90 minute presentation--done!

This week has been surprisingly good, despite being sick AND having a 90 minute presentation. Yay grad school...

Monday, I was really congested and couldn't breathe. I carpooled to class with Natalie and Christine, who had to present on video modeling. We were running late, so although we were in Christine's car, I drove so that I could drop them off. I figured it was better that I was a few minutes late, rather than the presenters. I would not even have been late, except that I couldn't figure out how to get the keys out of the ignition. Apparently there was a button I had to press. I could NOT figure it out...so I called Natalie. I called Christine. I called my dad. I called my mom--who actually answered, and threw out some suggestions. I ended up getting it (by chance alone) and then I had to sprint to class...and walk in ten minutes late. Awkward. I hate being late.

On Tuesday, I had a busy day. I had my school placement in the morning, which I just love. I sat in on a third-grade classroom, and then back to the first-grade classroom that I love so much. I helped the first graders with their math worksheets...and one adorable little boy read some stories to me. He also offered me some snack, since it was his day to bring the snack for the class. It was SUPER cute.

I had stats, which I still have mixed feelings about. I half-heartedly take notes while organizing my planner and my e-mail inbox. I usually follow along, though I have such a hard time staying focused. After stats, I had lunch and reviewed my presentation.

The presentation was supposed to be 60-90 minutes long...and it actually lasted about 90 minutes. I was afraid it would be way too short, or that we would read too much off the slides. It was about credentialing in school psychology, which is very fact-based and definitely not discussion-based. It was hard to keep the class involved, but we did give them candy :) We got very good ratings from the class evaluations, and I felt very good about it. And now it feels fantastic to be done!!

On Wednesday, I actually did some work for my GA, entering quizzes. Then I had my supervision meeting. I really enjoy supervision meetings, because we get to talk about my school placement, Headstart, my social skills group, the program, my experiences growing up, and more. I talk a lot, so it's not hard to fill that hour. I just have fun talking about all that stuff.

Then, I went to Headstart for the second time. The kids recognized me, and one boy ran up and hugged me. It was so cute--I adore kids. I played with some toy animals, and helped clean up. We went to recess, and since I didn't want to play tag (it's a small space, we'd run someone over) the kids weren't that interested in me. They do like that I'll climb on the equipment and through the tunnels, down the slides, etc. I'm sure I'll acquire lots of bumps and bruises as we go along...but it's fun :)

Today I had statistics. And that's all. I did go to the computer lab to work on some statistics homework, since we need SPSS to do the homework. It didn't take long, and I was pretty proud of myself. I really like having the homework assessments and quizzes on Blackboard, because I can see instantly how I did. The professor encourages you to re-do the quizzes as many times as it is necessary to get 100%. It only took my one try for each of the three homework assessments, and I was so proud!

Other than that, I've been starting the readings for B-Mod. I should do more, but I'm so tired and unmotivated at night. Tomorrow is Friday, though, and I only have class from 1 to 1:50...and then we're going to Peoria to visit an apple orchard!! I'm so excited. I haven't actually been to any apple orchards (at least, not as far as I know or remember?) and I cannot wait. We invited the whole cohort to come along, although many people already have plans for the weekend. I think it'll be a lot of fun to get out of Normal, as well as to play outside and get some apple cider. Fun :)

Grad school addictions

This week seems so long. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I am starting to get sick. Ugh. Fail.

Classes have been...not so exciting. I went to the elementary school on both Tuesday AND Thursday to get in some extra time :) It was fun. I love visiting the schools, and just hanging out with the kids. I'm totally making friends in all the classrooms. I even went to PE today...one of the third grad teachers lent me tennis shoes and socks so that I didn't have to wear heels. I have to say, the teachers have all been super welcoming, which is so nice.

I went to Headstart on Wednesday, and didn't feel quite as welcome there. I think, however, that the teacher was having a bad day--considering that there was one child yelling and screaming the entire two hours I was there. Side note--look, I used "however" in the right place. Today in my stats class, I learned about using "however" at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph versus using it in a sentence. I never knew there was a difference. I still think it's strange to be learning these things in my stats class, but I can't really complain. It's going to help me be a better writer (at least, according to the APA and this particular professor).

I am supposed to be reading right now, but am having trouble focusing. I reward myself with things like cake batter ice cream, which is absolutely fantastic. Luckily you can buy it at Walmart and not just Cold Stone, so I can have it more than once a month. I can't keep running to Cold Stone when I have a long day...tempting though it may be. Anyway, I should be reading now...but I'm debating sleeping now and reading tomorrow. I just know that's a bad idea because if I truly am getting sick...I definitely won't want to read for class tomorrow. Better to get it all in tonight, especially since I have NO CLASS tomorrow so I can sleep in :) Only...I need to work on my 60 minute presentation that is due on Tuesday. Boo.

I'm not very impulsive, I can hold out...or not.

I've been slacking on my blogging again. This time, I think it's because I honestly haven't been doing much. At least, nothing more than class.

I was pretty productive this weekend, and got my homework done. I even started working on stuff that's due a little later. And then I read a book. Yep. A whole book. It's kind of weird that I find more time to read in graduate school than I did while I was at Ripon. But, it is the first year and I'm really not that involved yet. Plus, there are a lot fewer people for me to hang out with. Not in a really sad way (though I do miss so many people), but more that graduate school has not provided many opportunities to meet people. Hopefully I will :) It's nice that my roommate and I get along so well, as well as one of the other girls from the program.

