Week Six - Task 3

Time management is actually on of my best skills. I have a schedule book I carry with me, and one on my refridgerator. I keep these so I can keep track of appointments and make sure I don't overlap them. I am the type who plans ahead. I'm almost never late and I try to make sure I have more time than I need to get somewhere. Every once in a while though, I get thrown off or something comes up. I also keep track of appointments on my phone. I get up way earlier than necessary, too. it is just a habit I've made lately. Which, considering the arrival in March, will be a good thing. I'm trying to develop good habits now so that it is easier to deal with everything once the baby does come. Babies always tend to be a hindrance and always make you late, so with my good habits of being over-prepared and getting up earlier than necessary, hopefully I'll be able to avoid some of those oops! moments. I think I'd handle being overwhelmed better than some.

Week Six - Task 2

In the mornings I....

I put on my make-up, do my hair, brush my teeth, and put on my glasses in the bathroom (I take my shower before bed). I also use this time to pee and get dressed. It only takes about 15 minutes tops. I have to take out my dog every morning after I wake up. This takes 10 minutes at most depending on how lazy she's being. The cats normally go outside at this point, too. I normally eat breakfast. I spend about 10-15 minutes on this, mainly because I don't like to rush and I'm a slow eater. Since it's cold lately, I run outside and start the car about 10 minutes before I leave. I usually get up about 7:30 or 8:00 and I leave at 9:15 to pick up Tara so I normally have lots of spare time to just sit there or to clean up the house.

Week Six - Task 1

This was reading and not really an assignment.

Week Five - Task 4

My personality type has worked really well with my position. I am doing clerical/secretary work for Red Cross and it really is working towards my number one choice as a Medical Secretary. I'm sure that this service learning experience is going to be really valuable when I graduate from Athens Tech. This is going to show that I know what it's like and that I have what it takes to do what I want to do. I'm really excited about pursuing this career and I know that I'm really setting myself up to accomplish all my goals.

Week Five - Task 3

Medical Secretary

Okay, this is what I really want to pursue. The basic skills of a secretary, but in the medical field. You learn about what it takes to run a doctor's office or do all the paperwork involved in running one. So you organize files, schedule appointments, direct phone calls, bill patients, and handles any other office work. The entry level pay for this position is around $18,000 a year. Then the average is $26,000. This is definitely what I want to do. I can be part of the medical field and help people without having to deal with blood or needles. Perfect. This is my number one choice and I plan to go to Athens Tech for a my degrees. There are plenty of classes and majors for this field. It's pretty broad but I'm sure I'd do certain ones. Like a business oriented class, a medical administrative one, and medical office administrator.

Legal Secretary

This is also something I looked into. I really just wanted to do secretarial work, but I'd prefer if I actually specialized in something. Being a lawyer takes way too much schooling and the competition in the industry is more than I could handle. I'm very intelligent and all, but that is one of those all or nothing careers and I'd hate to be a public defender. Wow! Entry level for this position is what average is for medical, $26,000. Then average jumps to around $35,000. This is definitely my second choice. I've always wanted a career where I got up each morning and went to work in a business suit. They're really professional and they give a great sense of confidence. I would really like to work in the legal field. It's very fast paced and never too boring. I would do regular secretarial tasks but with legal documents and things of that nature. Once again this is a field that never sleeps. Someone is always divorcing, wrecking, or suing. Some majors here are Legal Office Specialist, Legal Administrative Assistant, and Legal Receptionist.

Executive Secretary or Administrative Assistant

For this position, the entry level pay is around $24,000 and the average is $33,000. This is my last choice. It isn't really my favorite, but it's more flexible. This is more of a general position, rather than one that is concentrated in a certain field. Majors would be Administrative Assistant, Secretary, and Executive Office Assistant. This is a really broad career which would allow me to work in many different settings rather than in the same field.

Week Five - Task 2

Okay.. I choose three different positions, but they all have the same basic skills needed.

1. Medical Secretary - This kind of goes along with my Red Cross aspirations.
2. Legal Secretary - I'm extremely interested in the legal industry, but I'd rather just work to help out a lawyer and be their secretary rather than actually be one myself.
3. Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants - This has always interested me. I'd love to be able to work for the CEO of a company directly. They get paid really well and are top-notch secretaries. That would be awesome.

Week Five - Task 1

Realistic = 0
Investigative = 2
Artistic = 4
Social = 0
Enterprising = 4
Conventional = 6

Week Four - Task 4

Told me to skip..

Week Four - Task 3

Told me to skip

Week Four - Task 2

These scores are out of 20:


Visual
15
Social
17
Physical
16
Aural
12
Verbal
16
Solitary
17
Logical
12

Week Four - Task 1

Okay.. did the questions...

