Cultural Event Report #1
On Thursday, October 6, 2011, I decided to go hear the chief executive officer of the Pepsi Beverages Co. (and Ball State University alum) Eric Foss give a presentation to the business college on leadership and what he has learned from his past thirty years on the front lines of the cola wars. I am not a business student, but I heavily considered it for quite a while prior to selecting Criminal Justice and Criminology as my major. Throughout high school I took a total of seven semesters of business classes, from Business and Management foundations, to two full years of accounting, all by choice. None of this was a part of the required curriculum, but I found early on that I thoroughly enjoyed these business classes and also that I had a certain fondness not just for money (after all, who doesn’t?), but also for simply working with it. Toward the end of my second year of accounting, it was difficult for me to decide to go in to the social sciences field because I had found that I actually enjoyed the work I was assigned in the class. True, it could become ever so slightly tedious on occasion, but I can honestly say that I took pleasure in completing the conglomeration of tasks required. The precise attention to detail; the checking, double checking, and triple checking (sometimes followed by quadruple checking to ensure everything was perfect) of numbers; the need to establish and maintain balance… these all come together to seemingly create the absolute perfect profession for me, but I chose to follow a different calling. Although I chose not to pursue a career into the financial sector, I still had an interest in business, so when I heard that one of the highest ranking execs of the Pepsi Co. was coming to campus I decided that I would attend simply out of interest rather than because it directly related to anything I was doing here at the University. Although he brought up a lot of points, Mr. Foss focused on one key part of business, and that was the management of such and how effective leadership was absolutely crucial to the success or failure of any venture. Using examples such as the time he was asked on next to no notice to leave the country so as to run a foreign plant and the time that he came up with an idea for a new cooler display system in local grocery stores (that ended up failing miserably), he showed how different forms of leadership can (and cannot) work based on the circumstances and the people involved. He continually stressed how each person needs to find the style of leadership that best suits them and that they can make work with the best possible results. I thought the presentation given by Mr. Foss was highly educational, not just for business majors and minors but for anyone who chose to attend. Through his great storytelling, he was able to capture his audience and hold their attention for the duration of his time speaking. I found the multiple leadership methods he proposed to be very relevant, especially because I have no intention of working at a bottom-rung job longer than is absolutely necessary for me to advance in whatever career I end up in. Having attended the presentation, I can now take some of these proven methods and carry them forward, not just once I begin to move up the career ladder, but anytime I am placed in a leadership position in the future. Although it did not make me regret my decision to not enter into the Miller College of Business, I can say without a doubt that I am very glad I chose to attend this lecture and will hopefully be able to put the information to great use in the future.
Cultural Event Report #2
On Friday, October 7th, 2011, I did something that I never really thought I would do unless I was required to for something like a class or whatnot: I attended a play. Don’t get me wrong, I take nothing away from the art of theater, it simply isn’t for me. That is what I thought before I went to see the Circus In Winter. After I had seen the musical, however, my ideas had changed dramatically. Whereas before I was not particularly fond of the medium that is the stage, I must now honestly say that my previous judgments may have been wrong (something I do on very rare occasions at best). This play, put on by my fellow students here at Ball State University, completely blew my mind and shattered all preconceived notions I had had when I first entered the theater. Every last aspect of this show was absolutely incredible, from the actors and actresses on stage (kudos once again for an absolutely amazing performance), to the musicians, to the lightings, and especially the set and prop designs, everything was beyond what I could have imagined. No one can blame me, for you would be saying the same had you seen a full size (papier-mâché) elephant come stomping on to the stage from behind the curtain, followed later by a once again full scale recreation of a baby elephant. That may have been one of the most stunning portions of the entire production, which is quite a feat in and of itself. Now, more than two months after viewing this how, I still find that I am amazed by the things I was so lucky to witness. I truly do owe quite a bit to the friends that I accompanied to the play. I was attending solely because they wanted to see it, and I figured that since I had one free ticket to a play thanks to Freshman Connections, it couldn’t hurt to tag along. I’ve never been so happy that I’d made such a gross understatement. This one single play challenged all previous notions I had brought with me and I couldn’t be happier that it did. Sometimes it takes something amazing for us to realize that we can find appreciation in places we normally wouldn’t have looked, and that is exactly what this play did, and is why I am so glad that I did decide to attend. The acting throughout the entire thing was nothing short of superb. It was only too clear how long and hard these performers had worked to ensure that they gave the audience the best show possible. The pure, raw emotion they were able to convey from the stage was absolutely inspiring; I can say without a shred of dishonesty that more than a few parts literally gave me chills. To this day, I still find myself walking to class, or moving around in my room doing any little thing, or even working on homework and singing to myself the lyrics to the most prominent piece of music from the production – “Isn’t it amazing…”.
