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Show x •) \ \ x I I X XX Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 — Page^B- features@statesman.usu.edu 797-1769 Today: Campus Threads Majoring in play and school Whoever came up with the maxim "Work comes before play" is no friend of mine. I'm a big fan of playing, whether it be sports, video games or playing war in the mud with little green army men with my best friend on a Friday night. Which reminds me, I'd better call him and set that up for this weekend. If only he weren't imaginary, it would sure make this a lot easier. In fact, as a child, I was encouraged to play. 1 was told it would enhance my creativity. AN I knew was it sure beat whatever it was my dad did all day. Playing was my only task, and I was good at it. Sadly enough, I am a product of my environment and I was taught from a young age to play by imitating professions. The professions I played included such lucrative careers as a Ghostbuster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or a cowboy. All these were worthwhile endeavors, and my dream growing up was to stop the Stay Puft marshmalfow man from destroying Salt Lake City. Seriously though, as 1 think back on childhood, I realize when 1 thought 1 was playing, I was really being bred to choose a career. 1 wasn't the only one either. My entire generation was. Think about it, what games do children play? They pretend to be doctors {not in the sick, perverted way), construction workers, fire fighters and police officers. Children even play house - though the feminist movement confused this fun game oy making the wife work outside of home. Maybe that's why whenever 1 played house with girls they would disappear and I wouldn't see them the rest of the day. So instead of learning to have true fun like lighting fireworks, sliding on a Slip 'n Slide or how to become a top secret spy (oh wait, that's a career again. Dang it.), 1 was being tricked into thinking work was fun. Sure that sounded good enough as a kid, but as soon £:: ' turned 16, I knew the fun U S U SENIOR RUSS " R J " M A D D O X splits his time between Olive Garden and his studies as an education major. was over. Maddox works as a server as well as in the kitchen at the restaurant. Many students hold down part-time or even full-time jobs I can still remember that fateful morning when outisde of school, forcing them to shuffle schedules around to meet priorities. GIDEON OAKES photo 1 woke to a rent bill taped to my bedroom door and a note that said, "Get a job. It's about time you paid your way in this world." at the HPER building on campus his freshman year. Even BYJENNAQUINN So off I went to get a job. staff writer My first task was to sit down and make a list of all my skills: amateur checkers champion, supnow, however, Gerth said he tries to keeps himself on a porting actor in my sixth grade play, skilled at Star . he stresses of school, friendships, dating, adjusting to . Craft, able to make macaroni and cheese and strict schedule in regard to work, school and other comfairly decent at writing my name in cursive. Of the last I was particularly proud of. I was sure if ta college, finances and work all at the same time can be be mitments, every other job opportunity closed to me, surely 1 could be a monk. hard to handle for students, said LuAnn Helms, who works for With my skill list in hand, I started pursuing job "No outside plans before 7 p.m.," Gerth said. postings: CEO wanted with more than 15 years the USU Counseling Center. experience in technology sector; marketing direcHe said he was able to maintain his high GPA because he tor needed with four years sales experience and Many college students work full time or part time, and the masters degree; bagger at local grocery store, kept to his schedule. essential qualifications include being able to breathe, walk and not drool on the food (at least mere act of finding a job can be stressful itself, she said. not while the customer is looking). Of course, not all students are affected the same when it Glancing down at my skills list, I knew the only Rebecca Sheffield, a senior in secondary education for her thing I was qualified for was the latter, so I applied comes to stress caused by a tight schedule. When asked if it at my local grocery store as a bagger. I guess a lesson I learned from this was every job wants second bachelor's degree, said she works part time as a teachsomeone with experience, but nobody wants to was difficult to have a social life, Michael Clark, freshman in give somebody a chance to get that experience. er's aide. I remember going to the interview dressed up premed who works part time at Lee's Marketplace, said, "Not in a blue shirt and tie, thinking it was stupid that it's proper etiquette to dress up for an interview "I hope I can handle the stress," said Sheffield, who previto get a job as a bagger. Wouldn't throwing on really." peasant clothes or