Humming a slightly varied tune

About a year ago, I wrote a post that is interesting to read now, considering what I've done in the time since.  At the time, I was looking at graduate schools that were pretty far from home.  Trying to decide where to apply, what I wanted to do with my life, etc.  As I was telling a friend, I barely remember anything from the first half of my senior year of college.  The second half was much more memorable.

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

I don't always make bulletin boards about STDs, but
when I do, they ruin childhood memories of Pokemon.

As I sit here today and type this, I have moved onto grad school, although for School Counseling.  The distance I moved for this grad school?  About fifty yards away from last year's residence hall into the one across the street.  And you know what?  I couldn't be happier.

My classes are going really well.  My Foundations class which is really interesting, even if a lot of work. Within a group in the class, we have to build a school counseling curriculum from the ground up.  I had no idea how much work it would be, and though I prefer solo work, it's going pretty well.  Another project we have in the same class is making a tri-fold poster (with a different group, although for this one, it's just me and a partner) for a mini-presentation/conference.  Although the class is more work than most, there aren't any tests in the class (which is wonderful).

Humming a slightly varied tune

Opposite angles of the moon

Buried in layers of ourselves

Leaves room for no one else

Developmental group is still somewhat dull, though it's getting better.  Having friends in the class helps, and we're also working on a presentation for that class.  I'm working with two classmates who I've only met this semester, and while it'll break me away from the comfort zone of working with people I know, it'll be a good thing.

Theory is still interesting, and I can't complain about having a perfect in the class either.  And, hey, the professor feeds us.  Can't ask for better than that.  Special Ed online is interesting, but I have to force myself to actually read the chapters.  In that class, we have to tape ourselves doing a lesson with another person.  The plus side of that project is that the person we do the lesson with doesn't have to be in the class.  Considering I know someone who has taken the class and done the same project... He'll be helping me with the lesson.

I believe it's true
Cause nothing matters when I'm all wrapped up in you
I believe it's true
Cause nothing matters when I'm all wrapped up in you

Badgerkitty and Bearcat

And that friend?  He's the sweetest, funniest, most caring guy in the world.  Yesterday marked seven months of dating, and between the silly nicknames and goofy antics and everything in between, I can't imagine my life without him.

Vic has asked if he could propose with a kitten or puppy instead of a ring on a few occasions.  Considering that neither of us has ever even considered breaking up with the other and we essentially live together, I told him I'd say yes no matter how he asks.

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

You better believe it's true

You know I do ooh ooh I do

(PS:  We're going to name a cat we get together Adler.  Just because it's an awesome name for a cat.)

"True Romance," by Motion City Soundtrack from GO | Listen here

High School Never Ends

It's been 21 days since I started graduate school and almost exactly a month since I moved into school.  It feels like forever ago.

Classes are going pretty well.  My Foundations class can be overwhelming at times, but I'm not about to complain about the fact there aren't any tests in the class.  Group process can be dull at times, but that might also be due to the fact that I have it right after another class.  The material is interesting though.  My other classes are Theory (which I find fascinating, and my prof is hilarious) and Special Education (which I'm zooming through online.  Having assignments done ahead of time for that class is a blessing).

In a few weeks, I'll be heading back to my old high school for a day.  It's been a few years since I've gone to one of the graduation ceremonies held inside.  I've kept in contact with a few old teachers.  Beyond that... high school was four years ago.  I only talk to a handful of people from high school.  The bulk majority of my friends now are those I've met in college. Job shadowing a counselor at the school for a day should be an interesting endeavor.  Part of me is a tad nervous, but I'm actually really excited for this experience.  I had actually considered doing a job shadow over spring break to get a feel for the job, but now that it's part of a class assignment, I think it'll be very interesting.

I also (somewhat) recently threw around the idea of getting certified in both elementary and secondary school counseling.  The best part is, it wouldn't require any additional time.  I would only have to split my field experience in half; one half in an elementary setting, the other in secondary.  I think it makes a ton of sense to do this.  All things in time, though...

The best part of being back into the swing of classes, though, is getting to spend time with my best friend.  Getting to see and hang out with Vic is still the highlight of my days and nights.  Nothing will ever change that.  He stays over a few nights a week (he claims it's the fact I have an actual bed and air conditioning...), and he makes me the happiest girl in the world.  Knowing that there is someone who cares about you as much as you care about them, who doesn't mind your ridiculousness, and supports you through the thick and thin of things...it's the best feeling in the world.

I haven't seen my parents since I moved in.  We text, call, and email from time to time.  Until tonight.  I was sitting in the computer lab after getting a call from my mom after her first day of work (I'm so proud of her that she got a job that she is incredibly excited for - she kept joking my dad was going to kick her to the curb if she didn't find a job).  I had to print a new schedule for the work studies I supervise and a few other odds and ends.

To gain access to the computer lab, residents have to use their room key.  While I was printing everything, there was a knock on the door.  I ignored it, thinking the resident would remember to use their key.  When they knocked a second time, I decided to answer it and just let the resident in.

Only it was no resident.  It was my mom.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  She said she couldn't go down the highway without stopping to see me.  She's pretty awesome like that.  And here I thought I was going to have to wait another 2 weeks when I was going home anyway to see her.

All in all, it's been a pretty awesome start to grad school.  I can't wait to see how it continues.

Full Circle?

Earlier tonight (as in a little over an hour ago), I dragged myself to the campus health center because my shoulder has been bothering me off and on for the past 10ish days.  It was ranging from no pain to easily a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.  Not fun.

(Although it probably doesn't help that earlier tonight, I had 2 binders, 2 folders, 4 textbooks, a pencil case, three hole punch, planner, and other odds and ends in my backpack...)

So, anyhow, I went and signed in and sat in the waiting room and watched some terrible TV while waiting for the nurse (she was with another patient who was clearly not having a good night. I felt terrible for the poor thing.  She looked so afraid and broken.  I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her everything would work out).

After the nurse called me back, I realized it was the nurse who had helped me set up an appointment with the counseling center after my breakdown of sorts in February.  She gave me an ice pack and some Motrin for my shoulder, and then asked if I had any questions about the Motrin and its potential side effects.

It was then that I decided I had to do something.  During graduate school, I really want to thank people, be it friends, professors, or other university faculty and staff who have helped me.  This nurse is definitely one of those people.  (I've started a blog label about this to remind myself to write these letters or visit these people.)

I told her about how I had come down earlier in the year, and how grateful I was to her for being so kind to me and how much the counseling sessions I attended helped.  I also mentioned that I was studying counseling  on the graduate level and hope to be able to help people in the same way that I was.  She was elated to hear that I was able to continue attending the counseling sessions that I did and that it did get better for me.

Some people are just awesome like that.  It's wonderful to meet people who are genuinely caring and love what they do.  I hope I can say that I truly love my job someday (not that I don't right now, but I'm always looking at job postings and whatnot online).  As the saying goes, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."