MAY ASSETS LADY!

 Lauren Mosko is our May Assets Lady! In being the 7^th month of blogging there was no better lady to ring it in! I have known Lauren for just about my whole life and she has always been an inspiration to me. When I was in 5^th grade, Lauren was in high school and we danced together at a studio. That’s how our friendship began! Lauren was always one of the sweetest people; she will do whatever she can for someone and would take anyone under her wing. She offers amazing advice after listening intensely and is very knowledgeable when it comes to communicating and managing.

As Lauren and I spent time together at dance we stayed in touch through the years. It ended up being that when I started at Ramapo she told me about the sorority she belonged to and as it turned out, I am now a member of that sorority too!

Lauren is 29 years old and went to Ramapo College of New Jersey for her undergrad degree and Kean University for her graduate degree. Both degrees are in communication. Her current profession is a Program Coordinator at Princeton University and dance teacher at Destin to Dance.

At Ramapo, Lauren was very involved with campus life. She was part of Student Government all 4 years of college, Inter Greek Senate for 3 years and Class President for 1 year. She was a member of the Order Of Omega Greek Honor Society for 2 years and was initiated into Theta Phi Alpha in December 2003 where she has been an Advisory Board member since 2006.

When I asked Lauren what quote she lives by she told me “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I intended to be” and “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” The 2^nd quote is one I follow as well as it is our sorority motto. The first quote speaks wisdom and a lot about Lauren. She always aims to do her best and pushes others to their full potential giving them support all the way. I can see how this quote exudes through here every being. Lauren has always been very involved in everything she does. It is nice to have someone in my life like her.

So what exactly is Lauren’s story? In Lauren’s own words:

I have always been an incredibly involved individ-                      

ual. Growing up I was involved in dance, cheerlead-

ing, girl scouts and numerous clubs.  In school I

was on honor roll and took AP classes in High

School.  After being accepted into Ramapo College

during early decision I started looking into the

different organizations on campus.  I started with

student government my freshman year and continue

 until my senior year.  During my sophomore year I

decided to pledge a sorority.  I truly feel that joining

a sorority made me who I am today.  Before pledging

I never saw myself as the leader of an organization.

I feel my time in the sorority gave me more

confidence and brought me out of my shell.  During my

time as a collegiate member I served as different

chairs as well as an executive board member.  I also

was very involved in the Inter Greek Senate, serving

as vice president and president my junior and senior

years. 

After college I stayed active with the sorority

through the advisory board, where I am a member

today.  I held several different jobs after college

ranging from administrative assistant at a candy

company to PR and marketing director of a chamber

of commerce.  A few years after graduating I was laid

off from my job due to the recession, I took this

opportunity to further my education.  I received my

certificate in conflict resolution and my Masters in

communication.  Upon graduation I took a position at

Rutgers University in development.  I discovered that

I loved working in the higher education setting but

development was not my strength.  When I was offered

an opportunity to work at Princeton University I quickly

took it.  Now I am working in the field of

communications and doing something I enjoy!  It took

some time to get to the place where I am working in

the field I majored in and somewhere I really like, but

it was well worth the wait.  I never had intended to join

a sorority or go to grad school.  Looking back those were

two of the best decisions I made.  Not only did I become

a strong person because of them, I opened new doors for

myself.  I also made some wonderful friends along the

way!

          As usual, I asked Lauren where she sees herself in a year, 5 years and 10 years because as we all know by now…SETTING GOALS IS HUGE! One must have direction and steer themselves on a path so that when they meet it they feel accomplished.

So then where does Lauren see her life going? Lauren sees herself “staying in higher education and truly enjoy the University and department” she is at now. I am currently in.  She hopes to “continue working in this setting as well as achieving personal goals such as becoming a wife and mother.” 

          Of course, I love to know what the monthly ASSETS lady advice would be to all of us. Lauren suggested “Don’t give up on your goals, it may take time but eventually you will achieve them.  Do the things you are afraid of, I was terrified to go back to school but it really made me more marketable.  Ask questions and for help, utilize family and friends as resources.  Always send thank you notes after an interview.” I literally could not agree more or could have said it better!  

I just want to take a moment to thank Lauren for her awesome insight and thank of all you for supporting the sight and spreading the word to help young women become the best they can be. As I say “Be the best you, you want to be!” Thank you again Lauren! Please feel free to contact Lauren with any questions by the below information.

