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Best Of, Blogishness, Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Writing

Five Tips to Writing an MFA Personal Statement

Michael Anthony

writing an MFA personal statementSo, I’ve decided to get myself an MFA in creative writing.  I’m applying to four different universities and I’ve been killing myself for the past few weeks trying to write my personal statement.  I’ve been scouring the web, reading books, talking to people and doing everything possible.  I’ve done over a dozen drafts and here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1)     Like all writing, you’ve got to catch the reader’s attention.  The professors who search through the hundreds (or thousands) of grad school applications, and personal statements, are going to need something to remember you.  It’s easier to remember a grad school applicant who stands out than someone who doesn’t.  And sometimes it can be what you write, the way you write, or what you don’t write.  I read a story about a grad school applicant whose entire personal statement consisted of: I want to go to your school because I want to learn from the best and be the best.  He got accepted into a program at Stanford.  But even if you just pepper in some casual, but interesting, information, it’d work just as well.  Tell them about that 400lb fish you caught.  Tell them about your year backpacking across Europe.  It’s best to not only focus on your academics, but also do something, anything that catch’s their attention and makes you stand out.

2)     A grad school application and personal statement should be flawlessly written.  You’re not writing a blog post or an essay for freshman English.  You’ve already got a degree, and now they’re expecting perfection.  This could be one of the most important essays that you ever write.  The difference between a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s is huge, so put in the effort.

3)     Don’t come off as a braggart.  The application and personal statement is about selling you, but it still has to be done in an unobtrusive manner.  Don’t just tell them how great you are; show them by explaining your accomplishments and sharing personal stories…which brings us to…

4)     Put yourself in the essay.  Don’t try to make it sound too academic.  The people who are going to be looking through the essays want to know who you are.  As stated in above, add in little tidbits about yourself and make them personal.  Don’t just mention the award you won or the paper you published, talk about how your father influenced your writing or how you mother believed in you.

5)     As always, rewrite, rewrite and rewrite.

Deadlines aren’t for another few weeks, but as soon as I find out I’ll give an update on whether or not my techniques worked.

Update: Just to let you know, I got accepted into every grad school program that I applied to.  So the techniques work!

Related Article:  Is it worth it to get an MFA in creative writing?

Best Of, Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

20 Ways to Improve Your Mood and Enjoy Your Life

Michael Anthony

We’ve all had those days when we “woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” and we just couldn’t help but be miserable. Sometimes, this mood will last days, or even weeks, and it begins to take over our lives. With so many potential causes of stress (i.e. job, family, finances, etc.) it can be difficult to look beyond the stress and see the good in life, but it is
important that you try. A happier mood can start a positive cycle in your life, and a better outlook can, in turn, make you feel better.  When you are happy, others want to be around you. A happy mood can improve your health and help you get better sleep. Work can seem easier, more fun, and your day may appear to go by faster. This change in mood doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many small things you can do to improve your mood each day.

Exercise
– This is definitely the best way to improve your mood. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain that make us happy. It doesn’t have to be an intense workout either. Simply taking a walk or strolling through the mall will help.

