Everyone’s worked a summer job that they absolutely loathe. For me, it was as the soup/sandwich guy at Nordstrom’s Café before my freshman and sophomore years in college [the pre-internship summers], where I had to wear funky clothes, a weird hat that concealed my mop-like hair, and spend six hours a day schmoozing with women who took their time ordering but felt I never moved fast enough.

Coincidentally, I learned to keep things in perspective when situations got a little, well, heated above the 160-degree stoves that kept the soup fresh. And that has a lot to do with training your mind to focus on more than just the present.

During those summers, I would leave Nordy’s and go straight to band practice or pre-production for a short film I was working on with some buddies. And throughout my daily shift, I found inspiration in the people who would pass through the food line; using said inspiration for song lyrics or characters/scenes that I could use in the script.

But if those types of endeavors aren’t of interest to you, all you have to do is focus on your forthcoming paycheck. True as it may be, you can have endless fun without money. But chances are, you’re going to need it at some point, albeit going to the movies with your friends or road-tripping somewhere.

[Then again, if payday is a long ways away and your shift isn't going as well as you'd like, your last resort is realizing that at least one of your friends are feeling the exact same way.]

But seriously, just keep your eyes focused on the big picture. ‘Cause even though they can be a pain throughout the day, summer jobs are a small price to pay for the fun things you can do with your friends post-shift.

]]> http://blog.dormbuys.com/?feed=rss2&p=738 http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=721 http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=721#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:35:34 +0000 J Bisch http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=721

As Grad Day nears, you’ve got a lot to be proud of. If you’re being recognized as a valedictorian, congrats! But if you’re not, the fact that you’re graduating high school is a huge accomplishment to celebrate!

And if you don’t believe me, take these numbers into consideration:

• More than 70% of high school students go to school with more than 1,000 students.
• In the 35 largest cities, fewer than 50% of 9^th graders complete high school.
• 69% of all high school students graduate.

Judging by those statistics, which were graciously presented by the National High School Alliance, your high school diploma represents the fact that you have out-performed a lot of kids. It also tells you that you committed yourself to seeing something all the way through, and that’s not an easy thing to do.

With so many possible holes you can fall into outside of school, you and your peers have a lot of reasons to stray from the beaten path to success; a path that starts with finishing high school. But now that you’ve got this diploma in your hands, you’ve shown yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to.

At Dormbuys, we’re proud of you for putting in the time and achieving your goal, and hope that college is on your list of the to-accomplish. Along with establishing itself as another goal on your radar, college also presents you with an opportunity to figure out how you’re going to rule the real world. Are you going to learn how to run a business? Are you going to work towards an art that you’ve always been passionate about? Are you going to meet life-long friends?

Plenty of choices lie ahead of you, and we’re excited that we’ve got the opportunity to help you out in any way you see fit.

But for now, don’t look too far ahead. Enjoy the on-coming moments that you’ve worked so hard to earn. ‘Cause no doubt, college will come in due time. And it’ll give you one more goal to accomplish; a new goal that, in a few years, you’ll be looking back on with pride, knowing that you can continually accomplish anything you want to.

After a discouraging first half which found us on the losing end of a 2-0 score, the Red, White and Blue bounced back and tied the game at two in the second half.  Then, in the closing minutes we had a free kick which was served perfectly and finished into the back of the net by an onrushing US attacker.  3-2!!!  What a comeback!

Wait….what….a foul….on who….what’s going on….what foul…..who fouled who….no way….this thing can’t end in a tie…we won…crap….

So what now?  The United States team finds itself in the middle of the World Cup, one of the most famous tournaments in all of sports, still needing to win a game to advance - something that should have already been achieved without the mystery call of the African referee.  How do they rebound?  How would you?

I can only hope that the team is able to take all of the disappointment, anger, frustration and whatever other emotions they have to be feeling and use them to beat Algeria in their next game.  If they are able to do that, then the call will be irrelevant and they will move on in the tournament.

Easier said than done, I know.  These guys have trained four years for this moment, and a single sound of the referee’s whistle could send them home.  Four years of preparation and it could all disappear in a matter of seconds.  This is going to be the ultimate lesson in dealing with disappointment.

