About Cameron Jones

Email: cjones@oswego.edu

Posts by Cameron Jones

Do you have what it takes?

Posted on
by

As we speak, thousands and maybe even millions of people are attempting to have your biggest dream(s). A woman named Beth, a guy named Joe or even a young man named Timothy who is in the 10th grade is desperately planning to be just a good as you are. Let’s not forget little Chantel who just entered pre-kindergarten. Chantel is a sweet girl I’ll be sure to introduce you to her later. But there is a news flash; someone just booked a plane ticket in your name and guess where you’re going? I don’t know but maybe at the end of this blog you will have a better idea….

The next 60 years for many of us won’t be nearly and I’m on a stretch by saying remotely of anything of the past 60 years. It has been projected by many sources that the next workforce won’t be able to expect to work the same job for thirty years, retire, and ride into the sunset. There is more of a high chance that a person will change jobs on several occasions if not changing career paths at some point in the process as well. With a great financial crisis that is facing our country now who knows what a financial meltdown would be like 60 years from now. In any event it’s important to learn how to be ready for such cases and why not plan now for it.

So I guess I’ll introduce you to Chantel. I haven’t met Chantel. I actually just made her up, but needless to say there is a Chantel that is out there somewhere in the world. She’s in pre-kindergarten and she just turned 4 about several months ago. Chantel has big dreams and undiscovered talents. What would be her potential in 20 years? What would you say or how would you feel if I said she or anyone else could take, perform, and deliver your job better than you can? Where will you be 20 years from now? How will you get there?

The biggest message that I can stress to you, myself, or anyone else is that you are just a fragment of a larger picture with billions of others. With that said, how would you compete against the rest? What would you do in order to acquire the knowledge? Where would you start? I bet you thought I had or have the answers, but I don’t. I have somewhat of an ideal format for myself, but at the end of the day whether it is right or wrong my methods work for me. I challenge you to figure out what works for you? Look at the people you’re surrounded by, the responsibilities that you take on, and the work that you produce.These are all small steps to a much larger framework of things to be done. The bell has just sounded and its boarding time so be sure to catch that plane. Is everything packed? Did you make it to the terminal yet? You do have your ticket right?

Achieving Your Dreams

Posted on
by

Often times when thinking of college and what it means to be here many people take it for granted especially if they knew exactly how much time they really had to complete their dreams. These days and as in the past people would expect that a college education was the key and or a door to new opportunities that others wouldn’t necessarily have. But, others would disagree with the notion that “college isn’t for everyone” and that holds true as well in many cases. In either case what would you do if you knew exactly how much time you had to achieve your dreams?

Interestingly enough what would you do if you had weeks or months to live? Many of you may be familiar with the “Last Lecture” presented by Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch in September, 2007. I won’t continue to discuss the issues regarding his illness, life, or death. I send my deepest and sincerest gratitude to his family and loved ones. I would much rather offer his message and his work that I understand would be the best attribute of his life than discuss anything otherwise.

I first learned about Professor Pausch when watching The Oprah Winfrey Show about a year ago. I actually woke up hearing Professor Pausch speaking. There isn’t any amount of words that I could piece together that could explain how compelled I was by his message. I learned the value of life and how important it was to live each moment. I learned to accept challenges and criticism no matter what forms they come in. Professor Pausch stated that “when your screwing up and nobody is saying anything that is a bad place to be”. When your screwing up and no one says anything it is usually because they have given up or no longer care.

Overall Professor Pausch offered great perspectives on leading ones life and achieving your dreams. He mentioned to think of others more than yourself. He even dedicated what would be thought to be an account of his own life in his last lecture to inspire others, but more importantly for his children. You can view the last lecture by viewing the following link:\”Professor Pausch on YouTube\”

So as the world continues to spin what are we thankful for? Begin to focus on your dreams. Instead of making excuses find solutions. Focus more on what can be done rather than what can’t. Dare to dream and explore and make it a reality.  No message, words, people, books, videos, and or anything else can inspire you if you can’t find it within yourself. Professor Pausch mentioned that we cannot control the cards we are dealt but more so it’s important how we play the hand. Look into your hands. What cards appear there?Think wisely, choose precisely, and move swiftly. Therefore, I encourage that you not live each moment as your last but live each moment at its best.


