Green Dreams

On the surface of my mind
I dream about freedom
The kind that’s green like
A vast sea
Where my thought run free
In soothing escapades
Peace is the source of its flow
It’s the place where my soul rests
Beside the deep green stillness
And discover the secret jewels
of hope and love

©2003 Samantha Gregory

The Hole

For many people
The smile, the helping hand
Is just a front for the true
Condition of the heart.
Inside, a gaping hole resides
Where the heart should be
Not heartless, but hurting
And longing for a sense
Of belonging. But the length
Of life failed to produce
A whole heart. The reasons
Why vary. Neglect, abuse,
Rejection, shame. The results
Are the same; A hole where the
Heart should reside. How does
One learn to appear normal?
Mimicking “normal” people
Is the trick, but the true meaning
Of love is never learned, so instead
Of a heart that exists and gives from
The overflow, an empty space is
In it’s place running games to somehow
Fill the empty space
That exists because love never was
Experienced thus never learned.
The hole remains, the outside smiles
Linger.

©2003 Samantha Gregory

Daybreak

The night is ending
Shadows and darkness dissipate.

Life often mimics the night;
Shadows of doubt, fear,

Sadness cover the soul
No hope in sight

‘Til a trickle of silvery mist
Signify the dawn

Things covered in darkness
Become shades of Gray.

Circumstances once fixed,
No hope in sight now seems
Golden.

The way’s not Crystal,
but shapes of distinction
Emerge.

The heart grows lighter as
The Son’s rays peak over the line
Of impossibility and suddenly color

Floods the earth; the shadows, turned
Shades of gray, now shows off

It’s brilliant painted detail.
It’s clear, hope lives
Once again at daybreak!

©2003 Samantha Gregory

Emotions

Inner fury, unknown source or is it?
Feelings running wild,
Rampant in my mind.
Confusion? Frustration?
Hands shake uncontrollable
Tremors that rack
my body
with the manifestation of
the inner struggle to
contain unknown emotions.

Validation

Day in, day out
Seeking validation
Am I beautiful enough?
Say the words.
Am I smart enough;
Strong enough; worthy enough
To be noticed by you?
Does my smile, my being
Rouse your interest
Make you want to further
Seek the knowledge
Of me.
Can I ever, will I ever
Be all that you desire?
Words of affirmation
I crave
A touch, a glance of approval
Eternal hungering, thirsting
To see the twinkle
In your eye when
You look my way.
Longing for the excitement
In your voice
An invitation to come
Rest a while
An be filled up
With your satisfaction
Of me.

Unraveled Dreams

Conflicted over the dream
Imbedded deep within
My unraveled soul.

Emotional betrayal most horrid.
Can’t find the cause
The reason why
The dream in
Reality was a lie.

Tormented by
Hope unfulfilled
Promised matrimony.

Take back the dream
All in shreds now
Crumbled, crushed

Put the pieces
Back together
Bit by bit.

The dream is different now
The cord of reality
Is the fringe.

Tattered dreams
Infused with reality
Once more attainable.
Loves fabric.

Love Illusive

This aching soul waiting for

Illusive love

Drowning in despair
Ever wonder when, where
Will love appear
Through the motions of
Searching deep within
My battered being
To find the key
The reason for this

Illusive love

Black as the night
No glimpse of
Love, the future
Seems to hold no
Arms to surround
Me with warmth
So tender, so true
This ever

Illusive love

Value Added

From a babe my worth’s been
Known. Pride of my father
Fear of my mother

Daily advancing, inner power
Grew in days of youth; worth
Didn’t know the source
But somehow it knew me

Groomed to be a wife and mother
In household duties trained
Washing, ironing, sewing, cooking

My valued added daily taught
In preparation for future spouse

Little boys buzz
No time for their games
Snub them; club them
Send them on they way

My value and worth
They’d never match
The pointless begging and pleading
Won’t convince me that they deserve

My time goes on, education I gain
Value added, increased, but
Sense of worth diminish
Unexplainable. Education, experience, ego
Enhanced, now of more value

The boys no longer buzz, but
Worthless men win
My heart and trample it.

Countless bags of my
Meaning stolen ‘til
The day I realize that my

Value added though increased
Is not meant for them
But meant for me.

I take it back.