Like the US soccer team, we all face disappointment in our lives.  The real story will always be how we deal with it.  As you find yourself away from home and in the middle of your college experience, some of the things you used to rely on are no longer there.  You’re no longer going home to your parents after class, your childhood friends are spread out across the country and suddenly you have to figure a lot out for you.

My advice for you, and the guys representing the US in South Africa, is to keep your head up and keep fighting.  We can’t always control the disappointment we face, but it’s up to us to fight back and win in the game of life (and soccer).  So, don’t dwell on the disappointment - it happened, it’s not changing, it’s time to move on.  Good luck and keep fighting!

How do you deal with disappointments?  How should the US team react?  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

]]> http://blog.dormbuys.com/?feed=rss2&p=746 http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=712 http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=712#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:47:53 +0000 J Bisch http://blog.dormbuys.com/?p=712

Last week, I was hanging out at my friend’s house, listening to her younger sister – a soon-to-be high school grad / girl I’ve known for almost 10 years – talk about the summer trip she’s been planning with her friends. And while I was definitely taken aback by the fact that my friend’s sister was actually graduating high school [and making me realize that you’re never too old to feel old], her plans reminded me of the trip I took way back in ’02.

A few days after graduation, my friends and I jet-setted to Hawai’i – a four-hour flight from our SoCal houses – intent on kick-starting our summer with a little island flavor. And kick-start we did. From casual days on the beach to a deep sea fishing adventure that none of us will ever forget, my friends and I were fortunate to get away from everything for a few days and relax; a trip we’d definitely earned throughout the last four years.

In fact, that fishing trip came up in conversation the other week. The reason it’s tied to our memories is based on two things: 1) Three of the five of us fell asleep on the deck without putting sunscreen on; and 2) The fish we caught gave the same three food poisoning. And trust me, you don’t need to be a math major to figure out this equation: Gnarly sunburns + food poisoning = lots of Aloe [and even more laughter from the two of us who were burn and poison-free]. It also resulted in a nickname that’s stuck with one of the guys ever since: The Red Whale. But that’s another blog for another time.

I hope you’re planning to jump on a plane, boat, or drive yourself somewhere, because you won’t regret taking a Senior Trip. Not only is it something you’ve earned throughout the last four years, but it’s also something you and your friends will be talking about for years to come.

Whether or not nature intervenes.

With graduation just around the bend, there are three things that are bound to happen once your ceremony concludes:

1) You and your fellow graduators will put the kibosh on your high school careers by throwing your caps sky high.

2) Vitamin C’s “Graduation [Friends Forever]” jam will indeed play, drawing tears from the girls and… well, while the guys will pretend they’re not hearing it, inside they too shall sap.

3) And in that very moment, most of your peers won’t realize that only a few months sit between graduation and the beginning of college life.

So here’s some perspective for your back pocket.

Don’t believe August is a long ways away. If you thought your senior year flew by, the summer months between graduation and college will feel like 24 hours. And that’s because there aren’t any speed bumps to slow you down. No school. No homework. No practices or games. Just time that you can spend however you’d like.

On that note, spend as much time with your friends as humanly possible. Seriously. You should even try to make it annoying sometimes, because chances are, when you’re in different places come September, you’ll find yourself wishing you had just one more hour with them.

Finally, if college comes up, it’s OK to talk about it. Just don’t get lost in it. The future is definitely on its way, but, like graduation, you’ll want to stay in those summer moments as much as possible. Because once it’s gone and you and your friends aren’t in the same place anymore, you’ll long for it again.

So make sure to leave it all on the floor this summer. That way, when you start thinking about your friends from home, you’ll have plenty of memories to keep you at bay until you see ‘em again.

Congrats on your upcoming graduation! We’ll be here if you need anything once college arrives.

Think you need a ton of money to host a decent graduation party? Not necessarily. Here, we give you awesome — and inexpensive! — ideas for having the best graduation party on a budget … so start planning, party monster!

Free Graduation Party Invitations
Give a shout-out! Since you’re looking to save money, consider creating an Evite invitation or Facebook event page to spread the news of your graduation party. This is much cheaper (as in, it’s free!) and less time-consuming than paper invites. Plus, it shows a little bit o’ love to Mama Earth.

