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T he F irst T aste of F reedom HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE
SEPTEMBER 2022
my sorority and through the friends I made in my sorority. In retrospect, I may have experienced too much freedom during this time. I didn’t get into serious trouble but my grades started to slip. Fortunately, I quickly realized I was only hurting myself and possibly closing the door on future opportunities so I quickly adjusted my priorities and focused more on school. I discovered that college is a great opportunity to learn about yourself, try new things, and meet new people. College brought me freedom I hadn’t experienced before. That freedom comes with more responsibility. I experienced tremendous personal growth. I had to learn to live with the consequences of my choices and to take action to correct poor choices. I also benefited deeply from the positive decisions I made.
I would imagine most people go to college thinking they will work hard, get good grades and then the world is
Near the end of this summer, many people graduating from high school will continue their academic adventures in a new setting as they head off to college. It’s an exciting and nerve-racking time as they get the opportunity to make new friends and explore their interests, often in a new setting. While there will certainly be moments of stress, those years spent at college could become the most fun and memorable years of their lives full of unparalleled personal growth. At least, that was the case in my experience. I grew up in a strict household with very overprotective parents. There wasn’t much I could do outside of studying, spending time with family or the occasional weekend spent with a friend. Though I had a (limited) social life, education always came before everything else. When I first arrived at Emory University to begin my freshman year, I had my first taste of independence and the opportunity to figure out who I truly was with more limited external pressures or expectations. However, the transition into college life was not easy for me initially. I was close enough to home that I would ask my parents to pick me up every weekend during the first few weeks of college. I initially felt my ability to meet people was limited to the few girls who lived in my freshman hall. Outside of joining a sorority, which could not happen until second semester of freshman year, it felt very difficult to meet people. That was largely why I rushed as I never really saw myself as a typical sorority girl. That was a turning point for me in college. After that my parents couldn’t convince me to come home anymore. Some of my closest friends to this day are people I met in
their oyster. The other day, I read a headline that said that the most successful people were not valedictorians but those that graduated with 2.9 GPAs. But it makes plenty of sense to me. There’s nothing wrong with getting the best grades so you can get a high-paying job and work your way up the ladder; however, there are also many creative and unconventional ways to be successful. I would argue success has much more to do with personality, drive and grit than great academic success. College truly can provide us with a great opportunity to discover what we want out of life and who we are as individuals. And though many people think a class or major will teach them what they need for their career, in my opinion it’s impossible to really know if a career is right for you without real world experience in that field. I would encourage any college student to get internships in any industry they think is of interest and see if the reality of the job lives up to the idea of the job. That way, there is still plenty of time to adjust career paths if it does not seem like the best fit for you. Going to college is more than earning a degree. It’s an opportunity to mature and explore your freedom in a relatively safe environment. You’ll learn many lessons and meet plenty of friends along the way. If you’re heading off to college in the fall — whether it’s for your first year or fifth — I wish you the best of luck!
- Esther Vayman
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S omething ’ s P hishy 4 COMMON FINANCIAL SCAMS TO AVOID
Fraudulent Retailers On social media websites, you
Work-From-Home Scams As working from home has recently become the norm for many, this hoax has become even easier for criminals to pull off. Cybercriminals will contact you, stating you can make hundreds of dollars a week doing nothing more than shopping online as a mystery shopper or another enticing task. They will then tell you that to get started, you’ll need to pay upfront for training materials — but once you do, you’ll never hear from them again. As a general rule of thumb, stay clear of any offers that seem too good to be true. Likewise, avoid transactions that don’t use a trusted third-party merchant, and always do your research! If something seems off, trust your instincts! In today’s world, you never know what hoaxes exist!
may have noticed suspicious online stores featuring deals
From dating swindles to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency hoaxes, it’s hard to tell the difference between honest offers and scams. Even worse, scams are becoming more creative every day. Here’s a list of some of the most common financial scams to be aware of. Cryptocurrency Scams Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have taken the world by storm. Because many people don’t understand how crypto works, it’s easy for cybercriminals to pull a fast one — or attempt to. To trick unsuspecting victims, scammers set up fake websites that mimic legitimate cryptocurrency platforms. These sites then either urge you to make investments or they will steal your information outright.
that are too good to be true. At checkout, instead of being directed to a trusted third- party payment process, these merchants may ask for wire transfers or gift cards. Some of these online stores might not even provide contact information! Fake Debt Collectors Criminals will claim to be government representatives and urge you to settle a debt putting you at risk of being arrested, losing your home, or forfeiting your Social Security benefits. These scammers will ask you to pay the fake balance upfront to avoid any serious repercussions. Remember, government entities do not cold call, so you know to hang up or hit “delete.”
