As a student here at City Tech, there are many opportunities here for individuals that seek for great success in their dream career fields. My name is Shyanne Spencer and I am studying Marketing Management for my Associates Degree. Since City Tech does not provide a music major, I will then transfer to The City College of New York to study Music for my Bachelors Degree. These two major choices are the best for my career because I plan to own my own business and become an Entertainer.  Marketing is the best career choice for me, because I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business, whether it’s a clothing line or a record label. The reason why I chose to study music as well is because, I’ve always had the passion for singing and I would want to keep my vocal skills strong and learn more about the history of music and how to read the music notes rather than just listen to a tune and play it. I want to actually know how to read the notes fluently so that when I start doing performances on the piano or guitar, I wouldn’t have any trouble understanding what is placed in front of me.

The Marketing program is set out for students who are interested in having dynamic careers in the 21st century. As stated in the course catalog of City Tech, this program helps students prepare for tomorrow’s business opportunities and receive a good education and sensitivity to cultural diversity, environmental concerns, technological changes and ethical issues to smooth the way for the exchange of goods and services in the global marketplace. The material and ideas given to us from this major is basically to prepare us students for a wide range of business opportunities in marketing’s fast paced and highly competitive world. We learn also how to obtain a career in fields such as marketing management, marketing research, professional selling and advertising. We would also have hands on experience such as actually pretending to sell a product to the class or through field trips. Even special tours that enhance our learning experience. There are many career options in this field once you have earned your degree. Many people went off to owning their own businesses such as a clothing line, record label, retail stores, even online businesses. Now the reason why I said some individuals went off to having online businesses is because according to the article “Usage of It’s Tools in E-Marketing Campaign Design and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises”, authors Piotr  and Mateusz  Muryjas states that “As of today, the Internet is one of the most important determinants of the progress of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In contemporary business, the global network is perceived as the main channel for the marketing and sales of products and services”(Issue 67, p70-83). With that being stated you could see that e-marketing is one of the most efficient ways to reach your clients. With the increasing number of Internet users daily, this confirms that it is worthwhile to conduct marketing campaigns that are focused on the Internet and its users. After receiving my education from City Tech for my associates in this major, I would then transfer over to City College to continue on with my education for my bachelors in Music.

The mission of the Music Department as stated on the college website of The City College of New York is to offer high quality undergraduate major programs concentrating on musicology (history and theory), composition, performance, and popular music studies leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree(B.A.). The program is provided with professional training in classical and jazz performance, music education, and music & audio production technology, leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (B.F.A). Students would learn how to demonstrate basic proficiency on a keyboard instrument and develop the ability to sight-sing tonal music, and take basic melodic and harmonic dictation. Demonstrate and apply the concepts and practical hands-on experience with basic acoustics and electricity, computer technologies, digital audio and MIDI sequencing, synthesis, signal processing including dynamic, time, pitch,and equalization processing, microphone techniques, sampling, internet audio, audio for film, video, animation, mixing, mastering radio sound and sound reinforcement.

Ever since I was in middle school I have always have the thoughts and dream of becoming a business woman. Just the thought of running my own business I use to say, “I can’t wait to be my own boss and put my ideas out there for amazing products everyone would love”. Every time an idea came to my mind I would immediately grab a book or piece of paper to write it or sketch it out. Whether it was a little song I thought up or some kind of outfit that I thought would would be the next big trend or even a nice pair of shoes. I’ve just always came up with good ideas. I figured since I was so good with coming up with such great ideas why not study something that would help me get them out there in the future. Owning a record label would be great because I would get to search for those who have the same passion for become a musician as I do and watch them become successful and happy artists.

Studying Marketing Management at City Tech will prepare me for my future as a marketer because the education that I receive will prepare me for many business opportunities and I would know exactly what is legal to do and illegal to not do. I would know what audience I would want to attract for a specific product so that it will sell better in the market to those who would enjoy it. After talking with Professor Kimberly Ayoung, she says that you would have to have really tough skin in order to handle the criticism in the business because not all of your products you release will be a success. Ayoung has taught us the basics such as having a supply chain which is all the activities associated with the flow and transformation of the product from raw materials through to the end consumer. While searching on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the annual wage of marketing managers make is about $137,400. The outcome after receiving my degree in this major, I would be able to plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.

Studying a music major at City College would be very beneficial for me as it prepares me to better understand the concept of music by learning how to read the notes better, strengthen my vocal cords and learn how to create instrumentals using the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), which is stated on the college website as a course. MIDI is a connectivity standard that musicians use to hook together musical instruments (such as keyboards and synthesizers) and computer equipment. Using MIDI, a musician can easily create and edit digital music tracks. The MIDI system records the notes played, the length of the notes, the dynamics (volume alterations), the tempo, the instrument being played, and hundreds of other parameters, called control changes. The education that I will receive from City College will prepare me for my career because I will gain more knowledge about music and strengthen my vocal skills.

