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	<title>WIRL Project &#187; Classes</title>
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	<description>What It&#039;s Really Like.</description>
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		<title>BlogU in Baltimore</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/blogu-in-baltimore/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/blogu-in-baltimore/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2015 02:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mary England]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advanced]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beginners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bloggers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlogU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fameous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge BlogU]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6963</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a blogger, I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my corner of the internet. I do as much research as I can online, but I’m a much better learner in a teacher-student scenario. I’ve paid lots of money to attend blogging workshops and branding seminars, as well as purchasing plenty of one-on-one consultation services. I’ve learned something from each of these, for sure, but I really had no idea how much I could possibly learn in one weekend until I went to BlogU. Any workshop I’ve ever attended has been out of state, so back in the winter when I was searching for local blogging conferences, I had to blink a few times to realize that there was one right here in Baltimore! I couldn’t believe it (or enter my credit card information quick enough). &#160; Months passed, and I started to get a little nervous. I realized that most of the bloggers who would be attending and teaching were “Mom Bloggers”, or at least had kids. We all know I don’t have kids, or want them, and I was worried I wouldn’t fit in. I decided it didn’t matter, though, and worst case scenario I’d learn from the classes and nod my way through any impending diaper talk. I couldn’t not go! It was in my backyard! Finally, it was time for me to drive twenty-ish minutes north to sign in and get my name badge and swag bag, full of fun gifts like Boogie Wipes, Downy Wrinkle Releaser, and an emergency phone charger from My Charge. In no time at all, I was making friends with women who had traveled from all over the country to be here with me. I think I may have underestimated the the awesomeness of this conference. People were traveling from Tampa and Seattle… this has gotta be special. And no one even mentioned diapers! The first evening, I sat down in one of the auditoriums on the Notre Dame Of Maryland University’s campus, where the entire conference is held, and got out my notebook to take notes on the basics of SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization for you non-bloggers out there). In no time at all, it was time to move on to the next class and I realized that maybe that this one class wasn’t worth the entire cost of my ticket, but it was close!! So much information! It was specific, geared for anyone, and thorough. There were tips and tricks like you’d hope, but also really easy instructions on how to get to where you want to be. Blog workshops I’ve been to before have marketed themselves as something that are great for both beginning and advanced bloggers, and I haven’t found that to be true until BlogU. There was very little that was “beneath” me, and sure lots of the stuff they taught me was overwhelming and over my head, but that’s awesome! I can write that down, have a panic attack, and work on it later. There were six sessions over two days, and multiple options during each session. It obviously sucked when you wanted to attend two classes that were in the same slot, but that’s really just incentive for me to come back next year (which I will absolutely be doing). The classes I attended were SEO 101, Mastering Pinterest, Metrics, Instagram, Beyond Blogging: How To Make (Real) Money As A Writer, and Build Your Book. I took more notes than I probably did my entire senior year of college, and can’t wait to put my new-found-knowledge to use. &#160; The faculty at BlogU is a wonderful mixture of people who are super duper internet famous and people you might have never heard of before. It’s a great reminder that you don’t need to be able to be recognized on the street in order to be successful in the world of blogging. And if the educational aspect of this conference wasn’t enough, they also know how to throw one hell of a party! The first night we had a Pep Rally, complete with the most luxurious photobooth I’ve ever seen, free pom poms to cheer each other on, decadent desserts, free booze, a sequin pink carpet, and severely inspiring words. Four bloggers were surprised to be called to the stage to read one of their previously written posts for the audience, and it was equally emotional and hilarious. &#160; The next night, I actually had to leave early, but Nickelodeon sponsored an awkward Middle School themed party, and judging by the photos, it was an absolute blast. Next year, I’m going to make damn sure I don’t double book myself so I can go to every minute of this conference, even if I don’t stay in the dorms like the out-of-towners. &#160; Part of this weekend was learning, part of it was partying, and a lot of it was networking. It didn’t feel like a chore to me, though! Sometimes it sucks to have to be “on” for people all day, especially after only four hours of sleep, but the people I met were just genuinely kind, easy to talk to, and generous. I’m grateful for all the conversations I had, the people who ran up to me to excitedly ask, “Are you Uncustomary?!”, and everyone who put up with the glitter I’m sure they got on themselves after interacting with me. I want to support each and every one of the attendees from this conference, and help them all with their careers! It was a great reminder that helping someone else out doesn’t make you any less important. This is a community based on generosity, and as Nikki Knepper said in her key note speech, “Be generous, fuckers”. If you’re thinking about going next year, do it. You can learn more on their site or just ask me! &#160; &#160;  *This WIRL was originally published on Uncustomary. &#160; Join The Conversation! Easily contribute your story here. &#160; About the Author… Uncustomary spreads love and positivity through street art, snail mail, and the message of self-love. She wants you to believe in who you are even (especially) if who you are is super weird. You can find her leaving a literal trail of glitter behind her in Baltimore. