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(01/11/15 9:27pm)
It is a common misconception that technology is taking over, especially for youth. The eyes of the elder bore into the young Millennial soul, silently judging young adults for having their eyes glued to their cellphones. Most say that books, magazines and newspapers will be an item of the past, equally as deceased as a typewriter. With e-readers, who needs them?
(12/05/14 12:11am)
'Tis the season for spending too much money on Black Friday, plane tickets home, and busy restaurants. The jobs within customer service are amped up for the holidays, and seasonal jobs are offered. We’ve all heard the horror stories from these employees, not only during this time, but all year round. Despite the inevitable fact that working a job in customer service will send you into a puddle of despair, everyone needs to work a job like this once in their life.
I know, it sounds crazy. Why subject yourself to that kind of torture? Although you won’t realize it right away, working a job in customer service will help you develop strong life skills for your future career and develop stronger personality traits. It's time to put on that uniform and try to overcome the stress of the job.
First and foremost, if you’re soft-spoken and shy, you’ll get over that quickly. Nothing gets you out of your shell like hundreds of people being thrown at you day after day, and having to help them. If you’re really that bad, don’t worry; you’ll be given a script of sorts until you can finally hold a proper conversation with someone off the cuff.
They say patience is a virtue, and this was something I didn’t realize until I worked customer service. When a customer just won’t let up about some discount you forgot to give them, or some dish that wasn’t prepared correctly, all you want to do is yell at them right back. But do you really want to lose your job? You might be thinking yes, but really the answer is no, no you do not. After a few months, or even a few years of dealing will difficult customers and being forced to remain pleasant, you’ll develop patience by default.
Watch that table, and this table, and that table. Get this down for her, and then ring him up. No matter what area of customer service you work in, learning to multi-task is a must. You won’t make it very far in this line of work without that ability, nor will you be able to make it very far in your future career.
Most importantly, you’ll develop a newfound respect for the cashier ringing you up, or the barista making your coffee. When they’re running around frantically, you’ll remember when you were there. When you have to wait just a few minutes more than you would like, you’ll be much more understanding of the situation and cut them a break. With all of the impolite customers they have to deal with in the run of a day, they need a few customers that feel their pain.
Although this might be a job full of headaches, a job within customer service is a necessary for everyone to endure once in their life time. You’ll learn how to deal with people, and that’s a skill that will always be an important asset, even if you become a CEO.Reach the columnist at dpharias@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @_DesirayrayEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(11/26/14 1:00am)
Breathe Carolina has been notorious for the party-like atmosphere that the band's tracks offered since its online debut in 2008.
(11/26/14 1:00am)
Canadian country singer Dallas Smith released his EP, “Lifted,” Monday, hoping his hits will catch on in America.
(11/19/14 12:43am)
It’s being screamed from the mountain tops, tweeted, discussed on talk shows and shown glimmering behind Beyonce on her concert tour. “Feminist” seems to be the word uttered by many this past year. This topic is being discussed so much, in fact, that TIME magazine has put it on par with “bae” and “I can’t even” in its online poll of “What Word Should be Banned in 2015?”
In the words of TIME, the word "feminist" earned a spot on the list because of the constant media coverage it has acquired, “You have nothing against feminism itself, but when did it become a thing that every celebrity had to state their position on whether this word applies to them, like some politician declaring a party?” Maybe it became a thing that celebrities had to discuss so feminism can finally get some sort of attention, instead of being low in ranking — just like a woman’s level of pay.
It’s true. Everyone is talking about feminism. It’s all over the web and all over talk shows. However, we hear this topic come up constantly and much of society still doesn’t acknowledge its true meaning. The fact that this important topic is deemed irrelevant and annoying to talk about is what truly raises concern.
Sure, there are suspicions that it was put on the list through the magic of 4Chan and Internet trolling, but it doesn’t matter how it got on the list. The real issue is there are men and women who saw feminism on par with “obvi” and thought, “Thank you TIME for attempting to keep these crazy, man-hating, feminists quiet. I’m so sick of hearing about it.”
That’s the issue. After all this time, after all this celebrity hoopla, there are still people misunderstanding the true meaning of feminism. Even Shailene Woodley said she wasn't a feminist because she “doesn't hate men.” The entire movement has been made into a joke, as showcased in the endless stream of #meninist tweets on Twitter.
Many others have caught onto what the true meaning of feminism is, which is simply the advocacy of equality for both genders. Joseph Gordon-Levitt made a video declaring himself a feminist. He says what a true feminist is, and that men and women are still not equal in today's age. He concludes with, “I think it's a really great thing for us all to be talking about.”
