More consistency

Well, two months have passed since my last blog. The time has flown and so much has happened. I am continually amazed the issues elementary students have in their lives. Many of these problems break my heart and I wonder how these students survive each day. I'm also amazed at the family system and what it has become. All I know is that I'm there by God's amazing plan to make a difference in a child's life. Each day I ask Him to present opportunities to show His love and mercy to those around me. I'm very thankful for being where I am. It's such a perfect job and environment for me. So...my dear friends...pray for me as I go each day to my job...pray for guidance...pray for opportunties and wisdom to help those kids who need it.

A new beginning

Wow. I had intended to post more regularly than this, but things have been so crazy, I've been too tired to post. There are so many aspects to counseling that are new to me....well...I guess that would be...everything!! The most rewarding has been when two separate students came to me and said that they were so glad that they talked to me. That's what it's all about. Making sure that students feel safe and heard. I do love my job and I know that I will adjust and find the balance of being a working mom. It's taking some time, but I will adjust. I've come to the realization that God wouldn't have put me at that school, in that situation, if I was not able to handle it. I know I'm where I should be!

A new adventure begins

As I spend my last days of "freedom", I look back on how God has really brought things into place. He provided all the right babysitters at the right times, provided the right schedule for school so I could get my degree and provided the perfect job at the perfect time. Now as I realize I have one day left before I am a full-time working mom(well, at least working outside of the home), I start to get butterflies and wonder if I'm ready for this. I know I am...and I'm excited, but nervous at the same time. I'm ready for this new adventure in my life and pray can use it to honor God in the best way possible.

A new change

Well, as you can see, I've changed up my blog. It is to reflect the new color of my office...PURPLE. I 'm so excited to get started. It was all inspired by a cute little lamp I found for my office that is fun and elementary!!! It's a medium purple with multicolor swirls on it. Hopefully this week I'll be able to get in and get 'er done!!

The journey begins Part 2

I officially get to move into my new office tomorrow. Hard to believe that I'm going to actually be a school counselor. It really hit me when we were having a new staff get together. We had to put our name and grade on our name tag. I wrote my name, then put "counselor". YIKES!!! What responsibility. I had the Emotionally Distrubed teacher (no, she's not ED, but the kids she will have will be) come to me and say "we'll be working together a lot". I said "okay" (realizing that I know a lot less about the ED population than I think I do!!!). But all will be okay. I will prevail.....yea, I will...I can do this.....I'm...educate, right?

Free at last...free at last

Okay, so it's done...it's over. I finally graduated last Sunday. I was a full day with the hooding in the morning (went pretty quick), a wonderful luncheon provided by the counseling department at noon and then the commencement at 3:00. It was very exciting walking across that stage, hearing my name read and my family and friends cheering me on. Then I sat down to endure the LONG reading of the undergrad. Yes, us mature graduate students were so bored we were flipping our tassles on the hats around and trying to catch them in our mouths. We are so mature!!!

But it's done, it's over and I feel like a huge weight has been removed. My friend that I sat next to at graduation kept telling me how well rested I have been looking. Guess I didn't know how exhausted I looked! Eek!! :)

I am thrilled to be moving onto my next adventure...being an actual school counselor. I am sensing it will be filled with more adventure than I imagined, but I'm up for it. As for now...I am enjoying my time off!!!

Last day

Tonight is my last internship class. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. Senioritis has hit bad. I'm tired, I'm exhausted (aren't those the same?) and ready to take some time off. That's all I can think of to say because my brain is so tired..and mushy....and done! Thanks.

WE DID IT!!

Yes, we....because I didn't do this journey of graduate school on my own. If it wasn't for my wonderful husband, my understanding kids, and countless friends who supported me every step, I would not have made it through the program. Yet, here I sit, with two weeks left at NNU, a job in hand and a future ahead. All because of you!! Thank you so much for your support, advice and listening ears. You have made me strong when I was too tired to go on, encouraged when I felt overwhelmed and made me laugh when I was burdened by the things I heard. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

SO with this I say that one journey is over and another one will begin. After graduation, I will start a new series on " The Chronicles of a first year counselor."

