on getting her stuff together

Last semester, after having the opportunity to volunteer at an elementary school, I realized where I see myself after I finish up with school... and that would be teaching.

Elementary sounded great at first and becoming a reading specialist sounded like a great idea, but I couldn't actually get into the College of Education here at Texas A&M so I was at sort of a loss.

After having the summer to talk with the influential people in my life (my family, of course), I decided that I would pursue an alternate and longer route of getting into education... Cue the start of the fall semester and being in a few english classes.

I have absolutely fallen in love with my Brit Lit class, partially because I love to read and learn about literature, but also because my professor is, to put it plainly, a badass. She's hilarious and makes the class enjoyable. During the second week of classes, I talked with her for a while after class and asked her a simple question, "When did you realize that you wanted to get your degree in English?"

She responded with how she was a junior in college (coincidence much?). She was pre-law and realized how she hated who she was in classes with and wasn't necessarily enjoying her classes. So she made the switch to something she loved and hasn't looked back since. She gave me the name of the department's best undergrad adviser and I made an appointment... within twenty minutes of our conversation.

So now I'm pursuing a BA in English, and am working towards qualifying for the Post-Baccalaureate program that readies me and admits me into Texas A&M's MEd program... subsequently certifying me to teach high school english. And, honestly, I couldn't be happier or more ecstatic. If how much I'm enjoying my english classes now is an indicator of how the rest of my undergrad is going to go, then I'm pumped.

Hopefully I'll be able to update more! I haven't really had the chance to craft much or finish started crafts. And now that I've gotten a part time job (YAY!) time may be more constricted. But I will try!

on prioritizing

Now, I know that prioritizing is hard. Believe me, I know very well.
I mean, if I had it my way I would be going to get frozen yogurt with my best friends every night, spending hours cooking and baking each week, and then spending any remaining free time with my boyfriend and at the mall spending all the money I definitely don't have.
But, unfortunately, college is a lot different than high school or your summer life. Here, if your like me, you have to pay for your own school but you have no one to answer to; Who's going to make you go to class? Write your papers? Take your tests?
The answer is no one, except for yourself.

Here are a couple of things I do to help motivate and force myself do what I need to do:

1. Get a planner. I have a really cute one courtesy of one of my best friends. I keep everything I need in it. It even has a small pocket to keep things; I keep to do lists and grocery lists handy. For each day I have written out what I need to do (I did this when I made plans/got the syllabus for my classes) and fill in the spaces as the days go on. That way everything I need to do is available for me to see and be reminded of.

2. Have a good motivating friend. And this goes both ways. My best friend Meigan is my motivator and I am hers. We push each other and remind each other of what we need to do and what we want to accomplish. We set up study dates that can't be backed out of unless there is serious emergency, we remind each other every day of what we want to accomplish (we remind each other we need to work out, eat better, etc.) and get a jump start on what needs to get done.

3. Minimize distractions where ever you choose to get things accomplished. And this can be hard if you're a serious social butterfly like me. I have the tendency to make friends where every I go to get anything done, so sometimes I get seriously distracted. I try and go places where people have to be quiet (6th floor of the annex!) or where there won't be many people.

Like I said, it's not hard and prioritizing is a lot of self control. But having good friends can make it so much easier. :o)