My First Job Offer, OH DEAR!

So, I have officially gotten my first job offer for a position that I would love to have. I would be able to coordinate a new program at a private non-profit agency and I would have a staff of four. I am excited, but hesitant to take the position because I was hoping to apply to at least seven to ten jobs and then I would decide from there. However, I have only applied to three jobs, and I really am not ready to commit to one agency. The agency also wants me to start working three days after graduation…..SERIOUSLY THREE DAYS!!!! I have so many factors to consider, and I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to take the first offer that I get….even though it’s a position that I would really enjoy…..I don’t know….at this point too much is going on we’ll see where I end up : ).

The sickness of social workers

The thing that is so sick about social workers is that we're never happy unless we're too busy...

There's really nothing like getting back from spring break to make you THINK you have some free time and that getting right back into work is not necessary...it's really a LIE.

So I'm starting on my finals early...lets be honest...it's going to take me the next four weeks to research, organize and write the 40 plus pages I'm assigned.

On top of that I'm interviewing for jobs...freaking out because I'm not sure I want the jobs I'm getting interviews for....dreaming about the job I want but can't have (b/c that agency isn't hiring as of now)...AND

Finishing my internship...the giant needs assessment of mental health services in Skid Row...the paperwork to get siting completed for our wellness center, management team, and crisis resolution center...and closing my client's cases...AND

Helping out with everything in Student Org...organizing and finalizing Lobby Days...helping with elections...send out thank you cards...meet with new Community Service Chair...prepare the job handbook...

Ok....it's going to be ok...

Resumes, And Interviews, And Life, OH MY!

Resumes, and interviews, and Life, oh my! Yeah, things are kind of starting to feel like the Wizard of Oz for me in recent weeks. With the academic school year coming to an abrupt end, it is time for all second year students to start sending out resumes via e-mail, schedule interviews with prospective agencies of interest, and well, in my case, start preparing for my future outside of the protective barriers of the educational system. Yet, with the ensuing tornado on the horizon (i.e. family life, friends, research, papers, projects, etc.), it has been hard not to wonder where I'll crash land in Oz when the debris has cleared. Will I get a job working in a family and children organization that focuses its treatment goals on improving one's overall quality of life? Or maybe a job as a program therapist/coordinator of services? Or how about working as a PSA counselor in a school setting where my primary objective will be to hunt down the truant and restore order to the school's attendance records? Will I have to relocate? Will I make enough money to live on? Will I be able to afford paying off my student loans? Will my family be okay? How about my friends, will they be alright?

I'm only 24-years-old but with so many questions remaining, I feel like I have come to embody the characteristics of all of my childhood Wizard of Oz heroes to make it through these final five weeks of the Master's program here at USC.

Like Dorthy, I feel as though I have been suddenly thrust into this new world of Social Work where there are those who are looking out for my well-being (i.e. Glenda the Good witch of the North and the little munchkins, remember those cute creatures?), and others who are looking to make my path to success a living nightmare (i.e. the nasty, pimpled-nosed Wicked witch of the West). My only motivation residing in the fact that I will someday make a major change in this world by helping those in need. Similarly, at times, like the Scarecrow, I feel alone and mindless, my only salvation coming from a random passerby or family member who offers their words of encouragement to ensure me that all of my sweat and tears have been for not. And then there is the Tin Man. Like the beloved, tap dancing metallic man, I find myself in search of a heart. Not a heart in terms of romance; rather attempting to have a heart for those individuals whom have caused psychological and emotional harm to the students I work with. Those individuals may include but not be limited to: substance abusing parents, uncaring teachers, peers with all the wrong intentions, and the government and its dysfunctional "justice" system for foster care youth. This is a struggle every social worker will undoubtedly experience at some point in their careers and will have to find an unresolved compassion in their hearts to forgive such persons.

And last but certainly not least there is the Cowardly Lion. With his menacing exterior and soft interior, the lion is best known for his admittedly less than heroic ways. In retrospect, I oftentimes find myself searching for the courage to do bigger, more challenging things in my life. For instance, I was having a conversation with my dad the other day and he mentioned how there are no major, prominent leaders today in America. He asked, "Son, where are the Martin Luther Kings and Malcolms? Where are the Huey Netwons, Chavezes, and Roosevelts?" And he was right. Where were our leaders and future leaders at? Leaders that will not only make changes at the micro and mezzo levels, but those leaders whom will find the courage to stand for issues that will make nationwide and global changes. I'm talking about the changes that cause such an uproar that one's life ends as a martyr.

