Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Religion
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. - Dalai Lama
I have opinions and feelings. This post may not coincide completely with your opinions and feelings. I am ok with that and I don't discredit you for feeling differently. I just want to put my thoughts down in concrete form for my own personal relief. That being said, here goes:
I don't know where I stand with organized religion. I don't completely agree or disagree with any doctrine that is currently being practiced in modern culture of which I am familiar. I think that humans, like everything else, have their flaws and therefore no one can be sure what is or isn't true, correct, right, etc. I know that I share a lot of the same sentiments from the Buddhist culture, but that Christianity has influenced my life a great deal growing up in Catholic school with a Christian family and largely Christian based country (no political beliefs/opinions expressed here nor do I need political commentary on this subject).
I believe in something larger than what we have here. I think there is a sense of connectedness between people and our surroundings and that things happen in life for a reason. I believe that people come and go in life as they are meant to for the overall picture... for the betterment of individuals to better serve the greater community.
I do not, however, believe in "salvation"... at least in the sense that most people use the word today. I do not believe that there is a set "check point" in life that can be obtained by verbalizing a belief system or reading a written word that instantly puts you on a list to go to a place of light in the sky somewhere. I don't think saying "I believe in ___" or "I love ___" or even "I'm saved" is a turning point that absolves the rest of the life you still have to live. I don't think a decision can be made about "salvation" until the end (death or whatever the end may be). I feel that people rely too heavily on what they say and what they read, but not enough on their actions.
Using the Bible as my topic here, I believe that it is used improperly today. I think that people use certain passages out of context to justify their hatred or bigotry rather than use it to learn more about loving and serving others. They get lost in the leaves and lose sight of the tree, so to speak. I don't believe that the Bible dictates who you can or cannot love, who you can or cannot associate with. I believe that the bigger picture is that it tells you to love everyone.
If you can love me for who I am and accept that I believe there are more factors involved in the "big picture" than verbalizing an established doctrine, I thank you for loving and accepting me. If you cannot, I'm sorry that you cannot, but I won't hold that against you personally. My purpose is not to judge you or try to get you to believe what I believe. My purpose is to continually learn and grow as a person so that I can better love others and serve a greater community than myself and my family/friends.
The moral of my story is that I really have no problem with the majority of religious beliefs that exist in our world. What I truly have a problem with is hypocrisy.
Practice what you preach... or don't preach at all.
I have opinions and feelings. This post may not coincide completely with your opinions and feelings. I am ok with that and I don't discredit you for feeling differently. I just want to put my thoughts down in concrete form for my own personal relief. That being said, here goes:
I don't know where I stand with organized religion. I don't completely agree or disagree with any doctrine that is currently being practiced in modern culture of which I am familiar. I think that humans, like everything else, have their flaws and therefore no one can be sure what is or isn't true, correct, right, etc. I know that I share a lot of the same sentiments from the Buddhist culture, but that Christianity has influenced my life a great deal growing up in Catholic school with a Christian family and largely Christian based country (no political beliefs/opinions expressed here nor do I need political commentary on this subject).
I believe in something larger than what we have here. I think there is a sense of connectedness between people and our surroundings and that things happen in life for a reason. I believe that people come and go in life as they are meant to for the overall picture... for the betterment of individuals to better serve the greater community.
I do not, however, believe in "salvation"... at least in the sense that most people use the word today. I do not believe that there is a set "check point" in life that can be obtained by verbalizing a belief system or reading a written word that instantly puts you on a list to go to a place of light in the sky somewhere. I don't think saying "I believe in ___" or "I love ___" or even "I'm saved" is a turning point that absolves the rest of the life you still have to live. I don't think a decision can be made about "salvation" until the end (death or whatever the end may be). I feel that people rely too heavily on what they say and what they read, but not enough on their actions.
Using the Bible as my topic here, I believe that it is used improperly today. I think that people use certain passages out of context to justify their hatred or bigotry rather than use it to learn more about loving and serving others. They get lost in the leaves and lose sight of the tree, so to speak. I don't believe that the Bible dictates who you can or cannot love, who you can or cannot associate with. I believe that the bigger picture is that it tells you to love everyone.
If you can love me for who I am and accept that I believe there are more factors involved in the "big picture" than verbalizing an established doctrine, I thank you for loving and accepting me. If you cannot, I'm sorry that you cannot, but I won't hold that against you personally. My purpose is not to judge you or try to get you to believe what I believe. My purpose is to continually learn and grow as a person so that I can better love others and serve a greater community than myself and my family/friends.
