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OPINION
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2005
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PAGE 7A
GILMORE'S PERSPECTIVE
ROCK TALK
Connections, internships vital in finding employment
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must set yourself on fire." — Miles Davis.
This Miles Davis quote is perhaps most applicable to those on the cusp of becoming the world's next leaders: our generation. With abun-
ERICA PRATHER
eprather@kansan.com
daint opportunities, both at the University of Kansas and elsewhere, there is no excuse for a student to sit back, relax and place faith only in their diploma.
Some students may be under the false impression that some sort of degree guarantees them a job. This is not the case. A diploma is simply a piece of paper stating that a student passed tests, wrote good papers and attended class. While a college education is, in most cases, a necessity for success, other factors such as internships, recommendation letters, solid resumés and cover letters weigh in when applying for that dream job.
There are so many factors that go into the 'total package,' stellar grades, involvement in the cc nunity, experience, seminars and extracurricular activities are just a few examples of what constitutes an impressive resume.
Obviously, it is impossible for one to achieve everything. But look at it this way: would you rather hire someone who graduated school with a 4.0 grade point average and no experience, or an individual with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and experience to show knowledge in the classroom and bevond?
Every department has an undergraduate coordinator who is happy to lead students in the right direction towards becoming a well-rounded individual. The Burge Union houses the University Career Center, with career counselors and information on internships, jobs and how to put a resume together.
I checked out UCC with the help of Wendy Shoemaker, a career services counselor. She showed me rows and rows of internship listings, from local to international.
"Internships are a popular way for companies to recruit college students," Shoemaker said. "They are great for the student as well, because not only do they help you crystallize what you want to
do, but you also have the opportunity to network. Another perk that may be more subtle is that through internships, you may find out about other careers you never knew existed that interest you."
According to Shoemaker, UCC is divided up into two sections: Career Counseling.
which deals with career assessments and the Employment Services, which offers help with cover letters, resumés and internship hunting.
What about freshmen, undecided majors, or those that are just unsure of their career path? Shoemaker has advice: "First, learn how to trust yourself and know what your skills, strengths and interests are. Secondly, do research about your career and know that you can never ask too many questions. Lastly, build your support network by identifying the supportive people who can help you recognize what you are good at."
Although everyone defines success differently, self-motivation is key in every situation. People who lead exciting and successful lives didn't get there by accident; they pushed themselves and others to reach their goals. Even if a student thinks her ambitions are so grandiose that they seem impossible to achieve, believing in and continually challenging oneself will not only aid in the achievement of goals, it will also build character and encourage growth as a person.
College is about socializing and enjoying time as a carefree young adult, but it is also about grabbing life by the horns while young and able. This is a time in life when with countless options and opportunities. This is the time to make mistakes, learn from them, and be smarter because of the chances you took. Taking this "go-get-em" attitude encourages students to become well-rounded, live without regrets, and have experiences that could change an outlook and give new insight.
Mayor's impeachment robs Mexico of justice, democracy
With such a plethora of advice and resources, students have plenty of opportunities to gain needed experience they need, learn about what truly interests them and take on the world.
CORPORATOCRACY
"Don't worry, Charlie, you'll find a Golden Ticket." —Grandpa Joe, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
STEPHEN SHUPE
sshupe@kansan.com
As a marketing ploy for Tim Burton's forthcoming remake of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Warner Bros. has announced a contest taken from the pages of Roald Dahl's timeless
children's novel. A search for five Golden Tickets
will commence next month, with prizes including
a European vacation and a check for $10,000.
- Prather is an Omaha, Neb., junior in English.
I don't know about you, but I'll be eating a lot of Wonka Bars this summer.
Of course, if the contest plays out in the same way it does in Dahl's tale, I'm far too old to win. In the novel, pre-adolescents find all of the Golden Tickets. Four of them are spoiled brats:
Odds are the first four kids will be Americans; obese, wealthy, bad-mannered, addict-ad brats. The fifth winner will
Augustus Gloop, a gluttonous German boy; Veruca Salt, a rich little nag; Violet Beauregarde, the world record-holder for chewing a single piece of gum; and Mike Teevee, a television addict. The only child of virtue is Charlie Bucket, an extremely poor, hardworking lad.
most likely come from a country populated by a great many more poor children. From, let's say, Mexico. Thanks to the recent action taken by Mexican president Vicente Fox and his right-wing National Action Party, the prospect of an impoverished Mexican child finding a Golden Ticket seems all the more likely.
