Bracket status: Failure

Another year down, another ten bucks thrown down the toilet. Thanks March Madness. Actually, thanks Pitt, Kansas, Syracuse and Memphis. Thanks a bunch.

Our marketing group may have finally pulled itself out of the Markstrat basement. We have been consistently last in our industry, last by a lot. But this past week, we pulled within a few stock points of not being in last, we were almost second to last. That may not seem very exciting to most, but to us , it's a big deal. We have always put a lot of work into Markstrat, but have never seen any positive results. Maybe things are turning around for us.

I've got a couple interviews coming up in the next two weeks for summer internships. Hopefully, something works out. The semester is coming to a close, and I've yet to secure any work for the summer. It's a weird feeling for me, I've not been unemployed since I was 17.

The Finish Line

Found out yesterday that our last final this semester will be on May 5th. It's a cool feeling knowing that the end is getting close. It's not cool when I realize the amount of work that needs to be done between now and then. So, so, so much to do.

One of the tasks I need to address soon is which tract I will choose to pursue as I continue my graduate education. The Walton College offers four different tracts: marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, and supply chain. Right now I can't decide between finance and marketing. Marketing would fit better with my psychology background, but finance really appeals to me. I like them both, and I don't think I would be making a mistake choosing one over the other, but my decision will affect the rest of my time in school so I want to make the best choice. More and more I lean toward marketing, especially since I'm not opposed to staying in this area, and with the size of the vendor community in Northwest Arkansas, it would make a lot of sense.

My weekend officially started about 1 hour ago, after I finished my finance test. It's not due until Tuesday, so I have some time to review and double check my answers before I turn it in.

No real plans this weekend, besides relaxing. I might go to the gym tomorrow, and I need to buy some cereal, but that's it.

Back to Reality

Spring break has come and gone. The highlight was definitely a trip Steph and I took this past weekend to Kansas City (about 3.5 hours away) to see some friends. We spent all day Saturday hanging out on their front porch, and playing washers in their front yard. It was a nice, relaxing end to a spring break that was filled with a little more school work than I wanted. I needed to get caught up on some things and get a head start on others, so it was a necessary evil. Even with the school work, I found time to read The Watchmen then see the movie, go to a razorback baseball game (which is free for students), take my dog to the vet, and get caught up on some TV watching. So, all in all, a spring break well spent.

I also got a chance to see Rachael Getting Married. It was good, but I don't ever want to see it again. It left me totally exhausted.

Tomorrow morning I have a phone interview for a summer internship. The interview was set up through the Career Center within Walton College. The Career Center has been an incredible asset. I have never had a phone interview before, so I am not sure how not being able to pick up on visual cues given by an interviewer will affect my performance. Hopefully it goes well, I am pretty excited about the position.

The Basics

I am a 28 year old, recently married, graduate student originally from St. Louis but currently living in Fayetteville Arkansas. My main interests are running, music, sports (baseball and football), films, and spending time with people who make me laugh. But, as of late, most of these activities have been put on hold, as I decided to go back to school.

After spending 3 frustrating years working in the social work field after receiving a BS in psychology, I set my sights on new, more personally satisfying endeavors. The business world. Yeah, I didn't see it coming either.

I worked in accounting for a while before deciding to go back to school. I choose to pursue my graduate studies at the University of Arkansas' Walton College. It has now been 2 months since beginning my quest for the Walton MBA, and it is safe to say that my decision to attend the Walton College was a smart one. I have been completely satisfied with my experience to this point. The classes are interesting and challenging, taught by some of the most knowledgeable people I have ever had the chance to learn from. Also, the facilities are outstanding. Walker Hall really was build with the student in mind, and it shows. To top if off, the administrative staff has been very helpful with all my questions and concerns, which has been great, because I tend to have a lot of questions and concerns.

Right now, I am on spring break for the first time in five years, and it is great. I have caught up on some much needed, stress-free sleep. The past two weeks were consumed with mid-terms, so I am taking every chance I get to relax and give my brain a rest, because when school starts back up, I expect it to get even worse.

There's your 28 year recap.