The moral of my story is that I really have no problem with the majority of religious beliefs that exist in our world. What I truly have a problem with is hypocrisy.
Practice what you preach... or don't preach at all.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Life Changes
What has 2 thumbs and made an A in pediatrics? THIS GUY!
I did it. I tamed the beast that kills many people's 4.0 in nursing school. I didn't have a 4.0 to ruin anyway, but it makes me feel good that I accomplished my goal!
Anyway, on top of reaching that goal, I have started a new goal. I am starting to work out and eat better. I'm attempting to avoid really sugary, unnecessary foods and drinks (with the occasional exception). I bought vegetables and fruit! (GASP!) Also, the past 2 days I have gone to the UTMB Field House to work out. I do the cross-fit setting on the elliptical machine for 35ish minutes and then hop on the rowing machine for another 10 minutes. Today I burned, in theory, around 450 calories. Nice! The most amazing part of working out... is that it helps with my insomnia! Last night I was tired and so I went to bed at 12:30am. That is pretty much unheard of for me.
Let's see how long I can keep this up.
I did it. I tamed the beast that kills many people's 4.0 in nursing school. I didn't have a 4.0 to ruin anyway, but it makes me feel good that I accomplished my goal!
Anyway, on top of reaching that goal, I have started a new goal. I am starting to work out and eat better. I'm attempting to avoid really sugary, unnecessary foods and drinks (with the occasional exception). I bought vegetables and fruit! (GASP!) Also, the past 2 days I have gone to the UTMB Field House to work out. I do the cross-fit setting on the elliptical machine for 35ish minutes and then hop on the rowing machine for another 10 minutes. Today I burned, in theory, around 450 calories. Nice! The most amazing part of working out... is that it helps with my insomnia! Last night I was tired and so I went to bed at 12:30am. That is pretty much unheard of for me.
Let's see how long I can keep this up.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I don't even know what to say...
I was sitting in a coffee shop this afternoon, minding my own business and listening to audio lectures about critical care for pediatric patients... when an insane debate broke out between two other people in the coffee shop.
Originally, one guy had brought up that if there were two of every animal on Noah's Ark, why didn't the lions eat the other animals? It was a "food for thought" comment that didn't particularly spark any massive debate. The two people, who were clearly barely acquaintances, got their respective coffees and went to separate tables for quiet study. After a good laugh, I returned to study...
Then, one participant ran out of water in his trendy water bottle. Clearly, he needed a refill. As he returned from quenching his imminent thirst, he returned to the table where his acquaintance sat. Also sitting quietly, he had not intended to further their conversation from earlier with the exception of "see you later" as one of them exited the coffee shop. However, these hopes fell on deaf ears... but not really because I (along with everyone else in the coffee shop) also heard the debate which followed.
Within the first 30 seconds of the conversation, they establish that water boy hailed from Indiana and that the quiet student had the privilege of being born in Texas (my words, not theirs). The quiet Texan student was also Christian. From this point on, I will refer to them as Indiana and QC for "Quiet Christian." In the beginning, it seemed safe to assume that Indiana also practiced Christianity due to his extensive use of the Bible as basis for his conversation, but what happens when we assume?
Indiana began to berate QC for his Christian beliefs. The snowball was formed and began to slowly roll down a hypothetical hill. QC stated, over and over, "I have my beliefs, which you clearly don't agree with, so let's just agree to disagree and go about our business." Unacceptable. Who wouldn't spend at least 30 more minutes telling someone that the beliefs that they grew up with are rubbish?
About this time, the patrons of this coffee shop, myself included, began exchanging glances. You know the glances I'm referring to... the "WTF...OMG... this is happening? Is this real life?" kind of glances. We were in for a treat.
Indiana began to use the Bible to refute that Christianity made any sense. In true oxymoronic fashion, he made little sense with expert conviction. "I'm not a Bible scholar!" Indiana exclaimed when questioned on the verses to which he was referring. He further refuted Christianity by "proving" that the Bible states that all Jews have the right to kill anyone else because they are proclaimed as the "chosen people." Everyone knows that! Where did QC grow up that he didn't know common sense about Jews? The south? Oh wait, we are just getting to that. Indiana thinks that the South is the reason that Christianity is truly flawed and that, apparently, Indiana > Texas. I quickly bit my tongue to refrain from saying, "If Indiana is so much better than Texas, then go the fuck back." Instead, I gave them a glance... the kind that says, "Wrap it up or bring it outside."
