September....

Wow... its been over a month since i last posted.

Not really much of anything has changed, but i still am applying and making up resume tapes. I am still looking for that "right" job, i've been offered a couple of DJ jobs in christian radio, but they were both in the middle of nowhere...like in the plains states, and i really can't afford to move out there with the pay they offer. I do miss school a lot, which makes me want to go back in the winter...start on my masters in Comm or something liket hat.

Who knows.

Just a couple of thoughts!

I also tuned into The Covenant last week on Titan Radio, and i gotta say i am impressed with the quality of the show this early in the year! You girls are doing a great job, and i really am proud of you guys! Keep up the good work!

Peace out,

-bc

HOT HOT HOT!!!!!

Wow...yesterday was 102, and today is going to be hotter! I cannot remember a time when i've been in summer weather that has been this hot and humid....but anyway, its August in Western PA....what else do you expect from the weather?

-To give a brief update on whats going on in my life and career. I have been working at the George Junior Republic for a month now, and i am actually a Clinical Manager, not relief staff. A CM is a form of counselor that works with the kids throughout their daily routines. It is a really awesome job-being able to have a positive impact in the lives of kids, and i love it. I went into the job just really not wanting to like it to prove all of my prior notions right, but i fell inlove with it. The pay isn't great, but there is ample overtime-i would say that if i stay there, i will easily make about $32,000 this year. I am not stopping to look for other jobs, as you will find out in the next paragraph.

-I am realizing how wise my father is. He told me earlier this summer when i was frustrated and jobless that once i found the first job, other ones would start calliong for interivews, offers, etc. I couldn't believe that, but its very true. I've received about 8 offers for interviews since working at the GJR, however many of them are in fields that i am not sure i want to work in.

-I was offered a job yesterday with the Boy Scouts-this time the position is in the Eastern Shore of Virginia...if you are unfamiliar with there that is, here is the actual map.

I would be living somewhere in that long peninsula, the only problem being that many of the places are so rural that there is virtually no infrastructure to be found...which i am not too happy about. i have a couple days to decide, so i am going to be thinking and praying long and hard abotu this one.

In broadcasting, BeachCreek productions is still in its starting legs. This weekend, we have our first real job, and it will be to film the big beach frisbee tournament in Erie. We are a crew of 3 now, and i am really looking forward to this not just for the money, but for good resume material. I still really would like a job in Broadcasting, especially radio, but i guess i will have to bide my time and keep applying until i break through.

Anywho, i will keep you all updated on what happens to me in the next few weeks, and thereafter. Good luck to everyone from the class of 2006, and to the class of 2007---work hard, and enjoy life at WC! The real world isn't that bad, but WC life was a whole lot better :)

Go Titans!

Brian

HOT HOT HOT!!!!!

Wow...yesterday was 102, and today is going to be hotter! I cannot remember a time when i've been in summer weather that has been this hot and humid....but anyway, its August in Western PA....what else do you expect from the weather?

-To give a brief update on whats going on in my life and career. I have been working at the George Junior Republic for a month now, and i am actually a Clinical Manager, not relief staff. A CM is a form of counselor that works with the kids throughout their daily routines. It is a really awesome job-being able to have a positive impact in the lives of kids, and i love it. I went into the job just really not wanting to like it to prove all of my prior notions right, but i fell inlove with it. The pay isn't great, but there is ample overtime-i would say that if i stay there, i will easily make about $32,000 this year. I am not stopping to look for other jobs, as you will find out in the next paragraph.

-I am realizing how wise my father is. He told me earlier this summer when i was frustrated and jobless that once i found the first job, other ones would start calliong for interivews, offers, etc. I couldn't believe that, but its very true. I've received about 8 offers for interviews since working at the GJR, however many of them are in fields that i am not sure i want to work in.

-I was offered a job yesterday with the Boy Scouts-this time the position is in the Eastern Shore of Virginia...if you are unfamiliar with there that is, here is the actual map.

