I would really enjoy it if the majority of my ideas began arriving in my head pre-bedtime. But time and time again they flock to my brain as I stand brushing my teeth or as I lie in bed trying to fall asleep. Although I try to scour news sources like the UCSB Daily Nexus or Yahoo’s homepage for interesting, student worthy topics, I’m beginning to realize that it is my own inspiration, or the ideas others find worthy, that drive me to write and work innovatively.

So now the real beginning… I cannot say with complete certainty when the idea came to me, I can assure you I was in the midst of procrastinating or going to bed. With another chapter of my life soon coming to a close, I am no longer able to put off and avoid the future that is readily approaching. Although I have had decent work experience through my college years, I along with many other students, are finding ourselves in a seemingly sinking ship of opportunities. As I have written before however, I will not give up hope. Persistence and perseverance is the key to success.

Another key to success is keeping true to who you really are. For me, this process involves a lot of reflection and digging to uncover any part of my identity that has gotten lost or buried in these four years of college. I remember my last graduation which marked the begging of my current journey about to end. It was a time when all that mattered was getting out of my house and finally being able to declare independence. Something strange occurred that I was not exactly prepared for however. Those parents and life I was trying to leave have continued to stay a big part of my life, and although I don’t like to admit it, they do influence the decisions I make. Finding the right balance between your own self identity and the life your parents want you to have is a struggle that many students have to deal with, especially in our economy where the options of finding a dream job are limited.

Having already gone through the process themselves, I understand why they want to make sure their two cents get heard. Although your parents may be the source you trust the most, they may not be the most objective, and or realistic. Remember that you are not your parents, and you know yourself better than anyone else. While in the process of obtaining information about possible career options, try to reference a source that allows YOU to decide what is best. I am not saying to ignore what your parents have to say, just take it with a grain of salt and always, remember to breathe.

April 23, 2009

Hello my name is Allison Commentz, and I'm new to The Rainmaker Network staff. My new position for the Rainmaker Network is the Special Events Coordinator. I have a background in Recreation and Leisure Studies and I am excited to put my studies to work. I will be bringing you frequent updates on travel, leisure, and all the good things in life...and how to do it as green as possible!

Students travel all over the world while working on their education for a variety of different reasons; some students travel to experience a new culture, some to build their resumes, some to fulfill course requirements, some to build relationships and expand their network. But students usually have one common element when they are traveling; they are traveling for a higher purpose.

Today when students travel they want more then what meets the eye. The student population desires a bigger personal fulfillment beyond just seeing a new place in the world. As a student traveler myself, I would say that students over all like doing things to help others while they are traveling. When students reach out during their travels it enriches and develops their experience. Not only do the cultures and people benefiting from the students helping hands but the students benefit by making deeper connections to the cities they travel to. When students Go Philanthropic (change the way they see the world), they are leaving a positive footprint for the rest of the world to discover. Students can look back on their travels and know that they made a difference in that cultural community whether it was by bringing school supplies for deprived children, purchasing souvenirs from the local people, or staying with a local family in their home over a hotel chain who’s money leaks back to the original outside corporations.
One way to expand philanthropic travel even more is by educating students before they travel anywhere. Educate them on the different things they can do for that specific country they are traveling to and tell the students the benefits of philanthropic travel and what a huge difference they can make today. Students are more aware of their impact on the environment than most other dimensions of travel therefore, they are willing to take the time while they travel and give to others and make that positive footprint.

So when you plan on traveling, travel in a philanthropic way!

Special Thanks to Val Vanderpool at Sustainable Travel International read more about them at http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/
For more information about Go Philanthropic visit http://www.gophilanthropic.com/

Once you get an offer... is it ok to say NO?

You said NO to a full time job with benefits?!?! It seems like that should be a sin in our downward economy. But, even in this market that is a problem I have faced…

When should I say yes (or no) to a job?

I have stayed in touch with my friends since college and we are all dealing with the same issues. Sending out what seems like a million resumes and hearing back from only a few places, trying to find a paid position that will support us, deciding where and, basically, how to live. . . . surviving. Now, after a few months of job searching one of my friends is successfully talking to 2 companies!

Here's the deal:

Company 1: Contemporary Classic American Clothing Company
Full time position with benefits as a manager in charge of an entire store’s sales, visual displays and daily operations, BUT they have not officially offered it. It is TENTATIVE. Which means she could wait from a day, to a month, or even up to 5 months until it becomes an official offer.

Company 2: Luxury Accessory Company
Part-time position in retail where she would be working with the visual display co-ordinator for the next couple of months, at which point 2 jobs are opening in the management position she is working towards. The company always hires from within and has a lot of room for growth. Even better yet, there are opportunities for international experience in the future.

Facing those options, my friend looked to her friends and family for advice / opinions on the decision. What it came down to was: Which choice would be more in line with her interests? Where would she be more passionate? (She‘s leaning toward the Luxury Accessory Company due to her French background and love for the company and the opportunities it holds for future growth.)

Now, I find that one of the hardest decisions is actually saying YES to a job…any job. It feels like once you say yes you have committed to a serious relationship and have locked yourself into a situation in which there is no backing out. Well, what I’ve discovered is that people say yes everyday and then change their minds within months of accepting. So don't feel like you’re making a 10 year commitment to stay on when you go to work for your first “career” company. Instead, explore your options and go for the place that can give you the best experience. And be sure to ask yourself – How hard will I work for a job that I’m not really that psyched about?