©2003 Samantha Gregory

Just Another Brother?

Am I a brother stopping by to get a peak
Trying to discover is she for real, a showgirl, or a freak?
Can I get her to notice me, smile at me, set me free from my internal bondage?
This sickness called low self-esteem that makes me fearful of her being
Wanting to touch her, make her mine for just a moment, get the feeling so sublime
That smile that holds such appeal
What is really beneath the surface; is she the real deal?
Talk to her, vibe with her, tell her all my secret fantasies
Flatter her with sweet nothings oozing from my lips hoping to get her to notice me;
She does.
Her rhythm, her song is the sweetest melody.
The words that drip from her lips send me high, sweet ecstasy.
Don’t believe she noticed me, chose to dialog with me
All my effort’s paid off; this moment is priceless
Not only is she a sight to see, she is full of substance;
Knowledge beyond my wildest fantasy;
But wait, her song, her melody is too deep for me
I can’t understand the harmony of her words;
her dialog is too complex;
Her meaning is too much for my shallow mind;
leaves it perplexed.
I thought I wanted a woman like this-- sweet, sensual, and intelligent too,
But now I see that what I wanted was merely a dream.
I can’t cope with a woman so real, so true
Politely back away, I chase a girl on my level, playing games, speaking dribble.
That woman whose song so sweet, I’ll leave her there and
Every now and then take a peak
At her smooth brown skin and lovely smile
Go away, play, come back in a little while
When, after I have been played, hurt, and misused,
To this real woman with the song that elevates me to sweet ecstasy.
Too late; I find this maestro of a woman whose complex words and harmony baffled my mind is gone
Safe in the arms of a man who could rejoice in the song
She sang. Who loved the intricate words and harmony
That streams so sweetly from her lips.
To the arms of a real man, secure in his being
Willing to take the risk of being loved,
Encompassed about this woman so engaging.
Am I Just Another Brother?
©2003 Samantha Gregory

My Resume

Samantha A. Gregory
samantha_gregory71@yahoo.com


Education
Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL May 2004
Bachelor of Arts in English
Minor in Communications
GPA – 3.37/4.0; Honor Roll: 6 semesters; Scholastic Award: 4 semesters

Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN May 1991
Associate of Science in Architectural Studies
Minor Business Management

Relevant Course Work
Journalism & Media Writing
Writing for Public Relations
Editing
Technical Writing
Creative Writing
Photography
Principles of Management
Human Resource Mgmt
Marketing

Work Experience
Program Management Assistance
Facilitated management-level Daily Status and Monthly Program Status meetings for the NASA-UNITeS contract Program Manager
Provided technical guidance for writing and presenting contract deliverables
Working knowledge of government document standards
Audited for quality assurance using ISO standards
Managed and maintained documents in document management program

Writing/Editing
Provided technical writing/editing of technical publications documents, presentations, and minutes for NASA contractor program-level meetings
Proofread, redlined, and edited multiple page technical documents
Checked for grammatical consistency, spelling accuracy, formatting style, and clarity of documents for customer use
Wrote articles for company-wide newsletter profiling award recipients
Researched and gathered relevant information for news articles
Generated reports that included tables, text and graphics

Leadership Activities
Finance Director/Better Living SDA Church
Responsible for budget analysis for multiple departments using Microsoft Money software
Accounts payable/receivable
Daily cash management and disbursement
Generation of monthly reports, balanced general ledger, development of spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel and Quattro Pro
Managed team of three finance assistants
Assigned tasks, conducted progress meetings, and trained assistants on new software

Youth Director/Better Living SDA Church
Planned and implemented programs designed to motivate and encourage youth
Conducted planning sessions, delegated tasks, and monitored progress
Provided spiritual, social, and mental enrichment through church socials, field trips, and summer camps

Job-Related Skills
Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Lotus 1-2-3, Adobe Acrobat, Windows NT, Window 2000
Hardware: Standard facsimile machine, copier, scanner
Style Manuals: MLA, AP, GPO, APA

Work History
Technical Writer/Editor, Oakwood College (NASA-UNITeS Contract) 2004-2005
Technical Writer/Editor, Madison Research Corporation (NASA-CSOC Contract) 2002-2004
Accounting Clerk, Oakwood College, 2000-2001
Documentation/Researcher/Programmer, AFLAC, 1998-2000

Writing Sample #10 Self-Healer

I feel pain. Not physical pain, but emotional pain. I feel guilt and to me that equals pain. I want to get rid of the pain, but the method I would normally choose would be to cut off the source of the pain so that I can begin to heal and feel better. It would be pretty dumb to cut off a finger just because it hurts until the reason behind the pain was discovered. In my mind I don't care what the reason is, I just want the pain to be gone.

