A Metà Del Semestre

It's that time of year, or semester, again. Yes, I'm referring to midterms. In honor of said exam season, I ordered a new backpack, in hopes that my treks to class and the library won't leave me crippled. Last year I lugged my books and laptop everywhere using a backpack coupled with a rolling briefcase in an attempt to save my back from further damage. However, taking into consideration the number of steps and stairs one must traipse up and and down everyday while on campus, I concluded that the backpack/briefcase combo was not the best solution. Which brings my to my latest purchase- a backpack designed specifically to carry laptops. With cooler weather fast approaching, I also bought a couple of things to keep my hands and feet nice and toasty. See below. :-)

Timberland High Alpine Backpack

Timberland Softshell Gloves

Columbia Merino Wool Crew Socks

Scuola

School is right around the corner, so naturally I've made the necessary purchases to ensure another successful semester. Check 'em out!

MyAgenda Day Planner 2010-2011

The North Face Jester Backpack

Columbia Techsun H20 Sandal

Summer Time

Summer is finally here! Spring 2010 was an eventful semester and boy am I tired! I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment as much as the next person, but I am definitely looking forward to a change of pace.

Some of my accomplishments this Spring include...

1) completing my second semester of graduate school (4.0!)
2) landing a job at the Aquarena Center as a Nature Interpreter
3) finding a church that I love (Oakwood Baptist in New Braunfels)
4) attending a weekly Bible study
5) being initiated into Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
6) representing the College of Health Professions in the House of Graduate Representatives (student government)
7) being elected President of San Marcos Student Reading Council
 
Like I said earlier, I'm definitely looking forward to taking a break from academia. I love school, but every now and then it's nice to not have to worry about homework. Besides working at the Aquarena Center, I plan to do A LOT of reading. In addition to starting some books that have now sadly been in my possession for a year now without so much as having read one page, I would also like to review some of my textbooks from college, particularly my sociology books. There are many correlations between the information I learned as an undergraduate sociology minor and what I am now learning about human development as a graduate education major. The common thread between everything that interests me seems to pertain to the core of the human being, why we are the way we are, and what we can do to positively effect change in the creation and development of human life and existence.

I'm looking forward to thinking and growing in new ways this summer. :-)

The Little Grad Student Who Could

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving...

I am at home, ready to spend the next few days with my family, all of whom I have missed terribly this semester. I feel like this has been the hardest semester in my academic career thus far, but perhaps it's because so much time has passed since I was in college. Well... technically I graduated 5 years ago, so that's not so long ago. But it feels like quite a bit of time has passed since my freshman year ('00-'01). That was a hard year (finding my feet). And my senior year ('03-'04) was hard too (dealing with a major break-up). Now that I think about it, most of college was peppered with struggles and strife, usually caused by lack of money or the boyfriend. Yes, things probably would have been a lot less stressful if I had had a bit more money and a bit less boyfriend drama going on. I would like to say that now that I'm in grad school, my problems are much more sophisticated and mature -- but they aren't. :-) I'm broke once again (when have I not been?), and yet again, I'm fretting over boys (mostly over one, a little over a few). A job would have helped tremendously in the money department, but I was afraid I would be sacrificing my grades, so I decided to go without. I'm hoping and praying it was worth it. My goal is to graduate with a 4.0 -- a fairly lofty aspiration for someone like me (I have a tendency to procrastinate). Speaking of school work, I have a lot to work on over the break- two major papers, two presentations, and two projects -- and they're all due over the following two weeks. The downside to this is that I won't get much sleep between now and the end of the semester. The upside is that my last day of class is December 8th. ROCK ON. I suppose one of the perks of being a graduate student is that the semester ends a week early. All I have to do is get through the next two weeks and I'll be golden.

As the semester draws to a close, I find myself thinking more and more about The Little Engine Who Could, and it inspires me to keep chipping away. It was one of my favorite stories growing up. I'm glad my mom read it to me, as it's helped me to keep going. Everytime I feel overwhelmed I picture the little blue engine and remember his words, "I think I can... I think I can..." It's amazing how something as simple as a little book can have an impact on someone. Thanks Mom.