a nice orange jumpsuit be ously only worked during the summers. more appropriate? All I really remember from the interview was Audrey Merket, a senior studying English education, said \MSee STRESS, page 7 the interviewer staring at me with a hard edge in his eye and him slowly sharpening a knife on a stone while he grilled me under a bare bulb about she works part time at the Writing Center at USU. To have where the rebel spy base was located. I was later told by other employees that they didn't have the time for school, she said she often stays up late and spends same experience. Weird. I somehow convinced the interviewer that I a lot of personal time at the library to maintain her grades. was capable of picking up cans of chicken noodle soup and placing them in a plastic bag without crushing eggs or squishing bread. Merket said having a social life is even harder to balance as a Bagging groceries is not the most exciting job in the world, but it sure beats other jobs I've seen full-time student with a job and that her social life is replaced my peers doing, such as waving to traffic in a giant ice cream cone suit for an ice cream shop or conducting telemarketing surveys about which by "study partners and coworkers." brand of laundry detergent leaves clothes feeling fresh and light. Now there's a poll that will change Sophomore Adam Gerth, in aerospace engineering, said he the course of humanity. I've held a few other jobs since my days as a is currently looking for a job, although he did work part time courtesy clerk - sadly that is the politically correct term for a bagger - and all of them have strengthGIDEON OAKES photo ened my belief that our society places way too much emphasis on work and not enough on fun. Just think of it, if fun came before work, dentist visits wouldn't be dreaded because he would give an extra dose of laughing gas and everyone could have a good time. Or lawyers would actually crack a joke that was funny. Or teachers wouldn't take themselves so seriously and would give homework assignments like blowing bubbles BY MARK FERGUSON and even search for local childcare. All services that." in chocolate milk for 15 minutes a day. staff writer are free and available 24 hours a day. Peterson, who attended USU, graduated in Sure nothing would get done, but maybe less When visiting the Web site isn't enough, howsocial work in 2002. Before she began working at people would get sick from stress and everyone There's an office in town where the people ever, people can visit the Workforce office. Scott Workforce, she was required to attend training would sure be a lot happier, especially the chocoinside are more worried about the people outside. Clark, employment counselor and local veterans workshops, which were usually held in Salt Lake late milk industry. According to its mission statement, the employment representative, said he is used to City and occasionally via video conferencing. I may not have all the answers, but all I know Department of Workforce Services states that its helping job seekers in person. is all work and no play sounds like communism Peterson said technology has pushed the advancefocus is on providing employment and support to me, so I'm going to live the Ameri£A&.dream Clark graduated from USU as well in 1997 with ment and availability of these local services. For by earning a spot on the "Price is services to customers to improve the customers' example, Peterson said nearly the entire process of a degree in natural resources and agriculture. Right." economic opportunities. He said he is in charge of handling the Veteran's finding a job is now done online. In fact, much of Balancing work Workforce Services helps communityfindjobs For JaNae Peterson, she said her work is all about helping people. "(It's about) just seeing people make changes and working hard to make those changes for themselves, seeing people succeed and people being self-sufficient and taking initiative," said Peterson, lead employment counselor. "That's what makes the job worthwhile, seeing people do the building is dedicated to provide access to the Internet for the job-searching residents of Cache Valley. The Workforce Web site is www.jobs.utah. gov, which houses most of the services options. Peterson said job seekers can view thousands of current job listings, access information about training services, explore various career options Affairs, such as benefits and services, that the government provides. Clark was in the marines for 20 years and now specializes in working with veterans searching for a job through the company. Clark said he feels he's done a good job after "knowing that you've helped someone achieve a d See WORKFORCE, page 7 Seth Hawkins is a junior majoring in public relations. When he's not popping out of giant birthday cakes, he fills his time thinking up names for his pet rocks. Send comments to seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu |
