Taylor Mall

I just went into Taylor Mall today and was surprised how nice the store there was. They recently changed their hours to be open longer during the week so as to serve the students better. They have medication, food, drinks, toiletries, everything you would need as a student. If you haven't checked it out, you will be surprised how good their prices are and how wide the variety of goods they offer. There have been a couple times that I needed something really quick between classes but didn't have enough time to run to the store (which I don't know if you've noticed, but they're aren't too many stores close by). Now if I need something I can run up to the store, use my suncard and grab a drink from Starbucks all in enough time to make it to my class on time. Go check it out!

What is next??

I've been asking myself what is next for the past few weeks with regards to graduation. I'm sure I'm no different than many other students graduating in May who are currently deciding what to do after they get their bachelors or after they get their diplomas. There are so many degree programs and paths to chose from it makes it very difficult to commit to just one of them. One thing is for sure, I need lots more information before I can make a choice as huge as which degree program to pursue with my masters. I've decided to share my research with everyone as I get more information. First I want to talk about which programs I have looked into: Masters of Social Work (MSW), Masters of Public Policy (MPP), or the dual Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and MSW degree. I started out thinking that I wanted to go straight through to get my MSW in the Advanced Standing Program which allows students to get their degree in just one year. Some other options would be to go to school full-time and finish the degree 18-24 months. With a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW), you can finish your degree in 18 months if you got an A in certain core classes during the BSW by getting overridden from courses similar to the ones already taken. I have decided that I would like to do the MSW in only 12 months if that is my choice. But I have been contemplating how to be more marketable in the job market now that our economic climate has changed, and have let my thoughts wander to the MPP or MSW/MPA degrees. My next step in this research process is to find out more about the School or Public Administration programs. I do know that if I wanted to work in a government position or head organizations, a MPP or MSW/MPA would be more helpful. A knowledge of public policy can be a benficial boost to a person's knowledge base in achieving a very gainful career. However, if someone would like to work in direct practice with clients or case management these degrees may not be as beneficial. These degrees are for those who want to work in a macro setting or those who are interested in Social Work with a PAC concentration. As I gain more knowledge about the degree programs, I will make sure to post them so that we can all learn more together about the benefits and options involved in the degree programs offered here at ASU.

Making Change

If you are anything like me you are listening to the news reports on TV or the radio and it's getting you all fired up as you listen to all the programs and jobs being cut. Part of these cuts are directly a result of the decisions OUR legislators are making even as we, their constituents, protest outsides their building. For those of you just like me who are getting frustrated with not being heard, and who's tuition and education are being affected, this is a website you will like very much: Az State Legislature. This website allows you to track press releases coming out of the Senate or House of Representatives. I think the first step to making change is being educated on the issues, and these press releases can help us to stay informed on the activities of these governing bodies. If you want to see change, write to those elected officials from your district and let them know what you hope to see happen for Arizona, and what things you are disappointed in. These are our elected officials, they are here to be the voice for their constituents. If we want them to go to bat for us, we must tell them what we want. I know this is a stressful time for some many of us, but lets communicate in a constructive and respectful way with our legislatures. After we have made this effort and if we are still not being represented by our elected officials, then we must let them know how disappointed we are that they are not hearing our desires. Elected officials are here to be our voice, so let's let our voices be heard. Please write to your congressman, senator, district leader and whoever else we can to let them know the direction we want to see our state move in. It is only through communicating our needs and desires that change can truly come about.