Self Worth

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As I start my search for full-time employment, I am faced with the task of pitching myself to companies in hopes that they will hire me. I am “selling” my skills and abilities to these brands, hoping that they will “buy” them. A sales pitch is always better when there is genuine belief behind it, which makes it hard when you doubt your ability or worth.

I compare myself to my fellow classmates quite a lot. Regardless of their impressive track records and great personalities, I have a track record of my own and my unique personality. A resume can only show whether you are able to execute a job’s responsibilities, which in all honestly is a teachable thing. People learn how to do their job better every day, even higher ups an business owners. Your resume helps you get your foot in the door, but your personality and personal connection with the people at the company is what really secures your spot.

In psychology, there is this thing called the Dunning-Kruger effect, which is where is you can’t objectively assess your cognitive ability. Basically, the less you really know, the more you think you know, and vice versa. This generally means that if you have a low perception of your ability, then you are probably better off then you really think.

You have to remember that you are a valid and worthy person. You might doubt yourself from time to time and that is natural, but you shouldn’t put yourself down if you can help it. You have your own set of strengths and weaknesses and while they might not match up with other peoples, that doesn’t mean they aren’t valid or good.

How do you keep your spirits and self-perception up?

What do the Dorms at FIT Look Like?

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Hi everyone!

This is a popular question – what do to the dorms at FIT look like?  FIT offers three “freshman” (for your first year attending FIT, whether or not it is your first year of college does not matter) dorms and one “upper classman” dorms (where you can live after the first year on 27th st).

When I dormed, my favorite part was definitely the distance from class!  FIT is essentially one city block, and the freedom to get out of bed 10 minutes before class and make it there with 5 to spare is pretty sweet.  Since classes are on the north side of 27th, and the freshman dorms on the south side, it takes moments to cross the street to get to school.  For sophomores and beyond, Kaufman Hall is located on 31st, right next to the new Hudson Yards mall and developments.  It is about a 12 minute walk but there is also a shuttle service for rainy days or for when you just need a lift.

You can learn more about FIT’s dorms here, on our website!

As for what the dorms look like inside, you can see one on a campus tour but the best way to really peek inside is on YouTube!  Many FIT students vlog about their student life, and show off how they decorated their dorms. Their videos are a lot easier to relate to than a staged room.  I would recommend researching on the FIT website which of the three halls might be best for you, and then searching youtube with the dorm hall name, and “dorm tour”.  For example, “FIT Nagler Hall dorm tour” will turn up loads of videos on how students before you made their dorm room home.

Which of our three entering students dorms are you interested in?  Let me know below!

Sam

Senioritis – Dealing With It

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As we are nearing the end of the semester with only one month left of school, I am falling into the classic “senioritis” tendencies. This entire semester I have let my time and work management skills slip and it has had its consequences. I have not been keeping track of what projects are due or when their deadlines are, and I have been doing the homework just to get it done, not to learn from it. This is really unfortunate because if I take a step back, I can see that I am in a really exciting part of my time at FIT and I am not allowing myself to enjoy it.

This is a time when I should be pulling together all of the skills I’ve learned here at FIT and to practice them at their full potential. Instead, I’ve had this mindset that I am “done” with my academics and that I am ready to enter the industry full-time. While it might be true that I am ready and able to work full-time, it doesn’t mean that I should brush aside my schooling.

The first 3 years at FIT taught me all of the technical knowledge that I need to know, but this last year is about putting that knowledge to use. It is about how well you understand the information and how well you can put it into effect. It is also aimed at a managerial role, so this is a year where I can look past where I’ll be when I enter the work force and project myself to a higher position. This allows for a rare chance that I probably won’t have for several years where I can get in a managerial mindset and play out how certain decision affect a company and the work that ensues for the teams that I will be a part of in the real world.

I lost my source of motivation because I thought I had reached the end goal, but I still have lessons to learn in my last year. I need to change my thinking to allow for growth from my remaining classes, because it would truly be a shame if I or anyone went through their last year and wasted it.

 

Have you ever experienced “senioritis”? How did you deal with it?

Intern Series 4 – What if I Don’t Like my Internship?

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Hey Everyone!