Amongst the resumes, interviews, and life in general, I often find myself feeling lazy and unmotivated to become proactive. But whenever that happens, I quickly remind myself that at the end of the dark, hunted forest of life there is always an Emerald City that awaits; one offering all of its blessings and riches to those who steadily work to reach its gates. It is important to understand that as human beings it is very easy to get caught up in the hub-bub and negativity of everyday life. Aside from being the do-gooders of the world, we are all people--people who will come up against and potential fall in the face of adversity. Yet, no matter what, we must rise up against all circumstances and continue to be the best social workers and people we can be.

So whenever you feel a "resumes, and interviews, and life, oh my!" chant coming on, remember, you have the guidance, intelligence, heart, and courage necessary to make it through any obstacle in life. You have always had these things or you would not have made it this far.

So, I guess I'm off to see the Wizard...the wonderful Wizard of Oz... (just kidding, you know I had to leave you with a catchy Wizard of Oz phrase....fight on!)

What to do in LA on the weekends!

I forgot to mention this, but yesterday, I went to the Getty museum with my parents and it was awesome! The Getty is an art museum with really cool architecture and it's located in the hills overlooking part of Beverly Hills. Admission is free and you only have to pay $8 to park. Once you park, you get to take a 5 minute monerail ride to the museum where you can spend hours looking around at the exhibits, paintings, and gardens there! The paintings were fantastic...I really loved seeing their collection of Monet (who is my favorite!) which may be small, but it's great. If you are in Los Angeles and need a break from studying or you just want to do something new, I would encourage you to check it out!

Crunch Time

I can't believe it. I know everyone's been saying it, but with summer only 5 weeks away and TONS of assignments/tests/finals coming it, it feels like this semester has flown by. Last week I turned in an 18 page paper for my practice class and this week I'm working on my behavior midterm! (right...with only 5 weeks left, we shouldn't be having midterms...I have no idea...go figure!) Last Friday, I was sitting in my seminar, waiting for class to begin when I had the brilliant idea of writing down all the major assignments I still had to do before the semester was over. After I made my list, I had a slight feeling of panic, thinking, "How in the world am I ever going to finish all this in a time span of 6 weeks?" So, like any other normal person, I turned to the girl sitting next to me and said, "Hey, wanna freak out for a second?" to which she, (like any normal social worker) replied "Sure!" and checked out my list so we could both freak out together for a few seconds. Then class started and we forgot about it for awhile. I guess it's really not that intimidating if you do a little bit every week...but I have some other crazy things to accomodate. As an out of town student, it's a big deal when parents come to visit! Mine are here for 9 days to spend some time with me since I haven't seen them in 11 weeks! 11 WEEKS! That's the longest I've ever gone without seeing them! They came in Friday night from Chicago and we've had a lot of fun since. It's amazing how you just adapt to your situation...whatever it may be, and I definitely adapated to not seeing my parents once every month or so. Crazy! Since they are in town, I'm going to try to get my stuff done as quickly and efficiently as possible so I can maximize the time spent with them! Naturally, they are a lot of fun (since they are related to me...haha) and I don't want to be thinking about the papers I have to turn in when I'm with them! I must use my time wisely. I will, I think...just keep your fingers crossed!

5 more weeks...