Instead of wrapping it up or bringing it outside, Indiana said, "Oh, sorry" and moved a whopping 1 foot closer to his victim and proceeded to speak at the same level which can only be described as yelling.
Again, QC pleaded with him that they were not going to agree and that it would be more time efficient to cease. Nope. Indiana was out to prove himself. He needed the satisfaction of proving QC wrong. Next came the argument that humanity is a weak and pathetic existence if Christianity believes that all of their flaws can be pawned off on one person who is willing to die for them. Also, God is a sadistic killer and people who believe in free will are ignorant to medicine.
After another 20 minutes of roundabout oxymorons and paradoxical hypocrisy, I had to leave. It had been a train wreck from which I could not turn away, but the train wreck had already stolen 30 or more minutes from my productivity.
This post does not express my beliefs or lack there of. In fact, that would need another post of similar length to describe. Instead, I simply mean to share the insane ramblings of a self-entitled guy from Indiana who ruined my studying experience.
Originally, one guy had brought up that if there were two of every animal on Noah's Ark, why didn't the lions eat the other animals? It was a "food for thought" comment that didn't particularly spark any massive debate. The two people, who were clearly barely acquaintances, got their respective coffees and went to separate tables for quiet study. After a good laugh, I returned to study...
Then, one participant ran out of water in his trendy water bottle. Clearly, he needed a refill. As he returned from quenching his imminent thirst, he returned to the table where his acquaintance sat. Also sitting quietly, he had not intended to further their conversation from earlier with the exception of "see you later" as one of them exited the coffee shop. However, these hopes fell on deaf ears... but not really because I (along with everyone else in the coffee shop) also heard the debate which followed.
Within the first 30 seconds of the conversation, they establish that water boy hailed from Indiana and that the quiet student had the privilege of being born in Texas (my words, not theirs). The quiet Texan student was also Christian. From this point on, I will refer to them as Indiana and QC for "Quiet Christian." In the beginning, it seemed safe to assume that Indiana also practiced Christianity due to his extensive use of the Bible as basis for his conversation, but what happens when we assume?
Indiana began to berate QC for his Christian beliefs. The snowball was formed and began to slowly roll down a hypothetical hill. QC stated, over and over, "I have my beliefs, which you clearly don't agree with, so let's just agree to disagree and go about our business." Unacceptable. Who wouldn't spend at least 30 more minutes telling someone that the beliefs that they grew up with are rubbish?
About this time, the patrons of this coffee shop, myself included, began exchanging glances. You know the glances I'm referring to... the "WTF...OMG... this is happening? Is this real life?" kind of glances. We were in for a treat.
Indiana began to use the Bible to refute that Christianity made any sense. In true oxymoronic fashion, he made little sense with expert conviction. "I'm not a Bible scholar!" Indiana exclaimed when questioned on the verses to which he was referring. He further refuted Christianity by "proving" that the Bible states that all Jews have the right to kill anyone else because they are proclaimed as the "chosen people." Everyone knows that! Where did QC grow up that he didn't know common sense about Jews? The south? Oh wait, we are just getting to that. Indiana thinks that the South is the reason that Christianity is truly flawed and that, apparently, Indiana > Texas. I quickly bit my tongue to refrain from saying, "If Indiana is so much better than Texas, then go the fuck back." Instead, I gave them a glance... the kind that says, "Wrap it up or bring it outside."
Instead of wrapping it up or bringing it outside, Indiana said, "Oh, sorry" and moved a whopping 1 foot closer to his victim and proceeded to speak at the same level which can only be described as yelling.
Again, QC pleaded with him that they were not going to agree and that it would be more time efficient to cease. Nope. Indiana was out to prove himself. He needed the satisfaction of proving QC wrong. Next came the argument that humanity is a weak and pathetic existence if Christianity believes that all of their flaws can be pawned off on one person who is willing to die for them. Also, God is a sadistic killer and people who believe in free will are ignorant to medicine.
After another 20 minutes of roundabout oxymorons and paradoxical hypocrisy, I had to leave. It had been a train wreck from which I could not turn away, but the train wreck had already stolen 30 or more minutes from my productivity.
