When I completed my Bachelor's degree, I felt as if there was nothing I couldn't do- the world was mine for the taking. Not only had I just completed five years of hard work and learning, but I had done it myself. Anyone who has put someone through college knows that this alone is no small feat! When the actual degree came in the mail, I opened it and stared at it forever, which my mom teased me about. What you have to understand is that it was not just a piece of paper to me, it was the physical manifestation of all of the work I had spent the past five years doing- the hours studying, the anxiety over how I would do on a test, the worrying over whether or not I had enough to pay for next semester, the hours spent perfecting that last paragraph of hundreth paper I had to write, the sacrafices I made (I never had a true spring break), all of the knowledge I had crammed in to my head. It was beautiful!
On this past Friday afternoon, my program director approved me using six of the hours that I do as a TSS for my internship. This means that I will definately complete all of my 500 hours by the April 23rd end date of my internship, which means that I will definately have my Master's degree by the end of April. This past Saturday, as I was waiting for a client, I looked at the billing sheet, which reads (as all of my billing sheets do) on the provider line, "Laura Pengelly, BS Intern", and realized that in two short months my billing sheets are going to read "Laura Pengelly, MA". And then I almost cried ( tears of joy) as I thought to myself, this is really going to happen, I am really going to have a Master's degree! I did it! I am going to be the second person in my mother's family and the third, but the only one of the grandchildren, in my dad's family to have a graduate degree. Hopefully this is the first of many (happy) "this is really going to happen!" moments in my future.
P.S. For those who do not know/recognize the reference: the title of this post is a lyric from a song in the show "Rent"- the full lyric is :"525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?"
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale
We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa
The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. ~Benjamin Disraeli
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Becoming a real person again...
Spawned either by my impending graduation or by a major case of senoritis (I'm not sure which) , I've taken up some hobbies/interests lately. I've mentioned in several posts that I've started reading for pleasure again. I've also begun to read the Bible and watch Bible studies online. My mom reccomended this guy:http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/media-Video-TotalOnslaught.html and he's actually not bad. And I've taken up cocheting lately. Right now I am just crocheting wash clothes, but once I have more time, I plan to learn to crochet more complicated things.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Week in review- Valentine's edition
* Just to be clear, Valentine's day is not depressing because I do not get presents or go to fancy places- you don't need money to show your love for a special someone. It is depressing because I do not have a special someone.
* Prayers and happy thoughts please- I have started applying for master's level jobs! As one of the other interns pointed out, in April (when I graduate), ALL the new graduates will be looking for positions so there will be alot of competition and apparently it is not uncommon to have to wait for someone for a month or two.
* File this under weird names: there is a child in the daycare that I see a client in named Martini. Yes really.
* The hours count is 387. I still have not heard from my program director. Arrrrg!!!
*File this under wierd: This week Michael started a conversation with me about my lack of a love life. I was ultra hesitant to have this conversation with, really either one of them, but he persisted so I, reluctantly at first, participated- and I think he acctually cared. But that's not the wierd part. While we were in the kitchen having this lengthy conversation, Jen was in the living room watching TV. Not once did she come out and join the conversation. Ok, actually both Jen's non-participation and the conversation itself were weird. I have stopped discussing my lack of a love life with them for my own well-being because it only leads to either sacrine sweet cliches being recited or, if I'm really lucky, a half-assed attempt to fix me up with someone.
* My all time favorite excuse for missing a therapy appointment: One of the other therapist's clients cancelled their session because the Drew Carey show is on during their appointment time. Hmm... I can't imagine why the child is disrespectful and inconsiderate of other's time!
*I accidently no-showed a client this week. oops! I thought that I had scheduled him for a later appointment and I was not in the building during the time that he was actually scheduled.
* Answer me this: Michael Phelps is being paid millions of dollars because he excels in a sport in which healthy lungs are a neccessity. Why oh why would you smoke ANYTHING??!! DUMB_ _ _!!!
* There is an article on Parentdish.com that says that studies have shown that there is a gene for empathy, so if you feel things, I mean really feel things, you can thank your parents. So, my question is, which parent did I get it from? And thank you- empathy is an important tool to have as a therapist.
*Thank you to Steph & Tom for making my valentine's day not so horrible.
* Prayers and happy thoughts please- I have started applying for master's level jobs! As one of the other interns pointed out, in April (when I graduate), ALL the new graduates will be looking for positions so there will be alot of competition and apparently it is not uncommon to have to wait for someone for a month or two.
* File this under weird names: there is a child in the daycare that I see a client in named Martini. Yes really.
* The hours count is 387. I still have not heard from my program director. Arrrrg!!!
