New Year, New Outlook, New Post

It has been FAR too long since a post has been made on this blog, and truthfully writing I have dearly missed since graduating. Much has happened in the world of being a post-grad, and let me begin by saying Happy New Year! 2016 left in a flash and now begins the new year of 2017, and for some reason even numbers hold a much stronger appeal than that of odd numbers as I have yet to hear someone liking the numerals “2017”.

Sadly many people were too ready for 2016 to be over, and the question you have to beg to ask is why? How many events did we see occur during the duration of 2016? How many of these events were for the better good rather than causing harm?

Truthfully I do not think I can even touch upon all of the events that occurred over this past year, and how they have impacted people in so many ways. The biggest take away I have learned from my 2016 is one that I hope you the reader can take into 2017. This is a take away I have learned from obtaining a degree, travelling, beginning a career in the corporate world and seeing numerous amounts of transitions not just in my life but especially in those around me.  The best way to phrase this is as follows:

Your outlook is everything.

Those four words that I have found to go a long way. In any situation, whether it be stressful or the best outcome, your outlook impacts nearly everything around you. I have heard much advice over the past few months such as keeping your cards close and never let the smaller picture take you away from the big picture, and most advice similar to this can be included under the umbrella idea of your outlook is everything. It is easy to get wrapped up in the smallest things, whether in your emotions or in the horror of certain events. Opinions and quick assumptions can sometimes undermine the better of our judgement, and not considering how important our outlook is has a deep effect on how we go about things day to day.

With a new year and what can be a new beginning or a chance to regroup it never hurts to think about how you react to certain situations and what attitude you have moving through each day. In looking back on all that occurred in 2016, especially all the good, in many parts of my life I have seen how an open minded outlook can make the world of difference. In analyzing anything it is always the easiest to nitpick on what parts weren’t liked, rather than remembering the parts that were the best. That is why I share this with you, as we enter a new year there is much to highlight and appreciate in moving forward. I couldn’t be more thankful for all 2016 had brought, and excited for what 2017 has in store. 

(Instagram:candicekalil31)

Facebook: Candice Kalil

Twitter: @CandiceLeeMary
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A Post From A Graduating Senior

And just like that, it became May 2016. Four years later....

To any rising freshman or current students reading this post, I will simply summarize my ideas into the main notion that college and time really flies by. The chance I was able to have being able to come to Saint Mike's has very much impacted who I am walking across the stage this upcoming Sunday.

Because of Saint Mike's I found new passions and was able to be a part of a major that I truly enjoyed. I was able to live in an incredible new home for four years, and Vermont even before Saint Mike's was a big part of my life and continued to be so. I was able to live in a foreign country for four months, and within that time traveled to seven countries on two continents. I was able to make incredible friends and memories that I would not have totally had if I had not chosen to come to Saint Mike's or have had the opportunity.

Last time I checked I was not 22 and getting my bachelor's degree. And for anyone looking into Saint Mike's or who is already a student, I promise it is going to be the most memorable four years of your life, and it will come full circle when you get near the end of senior year. Make the most out of your time here, Saint Mike's is full of incredible people and has so much to offer. I promise, it is one of the best decisions you'll ever make, and it was certainly one of the best choices I've made.

Thank you for everything Saint Mike's
All my love,
Candice

Why We Love the MJD Department

Having switched to a Media Studies, Journalism and Digital Arts (MJD) major my sophomore year, I went into the major unsure of what I wanted to focus on and what I was thinking of doing with the major after college. I knew I wanted to keep my minor in Business Administration, but for anyone who is in the MJD department or who knows someone in it, you come to understand that it is a unique major in that it is incredibly versatile. There are many great things about the department and for those who are considering taking on the MJD major, here are some things you should know about MJD life,

1. Classes
There are a bunch of different classes, electives and requirements that the major offers for students. Some of the requirements include Digital Media, Media Law and Ethics along with Senior Seminar, where students have three options (a book, web documentary, full documentary film) for their thesis. The variety is great because you gain so many different knowledge and skill sets that can be applied to so many things.

Both are pictures from my Adventure Filmmaking class last fall semester!

2. Community
The professors talk about this a lot and we feel it as a group in the major that there is a collaborative feeling to the work people do. If you are in the lab you tend to be able to ask someone their opinion on what your making or if they think the video clip looks good. It's a great major in that everyone does work together and tries to help each other out.

