Welcome!

Greetings and welcome to my virtual portfolio! My name is Samantha Schroeder and I am a senior at The College of New Jersey majoring in communications with a minor in fine art. I hope my hard work, dedication, and creativity will allow me to pursue a M.A. in elementary teaching after I graduate in May. A traditional resume is not enough to express myself, so I hope you will be able to gain a better understanding of who I am through this blog. Throughout my blog you will find many examples of past presentations and writing samples completed at TCNJ as well as my work experience. I have also included photos from a previous trip to Australia and links I enjoy in order for you to learn more about my interests. Thank you for visiting and I hope you will leave with better insight into my personality!

Letter of Intent

Dear Viewer,

Thank you for taking the time to view my virtual portfolio. This portfolio has been created to give you a better understanding of who I am and a look into my academic work as well as previous employment I have had over the years. I am a well rounded, motivated, and hardworking individual and cannot wait to use these skills outside of the classroom.

I invite you to view my previous presentations and writing samples to gain insight into my academic capabilities. I also encourage you to search my blog in order to learn more about my personality, interests, and plans for the future.

As I approach graduation I plan to continue my education by pursuing a M.A. in elementary teaching. Even though I am a communications major I intend to receive a second degree in education to allow me to have more career opportunities and further my knowledge. In addition to attending graduate school I would also like to continue learning more about the communications field by obtaining an internship in public relations.

Below you will find links to my full resume as well as my cover letter. After viewing my virtual portfolio I hope you will have a better understanding of my background and intentions. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and enjoy!

Warm Regards,

Samantha Schroeder

Biography

My name is Samantha Schroeder and I am a 21-year-old communication studies major and fine art minor at The College of New Jersey. I have maintained a strong GPA that has allowed me to study abroad in Australia and be an active member in Lambda Pi Eta National Honor Society. This past semester I had a marketing internship with Creative Marketing Alliance where I was taught valuable skills that will aid in a future career.

Outside of school, I enjoy working out, reading, listening to country music, and spending time with my family. I enjoy watching all sports especially the Dallas Cowboys and look forward to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Another passion of mine is traveling; after studying abroad in Australia I cannot stay in one place. In 2010 I have plans to travel to Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, and Nashville. While attending school I have held a job at Jasna Polana Golf Club, where I work in the food and beverage department.

Although I have spent my time in communications classes and have had a marketing internship, I am very interested in pursuing a master of arts in teaching. My experience working at a marketing firm and private golf course has given me the resources needed for the patience and creativity looked-for in a teacher. I want the chance to experience satisfaction from seeing a child succeed and seeing them have fun while learning. I believe my communication, organizational and creativity skills will allow me to become a successful teacher.

Resume & Cover Letter

Here is a link to both my cover letter and resume. These documents will allow you to see my past achievements, work experience, and academic coursework. I hope I will be able to use my skills and knowledge to benefit your organization.

Examples of My Work

Below I have listed a few pieces of written work I have completed during the past four years at TCNJ. Please feel free to click on any assignment to view it in its entirety.

Media Advisory & News Release

I wrote these articles in my public relations class. These two documents were a part of a media kit developed for The Men’s Basketball Team at TCNJ. My group, Promoters Inc., also developed a public relations strategic plan following a thorough analysis of current practices.

Trade Article

I wrote this article about Hulu, the online video site, for my Introduction to Media Communication class.

Health Campaign

I wrote this campaign for my Theories of Persuasion class. I researched and designed a prevention campaign for lack of seatbelt use, targeting black parents in inner cities.

Health Care Reform Presentation

This presentation was created in an attempt to persuade the audience to favor an alternative to government run health care. My group chose a conservative perspective to appeal to the audience.

Past Employment

I recently had an internship at Creative Marketing Alliance in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. I assisted CMA within it’s marketing, account management, and public relations departments. I also managed social marketing initiatives, aided in data input, and developed business strategies. This internship allowed me to use my creativity, a desired trait in a teacher, and also taught me business strategies and practices.

I also have a job at Jasna Polana, a PGA sponsored golf club. Having a job while attending school has taught me to multi-task and be responsible. I accommodate members and guests at this private course, most of whom are very successful businessmen and own their own companies. Working here has given me the patience needed to be a teacher in the future; it has also taught me how to speak to business executives in a professional and intelligent manner.

The Other Side of the World and Back

Last winter I sat on a plane for 22 hours straight and traveled to the other side of the world. I went to the land down under also known as Australia. Making the decision to study abroad was the best decision of my life. Living in another country changed my life, allowed me to become more independent, and prepared me for life after college.

I took part in many excursions that left an imprint on my life and participated in activities that tested my limits and pushed my mind. I also learned more about Australia and the Aboriginal culture, which is the oldest living culture in the world, through classes at the University of Wollongong.

Studying abroad forced me to step out of my comfort zone. I started over in a new place without the friends and family I was surrounded with the majority of my life. I was truly on my own and had limited communication back home. I was able to learn more about myself through traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new things on my own. Aside from changing my life and gaining independence, studying abroad also prepared me for the future.

Taking classes overseas and experiencing a new way of life prepared me for life after college. I learned to adapt and do things that I was not used to doing. I was placed in a classroom with completely different standards of education and different teaching methods. This adaptation is similar to life after college when I step foot into my first job. At my first job I will face a change in routine, obey different rules, and do tasks I am not familiar with.

Studying abroad was the best decision of my life and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to experience the beautiful country of Australia. Australia changed my life and I will always consider Australia my second home.

I have also included a link to a newsletter published by the program I traveled through to Australia. I wrote this article about my spring break trip to Fraser Island and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia.

Photos from Down Under

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to view my virtual portfolio! I hope you enjoyed your visit and learned more about my personality, past work experiences, and examples of my academic projects. I am a motivated, enthusiastic, and hardworking individual and cannot wait to use my skills in the “real world” after graduation.

Please email me at schroed5@tcnj.edu with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Samantha Schroeder