Graduation

The Graduation ceremony is in less than two weeks and I am very excited about wearing my cap and gown. I am especially excited that I was offered a job last week! All my hard work has paid off, all the networking I have done, and the contacts I have build with people in my profession. The skills I have learned in my professional development class have been a huge help at selling myself to prospective employers. I can only encourage everyone to take this class seriously and to accept the help the teachers are offering, they know what they are doing. If you follow their advice, you have made a huge step in the right direction. I was prepared for certain questions, I had perfected my resume, and I knew what to expect from an interview. I was told that there are so many candidates who can not write a good cover letter, or have resumes that look unprofessional. Do invest some time in creating your resume. Print it on good paper, it looks so much better. I received compliments for my resume paper (in fact, they told me that nobody seems to use it anymore, but they loved it, so it made mine stand out).

When I first started, I wondered how hard it would be to find a job. But now I know that Sullivan is a school with a great reputation, and that employers love to hire graduates from here.

I want to wish everyone good luck for their journey, mine was a great one, and the best part is just starting.

Claudia

Going Forward

Coming to the end of the Associate level programs and not sure if you want to continue? There's a lot of decisions to be made at that point, are you able to find a career you want? Will you need more education to move forward in that career?
Those questions really boil down to this one question... how much do you want to invest in yourself? It is a commitment to further your education, in both time and energy. Education requires some sacrifice, both personally and professionally.
While you are considering whether or not to go forward beyond the Associates level, think about the goals you have and what you want out of life. Also take a look at the possibilities that come with a Bachelors or Masters degree, and what does the current job market want from you? Who are you competing against and what sort of education do they have?
It's up to you on how far you want to go, you are the only person who measures your own success.

Brian

What a Year!!!

        The title says it all! I can't believe September is coming to a close and we're reaching October!!  This year has whizzed by!!  I am finally putting my Culinary degree to use and it's been so fun!
     
        Over the past few weeks, I've done two dinner parties.  The last one was for my husband's birthday! Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the food.  I posted the menu and pictures below!

Dinner Menu 

Appetizer: 

Roasted Shrimp Salad on Toasted Crostini 

Salad Course: 

Sweet Kale, accompanied with Chicory, Cabbage, Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts; bathed in a Mango-Lime Vinaigrette; 

topped with Spiced Walnuts and Goat Cheese 

 Main Course: 

Beef Tenderloin topped with Roquefort Pecan Butter, Roasted Sweet Paprika Potatoes and Crispy Lemon Crumbed Broccolini 

Dessert: 

Strawberry-Lemon Parfait with Brown Sugar Pound Cake 

Alona Beasley-Jenkins

PEOPLE SKILLS!

As I am nearing the end of my Hospitality Management degree, I have been fearful of the strenuous work load.  I recently met with a mentor chef who has been in my position, and we discussed the details of each course I have left.  In doing so, I was able to "map out" my last few quarters at Sullivan.  I will take similar classes concurrently, and I will not be as overwhelmed with expectations.

My classes this quarter are all focused on PEOPLE!  As a chef, my focus is centered more around the food the people eat, rather than the people themselves.  I am eager to develop better people skills, especially in a managerial sense.

• My online class is Human Resources Development in the Hospitality Industry, which discusses the issues regarding a company's HR Department.  I am particularly looking forward to learning the specific laws and guidelines for employee relations.
• My daytime class is The Manager as a Negotiator.  This course details negotiation strategies, which are used more than one would think.  Whether you are buying a new car, discussing stipulations with a potential business partner, or trying to get your 13-year-old son to clean his room, negotiations are everywhere.  You just have to be aware of the situation at hand, learn information about the other parties involved, and be able to use this knowledge to come to an agreement.  
• Lastly, my nighttime class is Organizational Behavior, which studies the characteristics of an company as a function of individual or interpersonal behavior.  In other words, this course discusses how people interact within the business world.