  1. Meditate – Spend 10 to 15 minutes just sitting in a quiet room. Turn off your phone, close the door, and just focus on your breathing.
  2. Get Organized – Marginal chaos is unavoidable, but too much clutter can cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Take on one space at a time, and before you know it, your home, office, car, and everywhere else you go will be neat, and you can find a space to relax.
  3. Set Achievable Goals – Sometimes big projects can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller tasks can be a bit more manageable. When you achieve each goal, you can feel a sense of accomplishment and make yourself happier in the process.
  4. Call a Friend – Actually pick up the phone and call someone. Talking to and laughing with a friend can make even the worst day better.
  5. Write a Letter – Don’t just email; actually sit down with a pen and write a letter.  Write to someone you haven’t talked to in a while and tell them whatever will make their day. Let them know how much you care and it may cheer you up as well.
  6. Take a Bath – Even if you have already showered for the day, sitting in a warm bath in a quiet room will help you relax and let go of any tension.
  7. Start a Journal – Putting your thoughts onto paper can help you deal with the struggles and celebrate the accomplishments in your life. Writing it all down can help you let go of bad thoughts and start fresh.
  8. Plan an Event – Plan a lunch date or a dinner party with your friends and put it on your calendar. With the event on paper, you will have something to look forward to, and you can physically see some of the blessings in your life.
  9. Start a Hobby – Try painting, photography, scrapbooking, or whatever else may interest you. Use your hobby to escape and forget about your stress for a while. Make sure your hobby doesn’t become a chore. Have fun.
  10. Let in the Sunshine – Go outside or stand in a sunny window for a few minutes and soak up the vitamin-D. It’s been proven that sunshine on our skin releases hormones that make us feel good.
  11. Volunteer – You may think that you don’t have time or that you don’t have the skills, but the truth is, everyone has the ability to help other. I’m sure there are two or three hours every month when you have some free time. Even this small amount of time could make a huge difference in someone else’s life.
  12. Donate to Charity – Giving to charity will definitely make you feel better about yourself. Even the smallest amounts ($5 or $10) can help make a dent in the funds necessary for these charities to be successful. Just pick which cause you want to support and send in any amount you can afford. You will be glad you did.
  13. Listen to Music – Listening to my favorite song always puts me in a better mood. Whether you prefer upbeat pop or soothing classical music, your favorite tunes are sure to help your bad day.
  14. Dance – You don’t have to be a professional or dance in public, but if you just move around and release some of your tension, your mood will improve.
  15. Laugh – It really is true that “laughter is the best medicine,” especially when it comes to your mood. Laughter or simply smiling will release endorphins to cheer you up.
  16. Touch Your Toes – Most people store their tension in their hips. Bend over and touch your toes, or get as close as you can, and hold that position for a few moments.  Then roll up slowly and think about releasing all of that tension.
  17. Read a Good Book – Find a relaxing place to sit and read. Get lost in the story and set aside your worries for a while.
  18. Forgive Yourself – We all have something we regret in our past. Think of all of those pitfalls, write them down if you have to, and let them go. You deserve forgiveness, and you shouldn’t hold on to your regrets.
  19. Think About Tomorrow – Even on your worst days, you can always remember that tomorrow will be new. Spend a few minutes reflecting on your accomplishments and what you hope to accomplish in the future. There are many blessings in your life, even if you may not feel blessed now. Let go of the bad, and start again tomorrow.

Vanessa Lang is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance.  Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about http://www.paydayloansonlineresource.org/average-interest-rates-for-payday-loans

 

Best Of, Blogishness, Blogishness, Politics / News

Semper Fi-bulous – The Life Of A Gay Marine (Done Before the Repeal of DADT)

Michael Anthony

With a dozen Marines on either side of him, Marc Winslow marched down a sullen dirt road.  “Hoo—rah,” he screamed as the drill instructor called cadence.   Marc looked to the left and then to the right, with heads shaven to the skin, faces free of stubble, and a snarl of the lip, each Marine was indistinguishable from the next.  His shoulders were back, his head was held high, after months of training, he was finally one of “the few, the proud,” he was a Marine.

After marching to and around the field, the instructor called the men to a halt.  The trumpets blared, the drums rolled, the ceremony was about to begin.  Marc stood there at the position of attention—arms at his sides, fingers curled and thumbs on top, heals together and feet at forty-five degree angles—he took in a deep breath and gazed out over the field at all his fellow Marines.  He had accomplished a victory that few men could claim; he had pushed and demanded more of himself then he ever thought possible.  Marc exhaled and let out a long sigh.  He felt great, but there was something else gnawing at him.  Just below the surface of his young enthusiasm and Marine Corps pride, there was a coating of fear and uneasiness.  Marc had a secret.  He had a secret that was so dark, so sinister, and so evil, that if the military ever discovered it, he would be instantly kicked out.

Marc stood frozen.  If they knew…they’d freak out…they’d kick me out.  How many men have been here before, in my situation, willing to risk their lives, but still having to hide?

In bootcamp, the Marines taught Marc cover and concealment.  It’s the art of blending in with a bush, a tree, or a desert, and it’s the ability to find the closest rock, building, or mound to hide behind.  A Marine needs to know his surroundings and be able to make himself invisible or inconspicuous.   For Marc, in the Marines, cover and concealment took on a whole new meaning.  A year and a half into Marc’s two year assignment in Okinawa, he was doing so well in his duty assignment that his commander allowed him to have his own car—which is a big deal for an enlisted Marine overseas.

One day Marc and his friend Tom were driving around base in his new car.  “I’m attracted to you.”  Tom said.

Tom was a Royal Marine in the British Armed Forces.  He was an officer.  Marc was a Marine in the United States Armed Forces.  He was enlisted.  It was forbidden in more ways then one.

“I’m attracted to you, too.” Marc said.

