Friday, April 27, 2007

The Friday After

After finishing two term papers, I declared that I would buy a steak from a high-end restaurant in downtown DC, a swanky place where the politicos hammer out deals; however, after seeing that it cost $20, I opted for the veal that cost $14. Omg! Even in victory, I was cheap! No, I digressed. I was financial astute!

During the lunch, I decided to forego preparing for the macro final exam because I needed down time to breathe after typing and revising 38 pages. Yikes!

The Best Line of Today is from Russell Simmons’ new book Do You: Please don’t tell me you quit your job, or you can’t get ahead at your job, because of a glass ceiling,” he writes, adding after an unprintable exclamation: “If you think there’s a glass ceiling holding you back, then you’re a slave.” Then he urges: “Shatter that glass, brush off the shards and get on with your vision.”

This is why I know that I will become the first black female Fortune 500 CEO because I refuse to allow anything to hold me back! I am a fighter and continue to put God first, I will be successful!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

The Early Bird Chronicles: Entry 2

Having two papers due on the same day next week Thursday and the data management project deadlines breathing down my neck, I arrived early to work to type the SIS summaries. I managed to not only complete this task but also find three additional journal articles (one discussed norms!) and travel to AU to withdraw a book. Though I cannot buy some of the older books given time constraints (the shipping date is April 20 and the paper's due date is April 26), I am confident that I will still receive an A because I have revised my thesis statement. Now I can work on this week's summary and use my off day to revise and strengthen my SIS paper.

Also I resubmitted my economics proposal. My paper will focus on Brazil's Central Bank inflation targeting practices. I know that I can complete reading all of the papers using my off day because every week I had to read 200+ pages. So what's 20 per journal article? Later this afternoon I will start reading econ articles and summarized material to ensure that I get a head start.

Virginia Tech Massacre

The Virginia Tech killings got to me emotionally. I resided in Arlington and attended American so I took it personally though I did not anayone. I could not have comprehended it. Still don’t. What would make someone snap. Even worse than the gunman were the politicians jockeying for position on the gun control debate. At that hour did we really need that?

What is needed are prayers for the wounded and condolescences for the dead.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Aspire: Become the First Black Female Fortune 500 CEO of a Wholly-Owned Company

The Fortune 500 is out today and I will need to generate $4.4 billion to be number 491. Also 50 is the average age of a woman CEO so by age 50 I will have become the first black female Fortune 500 CEO. I am so excited because I have positioned myself to realize this ambitious goal. I possess the education, finances, insight, and tenacity to make it happen! I will neither be deterred nor denied of my rightful place in this world! Already by year's end, I will have written my own business plan, started my virtual assistant business, traveled to Brazil, strengthen my professional network, and cleaned up my finances to shore up the money to stay afloat for a 18 month period.
I know that I can accomplish this long-term objective!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Opportunity Journal Entry #4: You Never Know if You Don't Ask

Giving thanks: Prior to the CAAB seminar, I have mailed three thank you letters to Craig Jones, Lavern Chatnam and Marion Barnwell for accepting me into the fold! Regardless of what’s going on today, stopping to give thanks for the many blessings that I have received. So I am too blessed to be stressed!

Blog: Yesterday I was accepted into Johns Hopkins University's Applied Economics program as a provisional student. The school requires three courses then I could change my status to degree-seeking. Since I currently attend American, this status is okay especially since I intend on remaining here.

While peeking on the secretary’s desk (to see if she was there to gather a training justification), I saw one in her inbox which said JHU. Immediately I asked Rob about if funds were available (I told him that I did take a course. Honestly is the best policy.) He said to apply for the summer to see what happens and if money was available this fall then I could resubmit for that semester. This liberates my finances because now I can use my HSBC money towards my trip and relocation (though I am still entertaining taking statistics but that is another matter.) Furthermore, I called the training officer to locate the form on the intranet and during our conversation mentioned that no comparison was needed if my course was below a certain dollar amount (which it was!). Finally, after some kind of weird email exchange with a JHU financial aid secretary, I contacted my AU financial aid counselor who provided the consortium financial aid agreement releasing my funds to JHU.

All of these developments would have never materialized if I had not asked the director about summer aid. Now I have more options available to me simply because I overcame my indifference to taking more than one class and asked.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

First 100 Days of 2007

The First 100 Days of 2007: Overcoming Fear

Today marks the 100th day of 2007 and I have accomplished a lot by overcoming my fears of rejection. I have paid off two creditors, applied to two graduate schools to reduce costs, and maximized my money by opening an online savings account.

By the Thursday, July 19th, 200th day of 2007, I will have accomplished the following:

Better credit
Ace my spring and summer graduate courses
Finalize my vacation
Improved my health
Have my new DC apartment

Monday, April 09, 2007

Not Sweating the Small Stuff

One of the creditors I paid off informed me that because my finance charge payment was received last week, I could not receive the payoff confirmation letter until May. This infuriated me because in February the representative told me that I did not owe any finance charges. I hoped that I did not deter my credit report.

My anger subsided somewhat while mailing my monthly payment, receive an updated credit report, and RSVP for a finance seminar. I will ask about DC Saves because I will align my savings goals with this organization.

While walking to the bank to open another account, a woman was asking for directions to the testing center. I told her the right way because I took the GRE test there. Immediately I remembered that God placed me in this woman's life to help her get to the next level because I wanted to leave earlier but had something else to do!

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April is financial literacy month and I will dedicate myself towards improving my finances. Today my counselor informed me that it received the extra money from the previous creditor and asked what I wanted to do with the money. Immediately, I instructed her to apply it to my current balance. This amount coupled with my monthly payment would accelerate my payoff.

More good news: I received an email from a college loan officer notifying that my credit dispute had been resolved and that only positive information would be on my report! This would assuredly boost my credit score.

The best news of today: My internet bank told me that I would earn 6% APY on all new money deposited into my savings account until April 30th. All the more reason to stash money there! By May 15th, I will have accumulated enough to pay for my summer class, relocation and vacation!

Opportunity Journal Entry #3: Appreciation

Today, Wednesday, April 4, 2007, marks the 39th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. All night I thought about King’s impact upon my life because though I was not alive during the Civil Rights Movement, I am benefiting from it. Without it I would not have been an economist or my education. While walking to JHU, I realized how Dr. King’s legacy enabled me to even consider applying to a white college. Prior to 1965, my only option would had been Howard University; but, now I have endless alternatives which I will take advantage of all of them!