A week ago today, the federal Congress in Mexico voted to impeach Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the mayor of Mexico City. He's charged with ignoring a judge's order to discontinue the construction on private land of an access road to a hospital. It's a four-year-old infraction, minor and not uncommon. Lopez Obrador faces up to six years in prison and expulsion from the country's upcoming presidential race.
The mayor and his leftist Institutional Revolution Party had gained momentum in the campaign, leading by 10 points among presumed
candidates in recent opinion polls. This is President Fox's final term. Lopez Obrador's populist record includes handling out cash to poor people, building playgrounds and schools, and speaking out against free-trade policies that have battered low-wage workers in recent years. He's called attempt to push him aside a
the ruling party's attempt to push him aside
"witch hunt."
Apparently freedom and self-determination have their limits especially when they hinder the search for the Golden Ticket.
On Thursday, more than 100,000 of his supporters came out to protest the impeachment. They knew what Mexico would look like under a President Lopez Obrador, just as President Fox and his friends in the international business community surely knew. For pure markets to continue the ceaseless flow of money to the top, working conditions in Mexico and other Latin-American
countries must remain stagnant.
Before his election in July 2000, Fox served as an executive for the Coca-Cola Company. Once in office, he announced the formation of the Plan Puebla Panama, a multi-billion dollar development deal. The plan clears the way for the erosion of labor rights and massive private investment in infrastructure
projects. Fox wants to turn a wide swathe of Latin America, running south from Mexico City all the way down to seven republics in Central America, into a corporate playground. This land is abundant with water and oil reserves with the potential to significantly raise the living standards of Mexicans. Instead, the spoils will go to multinationals.
As president, Lopez Obrador would put an end to this outrage. Nearly 80 percent of Mexicans want to see him run. But unlike the recent support of democratic reforms in the Ukraine and Lebanon, the leaders of Mexico's neighbor to the north remain silent. Apparently freedom and self-determination have their limits, especially when they hinder the search for the Golden Ticket.
♭ **Supe** is an Augusta graduate student in journalism.
He is a *Jayplay* movie reviewer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Don't continue pattern of abuse and neglect of life to further comparatively minor human endeavors
I would like to clarify a point in my previous letter regarding the Canadian Harp seal hunt.
It is true Newfoundlanders are poor and the seal hunt supplements their income. Ms. Dinges is right — you should be educated in your decision whether to boycott Canadian seafood.
Information on Newfoundland can be found online and hunt information can be found at the Humane Society of the United States Web site.
However, even if something is seen as economically helpful, it is important to remember that this does not alleviate the fact that it can be very cruel in practice.
It seems our world is willing to give up on the idea of humane treatment of its inhabitants — both animal and human — in the name of expediency.
Examples abound: The treatment of farm animals in this country, the torture of prisoners overseas. We lose much of ourselves by sinking to the lowest treatment of living creatures and people because it is the easy fix.
We should ask ourselves at what price do we use and torture and kill before we ultimately destroy that which we want to save. No one knows the long term effects of killing a million seals in three years.
I understand something of poverty but cruelty is not necessarily the way to fix it. Long-term solutions will never be reached when short-term expedient ones are settled for. I cannot believe cruelty is the answer to the problems in our world. I hope I am right.
Adonia David Conservation specialist Watson Library
REPORT CARD
Pass:
Britney Spears. The flagging pop diva found her way back into the news when she announced to a world holding its breath in anticipation that she was, indeed, pregnant. Nice work, Britney. Just please don't parlay your child into a bad reality TV series.
- Mike Rundle.
Lawrence's former mayor announced he was gay, which was a fairly bold move so soon after this state overwhelmingly nixed gay's opportunity to get married.
Fail:
Gay marriage ban.
Just because the Kansan failed it a week after the fact doesn't mean we don't disapprove.
Free All for
Free for all callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to mit comment. Standerous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
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The new Land Rovers...ooops, sorry.
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I just walked through the Campanile and if anyone has any advice on how to reverse the curse, I'd like to know.
shipped by every student at this University.
I just saw an 8-year-old holding a sign that says God hates fags. What's this world coming to?
--written up for strippers but we got written up for watching "Girls Gone Wild."
If John Elway played for the Colorado Rockies, he would lead them to back-to-back World Series championships and he is an American legend and should be wor-
I was watching porn tonight and I was thinking that it was a great place for the Free For All to advertise.
written up for strippers but we got written up for watching "Girls Gone Wild."
It's strange that Lewis 5 didn't get
I just got pulled over by a cop on the suspicion of drunk driving because I was swerving manholes on Ninth Street and avoiding potholes on Iowa Street. Can the city of Lawrence do something about that?
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