What a Year for a New Year

Every year, I consider making a list of resolutions for the new year, but I know they won't last:  start going to bed earlier so I can in turn get up earlier, eat healthier (even at 5'2"-ish and ~100 pounds, junk food and I are good friends), stay organized, save more money, etc.  When it comes down to it, though, I just want to be a better me...

Appreciate the things and people I have in my life.

Support the people I love and care about.

Be the best girlfriend, friend, sister, and daughter I can be.

Write letters or call people on the phone instead of sending text messages and emails.

Send birthday cards to people instead of writing a generic message on their Facebook wall.

Discover who I really am.

Cut the negativity out of my life.

Be a force for change in my own life.

As I read over this list again, one thing hits me:  it's all really simple.  But I think simple is okay.  I don't have any far-reaching goals.  The main things I want out of my life are to be happy, help others find out who they really are, and to marry my best friend.  And in some way, I think that achieving the above will help me do all of those things and more.

Last year at this time, I thought I was moving half-way across the country for grad school (which obviously didn't happen).  I never imagined that I'd be right back where I started for school (but I couldn't be happier).

I never thought that I would be in love with my best friend.  But you know what?  I am.  And I couldn't be happier.  He's what puts the smile on my face, makes me laugh until I cry, and is the best part of my life and I never want that to change.  I love you, boo.  You're the best.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

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."

Oh the Places You'll Go!

First Week of Grad School...!

 So, my first week of graduate school begins in less than an hour...

It's so weird to think that four years ago, I was having lunch with my mom after one of my classes (and on her birthday).  Since it was only freshman year, I hadn't yet changed my major to Industrial Organizational Psychology, so I had a philosophy class (at 8 in the morning, no less), a few art classes, English, and History.

A fountain on campus

Now, I have an education class and three in Counseling.

My younger brother starts his first week of undergrad tomorrow.  My youngest cousin continues his elementary school career.  It's surreal still.

Vic and I were talking earlier tonight, and he said that it had been two years since he had done an internship in DC.  Now he's one year away from a Master's (even though we're only just under three weeks apart, he finished his double major a year early...smarty pants :)).  We agreed that high school seems like forever ago, even though it's only been four years.

First bulletin board of the semester

Even though I've been at the same school for what will be my fifth year, I'm learning that there are still things I'd like to do.  This time around, I'm starting in a curriculum that interests me (as opposed to freshman year when I changed my major).  I'm trying to stay as organized and on top of things as I can.  I want to get a 4.0.  I never did in high school or undergrad, and I really want to now.

My calendar and agenda are both color-coordinated to match the binder covers I made for each of my classes.  It even coordinates to my dry erase board.  Except for two classes, I have the textbooks I need (the perks of dating someone in the same curriculum).  I even made email distribution lists for the work studies I'm in charge of and my residents.

But for now, I'm waiting for my laundry to finish drying, perhaps check to see if any syllabi have been posted online, and then heading to bed... My first office hours of the semester begin tomorrow.  Here we go...

(731) Days of Blogging

When I first started this blog two years ago, my very first entry was about CA training.  Who would have thought that I would have a somewhat similar post 731 days later?

CA training has nearly come to a close yet again.  Sessions about mediation, alcohol and drugs, fire extinguisher use, and diversity; making door tags and bulletin boards; having the same thing nearly every day for each meal.

But this year was different, yet so similar.  Not only am I a CA, I'm a graduate assistant.  I have more leadership within the hall, but still have the same duties.  I'm in charge of a few additional things, but still oversee the work studies.  The more things stay the same, the more they change.

Life is changing in a few other ways too.  I never imagined that I would have an opportunity to again work in a field that I absolutely love.  I work with some pretty awesome people, and it's amazing.

My younger brother starts his undergraduate career in a few days when he moves into school on Friday.  My parents are about to be empty-nesters for the first time.  (I honestly don't know what my mother is going to do apart from continuing her job hunt.)

And then there's this guy.  He's sweet, funny, adorable, and amazing in every way.  And he's better than the guy of my dreams...because he's real.  I can't imagine my life without him.  His laugh makes me smile.  Vic, I love you more than words can say, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.  You're the best.

Life...sometimes it makes me think more than I care to, but right now, it's amazing.  I can't believe that I'm starting grad classes on Monday.  But for the first time, I'm ready for a new challenge.  A new chapter, complete with coordinating binders, color coded calendars, and counseling textbooks.