I would be living somewhere in that long peninsula, the only problem being that many of the places are so rural that there is virtually no infrastructure to be found...which i am not too happy about. i have a couple days to decide, so i am going to be thinking and praying long and hard abotu this one.

In broadcasting, BeachCreek productions is still in its starting legs. This weekend, we have our first real job, and it will be to film the big beach frisbee tournament in Erie. We are a crew of 3 now, and i am really looking forward to this not just for the money, but for good resume material. I still really would like a job in Broadcasting, especially radio, but i guess i will have to bide my time and keep applying until i break through.

Anywho, i will keep you all updated on what happens to me in the next few weeks, and thereafter. Good luck to everyone from the class of 2006, and to the class of 2007---work hard, and enjoy life at WC! The real world isn't that bad, but WC life was a whole lot better :)

Go Titans!

Brian

Life Throws Curveballs with 6 feet of break....

Hey everyone,

Its been awhile since i last blogged. Its now been a month and a week since graduating from Westminster. A LOT has changed. Dina (my gf of about 3 years) broke up with me, i decided NOT to move to NY to take a job with the boyscouts....and i still am jobless. I never woulda thought that i would be in this position right now, but hey...life DOES throw some major curveballs...better than even Oliver Perez can throw (or used to ;).

I have been applying like mad to many broadcasting jobs for everything between on air announcer positions to commercial copywriting. I really have not heard anything positive back yet, but i am crossing my fingers for a couple of positions.

1. The first job i applied to was to KeyMarket Communications in Pittsburgh to be a entry-level commercial copywriter with the Froggy stations. I applied because i really feel that i can be successful in that type of situation, and that i am creative enough to consistently put out effective commercials for the clients. I have this confidence based on the fact that at Westminster, i was a part of several commercial writing campaigns and have written commercials for clients such as CCCS, The Lawrence County Humane Society, and the LLP program at WC just to name a few. I hope to hear from them soon!

2. The second job that i just applied for is in Warren, PA. It would be for a news director position with their 3 stations. I have worked in radio news for awhile...and would really like to serve a rural area like Warren, PA. Its in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest...and i absolutely love the area and the people. So i will keep hoping for either position.

I start on Monday at the George Junior Republic as a Relief Staff member for cottage parents. Pretty much it means that i will work 2.5 days a week (Sat-Mon) (36 hours) and make enough that i hopefully can put back and save for an APT whenever i land that elusive first job. I am excited just to start working again...since i haven't had a job since graduation.

I will continue to keep everyone up to date on my whereabouts...if you will all keep reading. i appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers for me as i try to take my first steps into the broadcasting world. I hope to make a profound impact in it someday.

-Brian

Reflections on Graduation

Hello gentle readers...lol,

I am writing this just getting back from a 3 day hiking trip with one of my best friends in the Moshannon State forest in North Central PA. Although i am a little sore from the trip, it did give me valuable time to reflect on what my time at Westminster College was like, how graduation felt, and a chance to really think about the "Million Dollar Question": What are you going to do with the rest of your life?

Well first things first. Westminster College has been a home away from home for me for the past 4 years...and to read further on my feelings about mother fair...refer to my last post. The long and short of my feelings for Westminster is this: I love WC, its given me the opportunity to get a good job, and i will always keep her dear in my heart---as well as the people and experiences.

Now on to graduation. The main feeling behind the day, was "Is this really happening?" All throughout the ceremony i kept on thinking wow--this isn't happening. It honestly felt like i was a third party viewer-watching the commencement take place. I did not feel like i was there. It still does not. But i thought the service was beautiful, and it was a nice cap to the 4 years spent at WC to have it outside-that was a gift from God. I wish many other classes in the future to have the same beautiful weather!