3. Time
I don't even want to think about how long I have spent in the computer labs over the duration of my career here at SMC, but some people get the impression that MJD is just a lot of work. I would say to you that it is, its not a major where you can slack off and expect great results. You get out of it what you put into it, and because college is very independently minded when you put in the work you will have projects that turn out great (trust me, my friend and I just made a film and the work completely paid off!)

4. Professors
They rock. The professors in the major are all great people and we as seniors have gotten to know them over the past four years through classes and projects. They have all done a lot of work outside of being professors as well which you can tell they bring into the classroom. They are all wicked helpful from questions about class, to advising meetings to even a piece of advice when you feel stumped working on your thesis.

5. Rewarding
Sitting in the classroom watching our full documentary being screened, my partner and I really saw everything come together. Because of this major also we both got the opportunity to travel abroad. Being able to do so much and have such a variety in a major, it is absolutely rewarding and I know I will take everything I have learned into what I want to do. If you are debating being in the major, or are curious about the class and work load, don't hesitate to reach out and eve ask professors to see if it's a great fit for you!

Facebook: Candice Kalil

Twitter: @CandiceLeeMary
Instagram: candicekalil31

Writing (Filming) A Senior Thesis

Most apologies for not posting as frequently this semester as usual! I am currently working with my friend Amanda on finishing our thesis which is due in a little under two weeks...Both relieving and frightening all in one. You intital assumption of someone finishing their college thesis is probably a nice long research paper or a presentation. Ours on the other hand takes thesis to the next level, and to a creative one mind you.

As media studies, digital arts majors we are given the option to convey an "untold" and "unheard" topic in either a book or a documentary film. Yep, our thesis is becoming a published author or a film producer. Casual right? That is how we all feel. The project began last semester in our Senior Proposal class where we looked at different examples and researched our topic to narrow it down. We handed the proposal before Christmas break and have begun filming this semester.

Our film is called 

Behind the Distance: Long Distance Interpersonal Communication in the Digital Age

 

Pretty cool right?! We originally came up with the topic discussing how mail had become a long lost form of communication and writing letters is somewhat of a nostalgic thought to many now with email, texting and social media. From here we decided to narrow the film to focus on the development of social norms that are involved with interpersonal and distance communications. To do this we broke it up into three compartments of everyone's lives: the work, family and love.

The mediums of communication such as texting, smartphones, social media and video-chatting have made interpersonal relations much different than in the past. Our home run point we are hoping to make is that at this day in age, everyone in their lives will most likely experience a long distance part of their life in some way whether it is a long distance relationship, working from location or having aspects of their family life be held together for a time based on these mediums of communication.

To be honest, this is the most time commitment I have ever had working on a project and it is also the most fun I have had on an assignment. Amanda and I are walking out with a finished and completed documentary film, and we are pretty pumped to be able to have the finished product! We got to interview some pretty awesome people from family friends, to family (Amanda's brother and one of my dogs are featured in the film!) to others who had incredible insight in what we were hoping to learn in talking with them! Keep your eyes out for more from Behind the Distance! 

To stay updated here are our Facebook and Twitter accounts! 

Also make sure to check out our Website!  

#FeelTheBern

In comparison to the first time I was able to vote, this election I personally feel hits much more at home and is more of a discussion topic than any other between my friends and I. Maybe because four years older, we have a stronger perspective on who runs our country and the fact that we have made more of an effort to become more educated since our first round with voting. This particular election is also different from many because technology and social media, as seen in the last election, has become a huge part of how voters see news and follow their favored politicians.

Election and political campaigns have changed so much that to our generation, as we are getting older we are trying to feel even more connected and involved. Regardless of who you are hoping to or are favoring to vote for, all candidates have been portrayed in the media and have also taken advantage of the social media in many ways within their campaigns. Living in Vermont, you can't necessarily help but feel the Bern. Whether you side with his policies and what he is hoping to pursue in running for office, he has made an incredible impact on the state of Vermont.