This is the next installment in my internships series – and an important one to consider. Not every internship is going to be what you imagined, and it’s important to still act professional even if the company isn’t!

As tempting as it is to quit, or just completely go ghost and never show up again, honor your commitment to the company and stick things out. Internships after all are temporary, and poor experiences teach you a lot more than you would think. Learning how to work in a situation you wouldn’t prefer is a valuable experience- in your career there will surely be positions and companies you do not enjoy. You might not have a choice but to stick it out for one reason or another, so you might as well start practicing doing your best in a poor circumstance.

Talk to Your Supervisor
If something is bothering you, for instance you need some time off to work on homework or you feel you aren’t being given appropriate work, ask your supervisor if you can talk. More often than not, whatever is bothering you can be addressed by just talking to your supervisor. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to them directly, maybe a coworker can offer advice or help to get you what you need.

You are a student
Not all classes are enjoyable, but you will always learn something from them- for example I learned from pattern making class that I am not well suited to ultra precise tasks. Internships are like a class in the “real world” and the same rules don’t always apply but see your office as a classroom. Be on time, be present, and be okay with it not being a perfect subject for you. School is trial and error. Through internships I’ve found I don’t like small companies, and also love offices that have a lot of fun. This has helped me in my job search. Now is the time to learn what you like and sometimes that means doing stuff you don’t like.

Look at what your boss does, and not just what you do
As an intern, you’re likely not going to be doing the exact work you would be after graduation. You do have a window into what your boss does, and that can help you decide if you like the career choice or need to pivot. I’ve had internships where I found my work to be a drag, but for the most part I thought what my bosses did was interesting. Know that your work as an intern likely won’t be the same as that of a graduate.

Soak it all up
Like it or not, might as well get something from your time. Read reports, ask to sit in on meetings, and try to master the photocopier. Everyone at FIT has a crazy internship story- and we all survived. Some of the worst things I’ve had to do I laugh about now. It’s all temporary.

Have you ever had to stick it out at an internship? What helped you get through it? Leave a comment below!

Sam

Alternative Thanksgiving Plans in NYC

Now that Halloween has passed, we are onto the next holiday…Thanksgiving! I myself am not from the East coast and can rarely go home for the holidays, so here are some things you can do to celebrate the festivities while away from home and family.

FIT Residential Life Thanksgiving Feast

Res-life always hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for students that stay in the city for the holiday. Take advantage of a free meal and hang out with friends on campus.

Thanksgiving Day Parade

This Nov. 28th will be the 92nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade celebration. Come celebrate an iconic and historic NYC event along with the rest of the city either in person or live on TV. If you want, you can go the night before to watch the balloons get inflated as well.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village

Bryant Park is a wonderful place to stroll through and take a look at all the holiday gift and food shops. This is a great place to look out for that perfect present or to get a cheap bite. There is also the the skate rink which as free admissions but costs $20 to rent skates. It gets cold on the ice so make sure to bring gloves and a jacket.

Friends-giving

Gather a group of friends to have a home cooked (or ordered out) “family” meal. You can make it a potluck to make the menu easier on whoever is hosting, but make sure to contribute something to the group.

(Window) Shop around on black Friday

There are so many online and in store deals to take advantage of. Check off all your Christmas list items or just peruse. You can also stop by the famous Macy’s window displays at Herald Square along your way.

Volunteer with New York Cares

New York Cares is the largest volunteer network in NYC that has opportunities in all 5 boroughs. It requires a quick and simple orientation but after that you are free to sign up for as many volunteer opportunities as you’d like, spanning from gardening to child and senior care to tax prep.

Explore the changing season at Central Park

Get a breath of fresh air at one of the many parks around NYC. Central Park will be showcasing the full force of Autumn with its beautiful foliage. Grab a bite to eat and walk around to one of the many locations in CP, such as the skate rinks, the CP zoo, the boat launches, or the Bethesda fountain.

Visit a Zoo

Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and Central Park Zoo are all open the day of Thanksgiving. Tickets for all three locations are $13 (unfortunately they do not offer a student discount). View animals such as exotic birds, sea lions, red pandas, grizzly bears, and snow leopards.