5 more weeks? Are you kidding me? Where did this semester go? Where did last semester go? Matter of fact, where did the last two years go? It's amazing how one minute you're celebrating being accepted into the graduate program and the very next minute you're nervously anticipating graduation. Before the program, I felt like I really had no direction in life. It was my senior year and I had spent 3 of those years in a broadcast journalism program that just wasn't suited for me. I was nervous, scared even. I didn't want to end up like my good friend who graduated from USC and spent the first year out of college working at Trader Joes. I had worked WAY too hard to settle for a cashier's job at a local marketplace (nothing against cashier's at Trader Joe's, I love organic foods and believe they do a stand up job when it comes to customer service). Besides, I knew I wanted to receive my Masters degree in SOMETHING, but I really had no idea what that something would be. It was frustrating...very, very, very frustrating. However, once I relaxed and talked to my parents, trusted professors and advisers, I was directed to Monica Ellis' office (she is the Social Work adviser) and she sold me on the entire Social Work program in less than an hour. It seemed like a perfect fit. I knew I wanted to work with youth and the program offered that. I knew I wanted to earn a Master's Degree, and again the program opened the door to that. Reminiscing, I realize I have come along way since my senior year in college. I now have direction in my life. I have matured and immensely grown as a person. I have strengthened my work ethic. I have a greater appreciation for the resiliency and spirit of the human heart. And most importantly, I am happy with the endless possibilities of my future within the world of social work....man...five more weeks....where did time go.....

Just a quick note before I get back to MIDTERMS!!

I am in the midst of writing two midterms this weekend. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the writing and research to be done. However, I know that I can only do what is humanly possible. I have been stressing a bit about all the reading to be done this next week however, at this time it almost seems impossible to do any of it tonight. I have my list of things to do, and I have checked off some (not as many as I would have liked) and now I need to forge ahead. I suppose looking at it all is what is overwhelming me, so I need to sit back, relax and take a deep breathe as well as take it one step at a time. A tool that I still use and need to work on because it has worked and gotten me through many rough weekends of papers, tests, and readings.

Finding my niche in the social work world

Presently I am facing the challenge of finding my niche in the professional social work world. I have a number of interests which include research, contributing to the knowledge base, community based interventions, and the Latino/a community with a specific interest in monolingual Spanish-speakers and new immigrants. I have focused my job search to jobs that will allow me to work within the areas so that I can use the knowledge that I already have and to develop new skills and knowledge as I develop as a professional social workers. I want a job that has a research component to it because it will prepare me to pursue my research interests at the Ph.D level. I feel the pressure at this moment to be strategic in selecting my future place of employment as it will dictate my professional experiences and it will probably be where most of my research questions will emerge from in addition to the questions that I already have. I know my interests lie at the macro-level with a specific focus on communities and I am hopeful that I will find a job position that allows me to do all of those things.

Lesson for the week: Termination

Today in my practice course we discussed the process of terminating with clients. Termination means many things to many people both personally and professionally. The class seemed to have mixed views on termination. I think many of us have feeling around saying good-bye to someone. Being a good clinician does not mean that you don't care about your clients, and it does not mean that you won't think of them at times, however, making a healthy termination is most beneficial for the client. I found myself struggling with the idea that I would not be seeing some of these clients again. How do good social workers draw the line between personal and professional attachments? It seems rather difficult at times but I suppose if I remind myself of the roles in which we play in this realm then it seems simple that my goal is to do what is in the best interest of the client. So as the next few weeks near, terminating with clients is part of the inevitable process. The connection between clinician and client is strong but remembering that your relationship is strictly professional. Many students discussed their ability to recognize their own counter-transference coming up when termination is being processed and discussed. I too have felt my own issues coming up. Being a social worker does not mean that you are completely separate, we are human, we have feelings but the key is to recognize them and understand them so that you don't cross the ethical line between personal and professional boundaries. Class today was really useful, it affirmed my belief that social workers can care; they can have a professional investment in their clients. It is okay to be human, just recognize your humanness and work through it if need be. Today was a good day for a great lesson.

anxiety rising

I don't know if it's the knowledge of my formal education ending...the thought of starting a career...or a subconscious desire to enter into a PhD program and knowing that I won't (b/c I think it's unethical to do so straight out of an MSW program, unless your research has no bearing on the direct needs of the community) that is creating this immense anxiety deep in my gut.

Whatever it is, it truly freaks me out.

People say...that this is normal.
Sociologists say I'm a product of an overly competitive and ever depressing world.
My therapist says I need to stop thinking 10 years ahead.
My professors say I need to embrace my experiences and tell me it’s going to be ok…this is my journey.
Everyone says I need to take care of myself...

Take care of myself??? The last two years in this program have been a life of always knowing that I have to take care of myself and not ever really feeling like I have the opportunity and time to. The scary thing is...this notion of self care becomes even more imperative when I leave school and enter the field.