PS- I turn 28 in 24 days. Hmmm...

A New 'Do and My First Presentation

I got a haircut! And by haircut, I don't mean a trim. I mean nearly a FOOT of hair cut, chopped off, GONE. And you know what? I am sooo happy with it! It's weird how something as little as a haircut can change your whole outlook on life. Does that sound ridiculous? I think it does, but it's so true, at least for me anyways. I feel so much better about myself. I even feel better about life. Is that crazy? It shouldn't be crazy. Lots of people ascribe to the adage that you can't really be happy with anyone or anything else until you're happy with yourself. Now I know that "they" probably mean happy with who you are on the inside, but I think alot of people struggle with being happy with who they are on the outside just as much, if not more, than the inside. That said, I think alot can be said for a new haircut, a new outfit, or a new tube of lipstick. Sometimes it's just the little pick-me-up someone needs when they feel like they feel like they are in a rut. ;-)

I'm giving my first presentation of the semester tomorrow! Actually, it's more than that. It's my first presentation in grad school, so I'm pretty frazzled. I don't usually get nervous about these things, but I am this time. I'm discussing computers and what is considered developmentally appropriate for young children. No I didn't pick the topic - it was assigned to me (and my partner) by the professor. Considering it's the last thing either one of us wanted to research, I think we did pretty well as far as all the work we put into the research process, gathering data, and most importantly, making a rocking power-point. I'm actually partly excited about getting up in front of everyone because A) I get to show off my new haircut and B) I'm dressing super cute! I'm wearing my power color: pink, and KILLER wedges I got on sale at JCPenney's for $4.97. Proof that you can be thrifty and still look cute. :-)

Will Someone Please Hold My Hand?

Today is my official first day of grad school. I'm not as nervous as I was thanks to yesterday's orientation. Still... I find myself wishing I knew more than I did as far as what to expect, what to do, what not to do, etc... Undergrad is so easy because they hold your hand throughout the entire process. No one's holding my hand now, unless I count my other hand. Why is that? Is it because graduate students are considered to be older, more experienced, and more mature than undergraduates and therefore need less cottling? Or is it that they (collectively referring to graduate schools in general) just don't feel like hassling with it, so they don't, and we're left to fend for ourselves? I've only been out of school for 5 years (ok technically 4.5) and I feel lost. I can't imagine what it must be like for people who are older than me, who've been out longer than I have, who are married, have children, work, and/or don't live in the same city as the school. I want desperately for someone to hold my hand, but I don't want to say it too loud. I don't want my fellow students to think I'm incompetant, and I don't want my professors, advisors, etc... to think I'm complaining.

But secretly, I'm still hoping for someone to grab my hand and say, "Come with me. I'll show you the way. And don't worry, everything's going to be just fine."

To-Do List - Part II

Classes start in 1 week.

Tomorrow I drive to San Marcos to get my apartment key. I'm having mixed feelings about where I'm living this semester. It really wasn't an issue when I signed up to live there earlier this summer; it was a last minute decision after my mom decided against getting me a condo and I was just grateful to know that I would have a roof over my head. But as the time draws nearer to moving time, I've become progressively more anxious about my choice of accomodation. I guess partly because I've never lived in an apartment before so I don't really know what to expect. And also because I feel like I'm going to be older than most of the other tenants. I know it's not like I'm 40 or anything... I guess that's partly due to insecurity about the way others might perceive me, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm also upset about not being able to have my dogs with me. It may sound silly to people who aren't animal lovers, but my dogs are my best friends. And the thought of not being able to see them everyday just tears me up... I'm hoping I'll get settled into a routine and it won't be as bad I'm imagining.

To-Do List - Part I

Classes start in 2 weeks.

