By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| There are vast differences between Florida and California. Firstly, the thing people comment the most on is the weather. Whenever I meet guests while working my shift, and they find out I’m from California, their first comment is always, “What are you doing here? Why would you leave?” I never realized how great California actually is until I got to see it from an outsiders’ perspective. Many of my friends tell me that California is “the dream.” The humidity and constant tropical rain is not something I would like to take back home with me. Yet living in Orlando in particular, has so much beauty that it is hard to allow the weather to … [Read more...] about Experiencing Florida
Steffanie Martinez
Experience: Opportunity of a lifetime
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Growing up, the idea of working for Disney seemed like a far-fetched dream, hearing about the Disney College Program was the first step to making that dream a reality. As a communication major, having the chance of working with Disney, one of the best known media and entertainment companies in the world, seemed like an unbelievable opportunity. They have associations with ABC Television Group, ESPN, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Lucas Films and Marvel Entertainment, meaning if I pursue a career after graduation with the company, there are countless routes I can choose to take. Once I heard of the Disney College Program, I made it a goal to … [Read more...] about Experience: Opportunity of a lifetime
Textbook Expenses.
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Finals week is here again. You’re probably looking around realizing you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on all these textbooks you didn’t once open. All of this could have been avoided had our professors researched the “open educational resources” alternative. I might have been able to get a quality text book from $10-$40 in comparison to the textbook average that begins at $60 all the way up to $200. Open textbooks are written with the understanding that they will be free to print or read online. It is a beneficial option that has been proven to work at some universities; it would be a great alternative for schools because it would save … [Read more...] about Textbook Expenses.
Pursuing Higher Degree Education
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Tough choices have to be made after obtaining your college degree—a huge one in particular: choosing between attending graduate school or going straight into the workforce. This is not always the easiest decision to make, as there are many factors to take into consideration. Graduate school is not an extension of your college life—there are big differences. “From studying to socializing, you’re entering a new world. But if you choose to go to grad school to study something you’re passionate about, you’ll likely find it much more rewarding than college," stated Dr. Melissa Boone Brown of Columbia University. Speaking to recent grad school … [Read more...] about Pursuing Higher Degree Education
Pursuing an education is valuable
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| A college diploma seems useless when all you need is one viral video to earn you millions of dollars, right? Not so much. Media influences our lives now more than ever, whether we choose to accept it or not. It has introduced us to a world where being successful doesn’t always begin or finish with a college education. The term “internet celebrity” denotes any YouTube, Vine, and Instagram star who makes a living out of posting content on social networks—jobs that require no sort of diploma. They make it seem simple, when the reality is that fame is not easily accessible to anyone who has a social media account. People like Steve Jobs, … [Read more...] about Pursuing an education is valuable
Less phone usage for higher academic success
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Would you put your cellphone down if by doing so you could potentially improve your GPA? As college students, it seems impossible for us to go throughout the day without checking our phones multiple times. I’ve seen it in all my classes; the students who sit in the back pretending to look at the professor, meanwhile they expertly text, or surf through their Instagram feeds without getting caught. Richard Murphy and Louis-Phillipe Beland, two economics professors at Louisiana State University, measured the impact of mobile phones on student performance. They surveyed 91 schools in four English cities before and after strict cellphone … [Read more...] about Less phone usage for higher academic success
Fine brothers should not license all “react” content
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| The Fine brothers are famously known for their react content; where kids, teens, and elders react to music, artists, nostalgic artifacts, and pop culture. Due to the popularity of their series the Fines felt confident enough about making an announcement that shook up the Internet community. Their plan was to license “React World,” a deal that would allow viewers to use their logos and formats to create their own versions of reaction videos. They also promised to give guidance and promotion to the creator. In reality, with this deal, the person who makes the video would actually be giving the Fines promotion and money, not the other way around … [Read more...] about Fine brothers should not license all “react” content
Time to shrink the gender wage gap
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| The fact the gender wage gap is still an ongoing issue is a sad reality of 2016. On average, women not only earn less than men but they also must work longer for the same amount of pay. Women are still earning 79 cents to the dollar in comparison to men, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. More specifically, women of color earn even less; they earn 55-to-64 cents to the dollar white men get paid. “Women are not getting the fair shot that we believe every single American deserves,” stated President Barack Obama on the seventh anniversary of signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Fair Pay Act ensures that … [Read more...] about Time to shrink the gender wage gap