March 2021 -

Posted on March 16, 2021March 8, 2021 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Three Cold Weather Activities

Have you ever been cooped up inside through a cold winter? Well, the Grove City climate is infamous for cold winters. That is why I want to give you three ideas of what you can do indoors amidst the cold winter weather. I have found my fair share of enjoyable indoor activities that have enabled me to still see friends, stay active, and rest.

Movie night with friends.

You do not need a projector or big TV to have a successful movie night with your friends. When it is cold outside, all I want to do is get cozy and hang with friends. It can get lonely after awhile of staying inside away from the cold. That is why using your laptop for a movie night with friends is the perfect idea! You do not have to leave your dorm to enjoy time with friends. The cold weather does not have to keep you from making popcorn and enjoying a chill night.

At home workout in your room.

Although this may not seem like an ideal way to spend time out of the cold, it is a sure way to keep your body moving. When winter hits Grove City, it is easy to want to stay in your room and avoid going to the gym because that would involve going outside. But, for your physical and mental health, you need to stay active even in your dorm. In today’s world, there are thousands of free at home workouts, via YouTube, available to you that only require your bodyweight. Working out in your dorm room will not only keep you healthy physically but also mentally. We tend to downward spiral when we are cooped up with nothing to do, nowhere to go, or anyone to see. If you move your body for even 20 minutes a day, your mental health will improve as well.

Turn on the “Fireplace” special on Netflix, make a hot drink, and read a book.

During Grove City’s cold winters, you need to make time to see friends and stay active for your mental sanity. But you also need to practice self-care. Do not neglect your personal health. Find things that bring you true rest and ease of mind and body. For me, it is turning on the Netflix special “Fireplace,” making a cup of chai tea, and reading a book. I want nothing more on a cold day then to sit by a fire, in dorms the closest thing I get is the Netflix special, and cozy up with a good book. That is my version of rest and self-care. What is yours?

Posted on March 15, 2021March 8, 2021 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Ring by Spring: Content or Not?

From day one of freshman orientation, Grove City makes the light-hearted joke of “look to your left, look to your right, you may be sitting next to your husband or wife.” This is a statement made to lighten the mood and break the ice. But there is social pressure regarding getting engaged your second semester senior year. Said pressure is completely derived from the student body. Does this sound silly? Yes, absolutely. But I can personally attest as a second semester senior in a long-term relationship the pressure to get engaged is present.

Disclaimer, I do not think getting engaged your spring semester senior year is bad. Not at all. Heck, I would like to be! I just want to empathize with the future Grove City student who is in the same boat as I am. You are in a serious relationship with no ring yet – which is perfectly fine. And you are so happy in your relationship. Yet seemingly everyone around you is getting engaged and you cannot help but wish you were too. All of your peers will not stop asking you when you are getting engaged. Therefore, you become slightly discontent with the current phase of life you are in.

I am writing this to simply encourage you to be content with the specific relational season you are in. Being single is a beautiful time to develop your own sense of self and evaluate what you want in a partner. Dating is so fun because you get to experience the joy of doing life with somebody without the responsibilities of real life yet. Engagement is wonderful because you are planning your big day together, awaiting the day you no longer have to be apart. And marriage is the end zone where you finally get to spend everyday with the one your soul loves. The point is, there is beauty, growth, hardships, and really good things in all seasons of relationships. Do not allow what is going on around you to steal from the joy you do have right now in whatever relational phase you are in. If you are looking for what is next or what everyone else is doing, you will always be discontent. Focus on you, your relational phase, and you will prosper, be joyful, and content.

There is no right way to be in a relationship when you are about to graduate college. All of that to say, of course Grove City is a wonderful place to potentially find a loved one and grow in your relations with those at the College. All I am saying is that there is a time and a season for everything. You are in the season of life you are in because God has you there for a reason. Lean into that and not the pressure of being somewhere you are not yet.

Posted on March 14, 2021March 8, 2021 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Career Options for an English Major Part 2

Part 1 focuses on the more well-known jobs of an English major – i.e., publishing, editing, author, etc. Part 2, however, focuses on more unconventional or not as well-known jobs like advertising, paralegal, insurance, etc.

