compose your shot.

2. Flash is good... Flash is Our Friend- use camera's flash, even on the sunniest of days. By positioning subjects with their backs to the sun you can avoid the squinting effect. Then, set your camera to force the flash to fire, providing a "fill" light and eliminating the shadow.

4. Show what happened- take actions shots of students competing in hopes of capturing the winner. Don't wait for the "grip and grin" event that looks like all the other photos editors reciev.

5. This isn't Norte Dame- avoid group shots that require half of your subjects to hunch over to fit into the frame. If you have to shoot groups, find a set of stairs that can help position everyone naturally.

6. Get a Little Closer- if your goal is to get good photos, be prepared to move in closer to your subject. True, you can always zoom and crop later, but your photos will be sharper and better exposed if you can fill the frame.

7. Could I See Some ID, Please?- make sure you write down (or record) names, titles, and other information of subjects as necessary. Cutlines are vital.

Ken Koch
Chief Comm & Marketing Officer
Meridian Technology Center
kenk@meridian-technology.com


This was given to me as part of my internship by my Boss- Dan Hollar.

Focus

I am loosing it. I need to focus more.
My career and school is very important to me, and I am neglecting it.
I graduated with a Bachelor's of Science with double major (Communication and Psychology) in two years, I was so active in high school, along with accelerated student, and now I am loosing focus.
I wasted a semester with Psychology Phd (AUG 2008), and now I am doing that great in my Masters. (With a 3.5 above GPA- which was required to be accepted to the Phd program)
I was always ambitious, always wanting to be successful, 2always learning new things and accelerating in life.
I need to refocus, and get back into that. I have few plans and goals and I need to set objectives to achieve those things.
First and foremost, my Master's in Graphic Design is very important.
a. I need to work harder, get outstanding grades, it's been improving, but I need to focus more and do excellent and have an outstanding portfolio.
b. Design out degree plan. (finish in 1 1/2-2 years) [San Francisco]

I need to focus on Reflections/Freelance and Gain Experience
a. Business Plan
b. Register
c. Develop templates/prices
d. Portfolio
e. Website
f. Marketing

Objectives to Achieve Goals
1. Sleep by 11-12 and Get up 7-8. This will give me a longer day and more time to work, and will increase efficiency and effectiveness of work.
2. Though my health is improving, I am still not taking that well care of myself, so I need to eat better and cook 2-3 times a week, to build the habit.
3. Go to gym at least 4-5 times in a week. Take a 2-3 day break to not over do workout.
4. Be organized and don't loose focus. Keep room clean like you have been, and stay on top of everything. Computer, room, papers, keep everything organized and clean.
5. Get more involved with people and community- volunteer, go to meetups, do what you love to do i.e. dance.

Honey

Things to do by 4/6

Poster Final
Poster Process Book
VC Intro
VC Spreads 1-3
Workbook In Progress
MIV Quiz
Negative Examples
Type Poster Final
TF Quiz
Dada Poem
Historical Example 1918-1939
HGD Quiz

Portfolio
Exploration
Worksheet

Graphic Designer

Tasks

• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing
• Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
• Confer with clients to discuss and determine layout design.\
• Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.
• Review final layouts and suggest improvements as needed.
• Prepare illustrations or rough sketches of material, discussing them with clients or supervisors and making necessary changes.
• Use computer software to generate new images.
• Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
• Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products.
• Prepare notes and instructions for workers who assemble and prepare final layouts for printing.

Tools

• Desktop computers
• Laser printers — Computer laser printers; Wide format printers
• Notebook computers — Laptop computers
• Scanners — Computer scanners
• Tablet computers — Graphics tablets

Technology

• Data base user interface and query software — FileMaker Pro software; Microsoft Access; Structured query language SQL
• Desktop publishing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Distiller; Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker; Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign; Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
• Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects; Adobe Systems Adobe FreeHand; Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software
• Web page creation and editing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver; Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks; Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Player
• Web platform development software — Adobe Systems Adobe ColdFusion; Adobe Systems Adobe Macromedia HomeSite; Hypertext markup language HTML; JavaScript

Knowledge

• Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Fine Arts — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities

• Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Work Context

• Electronic Mail — How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
• Telephone — How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
• Spend Time Sitting — How much does this job require sitting?
• Time Pressure — How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
• Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
• Level of Competition — To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
• Duration of Typical Work Week — Number of hours typically worked in one week.
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

Interest Code

• Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Enterprising Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Work Styles

• Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.

Work Values

• Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
• Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.