I'm nervouse because I didn't register during early registration, which means I have to register during late registration (which starts tomorrow), which means instead of being able to pick and choose what I want to take, I'll have to take what I can get. I think I used "which" too many times in the last sentence but I'm not going to worry about it... I wouldn't mind so much if I was an undergrad because I would have a plethora of course requirements to fill which means I could take just about anything and apply to my degree plan. It's different in grad school. I have a short and sweet list of courses I have to take; it's good because there's less to worry about; it's bad because I have less to work with schedule-wise which makes it all the more challenging to be make every semester count. Aside from which courses to sign up for, I'm wondering how many hours I should take. Is wanting to take 12 hours and work part-time unreasonable for me? According to my advisor, 12 hours is common for non-working students. Does that count part-time jobs? Hmmm...

New Chapter

Classes start in 3 weeks.

I can't believe it. I can't believe I'm going to be packing, moving to a new city, starting school at a new campus. I was more excited 6 months ago than I am now. Now I'm scared. I don't know why either... Other people get scared, but not me. I was so brave when I left Texas for college. My freshman year in Iowa was a miserable one to say the least, but that didn't deter me from moving on to bigger and better things my sophomore year. I loved it! The UNT campus, the town of Denton, Denton Bibile Church. It was great. It was "me". It was what I needed and where I needed to be. Moving to England was even more exciting. A one-way ticket, reservations at a hostel in London, and absolutely NO job prospects was what I had and I couldn't have been happier. I can't believe that the same girl who moved out-of-state for college, then transferred back to the 3rd largest university in Texas, moved to the UK on a wing and a prayer, is now freaking out about moving an hour and a half away from home to go to grad school. I have all my ducks in a row; my financial aid is ready, I have an apartment reserved, I have nothing to worry about. So why is it that I feel like I have everything to worry about???

I know I need to have faith that God is taking care of me.
It's just such a still, small voice compared to the ones in my head rattling off things to worry about...
I need to "take every thought captive".
I need spiritual ear-plugs.

Making The Grade

What is Academic Success?

What are the characteristics of a successful student? While the definition of "successful student" has changed over the years, today's collegians need to know a great deal more than reading, writing, and arithmetic in order to succeed. According to key business leaders in the US, students who are to succeed in 21st century America must be:

1) able to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information

2) able to effectively communicate with others

3) proficient in science, mathematics, computer skills, foreign languages, as well as history, geography, & global awareness

4) capable of collaboratively working in diverse settings

5) leaders who see projects through to completion

6) responsible decision makers who are self-motivated

7) and ethical individuals who are committed to their families, communities, and colleagues

(Nidds & McGerald, 1996)

http://www.chiomega.com/

Grad School And Great Friends

Sooo... I went to grad school orientation last Friday! Overall it was a positive experience. One drawback was that the campus was ALOT bigger than I anticipated. For those of you that know me, you know that I am directionally challenged and therefore easily flustered at the daunting task of having to find my way around an unfamiliar place (despite having already been there once before). It was back in 1999 and I was there for a high school jazz band competition; but of course I remember nothing from my visit 10 years ago. I met up with a high school friend and alumni of the school and THANK GOD he was there to help me navigate because I would have been up the creek if he hadn't been. The campus was an amalgamation of UNT and UT; it sprawled like UT does, and it had a "College Inn" and loads of squirrels like UNT. :-) The orientation was good and I walked away feeling quite positive, mostly because I seemed to be ahead of the game compared to the rest of the students in attendance regarding applying for admission, financial aid, etc... :-)

After orientation was over I decided to drive to San Antonio to see my high school ♥ BFF ♥ Jennifer and her husband Jason. GOOD CHOICE! I was really stoked because it only took me about 45 minutes to get from campus to their house. We hung out in the hot-tub, sipped margaritas, and talked about all kinds of stuff and cracked dirty jokes like we always do. I love them so much... I spent the night there and drove to work from their house this morning. It was a good way to start the day and the weekend. ♥

Love and Peace.