To answer the million dollar question: I do not know. My plans are to get a job in whatever field i can---communications related--that allows me to have a decent pay and insurance. To me, those are the most important things on my dockett right now. I will keep alive in broadcasting, by picking up a weekend shift or board-opping position somewhere(my plan) but that will not be my main focus. Eventually, Christopher Zinkham, Andrew Caldwell, and myself will officially start BeachCreek Productions, in which we hope to make a profit by doing advertising--if anything, it will be a fun little hobby for the three of us. We have thrown around the idea of making short films---IF we can afford it. An ultimate dream for us would be to either produce commercials for a large humber of clients, or just a few large clients. Then make a feature length film. But these things right now are dreams...we will start small and on the side. Heck, we're only 22 years old...we have time :)

I will keep updating this blog for all who read it, and occasionaly add videos of our c ommercials or anything like that. Thanks for your continued reading...hope you enjoy it.

God Bless,

Brian Campbell
-Class of '06

The end is near...

Well friends,

Its definately come down to that time. Senior week has officially started and the place i've called home to for the majority of the last 4 years is about to be gone. It is kinda sad to think about all of the fun times and great experiences that I've had here, as well as the rest of the senior class, but in reality, we are only supposed to be here for a short while. Being here too long would cause us to only prolong what we are all supposed to do-grow up. I love the entire Westminster Community--from the faculty to the janitors to the students. It has been a major part of my life for almost a half a decade--and it is a place i will always call home. We will graduate and leave this sacred place on Saturday evening, but we will always be here in spirit. I believe for whatever reason; destiny, luck, fate, whatever you want to say, each and everyone of us from the Westminster College Class of 2006 was meant to come to Westminster. There is something special about this small campus in the middle of rural western Pennsylvania, and it is what drew us all here. Westminster is not a college to many of us, its a home. Its about time to leave that home, but don't forget your roots and where you grew up and learned to be yourself. I know i will come back to mother fair when i have the chance, shes been too good to me not to.

Congratulations class of 2006 and good luck to all underclassmen!

Titan4Life,

Brian R. Campbell

Capstone Presentation Reflection

Hey all.

I was thinking alot about how i did on my capstone presentation recently, so i decided to blog on it. The presentation was supposed to showcase our work in the capstone class and our future plans. I showcased the work that i did on the Covenant, the Contemporary Christian Radio shot on Titan Radio. I tried to emphasize how much work it actually takes to do a specialty show where you have to select all of the music yourself, get interviews, make promos. The work however, was very rewarding because it is something that i love.

My presentation was in the last half of students to go, and i was getting a little nervous having watched everyone elses. Everyone did an exceptional job and i am really proud of all of my classmates. We all worked really hard on these presentations, and it was very evident by their quality.

I think i did fairly well myself. When looking at my presentation, i could have had more sound bytes, but i only had so many that were good quality that i wanted to use. I think that i was focused enough not go drone on and on about different things, which was a goal of mine, and i was just about the right length to keep peoples' attention. I hope people enjoyed it, because i worked hard on it.

Brian

Day 7

Hey friends,

its been awhile since the last part of the Pearlington adventure, so i hope i've been keeping you on the edge of your seats. The last day that we worked in Pearlington, we were only planning on working a half of a day. It was really interesting to see how much everyone had grown in their skills and as a cohesive unit by the end of the week. Really when we just started gelling together and getting a lot of work done, it almost felt wrong that we had to leave. Anyway, we were blessed with the Brownlees, who offered to serve us authentic gumbo for lunch on our last day. I had never had gumbo before, and i tell you what, it is one of the best things that you could ever eat.

After lunch at the Brownlee's house, we had an exciting evening planned. We were going to shower up at camp and then head into New Orleans for the rest of the day and night to see how the damage affected the big city.

So the first thing that i noticed about New Orleans is that the major commercial areas of the city looked like nothing at all had happened to them. The relief agencies such as FEMA did a good job quickly revitalizing the city-scape...well at least what most of the media would cover to show to America. If you didn't know there was a disaster there and just walked through the city and the french quarter, you would have no indications that it was ever underwater. The residential areas are not the same however.

