Intern, Intern, Intern!

This is probably some of the BEST advice I could ever give you.
It is extremely hard now-a-days to get a job without experience. By experience...I mean interning.
You can never have too many internships, but you can always have not enough.


I was a student in the Perley Issac Reed School of Journalism, working on a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism.
I started my senior year of high school at Channel 11 in Pittsburgh. I shot high school football games that would air on the 11:00 news, Friday nights.
Freshman year I wrote for a brand new sports website, numonefan.com.
Sophomore year, I interned at KDKA-TV...which by far was the most amazing experience of my life.
I was in the sports department...I worked with the Penguins, Pirates, Steelers, and Panthers. I got to work the US Womens Open and I was trusted to go out and do stories on my own. It was awesome and really helped me confirm that I was doing the right thing with my life.

Interviewing Max Starks

KDKA Crew

US Women's Open

Steelers Press Conference Room

Franco Harris

Interviewing James Harrison

Junior year I interned at WDTV in Clarksburg WV. This was more of learning the one man band routine.


So it's safe to say...I interned a lot.
It took a lot of sacrificing summers, cramming for tests, and more. 
You will learn a lot from your professors at WVU...but school isn't the real world. The real world is how you know that the career path you have chosen is the right one.


While applying for jobs after graduation, I constantly heard:
"Wow, you have a ton of experience."

Now-I am a full time reporter at WBOY-TV and I have started my dream job. 

HARD WORK PAYS OFF.
It happened for me and it will happen for you too.


Xoxo-
Kels

Relationships, Part 1

Don’t stress yourself out to find a relationship.
I made this mistake my first couple years in college.
I got dumped the moment I got to WVU by my high school boyfriend.
To this day...I can't quite figure out why I dated him in the first place. Hence, a lesson learned.
ANYWAYS..
Your freshman year...you meet SO MANY PEOPLE.
I met a lot of guys...and I always caught myself thinking:

"Is he relationship worthy?"

Ok. Stop right there. 

That is where I went wrong and it took me four years to figure it out.

I should have been thinking:

"What ever happens, happens."

This isn't the time to worry about relationships. It's the time to start making friendships and focusing on your classes & grades.

High school and college are SOOO different. You actually have to work hard to maintain a good GPA. 

A relationship is going to 'just happen' if it’s supposed to. 
Who are you kidding? 
Guys are still extremely immature at this age…no offense guys. They just want to party and have fun. But who can blame them?
90% of girls want the same thing.
But when the additional 10% of girls start talking about wanting to start settling down-- that scares them. 
You have the rest of your life after graduation to find the perfect person.
The moment I sat back and stopped caring-- and let it all just play out--everything fell into place for me.
I'm the happiest I have ever been at this exact moment.
(The reason this is labeled Part 1 is because I have seen and personally dealt with a lot in regards to relationships...and more advice will be coming in time.)


Xoxo-
Kels

People find any reason to drink.

If you are trying to find a way to unwind after a hard week of classes, or after a huge exam...WVU students believe an alcoholic beverage is the way to solve that.


I am sure you have heard constantly...

"You go to WVU?"

"Yes."

"Oh...that's a huge party school."

Well, obviously.

It's a division one university. EVERY SCHOOL is a party school. Yes, you are ranked at the top...but so is Ohio State, Penn State, Ohio University, and so many more. 

Your nights out are going to be some of the BEST TIMES OF YOUR COLLEGE CAREER.

Otherwise known as:

"The nights i'll never remember...with friends i'll never forget."

And as long as you follow proper etiquette on your nights out (not being a sloppy mess, starting fights...we will get into all of this later) ...it's awesome. 

This is the list of excuses I have heard over my four years at WVU, why people felt it was ok to drink.

It's quite entertaining, prepare yourself. 