My only hope is that I will be able to....take care of myself...because I'll have the time.........right????

Late Night!

So it is about 5:25 am in the morning and I just finished my midterm for research. This is the first time, I have ever pulled an all nighter. I must say it is not fun but it was necessary to get the work completed. I will use this as a lesson for better planning next time. It does not pay to avoid and procrastinate. Well I guess i better go to bed because I have to get up for school in four hours.

When there is micro there is always macro!

Yesterday, all first year students had a chance to meet with the advisors of their selected concentrations and discuss what was in store for the upcoming year. There is so much to be done before next year. The concentration I have chosen is Families and Children with a sub concentration in schools. However, after reviewing my sub concentration I find myself really wondering if this is for me. I really want to work with school age children but I am not sure if schools are the right setting. It is hard because it seems to be crunch time and I am still unsure. To ease my mind I have decided to meet with the advisor for school social work. Knowing what concentration I wanted seemed to be simple for me however, picking a sub concentration has been a bit overwhelming. Yesterday was exciting however. As I was sitting there, I really felt that it was going to happen. I was going to be studying exactly what I wanted. The foundation year is set as simply that. It is a foundation to the social work practice. You don't specifically studying one population or one theory or method. You learn how to apply and educate both the micro and macro levels of social work. In my case, I desire to be a clinician and love doing direct practice; so next year will be filled with this. However, after this year I have found a little niche in some macro practices. I am sure that next year too will have it's share of macro lessons, since I have learned that social work is never black and white. When there is micro there is always macro and vice versa.

Do Not Rid Yourself of First Year Baggage

So I discovered this week that all first year MSW books are HANDY and NECESSARY. Foundation year truly is a foundation for everything else social work related. Anyone who knows me will tell you that working in the clinical setting is quite honestly not my passion . I have nothing but the up most respect for clinicians, but I don't have the magic touch that clinicians do. Anywho, after my foundation year I stacked away all my books that dealt with clinical issues and didn't think much about them. Although, at one point they did cross my mind as I considered selling them. Fortunately I didn't sell my books and I recommend to all incoming students that you save EVERYTHING, all books, papers, assignments, notes....everything. Last night I went down to my bookcase in my garage and retrieved all my dusty first year books to review information on various clinical intervention. I am going through all this trouble because I am interviewing for jobs and clinical skills are critical for any social worker even if we are interviewing for macro positions.

MIDTERMS, MIDTERMS, MIDTERMS!

My life right now is all about midterms. Acknowledging them, working on them and completing them. For some reason, I feel that the midterm phase appears extremely long and drawn out this semester. I feel as if I have been working my midterms for well over a month now. This is probably do to spring break and starting midterms early. At this point I still have two midterms left, one in research and one in behavior. Research appears to be giving me the most stress but it should be all over and done with by Thursday evening. After this I will work on a small assignment for seminar and then move on to my final midterm. I am so ready for this phase to be over and to begin preparing to finals. It will soon all be over and I will be able to take a much needed summer break that does not involve papers, midterms, finals, etc.. Can't wait!

My first AA Meeting

Today I attended my 1st AA meeting! As an assignment in my seminar class I was required to attend a self help group meeting and write about my experience. I felt really enthusiastic about the assignment from the day it was assigned because I had never had the opportunity to watch this type of group in real life. I felt so excited and had no idea what to expect. To make things easy, I choose to Google AA meetings since they are held in every location multiple times a day. Surprisingly, the search was very simple and took minutes. I found several open meetings located at convenient times no more than 2 miles from my house. Perfect!

Hesitant to go alone, I had my friend, and fellow MSW colleague accompany me to the meeting. It was held at a local hospital, and was more difficult to find than I had anticipated. After getting completely lost and asking at least 5 hospital staff to point us in the direction of the AA meeting, we stumbled in about 10 minutes late. There were about 15 women sitting in a circle listening to one who was reading from a book. We were quickly asked to introduce ourselves and explain the reason we had decided to attend. We explained that we were MSW students and were there to observe the group process. All group members welcomed us with warm "hellos" and a few hugs. It was a very safe and warm environment. Each member had an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with one another, and all were very respectful and supportive. There was a coffee break and time for chatting. Overall, it was a very positive and welcoming experience. I would not hesitate to go again.