Britain’s military personnel are allowed to be openly gay, and after a brief friendship and courtship, the duo became romantically involved.  Marc was even invited to meet Tom’s parents and family.  Growing up in a strict Baptist family, having an associate’s degree in theology, and being part of an organization that shuns homosexuality, even when Marc was with Tom and his family, he still felt as though he had to keep up the camouflage—and little to say, Tom did not get an invitation to meet Marc’s family.

After Marc’s second year in Okinawa, he got reassigned to a base back in the states: 29 Palms.  With the new distance between Tom and Marc, and with Marc’s inability to be open about his sexuality, he and Tom called it quits.  At Marc’s new duty station, after a year and a half of hard work, it was time for him to decide if he would reenlist or not.  Marc was torn about the decision.  He loved the Marine Corps; he bled green, and he joined at the age of seven-teen so that he could serve his country.  But he was torn between the fact that the country he was willing to give his life for, and an organization that he loved with his life, would not accept him for who he was.  Marc was tired of hiding and sought refuge with a Marine Corps therapist.  Marc’s therapy sessions didn’t last long.  Although what happens in therapy is confidential, if a therapist finds out that a Marine is breaking a rule—such as being gay—they can chapter them out of the military labeling them “mentally unfit.”  Not even being free to discuss his situation with a therapist, Marc was more torn than ever about his decision, and he decided to instead see a civilian therapist.  After seeing his new therapist, Marc decided it was time to come out of the closet to his closest Marine friends.

“I’m gay.”

“You’re still Marc.”

“I would still share a foxhole with you in a second.”

“You’re a Marine that’s all there is to it.”

The responses were all good, but then again, he knew his friends would be supportive.  He knew the real test would come when he told his First Sergeant.

The First Sergeant looked Marc square in the eye.  “Sexuality doesn’t define a Marine…”  There was a pause.  “But not everyone will understand, so make sure you don’t tell a lot of people.  I don’t want to lose you as a Marine.”

Marc was gay and in the military.  He found love, he lost love, and he was eventually accepted by those closest to him.  When asked about his experience as a gay Marine, he simply stated: “Some American’s nowadays are Cafeteria-Americans; they pick and choose from the constitution like it’s a cafeteria line, picking out only what they want… And who gives them the right to decide? … The constitution is the constitution…..Marines are Marines!”

In the end, a story about a gay Marine could never be summarized with mere words or sentences; there are no final quips or witty remarks which could summarize the experience of a man willing to give his life for an organization that would shun him if it knew the truth.  Sometimes all a person can do is share their story and hope that, somehow, in someway, that’s enough.

Best Of, Blogishness, Blogishness

4 Tips That Will Make Your Job Application Stand Out

Michael Anthony

It’s hard enough to get the job of your dreams, but doing so in the middle of a worldwide financial crisis is an even bigger challenge for anyone. Fresh graduates from even the most reputable universities around the globe are unprepared to compete against experienced employees who have been laid off from their previous jobs.

If you’re in this kind of situation, you can simply give up your hands and try to find a lesser job that’s easier to snag. Or you can try to make your resume look as good as possible, whether or not you’ve had prior job experience.

Get that dream job right now

Companies don’t have all the time in the world to scrutinize your resume to see if you’re a good fit for their vacant position. Every hopeful applicant usually has under fifteen minutes to get the attention of his potential employer through a well-crafted resume. But if your boss-to-be is going through a stack of twenty or more applications, he can easily get bored from trying to wade through all the information.

Try these four innovative resume tips on your next job hunt:

Play with the text appearance.

Most job applications feature the same uniform-size font all throughout the document. However, this makes your job application look like all the rest and bores the reader to death. Spruce up your resume by using different font sizes and styles to distinguish different sections from each other.

Type your name in capital letters, bold, 18-point Times New Roman at the very top of the page, and then your contact information in normal 14-point font. For each new section heading, use 14-point, underlined font. This way, your reader can easily make out the things that you want to say and zoom in on the data most relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Replace bulleted lists with columnar data.

Using bulleted or numbered listings of your employment history and most important achievements is the convention for most job applications. To stand out, you can try using a column listing instead. This allows you to break the document into even smaller, more manageable sections that do away with monotony. You also lessen the number of pages of your resume by taking out too many white spaces.

Put together all your relevant skills and certifications together in a column or box so that they are more visually appealing. A long list can have the effect of making the reader’s eyes glaze over. But if your text is within tables or columns, the reader is forced to actually go through what you have written.

Offer to provide your potential employer with a portfolio of prior relevant work output.