A. I need a break from studying...in the library.

B. Osamas death

 

C. Big East Championship for Basketball

D. Blue v. Gold games

E. Pitt losing any type of event

F. For fun

G. Failed an exam

H. Just got a good grade on an exam

I. It’s nice outside

J. It’s too cold outside

K. To pregame

L. Football games

M. Birthdays (including your 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd)

N. Cinco de Mayo (even though we are American)

O. Finals week

P. Just finished Finals week

Q. We are about to start Finals week

R. It’s our last weekend

S. Break up

T. Friend is mad at you

U. Professional team victory

V. Professional team loss

W. During professional games

X. You’re bored

T. You have a roof to drink on

R. St Patricks Day

S. Youre leaving for breaks

T. It’s Spring Break

U. You just finished WVU News

V. You graduated

W. You visit another campus

X. It's Freshman Move In Day

Y. You were invited to a stop light party, and you had to wear green.

Z. Halloween

Obviously I have heard way more then that...but if I keep going...I won't have anything for future posts. A lot of these pictures contain their own little stories and tips of advice.

Believe me, I have forever...i'll get to them.

But pretty much to sum it up... like any other school, you are going to run into a list A-Z on why you should go out and drink that night.

Take in every single moment... as I said before: 

These are some of the best times of your life.

Just BE SAFE and BE SMART.

Xoxo-

Kels

Always carry a small umbrella.

This may seem like another "mom" tip of advice.
But I learned my lesson.


I walked all the way downtown from my apartment and the moment I walked out of class, there was a terrential downpour. 


The closest thing to me was the bookstore. 
So I ran in...ONLY TO BE SOAKED ALREADY.
The cheapest umbrella was $15. 


When you're in college...$15 is a lot of money! 

This is the $15 umbrella. 

The day I bought it.

Don't mind my black hair (thats another story we will get to eventually). 

Do yourself a favor...check the radar EVERY morning!! Even if there is only a 5% chance of rain...carry the umbrella. 

Xoxo-

Kels

You will NEVER eat Sbarros, Chick Fil A, Burger King, Taziki, or Quiznos ever again in your life after graduation.

Enjoy it now guys.
I swear it's true.

You are going to walk into the Mountainlair every single day for one reason or another.
You may need to waste some time before your next class, you may have to do your newscast at U92, you may be hungry, you may need a coffee, send out mail, just wander in....
Whatever the reason is...you are going to smell the same 5 food places every single day.

My freshman-junior year we had McCoys instead of Chick-Fil-A.
You are a part of the glory days if you experienced McCoys.
It was a sad, yet awesome day when they replaced it with Chick-Fil-A.

What I'm getting at is...enjoy it throughout your 4 years.
It gets old.

Yes, your meal plan allows you to get it for free.
Or yes, its so convenient.

One of my best friends, Ryan, was legitimately the "Burger King". I've never seen someone eat there so much.
While I was legitamately grossed out by his actions, I couldn't help but laugh when he would talk about how amazing his body was and how it didn't matter how much fast food he would eat.

Amaze-Bod Ryan & I

ANYWAYS...
after you finish your time in Morgantown, high chances are...you won't eat it again.

Xoxo-
Kels

Always look both ways before you cross the street-- you may have the right-a-way but looking both ways is still a necessity.

Sophomore Year I was hit by a car crossing from the Mountainlair to Oglebay. 
Yes...you may laugh.
I laugh about it now. 
But at the time...well, it wasn't so funny. 
I have never seen a bruise as big as that one.


The kid that hit me was texting while driving. (Ironic) He wasn't going very fast but it was enough to knock me on my butt. I didn't break anything luckily. 
I'm not the only one who got hit by a car in my four years of attending the University. 
Some were a little more severe then others.
People don't understand that just because there is a crosswalk there...doesn't give you the right to just walk out without paying attention.


And a little side note to drivers...you should pay attention too.
Here's a tip... if you're in a hurry don't leave when classes are dismissed.


Monday, Wednesday, Friday... classes run 8:30-9:20...9:30-10:20 and so on.
Tuesday and Thursday...classes run 8:30-9:45...10:00-11:15. 


It's not hard. Print yourself a schedule and schedule your travel times around it. 
Speeding through campus is not only dumb, but it can really really hurt someone. 


Save yourself the misery (please) and save yourself a month on crutches. It's not worth it.
I feel like your kindergarten teacher-- but look both ways! 


Xoxo-
Kels