This post does not express my beliefs or lack there of. In fact, that would need another post of similar length to describe. Instead, I simply mean to share the insane ramblings of a self-entitled guy from Indiana who ruined my studying experience.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Peds Update
Well, I had my 2nd shift. This time I was on the transplant floor. I can't say too much about the experience for fear of violating patient confidentiality, but I had a horrible experience. My patient was great, but my nurse sucked. She didn't let me do anything (well, almost), treated me like I was an idiot, and basically told me to sit and "study" until she came to get me. If I wanted to sit and study, I wouldn't be at a hospital for a night shift on a FRIDAY.
I asked her at the beginning of the shift if it was ok that I worked with her and she said yes... If she didn't want me to work with her, just say no. I would rather you turn me down and find a nurse that will let me actually practice my skills. I will be a nurse in approximately 6 months. Do you want me to practice on your child if I never actually touched one in my clinical rotation? NO.
Either way, the patient loved me and cried any time my nurse touched her. Karma is a bitch.
This Friday I will be in CVICU. I am hoping that it will be a better experience. So far, I like cardiovascular and pediatrics... and I'm looking forward to my first ICU experience... plus it will be my birthday.
Bring it on.
I asked her at the beginning of the shift if it was ok that I worked with her and she said yes... If she didn't want me to work with her, just say no. I would rather you turn me down and find a nurse that will let me actually practice my skills. I will be a nurse in approximately 6 months. Do you want me to practice on your child if I never actually touched one in my clinical rotation? NO.
Either way, the patient loved me and cried any time my nurse touched her. Karma is a bitch.
This Friday I will be in CVICU. I am hoping that it will be a better experience. So far, I like cardiovascular and pediatrics... and I'm looking forward to my first ICU experience... plus it will be my birthday.
Bring it on.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
So... here we all are...
My life has changed a lot since my last post. Here's a list of how:
- I didn't finish grad school. It's a complicated story. I had a lot of emotional baggage that got lost in an airport (surprise) which showed up on my doorstep to kick me in the teeth. Because of this and some less than understanding faculty, I did not finish. Probably one of the better awful things to happen to me in the long run.
- I decided to apply to nursing school. Last May when I left grad school, I decided plan B was nursing school. I was still hopeful for Kansas State to call me up and offer me a spot, but I wasn't holding my breath. On a whim, I applied to UTMB for the accelerated nursing program. I honestly wasn't expecting to be admitted, but wanted to get a feel for the process. This program stuck out because I didn't need any entrance exams or letters of rec... a little shady, but perfect for my situation at the time.
- I started my remaining pre-reqs at Blinn over summer and fall '10. After haggling with the admissions staff at UTMB, I had a finite list of classes that I still needed if I were to be admitted to nursing school. I took sociology, A&P, nutrition (which I had already taken an animal nutrition class... cake!), and Lifespan. Surprisingly, I found them to be very interesting, excluding nutrition. Also, for the first time since I graduated undergrad, I was doing well. I began to remember the feeling of being successful in school and what an A on a transcript looked like. It was amazeballs.
- I got an interview and was admitted to UTMB for Spring '11. WHAT!?!
- I moved away from College Station. I wanted to move so badly for the last year and a half that I lived in CS. I thought to myself, "Most of my friends have moved away so it won't be that hard..." Yeah, well, I lied... to myself. My last semester, my group of friends added a few extra who ended up becoming some of my best friends even still. My last night, I bawled. We had a Christmas/going-away party and it was a sobfest for all. I left and haven't really looked back. I liked the city, I loved the people, and those things didn't change when I left.
- I moved to Galveston. I was terrified and excited at the same time. It was my first time moving to a new city in almost 6 years... and I was moving to a place where I knew almost no one. I found an apartment near the seawall and hoped to just keep my head down and not get mugged. Well, I didn't get mugged (knock on wood).
- I made new friends. The day I moved into my apartment, I wanted to unpack, lay low, and figure out what the hell I was doing with my life. Apparently, I made a good first impression on the assistant manager of my apartment complex. That night, she came by with her friend and their dogs and we took the pups to the beach. Little did I know, she would become one of my good friends in Galveston. She, her family, and an array of residents have become my second family in Galveston. They make this apartment feel like home.