HOW JENNY HELPS CLIENTS AND HER TEAM
this past November. She is originally from California and has a variety of work experiences. Jenny wasn’t familiar with the legal field when she joined the team but saw that the position had similar responsibilities to some of her previous roles. She had spent several years managing a variety of departments at Nordstrom and also managing a website for a hospital and thought her skill sets would transfer seamlessly. After meeting with Greg and Esther, Jenny knew that she had found the perfect fit. Jenny wears many different hats while working and enjoys each of her duties. She’s consistently finding ways to help everyone on the team. She spends the majority of her time overseeing our client coordinators and training new hires so they can help our clients to the best of their ability. Jenny always makes sure to let her clients know that she’s there for them, and she truly means it! If you ever need anything from our office and are unsure of whom to reach out to, Jenny is a great contact to assist you with your needs. She also ensures that everything is going smoothly for our clients and will reach out to check on them. When Jenny is not at work, she’s usually spending time with her husband and two children. They enjoy exploring the Georgia Aquarium on the weekends or getting out to explore the area since it’s still relatively new to them. If there are any places in the area that you consider a must-visit, make sure you let Jenny know so she can explore them for the first time!
Whenever you add a new member to your team, you never really know what to expect. Sometimes, they’ll say all of the right answers in an interview but end up not being the best fit for the team, and other times, they exceed expectations. Those who excel often grow exponentially over a short period of time and are ready for whatever challenges await them next. That’s exactly what we got when we added our executive director, Jenny Ohsberg, to our team over a year and a half ago.
Jenny first started working with us as a client coordinator but was promoted to executive director
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WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
Thamara Carvalho Georgia State University Jenny Ohsberg California State University Grace Bradford University of South Carolina Esther Vayman Emory University Greg Teitelbaum Emory University Julia Giangualano Georgia State University Mari Sotillo Georgia Gwinnett College Barry Eidex University of Georgia
Abby Fisher Western Carolina University Stephanie Weil University of South Florida Maggie Szutz Towson University & Stevenson University Julia Spitler University of Georgia Becky Davey Kennesaw State University Camryn Simmons Kennesaw State University Kevin Shea Georgia State University
F rozen M ocha T orte Inspired by TasteOfHome.com As summer slips away from our grasp, enjoy one last refreshing hurrah with this sophisticated frozen treat.
ingredients • 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
BRAIN BREAK
• 2/3 cup chocolate syrup • 2 tbsp instant coffee granules • 1 tbsp hot water • 1 cup heavy cream, whipped • Chocolate-covered coffee beans (optional)
directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar, and butter. 2. In a greased 9-inch pan, add the wafer mixture and press to the bottom. 3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate syrup until smooth. 4. In a separate dish or cup, dissolve coffee granules in hot water. Once combined, add to the cream cheese mixture and fold in whipped cream. 5. Pour mixture evenly over the crust. Cover and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. 6. Remove from the freezer 10–15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chocolate-covered coffee beans if desired.
A LITTLE HELP
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LESSONS LEARNED FROM MY TIME IN COLLEGE
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AVOID 4 COMMON FINANCIAL SCAMS LEARN ABOUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JENNY OHSBERG
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WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE? FROZEN MOCHA TORTE
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THE INSANE STORY OF THE 1904 OLYMPIC MARATHON
T he C raziest O lympic M arathon of 1904 IT’S UNBELIEVABLY TRUE!
In 1904, the year of America’s first Olympics, the men’s marathon was a bizarre spectacle to behold. In fact, it was likely the most jaw-dropping event ever in the history of the Olympic Games. On that hot, sweltering summer day in St. Louis, MO, only 14 of the 32 Olympic competitors crossed the finish line on what was deemed the most difficult course anyone was ever asked to undertake. Thomas Hicks, the American who actually came in first, received the slowest time of all of the Olympic marathons since 1896. But why was this one so tough? With temperatures of roughly 104 degrees F and 90% humidity, a rigorous 24.85-mile course with seven hills was a bit much for competitors. Not to mention, support cars were churning up dust, leaving it behind for the runners to inhale, and they only had two water stations available before the halfway mark — and none in the second half! Even seasoned runners were not up to this crazy course! Three hours and 13 minutes after the marathon began, Fred Lorz, who had ridden a third of the course in a car, crossed the finish line. He was about to be adorned with a floral wreath when he confessed he had gotten so tired that he accepted a ride from one of the cars along the way, so he was disqualified.
Thomas Hicks, the true winner, was struggling with just 7 more miles to go. His fans on the sidelines provided him with a secret energy booster mix — a
concoction containing
strychnine (rat poison), brandy, and egg whites. By the time he crossed the finish line, he was hallucinating. And the fourth-place winner from Cuba wore dress pants and shoes for the entire race (because he lost his money gambling in New Orleans on his way to St. Louis and arrived after hitchhiking with nothing but the clothes on his back!).
This 1904 Olympic marathon went down in history as the most bizarre and wildly entertaining race. Luckily, but surprisingly, nobody died!
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