Cleared for take off

I've received official word...I have been cleared for graduation!!! WOW!! It's actually real...it's going to happen!! My goodness. What even makes it more real is that I have my first job interview soon!! Can it be??? There are only a few little nitnoid things that need to be done, but other than that I'M DONE! Comps are done, Collaborative Project is on it's way to being published, only three more class meetings...not more papers or tests...onto real life!!! Thanks to my family (especially my hubby) for all their support and help through this. I'd like to thank my friends for always encouraging me to reach beyond my limits. A special thanks to JAM and KJM for listenly to my complaining and whining. Thanks to LM for giving me insight to the counseling field and thanks to JD for our endless hours of driving and talking about my future fears!!! (Boy, do I sound like I just won an Oscar or what? I suppose I deserve this little speech!!) It's here, and almost gone! Later!

The Final Count Down

Yes friends, I've started the graduation countdown. I have finished all my classes except internship, so I'm on the downhill slide. I have 67 days until graduation. It's hard to believe. Now I am on the search for a job. This particular realilty hit me the other day when I applied for my first job and realized that I was going to be out in the big world soon. A job came open in my kids' school, which would be IDEAL. I started to really stress (and maybe still am a bit), but I know God will put me where He believes is best. Just be praying that if this door shuts, that another will open. It's still early in the hiring season, so many jobs may come open at the last minute. I'm just choosing to be a bit picky where I apply because I have a certain desire in my heart and I know that God will see and understand that and put me where that can be met. I'M ALMOST DONE!!!!!

This are looking brighter

Okay, so afer all my complaining about the alternative high school, things are actually going much better. I think this is due to two things: 1) changing my attitude about the whole situation and 2) the population of kids has changed drastically. The school decided to refine it's interview process and because of this, the population of kids we have has gotten better. We now have students who are wanting to graduate and want to be there. This really makes for a much better atmosphere at the school. I now have a lot more to do, students to see and a possible future there. Which leads me to the next brighter thing: I answered the phone at the school on Thursday and on the other line was our assistant superintendent (which I've met and talked with before). He was telling me that the plans for next year will probably included a bigger facility and that along with that comes a need for a counselor. He asked me if I would be interested. Of course I said yes! So we will see what God brings and if that is what He brings, I will be delighted to be there. So you see... things are looking brighter!

Attitude Adjustment

Okay, so I suppose that sometimes God tries little things to get our attention. Well, yesterday at the high school, I was having a bit of a bad attitude about going to the Academy today. I was really praying for a snow day (no such luck) so I wouldn't have to go. My supervisor handed me a magazine that she gets from her old college which happens to be LDS. She tells me, "I know you're not LDS, but there are some good quotes in here. If you want, you can have a look". So, out of politeness, I decided to look through it. I wasn't looking seriously, but a quote did jump out at me and made me take a second look. Here's the quote: "You either control your attitude or let your attitude control you." Oooooohhhhhh....talk about an Ah-ha moment (that's counselorees for what we hope our clients have when we are counseling them). I have a choice when I'm at the Academy. I can choose to control (change) my attitude or let my attitude control me while I'm there. I'm thinking that it would be in my best interest, and the best interest of those around me, that I allow God to control my attitude so that I can make the best of the situation and get the most out of it. So.....thank you God for using a simple magazine to get my attention. God does moves in mysterious ways and uses unusual circumstances to get our attention. So as I head to the Academy today, my attitude is in check and my determination to succeed is facing forward!

Not for me

Okay, so I've decided that while a normal alternative school may be okay, this one is not for me. I'm not sure if it's lack of structure (oh wait....that's it) or the fact that the administrator is also a teacher which puts me in a disciplinarian role (sure..that's it too), but it's not for me. I leave feeling frustrated and not wanting to go back. Yet....I feel obligated to continue the year out (Ugh...) because I don't want to leave them without a counselor (what a saint...???). SO, pray for endurance, pray for opportunities to practice my patience and pray for guidance. Thanks so much for your support.