Week Four - Task 5

Nothing has really changed in my position. There haven't been any major negative happenings at all. Positively though, I believe that I'd be really happy in a career in the medical field. I'm not really good with needles or anything, so surgeon or nurse is out. But, if I can do office work or be a medical assistant, it would be perfect. I was actually considering opening up a Red Cross station like the one next to Academy. There are plenty of people that donate, and it'd be good if there were more places they could go to on a regular basis rather than looking and chasing around the drives. That way I could manage paperwork and nurses and do good without actually doing the blood stuff directly. I really believe in organizations that sincerely help out people. I'm working really hard on not being scared of needles or at least developing some sense of calm while being poked so that I can donate. I'm actually O+. I can donate to all positive blood types so I'm a pretty valuable donor. I think RH- is the most needed though. It wasn't on the sheet but I heard it's really rare. Along with O-. It kind of sucks that anyone can receive their blood but that they can only receive theirs specifically. Only 8% of the population is O-. They remain on transplant lists for a long time because it's so rare. It's upsetting that more O- people don't donate because it's one of the most valued. In emergencies where they can't test someone's blood, they have to give them O-. Anyways, as you can see, I find it all very interesting.

Week Three - Task 3

Study Skills are extremely important when you have a job of any kind. Procrastination can be an awful habit in the workplace. It isn't really a problem for me. I know that once time winds down and it gets close to time for us to start shutting down the drive, it's time to put away the paperwork and clean up the registration desk and pack up. I've learned that you have to make sure people are actually reading the informational material. They just open and think there's too much to read. In reality, the reading material is extremely important. Certain things can disqualify a person from donating. Like getting a tattoo within the past year, being diabetic, etc. Well, the people are pretty friendly. They are very experienced and are willing to work with me as a volunteer. I look forward to participating in more drives in the coming weeks. I actually enjoy the work and the job I do.

Week Three - Task 2

Ways to improve note taking skills

1. Don't just write notes to being writing. Write things that are actually important and will help you with tests.
2. Ask questions to your teachers. See if they think that you missed anything that you'll need to make good test scores and better understand the material.
3. Don't just take notes when your teacher asks you to. If you are reading your text book or come across something you think will be important, write it in with your class notes. It's better safe than sorry.
4. Pay attention on your own. Don't depend on others for your notes. Notes are more likely to be helpful in your own words rather than someone else's.
5. Make sure you take notes in a way that helps you. Some think highlighting main idea or certain parts of notes is helpful. Find whatever makes taking notes better for you.

Ways to Combat Procrastination

1. I'm a very picky person and if an assignment requires doing work that I find boring or time-wasting, I'm reluctant to do it, but eventually I get around to it.
2. I hate when you can't understand an assignment. It's really obnoxious. But, it isn't hard to ask. Normally it's better when you ask the teacher directly because you get a idea of what they actually want from you rather than just a generalization.
3. My biggest procrastination is concentration. Especially during 3rd block. The people are so loud and inconsiderate. At the end of the day after spending so much time doing useless Novanet assignments, headaches come really easily and 3rd block just really make it worse. I always have a migraine on my way home.
4. Boring assignments are really obnoxious. That is way I'm so anxious to complete my Novanet. It's the same assignments asking questions that are way beyond my capabilities. It makes me feel like I'm wasting my time when I could be doing something more challenging.
5. When it comes to projects and non-Novanet assignments I want to make sure that it looks perfect. Since most of my work is Novanet, I want the assignments that show my capabilities to be to the best standard.

Week Three - Task 1

I really don't have too many issues with these things. Some because I'm not on the same schedule as others. Procrastination is a big issue for everyone. I've been procrastinating finishing my Aquafina project. Not really because I don't want to finish but because it is something I'd like to do later. I want to work on the Novanet first, since it's more tedious work than actually being a challenge. I feel like the projects are something I should do at home or once I finish the time consuming stuff. I'm just trying to get all of the easy stuff done.