Coming into school freshman year, I knew I wanted to study English, but I also knew I did not want to be a teacher. So, what were my other options? I am here to present to future English majors a variety of different career paths that may be unknown as you enter college. Enjoy Part 2!

Media/Marketing –

Journalism: If you are someone who loves researching, writing, editing, proofreading, and organizing stories then journalism is for you.

Where journalists work: Journalists work for magazines, journals, newspapers, TV, etc. There are more opportunities to be a journalist than just in the political field. If you want invigorating work, jornalism may be for you.

Event Management: Yes, English majors can be event managers! You do not need a degree in Communication Studies or event planning to be an event manager. With you reading, writing, and communication background from your English degree, planning, organizing, and promoting social events will come naturally.

Where event managers work: Event managers work for single clients, big corporations, small businesses, etc. Think of any brand or product you use. Now think of all of the events that have been put on to promote that product or brand? You can do that with an English degree.

Advertising: An English degree can take you far in advertising. For example, I work for a company called FCB Health, NY as a freelance editor right now. Advertising agencies need people who can write, edit, and communicate not only effectively but also intentionally and creatively. For FCB, you could be an editor, copywriter, account manager, integrated production, and more.

Where advertisers work: English majors can work a lot of different jobs in advertising. You can edit, proofread, copywrite, manage accounts, run social media content, and so much more. Do not think you need to be a Marketing major to work for an advertisement agency – although that is not a bad route of course.

Communications –

Paralegal: Paralegals are crucial for the success of lawyers. They draft documents, organize files, and so much more. Paralegals are also sometimes referred to as a legal assistant. Want to go into law without going to law school? Well now you can.

Where a paralegal works: Pick the law firm and you can find a paralegal job.

Insurance: With an English degree, you can pursue writing insurance policies for any insurance company – i.e., GEICO, Allstate, Progressive, Nationwide, etc.

Where insurance writer’s work: Pick an insurance company. Apply for a job in insurance looking for positions labeled writer, technical journalist, technical writer, copywriter, etc.

Human Resources (HR): HR is most known for tasks like training, communicating with clients, employees, and applicants, managing records, etc. With an English degree, you possess a great skill set to excel in HR. For example, “strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to apply principles of rhetoric to persuasion and arguments, researching and assessment techniques, developing conclusions from research and evaluation, synthesis of ideas, and organization of material” (“Can I Get a Job in”).

Where HR people work: Any well-established company has human resources. HR is an indispensable part of a company. Try taking a look at advertising agencies, big corporations, office jobs, etc. It will be difficult to find a company without a HR team.

Do not limit yourself to a handful of jobs or turn away from the major completely because you are unaware of the multitude of jobs that await an English major. Being an English major enables you the opportunity to try many different fields, careers, and jobs that say a narrower major would not allow. There are options out there other than teaching or being an author.

Citation: “Can I Get a Job in Human Resources With Only an English Degree?” Human Resources Degrees, 2 Jan. 2014, www.humanresourcesmba.net/faq/can-i-get-a-job-in-human-resources-with-only-an-english-degree/#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20common%20responsibilities,communications%2C%20negotiations%2C%20and%20organization.

Posted on March 13, 2021March 8, 2021 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Career Options for an English Major Part 1

Have you ever thought about being an English major but hesitated because of unknown future employment opportunities? You are not alone. My name is Laura Locher, and I am a senior English major with a Communication Studies minor. Coming into school freshman year, I knew I wanted to study English, but I also knew I did not want to be a teacher. So, what were my other options? I am here to present to future English majors a variety of different career paths that may be unknown as you enter college. Part 1 will focus on the more well-known jobs of an English major – i.e., publishing, editing, author, etc. Part 2, however, will focus on more unconventional jobs like advertising, paralegal, insurance, etc.

Editing/Publishing –

Proofreader: A proofreader is, as you can assume, someone who reads things closely with the intention of marking corrections in a proof. Proofreading is a very specific type of editing that entails looking for spelling, punctuation, and consistency errors.

Where proofreaders work: publishing houses (independent and corporate), magazines, newspapers, advertising agencies, etc.

Copyeditor: Copyediting is even more of a tedious process than proofreading. Copyeditors not only proofread the copy (the text itself), but they also check sentences for good flow and structure. Copyeditors also fact check the text and offer rewrites to improve the piece.

