Yes, I have a stuffed toy on my desk

Everyone, meet Superman. He lives on my desk at work. Why would a 24 year old have a stuffed Superman doll on her desk? It's actually a great story...


The L.E. Phillips Career Development Center's mission is to be a viable business enterprise as a means to provide meaningful and appropriate vocational services and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and disadvantages. My first week  at the CDC was a whirlwind. I had an amazing experience.  I was fortunate enough to be able to see the end game of what this amazing organization does within 5 days of starting.

There were 2 events during my first week. The first was a retirement party for one of the individuals. The CDC has been operating for 59 years. This individual was retiring after working here for 55 years. 55 YEARS! That's a long time to stay at any company! It makes it even more amazing that he worked for the majority of the time that the company has been in business! Everyone gathered during lunch time and got to celebrate this amazing person's contribution to the company. 

The second event was for a program called Project SEARCH. This program serves as almost a 5th year of high school, and provides young adults with a year long internship where they learn various skills through working different departments at a company. At the end of the program, each person will be prepared (and guaranteed assistance) in finding a job! I got to go to a graduation party for this program at Action City, an indoor arcade/trampoline center/go-kart/all around fun place. I spent the day racing the kids, eating great pizza, jumping at the trampoline park with them, and ended the day playing arcade and crane games. Some of the kids helped me play some crane games, because I am absolutely awful at them. That's when I won my buddy Superman.

I was riding back to the office with my CEO, thinking about what an amazing week I had. Staring at tiny Superman, I was reminded of something I loved about my mom's office. My mom has been in the non-profit sector for 10 years (give or take). She worked for WPBS for quite a few years before we moved to Wisconsin. My mom has always kept a tiny Elmo at her desk as a reminder of what she is doing and who she is doing it for. Superman was going to be my reminder.



We all have days where we are sad, stressed, disappointed, lost, confused, or just not feeling like doing what we are supposed to. It can be hard when the going gets rough. I keep Superman on my desk to remind me of the amazing first week I had. At the end of the day, everything I do is for the individuals that CDC works with that are disabled or disadvantaged. When I remember that, I remember that there is a purpose to what I am doing, and I am re-energized to do what I need to. 

ALSO, he has a cool little Team RWB bracelet hanging around him as a utility belt. Team RWB is an amazing organization that helps veterans get connected with their community, and gives them opportunities and outlets to network. I am a very proud member of this organization and belong to a chapter the my parents co-founded and co-president. 



It just takes a few seconds of looking down at this tiny toy to remember that what I am doing matters. And at the end of the day, that's everyone's goal, right?

Get Fit?

Hi all!

So....I'm starting another new blog. (I know, I suck!)

I'm having a hard time keeping myself accountable for getting more in shape and eating better. My newest thought is that maybe if I have to post a blog post everyday, then maybe it would help me be more accountable with what I eat and how often I work out.

It's worth a try at least! So Pizza Queen Gets Fit is the new blog. Check it out, and we'll see where we go from here! (Keep your fingers crossed for me)

Time & Place for Everything

I am a firm believer that timing is everything. Whether it be within a personal setting, business setting, financial, academic, etc. There is a time & place for whatever we do in life. 

For those who know me well, you know about my relationship history. I've had very few relationships, but the ones that I have had have lasted a span of years. However, I was not constantly in a relationship during those years. I was in relationships where we would break up and get back together, both sides wanting something different and thinking we could achieve it together.

I'm not ashamed of my relationships. I enjoyed being with the people I was with (for the most part) while I was with them. I just wanted different things from my boyfriends at the time. Especially with my most recent relationship. I wish my ex well, and I know he will be successful in his chosen career. But we just wanted different things on different coasts of the country. I believe if we had met later in life, and both had figured ourselves out, the relationship would have been happier and healthier. However, we were young, clueless, driven in different ways, and sometimes just dumb. There were a lot of hurt feelings and broken promises on both sides. Timing is everything.

In a business aspect, knowing when to ask for things can be crucial. When do you ask for a  raise? A promotion? That corner cubicle? More/less responsibility? Ask the wrong person on the wrong day, and you could lose more than you already had. Your superior may already know that you want that promotion or raise, but they just have to wait until the company is in the proper place to allow that growth for you, as it may effect others as well. Timing is everything.

When do you let your friend know that the guy she is seeing is trash? When do you let your professor know that there is toilet paper on their shoe? When do you let your gym trainer know that the technique they are using may actually be more damaging than a technique you know? When do you tell the ones around you that they are hurting you instead of bringing you up? For some things, there may never be a perfect moment. 