Wow...only 7 more weeks of school before Summer!

I remember sitting at my kitchen table when I was a child, thinking I hate school. The work seemed rather boring and I would much rather be out playing with my friends. I never thought I would be living in Los Angeles going to grad school by choice. I am person who has never gotten straight A's and was always jealous of the people who seemed to always get good grades without even trying. But now as I sit here reflecting on the time passed over the last 7 months, it begins to dawn on me how far I have come. The actual work, such as papers, and reading is hard alone, bring in one's field practicum and you have entered a new level of stress and challenge. As I stated in my previous post it seems like just yesterday I was walking on campus for the first time as a newly admitted grad student and now in 7 weeks I will be done with my first year. Time flies when your having fun and working harder than you ever have. I have been asked by many people if grad school is a lot harder than undergrad? My answer is simple...HECK YES!!! I don't mean to scare anyone; this is not my intention. However, the reading, the papers and fieldwork can be overwhelming at times. It is hard, but it is interesting and challenging, but it does help that I truly am passionate about social justice and I love learning about all different kinds of people. I tend to lean towards the micro level of social work I enjoy working with people and doing one on one work, however, this program seems to be giving me a taste of the macro side. I enjoy being an advocate and doing some macro level activities such lobbying, and drafting new initiatives to already formulated policies. It is something I never thought about before I came to USC. So yes, the work is hard, and challenging because it makes you challenge your own ideas, and create new pathways of thinking about the injustices faced by many.
Spring break is over, and there are 7 more weeks to learn before the summer break. I wonder what I will discover next.

Placement!

Currently, I am working at a family based agency. My job as an intern is to participate in therapy, co facilitate a group, conduct a social/emotional group for preschool children, document visits, manage paper work, participate in case presentation, and start a teen group on violence. There is plenty to do and I feel that I am getting a broad range of experience. At times I do get worried as to whether I will complete paper work on time and I still get overwhelmed but despite this I am getting great experience. I also have a great field instructor who challenges the interns. Whenever we ask a question it would seem that she refers the question back to us. She tries to get us to think on our own and find the answers for ourselves before she instructs us. At my placement we are seen as peers/colleagues, not just interns. We are told that we all have something to offer the agency and to feel free to express concerns. It is a very positive atmosphere that is strength based. I really feel that I lucked out this semester with my placement and I am so happy to be there.

Spring Break is over! :(

Spring Break went by so quickly and now it's over! So sad! Of course I did not do much work during the break because I went home to visit family and now I have a lot of homework to do. It's a bit overwhelming right now as I look at the time. It is around 2:30 and still I have been unable to motivate myself to do work. I imagine it will be a long night and a long week but it was worth it. I was able to go home, rest, relax and rejuvenate to prepare for my next two midterms. Also it was a nice little break to get you through the next six weeks which should fly by. It's almost over and yet there is still so much to do.

Spring Break is over! :(

Spring Break went by so quickly and now it's over! So sad! Of course I did not do much work during the break because I went home to visit family and now I have a lot of homework to do. It's a bit overwhelming right now as I look at the time. It is around 2:30 and still I have been unable to motivate myself to do work. I imagine it will be a long night and a long week but it was worth it. I was able to go home, rest, relax and rejuvenate to prepare for my next two midterms. Also it was a nice little break to get you through the next six weeks which should fly by. It's almost over and yet there is still so much to do.

time flies

spring break is almost over...and I am sad

My "No Break" Spring Break

So, as it turns out my spring break hasn't turned out to be what I expected.... actually it hasn't been a break at all to be completely honest. Last week was brutal as I completed papers for midterms and studied for my economics exam. Then, on Friday I had a job fair....the Friday that I "supposed" to sleep in. Then over the weekend I spent my time preparing for the Latino/a Social Work Caucus Silent auction because I am the committee chair. During that time I did squeeze in some fun ...but nevertheless there just isn't a real break. I also had to make recruitment calls during the weekend for my research assistant job. In addition, to all of the abovementioned I have internship this Monday and Wednesday and as it turns out I have two job interviews in the next week which I completely didn't expect. Now I find myself doing research to be prepared for my interviews and I've been polishing my CV and resume. However, I am yearning for a break! Seriously, this weekend I really need at least one day where I do NOTHING related to school, work, or internship.

