Coming to the End, or Starting the Beginning

So the end of the semester approaches quickly, with only one day of classes left and then exam weeks. I only have 2 exams to write but will be keeping busy over the next few months. I will be in this years Carnival Of Beauty as a Redken model, it was unfortunate that I have an exam the night of the 14^th or I would get to be apart of the show too but being in the finale Sunday night is always the best as there are so many other events occurring within the hours. There will be a few designers showing off their designs in mini runway shows as well as other hair companies putting on their event during their time slot. A great thing about Redken is we team up with the best professionals, like L’Oreal Paris fashion for wardrobe and MAC makeup. The products used are all Redken as well as the team is Atlantics Canada’s top hair stylists. Many of them travelling and teaching internationally, it is an honour to work with them, as well as having a guest star attended I have managed to make some great connections.

            I will also be walking in the charity fashion show on the 23^rd at G-lounge supporting SOS Children’s Villages. The event coordinator is a fellow City Model as well as a friend of mine Sarah Harrison who is a candidate for Miss Universe Canada 2012. Her show includes many local sponsors from spas salons, designers and models who will all be helping her raise funds for her cause as all the proceeds of the shows will go to the charity.  I really do love to model and it does not get any better if it is for a good cause which is why I will also be involved in this years IWK princess tea party which is for the children’s wish foundation. I have gotten to be a princess for the past two years and sign autographs to all the little girls who come and get to see a fantastic show as well as get active in some activities and receive beauty treatments. It is adorable watching all of them dressed up in their gowns and just enjoy themselves and their time with their mothers usually as this happens on mother’s day.

            The final show that I have already been booked for is Atlantic Fashion Week season 6, I have participated in 5/6 seasons and each year they get bigger and better. Last years shows took place at the casino and snatched the attention of the media, being shown on blogs, newspapers, and magazines. The event is suppose to be great as the talented designers and City Models collaborate once again to create the biggest fashion event in Halifax.

            I will not just be doing runway as I have been booked for a few photo shoots. The concepts and ideas behind the shoots are great and I can’t wait to be behind the camera, being in university has limited my time for modeling so it feels so good to be getting back into it. Although not all my free time can be dedicated to the industry as I will be taking a marketing course in the summer. This is to be able to have all the necessary courses completed before my co-op next summer.

            Overall I have had a great semester but am looking forward to the future and being busy and involved with other aspects of life other then school. I wish everyone a great and safe summer and if you see me around remember just because I’m a giant doesn’t mean I’m not one of the friendly ones, so smile and say hello.

Why Hire Me?

     Last week was our final speeches of why hire me? As usual I got somewhat nervous and forgot a few details in which I think were important so I decided I would write out my speech so everyone can know how it was suppose to sound.

   Good afternoon,

             My name is Adrienne Henley and I am currently a student here at Mount Saint Vincent University. I am working on my degree in public relations with a double minor in marketing and cultural studies.  I grew up in Bedford, Nova Scotia, graduating from Charles P. Allen High School with honours in 2011.

            A quote that has put me in the right direction in life is “while your busy trying to fit in, I’m going to stand out”. This was said by the artist Wiz Khalifa who was an average kid from Pittsburgh who made it big in the entertainment industry. I would say being unique is my biggest factor that sets me apart and by being unique has set me up with many challenges that have all been achievable.

            Such example would be starting as young as 8 years old when I first enrolled into the sport gymnastics. I was always a tall child so when I would attend classes they would always recommend me to change sports to something more suitable and useful for my height.  Sports such as Basketball or volleyball, however I liked gymnastics so I stuck with it achieving all my badges and being place in the advance class. This shows that if you are dedicated you will be rewarded as well as my flexibility.

            Eventually when I got to junior high I did quit but not to have more free time instead I signed up to be a model. I always wanted to be a model or actress growing up however had a massive overbite. When you are almost 6 feet but not even 100 pounds your proportions are off making you look awkward and gawky. Not considered your typical beauty especially not having the straight teeth, but my parents put some braces on me and I did a few fashion shows and got a contract with Halifax’s own City Models. It was shocking at first and I never thought I would go as far as I have already. I was originally meant for runway but was scooped by an international designer Katrina Tuttle. She not only used me for images but also allowed me to be apart of her trunk shows which was huge since she has her own boutique, and has been apart of Paris and Toronto LG Fashion week. Once working with her many photographers took an interest in me, as well as being the opening or finale for most designers because my height made a statement and caught the attention of the audience.  Modeling has taught me a lot of my work skills and ethic, as being independent at such a young age and being in a profession where you’re working with people of all age range, one must be mature. You must be punctual or you will be replaced or not be asked to work with again, as well as have tough skin because the industry is based off of looks and attitude so both are being critique and compared constantly. It prepared me for job interviews as casting calls are similar and prepared me for charity work as city models works with the IWK and other charities throughout the year. Modeling has taught me to be grateful but also patient, as also being part signed with Redken those are long days of sitting in the chair. I remember one year they had to crimp my hair for texture so I just had to sit there for 5 hours, it isn’t anything to complain about just a long process that goes on behind the scenes before the final product.