As Professor Ayoung has told me this semester you have to have really tough skin with running your own business because there will be days when your product turns out successful and days when your product just does not make a sale at all. If you’re planning to take up Marketing Management here at New York City College of Technology, make sure that it’s the best choice for you. You shouldn’t just choose this major just to make profit, you have to actually know who you’re targeting for your products you put out, and if it function the way you say it does, and to never burn your bridges. That means if you are doing business with someone and you treat them wrong in any kind of way throughout the time you’re working with them, you might bump into that same person again with doing another business. Also you wouldn’t want horrible reviews on yourself and your company which causes others to refuse to work with you. Honestly, when I first thought of having my own business, I said to myself I don’t have any clue of the principles and essentials I would need to market my own business. That’s why I have decided to study in Marketing Management for my Associates so I can have a clear understanding of how the business industry operates. I recommend that you think clearly about the path of the career in which you wish to pursue in. If you’re dream career is Marketing go for it. But just remember, this career isn’t suitable for everyone. The competition grows by the second so you should ask yourself, “Can I handle the critics of my product if it does not succeed? and “Is this really something I’m passionate about?”.

Works Cited:

New York City College Of Technology(City Tech). “Marketing Management and Sales”. New York City College of Technology College Catalog 2014-2015. Web. 23 March 2015.

The City College of New York(City College). “Music”. The City College of New York College Website 2014-2015. Web. 5 May 2015.

Ayoung, Kimberly. Personal Interview. New York City College of Technology. 4 May 2015.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, “Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers”. Web. 5 May 2015.

Muryjas, Piotr & Mateusz. “Usage of it Tools in E-Marketing Campaign Design and Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises”. Studies & Proceedings Polish Association for Knowledge Management. 2013, Issue 67, p70-83. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 May 2015.

Our first project, “Writing My Brain”, seems very beneficial for me in so many ways. I actually know more of how what I am going to reach my goal, how I’m going to do it and why do I really want to achieve this goal. The purpose of this project is basically to help us plan out our what steps we need to take in order to reach our goal. This project is very useful for me because it makes me really think more about my future and what I need to do or continue on to do now in order to get there.

Thinking In Writing:

While recording my thoughts on February 9th, my thoughts to me seemed all over the place. When I woke up at 5:13 early in the morning I decided to record from there, although I couldn’t barely open my eyes. There we’re so many thoughts running through my head. As I took a look at my television I saw Elmo was on for some reason and I was thinking “damn I haven’t saw him on t.v. in years”. Then I just turned off the t.v. and just lay there and starting thinking about my future and whether or not my plans is going to work to get me where I want to be. Then I thought lastly “oh yeah I am going to see my mom today” I got to rest more and I went back to sleep. As I’m on the train I constantly keep thinking about my future and how life will be when I become an entertainer. But at the same time I just keep having doubts on the side on whether what I’m going after is really worth it or not. I don’t know but I just got to think positive and have no doubts at all. I think thats whats holding me back a little.

Thinking Visually:

1. https://instagram.com/p/zNpjeePrxs/?modal=true

In my thoughts there were a lot of doubts, but now I’m starting to see clearly little by little. The only way to truly get to the road of Success is to keep fighting the obstacles that come in your way.

2) https://instagram.com/p/zNqJi7vryj/?modal=true

Thinking of my Future. Thinking about my Family. Thinking Will I Make It? Only the efforts I put in will show the results of the outcome. But I know I will make it?

3) https://instagram.com/p/zOX9YYPr08/?modal=true

My dream of becoming an entertainer will soon come true. I hope to some day be as successful as Michael Jackson. I can’t wait to reach my goal.

4) https://instagram.com/p/zOYmvbPr2F/?modal=true

I never understood why I woke up 5 in the morning and saw this on tv. I was thinking of how many years I haven’t saw Elmo on tv. But yeah I was confused to see elmo dressed as a cowboy though.

5) https://instagram.com/p/zOZ5DRvr3q/?modal=true

I forgot to add this in my summary of thoughts, but I also always think about Paris. I would love to visit Paris, live in Paris, and get married in Paris. I Love the beauty of Paris and I know that one day my dreams will come true.

6) https://instagram.com/p/zOaznnvr5R/?modal=true

In my thoughts overall I decided to think nothing but positive. Happiness is the key, if you really want to get to where you want to be you need to have a positive mind. I will continue to keep moving forward and I refuse to let little obstacles get in my way.