Spring Break! Finally....

So Spring Break is finally here! With three huge midterm papers due on the same day I almost thought I wouldn't make it. I had a 15 pg. paper due in policy, a 15 page paper due in practice, and a 6 pg. scholarly analysis due in human behavior. I think I sat at my computer for an entire week straight. In my entire academic career, I have never felt pressure like I did this past week. Needless to say, Spring Break came at the perfect time. All I've done so far is shop, rent movies, and lay by the pool in this beautiful 87 degree So. Cal. weather. I love it! Time to rest up before the final stretch of final papers. I finally had an opportunity to get my hair done, spend time with my grandparents, and hang out with my friends from high school. This weekend was just what I needed. Unfortunately, the rest of the week will be a little more stressful since I have to go to internship on Mon and Wed, and write another long research paper that's due by Fri., but at least I won't have to go to class. I'm honestly a little burnt out on school right now. I just need to get through the next 7 weeks, and the nice, long summer break will soon be here!

Job Searching

I have officially entered the stage in the graduating student’s life know as, “oh dear, I have to find a job…no seriously I have to find a job.” Yesterday, I attended the job fair that is open to graduating MSW student in the local area. The experience was an interesting one. I was able to scope out who my competition is and I was able to distinguish what makes USC students different from student from other MSW programs. I found that the fact that we have an array of concentrations and dual degree programs really allows us to distinguish ourselves.

The job fair was pretty interesting, and I found a few positions that I am truly interested in. So, I have spent the last three hours revamping my resume and my curriculum vitae, and I submitted my application materials for one of those positions. I was really happy to find at least two positions that will allow me to continue doing research as it is one of my passions and two that would allow me to conduct research within the Latino/a community, which is an area that I am highly interested in. However, I seriously do not feel like I’m on spring break as I sit here and try to strategize about my job seeking process. I even developed a job position excel worksheet to track the status of the various jobs I’m applying for and the requirements of the job. I have come to realize that finding a job that truly fits my interests is particularly challenging because we can do so much as social workers. I have found myself at a cross roads professionally speaking because I can take the research route, the clinical route, or the public administration route, and I just can’t choose so I decided to apply to at least two jobs that fit in each of the abovementioned categories, and then I’ll take it from there.

I finally figured it out!!!

Today is not just another day for me. After 6 months of being in Southern California I finally figured out how to use 5 freeways, the 110. 101, 10, 5, and 405. I am so excited. Being from out of town is a bit intimidating at first, especially with California drivers. I used to put on my blinker to get into another lane in anticipation that someone would let me in...now I just simply put on my blinker and move in. Defensive driving is an essential part of the transportation system in L.A.
In other news, totally unrelated to driving I met with my field liaison and my field supervisor to evaluate my performance in my placement. I was a little nervous but all went well. I had great feedback that basically affirmed that social work is the right profession for me. I am really enjoying my placement. I am working with low income families and my clients ages range from 11-26 years old. I was pretty lucky to get the population demographics that I am interested in since you don't get to choose your first placement. Working with this population has been challenging at times don't get me wrong. I have a great supervisor who is always available when I need her. However, the best advice that I have received yet is to seek your own therapy when issues come up. My advisor called the MSW program an "emotional boot camp". Something I did not understand until I experienced my own counter transference with a client. It has been hard for me to work with this population. Even though it is my chosen profession does not mean that I have it all together. I grew up in a upper middle class family, and had the privileges that many Americans dream of. Therefore, becoming culturally competent with severely impoverished families was a struggle, it was something I had never seen being that I live in a suburb of a larger city but not as large as Los Angeles by any means. It is okay to struggle with your own issues as long as you identify them, self-awareness is a tool that I have come to utilize and it has gotten me through some really tough times.

Information Overload!

Hey All,

I just wanted to do a quick check-in as my time is limited at this point due to midterms. I have my economics exam which I have been preparing for over the past three weeks, and its time to take it today. I hope all goes well, but seriously I have overloaded my poor lil' brain with postmodern microeconomics concepts that I probably won't be using after my exam. Anywho, I'm trying to keep a positive outlook on a harsh week that is almost over. Once I get through today, I will be home free but til' then I have to continue reviewing what seem to be endless notes on econ. : )

My long day! And a plug for the Out of Towner Support Group!

