Spring Break Stay-cation: They Joy of Not Going Anywhere

Tasha

There are a new set of commercials that feature children wreaking havoc around the house. The commercial concludes with “Can you afford not to get away this summer?” And my answer is yes. I grew up in a television dream world where you just HAD to go away for Spring Break, yet my family never did, which is why I was watching so much TV in the first place. So when I got to college and there was not a magic upswing in my income in early March, I was never upset that I couldn’t join my classmates in Cancun, South Beach, or Europe even. I found ways to make my own fun at home, and not having “school” was a prize in and of itself. Here are some of the perks I have found from taking a Spring Break Stay-cation.

Save money and/or avoid debt. Some Spring Break trips can be on the cheaper end, but even road trips sometime end in unexpected expenses (cross state towing). And that is on the low end. I really do not want to burn my study hours working a second job just to afford Spring Break and my parents do not want to come out of retirement either. I have also come to a point in life where I realize, you can not just throw things on a credit card (especially entire non-emergent trips across the country) and worry about it later. Later has become today.

Earn money. I have a great work study Boss who has allowed me to work over Spring Break.  I know some people who go back home and can pick up a few hours at their old summer or holiday job. But, why would you want to work over Spring Break? After being in school for a couple of months, work isn’t all that bad and at the end of the week you get a pay check. Win.

You’re not alone. Not one time have I been left alone for Spring Break. There has always been another straggler left behind to catch a movie with, join for lunch, or go shopping at the local superstore with at 2 a.m. (my rural roots are showing). And even though you do not have to be alone, sometimes it is nice to just sit in silence with your thoughts. I grew up watching TV on the sofa with my Grandmother, so college (especially undergrad) can be a little socially intense for me at times. Plus, I always enjoy my friends and family more after spending a little time away from them.

Day Tripping is fun, action packed, and adventurous. Though you may run into some of those unexpected expenses I mentioned earlier, day tripping is a smaller cost for a lot of fun. You could explore Downtown Ann Arbor like a tourist. Visit the museums, eateries, and sporting events in Detroit. For the serious Day Tripper, you can go to Chicago (IL), Cleveland (OH), Cedar Point, and anywhere else you can safely drive, spend a few hours and come back.

This is not to knock vacations. I love the beach just like the next person, but this is just to say that not everybody goes away. Like Spring Break, vacation is a mindset. You can take your vacation at home.

Why I chose the University of Michigan School of Public Health?

Tasha

2 years ago, I sent off my application, completed my in person interview, and was accepted into the program of Health Management and Policy here at SPH. But, I still had a decision to make and some of you reading this blog post may be in the same situation. I thought I would share with you why I chose the University of Michigan School of Public Health for my Master’s Degree.

1. Faculty. The faculty at the school are at the top of their fields and produce ground breaking research with students alongside. Not only are they great in the field, but they are stellar in the classroom and attentive to student needs.
2. Facilities. The buildings are aesthetically pleasing, the laboratories are cutting edge, and the space promotes collaboration, teamwork, and cross-program communication. I have seen my day of outdated-rustic classrooms, and I am so pleased to have arrived.
3. Program. The top ranked programs here offer a comprehensive curriculum and interesting electives. I have always found the course selection to take me into subject areas that I had never thought of before like “Managing People” and “Sticky Communication”.
4. University. The University at large reminds me a lot of my undergraduate institution, but bigger. I love to watch the football games, hang out in the downtown area, and be amongst the high spirited undergraduate students.
5. Location. I have lived in the south my entire life and it was time for a change. I wanted to explore states that did not border Georgia for once. I wanted to experience real snow, the Great Lakes, and the Mid West culture. I must say, “Not bad.”

As I approach graduation, I can say that these reasons still hold true. I am so grateful that I received the opportunity to attend the School of Public Health and cannot wait to see how I apply the knowledge and skills I have learned here. If you are in the decision making phase, I hope this helps you in your process. If you are a current student or alum, this will probably cause you to reflect on your life since accepting admission to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Leave a comment with your reason for saying Yes.

SPH Student a Part of YouTube Next Chef Program

Tasha

The students at the University of Michigan School of Public Health have many interests. Public Health is such a passion of ours, we can not help but extend that passion throughout our lives. Some of my colleagues practice yoga, others play string instruments, and one is a champion Triathlete!  

 

I hate to toot my own horn, but I have also been making strides in my extracurriculars. It all started on August 2, 2010 when I started my YouTube Channel, The Sweetest Vegan. My first videos were reviews of vegan desserts. Soon after I started to post dessert recipes, and now I post an array meal ideas for the fledgling vegan/vegetarian. On April 2, 2011, my channel was accepted into the YouTube Partnership Program. As a YouTube Partner, I enjoy several benefits that include: promotion, revenue sharing, development tools, and advanced creative control.

 

And that brings me to my announcement. YouTube has launched a partner development program called Next Chef. YouTube set out to find the world’s next big chefs, and selected 16 channels from the United States, Canada, Australia, India, and the United Kingdom. Guess what? THE SWEETEST VEGAN WON ONE OF THOSE SPOTS! I believe that makes me an International Food Star (my words, no one elses).

 

So really, what does being selected for the YouTube Next Chef Program entail:

- $10,000 worth of advertising promotion for my channel across YouTube

- Professional video equipment - DSLR Camera, Lights, Microphones, Green Screen, and more

- Training and mentoring from industry professionals

 

If you can not tell, I am so excited to participate in this program. I think it is a great opportunity to gain exposure for my vegan/vegetarian cooking show. I love health and I love that my channel shares healthy food choices with the world! Public health is indeed my passion and it permeates throughout my endeavors.

 

 

5 Tips to Landing a Great Internship

Tasha Edwards

Let’s start by saying, I look nothing like this picture. I will post a picture of my current self below. My, how things have changed in a year. On to the point of this post, my internship. In the fall, I will be second year Master’s degree student at the School of Public Health in the department of Health Management and Policy. I believe that it is a requirement in all the Master’s degree programs to complete an internship between the first and second year of study. My internship is at Henry Ford Health System in the Web Services. The main component of my work in the development and implementations of social media strategies.

I am so lucky to have received this internship, because it is very fitted to goals and talents. The department of web services sits inside of Marketing and alongside Corporate Planning, Public Relations, Communications, and Media Resources. I live for this stuff! I feel that every project I am a part of or take charge of is helping me to hone my skills to be successful in the future. Awesome, right? I know!

So, how do you get an internship as great as mine? Here are 5 quick tips.

1. Speak up about your interest, experience, and goals. You never know who’s listening, who they know, or what they can offer you.
2. Be professional in your work, study, classes, and extracurricular activities. I am not saying you need to wear a suit everyday, but look presentable. Employers and alumni visit the school for interviews, recruitment, and workshops on a regular basis.
3. Do not procrastinate on deadlines, interviews, emails, etc. Someone else could just be waiting to take your place.
4. Have an idea about the type of internship that would best fulfill you or the place you would like to be live. If you don’t know, then no one else will.
5. Follow up with potential employers. Like I stated previously, you are not the only student trying to obtain an internship, so you have to make an effort to stay at the top of the list.

I really hope these tips helped. This is how I got my awesome internship, and hopefully you will have a similar story to tell.