Cultural Event Reports
Cultural Event Report #1
On Thursday, October 6, 2011, I decided to go hear the chief executive officer of the Pepsi Beverages Co. (and Ball State University alum) Eric Foss give a presentation to the business college on leadership and what he has learned from his past thirty years on the front lines of the cola wars. I am not a business student, but I heavily considered it for quite a while prior to selecting Criminal Justice and Criminology as my major. Throughout high school I took a total of seven semesters of business classes, from Business and Management foundations, to two full years of accounting, all by choice. None of this was a part of the required curriculum, but I found early on that I thoroughly enjoyed these business classes and also that I had a certain fondness not just for money (after all, who doesn’t?), but also for simply working with it. Toward the end of my second year of accounting, it was difficult for me to decide to go in to the social sciences field because I had found that I actually enjoyed the work I was assigned in the class. True, it could become ever so slightly tedious on occasion, but I can honestly say that I took pleasure in completing the conglomeration of tasks required. The precise attention to detail; the checking, double checking, and triple checking (sometimes followed by quadruple checking to ensure everything was perfect) of numbers; the need to establish and maintain balance… these all come together to seemingly create the absolute perfect profession for me, but I chose to follow a different calling. Although I chose not to pursue a career into the financial sector, I still had an interest in business, so when I heard that one of the highest ranking execs of the Pepsi Co. was coming to campus I decided that I would attend simply out of interest rather than because it directly related to anything I was doing here at the University. Although he brought up a lot of points, Mr. Foss focused on one key part of business, and that was the management of such and how effective leadership was absolutely crucial to the success or failure of any venture. Using examples such as the time he was asked on next to no notice to leave the country so as to run a foreign plant and the time that he came up with an idea for a new cooler display system in local grocery stores (that ended up failing miserably), he showed how different forms of leadership can (and cannot) work based on the circumstances and the people involved. He continually stressed how each person needs to find the style of leadership that best suits them and that they can make work with the best possible results. I thought the presentation given by Mr. Foss was highly educational, not just for business majors and minors but for anyone who chose to attend. Through his great storytelling, he was able to capture his audience and hold their attention for the duration of his time speaking. I found the multiple leadership methods he proposed to be very relevant, especially because I have no intention of working at a bottom-rung job longer than is absolutely necessary for me to advance in whatever career I end up in. Having attended the presentation, I can now take some of these proven methods and carry them forward, not just once I begin to move up the career ladder, but anytime I am placed in a leadership position in the future. Although it did not make me regret my decision to not enter into the Miller College of Business, I can say without a doubt that I am very glad I chose to attend this lecture and will hopefully be able to put the information to great use in the future.
Cultural Event Report #2
On Friday, October 7th, 2011, I did something that I never really thought I would do unless I was required to for something like a class or whatnot: I attended a play. Don’t get me wrong, I take nothing away from the art of theater, it simply isn’t for me. That is what I thought before I went to see the Circus In Winter. After I had seen the musical, however, my ideas had changed dramatically. Whereas before I was not particularly fond of the medium that is the stage, I must now honestly say that my previous judgments may have been wrong (something I do on very rare occasions at best). This play, put on by my fellow students here at Ball State University, completely blew my mind and shattered all preconceived notions I had had when I first entered the theater. Every last aspect of this show was absolutely incredible, from the actors and actresses on stage (kudos once again for an absolutely amazing performance), to the musicians, to the lightings, and especially the set and prop designs, everything was beyond what I could have imagined. No one can blame me, for you would be saying the same had you seen a full size (papier-mâché) elephant come stomping on to the stage from behind the curtain, followed later by a once again full scale recreation of a baby elephant. That may have been one of the most stunning portions of the entire production, which is quite a feat in and of itself. Now, more than two months after viewing this how, I still find that I am amazed by the things I was so lucky to witness. I truly do owe quite a bit to the friends that I accompanied to the play. I was attending solely because they wanted to see it, and I figured that since I had one free ticket to a play thanks to Freshman Connections, it couldn’t hurt to tag along. I’ve never been so happy that I’d made such a gross understatement. This one single play challenged all previous notions I had brought with me and I couldn’t be happier that it did. Sometimes it takes something amazing for us to realize that we can find appreciation in places we normally wouldn’t have looked, and that is exactly what this play did, and is why I am so glad that I did decide to attend. The acting throughout the entire thing was nothing short of superb. It was only too clear how long and hard these performers had worked to ensure that they gave the audience the best show possible. The pure, raw emotion they were able to convey from the stage was absolutely inspiring; I can say without a shred of dishonesty that more than a few parts literally gave me chills. To this day, I still find myself walking to class, or moving around in my room doing any little thing, or even working on homework and singing to myself the lyrics to the most prominent piece of music from the production – “Isn’t it amazing…”.