First Year Grad Student

It feels good to say that I am in grad school but the way my eyes are burning right now (because I need some sleep) is not one of the good parts of being in grad school. It's not difficult necessarily but it is definitely A LOT. I have A LOT to keep up with. A LOT of organization to stay on top of. A LOT of reading. A LOT of group projects. A LOT.......of eyes burning in my future. I never did finish my last English minor class because of my aunt's death ~ which I am still coping with. So I think that next semester since I will only have 12 more credits to take then I will throw in that last course, and then NO SUMMER SCHOOL, but then Fall will be UNPAID student teaching. Eww! I have to sign up to take my Praxis II, which I am going to do tomorrow and will do in January. By the end of the semester I have to take a Child Abuse Assessment, and I also need to apply to take my VCLA for this semester. Then I also need to sign up to take my VRA....JUST A LOT OF TEST THAT FUTURE TEACHERS HAVE TO TAKE AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM!!!!!!! My pocket is hurting just thinking about it. It's ridiculous! I think that at least one of the 6 tests we end up having to take by the end of this would be paid for....or even two! Well......more responsibilities full speed ahead!!!! And every step of the way I might complain :) but Lord knows I AM GRATEFUL!!!!

nothing but class and work

so nothing but summer class and work has been happening. this oceanography class is actually kicking my behind! i have never had to take oceanography, and the closest thing to it that i have taken is earth science which was in the ninth grade!!!! i am so glad that i am taking this class during the summer instead of while taking a full load. i can't believe that it is june already!!! and then next month is my b-day ~ which i am of course very excited about!!!! :) my gregory is still waiting to hear back from grad school and i wish they would tell him something!!! that way he can figure out if he'll be back in school or working full-time, be in richmond or petersburg, or wherever!!!!! well that's all for now.....back to pretending i know what oceanography is about :)

look at those a's :)

soooooo i definitely earned all a's this semester!!!! it is so great to have academic success when i've worked so hard for it. that's all for now....i was just so happy! :)

I Got In!!!

Yes, I was accepted to graduate school!!! I was a little scared at first because two weeks ago another student in my program said she was accepted provisionally with a 3.7!!! I was like what?! And she applied for summer, not fall, so I wasn't sure when I would receive my letter, and I was definitely scared to find out what it would say. After a relaxing four days in Williamsburg with my bf and in-laws :) I came back to find an envelope from Moseley House, which only meant it was my letter. I could not open it up in the elevator, just in case it was some bad news, I did not want to have a breakdown in public. So...I played it safe and went in my room, closed the door, and opened it. :) I looked at it and read it twice before I comprehended...I saw that I was accepted, but I was looking for something that said provisional. No, not at all, just admitted! I called my bf and actually started crying when I told him. I just could not believe it. I've put in so much work, and have had so many headaches and tears just dealing with life and trying to manage school and taking care of myself...and now it was paying off. I am on my way to receive my M.T. and I can't believe it.

I just think back and say I was just a freshman...what are you saying? I just can't believe it! I can....because I worked hard for it and believe that I am ever so deserving of it but I'm still like omgoodness because school is SO important to me and I put in 100% to everything I do....school....my relationship....my friendships....the few in my family that love me and support me. It just feels good and I think I can brag about it and not feel bad. Not at all. So, this summer I just have to finish up my two undergrad courses and graduate school in Fall '08!!!! Yesterday I completed my last final for the semester and was in the education computer lab and saw these grad students with this HUGE binder filled with all of these different activities and plans that they had to make .... one for math and one for science ... and I realized that's me next semester. I was like....ummm....so that's gonna be my reality. LOL...it sucked and made me smile at the same time because I'm just gonna take it like I've taken this past year. I will struggle, have headaches, miss out on a little fun now and again, but in the end it will be worth it and I can't believe that in December '09 I will be 23 years old with a M.T. That's crazy!!! :)

A Future Teacher....Gone

I still don't understand this....I don't....


....R.I.P. Aretha.....

Reality

I definitely have seen over these past few weeks the true dedication that is needed in order to pursue my career goals, and I realize that the next few weeks will also give me a glimpse of this reality. Between preparing these lesson plans, teaching them, journaling for my courses, completing my course work, and managing life things can become difficult. But the few people that I am honored to hold close to my heart has made things sooooooooo much easier for me when I become stressed out. I am still waiting to see what happens with graduate school and pray that I am accepted because honestly I have never thought about what would happen if I wasn't because VCU was my first and only choice. Hmmm I never thought about that. I guess it's just that I have faith in my capabilities and pray that they can see it too. I have a full week ahead and I'm ready because I had an absolutely relaxing weekend. :) Back to reality..... ;)

Go Me!

Well I will be turning in my grad school application on Monday and today I found out that I will have waiting for me already a $2000 scholarship!!! It was so totally unexpected! Yes, I applied for it, but I wasn't expecting to get anything, and especially not that amount. So...that is great since in grad school I can only get loans and not grants, so that's $2000 I don't have to worry about. What an unexpected blessing!! I am just so grateful because I really need the help. Not having anyone in my family helping me financially becomes so heavy on my shoulders at times, and the fact that certain people don't support what I'm doing period weighs heavy as well. But...you know what...good things happen to those who wait....Go Me!