Natalie and I might be getting a pet. Or two. We went to Petco for a fish, and fell in love with some kittens. Although I'd prefer a dog, a kitten is much more feasible at this point in time. But one would be hard--we do hope to stay together for the next for years, but when we leave for internship...who would the pet go with? So, it might be two. I think kittens would make our apartment much more lively. It's kind of quiet most of the time, which has its benefits...and downsides as well.

So that's where we're at. Natalie and Christine have a presentation this week; I have a presentation next week (60-90 minutes, yay). We're planning on visiting an apple orchard, probably at the beginning of October. I'm hoping to go home for one of my brother's football games sometimes, and I'm also trying to convince my family to come visit me. After being home all summer, it's weird not seeing or talking to them.

Tomorrow and Tuesday will be long days, just because they are busy. But before I know it, it'll be Wednesday again and the week will be halfway over! It's a little disconcerting how fast time can go by. Anyway, I suppose I'm off to read (again!) and then go to bed :)

Last time I do that....

It's actually a little bit scary how fast the weeks fly by. Mondays and Tuesdays are long, exhausting days (though the mornings are quiet--it's mostly the afternoons that suck). And then I realize it's Wednesday, and that means that week is halfway over already. Insane.

Let's see. On Monday, I had B-Mod, which is probably my favorite class. It's pretty fascinating, and I love that our professor is so clearly passionate about the topic. After B-Mod, I had a meeting from 3 to 4, and then I had an early dinner and went to TAP at 5:45. I am helping out with a social skills group for children with autism. I can already tell it's going to be an interesting and slightly exhausting experience. But I like it :)

On Tuesday, I had stats, which is still way more about writing than statistics. Ugh. Hopefully we actually start the math part soon. I thought I would like the writing stuff, but so far it's not very exciting.

Today, I did some homework and had a meeting. Then I made banana bread and got scammed by door-to-door salesmen. *Sigh* I didn't know how to say no. I just didn't. They were really nice but I didn't want any magazines...but I didn't know what to do. Well, after they left I "googled" the company, and there are a whole bunch of fraud alerts. Sweet. So I called my bank and cancelled my check, and switched my account. Really easy, and the bank was SO nice. They told me that the company wasn't really fraudulant, just a terrible company, and they recommended cancelling my check, etc. I just felt really stupid. But my banana bread is good. And I guess this isn't really a problem since my bank is pretty much taking care of everything.

Lesson learned for the day: do not answer the door. Ever. Sorry, we didn't exactly have door-to-door salesmen growing up. I'm just not answering the door.

Rough day. Time for some homework...and more banana bread.

Fun with the Cohort

It's been a good and fairly productive weekend.

On Friday, I had a pretty good day. I got my haircut, which makes me happy. It's nothing dramatic, but I trimmed a few inches off which feels so much better. Then, that night, Natalie and I went out for pizza with some others from the program to celebrate the fourth-years finishing their comprehensive exams. Then, we went to Beth's and hung out.  Around midnight, we FINALLY hopped on a bus that took us to the bars. I think the bars could be fun, but it was just an off night. I was holding a glass in my hand (ha, my one drink) and somebody dropped/threw their glass on top of mine. I honestly have no idea where it came from, but both glasses shattered and I cut my hand. We left not long after that.

On Saturday, I did homework and little else. I actually slept until about 11:30 (of course, I didn't go to bed until 2:30), so that was exciting. I read my five chapters of B-Mod, and tried to be productive. On Sunday...I got up and ran, and then did more homework. I actually went to the Coffeehound for a little while and working on homework with Claire and Natalie. Then, we went to dinner with Natalie's family because they came to town. That was fun.

After dinner, I got a little more work done and now I am watching True Blood on HBO with Claire, Christine, Natalie, Sara, and Dylan. Claire, Christine, and I have no idea what is going on, but it's just nice to be around people.

Tomorrow looks long. I have my three hours B-Mod class, then a supervision meeting, brief dinner, and then I'm helping out with a social skills group at TAP. Good thing I have all my homework done for the week...I'm sure I'll get nothing done tomorrow.

Back to the daily grind.

Well, after a lovely long weekend, I've been hard at work once again. It's really not that exciting.

Let's see...Monday and Tuesday I had classes. On Wednesday, I had meetings. Today, I had lots of free time and I totally didn't get anything done. It's sometimes hard to work when hanging out with people. Okay, pretty much always. I'm also just not feeling very motivated this week, which means I'll be spending quite a bit of time this weekend reading for class. To be fair, though, it's not like I have fun weekend plans. I need to start planning some marginally fun events for weekends, just so I can motivate myself to work during the week.

Tomorrow I have no classes. I am, however, volunteering at a campus psychology event and doing some work for my graduate assistantship. I also have super fun plans for a haircut tomorrow, since my hair is just too long. It's driving me crazy when I run.

So...super exciting life. I shouldn't complain, I really like it. It's just that people keep asking for updates, and really my life is pretty average. But I like it, so it's all good.