Ok ok... yes. It's time to blog again. I've been really lazy all semester and haven't blogged once. Well now it changes. Last blog, I was talking about my trip back home to Salt Lake City after my first semester of graduate school. Now I've officially completed my first year! Semester 2 is over and I survived in great shape!
I can honestly say that right now I am in the happiest era of my life. It feels so amazing to be where I am now. I've grown tremendously in the past semester. I guess that's why I really haven't been blogging much. Because when you're happy, you just live in the moment and reflection kind of takes a back seat. But I'll go ahead and provide a brief recap of all the things that have happened this semester. So let's see... what are the highlights:
Well... when I returned from Christmas break, I began a new semester with 4 classes and a practicum. It was definitely a lot more work! But I feel like I handled it pretty well because I'm starting to get used to the busy schedule. First, I'll reflect on ACUI, my practicum experience in Boston. How do I describe Boston? It was amazing! So glad I was given the experience.
The trip itself to Boston was incredible, as I knew it would be. I met some incredible people in Boston and I really feel like ACUI is a place I could see myself getting a whole lot more involved with in the future. I liked my position too! I was put in charge of Presenter Services so I was able to connect with all the education session presenters so their needs were accommodated. It was amazing to be able to spend 10 days in the city! Boston has a wonderful culture and I really had a good time. It was definitely exhausting as we were on call and at work 12 hours each day. Conference management is no joke. I definitely felt like the whipped intern. There were so many events, sessions, speakers, check-ins, dinners, meetings, etc. We worked hard, but we also played hard too. Fortunately, I was able to come to Boston 3 days before the conference to actually SEE Boston. We visited all the main attractions and I even got to see my friend Devon and have a night out with him. I was also so excited to be so close to Berklee College of Music. In fact, the Hostel we stayed at for the first night (before we moved to the Marriott Hotel) was right by Berklee and in the heart of the artistic center of Boston.
Anyway, that's enough about Boston. There's too much to tell and not enough time. I'm sure it will go down as an epic adventure in my life. Ok what's next.... Let's talk about work.
COMU has been the greatest job anyone could ever have. I have grown so much with my assistantship. This spring semester, things have really gotten busy and skyrocketed. We've had basically all our programs this semester. The diversity lunch, the COMU awards, Outraged Ads, so much! I've grown a special place in my heart for what I do. Not to mention, I feel like I have so much support. My supervisors Darrell and Doug have been so amazing to work with! They make me feel so valuable. It's the first time in my life where I feel a high-level personal commitment to my job/organization. If I work late in the night, I don't even care because I like doing it. I love the flexible schedule I get. It's so nice to have those days where I work 8-10 hours and then other days where I get off to focus on school. I feel like it's really allowed me to learn the importance of prioritization. I love all the meetings I've had with everyone from all over campus from culture centers to offices. We have so many goals for next year and I can't wait to tackle them all. Writing the annual report for 2011-2012 has really helped me realize just how far we've come. I think I'm really going to be sad to leave the position after I graduate. I just see so much potential for growth. COMU has really become a part of me.
Then there is class! Haha. What a crazy class schedule it's been! My favorite class by far has been counseling or G-573. The professor was incredible. He is one of the most supportive, sensitive, and caring people I've ever met, which was perfect for the subject! I learned so much in the class without ever having to read 200 pages or theory. I think the most important take away I learned from the class was the theory I presented on REBT (rational emotive behavior therapy). It's the phenomena that people have the control over their beliefs, which ultimately can control our behaviors and attitudes. Basically, if something negative is happening in my life. I have the choice to be affected by my own beliefs. I've really taken this mentally to heart and can truly aspire to be the positive person I want to be. I've always felt strongly about positive thinking , but this just makes sense. I know the class has been about counseling others, but to be honest, I feel like it's provided counseling for myself. It was like going to therapy every Thursday morning.
Then there was Diversity class. Already through my assistantship, I've grown a deeper appreciation for diversity, but actually having a class on it really escalated it. Not to mention, I'm so glad I had the professor I had. Pam was the previous supervisor of my assistantship, but retired when I started the year. However, even in her retirement, she teaches the Diversity course. I ended up doing really well in the course and Pam and I had a great one-on-one meeting for the end of semester. I feel so honored to work with her and continue the 20 year legacy she created with COMU.
Although I had some great classes this semester, I also had one non-favorite. Professional development was that class. It's not to say I don't value the subject. I think the material was very valuable. My problem was the amount of work. We had SOOOO much work for that class with very little incentive. It was a 3 credit hour class with probably 10 credit hours of work. We had a huge budget assignment, a huge GA reflection, case study, technology assignment, forum posting, etc. It was like boot camp from the first semester, but completely unexpected. The class is also called Praticum because it pairs with our Practicum experience. Yet, we rarely even talked about our Practicum. Oh well... it's over now and I did well. So I have nothing really to complain about.
What about the social scene? Well to be honest, I've been quite the introvert this semester. Can you believe it? Me... an introvert?? I've been able to make it to all the major fun events with the cohort. We've had occasional dinners, gone to bars, and had some nice parties. However, I've mostly been content with just coming home after work/school to my own place, my own cooking, Netflix (I've grown a special connection to Ally McBeal), and basically my own agenda. I think I'm content with this because it's taken me a good 5 years to enjoy myself and enjoy spending time with ME. Now I cherish it! I have thought about being more social and making some closer friendships with my cohort. Maybe a goal for the new year?
So 2011-2012 is over! I cant believe I am now 50% done with my Master's degree. It's crazy to think that next Spring I will be job searching! It's also sad to say goodbye to all the amazing second years of the program. They have been such great mentors and I can't even imagine what Student Life and Learning will be like with all of them gone. but now I feel inspired to be the helpful second year next year. Plus, we have some great first years that have entered the program. I was very pleased with the outcome of Outreach and I feel like we have a very strong future ahead of HESA.
So I will wrap up this very brief recap of the spring semester. I'm just so happy with everything and I really think I will look back on this year as one of the best eras of my life.
Smiling as always,
Cameron :-)