I know that I need to see a doctor about the pain so I go to the Great Physician, because He is the only one who can help me see the reason for my pain and tell me how to treat it so it will go away. He has already given me the Physician's Desk Reference and the basic step by step guidelines that I need to avoid the pain, but I am not always so bright. I ignore it, so I am back in His office crying over the pain I feel. He tries to explain to me the root of my problems lie with me. He scolds me because I haven't taken better care of myself, especially since I been through this before.

My condition is chronic it seems, but I don't know how to pin point the true source of the problem. Is it love, lust, fear, excitement? I know that I have to power to change the situation, but I don't always want to. I also know that if I don't change the situation things will get worse and I will die, not just from the pain but from the scars that form on my heart so they suffocate me. I am angry with myself because I allow all of this to occur. I hate what I am doing to myself, yet I feel powerless to change. I am afraid that if I take control of the situation, like I know I should, I will lose out or mess things up and end up alone like I was before. I know that if I put my foot down and be courageous enough to accept the consequences everything will eventually be fine, but I am afraid to take that risk. I know I will feel better and the pain will be gone if I do it. The problem is that I don't know what method to use.

Cutting off the pain is not the answer because it will cause further problems (been there, done that), that is clear. Finding the right treatment will be a challenge, but it is necessary in order to keep myself in tact and be happy and productive again. I don't like this pain. My soul aches and no matter how much I try to rationalize it away, it still lingers. It will not be healed until I do what I must do to save myself and those around me.

Changing myself and how I respond to symptoms is the answer. I have to stop indulging in my own fantasies and walk the path the Great Physician has paved for me. When I am tempted to go back to my old habits I have to stop and think and turn around once more and head in the right direction. The things (people) I fear losing will have to fall in line or move out of the way. I cannot allow my love for anything other than God to change my course. I want only good things to accompany me on my journey toward good health. I cannot accept excuses and rationalizing, even lies one tells to the soul.

People are not the source of pain, only a symptom of something deep within the soul of the person in pain. It is a mental condition that requires truth. Truth on a level so deep that it hurts. Truth so profound that it will change the way I view myself and those around me.

Writing Sample #9 I See the Moon

Mommy I See the Moon

One starlit night my three year-old son A.J. and I were walking to the car. He pointed up to the sky and said, “Moo Mommy, Moo!”. “Moo?” I questioned. “Moo Mommy, Moo!” was his persistent reply. I soon realized that he was pointing at the moon, the only problem was, there was no moon in the sky that night. It didn’t deter him though. He saw a moon somewhere in the star-filled sky.

A.J. is a reluctant talker, so I take every opportunity to point out objects and say the word. On several occasions the moon was out and I’d point to it and say “moon”. He never tried to repeat after me, instead he looked at me and giggled with impish delight. This moonless night however, was different. He saw the moon and in his desire to practice his new word, he showed me the moon too.

Many times in our lives we can only see darkness and clouds. There is no ray of hope or moon beam to light our way, but it helps to remember the light from our past when the moon shone bright and the way was clear. Sometimes it takes a persistent three-year old to remind you that the moon once shined brightly in the night sky and it will again.

Writing Sample #8 The Simple Chore Solution. Lists

I look around my house and see that I have a million things to do. Dishes to wash (from the previous week because I was sick), laundry to fold (also from last week), homework to complete, and I need to study for a test that is coming up next week. Soon my 7-year old, Lexi, begins nagging me about her school project that is six days away. Will it ever end? How can one person do it all? My solution? Lists.