LinkedIn: Lauren Mosko

Twitter: @STARLMR

APRIL ASSET LADY!

         

          Our April Assets Lady is Francesca Piancone, 24. I’d like to a quick second to thank Francesca for taking the time to answer the survey questions and become an ASSET Lady. Francesca is by far a very successful young woman with an extremely demanding schedule. So for her to find some time to answer this was great! I hope you all enjoy and please as usual, feel free to reach out to Francesca with any questions. Her information is listed below. I’d also like to thank all of you for the support and interest in these posts. You’re all ASSETS Ladies to me!

            Francesca went to college at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL and is currently a graduate student at Monmouth University. Her study is in corporate and public communication. She expects to finish by December 2013. As Francesca says “I always knew that I wanted to further my education by finishing a master’s program”. As I always note, it is important to have goals and have an idea of what you want to do so you can plan and find ways to being the best you that want to be.

            A quote Francesca lives by is “The only time you fail is if you never try.” From what I know and see of Francesca, there is no doubt she lives by this quote. Francesca and I have a few classes together at Monmouth and she is very studious and always prepared for class with assignments and important topics to present. Also, Francesca is involved in many things and always keeping bus. To me, it is obvious she is always trying something and aims to succeed.

            I personally know that Francesca is a very busy lady! Not only is she a graduate student, she has been a graduate assistant since August 2012. She works to help a professor with planning events and other tasks the professor needs help with. Francesca is also a freelance writer. She began in July 2012 writing for The Edge Magazine. She also interns during the week at the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County. She began this position in February 2013. This isn’t all! Francesca also works on the weekends at Johnny Piancone’s Restaurant where she began in 2009. For the restaurant, she works as a server but also as a Social Media Assistant.

            With so many opportunities in her life, what does Francesca really want to do? She said, “I hope to be a public relations executive for a corporation after receiving my masters. I also wish to continue my writing career by freelancing articles for magazines and editing pieces.” This is great! Francesca has set a goal for herself and working very hard towards it. She is already on her way with working towards her master’s and has already started her freelance writing. With the way Francesca balances her schedule now with time management, there is no doubt she will succeed and find ways to make her dreams come true.

            So what exactly has made Francesca into the person she is today? Francesca said,

 

“My parents instilled in me that education is of

utmost importance. I come from a very hardworking

family; my grandfather emigrated here from Italy at

a young age and opened an Italian bakery and deli.

My father expanded the business by opening an

attached restaurant. From a very early age, I knew

what stamina and goals were. I have to accredit my

passion for education and my work ethic to my

amazing family. I know that hard work pays off,

hence why I have been pushing myself and trying to

start my career in a field that I adore.”

            What is evident about Francesca is that she is a planner. She sets goals and aims to achieve and as she said she learned this from her family. So, as I love to ask all the ASSETS Lady, “Where do you see yourself in a year? Five years? 10 years?” Francesca had a great response, of course.

 

“In one year I see myself with my master’s

starting my first job at a public relations firm conducting

social media for companies. I also see myself freelance

writing articles for lifestyle magazines.

In five years, I see myself at the same

organization, making public relations campaigns and

strategies for clients.

In ten years, I see myself married and going back

to school to get my PHD in communications, to eventually

teach courses at a university.”

 

            Finally, I asked Francesca, what advice would you give to other young women going into the “real world?” Francesca advised that she would tell them to “always be confident, and to never doubt yourself.” She also feel that “the key to being successful in a situation is to always be overly prepared and finding something that you love to do is extremely important.” For Francesca, she has noted where she found her passion. “I love public relations and journalism so that at the end of the day, I feel satisfied and accomplished. If you really aren’t happy, the job probably isn’t worth it” said Francesca. I could not agree with her more! When you find your passion, it’s like you’ve found it all and if you’re not happy than it isn’t meant to be!

            If you would like to reach out to Francesca for any more awesome advice or tips on something, please feel free to do so by Facebook, LinkedIn or Cell. Thanks again all and you too, Francesca! Hope you enjoyed this month’s feature!

 

Cell: 732-233-4262

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francesca.piancone.3

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/francesca-piancone/17/869/42a