Grad School: The End is Near...

I just sent off my thesis to my professional editor. Which means that I am almost done with grad school. At least I think. I got a couple of more hoops to jump through, but nonetheless I am almost done. Thank goodness because I am really tired of being in college. I am ready to close the next chapter in my life and actually say I have a masters degree! 

I have had some struggles through the last few tasks of this project. The thesis project was one of the hardest challenges I have had in school. Well, next to statistics and spanish, but that was in my undergrad, so that doesn't count. :) 

My passion has always been victims of crime ever since I been a victim of crime eleven years ago. That moment changed my life and is the reason why I am here today. For my project, I developed a statewide directory of all the agencies and organizations that work with victims in Oregon. This resource is much needed and as far as I know, its the first one of its kind! I also think my project is heading to a distributor and will be revealed at a few of the big statewide conferences in Oregon. It is still in the works, so I am excited to see what happens in the end. 

Even though this project has been a pain, I have recently gotten a lot of compliments on how I have done a great job and how I have overcome many obsticles. I just hope the the resource I have created will really be used and can help victims overcome their obsticals as well. 

And for the record, I am never going back to school again. :) 

Oregon Visit

Tonight the hubby and I have been thinking more in detail about our trip to Oregon. We are excited. In 4 weeks we will be visiting a place we onced used to call home. We have been thinking about all of the things we want to do while we are there. We have "2 legs" to our trip. The first part is in Portland where we will be seeing our friends and then the second part we visit our family in Southern Oregon. 

I want  to do a lot, especially when we are in Portland. Well, come to think of it, all I want to do is get the food and drinks I miss the most, haha. It  makes me feel like a pig, but I llike to eat! I want a VooDoo doughnut and I want my favorite egg rolls from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Beaverton. I also want some Stumptown coffee as well as Dutch Bro's and Human Bean coffee too. NO Starbucks while we are there, yuck! I also want to go to the coast, but not sure if we will have time for that. Of course I want to see as  many friends and family as possible. I also can't wait to breathe fresh air and see tall trees and mountains. That is going to be awesome!!! 

This will be my first Thanksgving with my in-laws too. I think it will be fun and we will cook some good food. I also can't wait to get my haircut done by my sister. I need one so bad and I am holding off for another month so I  can get a great cut. :) 

The last time I was in Oregon was August 2012, so I am for sure ready to go back "home." The only thing that I know I am not going to like is that it is going to be cold and probably rainy, haha. I have been spoiled by the Texas climate and since it has been chilly here the last few days, I have struggled adjusting to the chilly air and that I don't remember how to dress for cold and rainy days. I hope my coat still fits. :) 

See y'all in a month! 

A Message to Parents

Its 10 p.m., do you know where your kids are? Seriously, do you? I remember that "commerical" that would play every night. Of course, they do not ask parents this question anymore as times have seriously changed. As a prevention specialist, I have to attend many hours of trainings for my job. Last week I sat through 15 hours of lecture discussing culture, substance abuse, brain development and and the  importance of parents being involved in their childs lives. Though it was a refresher, it got me reflecting on how I was raised and how I ended up having a good life versus those who didn't. 

One of the ice breaker questions that was asked was: "did your parents play with you as a child?" I immediately  thought back to all of the bike rides we did as a family, dad playing basketball and all types of games with me and my mom being my Girl Scout leader and teaching me how to paint ceramics (I won 1st place two years in a row at the County fair). I remember my dad reading books to me as a kid and how my mom and I would go on adventures such as going to yard sales and of course going on a week long bike and backpacking trip in the Cascade Mountains and sailing around the San Juan islands for a week. I am thankful for how hard my parents worked to give us a good life and how they tried to interact with us as children. 

I feel sorry for those kids who do not get to experience a great home life. I see many kids every day that lack proper supervision, love and care they deserve. Thus, they act out in class, get in trouble and get on the wrong path. When I facilitated a restorative justice group to inmates in Oregon, every inmate that shared their story all had something in common...they lacked a parent and a role model in their life. They went on the wrong path as an adolescent and wound up in prison. 

A parents responsibility is to provide their children with love and care and raise their kids to be the best they can. I hope that those who are parents are taking time to read to your kids and to play with them. Did you know that children who run their fingers through sand helps their brains develop smarter? So if your child wants to play in the sand box, let them! If your child wants to dress up silly and put on a play for you, let them! If you are not spending quality time and letting your child know you love them, then you need to get your priorities straight and put your family first. Do not let your child wind up on the wrong path. Give your child a good foundation and watch your child grow into great adults that could one day change the world. 

Getting it Done...Kinda

I can't believe its almost October. I cant wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends. 

Anyway, as previously stated, I was debating if I wanted to get my teaching licence. I have now come to the conclussion that I will not be pursuing that at this time. I have been looking and listening to answers and I have met a few teachers that have told me (without me asking them about teaching)to reconsider   being a teacher because of the politics within the school districts and other stuff teachers have to deal with. I feel at peace with my decision and so its something I can cross of my list. It feels good.