Don't be afraid to shop around and ask friends and family what they think. But remain objective while taking all opinions into consideration. Ultimately it is YOUR career and YOUR commitment.

In the mean time, work at boutique, restaurant, bar, camp, computer store, bookstore, coffee shop, pizza place or anywhere else you like the atmosphere until you figure out where you fit in best….enjoy your career search!

I was on the Rainmaker Network Forum this morning, and decided to listen to some of the podcasts that were claimed to help us “escape” from the real world and inspire us to take on the challenges we face in our daily lives. Being a lover of nature, and all outdoor activities, I clicked on a couple of the links and let the journey begin.

Although the realities of my world are much less severe than of others who are suffering considerably, nature has an overwhelming power that can change lives dramatically. Just two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go up to Tahoe and snowboard for a couple days. Although the snow was not superb, I was able to relax and enjoy the moments as they came and went. The very uncrowded mountain helped as well. I had no one to look out for and could get in as many runs as possible.

Taking this time to return to nature was a needed vacation from the stressful world we live in. Everyday I am on the go, and I don’t always take the time to enjoy life until it has almost passed by. Currently I am in my final quarter of college. Where has that time gone? Time seems to be rushing faster and faster in the opposite direction. For me, it is not until I step out of my daily routine can I really enjoy the days to their fullest.

Looking around me, I know that I am not the only one experiencing this phenomenon. So take a moment, like I did, to walk against the current of life. Embrace the day, and appreciate your surroundings. Whether it’s through hiking, journaling, yoga, even painting, find an activity that lets go of your left brain and allows you to relax. Who knows, you might even wind up finding inspiration for that project you haven’t started due tomorrow morning.

If there is one thing I have learned from my internship with The Rainmaker Network, it is the importance of following up. Whether it is with co-workers, clients, or future partners, following up shows interest in others and the work they are doing. Failing to follow up on the other hand shows lack of interest or that you can not commit and follow through on an assignment. It can also be taken as laziness or apathy, which is a quality no one wants around in the work place.

Working for The Rainmaker Network, an organization reaching out to students and campuses along the west coast has forced me to prioritize and make sure to follow up on all of my assignments. Not only do I want to create a positive and lasting impression for myself, but for The Rainmaker Network as well. Life is about making connections, and it is the impressions you leave with others that are going to get passed on. Showing that you have the drive to follow up on your word, and will use your initiative to do so, is part of a positive character that others respect.

As one of the PR interns at The Rainmaker Network, I have been contacting multiple campus organizations for possible partnerships. Following up can be the difference between a partnership or not. Unless blown away, possible partnership organizations are not going to eagerly respond to every contact message. If pursued continually however, there is a greater likelihood of success.

This said, be proactive! Follow up in a timely manner because it could make or break it for you in any given professional, academic, or social encounter you may come across in your future.

I attended the LA fashion market with eco-friendly VISIONARY boutique owner Magda Rod on friday and was excited to see all the eco-friendly products offered. The event is all weekend and is a sea of apparel, jewelry, accessories, outerwear, lingere, shoes, and house products. If you can buy it in a store, it was there! As a fashion design major in college I was so overwhelmed by all the wonderful designs, great fabrics and up and coming designers that were at market, but most of the companies I am familiar with aren't eco friendly at all!!!

After graduating from school in december I had been job searching to figure out where I would start the next chapter of my life. I didn't know what my plans were or where I would be headed. After speaking with Lance Stacey at the rainmakernetwork.org I was so excited to be on the frontier of working with eco-friendly companies and "green- collar" jobs! I had a position in Los Angeles!!

Hi Rainmakers,

This is an importance announcement from the Rain HQ. One of our many Greek partners across California includes the USC Panhellenic Council (they govern over all national sororities on campus). It has come to our attention that one of their fellow sisters have passed and we are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Please read below and if you have any information, please alert the authorities at once.

-The Rainmaker Network

$135K Offered For Info In Deadly USC Hit-&-Run

LOS ANGELES (CBS) - The University of Southern California Wednesday announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a driver who struck and killed one freshman student and seriously injured another.

The Los Angeles County Council is offering a $75,000 reward and the Board of Supervisors will contribute $10,000, which totals $135,000.

Adrianna Bachan, 19, and Marcus Garfinkle, also 19, were in a crosswalk on Jefferson Boulevard at Hoover Street about 3 a.m. Sunday when a car heading east on Jefferson ran a red light and struck them, according to police.

Bachan, a freshman from Santa Barbara, was killed. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and majoring in environmental studies, according to USC's newspaper, the Daily Trojan.

Garfinkle, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, was hospitalized at California Hospital Medical Center, the Daily Trojan reported.

After the car hit Garfinkle, the driver stopped long enough for a passenger to pull him off the hood, witnesses told LAPD officers.

Bachan died from her injuries at a hospital. Garfinkle was carried 500 feet on the windshield of the car before the vehicle stopped and a passenger removed his body from the hood of the car and threw him to the ground, according to witnesses. He is still in serious condition.

The passenger was described only as a Hispanic male.

The suspect vehicle was black, and believed to be a 1999 to 2002 Honda Accord or Toyota Corolla. It had a broken windshield and extensive front-end damage after the crash.

Anyone with more information was asked to call detectives at (323) 290-6063 during normal office hours, or (877) LAPD-24/7 nights or weekends.