Do you know the feeling when you just can' t seem to get in the right mindset to write an important paper?? It's one I'm struggling with right now! I have a research paper due on Friday, and I've only written 2 out of the 7 pages! I need to find my motivation to do it since it's Tuesday already!!! Tonight, I want to write 2 more, and then 2 more on Wednesday, so that on Thursday, I can wrap it up, make a conclusion, and have a good paper! Today has just been a long day! In my policy class, we turned in our midterm paper, which I was really pleased with. (Although now since it's turned in...I should move onto the next part of my work for policy...composing personalized letters to send to California's state senators!) Then after that, I had an Out of Towners Group meeting, which was a lot of fun!

The Out of Towner's group was formed to help make "out of town" social work students feel more at home, connect an awesome group of people, and figre out how to get around Los Angeles! This group was a HUGE help when I first came to USC. Moving here without knowing anyone was scary, but getting to know people who were in the same boat REALLY helped. I was immediately connected with a bunch of people that I could easily relate to, since we all just moved far away from family and friends. In any case, at our meeting today, we were given a map, and we had to identify a bunch of cities!! It was a really fun game, despite the fact I lost. Oops! I've managed somehow thought right? :o) Then after that, we talked about one of our activies coming up (we're taking a tour of LA at night! We're going to locate some hot spots/highways/and hang out!) and then our leaders lead a great discussion about what is going on for us in our lives. We have two wonderful second year students that are leading the group. They are so supportive, accessible, and just all around winners. If you are coming to USC and are unfamiliar with the area and are looking to meet some cool people, I think joining the Out of Towners group is a good idea!

After the meeting, then I had to go to my next class...practice, where we had a guest speaker come in. The speaker was a leader of a battered women's shelter in the area, so it was really interesting hearing about her experience and the work she's done. She was also a great professional friend to make! (think about the job possibilities in the future! connections, connections!) Next, I booked on over to the main campus to have a meeting with the dean about some of the organizations on campus. I just got home, quickly ate some left overs, and am now onto homework! Woo!! What busy day for me! 12 hours long of stuff! :o) Get ready kids, this is quite the ride, but it's a lot of fun.

The perfect Balancing Act!!!

This past weekend was lovely. I had a friend come into town and enjoyed a weekend full of fun. However, I neglected my readings, my papers and my other responsibilities. It was fun to take some time and entertain a friend while she was in town, but trying to play catch up is a lot harder than it looks. With spring break nearing it seems all the papers are due and the pressure is on to get it all done. There seems to be a never-ending amount of reading to be done and as many professors will tell you, sometimes all you can do is triage the readings. I understand that having a perfect balance is almost impossible but it seems having a healthy balance is almost required. I have heard many of peers say that they too feel obligated to entertain their friends when in town and feel guilty it they put their education before their peers, however does it have to be this black and white? Can you not have the best of both worlds? It seems to me that after a weekend full of fun and no work it is something that I too need to work on. Grad school is demanding, the amount of work is a lot more than undergrad and sometimes I feel as if all I do is work, work, and more work, but when I play...I play hard. I suppose there needs to be a balance between play time and work time.
Often times I talk to my clients about balance, yet I forget to practice it myself. Sometimes following your own advice is the best feedback ever. This week is filled with reading, papers and fieldwork, which means that it is time to get down to business and work towards a better tomorrow. A lesson has been learned today, that if I play hard all weekend the following week is going to be filled with anxiety, headaches and plain old exhaustion. The next time a friend comes into town, I think it best to enjoy some quality time together but plan a head the week before and make sure that my goals are attainable for the following week. Playtime is great fun but make up time is simply NOT!!!

Spring Break is Near I can feel it!

So Spring Break start Friday and I am so excited for the time off from school. This semester is brutal. This week alone is crazy. I am working on a teen violence group for my placement, my policy paper is due tomorrow along with a presentation, my scholar analysis is due tomorrow for behavior, I have to work on my 12 page practice paper that is due on Friday, my research quiz and design assignment is due Thursday and on top of all this I have people visiting me all this week. Craziness, absolutely crazy. At this point I'd say I am a bit stressed. I find myself talking really fast and loud, as if this is suppose to ease my suffering. Anyways, it will all get done eventually, it's just a matter of how much I will end up torturing myself by waiting till the last minute. (DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE TO DO A PAPER). Very stressful! I digress, like I said before it will be over soon and I will be able to relax for a bit, catch up on some homework and have a little fun. Can't wait but for now it's back to work!

