Whirlwind

YIKES!

SO much has happened since my last post and this is honestly the first time since that day in April that I have felt I can actually sit down and take a deep breath.

I finished all my classes, graduated college, moved home, been job searching, hostessing, subbing, and planning for my summer program. TOO MUCH!

Let's back up...

My last semester of college was amazing. I finished the semester with a 3.93 GPA which I was so excited about because I did it without having any Education classes. After classes we had an entire week of Senior events. This quite possibly could be the best week I've ever had (with Spring Break at a close second). I spent the week with no worries, no responsibility, and the best of friends. We truly seized the day and made the most of our last week in Newport together.

Graduation day was absolutely beautiful. It was that day that I was so grateful for having chose Newport, RI to go to school. The weather was in the 70s, it was sunny, and we graduated on the ocean....can you ask for anything better than that?! I accomplished my goal of graduating Magna cum Laude which meant I had to have at least a 3.75 cumulative gpa. They announced that after my name as I walked across stage and that moment made all the stress and hard work of the past 4 years worth it to me.

My friends and I on Graduation Day!

It was very sad leaving Newport because my closest friends are all staying for the summer and living together. But it had to be done because I am not ready to give up my summer camp.

Since I moved home I immediately began hostessing at my parents restaurant and substituting in the school district at home to try to start making/saving money.

I continued with the job search and was so lucky to get called for 2 interviews (and a second round of interview this week- keep your fingers crossed)
I have been starting to think of alternative plans for the fall if that doesn't work out, I am trying really hard to just take it as it comes...I'm not really doing a good job at that though.

For the first summer in 4 years I haven't really had time pre-program to dedicate all my time thinking about and planning for my summer program...so now that I've put an end to the hostessing and subbing I finally can and it feels so wonderful. I am so looking forward to getting to know a new 500 kids this summer and seeing all the incredible things they are capable of!

THINK PURPLE.

In the Homestretch...

I'm NOT going to post about the fact that graduation is coming up and this is my last week of Salve classes ever...because that is literally all that is on my mind and I think I would stress my blog out if I wrote about that. I will make sure to have one last college-student post...later.

There ARE mannnny things I am excited about post-graduation, however. Summer is definitely my favorite time of the year, regardless of how fun college is.

Here are some things I am absolutely looking forward to...

Flip flops EVERYDAY

Lay Out and Take Out days with my Triangle

Not having to cook for myself...

http://www.mcguigganspub.com/ (check it out!)

And of course...spending 6 weeks at my favorite place on Earth

The Job Search is ON!

I officially attended my first Career Fair today!
I have been anticipating this event for a few months now, never thought I'd make it, and definitely did not think my nervous system would be able to handle it!!
Multiple interviewing in one day is the epitome of things that make me most nervous in life.

Alas, I had a small panic attack for the few days prior, finally decided on an appropriate outfit, got all my resumes printed, portfolio put together, and all my belongings organized. I showed up, interviewed with a few schools, and called it a day. I left in one piece and feeling pretty good.

I am starting to feel hopeful. Jobs are starting to be posted and I am feeling like there is hope. As of next week I will have officially applied to 6 jobs. It's definitely a start! Some I would LOVE more than others, but I will absolutely go where anyone will hire me!

My fingers will be crossed until September! Keep yours crossed for me!

One Month

The fact that I'm graduating in one month has actually started to feel real lately.
I am really starting to realize all the people here that have become part of my life and how many people I am actually going to miss seeing every day, or even just running into on campus. I am appreciating all the close relationships I've made with the professors here that I am so grateful for.
I have made a personal promise to myself to not get stressed out or overwhelmed about anything in the next few weeks regardless of the amount of work I have or things I need to accomplish in a short amount of time. I usually let this time of the year get the best of me and I just can't afford to let that happen this year!
I am just going to enjoy the next 4 weeks as much as I can because there will never be another time in my life like this!

Here's to making the most of the last few remaining days! Carpe Diem.

Let Me Just Say For The Record...Middle School Was The Dumbest Idea Ever Invented

Approximately one year ago I was teaching Writing to a few 4th graders...while doing an interest survey to get some ideas to write about I asked what their favorite book to read was. The answer: Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Having never heard of this book but wanting to relate to my students and make my lessons fun I did some "research". AKA...I took this book out of the library and FELL.IN.LOVE. I then proceded to read the next book and put my name on a waiting list in my COLLEGE library to get the third.

Who would've thought a book written for middle schoolers could be so thoroughly enjoyed by someone in their 20s. I now know of many other peers my age that find the same enjoyment from these books. (It's probably because we can totally remember our 'middle school days' and find ourselves saying "Oh my god! That's so true!" throughout most of the book)

Anywho...some genius decided to turn this book into a movie and it was Incredible! I highly recommend it to anyone...of any age!
I can proudly say three 20-something year olds laughed the loudest in the theater. SO GOOD!

Check out the trailer!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVEIgPeDCE

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

Today, myself and 4 of my friends from school are going to spend 8 days in Florida to celebrate our last College Spring Break!

It is crazy to think this is the last one and that once we get back we are really going to be in the homestretch til graduation, but I am so grateful that through my 4 years at school I have gotten to meet these people and have the chance to celebrate this occassion with them!

We have big plans to soak up a lot of sun and do a whole lot of relaxing!

"I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand. Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hands. Life is good today."

22, Yikesaroo!

So I recently celebrated my 22nd Birthday! (February 17th to be exact)

I have to say it was one of the best birthdays I've had in a while.

I am really into birthdays...pretty much everyones...and I like to do all that I can to make sure everyone has a fantastic birthday, and the past few years I've had a hard time accepting that not everyone will always do the same.