As I continued my journey through life I arrived at high school where I joined the girl rugby team. Slightly to prove others wrong that I could play and to prove to myself that I could play without being crushed and I could play well. I was second row, flanker and jumper, as well as a substitute back when needed. I loved rugby it was a great sport that got my blood pumping and it was exciting, sometimes very rough but I never seriously injured myself thankfully. So it showed that even when I was being persuaded in high school to play basketball, volleyball or even do track and field I still did what I wanted to do and because of my attitude succeeded.

            Another successful time in my life would have to be the day I got my drivers license. My family and friends are usually very supportive in my life however they saw my driving skills from the beginning and I don’t think they realized how much progress I had made. No one thought I would pass my test, even my father thought I should reschedule to a later date but I had confidence. I got in the car and it was my first time ever driving in the rain as my parents did not trust me in their vehicle, I did not even know how to turn on the windshield wipers at the time. Obviously my skills were good enough because I passed and have not been in any accidents meaning I had my N removed and I am fully licensed. This makes transportation to and from work much easier.

Overall I would say that I am an independent worker as modeling and gymnastic represent that aspect of my life however I am a social being. I work in retail as an assistant manager in mens fashion and am also the Health and Safety representative. I first started working for the company when I was 16 and it was my first job and I have stuck to it showing my loyalty. I take great pride in my work and believe in myself. I do not confuse my ego with my skill because as long as I can back up what I am saying then it is just stating facts. I feel that I am beneficial to most organizations and will be looking for a job after graduation. So take me into consideration and trust me, you want to hire Adrienne Henley.

Thank You.

Medicine or Medical Attention?

I recently became ill due to a terrible bacteria that caused me to have a lung infection. On top of this lung infection a bacteria also spread to my eye giving my bacterial pink eye, I unfortunately thought my eye was just itchy before going to sleep and rubbed it as well as my other eye. When I awoke the next morning I thought I had gone blind as I could not see anything, at first my eyes were glued shut from the mucus drying over night but even when I was able to open them my vision was blurred. The excess amount of discharge coated my eyeballs making them very wet and teary. I went to the doctors and received Novamoxin prescribed to take 3 times a day for 10 days as well as some polysporin eye drop medication.

            It seemed to be working well as my eyes and chest cleared I was starting to feel relatively healthy once again until after a week of taking the medication I had an allergic reaction to it. Just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day I broke out into hives from head to toe, with some slight swelling externally in places such as my ears, lips, cheeks and nose. It turns out I am allergic to penicillin which is what Novamoxin is and just never knew, thankfully it is not an anaphylactic reaction which usually occurs within the first hour of digestion of the medication and can be fatal if not treated immediately.  Although my case was not as dangerous it was still serious, my boyfriend had the pleasant surprise of waking up next to a pink polka-dot balloon. At first we thought some creams might be able to help since I had already stopped taking the medication the day before but more medical attention was needed then some tea tree oil. We went to the pharmacist who recommended Benadryl and within the first half hour of taking the small pills I was knocked out for the rest of the night.

            I woke up the next morning around 8am to open the store at the mall I work at, the manager was unable to work due to a death in her family so I took on the responsibility of covering her shift before I had the reaction. I knew I looked terrible as the hives had not settled down, although they were not as itchy they had doubled in numbers occupying the majority of my body. As soon as I got to work my district manager saw me and sent me home, she insisted that I do not stay and wait for another employee to show up, to just lock the doors and leave, I couldn’t argue with her especially since I felt weak. I couldn’t eat very much; the hives infected my mouth and tongue making them extra sensitive. My teeth felt like little shards of glass against my tongue and my lips split from swelling and dehydration.

Just when I finally thought my luck was starting to turn around and I was becoming healthier, I even quit smoking right before getting sick and have not been able to smoke in month now. Hopefully this is the last of any medical issues I will endure for a while, I now know that penicillin is not the cure for me but in the process of learning, at least I acquired a new bracelet.

Relatable Public Relations

This week seems to be all about Kony 2012, it has blown up social media which is part of its mission. This video campaign has been made famous within a few days thanks to tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Stumble-Upon and the controversy surrounding the issue. It was in the Sunday paper having just under 50 million views, in class on Monday we watched the video for PR and it had just over 70 million hits. So in a day it received over 20 million views which is incredible to think about how viral it has gone.  