- I started nursing school. I went to orientation and knew no one. I sat in the back and made "friends" with two girls who ultimately ended up leaving the program due to grade issues. I met a lot of people, yet seemingly made no friends. The only person I talked to more than briefly all week was a guy I met at my interview that was from the Beaumont area. He is a very nice guy that I still talk to, but he doesn't live on the island and is married. Someone told me that study groups had already been formed and I was left without one. As I tried to join different groups, I was turned away for a variety of seemingly fake reasons. Their loss, but not good for my ego. What was this? High school? I skipped the planned happy hour (mistake) and kept to my new friends at my apartment complex (not a mistake). I survived.
- I went to a happy hour with my classmates. Apparently, that was missing puzzle piece. I drank, I opened up, I made friends. Turns out, I wasn't the social outcast I perceived that I was. I found out who I liked and who I'd rather avoid. First impressions for almost everyone still hold true today. I made a group of really good friends which still hangs out today (plus or minus a few) and a guy that I consider to be one of my best friends in Galveston.
- I got invited to a study group. (Insert audio clip of angels singing)
- School. School. School. Overwhelmed. Got the hang of it. Piece of cake. Don't need to apply myself. Holy shit. I should have applied myself.
- Started clinicals. Wore burnt orange. Awesome and ughhh... respectively.
- Pediatrics. A semester and a half later, something challenges me. I accept. This is now. I'm loving peds and I'm keeping an open mind for future careers. We will see where my clinical experience leads me. I'm at Texas Children's Hospital for this rotation. Hem/Onc... been there, not sure if its my calling, but loved working with the kids. Showed my staff nurse how to insert a Foley Catheter... see one, do one, TEACH ONE. She's been a nurse for HOW LONG? Oh ok. Still to come: transplant, CVICU, PICU, and adolescent medicine. Here. We. Go.
So that is my long and probably boring year in a nutshell. I can't promise I will update more often because that may turn out to be a lie like last time... but I can try. No one reads this anyway.
Theme of the Year: "You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." - Walt Disney
- I didn't finish grad school. It's a complicated story. I had a lot of emotional baggage that got lost in an airport (surprise) which showed up on my doorstep to kick me in the teeth. Because of this and some less than understanding faculty, I did not finish. Probably one of the better awful things to happen to me in the long run.
- I decided to apply to nursing school. Last May when I left grad school, I decided plan B was nursing school. I was still hopeful for Kansas State to call me up and offer me a spot, but I wasn't holding my breath. On a whim, I applied to UTMB for the accelerated nursing program. I honestly wasn't expecting to be admitted, but wanted to get a feel for the process. This program stuck out because I didn't need any entrance exams or letters of rec... a little shady, but perfect for my situation at the time.
- I started my remaining pre-reqs at Blinn over summer and fall '10. After haggling with the admissions staff at UTMB, I had a finite list of classes that I still needed if I were to be admitted to nursing school. I took sociology, A&P, nutrition (which I had already taken an animal nutrition class... cake!), and Lifespan. Surprisingly, I found them to be very interesting, excluding nutrition. Also, for the first time since I graduated undergrad, I was doing well. I began to remember the feeling of being successful in school and what an A on a transcript looked like. It was amazeballs.
- I got an interview and was admitted to UTMB for Spring '11. WHAT!?!
- I moved away from College Station. I wanted to move so badly for the last year and a half that I lived in CS. I thought to myself, "Most of my friends have moved away so it won't be that hard..." Yeah, well, I lied... to myself. My last semester, my group of friends added a few extra who ended up becoming some of my best friends even still. My last night, I bawled. We had a Christmas/going-away party and it was a sobfest for all. I left and haven't really looked back. I liked the city, I loved the people, and those things didn't change when I left.
- I moved to Galveston. I was terrified and excited at the same time. It was my first time moving to a new city in almost 6 years... and I was moving to a place where I knew almost no one. I found an apartment near the seawall and hoped to just keep my head down and not get mugged. Well, I didn't get mugged (knock on wood).
- I made new friends. The day I moved into my apartment, I wanted to unpack, lay low, and figure out what the hell I was doing with my life. Apparently, I made a good first impression on the assistant manager of my apartment complex. That night, she came by with her friend and their dogs and we took the pups to the beach. Little did I know, she would become one of my good friends in Galveston. She, her family, and an array of residents have become my second family in Galveston. They make this apartment feel like home.