Where copyeditors work: Copyeditors can work for magazines, publishing houses, freelance (for anyone who needs this service), the newspaper, advertising agencies, etc.

Editorial acquisitions: An acquisitions editor is responsible for acquiring written projects said company needs. For example, I interned for an independent publishing house in NYC in 2019 as the editorial acquisitions associate. I met and communicated with authors and essayists who provided books and academic resources the company desired.

Where acquisition editors work: Acquisition editors work primarily at publishing houses or magazines.

Writing –

Author: As most of you know already, the role of an author is to create original ideas via books, movies, magazine articles, poems, academic journals, etc.

Where authors work: Nowadays, authors self-publish on a variety of platforms. The most successful though, seemingly, have a contract with either an independent or corporate publishing house who does all of the behind the scenes work when creating, releasing, promoting, and selling an author’s work.

Technical writer: The role of a technical writer is to communicate within a company extremely technical information in an accessible way. Do not underestimate the importance of this job path. The skill of technical writing has been on a steady decline over the last 5-7 years due to a rapid increase in technology doing everything for us. People’s ability to write well and communicate difficult ideas to another person is hard to come by. This is a much-needed job.

Where technical writer’s work: Primarily in scientific, engineering, computer, and big corporation settings. But do not stop here, technical writers are needed at a plethora of jobs.

Essayist: A person who writes essays. Yes, you all know this. Being an essayist is a job, particularly in research fields of study so I wanted to share it with you. I would not necessarily recommend this job however it is a job for a reason.

Where essayists work: Research institutes, colleges and universities, for the government, etc.

Poet: A person who writes poems. Again, a beautiful career for the few and far between who make it. But I still thought the poet should be acknowledged.

Where poets work: Poets are typically self-published unless an independent or major publishing house acquires them. You can also occasionally freelance for people seeking original poetry. Is becoming a poet the most secure job out there for an English major? No. But if that’s what you love to do then

Posted on March 12, 2021March 8, 2021 by Adam — Leave a comment

Big 4 Internships and the Pandemic Impact (Part 4 of 4)

This is part 4 of a 4 part post. If you already saw the part prior, go ahead and skip over the remainder of this introductory paragraph since it is the same as that in the others. During the summer of 2020, in the heat of the pandemic, I had a rare opportunity: I was part of Ernst & Young’s first fully virtual internship experience. This post is geared towards students looking at interning at the “Big 4” in the coming years, so this post is particularly suitable for current or prospective accounting majors. But, if you are not considering accounting, there is still something here for you.

4. The reality

In spring of 2020, I found out that my internship would be 100% remote. While I was disappointed, I was impressed with how well EY was able to adjust their plans in such a dramatic way on such short notice. The program was shortened by about three weeks and the start date shifted back by about a month. I was mailed a laptop (and everything that came with). Within the first day of the internship, thousands of new interns were up and running on EY’s remarkably advanced technological platforms. We were provided with training, broken down into groups, assigned mentors and peer-buddies (one of the greatest things about EY), and put on client-engagement teams. We were given a few weeks to work with our assigned client engagement teams, and then we were given a week to work through EY Badges to earn the Intern level badge. The final week of the internship had 8-10 interns from all service lines were paired with a coach to work through a real business problem for a client, and compete to see who could offer the best plan, slide deck, and presentation.

While the internship did not look the way I expected it to, being remote showed me an even clearer picture of how EY works. They were off knocked off kilter and navigating foreign territory, and while they could have canceled the internship or cut it down to merely the training portion, they proved that people matter and displayed the power of the organization to rally in hard times and unwaveringly meet objectives.

Disclaimer: I do not represent nor am I speaking on behalf of any of the Big 4; all information in this article is subject to change; the intent of this article and all following posts on the same subject is to help inform students, not to advise their career decisions.

Posted on March 11, 2021March 8, 2021 by Adam — Leave a comment

Big 4 Internships and the Pandemic Impact (Part 3 of 4)

This is part 3 of a 4 part post. If you already saw the part prior, go ahead and skip over the remainder of this introductory paragraph since it is the same as that in the others. During the summer of 2020, in the heat of the pandemic, I had a rare opportunity: I was part of Ernst & Young’s first fully virtual internship experience. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a scar in my past or a badge of accomplishment. I certainly view it as the latter, but I did not initially. This post is geared towards students looking at interning at the “Big 4” in the coming years, so this post is particularly suitable for current or prospective accounting majors. But, if you are not considering accounting, there is still something here for you.

