Advice

For those of you who are going to take business writing with Mrs. Rogers, you are thoroughly going to enjoy the experience. This class was one of my favorites so far during my time at Clemson. Not only was the class easy (if you do your work) but you really learn a lot of useful information that will help you in the real world. The tough part of the class is remembering to do your assignments on time. You have to remind yourself because Mrs. Rogers leaves it up to you to complete your work. As long as you give an effort and turn things in on time, you will have no problem getting a good grade. Most of the assignments are very simple however the business project at the end of semester takes some time. You have to be able to work with your classmates and put all your ideas together to make a successful business plan. Luckily, I had two good group members that worked well together, so we ended up doing good on our project. Well that's all I have to say about the class. Mrs. Rogers is an extremely nice and helpful person so don't be afraid to ask questions because she would be more than happy to help. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Ethics Assignment

The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car produced in the U.S. by the Ford Motor Company in the 1970’s. During the early part of its production, the Pinto became known for its dangerous design which led to many safety issues. The design of the Pinto allowed the rear of the car to be damaged severely due to the lack of a rear bumper and other structures to help protect the rear end. Because of this, if a Pinto was in an accident in which the rear end was crushed, the gas tank would be pushed forward into other structures which would puncture the tank. This led to many explosions and deadly fires which were extremely dangerous for passengers. Many injuries and even deaths were sustained from accidents involving the Ford Pinto. A couple of the engineers working for Ford at the time were interviewed and were quoted saying, "This company is run by salesmen, not engineers; so the priority is styling, not safety." Another engineer stated, "“That's all true. But you miss the point entirely. You see, safety isn't the issue, trunk space is. You have no idea how stiff the competition is over trunk space. Do you realize that if we put a Capri-type tank in the Pinto you could only get one set of golf clubs in the trunk?"
After reading about this subject, I really could not believe the company would not take responsibility and fix the problems with the car. It seems like a company as popular as them would not want a negative view from the public. I believe it is a pretty serious ethical problem when the production and sales of a product becomes more important than the safety of those purchasing it. The quotes from the engineers show me that the company had no respect for the human beings buying the Ford Pinto. It is a shame that these people were allowed to continue producing such products without putting safety first.

Ethics

As several of my classmates have said, it was very surprising to see the statistics on how many people are effected by ethical lapses at work. It's not really something you would think about otherwise. I can see how ethical lapses can cause problems within the workplace, but I do believe these problems could be kept to a minimum. When you are hired by an employer to do a job, you are expected to do everything you can to keep things working efficiently and organized. However, you are also responsible for being able to interact with fellow employees and keep things on a professional level. If a ethical problem comes up, you should be able to react to the situation with responsibility and with moral standing. Looking back over the years, I have seen many accounts of ethical lapses on the job. The distraction it causes can be very unhealthy for the business and other employees. I think after reading this article I will be more aware of ethical interactions between the people I work with, and I will attempt to help keep ethical lapses to a minimum.

Writing on the Web/paper

Writing on the web and writing on paper have both similarities and differences. Over the past few years, writing on the web has become the more convenient and easy way to write. Whether it is through an email or posting blogs on the internet, writing on the web is quick and saves a lot of time. Sending a letter through the mail takes much longer to receive and reply compared to sending and receiving emails in seconds. Because of the mindset of the world today, people want things fast and easy to figure out. Therefore, I believe writing on the web has become more informal. People tend to abbreviate and shorten information to keep things to the point. Usually writing on paper is more formal and intended for a specific audience. Anyone can read documents written on the web.

The Next Month

This past week has been one of the most laid back I have had all semester. I luckily didn't have any tests or projects due, which was very nice. However, the next 2 weeks are going to be tough. I two major tests this week that I really need to do well in. It looks like I'll be spending the week in the library every night. Along with the tests, I have a couple projects going on. I have a nutrition project due next week and of course the business plan project for this class. Next week is going to be the fun one. I have 2 more tests along with a lab report due. On Saturday April 12th I have to take the biology portion of the GRE so I also I have to be preparing for that this week and next. Overall its going to be a pretty stressful couple weeks so I hope I can make it through without having a mental breakdown. It's going to be so nice to be finished with this semester!

Resume Dishonesty

I was very surprised after reading the article that so many people lied on their resumes. I would guess that most people being dishonest on their resumes have specific reasons such as financial problems or past job experiences. They feel as if they put that extra false information about their degrees or past job experiences, then they will gain a competitive edge over fellow applicants. I think lying on a resume is a very wrong thing to do. Sometimes I can see why someone would lie to get the job, which would be due to a financial problem of some sort. I do believe there should be pretty severe consequences, however. Although I can understand why someone would do it, I don't believe it should be overlooked.

Business Proposals

Our group decided to create a business in the real estate aspect of SecondLife. We felt that there are many opportunities to be successful in this field of business. The real estate and land sales on SecondLife seem to be very unorganized and falsy. When searching for land or real estate agencies, it is difficult to find a location of preference. We plan to build a business that will help organize this buyer/seller confusion. We will act as the middle man for the realtors and land buyers by providing accurate listings of land available for rent/buy in specific locations. Ultimately, our business will be profitable for both landowners and land buyers.