- I started nursing school. I went to orientation and knew no one. I sat in the back and made "friends" with two girls who ultimately ended up leaving the program due to grade issues. I met a lot of people, yet seemingly made no friends. The only person I talked to more than briefly all week was a guy I met at my interview that was from the Beaumont area. He is a very nice guy that I still talk to, but he doesn't live on the island and is married. Someone told me that study groups had already been formed and I was left without one. As I tried to join different groups, I was turned away for a variety of seemingly fake reasons. Their loss, but not good for my ego. What was this? High school? I skipped the planned happy hour (mistake) and kept to my new friends at my apartment complex (not a mistake). I survived.
- I went to a happy hour with my classmates. Apparently, that was missing puzzle piece. I drank, I opened up, I made friends. Turns out, I wasn't the social outcast I perceived that I was. I found out who I liked and who I'd rather avoid. First impressions for almost everyone still hold true today. I made a group of really good friends which still hangs out today (plus or minus a few) and a guy that I consider to be one of my best friends in Galveston.
- I got invited to a study group. (Insert audio clip of angels singing)
- School. School. School. Overwhelmed. Got the hang of it. Piece of cake. Don't need to apply myself. Holy shit. I should have applied myself.
- Started clinicals. Wore burnt orange. Awesome and ughhh... respectively.
- Pediatrics. A semester and a half later, something challenges me. I accept. This is now. I'm loving peds and I'm keeping an open mind for future careers. We will see where my clinical experience leads me. I'm at Texas Children's Hospital for this rotation. Hem/Onc... been there, not sure if its my calling, but loved working with the kids. Showed my staff nurse how to insert a Foley Catheter... see one, do one, TEACH ONE. She's been a nurse for HOW LONG? Oh ok. Still to come: transplant, CVICU, PICU, and adolescent medicine. Here. We. Go.
So that is my long and probably boring year in a nutshell. I can't promise I will update more often because that may turn out to be a lie like last time... but I can try. No one reads this anyway.
Theme of the Year: "You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." - Walt Disney
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Update on Life
Well, there's a lot of nothing going on really, but I'm making changes to help turn nothing into something. I've been pretty bad about it this week, but I'm attempting to work out, eat better, take vitamins, and sleep more at night. So far, so good. I feel better and can concentrate more. I'm starting to feel more like myself, but its going to be more than just a couple weeks worth of change to fully get myself there.
In vet school news, out of the multitude of schools I applied to, I got 0 acceptances, lots of rejections, and 2 alternate lists. 2 alternate lists is better than what I got last year (so that's nice), but its still nothing definite. I have no idea what I will be doing or where I will be in 4-5 months. I can't hear back off of the alternate lists until after April 15th which is getting closer. I'm not holding my breath for Michigan State, but I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed for Kansas State.
I'm meeting with one of my graduate committee members today to talk about potentially changing my masters to something I'm more interested in as a plan B. If I don't get a call back from KState, I want to do something with public health or animal reproduction (both of which I would be interested in studying in vet school anyway). We'll see how that meeting goes and what my options are. I'm hoping I don't need plan B, but it will be nice to have a plan just in case.
So for now, I'm going to go do some research on classes I can take. I will update soon... maybe.
In vet school news, out of the multitude of schools I applied to, I got 0 acceptances, lots of rejections, and 2 alternate lists. 2 alternate lists is better than what I got last year (so that's nice), but its still nothing definite. I have no idea what I will be doing or where I will be in 4-5 months. I can't hear back off of the alternate lists until after April 15th which is getting closer. I'm not holding my breath for Michigan State, but I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed for Kansas State.
I'm meeting with one of my graduate committee members today to talk about potentially changing my masters to something I'm more interested in as a plan B. If I don't get a call back from KState, I want to do something with public health or animal reproduction (both of which I would be interested in studying in vet school anyway). We'll see how that meeting goes and what my options are. I'm hoping I don't need plan B, but it will be nice to have a plan just in case.
So for now, I'm going to go do some research on classes I can take. I will update soon... maybe.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Something on my mind...
Being a director for Fish Camp this past year opened my eyes to a lot that I hadn't paid much attention to before. Its come to my attention that everyone (no matter how hard you try) is biased and prejudice. The mere fact that we have to tell ourselves not to be prejudice means that we are. Its how we are raised. It is in the history of every culture.