Up late and thinking

Up late with my friend, and only a third way through my goals for the night. Why do I do that....set my goals way too high? I guess if I didn't, I wouldn't get anything done.

Anyways, I was speaking to my friend...who is at the moment sitting across from me...at 3am...stressed as I am. She is in the Mental Health Concentration. We came to realize and were amazed that we really are studying immensely different topics. Currently, she's writing a paper on eating disorders and I'm writing one on reinventing the government.

I know they say, "in the end, it doesn't matter which concentration you choose," but I think it really does matter. It matters because our education takes such different paths. Therefore, it makes it that much more important to TAKE THE TIME to ask yourself: "where do my interests lie, what would challenge me, and in what concentration would I learn the most?"

A mentor told us...pick a concentration that is in a topic that you like so much you definitely wouldn't mind studying more of it, or go into a concentration that you are interested in but know nothing about so that you're challenged. I chose the challenge route...and I have to say that since then, there has not been one day that has gone by, where I regret making that decision....GO COPA!!!!

SPRING BREAK is almost here!

It is finally Friday and the week before spring break is almost here. There are a lot papers due this coming week and that can be stressful at times, but just thinking about spring break seems to get me through it. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy writing papers because we get to choose our topics and that makes it quite enjoyable, however a break is much needed too. I am fortunate that my field has allowed work two Friday’s so that I can take the week off and go home. Being so far away from home is hard sometimes. Yet, it seems we have a break every 3 months where we can go home or take a break from school for a long weekend and enjoy the sunny weather and take some time out for ourselves.
Anyways, as spring break approaches due dates for papers are fast approaching. I cannot believe that we are almost 3/4 of the way done with the 2006-2007 school year. It seems like just yesterday I was packing up my car and making the long drive to L.A. I remember the day that I left feeling so scared that I would not make any friends and that the year would go by so slow. WOW...was I wrong, it seems like the year has just flown by and as for friends everywhere I walk on campus I run into someone I know. It is such a great feeling to know that you are not alone and that everyone is on your team. The year is not over but it soon will be and the thought of not seeing these people of the summer has a bit of a "bummer" feeling. It is amazing how close you get with these people when you are in classes twice a week with them and many of you are experiencing the same feelings. Life turns out to be pretty wonderful sometimes. :)

Done with financial aid! (well...almost!)

Today was a great day because I turned in all my forms to the financial aid office! Early in the week, I completed my FAFSA on-line, and then today, I just had to turn in my tax returns and my supplemental financial aid form for graduate students. Standing in line is kind of a pain, but it only took twenty minutes, which wasn't too unbearable! :o) When I got to the front of the line and gave her my forms, she asked me for my W2....the one thing I DIDN'T have. Boo! So tomorrow, my Mom is going to be the best mom ever and fax it in for me. Of course, tomorrow is the deadline, and I'm sure the fax line will be packed, but hopefully it will all work out! I'm just glad it's done and I've turned it (well most of it!) in! Thank goodness! Financial aid is a lot of work, and sometimes it's a little stressful because you have so many other things you have to do too. But it's a part of the USC graduate experience! Or if you are really lucky and don't have to deal with financial aid...well...let me know...we can talk about how you are going to help me fund this expensive endeavor! Of course, it's all worth it. There are moments when you panic for a few seconds, thinking "Oh my goodness, I'm never going to pay this all back! It's going to take YEARS!" and then you go, "Yeah, but I've learned so much, and I'm really happy I'm at one of the top ten institutions in the nation." At least, that's what works for me. :o) My advice for you though is to get it done as quickly as possible, when you aren't busy with work. The FAFSA form only takes about an hour the first time you do it...but luckily for me, I just had to basically renew my last one, so it took like...10 minutes! Small victories people! Hahaha. Just stay on top of everything and it's manageable. You'll get it done...we always do. Just try to do it with as little stress as possible!