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.   ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>I Couldn&#8217;t Do That to My Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/i-couldnt-do-that-to-my-kids/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/i-couldnt-do-that-to-my-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2015 09:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kassidy Everard]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Classes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hold Back]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Math]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pressure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sophomore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[student]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lately I have been extremely stressed out with school. Believe it or not, being a Sophomore is the hardest year in High-school. There are huge obstacles to overcome, an abundant amount of new material to learn and there is a whole new perspective on school. I have never been an A+ student. School has always come very hard for me. Not school all around, but specifically math and science related courses. I have had more tears than moments of happiness this school year. Math, no matter how hard, has the power to make every bone in my body tremble. The blood in my body boils when I realize I have to do math. I have had more tears than moments of happiness this school year. As finals quickly approach, I started to think about what it is that I have learned that I will genuinely need in life. I am not one of those students that considers everything busy-work or that considers everything insignificant. BUT when there are equations I will actually never need in life, other than to become a math teacher, I start to question why we even learn it to begin with. I look back on my year and see nothing but trial and error. None of my efforts in math have paid off. Then again, what did I expect? They never have. I am constantly faced with the decision of either trying my absolute hardest just to pass one class and walk away with absolutely nothing learned, or giving it a fair amount of effort and expecting amazing results. I am continually stressed out over my head with math. I am easily angered when I cannot figure a math problem out. All in all, math is what is holding me back in life. I considered being a Child Psychologist, but math made me hate school. So, seven years doesn&#8217;t appeal to me. I considered being a Teacher, but math made me hate learning. So, four years didn&#8217;t appeal to me. When did I consider just being human? Have any of us ever considered just being human? I have my strong points in school. Writing being one of them. I would love to be a writer. But what I will accomplish or will not accomplish shouldn&#8217;t have any effect on how I decide to live my life. Is math really the only thing holding me back? Sadly, it is. As I think about everything I just typed, I think about my future. I think about my children. I would never want my child to tell me that they couldn&#8217;t be anything that they wanted to be in life because of one class. I would never want my child to tell me that what he/she is learning in school is &#8220;too hard,&#8221; or &#8220;cannot be understood&#8221;. I wouldn&#8217;t want my child to cry over a simple math problem because deep down it isn&#8217;t the math making him upset. Deep down it&#8217;s the thought of not accomplishing extraordinary things that destroys his/her mind. I wouldn&#8217;t want my child to cry over a simple math problem because deep down it isn&#8217;t the math making him upset. Deep down it&#8217;s the thought of not accomplishing extraordinary things that destroys his/her mind. I see how corrupt our schools are. How much empty knowledge children are forced to learn. How many things that are taught, but never really used. Are we filling gaps? Or is it that we just don&#8217;t know what else to teach? I have yet to see math needed beyond what a calculator can do.  And it will only get harder. My parents stopped helping me with homework in the fifth grade. By the sixth, they were both able to tell me that the math I was learning was taught to them as sophomores or juniors in High school. Isn&#8217;t it funny how my parents don&#8217;t know the math I was taught in sixth grade? They&#8217;ve never used it. When will I? When I have kids, I think I will have to home-school them. Or maybe move to a commune. How could I put that much stress on my child? How could I tell my child that I cannot help them because I have never learned what they are learning? How would I be able to watch my child cry over a simple math problem? When will society realize that dreams are killed through putting pressure on a child to be something more than they possibly can be? I wouldn&#8217;t be able to hear my child tell me that they aren&#8217;t capable enough. I wouldn&#8217;t be able to expose my child to a corrupt educating system. I wouldn&#8217;t be able to tell my child that they needed to try a little harder than their best because their best just wasn&#8217;t enough. I wouldn&#8217;t want to be that parent that was responsible for telling my child that they needed to dream a new dream. No matter what job, passion is what makes success. An unsuccessful education is no education at all. If you are passionate enough about what you do, then you will succeed in your career. One does not need knowledge to know what brings happiness to life. One does not need a math problem to tell them that they cannot accomplish anything. I won&#8217;t be a teacher. Teachers aren&#8217;t even teachers anymore. They hate what they are forced to teach just as much as children hate learning it. And they have the pain of knowing that there are some kids that they just can&#8217;t help. But they must move on. Because just like one child cannot hold the entire class back from learning, one math problem should not hold one child back from succeeding. I couldn&#8217;t let that happen. I couldn&#8217;t do that to my kids.]]></description>
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