A specific thing that bothers me is when people try to say things like "Black or white, male or female, young or old, gay or straight... etc". Putting labels on people (besides being potentially hurtful) means that you are excluding so many others. There are more than 2 races/ethnicities, genders, age groups, and sexual orientations. If you want to list out every label you can think of, you would still be missing out. To miss out on even one "label" is failing to acknowledge the aspect of someone's personality that makes them truly unique. If we so desperately need to put labels on people, we should come up with 7 billion of them... one for every person in the world.
Putting even one "label" on another person is also failing to value anything else that is unique about them. As T.R. Knight (George O'Malley from Grey's Anatomy) said, "I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me." We get so caught up with our labels and first impressions that we overlook other qualities, good or bad, and every event that has helped define that person's life. Its sad that we miss out on so much about each other.
When I walk into a room, what do people see? I am a white male, probably college aged. I usually have clean clothes. I wear glasses. There are a number of assumptions that you could make about me. Most of those assumptions are probably true, but how do you know? Just because I am different than you, doesn't make us enemies. Just because we have similar qualities, doesn't make us friends.
The world isn't black and white, no matter how hard people try to see it that way. Looking at yourself, are you made up of extremes? Are all of your qualities middle of the road? What makes you unique?
What makes us all the same?
A specific thing that bothers me is when people try to say things like "Black or white, male or female, young or old, gay or straight... etc". Putting labels on people (besides being potentially hurtful) means that you are excluding so many others. There are more than 2 races/ethnicities, genders, age groups, and sexual orientations. If you want to list out every label you can think of, you would still be missing out. To miss out on even one "label" is failing to acknowledge the aspect of someone's personality that makes them truly unique. If we so desperately need to put labels on people, we should come up with 7 billion of them... one for every person in the world.
Putting even one "label" on another person is also failing to value anything else that is unique about them. As T.R. Knight (George O'Malley from Grey's Anatomy) said, "I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me." We get so caught up with our labels and first impressions that we overlook other qualities, good or bad, and every event that has helped define that person's life. Its sad that we miss out on so much about each other.
When I walk into a room, what do people see? I am a white male, probably college aged. I usually have clean clothes. I wear glasses. There are a number of assumptions that you could make about me. Most of those assumptions are probably true, but how do you know? Just because I am different than you, doesn't make us enemies. Just because we have similar qualities, doesn't make us friends.
The world isn't black and white, no matter how hard people try to see it that way. Looking at yourself, are you made up of extremes? Are all of your qualities middle of the road? What makes you unique?
What makes us all the same?
Monday, March 8, 2010
First post in a while...
Well, its been a while, eh? Since my last post, I've applied to vet school and been rejected by most of them.
I interviewed at A&M and Kansas State. A&M rejected me for a second time, but I made the alternate list for Kansas State! Truth be told, I like KState's program better and the people there are really nice. Plus, it would be a good change of scenery. If I went to A&M, I'd be closer to family, but I would also be in College Station for a total of 9 year (5 down, 4 to go) and that would make me here for a 3rd of my life by the time I got out. As much as going to vet school is my dream, I'm not sure I would be happy at A&M anyway.
I am also on the alternate list for Michigan State and waiting to hear back from Oklahoma State. As much as I don't want to live in Michigan at all (let alone for 4 years), they have a good program and nice facilities so I'll take what I can get. If I get into Oklahoma State, I will obviously go! Its the closest to home out of any of the schools I have left in the running and its almost 10k cheaper per year than KState and Michigan State. Obviously, I will go wherever accepts me. I think I have pretty good chances of getting in to KState off the alternate list as they usually go pretty far (if not completely) down the list and most people who were accepted out of state will get into their in-state school and opt for the cheaper tuition. Better for me!
In other news, I've been dealing with a lot of personal issues. I think I'm finally to the point where its not affecting my life as much, but my grades took a big hit last semester and I'm trying to keep them from doing so this semester too. We'll see how that turns out. If I don't get into vet school this year, I will definitely have my work cut out for me.
I quit my job. My last day is this coming Friday. I appreciated that they gave me a job, but it wasn't ideal for my life in many ways and I think having that much less stress on me right now will be good for my grades.
I think I will try to keep up with this more often. Its a little bit like therapy where I get to just write down everything I'm feeling and whats on my mind.