Lists work for me. Instead of allowing myself to be overwhelmed, I make lists for me and Lexi. I decide which tasks are most important and I list them on an index card (small and portable) for each of us. For me I listed: 1) Wash dishes 2) Fold laundry 3) Begin homework. For Lexi I listed: 1) Read book 2) Begin book report 3) Choose picture for project. Choosing three thing keeps the load light and manageable for us both. It is easy to focus on a few tasks than to overload our minds with more than three. Neither of us feels overwhelmed and the wording is simple. I set the start time to 6pm (it was Saturday night) and after a bowl of cereal (for energy), we begin.

The evening is a success as I tackle each item with confidence. The laundry is folded first because it is the easiest to do and takes the least amount of time. Between completing the laundry and beginning the dishes, I put my 3-year old, A.J., in the tub for a bath. When his bath is complete, I proceed to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Meanwhile, Lexi has read her book to me (while I folded laundry) and is working on her book report. I coach her while I wash the dishes and clean the counter tops and stove. The kitchen is done in no time and so is Lexi’s project, with the exception of the summary part of her book report. I begin my homework while Lexi takes her shower and I lecture my toddler on the evils of pooping in his underwear after a bath.

The evening is a success. mission accomplished. So to top off the evening we pop popcorn, make Kool-aid, and settle in my bed to watch a movie. The children are soon fast asleep (I was out cold less than halfway through the movie) so I transfer them to their beds and then I settle back down in my own bed for a pleasant night of my own.

Writing Sample #7 Addictions

I unconsciously reach for another chocolate bar to ease my craving. As I unwrap the covering my mouth waters in anticipation of the first creamy bite. Joy fills my soul as my taste buds come in contact with the first chocolate piece and my body melts with each successive bite.

Why does chocolate have such an affect on me? What am I thinking as I anticipate having a morsel in my mouth? What causes the initial craving? Loneliness. That’s right loneliness. Nothing is so powerful or profound as the feeling of loneliness. It engulfs my mind and body though I may not necessarily be alone. The house may be full of people but I lack that small, essential element with the people I am surrounded with. A connection. Without connection I am like a lamp that’s not plugged in. My light does not shine, no one can see my beauty. The intricate details of my lamp shade are hidden. I am not useful or beneficial to any one. So I turn to my own source of hope, chocolate. For others it may be TV, drugs, alcohol, sex. Anything that will give you or me that sense of belonging.

Where or how does the loneliness begin? How did I become so disconnected? Some believe it starts in childhood, even infancy. Others believe it comes from being isolated later in life, from shyness, etc. Each individual is different. For this chocolate lover, it stems from the fear of rejection. Though considered talented, intelligent, and attractive I still deal with rejection on an internal level.

From a child I faced rejection because I didn’t look like people thought I should. I was quiet and reserved because I felt unacceptable. I was labeled mean when I defended myself from people’s attack on my physical and emotional person. I was never the most popular person, but was more of wall flower. These early experiences left an imprint on my soul and subsequent rejection by men has caused further isolation and feelings of loneliness. Now, instead of welcoming the glances of men I shun them, avert my eye, and allow opportunities to pass. Add the stigma of having two children out of wedlock and being divorced to the equation and you have a good recipe for loneliness and rejection.

So I reach for another piece of chocolate and promise myself I’ll get help for my issues another day. Happy eating!

Writing Sample #6

Single Mother Sanity Savers
By
Samantha Gregory-Applewhite

Being a single mother is no easy task. I know. I was a single mother of two children, ages 9 and 5, less than six months ago, so I can say with some authority that being a single mother is a beast. It can drive you crazy if you let it. The insanity is not just that you have to raise children alone and be mother and father; the craziness gets worse when you add a full-time job, not enough money, societal pressure, not to mention being blamed for all of society’s ill. How does a single mother remain graceful under pressure? How does she keep from wielding a knife at the next person that tell her “it’s not that bad”? What keeps her from pulling her hair out at a minimum, and at a maximum keep from killing herself, her children, or just her spirit? The following five Sanity Savers offers some solutions that I’ve found helped me get through some really rough times. They may be a temporary, just for the moment fix, but then again sometime that’s all a haggard single mother needs.

1. Music lifts the soul.
Listen to uplifting music that inspires, energizes, and praises God. When I am in a particularly deep depression I put on a upbeat gospel or jazz CD and dance like nobody’s watching (nobody is). After a few moments of that I am feeling 80% better. I feel more energetic and positive and the problems seem small.

