Graduation

It's been four years and four months since I started graduate school. It's kept me crazy busy which I didn't actually mind. I actually felt like I was starting to find direction for my career. 

In April, I passed my e-Portfolio. I had to use evidence from my classes to prove that I met all of the competencies of what a graduate of the program should be able to do. Once I got into the rhythm, it was easy and I realized how much I had learned. 

The first week in May I submitted my last paper for my program and received my last grade (an A if you were wondering). 

I hadn't thought about walking at graduation, but then I decided I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment. So I bought a plane ticket and headed to California to stay with one of my brothers.

First of all, I loved mandatory afternoon nap time. My sister-in-law was pregnant and her two girls still take naps so for two hours every day I was there, we had nap time. I took advantage to work from home or take a nap myself. 

The day of graduation arrived and I put on the cap and gown. (If you really want to see me walking across the stage, getting hooded and all that, I've cued up the youtube video just for you. 

After graduation, I had the obligatory photo shoot with my brother acting as photographer.

As my nieces probably couldn't stand sitting for 2 hours, they stayed at home and helped my sister-in-law to make a cake to celebrate this momentous occasion:

Immediately following graduation, I started considering what changes I should make now that I am a master (of Library Science, but a master nonetheless).

Graduation Announcement

With graduation looming, I knew I wanted to have a graduation announcement. So, I rounded up my three best cohorts and asked Linds to take care of the design of the announcement, Anthony to do the pictures, and Julie to assist Anthony as needed.

First up was the pictures:

And then we had to take a few outside because the school asked for some headshots. (It's a REALLY good thing I learned how to do my makeup for my birthday!)

And then Linds went to work....

Here's what the announcement in case you didn't get it (which I apologize for):

You'll notice by the date that graduation already happened. It's official. I have a masters degree. I have a lot to catch up on when it comes to my blog. 

Playing Catch Up

It's time to play a little catch up....

I've been running a lot lately. And the weather has not been cooperative. I'm either up at 5AM (I'm starting to hate that time) or running at 7:30 at night and the weather is always hot. I'm grateful I don't live in Arizona.

I've been training for a 10K and I was really struggling with getting past 3 miles. Finally, my friend Lindsey asked if I wanted to run with her. I'm always scared to run with others because I'm so slow... SO slow. But I warned her and we made plans. She's kept me going through the brutal runs and she's helped me conquer those points when my head says stop but my body realizes I can keep going.

She took these pictures after my first 5 mile run. Five miles!!

It was also in the 90s outside. Hence why I'm dripping sweat. But I did it!

I'm also proud to say that I did 6 miles last week. My last long run before the 10K this Friday. 

Proof:

Yes. It took me a long time. But I did it!

In other news, I've been blogging professionally a bit for a company. Totally free-lance and I make no money, but I'm grateful that someone recognizes that maybe I have a bit of talent and know-how!

I got to hold these for a few minutes before they went to the man himself. I felt pretty cool.

 Went to Hale Center Theatre and saw "Ragtime". Not my favorite. But it was fun to go out and have a girls' night.

My 6 mile run coincided with 7-11 and luckily a couple of girls at work were more than happy to tag along on the run to get free slurpees. 

That day, Lindsey and I decided to have our semi-regular weekly adventure. This time took us to Hatch Family Chocolates to enjoy a frozen hot chocolate. YUM. 

And that my friends has been my summer in Utah. I have very few plans coming up. I'm buckling in to finish the last 2 semesters of grad school (HUZZAH!!) and start looking at where I can go from where I am (and whether that should include some sort of crazy move to who knows where... DC... New York... San Francisco... Los Angeles...). So if anyone has good ideas or wants to host me while I do some ground work/job research/interviewing or you have connections to a cool job for a library science graduate with a knack for social media and experience with legal contracts... just let me know. 

(Note: That's not to say that I'm not currently content with my job and life. I am. I'm just also trying to figure out if I'm staying here for a bit or if it's time to find greener pastures.)

As always, that's all I have to say for now. Until next time: Cheers!

¿Hablas español?

Apparently, my plan to survive two classes in a semester by taking a ridiculously easy class (Beginning Business Spanish) backfired. 

Monday I got access to my class online and I figured I could get a head start before classes started today. First order of business to my Spanish class was to take an assessment. Normally, one should score lower than 150. I scored over 500. I received a notice to contact my professor and discuss options with him.

So I did. The professor responded in a rather lengthy email in Spanish in which the gist was: "If you understand this, respond in Spanish, and we probably should get you into the advanced class."

To be honest, I'm a little shocked because I had to list my experience with the language (which added up to 2.5 years total) and my professor said that I was near native fluency at least in writing. I haven't really touched my Spanish in the last year since I switched jobs. Who knew that it was still there?

Oh yeah, and the professor asked for my patience during the first few weeks since it will be a lot of "review" for me.

Basically, I don't get off easy. I can do this, though, right? Survive Beginning Cataloging and Classification and Advanced Spanish Conversation? Well, I better!

Purgatory (AKA Back to School) and Blessings from Visiting Teaching

Well, the summer is officially over.

I know this because I got an email from my professor that class had started and away we go. It also doesn't help that in a week (OH MY GOSH A WEEK!!!) I'm off to London. So I have to finish 2 assignments really quick (one because it's due next week and the other because it's due WHILE I'm in London). 
Tonight I sat down, and began the arduous task of my first class. 
I'm taking Web Tools and Technology. 

Fifteen minutes in, I was feeling pretty good.

Thirty minutes in, I thought I was almost done.

Thirty-two minutes in and I broke a web page.

Forty-five minutes in and I got to a "forbidden you can't access this page" error.

An hour, I wanted to throw my hands in the air and cry, "WHY DID YOU PICK THIS CLASS?!"

After that, I was forced to email the professor seeking help (which he provided) and then head over to my friend Julie's house so that we could be visit taught together. 

I just got home, sat down, saw my professor's email and finished assignment number 1. 

I'd like to think it's a little blessing from Heavenly Father for being where I should've been. Cause I don't think there's any other way that I would've been able to figure this out!

It's going to be a long four months.

GRE--Check! Grad School Apps--next on the list

It has been far too long since I've updated. My apologies. Things have been crazy around here to say the least. I've been doing some major cramming for the GRE, which I took today! Yeah!

I was very pleased with my scores. From what I've been able to gather--I'm a little high on my verbal score for my intended graduate major, and a little low on the math score--but not too shabby! I have to wait some time before I get my writing scores, but I'm happy none the less.


I also have decided on the three universities I will be applying to for grad school:

UCLA-- Go Bruins!

University of Washington-- Yay Huskies!!

San Jose State-- uh... I don't know the mascot. ha ha

UCLA has the first deadline of December 15th. I just have to write my letter of intent and send it the last few things and then wait. Yeah! I'm really excited to take this next step.

In other news, I am being considered for a new job at work. It's with the IT department giving support to a software program. They were not aware of my graduate school plans so I'm not really sure where that left us. Hopefully by next week I will have some more information and they'll will have decided whether to continue discussions with me about the job, or not. But I just have to say that the job description online says that the applicants need 7+ years of software, database and computer engineering experience. Obviously, I don't have that background and they are aiming high for HR stuff, but still. That's the job they're trying to get me for.

I hope everyone is well, especially now that it's fall. I'll try and post more often. Life just got a little simpler for me. Cheers!