Carolina Alumni Review - November/December 2009

GAA Staff

Administration

DOUG DIBBERT ’ 70, president doug_dibbert@unc.edu; 962–7050

STEVE SHAW ’ 82, director of finance & administration steve_shaw@unc.edu; 962–3599

LISA BEERS, controller lisa_beers@unc.edu; 962–3575

LINWOOD BLALOCK, mail room, 962–3979 MARYCATHERINE KURZENSKI, alumni center coordinator marycatherine_kurzenski@unc.edu; 962–7052

SUSAN LANE, accounting assistant susan@gaa.unc.edu; 843–8974

TOM MAY, printshop coordinator tom_may@unc.edu; 962–3741

ELIZABE TH MORGAN, telephone receptionist, 962–1208 JENNY ROUTH ’ 82, assistant to the president jenny_routh@unc.edu; 962–7051

Membership and Marketing

S TEPHANIE MILLER ’ 83, dir. of membership & marketing stephanie_miller@unc.edu; 962–7058

DIANA KOONCE ’02, coord. of membership administration diana_koonce@unc.edu; 843–0151

SARAH LAMM ’ 99, manager of marketing sarah_lamm@unc.edu; 962–1276

JORDAN MYERS ’08, coord. of membership services jordan_myers@unc.edu; 962–3577

Programs

RICK DAVIS ’ 85, director of enrichment programs rick_davis@unc.edu; 962–3581

ANN-LOUISE AGUIAR’ 76, manager of alumni education & travel ann-louise_aguiar@unc.edu; 962–3574

KAT BUTLER ’07, coordinator of student programs kat_butler@unc.edu; 962–7053

LINDA CONKLIN, manager of alumni career services linda_conklin@unc.edu; 962–3749

C. HAWKINS ’00, coordinator of student membership c_hawkins@unc.edu; 962–7054

S TEFFI KINTON ’05, coordinator of alumni education & travel steffi_kinton@unc.edu; 962–0313

TANEA PETTIS ’ 95, coordinator of affinity reunions & alumni admissions programs tanea_pettis@unc.edu; 843–9694

CASEY PRIVETTE ’01, coordinator of alumni clubs casey_privette@unc.edu; 962–6705

LINDA RAINEY ’ 95 (MA), manager of alumni activities linda_rainey@unc.edu; 962–3576

LAURA SHEPPARD ’08, programs assistant laura_sheppard@unc.edu; 843–5115

Publications

REGINA OLIVER ’ 75, editor regina_oliver@unc.edu; 962–7056

KATE NEWTON ANTHONY, art director kate_anthony@unc.edu; 962–3572

SARAH MCCARTY ARNESON ’ 96, associate art director sarah_mccarty@unc.edu; 962–4794

DAVID BROWN ’ 75, senior associate editor david_brown@unc.edu; 962–7057

DAVE DRAKE ’ 92, online coordinator dave_drake@unc.edu; 843–9712

ANDREA IDE ’08, advertising account representative andrea_ide@unc.edu; 962–8820

KEITH KING ’ 82, associate editor keith_king@unc.edu; 962–3903

Records and Information Systems

ROGER NELSEN, director of alumni records & info. systems roger_nelsen@unc.edu; 962–7055

MARILYN CARLSON ’06, records assistant marilyn_carlson@unc.edu; 962–3586

TRACY CHRISMON, records assistant tracy_chrismon@unc.edu; 962–3737

STARLA GLENN, records assistant starla_glenn@unc.edu; 962–3584

JULIE GONYA, network administrator julie_gonya@unc.edu; 962–5788

JEREMY MCCAMIC ’03, records assistant jeremy_mccamic@unc.edu; 962–4412

MARTHA MILLS ’ 80, records assistant martha_mills@unc.edu; 962–3585

RACHEL ORR, records assistant rachel_orr@unc.edu; 962–3739

JOAN PENDERGRAPH, assistant director of alumni records joan_pendergraph@unc.edu; 962–3580

KEMESHA D. STANLEY ’08, records assistant kemesha_stanley@unc.edu; 962–3738

Careers

Everyone likes to win — in a board game or in the board room. We live in a society that values winning in sports, business and life.

But obstacles and setbacks also are an integral part of life, especially in today’s volatile economy. The stock market takes a dive, and your 401(k) account seems more like a “201.” Instead of a much-sought-after promotion, you get a pink slip. Your adjustable-rate mortgage adjusts, and you can no longer afford your dream house.

No matter how carefully you strategize and plan, there are situations when you do not get what you want. But you do get to choose how you deal with it. Whether it is a setback involving your career, finances or health, you can choose to learn from your experience or be defeated by it. You can choose to be a winner.

We all have a vision of how things are supposed to be. We have dreams and plans, but then life intervenes, and we are forced to rewrite a chapter or two. Winners can reframe a less-than-ideal situation and put a positive spin on it. They see the glass as half full, not half empty.

Perhaps you landed an interview for the perfect job, but you finished in second place. You can rail against fate, or you can analyze what happened. What do you need to be great? Do you need more information about the company, position or the interviewer? Do you need to identify and practice interview questions? Do you need more experience and training to be competitive? The answers to these questions can provide valuable insights for future success.

Perhaps you had always thought that you would have a big house and garden in the suburbs, and now you can afford only a garden apartment in the city. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, focus on what you do have — a roof over your head, no commute, easy access to parks and museums, less yard work and more free time.

Several years ago, I was presented with
an unexpected
and unwanted
assignment in
China. I was com-
pleting my mas-
ter’s degree and
looking forward to starting a new career.
Moving to China was definitely not in my
plans. At first I was overwhelmed by the
prospect of leaving my daughters, my eld-
erly parents and close friends. I was con-
cerned about the fact that I did not speak
the language. I was terrified by the thought
of living halfway around the world without
my support system.
Gradually, and grudg-
ingly, I allowed myself to
see opportunity instead
of danger. I opened
myself up to the possi-
bility that this might be
a positive experience. It
turned out to be a great
adventure. I climbed the
Great Wall, visited the
Forbidden City, explored
the Ming tombs and
marveled at the Xi’an
warriors. I forged new
friendships with expatriates from around
the world, survived a few medical mishaps
and had some misadventures. I learned to
appreciate the ingenuity, courage and per-
sistence of the Chinese people. I also dis-
covered that I had learned a lot more about
me. As I boarded the plane for my return
to the U.S., I knew that I was a winner.
Winning is definitely a state of mind.
Winners see themselves as part of the solu-
tion. They might get frustrated, but they do
not give up. Winners take responsibility for
their success and happiness rather than
complaining or blaming others for less-
than-ideal outcomes. Fine-tuning your atti-
tude is the key to succeeding in an uncer-
tain world. Winners believe that they can
have a life by design, not by default. ;
your career,
your life

LINDA

CONKLIN

Choose to Be a Winner

We all have a vision of how things are supposed to be.

We have dreams and plans,
but then life intervenes,
and we are forced
to rewrite a chapter or two.
Winners can reframe a
less-than-ideal situation and
put a positive spin on it.

Linda Conklin, GAA manager of Alumni Career Services, provides career coaching and monthly teleclasses. The Dec. 14 teleclass will be “ Cover Letters With Clout.” Find her advice and other career-related information at alumni.unc.edu/career. Contact her at linda_conklin@unc.edu or (919) 962–3749.