However, this year I got to celebrate with (just about) everyone I could've hoped to!

I like to think that my birthday celebrations began while I was in NC because my parents bought me the tickets for my birthday...and so refer to previous post- that was an amazing time.

Then on Tuesday night some of my friends from school and I went to a local bar to see a band play and rang in the midnight hour (my official birthday) singing and dancing to some sweet tunes.

On Wednesday I got to go out to lunch with my roommates and a couple other friends. It was nice that they all took time out of their day just to go to lunch. Then one of my best friends and I went to a pottery painting place called The Accidental Artist, because I have always wanted to go there and paint something fun. There wasn't a better person I could've wanted to go with- because we are equally enthralled by arts and crafts activities like that and both took it equally as serious. And even though we sat in almost complete silence carefully crafting our designs, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

My pre-fired plate!Thennn on Friday night, I went home to my parent's new Pub to really celebrate! I had invited school friends, home friends, coworkers, old friends, new friends...pretty much anyone. I tend to keep my groups of friends pretty separate in my life and there was nothing I enjoyed more than having everyone I love in one place at the same time. There were some people I wish could've been there, but distance and age just didn't allow for that to happen. I am so thankful that so many people decided to come home from school or travel a short distance just to celebrate with me. I got to wear a fun dress, drink fun drinks, have almost an entire Pub sign happy birthday to me, and open such thoughtful gifts&cards. Overall...a successful 22nd!

And a BIG thank you to Holden and Nguyen for their kind birthday posts!! Love both of you very much!

These Are The Times To Remember Because They Will Not Last Forever

This past weekend I finally did something that I've wanted to do for the past few years...spent a weekend in Elon, NC!

It was sooooooo nice to get away from school and not do anything but relax and have LOTS of fun!

We covered just about everything we could in the few days I was there and my wonderful hostess made sure she gave us the ultimate southern experience!

We ate biscuits at Bojangles, cured hangovers at Sonic, fine-dined at a mexican restaurant with margaritas on the side, had a cozy and delicious home-made dinner, and celebrated a super fun weekend with chocolated covered...everything!

Aside from all the eating- we got a tour of the beautiful campus, fell in love with the Greek store, saw Valetines Day, and had the ultimate experience at the Cruz Thru!!

To put our final mark on Elon we got to find out the meaning of Bomo. =)

Overall, it was the best weekend ever with the best friends ever. I am so happy I got to catch up with friends I don't get to see nearly enough and meet new friends. It's weekends like these that make me never want to grow up and leave college!!

"You're going to miss this, you're going to want this back. You're going to wish these days hadn't gone by so fast..."

Savasana

I've been going to yoga every now and then since a new yoga place opened near my house only about a year ago. I am really not very good at it (although, I'm getting better!) but this past weekend I was there and I think I realized the REAL reason why I enjoy it so much: Savasana.

Savasana is a pose in yoga also referred to as the 'corpse pose'. At the end of every class for about 3-5 minutes we spend in this pose which is literally laying on your back with your arms by your side and your palms facing up. It is a relaxation pose and the goal is to stop your mind from thinking about everything and just focus on your body and relaxing.

This is the hardest part of the entire hour and 15 minute class for me. There is never a minute in my day that my mind isn't racing with the millions of things I need to be doing, things I've done in the past, or things I should do in the future. I hardly ever give my self time to relax and I feel as though I can justify those few minutes of pure relaxation because it is actually something I'm SUPPOSED to be doing!

I am trying this semester to be less stressed out and to, for lack of better wording, try not to care so much about every little detail of everything in my life. So far the opposite is happening...maybe I'll start adding some mandatory Savasana time into my daily schedule.

Fit Camp

Holy. Moly.

This week I started "Fit Camp". It is an 8 week, 2 times a week, workout 'camp' with a personal trainer and a group of about 10. Every Monday and Wednesday night we work out together with the trainer for an hour and then we have 'homework' every other day of the week. Along with the workouts she has given us different diets to go by.

This is probably going to be more difficult than any of the classes I am taking. We just started this week and I am finally feeling motivated and ready to go. This is exactly what I need and I am so ready to have someone kicking my ass into shape.

I am just hoping I can keep this motivation going through all 8 weeks and keep up with the homework/dieting along with my other crazy schedule.

So far, so good...I'll keep you updated. Today was camp day #2 and I can barely walk. YIKES!

"Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End"

I'd like to think of this as 'the beginning of the end'. Today was the first day of classes of my second semester senior year.
It's a crazy thought that this is it, these are the last classes i'll be taking in my undergrad experience. I haven't been able to wrap my mind around it since this year started.
I am now done with student teaching and back on campus.
I have very mixed feelings about everything in my life right now. Everything I feel contradicts eachother.
I am excited to be back on campus for my last semester and enjoy the actual 'college life' but I miss teaching and doing what I am passionate about. I am finding it hard to be interested in religion and music when all I want to do is be infront of the classroom. My classes aren't terrible though, today went well.
I am excited about the thought of graduation. I am excited about being a teacher and starting a new chapter in my life. I am excited to go back to living in Massachusetts. On the other hand, I am terrified of the unknown and the possibility of not finding a teaching job come September. I'm not sure that I am going to love living at home again and not in an apartment on my own. And I will miss the people at Salve.

I'm a planner and an organizer. I like to have thing in order and done ahead of time. I like to know where I am going and what I am going to be doing well in advance. I have never not known where I am going to be the following year. Right now I have no control over my life next September and that scares me. I'm just lucky I believe in 'everything happens for a reason'. I'm really hoping, however, that 'everything will happen exactly as I want it to'.

Only time will tell! For now I am going to make the most out of the next 4 months!