Anyone can submit a standard job application, so why should your boss be impressed by a self-serving piece of paper that basically touts all your desirable skills and accomplishments? A portfolio is a more authoritative source of information about your abilities and achievements.

This is what your boss can rely on should he want to verify if the marketing brochures you said you produced for a prior employer is actually your handiwork. Always bring the portfolio with you on your job interviews so you can immediately provide a copy if one is asked of you.

That said, you have to be perfectly honest about what you can and cannot do on your current set of skills and knowledge. Don’t say that this or that document is part of your portfolio if you didn’t personally participate in its creation.

Create a video resume and submit a copy with your written application.

Not a lot of people utilize the incredible power of audio-video presentations in trying to land a plum job. However, this is actually an effective way to convince your potential employer that you’re the best pick of the pack. By demonstrating your skills at AVP production, you’re already telling your boss-to-be that this is one thing you can do well.

A video resume will also give you an opportunity to show off your other job-related skills, such as delivering a mock sales pitch to a client or customer relationship management. This is something that your employer can’t test just by asking you questions and giving you written exams.

At the end of the day, your application is just one of the many factors that your interviewer will account for in deciding whether you’re the right fit for the job. Your actual performance in the interview and exams will also weigh in on his decision whether to call you back for further screening or put you on the waiting list.

 

Guest Post Author: When not out building relationships with other bloggers, Krisca Te can be found reading blogs that tackle personal development. She is also a personal finance freak who is currently working with ACC, a personal finance blog that writes about financial literacy.

 

Politics / News

Medal of Honor Recipient Leroy Petry

Michael Anthony

Jon Stewart just had an awesome interview with Sergeant Leroy Petry.  Sergeant Petry is the latest, living, recipient of the Medal of Honor.  A very brave and honorable soldier, he has an amazing story to tell.  Whether you agree or disagree with the war, is moot.  What’s amazing about his story is the amount of courage, bravery and selflessness that one man can have towards his troops. His story can inspire us all the be better people (and he also shows off his kick-ass new robotic arm).

 

Here’s the interview with Jon Stewart:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/thu-july-14-2011-leroy-petry

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Allergies: Neti Pot, EFT, Vitamin C, Local Honey and Allergen Removers – Update

Michael Anthony

So, I’ve been committed to getting rid of my allergies for the past two weeks, and here’s what I’ve come up with.  I decided the best approach to take care of something is to  do the burning head approach.  (Think of a person with their hair on fire, they’ll do whatever it takes to put the flame out–so that’s how I attacked my allergies.)  I tried out a Neti Pot, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Acupuncture, increased Vitamin-C, new hypoallergenic pillow and a new allergen remover/air purifier.

(I’ll break down each technique and then let you know what worked, didn’t work, how it may help you, and how my allergies are now doing.)

Neti Pot: A salt water mixture that you pour down your nose that’s supposed to clear up your sinuses.

Everyone talks about how great the Neti Pots are.  Although I wasn’t excited about pouring water down my nose, I figured I’d give anything a shot.  For the first few days the Neti Pot worked great and whenever I wanted to clean my nose (right when I woke up and right before bed) I would use half a packet of Neti Solution.  The Neti pot helped me clean out my nose when I was really stuffed… However, after a few days, my nose started to feel really weird and I felt as though I were getting a sinus infection–once I stopped using the Neti Pot, the feeling went away.  I haven’t used one since.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): A technique where an EFT trained practitioner taps Meridian Points throughout your body and asks you to say things, and think things, while they tap the points.

This technique did not work for my allergies, at all; however, it did work really well for a spout of writers block that I was experiencing–seriously, it works great for writers block.  I’d give this a shot again.  Maybe not for allergies, but for other issues like procrastination, etc.

Accupuncture: A trained practitioner sticks needles on different Meridian Points throughout the body.

I was debating on whether or not to do acupuncture considering that the first session, on average, cost $150.00–that seemed like a pretty steep price considering that I had no idea if it’d work or not, and considering that most acupuncturists said that things like allergies would take multiples session, and even after multiple sessions it could still not work.  Finally, though, I found an acupuncturist who offered a trial session for $50.00.   The woman stuck needles in my hands and feet (none of them hurt except for one in my hand) and then I sat on a table and slept for a half hour.  The session was pretty relaxing, but it didn’t help my allergies.

Increased Vitamin-C: Helps with your immune system.