We went to a man's house (left) in the city that Jim had connections with somehow. He lived in the highest tax bracketted neighborhood (meaning they were the most affluent), and they had not received any help at all yet. There were only two families from his entire neighborhood that were actually staying, including him. It was a really sad story to hear about the tragedy and travesty that is going on down there. the media only shows the commercial areas, so everyone in America, including myself, stopped thinking that there were any problems down there when the media stopped covering what was going on in New Orleans. But there is a large need for help down there.

We decided to eat dinner in the French Quarter at this place called "The Gumbo Shop", which was given the best restaurant award for New Orleans nearly every year. So for the 2nd time in one day, i had gumbo. This stuff was even better than the gumbo at Brownlees. I remember thinking to myself that one of the things i will miss the most about being down in the deep south is the food. I love creole and cajun food, and it just seems that the food down there has much more flavor than up north.

After dinner we walked up and down Bourbon street and got pictures, the normal tourist things, and then drove back to Pearlington for our last debriefing meeting. We spent a long time, probably about 2 hours discussing all that happened that week, realizing that these were our last few hours in Mississippi, and trying to savor what we could. I remember it being VERY emotional, with a number of people, including myself, breaking down into tears. The trip really meant so much to me in more ways than i ever thought possible. I am really glad i went.

The next morning we woke up at 6:00AM and started the drive back. We didn't stay anywhere halfway, and ended up driving for 19 hours to get back to Westminster. It was a marathon day, but the trip was well worth it. Thanks for reading my series, if you ever want to hear more or see all the pictures, my e-mail is brc1984@gmail.com

The Group After the Last Day of Work

Thanks for reading all of the posts from my trip diary!

Brian

Day 6-Another HOOOOT DAY!!!

Hey friends,

Day 6 was one my favorite day on the trip so far. We went back to the Community center and finished it early in the morning. We were then sent to start mucking this house about a mile from our camp. It was owned by the Brownlee family, who had not touched it, but lived right out in the front yard in a FEMA trailer.

This house was the worst condition that i recall to date. The frame of the house and the wood was still alright, but all of the possessions inside were destroyed. The 2-car garage was completely leveled (photo at top left) There was also about 2 inches of cracked mud everywhere on the floor, as well as all over the furniture. The house was a really beautiful house before Katrina, with intricate wooden walls (top right)---which we were told to save as much as possible.

The first 25 minutes of mucking were probably some of the most productive that we had as a crew all week. We had 9 able bodied and fresh people from the light work in the morning, and we just took to the house. It was our goal to get the house mucked and start taking off the wood by the end of the day. This was a lofty goal, but we felt with the team we had, we could accomplish it. Within 25 minutes, the large living room was clear of mud and rotting furniture and debris, as was 2 of the bed rooms and the TV lounge/den area. Then came the kitchen. This is a story.

The kitchen had not been touched AT ALL! I say this in the fact that NOTHING had been touched. The refridgerator had been knocked over during the storm and laid belly-up on the floor. The doors were wide open and there was still food in it from 6 months ago. Quite a lovely smell-if you get my drift. After we taped the doors shut, it was our job to tilt it up and take it out of the house for disposal. Well, needless to say, i was on the bottom end when we were tilting it up to put it on a dolly, when a river of rotting gray matter came flooding out of the bottom of the fridge-all over my pants and boots. To try to describe the awful smell might make people not want to read this blog anymore, but lets just say that there were hints of rotten bananas, ham, and a host of other bad smelling things all exploded into our nostrils. I am one to have a strong stomach, but i almost puked it was so bad. I was gagging and had to leave.

That was the big excitement for the day, and we did reach our goal--we had begun to take the wood off. One of our workers had found a family photo in the rubble that was unharmed, so we decided to keep it for the owners. When they arrived, they were so grateful-all of the other phots had been ruined they said. They invited us for some famous homemade gumbo the next day!

brian