Monday, March 18, 2013

2 more months...

Only two more months until the first fall and spring semesters of my graduate school career are over.  Wow. Anyhow...

Fun fact:  Ever since my first day of school as a tiny five year old in kindergarten (no, seriously, I wore a size 2T shirt when I was 5), I have always had a love for school, school supplies, back to school clothes shopping (though that one has basically diminished since 9th grade), and the like.

Ah, kindergarten.
As many/most of you know, this summer, I'll have four classes, a graduate assistantship on campus, and a part-time job.  (A social life...that one's still iffy.)  The following fall semester, I'll again have a grad assistantship, three classes, and a practicum (abbreviated internship sort of thing that's twice a week).  This will also be the first time in five years that I'll be living at home and going to school instead of living on campus.  Apart for the fact that I won't get to see Vic every day, I'm looking forward to it in a way.  No 3 AM phone calls from residents getting locked out, no roommate disputes to mediate, no door tags to make... Ah, the non-residence life life.  Although this also entails once again sharing a bathroom with my 19 year old brother and 60-something father.  Ick.

My room at home is on the street side of the house, and I have a bay window in my room and I hear all of the traffic (not that there's much for a somewhat country road; though Country Road is one of my favorite songs...).  There's the good and bad of living at home.  My parents are going to be leasing me a car this summer, so that'll be helpful to everyone.  I also get to have home-cooked meals instead for food instead of the cafeteria food at school, which is awesome.  I will, however, miss Vic's cooking.  He's an amazing cook. I love it.
The first picture of us together. What an awesome year it's
been...Can't wait for forever with my best friend.

I've recently found myself looking for ideas for lunches to pack for school (I ate school lunches from ages 5-18 and don't particularly care to buy it again during my internships), trying to downsize and organize my room (having a drawer full of t-shirts at home seems ridiculous when I have a dresser at school that I only use 3/4 drawers of and only use one of my closets (Vic uses the others)), and also looking at different employment opportunities in the field of counseling.

I've worked in Residence Life for 3 years now, so I've considered that, but I also want something new in my life.  Student Affairs in general has always intrigued me.  And my degree will be in School Counseling.  Time will only tell what sort of job I'll have when I find it.

Vic has been looking for jobs with Academic Advising, something he really likes and not in this area.  We've talked about Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia... Basically, where the jobs are and a good place to live.  As I've told him many a time, no matter what he decides to do, wherever we wind up in this crazy world, I'll support and be with him every step of the way.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Dear Readers...

I promise I'm still alive. Life has just been kinda hectic lately.

Last Monday, Vic and I celebrated our one year together. It was just a low-key evening spent together after classes, and perfect for us. We're not into big groups/gatherings.

Who would have thought that an invitation to have quesadillas would turn into a friendship that turned into best friends and also boyfriend/girlfriend?  I couldn't be happier that it did.

Today marks one year since my first counseling session.  Although I only attended a total of three sessions, I'm still realizing how much they did help me.  I hope one day that I can help someone in the same way that I was.  Nobody should have to live with a stress that plagues them, an issue they feel can't be resolved, what have you.

Knowing that there is someone who cares for you and your well being -- be it a counselor, friend, significant other, or someone else -- is inspiring.

Not too much else going on in my little world... I'm really enjoying my classes this semester.  Cross-Cultural Counseling is pretty self-explanatory and I really like the professor.  Experiential Group Counseling (which is essentially counseling for the counselor) has opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't know about my classmates.  Counseling Skills and Techniques is getting better.  Just trying to remember everything is getting easier, but it's still awkward to watch the taped sessions with our classmates.  And Introduction to Behavior Analysis... it's an online class, so it's not terrible.

♥ New York! [At FAO Schwarz on my 21st.]
My parents are coming down to take me and Vic out to dinner on Friday for my birthday.  I don't know if I'll feel any different with being 23.  For my 18th birthday, I just had a small group of friends over.  For my 21st, my parents surprised me with a trip to New York City.  I didn't get obscenely drunk like it seems most people do for their 21st birthdays.  I actually didn't drink until that May on a trip to California, and barely do as it is.

Spring break starts next Saturday.  Since Vic and I decided against a trip, I'm not sure what I'll/we'll be doing for it.  It's still weird to think that in a little over two months, I'll no longer be a CA.  I'll have a different graduate assistantship, my part-time job, and four courses over the summer.  It'll be interesting to manage, but I think I can handle it.

Only time will tell...