*File this under wierd: This week Michael started a conversation with me about my lack of a love life. I was ultra hesitant to have this conversation with, really either one of them, but he persisted so I, reluctantly at first, participated- and I think he acctually cared. But that's not the wierd part. While we were in the kitchen having this lengthy conversation, Jen was in the living room watching TV. Not once did she come out and join the conversation. Ok, actually both Jen's non-participation and the conversation itself were weird. I have stopped discussing my lack of a love life with them for my own well-being because it only leads to either sacrine sweet cliches being recited or, if I'm really lucky, a half-assed attempt to fix me up with someone.
* My all time favorite excuse for missing a therapy appointment: One of the other therapist's clients cancelled their session because the Drew Carey show is on during their appointment time. Hmm... I can't imagine why the child is disrespectful and inconsiderate of other's time!
*I accidently no-showed a client this week. oops! I thought that I had scheduled him for a later appointment and I was not in the building during the time that he was actually scheduled.
* Answer me this: Michael Phelps is being paid millions of dollars because he excels in a sport in which healthy lungs are a neccessity. Why oh why would you smoke ANYTHING??!! DUMB_ _ _!!!
* There is an article on Parentdish.com that says that studies have shown that there is a gene for empathy, so if you feel things, I mean really feel things, you can thank your parents. So, my question is, which parent did I get it from? And thank you- empathy is an important tool to have as a therapist.
*Thank you to Steph & Tom for making my valentine's day not so horrible.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Back in the saddle
Ok, so I broke my vow to blog faithfully at least once a week. Sorry! So here's what's been goin' on:
* I received my final W-4 and got my federal taxes done. The good news is that I do not have to pay any taxes for 2008! The bad news is that low gross wages doesn't amount to a whole lotta withholding money to get back.
* It's been a rough couple weeks with my primary client at work- he bit me on my arm. I was wearing a sweater and it still broke the skin!! He has been super aggressive lately- everytime I say "no" he hits, kicks, attempts to bite, and throws things at me. Despite this, I still think he's adorable (sometimes) If I can still love a child that is not mine after all this, I can only imagine the pull your own child has with you. Also, I think this means that I am ready to be a mother. ( are you listening God?!)
* The hours count: 380.5 down, 119.5 more to go!! I emailed my program director about using my hours with one of my clients at work, since I do play therapy with him. My director has yet to answer me back, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
* I had the most heartbreaking group ever last night- I had to stop the group twice to explain that it is never ever ok for anyone, including our parents, to hurt us. And I'm still not sure that a couple of them got it.
* I am really not looking forward to Saturday: it's... that holiday ( I am not saying the v-word) that is a big fat reminder of the one area of my life that has never gone the way that I want it to. I don't care what all the hip little columnists say, it is NOT fun to be single on V-day and there is nothing good about it!!! Candy and e-harmony commercials everywhere! It's a minefield!!!
*To add insult to injury, today one of the kids at the daycare asked me if I have a baby in my belly.
*The client I mentioned in my last post is well on her way to being successfully discharged!! This particular client is my big, blue whale, so to speak, so I am tickled pink for both of us!!
*I have been craving eggs and pancakes like mad. Not sure why though.
That is all for now
* I received my final W-4 and got my federal taxes done. The good news is that I do not have to pay any taxes for 2008! The bad news is that low gross wages doesn't amount to a whole lotta withholding money to get back.
* It's been a rough couple weeks with my primary client at work- he bit me on my arm. I was wearing a sweater and it still broke the skin!! He has been super aggressive lately- everytime I say "no" he hits, kicks, attempts to bite, and throws things at me. Despite this, I still think he's adorable (sometimes) If I can still love a child that is not mine after all this, I can only imagine the pull your own child has with you. Also, I think this means that I am ready to be a mother. ( are you listening God?!)
* The hours count: 380.5 down, 119.5 more to go!! I emailed my program director about using my hours with one of my clients at work, since I do play therapy with him. My director has yet to answer me back, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
* I had the most heartbreaking group ever last night- I had to stop the group twice to explain that it is never ever ok for anyone, including our parents, to hurt us. And I'm still not sure that a couple of them got it.
* I am really not looking forward to Saturday: it's... that holiday ( I am not saying the v-word) that is a big fat reminder of the one area of my life that has never gone the way that I want it to. I don't care what all the hip little columnists say, it is NOT fun to be single on V-day and there is nothing good about it!!! Candy and e-harmony commercials everywhere! It's a minefield!!!
*To add insult to injury, today one of the kids at the daycare asked me if I have a baby in my belly.
*The client I mentioned in my last post is well on her way to being successfully discharged!! This particular client is my big, blue whale, so to speak, so I am tickled pink for both of us!!
*I have been craving eggs and pancakes like mad. Not sure why though.
That is all for now
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