For those of you who are not aware of what Kony 2012 is let me inform you. It is a campaign to stop a man named Joseph Kony who has been named one of the world’s worst war criminals, he abducts children in Africa and forces them to act in brutal and cruel ways.  He took over a rebel group renaming it the Lord’s Resistance Army, which has consisted of more then 30 000 children over the years. The campaign was made by young individuals who will not stand by and let innocent killings and lives be taken. These people have already taken it upon themselves as their personal responsibility to catch Kony and make him face his consequences. They have already made change and created progress by raising awareness, this led to 100 US military personnel being deployed to help the Uganda army track and capture Kony.  

The people behind the organization have also created the charity TRI which has raised money for schools, clothing, shelters, food and water. They want the children to be independent so they can have a chance for a better life. I personally think it is motivational and inspiring but being in public relations I think the campaign is brilliant.

The work and effort put behind everything is astonishing, they have even created websites to become transparent, confronting rumours and lies and informing the public of the truth. This subject has become very controversial so using transparency from the main 3 creators helps establish trust and enforce reliability. The websites inform you of the mission, allow you to pledge and track progress. It’s interesting that they are targeting younger generations and it’s working, they have already sold out of kits and posters supporting the cause.  The use of the directors’ son was manipulative however used for the right purpose, Gavin finds out what his father has been doing and who the bad guys are that he is fighting against for the first time. Also using one of the boys who escaped from the army after watching them murder his brother is a touching experience. He speaks of what he would say to his brother if he was still alive and breaks down in tears, but he isn’t the only one. I’ve watched this half hour video 3 times now and every time I see that part it brings tears to my eyes as well.

The video is long but so well constructed since the director is a professional, the brief clips, music and people keep it interesting and intriguing, most are unable to look away the first time watching it. The video also makes the cause seem “cool”, meaning it appeals to the younger generations by using graffiti, bracelets, posters and unity. Younger people are feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment when usually they are considered as kids who aren’t capable of such drastic change. It is very impressive and  a great technique using two-way symmetry communication, by allowing the exchange of dialog.

Overall I was impressed from a public relations stand point but also personally. I think the video is well worth watching if you can spare the time, maybe replace a television program with it.

Celebrate the Love

                                                                                                                  Febraury 12th 2012

It is that time of year again when people are stressed to the maximum and feeling pressured and depressed. That’s right not only is it a feeling for university students who are writing midterms but it is also Valentines Day. It is a holiday meant with good intentions just as Mothers or Fathers Day, meant to show your love and appreciation for you loved one or significant other. However it seems society has taken the pleasure of this celebration to a negative point. If you have someone special in your life great then hopefully you two will be kind and caring but for those who are single, you are not a tragic case and Valentines Day is not meant to be torture and remind you of the fact you might not have found the right person.

           

Instead let us take a different a different perspective on the issue. Valentines Day is a celebration of love so you can share that love with whoever you want. Basically everyday should be treated as Valentines Day but especially on the 14^th of February it just makes it official. I personally love this Holiday and always have since I was a little kid. I send my friends cards, emails, messages expressing my feeling towards them and how much they mean to me. It gives us a chance to express our friendship which contains a certain type of love but love none the less. Most likely if they are a good friend they will express it back to you and you will both feel better and in more of a mood for love.

           

Lets not stop there, you can also celebrate your love for your family. They are usually the most important people in your life so tell and show them how much they have done for you or been there for you. It is all about your personal relationships with other people in your life. You can realize that you are never truly alone so celebrate the fact that you are blessed to have such great people surrounding you.

Enjoy your celebration of love.

Toastmasters

                                                                                                             Febraury 10th 2012

Last night I attended Dalhousie’s Toastmasters meeting with 3 other girls from the class. We left from the Mount so had time to discuss our predictions of what was going to happen or really what was toastmaster meeting. It wasn’t what we expected really but it was interesting and a great experience. When we got to the meeting we were a few minutes earlier but it gave us time to get situated. It was a tiny and personal environment, the members knew each other by name and talked about past meetings, but they also made us new comers feel welcome. We all had to stand up and announce who we were, how long we had been attending or titles that were held at meetings as well as our hobbies and interests. Some people had been going for to years some just a few months or if you were like us, it was your first time. They had an agenda and stuck to it so you knew what was happening for the night, it was even divided up into timed sections.