I’ve read a lot of research about how Vitamin-C is one of those miracle vitamins that taken in hair dosages can help cure a whole spectrum of illnesses (since it’s water soluble you don’t have to worry about taking too much as long as you’re drinking water).   I started taking 1,000mg of Vitamin-C, a day, and so far it’s working really well.  I used to have to take medicine every day for my allergies (Claritin, Zyrtex, Allegra, etc) and now I don’t need any thing, I just make sure I take plenty of Vitamin-C.  Even with my increased Vitamin-C, though, I still do sneeze a lot and occasionally I still get watery and itchy eyes (occasionally versus I used to get it every day) but for the most part there is a drastic reduction in symptoms.

Hepa Allergen Air Purifier: Helps clean pollen, dust and allergy related particles from the air.

It’s hard to tell what”s having the biggest improvement on my allergies, either the increased Vitamin-C or my new air purifier.  Although, I don’t use the air purifier every day (I find its not necessary every day) on the days that I do use it, I can definitely feel the difference and it definitely helps me sleep better at night.

Conclusion: In the past two weeks I’ve had a significant reduction in my allergy symptoms, one I’ve never seen since I’ve had them (ever since I got back from Iraq) and I credit an increased about of Vitamin-C and a good air purifier.

It’s important to remember, though, that different things work for different people.  Acupuncture, Neti Pots, and EFT didn’t seem to work for me, but they might work for someone else.  What I would recommend is giving everything a try.  Again, imagine a person with their hair on fire, they’re going to do whatever they can to put the fire out; to get rid of allergies you/we need to do the same thing.  Try everything (within safe bounds) and anything to get rid of these damn allergies.

So…although I still have allergies, my symptoms have severely decreased.

Michael Anthony is an Iraq War Veteran and is the Author of: Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Destruction, and Dishonor in Iraq.

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Allergies: Neti Pot, EFT, Vitamin C, Local Honey and Allergen Removers

Michael Anthony

A lot of people came back from Iraq with a lot of different problems; some had PTSD, some had a TBI, and for me, I came back from Iraq and had allergies–had never had them before, and now I get them every summer.  I’ve decided that this summer I’m really going to get to the bottom of the problem and see if I can solve it naturally.  I’ve been researching for weeks and have researched about every natural way to deal with allergies.  Here’s the list that I’ve came up with.

Eat local honey–since the bees pollinate the flowers, etc, eating local honey is suppose to help with pollen allergies.

Eat 1000mg of Vitamin C, a day,–suppose to help the immune system.

Buy an Allergen Remover (air purifier) –for people who spend a lot of time indoors, indoor air is suppose to be 200% worse then the air outside and a nice air purifier can get rid of most toxins, pollens, dust mites, etc.

[I bought a Holmes Allergen Remover today, it claims to get rid of 99.7% of all toxins, molds, pollens and dust mites, etc.]

Use a Neti Pot–this is basically a tea pot that you fill up with a saline and then pour through your nose, (it’s suppose to clean up  your sinuses and people have been using it for 2,000 years in India).–I bought one of these today, too.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)–this is pretty much just a type of acupuncture, but it supposedly works in a large percentage of people.  (I have a meeting on Friday to give it a try.)

And then, if all else fails, I bought some Allegra Allergy and some Zyrtec–I was using Claritin, but that has since stopped working.

I’ve got my new Air Purifier, I bought some Vitamin C (and E) I’ve got my Neti Pot and I have my appointment for EFT on Friday (haven’t found any local honey yet,) and I’ll let you guys know how it works!

Related Post: Update on the Allergy Situation and What Worked and What Didn’t Work.

 

Michael Anthony is an Iraq War Veteran and is the Author of: Mass Casualties: A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Destruction, and Dishonor in Iraq.

Best Of, Blogishness, Blogishness

Catness: What Makes a Cat a Cat

Michael Anthony

Do you ever just get those random thoughts that pop into your head?  Maybe its a fact, joke or quote that you heard from a professor, friend or family-member, but regardless of its source, it just pops up out of nowhere.

Today, for some reason, the idea of catness popped into my head.  What is catness?  What makes a cat a cat?  If most people were asked what makes a cat a cat, they’d most likely come up with a list like: a cat has four legs; a cat has fur; a cat has whiskers; a cat chased mice; a cat purrs, etc.

Here’s what popped into my head:  If a cat only has three legs is it still a cat?  What if the cat was one of those hairless cats with no fur or whiskers?  What if the cat didn’t purr or chase mice, would it still be a cat?

If a cat can possess none of the typical cat qualities, but still be a cat, then what does that mean for humans?  What makes a human a human?