Category Archives: Education

School and studies

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As some of you know, I am particularly interested in traveling abroad. I originally had considered studying outside of the United States, but after an advising appointment today, I got an even better idea… International internship. There are little or no health and human social work internship opportunities available in Australia. This was my preferred destination of travel, but standing back I realize that I am excited about just being abroad in general — not just the bedazzlement of Oceania. There are many other options I am able to choose from and each I do find quite interesting. I look forward to researching them all and posting my favorites soon!

Spare Some Change

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The past 2 years have fostered so many beautiful, unforgettable changes in my life. I am thankful for the strength and support I have encountered along the way. In these 21 months, I have taken the image of who I want to be and have done my best to sculpt it into reality. There are some odds and ends, but they will resolve in time.

In the past couple of days something new and inspirational has harvested. I was daydreaming in the shower, like I usually do, when a provocative tagline came to the tip of my tongue.

Spare some change.

You may think of a street dweller asking for money — but dig a little deeper and you’ll find the meaning. We need to open up a little more to the idea of change. I sometimes believe we hang on to “the daily grind” because we fear what we cannot change. We are afraid in the things we cannot control or the fate we may face in time. But right now… Right now it wouldn’t do too much harm if we could just spare some change in our lives. Stop worrying, and start planning. Maybe this means you loosen up, or maybe this means you get down to business.

Why should we fear change? Every decision we make in our daily lives should be working towards a better, sustainable tomorrow. If we are afraid of tomorrow then we are not doing enough today to ensure our comfort, confidence, and success. We have such a large say in what tomorrow will look like. Like our physical health, we can take control and succeed because we are at the helm of control.

I have embarked on a fourth phase in my life. I am thrilled to be recently employed with Oregon State University as the only student assistant at The Hallie Ford Center. We moved into the brand new building last week and it’s not just a fresh start for the healthy children and family programs but for me as well. It’s an all new stage in my life and it feels incredibly invigorating to be working and engaging with others in the variety of ever-changing tasks I perform. I like going to work and I embrace the challenges I am dealt.

But I am also excited to be forecasting for a fifth phase of change to come in time. I enjoy my public health academic major and I am eager to see myself in a dedicated career. I am still uncertain about a primary focus, however. I am not sure Health Management and Policy is something I am cut out for. It feels extremely over my head right now and each term I just face a queue of more predestined classes. I’ve been sort of fishing for some inspiration, and while working at The Hallie Ford Center has already proven to be a great start, I’ve actually been acutely interested in taking my studies abroad.

Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia is on my front page. I am at the drawing board laying out blueprints for achievement and success. The schematics require some focus and extensive planning, but I really think it’s worth it — and thinking, reading, and researching about studying abroad fires me up and I get very excited. It feels right. I think I need to do this… I need to do it for myself. I can’t let it pass me by.

Studying abroad is normally seen in college sophomores and juniors… But I’m going to be a senior. I’ve thought about this and I’ve felt that my opportunity has been passed up. But then I think about what people have told me… College is your chance to explore and make your own way. Why do I have to follow the same path everyone takes? I already know I won’t be graduating the end of my senior year due to a late switch to public health and a reevaluated approach to the classes I’m taking. This has been somewhat discouraging, but I am living my own adventure so let’s live it up!

Some people get “senioritis”, an uncontrollable eagerness to finish school and graduate. But I’m experiencing the opposite. I’m on what seems like the last leg of college and I’m not ready for it to be done. I feel like I haven’t experienced all there is to be had. I’ve gone three years with the same routine of forecasting and attending classes. It feels a little stagnant, though. Studying abroad is not just a temporary fad I have. It’s a revelation that I need to act upon. During these last three years I have witnessed so many people travel to other countries as part of school, They post beautiful pictures and tell of engrossing stories. I have longed to be in their shoes — to sit in that classroom, to see the scenes, to meet the people, to truly live that dream. I will not get another chance if I don’t do it today.

I believe studying abroad at Deakin University is right for me because it is an outstanding opportunity to thrive. Life in Melbourne will be a fun and an academically enriching experience. I will enroll in a span of human development and family science courses taught by Australian education professors. I will meet new people, have incredible experiences in new activities, and explore an urban paradise. This is what I’ve always wanted. I want it so bad and I am ready to work for it. I am more than ready to spare some change.

Published from my iPad.

Grueling

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The midterm in week six. The midterm worth 25% of your grade. The midterm you know is going to be grueling. That’s the midterm I have tomorrow at noon… And with less than 18 hours until go-time, the helmet, boots, and armor are coming on. Heading to war… War with a textbook, notes, and a seemingly attention-deficit mind. I feel like I learn so much more from lecture and reviewing the notes I take during then… But when another 25% of your entire grade is based on creatively “synthesizing” text and lecture notes together, I am at no position to favor my own opinion and whine how I can’t focus to read a textbook. I love the content we are learning. Health policy is really fascinating and I have no complaints about the subject matter. I am at least confident I am on the right track to a career.

Sometimes I feel like I’m juggling a dangerous set of items — not always entirely confident in my progress in a class or two — and that I may drop one of those juggled items and ruin my entire act. And, often, I end up making miracles happen and I accomplish everything and life goes on. But that was last term. What do I need to do in order to return to this magical mindset — the one where I buckle down at the local Starbucks every other night and work through pages and pages of reading and notes and all is well? I want that back. I think I am still miffed at how my professor teaches — and it’s her overall attitude and the vibes I receive from her that always sets me in hesitation. If I am confident in my teacher I am confident in my work. But a student needs to learn to function in all types of situations, and so I feel, again, I have no right to hold my opinions high. I am heading back to the books. This will be one of those ugly nights.