Best Graduation Party Venue
In his song “The Best of What’s Around,” Dave Matthews sings, “Turns out not where but who you’re with that really matters. …”

• There’s no place like home. According to Laura Schroyer, sales rep at Lasting Impressions Event Rentals in Columbus, Ohio, the majority of graduation parties the company services are held at the graduate’s house. Opening up your home can seem daunting, but it’s better than forking out beaucoup bucks to the country club.
• Consider the city. Contact your local city or county recreation department and ask if they offer any places for hosting get-togethers. Many have parks, pavilions or halls available to reserve free of charge or rent for a reasonable fee. These locations often include amenities, such as use of kitchens or outdoor grills, existing tables and seating, and various sports courts.

Bonus money-saving tip: Before renting tables and chairs from a rental company, Jason Rickey, University of Dayton junior and co-owner of Omar’s Party Tents, recommends asking a local church if you can borrow some in exchange for a small donation.

Best Graduation Party Decorations

Schroyer says decorating with school colors is a popular grad party trend: “They use a lot of colors from that college or different items associated with their college.”

• Hit up discount chains and dollar stores. You’ll find inexpensive decor, like streamers and balloons, as well as color-coordinated paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils. Schroyer mentions that a simple way to make the decor pop is to use tablecloths in complementing colors.
• Enlist the help of friends. Have any artistic kids in your crew? Pick up some poster board and paints, and have them create one-of-a-kind wall hangings. Your roomie has a knack for interesting dorm decorating on the cheap? Put her in charge of coming up with unique centerpieces.

Best Graduation Party Food
“Food is the main reason I go to graduation parties,” jokes Ohio State University sophomore Alex Huegle. Forget the caterer and go with some of these less pricey menu suggestions:

• Cookout fare Tossing burgers and dogs on the grill is an efficient way to keep the food coming. And it’s not a cop-out to ask each guest to bring a side dish to share. Just make sure you know who’s bringing what so you have a variety and don’t end up trying to unload five buckets of potato salad.
• Ethnic dishes Did you study abroad during college? Recreate dishes you enjoyed during your trek. If you traveled through Spain, serve gazpacho and paella (substitute expensive shellfish with just-as-delicious chorizo sausage and chicken — or even beans for a vegetarian option).
• Dippity do’s Put out an assortment of dips, like artichoke, nacho or hummus, for guests to munch on. Be sure to provide chips, pretzels and cut-up veggies for dipping. This is the best way to go if you have limited seating, since guests can easily consume these foods while standing.

Also, don’t space on the drinks. Fill coolers (or a baby pool) with plenty of ice and bottled water or soft drinks.

And finally, no grad party is complete without a cake. If you’re feeling creative and want to forgo ordering the traditional sheet cake, be your own “cake boss”: Buy fondant and colored icings online or at craft stores. Or whip up cupcakes!

Best Graduation Party Entertainment
No need to hire a DJ to keep grad party guests entertained …

• Turn up the tunes. Personalize your playlist by projecting your iTunes from computer speakers or your iPod from an iHome. Or try Web sites like Pandora.com or Grooveshark.com to personalize live streaming playlists. If you’re really going for the “wow” factor, ask your musician friends to perform as a graduation gift to you.
• Play some games. To break the monotony of mingling, offer games for your graduation party guests. Set up a volleyball net, use your basketball hoop for some one on one or dust off the cornhole boards.
• Create a slideshow. To save money on printing photos, scan old ones to your computer and combine with photos you already have. Make your slideshow using such software as PowerPoint or Movie Maker (look for free downloads), then connect your computer to a projector and let the good times roll!

Talk It up! Ever been to a particularly awesome graduation party? Share the highlights below!

It may not be something you’ve had to do at home, but sharing a room with one or more people may be the best thing to do when you go to college, especially in your freshman year. Yes, a dorm is noisy, there is hardly any privacy, and you have to put up with the eccentricities and foibles of total strangers; but in the midst of all the chaos and confusion, you end up enjoying college life as you should, right at the heart of it. If you still need reasons to stay in a dorm your first few years of college, read on:

• Lower costs: Campus accommodation is cheaper than renting your own apartment and having to pay an advance of the first and last months’ rent upfront. Also, food on campus is much cheaper than buying it outside or even cooking on your own. Although you may not get to eat what you like when you like, you do need to look at the money aspect when you’re a poor college student. Besides, if your college or any other educational loan is subsidizing your education, your accommodation and food costs are likely to be included in your scholarship if you stay on campus. Also, you can share the cost of a microwave, a fridge, hotplate or any other appliance that your dorm rules allow you to keep.

