Sick, but excited.

Although I am stuck home feeling sick, like this will be my last day to live, I figured I would blog about some exciting news. Next Tuesday, I will be heading over to the middle school after 7Th period to check out what Middle School counseling is really like. One of the counselors, Mrs. Tittermary is out for 8 weeks because she had a baby (AWE!). Since there is an empty office, Mrs. Rapattoni told me I could keep Mrs. Tittermary's seat warm for the time being AND even redecorate it, just kidding- that would be cool though! Technically, I'll have my own office which is pretty sweet. Now, if that's doesn't sound awesome enough, not only do I get to hang out in her office but I will actually get to spend time with children in there and get some hands-on experience. Obviously the problems they come to me with will not be super-crazy, but I will still get to chat with them and use some skills that I learn from my mentor and my sponsor. I cannot wait to get started on this project and find out whether this is the right path for me. The only bad news I have right now is that I have not heard back from Ms. Burns, the counselor at School #4, but I think I am going to go over to school #4 to meet her and talk with her face to face. I have heard nothing but nice things about her and I am looking forward to meeting her soon.

an extra two hours

So, it's obvious that everyone is aware of the two hour delay that we had this morning due to the snow and slush. With an extra 2 hours of sleep, I woke up ready to go and it took about 5 minutes get ready. I have once heard that a person's brain does not begin working until around 10 o'clock. Now, I don't know if this is true but I definately believe it. Why make students go to school at 7:30 when they can't even think right!? It is ridiculous! I am much more willing to put everything I have into my school work now that I am completely recharged. I don't know about everyone else but it would be a great idea to go into school around 9 or 10 every single day! Much more kids would be ready and willing to get to work.

Senior Project Project :)

The senior project midterm is fairly easy and gives us a chance to be productive as well as show our creative sides. For the first part of the project, I am making a poster advertising for the Senior Project. Trying to incorporate everyone's dream profession, I made each letter in the word "senior project" something that had to do with a job. For example, the letter "I" in senior is a tree to represent Ty'Ana's goal to be an enviornmentalist. Projects such as this one allow students to express themselves and show of their true talents. I wish every project could be this fun!

New Moon

So far, I have finished Twilight and New Moon. These books really keep me interested and also have taught me some new vocabulary words such as impasse* and chagrin.* Stephanie Meyer is such a descriptive author; at times, I find myself feeling the same emotions as Bella, the main character. When she is feeling the "hole in heart" ache, I am feeling it too. I know it sounds a little nerdy, but I am absolutely hooked on these books. Eclipse, here I come!

*chagrin (noun)
1.a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation.

*impasse (noun)
1.a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

Emotions.

When something ticks me off, I don't get angry- I get FURIOUS. I must admit, I have always had a temper but never as bad as it has been. Maybe it is the stress with school and work, I cannot be sure but once I figure out why it is getting out of hand, I think I will get closer to solving my problem. Some teachers or bosses tell their students or employees to leave their issues at the front door. Somehow, I cannot get over my issues and they end up staying with me throughout the whole day. Deep down, I truly believe anyone who can ignore the bad things that are going on in their life during school time or work time, has tons of self-control and will. Anger management seems unnecessary but if this continues, I may have to consider. I mean, it's to the point where I get mad about being mad.

Sometimes there is not even a reason why I feel the way I do. Like Aliccia mentioned in a blog, I will go into this terrible, depressed mood for no apparent reason. Senior year has really got me feeling down. There are so many changes occuring in my life right now and I am trying my hardest to stay strong.

Inspirational quote

So, the other day I was strolling down the hallway after the 8th period bell rang when I noticed Craig walking glumly down the hall. I stopped, concerned, to ask him what was wrong and he told me that everything was alright. I proceeded to ask him if he had a bad day and he replied, "I never have bad days. I wake up in the morning and I'm alive." When he said this, all I could possibly think was WOW, what an amazing response. It made me feel as though I was being selfish and unthoughtful when I waste a day angry over something foolish because there are people who are not well or who have lost a loved one. We should all learn to be more like Craig and cherish every second of life, every breath of air we inhale. Life is precious.*

A Letter from the Future

Imagine that you are twenty-eight years old, and you're writing to a cherished teacher whom you haven't heard from in ten years. Tell him/her about your professional life. What do you do for a living and how did you get there? Consider the following: What schools did you attend? What special training and degrees do you have? Where do you work and what is the name of your company? What do your coworkers and boss think of you? What professional successes and awards have you enjoyed since graduating from high school.