2. Journaling to get the cobwebs out.
Writing out my thoughts and prayers clears my mind and connects me to God (or whomever you believe in). It draws me closer to him. I feel a deeper connection to him because I am sharing all of my thoughts and feelings with Him. I find that the best time for me to write is in the early morning hours. My thoughts are fresh and I can concentrate better. I put the pen to paper and just write what comes to mind or I follow a specific order of giving thanks, confession and repentance, intercession for others, and petition. Which ever way I choose is fine as long as I am communicating with God.

3. Meditating
It calms my mind. I do it in complete silence or with soft music playing in the background. Meditating puts me in His sphere. I think about His goodness and mercy towards me and His love for me.

4. Talking.
Talking to others or to God through prayer is another way to maintain sanity. Speak to someone gets all the stuff that’s bottled up out and clears your mind and body. Discussing problems and concerns can be done by phone or in person while driving along, standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes, or while cooking or cleaning. Talking to God can happen any time; particularly for me doing it in the shower seems to be the best time.

5. Reading.
Reading the bible or book of affirmations. Some of my favorite passages are in Psalms and in the New Testament. The words are my words, especially in the Psalms. I get hope when I read the scripture. When I am having a particularly hard time and I can’t bring myself to read whole passages of scripture I just read one verse and meditate on it. It gives me what I need at the time and keeps me connected to God. A book of affirmations helps keep me positive about life when my outlook is negative. The power of positive thinking is priceless.

Hopefully you are a much saner single mother now. The tips outlined above are not hard to practice. It takes a few minutes to pop in a CD or jot down a few thoughts in a journal to decompress. Meditating for 15 to 30 minutes or just taking a five minute breather is simple. Phoning a friend or whispering a prayer does wonders to your stress level and finally reading a verse of scripture or one affirmation can bring calm to your sinking spirit. Please take the time to follow these tips. It could mean the difference between a padded room or a comfy chair. You owe it to yourself and your kids.

You are free to copy this article in it's entirety when you include the author's bio. Please send and e-mail if you choose to use it and receive a reciprocal link.

Samantha Gregory-Applewhite is a technical writer by day and a freelance article and busines writer/speaker/personal coach by night. Her business is Applewhite Communications www.applewhitecommunications.com and her writing website is Applewhite Spaces www.samanthagregory.blogspot.com. She lives and plays in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband Odel and her two children Lexi and AJ. Reading, traveling, internet surfing, and spending time with family friends is her passion.

Writing Sample #5

My Dear Disgusted, er Distinguished Editor,

Are the piles of manuscripts forcing you out of your office? Have you resorted to taking work home an increasing number of days per week? Did you, at one time, enjoy your job as an editor but, because of the increasing demand from the guy upstairs, you find yourself loathing to walk through the doors of your office. Well, despair no more. I am here to offer exceptional manuscript review and editing services to you.

Working in the very technical aerospace and network engineering industry as a Technical writer and editor for the last three years, I am confident that reviewing and editing the mass of manuscripts on your desk would be a refreshing change. My love of reading and my secret aspiration to be an acquisitions editor makes me excited to offer my services to you right now. I am always looking for new projects and ways to help haggard victims, er nice individuals, in the book publishing industry out of their hair-pulling predicament.

When you have reached the point of complete agony (actually and hopefully before then) at the thought of having to look at one more manuscript, give me a call. I would be happy to help relieve your pain and increase your productivity, all the while making you look good to the guy upstairs.

Contact me by e-mail (samantha_gregory71@yahoo.com) and let’s arrange to get your life back to normal. I have high-speed internet and a fax machine so it is no problem to coordinate work. I also do both on-screen and paper editing. Don’t delay in calling me. I am here to help. I want to see you succeed. Now take an aspirin with a tall glass of water and pick up that phone (or type that e-mail address). There, don’t you feel better?

Writing Sample #4

Single Mother, College Student

Making the decision to go back to school for a Bachelor’s degree was not hard. I had been saying that I was going to go back for years. The reasons why varies, but the most important thing to me was finishing what I started and in some way feel more valuable. As a single mother of two young children, the odds of going through to the end seemed daunting. My daughter was five and my son was six months old. To top it of I’d just moved to a new city. My sister lived there, but I seemed to be losing more than I gained. I was also dealing with some emotional issues. They would play a serious role in whether I finished school.

