Social media's like teen sex..

hah! and for the SEO..    

OH: Social media is like teen sex. Everyone wants to do it. No one actually knows how. When finally done, there is surprise its not better.
— Avinash Kaushik (@avinash) March 2, 2009

It can be better.  

Robin, Tempe

It's Launch Day!

Big day for my students, not only did one web site go live today with stories they have been working on, but two of them went live!

The first website is a compilation of the stories we produced from our trip to South Africa this summer. Our goal was to tell the stories of the refugees battling to stay alive, and find a place to call home.

We were so fortunate to be able to meet some amazing people, who not only invited us into their homes, but into their lives. We were able to capture their voices and bring them to you.

I hope you will visit this amazing site.

And something else I am so proud of. My students are part of the newly launched ABC News on Campus program.


Five universities across the country were chosen to participate, and we were one of the five schools. It's an opportunity for these students to tell the news they are interested in. I am so proud of how hard my five students worked to help launch this website and I hope you will visit to see some of their amazing stories.

I love it that I get to work with these young men and women who are proud to call themselves journalists, and who teach me something new every day!

Susan, Tempe

When my graduating students let it rip

Graduation Day. I love it. I think it's really special to me now because I really didn't get a chance to walk across the stage or anything when I graduated from college years ago. But, now that I am a professor, it's really something special.

I enjoy sitting on that stage, looking at each student, so proud as they walk up to the dean to shake his hand and get that diploma. Hundreds of students. It only takes about 10 seconds for each of them to walk across the stage, 2 1/2 seconds for each year they spent in college. During the ceremony and after the ceremony there were several perfect moments.

The first happened when they introduced the professors. They had us all stand one by one as they said our names. The first few professors got a smattering of applause, and all I was hoping was that I got a little applause as well when they said my name.

Finally they got to me, and the Dean said my name, I stood, and then my graduating students let it rip! They were so loud. I was by far the loudest cheer up to that point! I know, I know, that sounds a bit weird and competitive, but dammit, I liked it, and I was really proud.

We made it through the ceremony without me crying which I considered a major feat since I am somewhat of a whimp! Afterward we were outside for a little meet and greet, my chance to finally meet the parents. I love this time. It's my chance to really let these parents, grandparents and family friends know how special ...

their child is! I love it when their faces start to beam with each word of praise.

But there was one family in particular that touched me. Sarah was one of my production students, and she had worked her butt off this semester.

She was so proud as she introduced me to her family, especially her grandfather. I was telling them how much Sarah had improved over the semester, and telling them I just knew she would soon be working in the field. Her parents just beamed with pride, but then I noticed her grandfather. His eyes were welling up. I put my hand on his shoulder and asked what was wrong. He just said he wished Sarah's grandmother could be there to see this.

That she worked so hard to make sure Sarah got to college. At this point I almost started crying along with him. But I knew that that wasn't want he needed. I just squeezed his shoulder and said, "She's here, she's here watching." He just nodded, tried to smile, and that's when Sarah reached over and said, "Come on, Grandpa, let's
go get some spaghetti." That's when he really smiled and nodded. I don't know what
the spaghetti symbolized, but for him, the spaghetti definitely brought up memories
of happier times.

As I continued to work my way through the crowd, one of my students grabbed my arm
and pulled me aside. I loved this kid. We had had spent many hours talking shop, and
talking about life. We talked about challenges he would face as a reporter, we
talked about fears, and we talked about how to deal with trauma.

Many things he would face as he heads off to a life in the middle east, working as a reporter. Ian is one of those special kids, so intense, so naive and so pure. He talked about how he wanted to show some of the positive stories coming from this part of the world, the real stories that sometimes we don't have time to show. I told him to go for it, to help people understand that they have to find time. But on this night, he didn't want to talk about the job, or stories, or fears. He just wanted to tell me thanks.

He said, "Sue, I just wanted to let you know you are my favorite mentor. I always
knew I could come to you and you would tell me the truth, even if it wasn't what I
wanted to hear. Thank you."

Man it doesn't get much more perfect than that! This was an amazing night!

Sue, Tempe

What's your Perfect Moment?

We want to invite you to participate in the Perfect Moment Project.

We all notice times when everything feels just right. Even if the Perfect Moment isn't a happy one, it is one that brought clarity, one in which we were mindful, focused, clear.

We're here to share them.

The idea for this project started to materialize about a year ago when some friends were sitting around complaining about the state of the world. We were talking about problems at our jobs, problems at home, and problems with the world! We were tired of hearing about the shootings, and drug smugglers.

People were upset about being at war. Others were worried mothers being scared to go to the store, because they thought they might get robbed. Some were angry about downsizing at work, escalating gas prices.

We were just plain frustrated. And a pretty grim group.

It was after much bitching and complaining that Sue started to think about times when the world was right! When we felt good about our lives. When things were perfect, if only for a moment....

Sue completes the story:

"That’s when I decided to ask my friends to break things down. I knew we could all remember a moment in our lives when something was perfect. That’s when I was floored. If you could see the looks on everyone’s faces as they remembered one perfect moment, it was transforming.

"All of a sudden, the stress was gone, the anger was gone, the frustration was gone. They all looked years younger as their memories took them back to their perfect moment. They remembered as if they were reliving those perfect moments.

For me, that moment was in 1987 in Show Low Arizona. It was a perfect day, mid 80’s, perfect blue sky on a softball field in the middle of a stand of pine trees. We were playing in the championship game. This was not any ordinary field, it was a perfect field on a perfect day. Perfect red dirt, green grass, the sound of bats hitting balls, and players yelling out directions. There was no outside world, just this game.

It happened in the sixth inning. I was playing in center field, 270 feet from home plate, looking into the sky and thinking that I had never seen the sky so blue. There were two outs, runners on second and third and we were up by two runs. That’s when I heard it, the sound of the bat slamming into the ball. It was headed directly for me. It was one of those balls that was a bit screwy, it was tailing off to my right. I got a good jump on the ball, and I knew that the only way I could catch it was if I dove, but it had to be perfect, because if it got past me, they would tie up the game, and possibly win.

I took off running, and felt I wasn’t even touching the grass, I was running so fast, I was floating. Then I dove, extending my arm, and my glove. I swear I could see the strings on the ball, it was so clear. That’s when it landed in the webbing of my glove, and I slammed into the ground. I couldn’t believe it, I had done it, I had actually caught the ball. As I lay on the grass in the outfield, I looked up at the sky again, and marveled at how blue it was.

We went on to win the game, and the tournament. I have not played on a field as perfect, or on a day as perfect. But, for that moment, on that particular Sunday, it all came together. A day that still brings a smile to my face, and a warm feeling in my gut."

We know that you also have your Perfect Moments and we would love to hear about them from you and share them with others. This project is about feeling good again ... even if only for a moment.

What's your perfect moment? Send it to Perfect Moment Project We'd love to share your stories.

Susan and Robin, Tempe, Arizona