Week Two - Task 4

On my first day with Red Cross it was a little weird. It was at a church and no one really talked to me. I just got pointed to the canteen where you give the donors juice and cookies after they donate. After a while I got used to the flow of things and it was a little better. My work depends on which station I get. I personally have been working at the actually blood drives. The first I had the canteen and the second two I worked at the registration desk. At the canteen I distribute juice and cookies, have the donors fill out a survey about their experience, and talk to them. I personally prefer the registration. At the registration desk we ask if they are an appointment or walk-in. They sign-in, fill out some forms, and read over the inforamtional booklet. I file their forms, give them a free gift for donating, give them a number, and send them to the next station to answer questions by a nurse and get their sugar and stuff tested. I personally learned a lot do far. The profession I was interested in was Medical Assisting. Working in the medical field doing paperwork, computer work, and things of that nature. This has showed me that I could definitely handle it and I really enjoy the work. To help me with Red Cross I asked the nurses questions and read over all the informational handouts to get a good sense of the answers to questions donors frequently ask. At this particular placement I don't really talk much to the nurses themselves. I just do my job. But with all the emergencies in the medical field, it's better if you're not worried about being social. Mostly the nurses are pleasant, but some aren't. On the positive side, I'm supposed to be social with the donors and most of them like me. As far as negatives, I really don't think there are too many, besides the antisocial behavior from the nurses. But I think that since I'm actually at quite a few functions they're warming up to me. In the coming weeks I hope to gain some more experience and get in a lot of hours. I enjoy working with the Red Cross and want to see about applying for a permanent position later.

Week Two - Task 3 (In ten years)

Where do I want to be in ten years?

1. Married to Kevin
2. Have at least one more child (after my current pregnancy)
3. Live in a real house, not an apartment (own, not rent)
4. Have a high school diploma
5. Have a college degree in medical assisting
6. Work at Red Cross, a doctor's office, or a hospital (A good stable career)
7. Volunteer on a regular basis
8. Be a hands-on mom
9. Live outside of Georgia
10. Have outstanding credit

What can I do now to get there?

1. Considering that we are picking out colors, flowers, and places already we are hoping to be married within the next two years tops.
2. Once again, half way there. I just want to have at least two children and no more than a few years apart in age.
3. Once we start working on our credit this isn't going to be an issue. With the economy the way it is though, we may just have my uncle buy our first place under his credit and we will build credit through insurance and bills until we qualify for our own home later.
4. I hope this will be accomplished by March. With my determination and everyone's support it shouldn't be an issue.
5. I want to spend the first year home with the baby, but I may work out something anyways to get my schooling over with quicker. It just depends on what happens after the birth and how the baby's personality is.
6. I'm very excited about this. I am doing a great deal of volunteering with the Red Cross and I think that once I get my degree I shouldn't have any issues getting a real position with them. If I don't get one though, I'd be just as happy working at a doctor's office or preferably at a hospital.
7. I like volunteering now. I think that making it part of my everyday life would be a good thing.
8. As far as being a hands-on mom goes, well I think I'll be top notch. I am well prepared for life as a parent and I want to be extremely involved in their everyday lives, especially once school comes. This includes field trips and all that. So I'll make sure I have a career that allows me to be flexible.
9. I hate this place! Honestly. I can't stand staying in Georgia. I want to move to Tennessee right now, but we'll have to see what happens. I do know that I won't stay in Georgia. Our criminal system is way too screwed up for my taste.
10. Credit is really important in this economy. Especially now. I want to make sure that I don't have any issues buying a car or a home. Right now if you don't have at least a 750, they won't even look twice at you for a homeowner's loan.

Week Two - Task 2

Um.. the link for this assignment isn't working.. I tried on two different computers.. what to do?! Well, I suppose I'll move on to the next assignment until we are able to resolve this issue.

Week Two - Task 1

We did all of this together... so I suppose that counts?

Week One - Task 3

Student Information Form

1. Name - Alexis Di Vincenzo
2. Address - 110 Chalfont Dr. Apt 2
3. Email - niky_miky@yahoo.com
4. Phone Number - (706) 225-0508
5. Parent Names - Donna Hewlett & Michael Hewlett
6. Hobbies - Scrapbooking, Reading, Listening to Music, Hiking, Writing, Arts & Crafts, etc.
7. Goals - To graduate with a technical seal, to go to Athens Tech, and work as a medical assistant

Week One - Task 2

I think that we should add Focus to the list. I have seen a lot of people in my classes that come to school, but don't completely focus when they are there. Motivation is one thing, but actually focusing is a completey different thing. When people come to school, they need to come to class, pay attention, and focus on their assignments. Socializing isn't as important. With my personal schedule, focus is a very important asset. Since I am not there the entire day, I have to manage my time wisely and make sure that I focus on my assignments and get done as fast as possible. I have set very difficult goals for myself and it will take a great deal of focus and energy to achieve them. I have the choice to just not come and goof off and waste my time, but instead I run my errands and make good use of my time. I also work on internet assignments at home, so that I make up for the time I loose while running errands.

Week One - Task 1

I think that I am very strong in each of these different categories. If I had to choose one that needs a little improvement, it would be number six, Build Healthy Relationships. I tend to surround myself with people of different mind settings. I also tend to work alone. I prefer to do things on my own, it is just easier to me. I get things done quickly and efficiently, but I just like doing it myself. I get along okay with others and I'm pretty social, but when it comes to school and work I'd rather do it on my own.