• Better social life: It’s easier to make new friends and fit in faster when you’re a resident of the college dorm. You meet people from different parts of the country and the world and find like-minded souls and those with similar interests and passions. Also, it’s more convenient when you wish to know about and attend events held on campus. And if you’re of the opinion that the more, the merrier, then you’re bound to love living in the social atmosphere of the dorm.

• Broader experiences: Living in a dorm exposes you to all kinds of people from different cultures. You learn more about yourself, other people, and other countries too. Your experiences make you wiser and more mature and this gives you an edge in the real world when you work and interact with people from different backgrounds.

Among the disadvantages of dorm living is the fact that you have very limited privacy and that it’s hard to do any serious studying amidst all the perpetual noise. But even with these limitations, dorm life is an experience that every college student must go through for at least a year.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degree . She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com

Are you graduating? Moving out of the dorms and into an apartment? Moving period? Whatever it may be for you, you are moving on and that inevitably means that you have stuff that you won’t need from your dorm. What are you going to do with it?

Here are some options that the D.B. Crew has for you:

1. Ask an R.A. if there is space to put it in storage for next year’s freshmen. You never know, somebody might be in need of that old, dirty rug or the Bruce Lee posters that you fell in love with at the beginning of your freshman year.

2. Give it to a fraternity/sorority. They always have new people moving in and will surely take some used stuff.

3. Take it to Goodwill. This is one of our favorite options. A short trip off campus, can put some used resources in the hands of people with true need.  Use this to find a Goodwill drop-off center near you http://locator.goodwill.org/.

4. Contact a housing project. Again, there is a great need for people living in these dwellings. Can you help? Sure you can!

5.  Put it on facebook. Tell all of your friends that you have a few things that you’d love to find a new home for and tell them that they are free. You’ll be surprised at how many people want your stuff. If you really want to get it out, take pictures.

Well there you go. I hope you got something out of five quick ways to get rid of your stuff. Hopefully, you will see that there are others in need and that giving is much better than throwing out. Good luck with your next adventures…and your new stuff!

“This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!”

I’m going out on a limb and betting that this thing won’t help any of you avoid the freshman 15.  If you decide to try this monster, drop a comment and let us know what you think.

If you have a teacher (of any sort) that you cannot please, that you cannot learn from, that is unwilling to take you where you need to go because he is defending the status quo and demonstrates your failure on whatever report card he chooses to use, you could consider yourself a failure. Or you could remind yourself…

1. Grades are an illusion
2. Your passion and insight are reality
3. Your work is worth more than mere congruence to an answer key
4. Persistence in the face of a skeptical authority figure is a powerful ability
5. Fitting in is a short-term strategy, standing out pays off in the long run
6. If you care enough about the work to be criticized, you’ve learned enough for today

I quickly had two conflicting thoughts here.  First, I thought that he was dead on.  I’ve had some ridiculously crappy teachers in my lifetime, but none of them were able to permanently impact the life I was destined to lead.  I blazed my own path, decided what kind of life I wanted, and I continue to work my butt off every day to achieve it.

Then I thought that if you take that list too literally, you could find yourself digging yourself out of a pretty deep hole.  Just look at number one - “Grades are an illusion.”  Some of the smartest people I know had crappy GPA’s in high school and college, while others with little to no common sense graduated with report cards full of A’s & B’s.  So what he says is true.  However, while grades may be an illusion, if you’re a student planning on getting to the next level (college, grad school or whatever)…they matter.  The same holds true for the other points Seth makes in his post.

Ultimately, the lesson here is that while some things may not matter in the long run, you have to learn to play the game as a student at any level.  The key is finding the balance between valuing yourself using your own metrics and staying aware of the grading scale others are tossing you into.  If you can master both, you may just be able to have your cake and eat it too…