Mock Interview

This past Wednesday was our mock interview for our english class. I had prepared a resume and a cover letter prior to the interview. After the interview, I had to write a follow up/thank you letter. I was interviewing for a internship at a vet clinic back home in Walhalla. Overall, I felt like the interview was very successful. The questions asked were not very hard to answer which made it go smoother for me. I thought through the questions and answered them thoroughly. My past experiences and knowledge in the animal science field helped me answer the questions to my advantage. I thought the interview being on the online was really cool. I liked being able to think through my answers before I sent them. I have a different outlook on virtual interviews now. I think they could be very successful in the business field.

The Week Ahead

This is going to be a pretty busy week for me. I have a huge lab midterm final on Wednesday in my reproduction class, so I'm stressed about that. I also have a lab report due Thursday in my microbiology lab thats going to take a lot of time to do. I still have to do my cover letter for this class as well as start on my presentation. This weekend is also going to be very eventful. I'm heading up to North Carolina to ski for the weekend. I haven't skied since I was in the seventh grade so it should be very interesting. I'm very anxious to get through this week so I can enjoy being in the mountains.

Cover Letters

Before viewing this website, I really had no idea what a cover letter was. After reading the information on this website, I have a better understanding of what businesses look for in a cover letter. I believe the material will be very helpful to me when writing my cover letter. I thought the most helpful section was the one informing people that the cover letter should not be about you. The purpose of a resume is to tell the company about yourself and your past experiences. The cover letter should be used to show the company that you understand what they are all about. I think most of the advice given in this website is reliable and helpful.

Virtual Interviews

I think it is pretty amazing where our business world is going technologically. I believe there are many advantages and disadvantages in using the virtual world to conduct job interviews. Online interviews make it very convenient for employers to find future employees. It also cuts out all the cost of traveling for the person seeking the job. It would be beneficial for businesses involved with technology and computers because it would give them an insight on how computer literate the applicant is. On the other hand, I don't like the idea that the interview would enable the business from really getting to know the applicant. A face-to-face interview gives the applicant a real chance to show their personality and stong points. I know if I was applying for a job and they gave me an interview opportunity, I would want it to be in person.

Persuasive Documents

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the article "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" during the American Civil Rights Movement in 1963. After a protest against segregation, King responded to a statement made by eight white clergymen claiming that the battle for racial segregation should be fought in the courtroom. King responded by explaining that without forceful intent such as his, civil rights would never be successful.
Being in the animal science field, I found a website involved with pharmeceutical and health care products for animals. The company uses many different techniques to persuade the animal health world to use their products. They make it clear that their values such as quality, integrity, respect for people, leadership and teamwork, make their products suitable for improving lives and deliver oustanding value.
The letter written by King targets the general public and anyone interested in change in segregation. King uses strong emotion and language to persuade his audience. The pharmeceutical website targets animal health professionals who will be using their products. They persuade buyers by providing their values as a company. I can see how Martin Luther King Jr. was such a great civil rights leader because of his ability to reach his audience with great persuation. I, also, can see how the Wyeth company is a successful producer of pharmeceutical and health care products because of their use of persuation by providing values of quality, integrity, and leadership.

10 Years

In ten years, I want to look back and be proud of all my accomplishments from the past 20 years. I want to be able to say all the hard work paid off. I want to be able to sit around with my college buddies and reminisce about all the good times we had.
I guess before I can do all of that I need to think about what I have in store before then. I will be graduating from Clemson in Animal and Veterinary Sciences in the spring of 2009. Therefore, next fall I will be applying to vet school. Lord willing, I will be accepted to either the University of Georgia, Mississippi State or Tuskegee Veterinary School. After receiving my diploma at either of these schools, I hope to move back to the Oconee County area to join a practice or start my own.
Along the way, I hope to meet the girl of my dreams, get married and have two children. I wouldn't plan on having any children until I have paid off all of my school loans and settled in with my job. I hope to be members of a loving and caring church family. I want my wife and I to be very involved with our spiritual lives. My parents have made it an important aspect in my life and I hope to do so for my children.
Lastly, I hope to have a nice house and a good sized piece of land. I've had horses my whole life so I hope I can continue to have them in the future. Along with horses I hope to have a few cows, a couple dogs and a cat, of course. Most of all, I want to be happy in 10 years. If none of these things happen, I want to be at peace with myself and realize what is most important in life which is God, family/friends and happiness.

Web 2.0

The title Web 2.0: The Web is Us/ing Us characterizes how the virtual world is shaping the people of today's society. In the beginning, from what I remember, the web was a research tool or place to chat with friends. Now, we, as a society, are dependent on the web. We shop, read the news, socialize, get our mail, pay our bills and even take courses on the internet.
Web 2.0 most definitely affects someone entering the workforce. Many years ago looking for jobs and applying was done in person or conducted over the phone. You couldn't just post your resume on a website and hope someone notices it. Nowadays, there are certain agencies that will publish your resume and get it out there for employers to seek. Initial applications and interview questions are conducted over the web.
It is affecting people already in the workforce because it is requiring them to be educated in using the web. The affect is going to be extreme because many will need to learn basic computer skills and aquire an understanding of the web.
I believe when it says we will have to rethink everything it relates to how we will react to all that is going on with the web. There are millions of different ideas and concepts on the web that give you an opportunity to learn many different things. The web gives us an opportunity to completely analyze these different ideas and thoughts through things such as blogs. We have to be careful to choose which ideas we may believe and support.

Introduction

My name is Will Alexander and I'm a junior in Animal and Veterinary Sciences. I'm from West Union, South Carolina. I grew up a tiger fan my whole life and finally made it here. I've enjoyed being a Clemson student so far.