Dear Teacher,

How is life? I figured it has been a while (well, more like forever) and I should send you a letter to catch up on things. As of right now, I am a counselor at Peanut Middle School and I absolutely love it. I ended up going to CCC for two years because Stockton did not accept me right away and once I finished up there, I transferred to Stockton to study sociology and counseling as well as education. On my spare time, I am taking courses for special education at there, considering how much I enjoy working with children and new challenges, I figured I should expand my education and learn something new. Counseling is going extremely well; this is perfect for me. Instead of high school drama along with all of the college buisness that I cetainly do not want to get wrapped up in and working in groups with elementary schools, I am glad I chose to be a guidance counselor for middle school. To get the chance to play a role in a child's life when they are blossoming into an adolescent is a pleasure. I can remember when I was that age... They don't call it the period of "storm and stress" for no reason! pre-teens and teens at this age need someone there for them to listen to their drama with friends, teachers, and family. I have two children at home and a husband, Henry, whom I have been married to for 8 years now.

My family & I- Me, Henry, Julian, and Luna Some of the students here, aren't they cute?

The blogs I peeped.

Briona, Natalie, Turquoise, Brooke, Aliccia, Ty'Ana, and Jamie were the blogs I looked at today. They were very interesting and I learned a lot from them and also about them. For example, the way B.Scott feels about love is so deep and descriptive, and the tricks Turquoise did with her pictures and header is unique and completely reflects her personality. Looking at others blogs gives me tips and ideas of effects that I can add on my blog as well as some insight on different subjects and opinions. Great job guys!

Sweeeet tricks for blogs!

So, I've been doing some sweet stuff with my blogs and I am getting more comfortable with how this whole 'online journal' thing really works. Looking at my classmates blogs has given me ideas and also inspired some of the pictures and ish on my blog! Thanks guys!

Weekend Grab Bag

What I really want right now is to get my thoughts together and my priorites straight. My thoughts are discombobulated but my intentions are set on being successful. Worrying about maintaining healthy relationships with my loved ones, keeping up with my school work, going to work to earn money, and getting into college is stressing me out to the point my head might actually blow up. There is so much on my plate and it feels like time is moving so quickly that I barely have time to relax. If I could make time stand still while I completed all my unfinished tasks, that would be great because at this rate, I am going to have grey hair by June.

A provoking excerpt

In Child Abuse and Neglect, the overview provides some facts about abuse that immediately caught my eye and made me think for a moment: "In the Commenwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls (1997), one in five high school girls reported that she had been physically or sexually abused. The majority of the abuse occured at home (53 percent) and more than once (65 percent). Nearly a third had not told anyone about the abuse."

Of course I know that there are teenagers out there that have been or are being abused but reading actual percentages and statistics just makes it that much more real. This book was published in the late 90's so I can only imagine how much higher the numbers are now. The last sentence from that excerpt was disturbing and there are signs to look for in an adolescent to be able to pick up on someone who is being abused or has been abused, which are coming up within the next few chapters. Being the compassionate person that I am, I would want to be an outlet for these children or someone they would feel comfortable opening up to.

Interesting Subject during class time

I have always been interested in psychology. Deja Vouz is a subject that completely baffles me and I would love to learn more about it and possibly find out an answer whether it is real or not. Another issue that is great to learn about is drug use and the effects certain drugs have on the body and the brain- both longterm and shorterm effects, I have already learned about drug use in a previous pyschology course but it wouldnt hurt to learn some more!

How should blogs be graded?

How should our blogs be graded? Well, I think our blogs should be graded on how elaborate we expressed our opinions and if we answered the questions fully. Grammar and vocabulary should not be graded BUT if there are words like "deez" and "da", there should be a couple of point deducted because that is just ridiculous. These online journals are a chance to show ideas and opinions in a new and improved way; as long as the task is accomplished, an A or B should be given.