One thing I can't wait to cross off my list is graduate school. I am so close to being done, but I am soooooo burned out, that I have a hard time just editing and writing 5 pages of my thesis. I worked on it a little this weekend and It did feel good to get some of it done, but grad school is just a heavy cloud that keeps following me day after day. I know to get rid of the cloud is do the work, but the motivataion is not there. I know that once I am finished with my thesis and presentation I will probably break down and cry because I will be so thankful it is done. Grad school was a lot of work and I am proud that I went and did well in school. I learned a lot too, but I will never go back to school for another degree. :) 

I am looking forward to what my degree will lead me. I am hoping that one day I can  work for myself or work for myself part time. I have a lot to offer and I just can't wait to get to a place where I can really shine and be appreciated off my work. 

A Week in Review: Police Reports, Emergency Rooms, and Pain Medication.

September has been an interesting month so far. Lots of trying moments that leave me question what am I supposed to learn through all of these moments. 

I think Monday was the only best day of the week and usually I hate Mondays. Tuesday morning we woke up to our garage open and our cars had been gone through. Luckily they only took Johns watch that I gave him for his birthday and my work bag. The joke is on them because the only thing in my work bag was a bunch of papers, lesson plans and markers. Wednesday I battled morning traffic and it almost took me 2 hours to go 30 miles. So frustrating. Then later that night at taekwondo, I was sparring against John and I fell and landed on my shoulder and he landed on top of me. I was proud that I kept me cool and didn't start crying (even though I wanted to). I just waited until we got in the parking lot and that is when I lost it, haha. 

John took me to the emergency room because we thought my collar bone was broken. We were at the emergency room for only an hour! I think that is a record and the doctor and hospital staff were really nice, again, a first for me. Luckily I didn't break anything and I just have a bad sprain. Thursday I woke up feeling really, really sore. I couldn't move at all. I also felt sick to my stomach every time I sat up or tried to walk. The only solution was to lay down. I had to stay home from work, however, I had my job interview later that day!!!! I managed to somehow get ready for it, but I did terrible at the interview. I felt like I was going to throw up through the whole interview and I couldnt answer the questions effectivly. Ugh!

After the interview I had to go to the store to get my perscription filled. By this time I was also starving and thought getting a snack would maybe help my stomach. So while I waited for my perscription to be filled, I sat down at Starbucks and drank an iced tea and a little snack. During the whole time I was there, I prayed that I wouldn't throw up at the store and that I could have enough strength to get my medicine and make it home. Thankfully I did end up getting the strength and made it home in time to throw up in the proper place. :) 

Friday I felt a little better and went to work, although I think my co-workers thought I was loony and even asked if I was feeling ok. I said no and later I went home because I was so uncomfortable and not feeling well. I was also bummed because I was supposed to belt test for taekwondo last night, but kind of hard to do that when your sick and crippled. :)  

Last night I slept horrible. I kept waking up feeling sick to my stomach, dizzy and sweating like a fever had broke. Plus my pain medicine makes me have crazy dreams. I am still feeling blah, but I am happy that I am able to move my arm and shoulder a bit more and I am not in tears anymore because of the pain. 

I wonder what next week has to offer. I hope its not as painful. :) 

*I appologize if this doesn't seem to make sense, Im still on my pain medicine. :)

Fall

Fall is in the air! I really miss seeing leaves turn colors. In Texas the grass gets brown and that's pretty much it. I love fall. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin candles and apple cider...my favorite.

To Teach or Not to Teach

Is it Friday yet?!? Ugh. I am exhausted and it is only Monday. I still haven't recuperated from last week. Last week was my first week teaching and I can tell I am out of "shape." I haven't taught since June, so I guess sitting in my cubical the last two months really screwed me up. My feet have been killing me since last Monday. My feet have been swollen and feel like they are bruised. What makes it worse is that on Saturday I went to try on some beautiful shoes at Target and I couldn't get the shoe to fit on the right foot! Sad. 

Here in a couple of weeks I should be back in "shape." I just can't wait until that day comes where I don't come home exhausted and pass out on the couch. It makes doing night time chores so hard when you can't move. 

Something I have been debating  for the last year is whether to get my teaching license. I feel so natural teaching, but the thought of going back to school makes me sick. I am still procrastinating my masters degree when all I really have to do is write 5ish or so more pages to my thesis and that is it. I am super burned out on school and that is why I cant figure out if I want to get my teaching license. But the thought of having summers and holidays off sounds nice. :) The only thing I can do is pray about it at this point. So we will see what happens. :)

Have you ever been confused as to what you want to do for your career? I have so many ideas and really wanting to get started with my career, but I feel like there are barriers that keep me from doing what  really love. I guess I have to be patient because I know that God wouldn't have allowed me to go through all of this schooling for nothing. :)