I discussed previously what companies the “Big 4” are and what they do, and I covered why internships there are so significant. This post is aimed at relating my experience from the summer of 2020, and discussing how it was shaped by the pandemic.

3. My expectations

My relationship with Ernst & Young started long before my first day as an intern; I met a recruiter on campus for a mock interview, and knew from that meeting that EY was a place I wanted to work and grow. As I progressed through the application and interview process, everyone that I spoke to or exchanged emails with further affirmed my decision. When I applied, interviewed, and accepted my offer (all before Easter in 2019), no one knew how the world would change over the coming year. I went into this expecting to be sitting in a recently remodeled office in one of Denver’s tallest buildings with a view of the city and the mountains. I expected intern activities after days in the office, and opportunities to visit client sites and really see a “day in the life of an auditor.” More importantly I expected to be challenged, pushed, taught, mentored, and exhausted.

Posted on March 10, 2021March 8, 2021 by Adam — Leave a comment

Big 4 Internships and the Pandemic Impact (Part 2 of 4)

This is part 2 of a 4 part post. If you already saw the part prior, go ahead and skip over the remainder of this introductory paragraph since it is the same as that in the others. During the summer of 2020, in the heat of the pandemic, I had a rare opportunity: I was part of Ernst & Young’s first fully virtual internship experience. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a scar in my past or a badge of accomplishment. I certainly view it as the latter, but I did not initially. This post is geared towards students looking at interning at the “Big 4” in the coming years, so this post is particularly suitable for current or prospective accounting majors. But, if you are not considering accounting, there is still something here for you.

2. Internships

Big 4 internships are highly competitive because they are very valuable. You probably have heard jokes about fetching coffee and making copies; Big 4 internships leave students at times craving a simpler job description. Big 4 internships are significant because they are well respected both inside of and outside of the Big 4. They are well respected because they are consistently challenging. Much of the internship is spent in training – a training very similar to what you would receive if you were a new hire fresh out of college. This training is invaluable because it provides interns with the skills they will need in the next phase of the internship which is typically one or more different client engagements. While on client engagements, intern roles vary by team and by client and by intern, but it is safe to assume that you will be doing substantive work, safe to assume that you will get a taste of what the Big 4’s environment is like, and even safer to assume that you will learn a lot.

Posted on March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 by Adam — Leave a comment

Big 4 Internships and the Pandemic Impact (Part 1 of 4)

During the summer of 2020, in the heat of the pandemic, I had a rare opportunity: I was part of Ernst & Young’s first fully virtual internship experience. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a scar in my past or a badge of accomplishment. I certainly view it as the latter, but I did not initially. This post is geared towards students looking at interning at the “Big 4” in the coming years, so this post is particularly suitable for current or prospective accounting majors. But, if you are not considering accounting, there is still something here for you.

1. What are the “Big 4”?

The “Big 4” is a term used to refer to the four largest global accounting firms in the world. The firms, in no particular order, are EY (Ernst & Young), KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler), PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers), and Delloite. While they differ in what portion of their business comes from which service line, they are known for high performance in three key areas: audit, tax, and consulting. Audit is also referred to as “assurance,” because the service line is geared towards assuring clients and users of clients’ financial statements that the statements are free from material misstatement. In other words, we make sure they did their accounting right. It is required by law that public companies get audited, and the largest ones rely on the Big 4. Consulting is pretty much what it sounds like – consultants are hired by clients to lend a set of fresh, expert eyes to business operations and decisions. For example, if a client is considering a new operational strategy, they may ask a team of Big 4 consultants to analyze, evaluate, and help make the decision. Tax is also fairly intuitive – public companies have to navigate a complex tax system whether they are US only, foreign, or multi-national; they also deal with often complex transactions (such as mergers or acquisitions) that have powerful tax implications. In short, successfully navigating the tax system requires expertise and planning, and the tax service line at Big 4 companies exists to provide that.