Thinking Reflectively:

I cannot believe I am in the year 2020 already. I am in my dressing room right now preparing for my performance and man life is going great now. I got the dream house and cars I have always wanted, I have graduated from City Tech with my Associates in Marketing Management and Sales and my Bachelors in Video Production. My mother and younger siblings are all happy and have a stable home. Everything is just great. The argument that I have towards the way I use to think in the past is that I should have thought more about what’s planned out for me, to always keep nothing but positive thoughts in mind. The only way for my past self to actually reach where I am now is to continue with what she is doing now. Continue to go to school, study hard, and not let anyone or anything get in her way and by the year of 2020, all what I have mentioned earlier will become her reality. In the first paragraph, I’m going to discuss how hard life was for me and how there were a lot of doubts constantly filling my mind. I didn’t really have a clear view towards my goal because I have let certain obstacles get in my way. In my second paragraph, I am going to talk about how I had got rid of all the negative thoughts and started to think nothing but positive. In my third paragraph, I will talk about basically me having my full main focus on my goal and work hard to become as successful as any other great entertainer such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and many more. The only way to reach to where I want to be is to never give up.

Lack of confidence was my main issue a few years ago. I have always had a bad habit of questioning myself and as I look back on my day of thoughts when I was on the train I constantly kept thinking about my future and how life would be when I become an entertainer. At the same time while thinking this thought, I just keep having doubts on the side on whether what I am trying to achieve really worth it or not. There were so many obstacles that my past self has faced that kept me thinking this way which started to hold me back from actually going for it. There were a lot of issues but the main issue was my family’s financial stability.  This really made me want to push myself even harder to achieve my goal to have the best for my family. I could not just keep sitting around debating on whether I should keep trying or not, I should just stick with the goal I’m aiming for and keep fighting. The photo of the Lamborghini Aventador in Paris, France driving towards the Eiffel Tower, is where I would love to have my dream vacation. I would also love to have that car as well. After seeing this photo on instagram that was posted by another person, I started to notice that I had less and less doubts then I usually did and I started to gain more confidence that maybe some day I will own that car and take a trip to Paris. It’s best to not doubt or question yourself and to just go for what you really want in life because you never know the outcome until you actually try and succeed.

In order to reach my goal I had to do one important thing and that was to eliminate most of my negative thoughts. It was a hard task to do but it’s best when you dont doubt yourself and see what’s actually planned out for you. Especially if you’re on the right track on achieving your goal. The reason I think that I have mostly thought so negative is because many people believed that the goal that I have in mind to achieve is a waste of time. I never understood why most people thought it was a waste of time I mean my mom did not think it was. She has simply told me to go for it and said if this is something you really enjoy doing this for the rest of my life why not. I then started to careless of what they have said and kept going for it because at the end of the day only I will find out the outcome, no them. In the photograph of me with my little panda bear it shows that I have started to become more happy and think more positive of what I’m doing now. The reason I have taken a photo with this particular bear is because panda bears are black and white like the yin and yang symbol, in which I love. The yin and yang symbol in my own definition means that there is always a little bit of positive energy in the bad and there is always a little bit of negative energy in the good. Not everything in life comes easy at hand, there is always a twist up here and there. I then started to open my eyes more and look at all of the accomplishments I have made so far, I started to believe in myself more. Even if its going to be a long journey, I am not going to give up on it because hard work does pay off.

There are a lot of successful entertainers in the industry so far. As I started to think visually, there are many great entertainers that came to mind but mainly one person appeared the most and that was Michael Jackson. My goal is to be as successful as he was or at least close to it. The way he sang, his dance moves, his hard work in general was just amazing. But its going to take a lot of effort and dedication in order for me to be successful. My full main focus is nothing else but to finish school and to have my goal achieved. I would want nothing less because I have always dreamed of having a career as an entertainer and have better for my family. I just need to stop questioning myself on whether I should go for it or not and just keep moving forward.

In life there are a lot of challenges that each individual face almost everyday. It is not going to be an easy ride for anyone to reach their goals and of course its going to be a long way to get there. Many people just think all it takes is little effort, then boom I am successful. No, it does not work like that. You have to go after what you really want and be dedicated to give your all to be successful and be tough enough to face the things that come in your way. Especially in the entertainment where there is a lot of gossip and competition. The only way to maintain your stance to reach your goal is to keep fighting no matter what and that is what I did. My past self just need to remember to kept fighting through the pain and the struggle and stop doubting her self. All she need is to follow her heart and have true dedication for what she loves to achieve and that basically becoming an entertainer. Overall, I would not be where I am today, in the year of 2020. I feel free and happy and it is all from not giving up on my goal.