Time Management? Guess Again…+

Posted on
by

Time and time again we hear about this thing called time management. It’s usually a well thought out ideology that if you manage your time than you would be able to work things out accordingly. However, it is quite that simple when numerous tasks have to be completed and when under the constraints of time it is clearly something that we cannot manage ourselves. “So much to do so little time” (sound familiar?).

Through trial and error, time hasn’t always been a friend. Time has sometimes fallen short on. Time has in other respects came too soon or lasted too long. Is it time that we should be frustrated with? Should our priorities be to blame? Priorities have always been a friend that we could never get close to. Priorities have been that person that never got along with our arch enemy “procrastination”. My friend procrastination has always been good to us. Procrastination constantly whispers “don’t worry you have plenty of time“, “you can enjoy yourself and get your work done later”, “there are plenty of chances”. Well I’ll be the first to say that procrastination has been good to you but is it good for you?

The biggest questions of them all are:

· How much time do you have?

· What do you need to get done?

· What is most important?

I still go back and forth with the answers to these questions and I’m learning more and more each “time” I try. But, the worst feeling to ever have is to know that it’s too late or that time is up. I would encourage that you maxmize the time you have wisely while guiding yourself and the company you keep.

“There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.” Brian Tracy

WeLcOmE

Posted on
by

Greetings All,

I must admit this is an exciting and intimidating process. Exciting because I am a broadcasting major and I really enjoy communications and multi-media and this just adds to that passion of mine. I would agree that it is intimidating only because of the wide array of readers paging through the blogs. But as in the title I welcome you all to discover my experiences here at Oswego State that I may share with many of you now and or in the future.

I am from Hempstead, New York and it is a suburb of Long Island within less than a half hour from New York City and an hour outside of Manhattan. I discovered Oswego through my guidance counselor Mr. Davis (Thank You!) who served a great role in my development in my high school career. Through him I applied and I decided to come here because of the cost, distance, and at the time the journalism program. I later switched to broadcasting and mass communications because I wanted more involvement with communications.

I lived on campus in Cayuga Hall once upon a time for two years and I have lived off campus ever since. I must admit it was a great experience living in the residence hall. I enjoyed the connections and meeting new people all the time. Living off campus for me has matured my living experience definitely. I say that because it made me more responsible with my spending habits with knowing that I had to buy my own groceries, pay rent, utilities, and various other amenities.

One of my very first jobs on campus was working with Auxiliary Services formerly in Hewitt Union Late-Night. I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of food service but it definitely allowed me to pay for my laptop (And it still works!). I also worked formerly in the L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Education, Activities, and Development) Center working closely with the Leadership Development Series and the A.L.A.N.A (African, Latino, Asian, and Native American) Conference. Those were great programs for me to be involved with because I got so connected into the frame work of student activities to often be recognized as an upperclassman in just my first semester. From there I began to get involved in writing for the Oswegonian which is the student newspaper. I have also been involved voluntarily with Residence Life & Housing working as a hall orientation coordinator, hall council officer, and residence hall advisory board. Additionally, I also was a building manager for the Department of Campus Life my freshmen year up until this year. I was generally known as the guy with 10 jobs =).There are countless other experiences I could discuss but that is all for now.

This is my senior year and it’s definitely been a great time up until this point for me. I have experienced various levels of growth and maturity through a result of my involvement on campus. I first came to SUNY Oswego with great hopes of exploring many opportunities where I could challenge and shape myself into something that I couldn’t predict, something much stronger, much wiser, and maybe even a little taller. It was exciting to embark upon this unknown journey. I must admit that thus far I have succeeded. It wasn’t always easy, yet it wasn’t always difficult. Despite the ups and downs, gains and losses, it has been an incredible journey. It has been incredible for the time spent with my wonderful and I do mean wonderful friends (I heart you!). Honestly, without them I couldn’t begin to imagine what my time would have been like in Oswego without their continuous support, love, and generosity (You all know who you are!).

I’ll leave you all with this quote. Thanks for reading!

“Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson