Let your heart speak

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Due to the craziness of this semester, I had to take a break from blogging. But, it is part of my post-THON resolution to get back to blogging at least twice a week. So what have I been up to, you may ask?

THON: THON (better known as the Penn State IFC/Pannhellenic Dance MaraTHON) is a 46-hour no sleeping/no sitting dance marathon that raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund out of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Yes, I know that’s a mouthful. Our mission is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers, and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund. I’m honored that I was selected to be an OPPerations Captain for THON 2012… which is in 3 DAYS!!!! I am part of a 21-captain committee, led by an Overall, that prepares for all of the logistics of THON and the events leading up to THON. I have a committee of 36 committee members (and we’re called CAPLIN CRUNCH!) that I’ve been preparing for THON weekend. Basically, this has been taking up all of my free time recently. But I could never imagine not being a part of THON and I am so lucky to be able to witness how much we are changing lives.

I’m also working at OLLI at Penn State as their Communications Specialist. Essentially, I am interning for credit this semester so I can stay a student. I’ve been helping train the staff and volunteers in publicity and social media. In addition, I recently completed a Twitter course, where I taught 12 OLLI members how to use the networking site. Working is amazing and strange at the same time. I have to come into work with one mindset and come home and shift into my busy-college-student mindset again: rushing off to meetings, completing tasks for various organizations, blogging, etc. But, I love what I am doing and it is a rare privelege to be able to see everything I’m doing develop.

I am currently searching for a full-time job in Public Relations, and it’s a little stressful. There’s that pang of fear every time you send out your resume- because once again you know people are going to be judging you. Plus, you don’t even know if they’ll open the document! It’s taking a lot of persistence but I am working at it every day. If you have any tips, PLEASE let me know!!!

I think that’s pretty much what I’m up to right now, but I promise I’m back!
- Brittany

Normally I am a huge advocate of writing when your mind is clear but I think that there are so many people whose minds are clouded by ignorance and partial stories that I need to speak my peace here.

Note: I’m trying to write this as unbiased as I can and make sure that you gather all of the facts before you shape your opinion. Education will always be the biggest weapon against ignorance.

First off, before you read this… have a moment of silence for the victims. They’ve been courageous enough to speak out and they are being ignored by people focusing on the wrong things.

If you do not go to Penn State- PLEASE do not lump is in with what is going on right now. The students had no idea this had occurred and it occurred while most of us were in elementary school. Don’t refuse to donate money to a Penn State student because we’re one of 40,000 that attends a prized institution. Don’t not hire a graduate because it says the Pennsylvania State University on their diploma. We had no say or knowledge with regards to this and the entire Penn State community should not be looked down upon or disrespected because of the actions of a few.

For every person that was not in State College/University Park tonight, know that many of us were not in the streets rioting. There were students holding vigils at the Lion Shrine. There were students standing silently at Joe Paterno’s house. There were students guarding the Joe Paterno statue. Please, please, please don’t lump all of us into that group. I for one was not standing in the streets or throwing things off of my balcony.

For those of you that are saying you are embarrassed to be a Penn State student- you shouldn’t be. I’m embarrassed that the people rioting are tarnishing the reputation of my school. I still bleed blue and white and I will always do so- Penn State is more than what is going on right now and please don’t forget that. Remember what it means to be a part of the Penn State Community. The actions of a few don’t ruin what the rest of us have accomplished.

For those of you who did riot and/or destroy parts of downtown. You say that you are doing this to avenge Joe Paterno, but this is the last way he would ever want to be avenged. He was even quoted tonight asking students to go home and study. To honor Paterno is to take time and honor the victims. It’s to take pride in who you are and the University you attend. It’s to still go to the football game on Saturday and cheer on our team because they didn’t do anything and don’t deserve to be punished. It’s to hold your head high during all of this and act in a way that you can be proud of the next day, the next month, the next year, etc.

I would like to stress again that Joe Paterno followed the law according to the Pennsylvania Code. He had to report the incident to his supervisor, where it then becomes the supervisor’s sole responsibility (http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter16/subchapGtoc.html). While I wish Joe tried harder to follow up on the situation, I believe that in that moment he made the best decision. If he would have gone to the police, it would have undermined Shultz’s authority. I believe in my gut that he should have been punished for being associated with this, but I think he is being treated as a scapegoat. People thrive on seeing fallen heroes, and now Paterno is falling in those footsteps.

Evidence that Paterno is a scapegoat? Sandusky’s house is not surrounded by media. He was able to run errands with his wife today without being swarmed. His name has been uttered maybe 10 times today. Curley is still a paid employee of the university, with them paying his court bills. Both of these men have been found guilty by a court of law, but the public is letting them slip by. McQueary actually witnessed the event occur, reported the event to his superviser, and then did not follow up. This seems worse to me than Paterno, but McQueary is still being able to work for the University and coach this weekend.

Celebrities, students from other schools, Alumni, and so many more are trying to bring down everyone they can without looking at the facts. I was just told that I’m an “idiot” if I look at the facts, with regards to saying how Paterno followed the law. But the facts are what can lead to justice.

I guess from all of this is just keep your mind and hearts open. Don’t jump to conclusions and act irrationally without knowing everything that goes on. The actions of a few does not change what Penn State and it’s current and past students have accomplished. Act in a way you can be proud of.

For the Glory

At Hey Cole Presents this summer, I was able to write a ton of blog posts that were published on the company’s daily blog. I designed the layout, using a previously-created Tumblr theme and editing it to look the way we wanted, as well as figured out the formatting to insert the playlist.

Definitely check out these posts so you can learn more about me as well as Hey Cole and its perspective.

- “Interview With Kurt Scobie”

- “How to Write a Strong Email”

- “Social Networking Rules to Live By”

- “Random Twitter Tips”

- “Artist of the Week: Kurt Scobie”

- “How Important it is to Stay Connected for Work Purposes”
http://heycole.tumblr.com/post/9038405777/how-important-it-is-to-stay-connected-for-work-purposes

- “How to Make Time for Social Networking”

- “Concerts Versus Live Performances”

- “Maintaining Connections”

- “Ping.fm”

- “Meet the Hey Cole Intern Brittany Caplin”

- “Establishing Connections”