So the question is, “How does a single mother of two young children pursue and complete higher education?” The answer is planning, determination, and support. Each of these factors have many elements to them so I will attempt to break them down in simple language and offer you all the support you may be longing for to follow your dream of completing college and making a better life for you and your children.

Planning
That word can be scary if you have never planned much for yourself. Single mothers are always in the “other” mode. They are thinking of their kids well-being, an ex-spouses or ex-boyfriend’s tantrums, a parent’s approval. They plan meals, budgets, and many other things, but they rarely plan for themselves. When I decided that I wanted to go back to college I began planning my strategy for enrolling, financing the education, and scheduling the children and me for the change. I had already been to college and received my Associate degree so I was familiar with the workings of institutions of higher learning.

Apply For Financial Aid
The first thing I did was apply for financial aid, as I wasn’t independently wealthy. I went to an educational assistance center and filled out an online FAFSA (this is the standard financial aid form). You don’t have to find a center like the one I went to just a computer with online connection. Before you fill out a form gather all of your financial information together such as you W-2 and tax return. Your filling status will determine how much, if any money you will have to contribute to your education. Because you are a single mother with dependants, it is unlikely that you will have to contribute anything and in most cases, you will be eligible for a refund, which helps with living expenses. More on that later. You have filed for financial aid so now you wait for your award letter that tells you how much you will receive for your education.

Enroll Yourself
The enrollment process is the next step to entering college. An application is filled out; an application fee is paid; Reference letters are requested and sent to the school; Transcripts are sent to the school. Soon you will receive an acceptance letter based on the entrance criteria of the school you have applied for. Once you have been accepted you must meet with your assigned advisor in your chosen field of study. You will sit down with him or her to discuss your plan of action for completing your degree.

Writing Sample #3 Corporate Social Change

The research methodologies focused primarily on participatory research as it relates to poor or disenfranchised people. There are poor people in educational organizations so this type of research could be used. In the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education, Participatory Research was used to bring about a change in the grossly negligent public schools black children attended compared to the ones white children attended. Other social issues have been brought to the forefront because of Participatory Research; however, education in its traditional form is not the only arena that Participatory Research may be used.

Participatory Research may be applied to education in the corporate world. People in the workforce are not all necessarily poor, in the traditional term, but many are disenfranchised. The average worker normally feels frustrated because they are not valued as much as they should be, the benefits may be inadequate or too expensive, or they feel overworked and underpaid. Both managers and employees need to be educated so that the social or company culture can change. This change is likely to benefit both parties, thereby creating more pleasant work environment.

There are different theories about how to bring about a change in the workforce so that both managers and employees benefit. This topic is more critical now because of realignment, restructuring, and/or downsizing. Big business is trying to trim the fat while remaining productive and maintaining the same or greater profits. In the article by Richard W. Hallstein (1989), titled Team Un-Building, he writes, “team building is the process of setting up a group and helping it achieve success.” Team building was the buzz-word for a while in the corporate world when it was first recognized that a company’s success was only as good as the people who worked for it. The exercise of team building was about motivating employees to feel like they are a part of something worthwhile, something bigger.

Writing Sample #1

Five Fabulous Resume Tips for College Grads
By
Samantha Gregory-Applewhite

Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Green trees. Colorful flowers. It’s springtime! All of these things bring thoughts of joy and serenity to most people, but to you, dear college senior, it is usually a hectic time, full of final exams, decisions to be made, Graduation Day, and looking for a job. Sure, the job search is a major thing on your to-do list, but having fun, studying, and exams usually take the top spots as the months wind down and Graduation Day nears.

In all the preparation for Graduation day, you’ve probably forgotten about the most important tool needed to land that perfect job. The resume. This handy little tool is the key to getting your foot in the door just to speak to someone. And you forgot? Don’t you know that the resume is your calling card and it can make or break your chance of getting an interview to have a chance at a job that is being sought after by hundreds of other graduates.

Never fear my dear college senior, here are five tips to making the best impression with your resume.

1. Maximize your experiences.
Whether you helped out at your dad’s office for the summer or planted trees for the local Arbor Day foundation, those experiences adds up to know-how. Think about all of the skills you used on each task and list them. Use lots of adjectives and please use the active voice.