On a quick decision, my friends Keri and I were able to attend his rally on Town Meeting Day, a national holiday essentially in the state of Vermont where towns hold their meetings to discuss issues and changes while opening the voting booths. Bernie came to not only vote in the polls, but to speak to those in the area. The rally was held at the local Champlain Valley Expo and was nothing short of an event. Keri and I noticed a few things that stood out among all the Bernie fans.The first being that this group of people were following both a person and a movement, which differs Bernie from many politicians. We see candidates in every race who have a strong experience in American government and who in their own right have policies that make them strong candidates in a presidential race. The difference with Bernie is that it is a movement, not just a person that is running for office.

The other thing we noticed was how many people were there, cheering for Bernie, who were not even eligible to vote yet. Teens, young adults and families were there is support. I take that as an incredible thing because it means more and more people are realizing the value and importance in learning about the country's leaders and educating themselves in that. A take away from the event that I had was the amount of love and pride that Vermont has, which you don't need to go to a Bernie Sander's rally to only see, but in a big way it was absolutely present there. Vermont is an amazing state (going to school here I am little bias but its the truth!) and its awesome to see someone who ten months ago was at his house over on Lake Champlain and is now a front runner for the presidency of the United States, pretty crazy!

Facebook: Candice Kalil

Twitter: @CandiceLeeMary
Instagram: candicekalil31

The Odyssey on Campus

I have previously posted on my blog about the note worthy, relatable and interesting reads that come from the college forum of The Odyssey. Frequently you can see these different articles posted on friend's timeline and your news feeds on Facebook as people find relatable "on-point" articles such as how you grew up in the state your in or a letter to your best friend. 

It is an online social content platform for young writers to express relatable and current material.There are different categories of topics, genres of writing and also lengths of the articles. If you search in their search bar different articles will pop up either related or similar to what you are searching! Some of the topics include important figures, politics, college, friends and love life. 

This semester I have been writing for the Saint Michael's chapter of the Odyssey and it has been great so far! Different from this blog, the Odyssey challenges me to write in a different way about a variety of topics and opinions. So far I have summarized the feelings of being a college senior, touched on different motivational quotes for a long week and what can happen when you aren't constantly on your phone. Now there are multiple writers for Saint Michael's and it is completely student run! 

To check out the Saint Michael's posts, click on the image below!

And for my articles thus far, click on the image below!

Facebook: Candice Kalil

Twitter: @CandiceLeeMary
Instagram: candicekalil31

Good Eats: SMC Area

Not to say the dining hall on campus is the only option and that it's easily accessible, sometimes you might want to get off campus with friends to get a bite to eat! Usually my friends and I will do the occasional brunch (Alliot brunch is always a weekend highlight though!) or to hangout together before heading home for break. Between Winooski and Burlington there are so many good restaurants within a short mile radius of campus! Some of these places you absolutely have to try out because they all have different styles of food and have something for everyone! For the Saint Mike's area, here are some suggestions:

Our House Bistro - Winooski Circle

Our House fits the bill for "twisted comfort food" as it has some of the best mac and cheese around.
There is a lot to the menu besides just staple comfort foods as they put a twist on classic favorites. My personal favorite is the hamburger mac and cheese...heaven.

Tiny Thai - Winooski Circle

Another Winooski Circle favorite is Tiny Thai which has great offers for a solid amount of food. If you like Thai food or are looking to try it this is absolutely the place to go! There are a bunch of other restaurants in the Winooski Circle such as Sneakers and Misery Loves Company, so if you get the chance pop around to them because they are all a hit!

Athen's Diner - Colchester, VT

I went to Athen's Diner for the first time this year, and why I haven't gone before is a bit beyond me. It is a awesome local spot and their breakfast is hard to beat, If you love a good Sunday brunch out, this is the place to go. I recommend the skillets because they are essentially perfection, in a breakfast meal.

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Sweetwaters - Burlington, VT

Jumping from breakfast to dinner, if you are looking for a good dinner spot to splurge a little this is a great place to check out. It is reasonably priced and has awesome food! There is a little something for everyone and they have a great atmosphere in the restaurant from the inside area to the patio outside. I would absolutely check out their apps, when I went I split a few different options and it was super yummy!

American Flatbread - Burlington, VT

This is a chain restaurant but if you are looking for a good pizza place, this is an awesome spot. I have gone multiple times over my time here at Saint Mike's and it is always a good group favorite. They have a variety of different pizza's and also offers brunch. And who doesn't love a good pizza?

Facebook: Candice Kalil

Twitter: @CandiceLeeMary
Instagram: candicekalil31