To name yet another from the long list of celebrities, Emma Watson gave her inspiring U.N. speech for HeForShe. She received much praise for this speech, and the campaign has done well with a significant amount of men signing up on their website. Yet, we still don’t all know what feminism truly is.
Feminism may be one of the major topics of this past year, but it has earned this label because there needs to be a change. The fact that we are annoyed by the talk surrounding this is exactly why it still needs to be discussed. There are still people labeling feminists as “man haters,” and until that stops, the speeches, declarations and surge of media attention should continue. Reach the columnist at dpharias@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @_DesirayrayEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(11/12/14 11:08pm)
Coffee is sipped, and the morning paper is exchanged, just as they have for the last 19 years that this couple has been married. As their 20th wedding anniversary fast approaches, one question arises, “Honey, are we going to extend our marriage license, or should we let it expire and call it quits?”
(11/06/14 12:03am)
With their “Angels” all over their stores, as well as all over magazines and television, Victoria’s Secret banks on women’s desire for sex appeal. From stores brimming with products to the annual fashion show, this mega corporation has become a status symbol. This week, another Victoria’s Secret marketing ad went public, complete with petite flawless models, as per usual. This time, however, the ads' main headline read, “The Perfect ‘Body,'" resulting in a major backlash from the public.
(10/29/14 12:24am)
Sam Hunt's highly anticipated debut album was released Monday and completely surpassed expectations. “Montevallo" is currently ranked No. 2 on iTunes, just behind Taylor Swift’s newest album, and has been given the label of Editors’ Choice.
(10/28/14 11:24pm)
The picturesque vision of a mother wearing an apron, watching the kids, as her husband is away at work is undeniably diminishing. Women are taking to the workforce and excelling in their desired professions. However, there has been a lingering debate on whether or not women can “have it all” while being a mother and working a demanding job.
(10/27/14 10:32pm)
One of ASU's own could be elected as the youngest board member to date of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board.
(10/24/14 5:00pm)
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(10/16/14 11:15pm)
As online media flourishes and the overall appeal of becoming a writer flourishes, a career in journalism has become more coveted. The minds of able young journalists can be found in universities across the country, soaking up the vast wealth of knowledge their school has to offer. They each gladly embrace their ink-stained fingers, a result of that morning's scan of the paper.
Journalism students are being taught how to crank out credible pieces of news. It is impossible to make it out of your first year of j-school and be unaware of what a lede is, or what inverted pyramid style is. By year two, you can write an article of that style in your sleep. Although these are all skills of the utmost importance, journalism schools are creating cookie-cutter journalists, all of whom are writing the same mundane story.
As these young budding journalists endure various classes of the reporting genre, they are all placed in news reporting classes. All news reporting, especially breaking news, follows the same pattern. You write your lede. You put the most interesting and important information first. You remain clear and concise. Although this is a viable lesson, it largely applies to one specific student: the future news reporters.
Classes need to be added to each school's curriculum other than the excessive number of news reporting classes we are being forced to endure. For instance, at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, you can choose reporting classes for broadcast or print, but all of the students within print are on the same exact track, despite the fact there are various different types of writing a journalist can do. If one plans to pursue a career within journalism that deviates from this news reporting writing style, such as an opinion columnist, a composer of editorials, or something within that nature, you need to have skills of creative writing well honed. Countless ground-breaking and successful journalists broke out of the mundane track they were presented with, as shown in NYU's "The 100 Outstanding Journalists in the U.S. in the Last 100 years." Many of these journalists have "novelist" or "columnist" within their bio. They didn't build those admirable skills just by taking classes that teach the same old news writing style. We need more classes that engage our minds not only as journalists, but as writers. Countless individuals have broken into the field of journalism without a degree in that program, solely because the masses want to read their work. Editorials and colorful columns have become more popular, and have developed a substantial readership. The main point of journalism is to present people with credible, accurate information. That can be done just as credibly with a bit of creativity.
Creative courses of this nature will encourage creativity within the minds of future journalists, and give those looking for a career outside of a classic newsroom an outlet for their own writing abilities. Although creativity is largely encouraged within our own journalism school, you must find a club or something of that nature to practice it; your classes usually aren't the most viable outlet. By expanding the courses within the program, it would encourage us to become better writers as a whole.
Of course, within any program, you can choose a course of this nature as an elective, but it seems as if adding this course to the long list of mandatory journalistic classes would be beneficial to all. For the news reporters, it would help them write catching ledes, their creativity shining, beckoning their readers to read their entire article. For columnists, their entire piece would be more satisfying to read, as it would become more colorful and vibrant, finally matching the magazine that houses it.