2. Toot your own horn.
Did you increase sales by 50% (you go girl, er guy!)? Did enrollment jump from 350 to 1,000 because of you (you are incredible!)? Did you increase the efficiency of the sundae-making procedure (so industrious, aren’t ‘cha?)? If you changed the way your company or organization did something, say so. Employers like to see initiative in potential employees, so by all means toot your own horn. Just make sure that it’s the truth. Which brings me to the next point.

3. Be honest.
It is now standard practice for employees to do a background checks on a person’s credentials, credit, and references so be sure that all of the information on your resume is accurate. Even if a background check is not done at the time of hire, one could be done in the future and your job could be terminated if you were dishonest on your resume.

4. Make it pretty.
Okay it doesn’t have to be pretty but it does have to be neat. As a recent graduate you want to keep your resume to one page, one and a half at most (K.I.S.S. Keep It Short Sweetie). The format, how it’s arranged on the paper, should be easy to read. Leave plenty of white space so the eye (of your prospective employer) doesn’t get tired. Use white or ivory, executive-type paper. If you are e-mailing your resume keep it simple. Don’t use bullets, lines, etc. because it will more than likely not be formatted correctly in the recipient’s e-mail reader. Copy and paste the resume into the body of the e-mail because most people are leery of opening anything with attachments because of computer viruses.

5. List your skills.
This may seem obvious, but too many times people only list their hard skills such as computer software or hardware knowledge. It’s good to list soft skills as well such as written and oral communications skills, initiative, organizational skills, and being a team player. These skills are all highly sought after and they could make the difference in whether you are hired or not.

Spring is here. The birds are chirping. Graduation Day has come and gone and now you are faced with the start of your career. Your resume is your calling card, so use it as the first tool in your arsenal of getting a job. Remember the 5 tips list above: 1. Maximize your experiences. 2. Toot your own horn. 3. Be honest. 4. Make it pretty. 5. List your skills. Next time we will talk about negotiating your salary. Ciao.

Samantha Gregory-Applewhite is a Technical Editor/Writer. She has 10 years experience writing resumes and coaching individuals in the resume writing process. To find out more about resumes and writing in general visit http://www.applewhitecommunications.com/.

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Writing Sample #2

Microsoft Word Tip #1

The other day one of my co-workers dragged me to her desk to help her with a Microsoft Word problem. I get about ten such calls a week to help with formatting, merges and to share any kind of secret nugget to make their lives easier. I’m happily oblige because, in truth, I like solving problems and working with software applications.

All software applications have a help menu, but it is just easier to ask someone. I am that someone at my job, you may be that someone at your job. If you aren’t, maybe you want to be. This series of articles will offer some tips on getting the most out of Microsoft Word and, maybe later, once we’ve exhausted all of those, we will move on to Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and even Publisher.

Tip #1 – Document Merge
You have a document that you have been working on and you require input from other people on the same document. You send the file and receive it back with the new input. You think that it would be simple to copy and paste the response, but it will require more work than you have time to expend on it. What do you do?

To incorporate inputs on a shared document follow these steps (assuming you are using the file sent by a co-worker):
Click File
Click Save As
Find and click original document file
Press the Merge with existing file button in the dialog box
Press the Use original file button in the dialog box

Now your original file is updated with the new input and everything is in tact.

Until next time…Happy processing!

Confidence and Words Made Flesh

I am reading the Science of Getting Rich by Wattles. It is a simple and profound book about the power of thoughts and how it can change a life. My thoughts, how I think determines what my life will be like. I believe this is true. Sometimes it's scary because I can just think about something I want sometimes and it materializes. There is no effort, just a desire and it comes into existence. The concept is so childlike. Children decide that they want something and they go with the expectation that they will receive it. Adults, at least most adults, like to fulfill the dreams of a child. God is like that. He wants to give us our hearts desire and at times he will fulfill that desire simply because He want to see us smile.

So I am using my power of thought to jump start my writing career. Proverbs 16:3 says to Depend on the Lord to fulfill my plans, and they will succeed. I am depending on God for the success of my writing career so watch out, I am going to be a very popular writer with my byline, or not in many magazines and newspapers. I am also going to be a published book author with above average sales. This is great! I've just spoken it so now I look for it with great expectations!

Writing Princess