Locking the door, the phone is on silent, and the TV is… Well… The TV is still on to Family Guy.

A Little Frosting on the Cake

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Dayumn it’s exciting out there! Corvallis got coated with a good dusting of nice, dry snow. However, beneath this bliss is a glazing of troublesome ice. It’s not impossible to commute with whatever car you may use, but those drivers not too familiar with the rules of frozen roadways have shown to get a little taste of their haphazard approach to riding on four wheels. Even bicyclists are facing spills… Maybe that’s because they are peddling on those thin-profiled bikes (someone help me out here with the name) that are designed to have least amount of traction. In 30 minutes I witnessed two rear-end vehicle bumps and three bicycle wipeouts. That doesn’t count the two cars that spun out with their overpowered right turns.

I think I plan on heading north to Portland area this afternoon. I believe that even if the ice does not improve, I am an aware driver that understands slick driving. I don’t want to be overconfident because I know ice has a mind of it’s own. With a front-wheel-drive Camry, even my overrated traction control system wouldn’t have much help. But I hope once I can get out of the busy heart of Corvallis, the straightaways and Interstate 5 will be easily manageable with care.

My H210 teacher emailed everyone, saying class is still on for today. I think he is being lame not because I don’t want class, but because I even see people slipping on foot. It’s not a good idea.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this white pre-Thanksgiving — and be extra safe out there.

Published from my iPhone.

Outro/Study & Thoughts

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I’m a little over a week early at posting this, but I couldn’t pass up this most opportune time to write. I usually publish this posting, part of a collection, during “dead week” of each academic term. However, we just finished the eighth week so I am writing a bit prematurely. Oh well, it’s fun.

Anyway, I’m here at Starbucks (like usual) and really enjoying this moment in time. It’s fairly busy here granted they have their buy-one-get-one-free promotion on holiday drinks. So, what did I do when I got my drink? Yeah, I look like a two-fisted drinker as I got two tall beverages — a caramel brûlée latte (a recommendation from Lindsey) and a peppermint mocha. Plus, not to forget how “gordo” I feel getting two “calorious” (my self-invented word meaning “high in calories”) drinks all for myself. Again, oh well.

So, I’m sitting here going through my H210 textbook typing up notes, but I’m also looking around and just really taking a moment to enjoy my life. Instead of worrying about the things I cannot achieve right now or that I am currently frustrated with, I’m recognizing how fortunate I am to sit here in this warm environment with happy, conversing people — and to be able to smile and know that life is great. I look at the string of ornaments and lights Starbucks has strung in front of the window… and I smile. I look at the red coffee menus, adorned with cartoon-like white hills and snow-dusted trees… and I smile. The Christmas merchandise, the snowflake decals, the people in coats, sweaters, and scarves — all so perfect… and I smile.

Oprah said today (nothing else was on television — what was I supposed to do?!) that meditation is good because it clears your mental channels. Daydreaming is my form of meditation. When I pull my mind back to focus I feel so happy and content with the world. My worries are dulled and I look at them with more acceptance than resistance. I look around and I smile.

I’m very excited for this wave of cold weather rolling into the area in a couple of days. Even if it would bring snow, I know it’s not staying long. But even if it doesn’t snow, I still love the cold, cold weather — the idea of finishing all my to-dos and just curling up on the couch, nice and warm, and watching a movie or maybe reading — with the blinds drawn back and the view of a frigid outdoors, the cars going by, and a time seemingly standing still. So enjoyable!

Additionally, I am also stoked for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Thanksgiving will be spent at my grandmother’s assisted living community. I like when we have Thanksgiving at our house — feels traditional and the full experience, but it is just as nice at my grandma’s because their is no food preparation and clean-up to do and you don’t really overeat or have to package up the leftovers (though, turkey and cranberry sandwiches are amazing).

But, then there’s Black Friday. Nyberg Woods Starbucks closes at 4pm on Thanksgiving day and opens the same night at 11pm and is open all the way through the end of Friday to cover the Black Friday midnight crowds coming and going. This year I am not really sure what I have my sights on for purchasing. It pains me because I have no real budget for spending — but I know that if you research and strategize correctly you can find the best prices of the year. My Nikon S570 I purchased last Black Friday is still going for a higher price than what I purchased it for when it was a new product to the market. Since then, an upgraded model has even been introduced — yet the price is still higher. That was a good buy. So, I will have to give it some thought and think about what I might be interested in getting — I suppose I should use Black Friday as a shopping advantage to buy items for others, rather than myself. That’s what the Christmas season is all about… Giving.

Tomorrow I’m going the the OSU vs. USC game with a bunch of friends. Our football season has been quite a wreck, but at least I can enjoy the time with the people that are close to me.

Well… It’s back to the textbook I go!

Crunch

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Well, it’s week eight and man ‘o man is it getting intense! I’ve got so, so, so much to do — and it all starts today! From midterms, homework, and essays — to advising, registering, and doing a good lost item deed, it’ll have to be a well-orchestrated string of events to make sure everything goes smoothly. I’m kind of panicky because I don’t feel I have complete control over all the different things, but I think I’ll create a checklist for at least today to help me accomplish it all.

Looking forward, assuming all goes well, I’m quite excited for Thanksgiving and winter break. I’m especially excited for Black Friday and, hopefully, snow. But, I have to keep myself focused on current tasks ahead of me or I’ll just lose all motivation. Okay, not really… But it’s difficult to stay working strong when you think about Thanksgiving and winter and cozying up while it’s bitter cold out. Ah, yes.

So, I’ve got lots to do — time to take on this complicated day. Ugh.