So what do you do at that point? Go for it. You will never know, unless you try. It's a terrifying thought. This could screw everything up. You're right. But, you could also get more than you ever imagined. 

I know, I know. This is totally negating my previous statement. Just trust me, okay? Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is just take a leap, and do something without waiting for the perfect moment. Maybe your boss is waiting for you to show initiative with your job. Maybe your partner wants reassurance that you want them in your life. Maybe your friend needs a little extra support to dump the guy. Maybe, maybe, maybe. 

There is a time & place for everything. But for some things, that time & place might just be now.

My Sorority got me a JOB

Yes, you read that right. My sorority got me a job after college. "Paying for my friends" put me ahead of my peers when graduation time came last year, and it continues to provide opportunities for me.

So let's start with explaining what I mean, okay? Being a member of a greek organization gave me experience and skills that could be applied to the work force post graduation. 

Now let's break it down! I held multiple positions in my time as a collegiate sorority member and was on at least one committee (at times up to four) per semester. I made sure that I had some experience with almost everything (sorry to my friends that help finance positions because I definitely avoided you). Here's just a few positions/committees - Red Dress Gala Director, Social Media Director, Parent Relations Chair, marketing committee, philanthropy committee, Red Dress Gala committee, recruitment committee, sisterhood committee. Most of these positions involved planning and executing events, developing marketing campaigns and digital graphics, community outreach, communicating with the chapter and the local community, and developing new and creative ideas in each position. As I am currently in the world of sales & marketing, all of these are applicable!

Here's the best part that nobody tells you - EMPLOYERS/INTERVIEWERS DON'T CRINGE WHEN YOU SAY THE WORD SORORITY IN AN INTERVIEW! Isn't that amazing? I was terrified to use the word "sorority" in an interview, given the stereotype and stigma associated with that word. However, my interviewers didn't look taken back by it. Instead, they shook their heads with understanding and even SMILED as I elaborated on the topic. 

Post graduation, I am still gaining so much from being a part of my sorority. I am an advisor for a collegiate chapter. Through this, I have met more remarkable collegiate members and some wonderful fellow advisors. I was fortunate to attend the Alpha Phi Leadership Conference for the Western Conference a little while back as an advisor. I made so many connections, and even saw a few old friends! I got to know even from our chapter so much better, and even had a few opportunities to network and market myself to other people from the Western Quadrant. 


It's all about what YOU make of your experience in a greek organization. If you are a member that sits back your entire collegiate career, then you are doing yourself a disservice. There are SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES that are offered to you! Speaking just on Alpha Phi, there are intern positions that companies hold open only for our members, there are blogging positions for collegians, positions working for the Alpha Phi Foundation to help market and gain awareness of our philanthropy, fundraising opportunities, a Fellows program, Clara's Circle Leadership Council, Emerging Leaders Institute during the summer, scholarships, service opportunities, and SO MUCH MORE! Speaking to the greek community at SUNY Plattsburgh, there are more scholarships, job and intern positions, networking positions, and (again) leadership positions.

The memories and friends you will make from being a member of a greek organization are of course priceless. But the opportunities that are presented to you, and the skills that you get from being a member will help you for so many years to come. It will make your future brighter.

So rush, join, recruit, and LEAD. Apply for positions, get involved, and do your best. IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE END!

Well.....Am I?

Hi friends! It has been a quick moment since I've written anything. And yet, here I am.

New adult me, new blog....right?! ("Sure Em, whatever." they all mumble.)

The past year of my life (goodness) since I've graduated college has been a whirlwind. I moved across the country, had a surgery (which is an uncommon thing in my life), got a new job, made new friends, ended a long term-long distance relationship, and so much more. I've tried new things, learned new things, and made new memories. 

But...THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

I've recently come to the realization that I'M ONLY 22! I've barely even lived a quarter of my life, and most of it was spent in school (ironic because I just decided to go back to school for my MBA). I have my entire life still to do random things - travel, see the world, become successful, start a family, support my friends and loved ones, and SO MUCH MORE! How many times do we think to ourselves how "unlucky" we are, or how we wish our lives were different, etc.? I know I think it way too many times in a day. Here's the best part - WE CAN MAKE CHANGES ANY TIME WE WANT! We don't owe anything to anyone other than ourselves. Your main priority should be YOU! If it isn't, we need to do some reevaluating, my friend. I've made hard decisions in the last few months that weren't the easiest. But in the end, they are what is best for me. To me, that is my only goal - to be the healthiest and best ME that I can be.

I've gotten a little off track on a slight rant. This post is about this new blog. I'm young. I have my whole life ahead of me. And I'm going to write about the random workings of my world here, for you all to enjoy.