As I grow within the hospitality industry as a chef, I am learning that I cannot hide behind the food I create.  I have to establish a persona of success and character.  The only way to do that is through people: my superiors, my business partners, my employees, and, most importantly, my guests.  I aim to make "work" my passion, and it is important to emit that passion to each person I encounter.  These classes and my every day experiences at Sullivan University allow to to gradually build these necessary skills.

Hayley Charron

NEW TEAM, NEW CHALLENGE

 

This year will be unique for me. I have made the culinary team for the second year, which is great! None of the members from last year are on the team due to graduation, externships, and personal choice. I have a whole new group of people to get into a fun and also stressful season of practicing knife skills and hot dishes. It is always fun to get to know new people. I am also the only one who has done competitions, so I can share my experiences and knowledge with them.

The extra challenge this year is that I am in a different program now. I graduated with my associates, and have now continued on to B.S.B.A., which does not require me to be near the labs. The puzzle to be solved for this quarter will be to get into a good schedule that allows me to keep up on my academic responsibilities, as well as my team duties. I need to play a leadership role with the team to help guide this new group of chefs, who have many questions.
 
Ironically enough, since my bachelors degree is focused on management and leadership, I have actually been learning the very tools I need to make this work. since I have already learned the skills that I need for team, I can have more of a focus on grooming my team mates. I have a few plans to implement schedules and organize information, so that everyone has access to the things they need to do great at regionals next April. I feel like this is not only a great challenge, but a chance to practice the skills I am currently learning.

Kamisha Jones

Coming to an End

The quarter is coming to an end, finals are coming up, papers and projects are being finished. Next quarter is my last quarter in the associates program and start of the bachelors, I've been surprised how fast the time has gone. I've learned a lot in the classes and now it's time to take that knowledge and take the next step.

Now the time has come to visit the Career Services department, see what sort of opportunities they have. I've seen the postings outside the cafe, but there is more available through the office. If you're coming to the end of your program, be sure to stop by and talk to them. It's not just job opportunities, the Career Services also helps with interview practices, tweaking resumes and cover letters. 

With a degree, the chance to start a career is wide open. Not just in one field, but several, because the theories and concepts from the classes at Sullivan can be applied to several fields. Keep that in mind as you go through your job hunt, don't limit yourself and be willing to explore alternatives to your career path.

Brian S.

iStudiez Pro, $2.99

I don't normally rant and rave about smartphone applications but I have stumbled upon one that is amazing for school purposes.  Juggling school, work, family, and a social can be difficult.  Before each quarter, I buy a new planner to keep track of all of my assignments, papers, tests, and other obligations.  I utilize this organization for a couple weeks, and then my planner gets buried under notes, papers, and tests, and I lose track of the progress.  A good friend of mine, who used to encounter the same problem, recently made me aware of an app she uses constantly: iStudiez Pro.

This application is available through iTunes, which means it is applicable on any Mac product, iPhones, iPads, or iPods.  You start with the "Planner" tab, which allows you to enter your semesters (or quarters), holidays or breaks, and instructors (full contact information).  You may then add courses to your semesters; you can even color-code each class!  From there, you can add assignments, tests, projects, and papers to each course.  Each task can then be viewed in the "Assignments" tab.

(One of my favorite parts about this app is that the "Assignments" tab is laid out as a checklist.  When you complete an item and check it off, it goes into the "Completed" tab.  You can go back through and see everything you've accomplished each term!)

By selecting a day, you can view any expected obligations.

Once the desired information is entered, the application system automatically organizes your "Calendar" tab.  Set up similarly to the Calender app on iPhones, iPads, and iPods, this tab lays out each month.  You can enter other information, such as work schedules, upcoming events, and birthdays.

When you have customized your iStudiez Pro, each time you open the app, you will be prompted with your "Today" tab.  Each expected task will be listed.  You can select any task to view the details.  However, when you have the fortunate day off, free of any plans or expectations you receive this motivational message:

Although this app is $2.99, I have found that it is well-worth the purchase.  There is also a "Lite" version that is free.  It keeps me in check, informs me of all my tasks, and offers a sense of gratification that I don't usually get from using an actual planner or agenda book.  Plus, I always have iStudiezPro with me!

Hayley Charron