            At the start after introductions there were specific roles given to volunteers. Melissa actually volunteered and got the position of time keeper. Not the exact name but pretty much sums up the purpose of her job. She was in charge of letting people know when they had reached certain amounts of time. For example there were two students who had prepared speeches. They were on a time limit so Melissa had 3 pieces of paper, one was green to show they had met the minimum time necessary, the second was yellow to warn them they were running out of time and the last paper was red to show they had gone over their intended time. It was interesting for one of us to even be given a job just because we were all so new. The other roles included question-master who payed close attention to the presentations and asked questions to the audience that were relevant to the speeches. The finer was in charge of calling people out for being negative or doing something incorrectly, they give the person a 25 cent fine which goes towards the toastmaster meeting funds. The last role which I cannot remember the title of was in charge of catching space fillers. So their job was to make a note of every time the speaker used words such as “uhhh. Uhmm, ahh, like, and” those types of sayings that aren’t necessary. Once all the jobs were given the speeches began.

           

As soon as the first student went up I had butterflies in my stomach for them just because I know how nervous I get and with new people attending the meeting it could add some extra pressure. However the speaker did very well, her speech was a mock trial for her law class so she will actually be presenting something very similar. I thought what a great way to get some practice in where there should be no pressure. The situation changed my mind and became a positive to me, I now saw it as an opportunity to present when it doesn’t count however still receive tips and advice as if it did. Her speech was well done and she kept calm the entire 7 or 8 minutes. As an audience we also got little sheets to make notes and helpful tips which would be given to the speakers anonymously.

The second presentation was not as intriguing to me just because of the topic. Now I could barely understand half of the law terms and sections of the Charter but was able to stay more focused and enjoyed it more then this speech. The student did a speech on how to do a great speech. It was on PowerPoint which usually having visuals is a good way to engage your audience however it just seemed pointless to me, although he was a good speaker I became uninterested in what he was saying because it had no purpose.

We were then given a break to get up and mingle there were a few snack items, it was a nice way to make everyone a bit more comfortable before the next activity. I  personally thought I was going to be like a fly on the wall at this meeting, I did not do my homework and see what a toastmaster meeting entailed. However just my luck that was not the case, the next activity was meant for everyone to participate. Each person went up to the front of the room and were given a question, you just had to give your answer and explain. Seemed fairly simple but some of the questions were tough especially when you were suppose to talk about the question for at least 2 minutes. My palms were sweaty when my turn approached and I was the first out of the Mount girls to go but I did my best and without the blinding lights and camera it was more relaxing then anticipated. My question was “What is your dream job and why?”, my response was of course being a model. I stated the pros and cons of the industry as well as personally. I was satisfied with my response and for the rest for the rest of the time just enjoyed the improve of others.

At the end they wrapped it up with the discussion of the job roles.  They stated times, questions, comments, criticism and the fines. The fines were actually pretty funny, like I got one for saying I was too tall to be a model, and 2 other girls both got fined from the Mount. We did our best and were surprised we had to get up and speak in the first place so overall I was pleased with the outcome and learned some new skills to apply to my next presentation.

Chain Reactions

                                                                                                                     Febraury 8th 2012

Over the past few weeks there have been some major changes in my work place. I work retail at a mall, where the company owns a chain of other stores as well throughout Nova Scotia and Canada. Last week our Head Office decided to combine our departments however with this change left room for only one district manager so my company’s district manger was let go in an unprofessional manner. The head offices started making some nasty changes and with this bus strike the schedule they were making was not easy for most to adapt too. Instead of building a bigger and stronger team, they broke up smaller ones and destroyed them.

           

This took place on a Thursday, Friday afternoon we were all notified about the changes that were made and intended to be implemented. It was chaos because they cut hours and some employees were not getting enough hours and able to make their regular weeks pay. In protest since it seems to be contagious in Halifax right now, the entire staff at one of our MicMac Mall locations all quit on Saturday. The manager was on good terms with our District manager and when she heard what happened and what they were planning on doing she quit and convinced her staff to quit as well.

           

However this chain reaction did not stop there, on Monday my manager at my store location quit because she was friends with the DM even outside the work place and with the strict changes was unable to provide what they needed so returned her keys and has left us to deal with the rest of the week on our own. So our assistant manager was left with the responsibilities of our manager. She felt out of control and too much stress so she put her 2 weeks in on Tuesday. This chain reaction is damaging to a company’s reputation. I have been employed there for over almost 3 years and never seen it get to this point.

           

It really demonstrates that team work and motivation are key to being successful as well as being respectful and cooperating with your employees. Sometimes changes are necessary in order to get further in business but the only way you can get farther is if your team is all on board. Everyone has to be on the same page and have the same goals for them to be achieved.

           

So a word of concern, please talk with your employees or team before making any major decisions. You never know, your one decision may cause an unwanted and damaging chain reaction that could put you in a tricky situation.