Creative language is always more appealing to readers, and with journalism becoming evermore competitive with the expansion of online, the piece needs to be intriguing, otherwise it will be overlooked. Creative writing courses will give the students within Cronkite an advantage in that department, setting them apart from the countless mundane pieces their peers will surely submit. When we graduate, we will want to be set apart from the rest, and a bit of creativity could be all we need to accomplish that.Reach the columnist at dpharias@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @_DesirayrayEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(10/08/14 12:25am)
You meet someone new and are instantly drawn to them. A friendship begins, time is spent with one another, compliments are shared. A connection is formed that is just a step further than the countless other friendships you have. This is usually the beautiful start of a romantic relationship — but you already have one of those.
(09/30/14 11:25pm)
The future of fraternities as we know them looks bleak, as the men who join and preach the aspect of brotherhood could be saying goodbye to that very concept.
(09/23/14 11:54pm)
With technology taking over the world and winning our hearts, it seems as if there is very little we can do without our gadgets. Online classes are offered by universities across the nation as an alternative to physically attending the campus. Although this is an optimal option for many, the new technological advances within online courses are worrisome.
(09/19/14 12:15am)
Being late is a disease that plagues many, and punctuality becomes a far-fetched ideal as time goes on. Whether it’s at school, work, or simply an outing with friends, we’ve all faced the scrutinization of others when we come rushing through the door past the agreed time. We see the judgmental eyes and instantly know: Their assessment of our good character is about to go down a few pegs.
Being late isn’t the most polite or responsible act to commit, but it shouldn’t put the essence of your character into question. An example of an extreme reaction to lateness is “The Importance of Being Punctual,” a blog post in which we perpetually unpunctual folk are scrutinized for our ways. It goes as far to say, “Being late consistently implies you are rude and lack all consideration and respect for the other person as well as for the commitment you made.” A bit excessive, huh?
There are plenty of instances in which being late has absolutely nothing to do with the person you are planning to meet. These instances can include traffic, alarm malfunctions, oversleeping and car trouble. Although it is true that the individual could probably have avoided these instances with better planning, it doesn’t mean they have zero sympathy and respect for the the event they are attending or the person they are meeting.
There are countless explanations attempting to peg exactly why one is late, ranging from “showing who’s in power” to “don’t want other people telling them what to do." But maybe — and I’m just throwing this out there — they don’t have a deep-seated psychological issue. Maybe they actually just wanted five more minutes of sleep.
This isn't the most responsible mentality, but people shouldn't presume they know the circumstances surrounding someone's lateness. Maybe the person works until midnight, or after, and dragging his or her exhausted self out of bed to endure rush hour traffic to make it to their 8 a.m. class is the most difficult task they will face that day.
Some people aren’t morning people, some people are procrastinators and some haven’t yet mastered time management. This doesn’t necessarily make them disrespectful, unreliable individuals. Making such a harsh judgement of character simply because they are a few minutes late actually compromises the character of the judger, portraying them as judgmental and unsympathetic.
The solution for being constantly late is quite simple: Strive to be on time but don’t scrutinize someone if they fail to do so. We shouldn’t stroll into work past the beginning of our shift, and we should respect our professors enough to soak up the entire class. Punctuality is in fact a trait for which to strive; however, understanding is a trait that should be appreciated just as much. So, before writing someone off for being a few minutes late, open your eyes and cut him or her a break. Reach the columnist at dpharias@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @_DesirayrayEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(09/09/14 11:22pm)
With society's ever-expanding economic growth, as well as our growing cities, it seems as if we are leaving no stone unturned. Even the Seven Natural Wonders of the World are in danger of societal takeover. With plans to build a strip mall within the Grand Canyon, it poses the question: Is anything sacred?
(09/03/14 11:53pm)
With artists such as Tyga promising to “Make it Nasty,” rap is as notorious as Notorious B.I.G. in the subject of objectifying women. Hip-hop artists receive much scrutiny on account of their habit of referring to women explicitly. It is as if this is the only genre we instantly associate with vulgar, demeaning comments towards women.
(08/24/14 11:05pm)
Social networking has become a day-to-day activity, a part of our day we seldom neglect. We all scroll down our news feed and see our fellow peers, and a few family members, posting their latest update. Let’s face it: The status they opt to bless us with each and every day is usually not the most intelligent sentence they have ever constructed. Status updates, tweets and Instagram posts have become a way for society to endlessly chatter, usually with improper grammar and unnecessary abbreviations.