Spring Break
Twitter can be a valuable resource
Taylor Trudon
Issue date: 6/15/09 Section: Commentary
First, it was the Pokemon cards in elementary school, then the UGG boots in middle school, and then Facebook in high school. Whether they are collector's cards with Japanese animated creatures or Australian boots with sheepskin lining, trends come and go. Then college came, and although I was reluctant to jump on the Twitter bandwagon, it wasn't long before I had to see for myself what the hype was all about.
Like most people, I initially did not understand the premise behind Twitter. To me, it seemed like a rip-off of Facebook where you update your status every five minutes (i.e., "Taylor is eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch"..."Taylor is now studying quantum physics"). I understood Twitter as a way to not only convey your every thought and action to the entire world in under 140 characters, but also as a convenient way to stalk your favorite celebrities, because really, who doesn't want to get inside John Mayer's mind?
I could very well blame John Mayer for making me join the Twitter community, but instead I'll allow my own curiosity to take responsibility. At first, I was hesitant. Why in the world would I want to share so much information about myself? And then I realized that I didn't have to. Instead of announcing to the entire cyber world that I was flossing my teeth or reading Russian literature, I could twitter (or rather, tweet): "In New York City. Anyone know of any good places to eat on the Upper West Side?" In what seems like a nanosecond, I could instantly get half a dozen responses, each with a list of some of the best eateries that the Big Apple has to offer. No Google necessary.
But with celebrities and restaurants aside, here's the real reason why I joined Twitter: because of the connection. What I love about Twitter is that it is just one more way to stay connected to other people. This becomes especially helpful in the professional world. As a recent winner and recipient of the New York Women in Communications Scholarship, I had the opportunity to meet a handful of brilliant, independent and career-savvy professionals and students who are pursuing their passions within the communications industry like myself.
Like most people, I initially did not understand the premise behind Twitter. To me, it seemed like a rip-off of Facebook where you update your status every five minutes (i.e., "Taylor is eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch"..."Taylor is now studying quantum physics"). I understood Twitter as a way to not only convey your every thought and action to the entire world in under 140 characters, but also as a convenient way to stalk your favorite celebrities, because really, who doesn't want to get inside John Mayer's mind?
I could very well blame John Mayer for making me join the Twitter community, but instead I'll allow my own curiosity to take responsibility. At first, I was hesitant. Why in the world would I want to share so much information about myself? And then I realized that I didn't have to. Instead of announcing to the entire cyber world that I was flossing my teeth or reading Russian literature, I could twitter (or rather, tweet): "In New York City. Anyone know of any good places to eat on the Upper West Side?" In what seems like a nanosecond, I could instantly get half a dozen responses, each with a list of some of the best eateries that the Big Apple has to offer. No Google necessary.
But with celebrities and restaurants aside, here's the real reason why I joined Twitter: because of the connection. What I love about Twitter is that it is just one more way to stay connected to other people. This becomes especially helpful in the professional world. As a recent winner and recipient of the New York Women in Communications Scholarship, I had the opportunity to meet a handful of brilliant, independent and career-savvy professionals and students who are pursuing their passions within the communications industry like myself.
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