I interviewed at A&M and Kansas State. A&M rejected me for a second time, but I made the alternate list for Kansas State! Truth be told, I like KState's program better and the people there are really nice. Plus, it would be a good change of scenery. If I went to A&M, I'd be closer to family, but I would also be in College Station for a total of 9 year (5 down, 4 to go) and that would make me here for a 3rd of my life by the time I got out. As much as going to vet school is my dream, I'm not sure I would be happy at A&M anyway.
I am also on the alternate list for Michigan State and waiting to hear back from Oklahoma State. As much as I don't want to live in Michigan at all (let alone for 4 years), they have a good program and nice facilities so I'll take what I can get. If I get into Oklahoma State, I will obviously go! Its the closest to home out of any of the schools I have left in the running and its almost 10k cheaper per year than KState and Michigan State. Obviously, I will go wherever accepts me. I think I have pretty good chances of getting in to KState off the alternate list as they usually go pretty far (if not completely) down the list and most people who were accepted out of state will get into their in-state school and opt for the cheaper tuition. Better for me!
In other news, I've been dealing with a lot of personal issues. I think I'm finally to the point where its not affecting my life as much, but my grades took a big hit last semester and I'm trying to keep them from doing so this semester too. We'll see how that turns out. If I don't get into vet school this year, I will definitely have my work cut out for me.
I quit my job. My last day is this coming Friday. I appreciated that they gave me a job, but it wasn't ideal for my life in many ways and I think having that much less stress on me right now will be good for my grades.
I think I will try to keep up with this more often. Its a little bit like therapy where I get to just write down everything I'm feeling and whats on my mind.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My life = Grey's Anatomy
Today, I drove out to Navasota to shadow an equine vet. I called ahead to get his schedule and they said he had 2 appointments starting at 1pm and then he had a surgery and that I could come out there for all of the above.
So I scarfed a big mac on the 20ish minute drive and showed up 10 minutes til 1 so that I wouldn't walk in during one of the appointments. The vet I shadow wasn't back from lunch and the receptionist told me to wait in the lobby and she'd let him know that I was there when he got back.
Well... an hour and 15 minutes later, I got up, walked outside, and went into the treatment barn to find the vet and his tech working on a horse. Thanks for nothing, receptionist. After I waited for an hour and 15 minutes, I watched 2 lameness exams (which I have seen before) and nothing was explained to me. After all of this, I had 3 minutes of small talk with the vet and then he told me he was going into surgery and that he would see me next week. I was under the impression that I was going to watch the surgery and I was really excited about it. Not the case.
Basically (and you can judge me all you want) I was feeling like Christina from Grey's Anatomy. You know, she's been bitching about not getting surgeries and not having a cardio expert for the past 3 weeks now. Well, that applies (kind of), but I'm referring more to the conversation she had when she basically asked to be cut because she isn't learning anything. I wasted my time today to not learn anything. How is this supposed to help me?
I'm at a point now where I need whatever edge I can get and need to know all that I can about large animal practice. If I can't learn it where I'm at, then I need to find someone who will teach me.
So I scarfed a big mac on the 20ish minute drive and showed up 10 minutes til 1 so that I wouldn't walk in during one of the appointments. The vet I shadow wasn't back from lunch and the receptionist told me to wait in the lobby and she'd let him know that I was there when he got back.
Well... an hour and 15 minutes later, I got up, walked outside, and went into the treatment barn to find the vet and his tech working on a horse. Thanks for nothing, receptionist. After I waited for an hour and 15 minutes, I watched 2 lameness exams (which I have seen before) and nothing was explained to me. After all of this, I had 3 minutes of small talk with the vet and then he told me he was going into surgery and that he would see me next week. I was under the impression that I was going to watch the surgery and I was really excited about it. Not the case.
Basically (and you can judge me all you want) I was feeling like Christina from Grey's Anatomy. You know, she's been bitching about not getting surgeries and not having a cardio expert for the past 3 weeks now. Well, that applies (kind of), but I'm referring more to the conversation she had when she basically asked to be cut because she isn't learning anything. I wasted my time today to not learn anything. How is this supposed to help me?
I'm at a point now where I need whatever edge I can get and need to know all that I can about large animal practice. If I can't learn it where I'm at, then I need to find someone who will teach me.
Yeah so this blog is boring... until now
Well, Fish Camp has come and gone.
I am now a proud uncle of a healthy baby boy named Charlie. He's 2 months old now...
I started grad school and it hasn't been an easy transition. I'm expected to keep up with graduate coursework while still living an undergraduate lifestyle. The one thing I can say for this semester is that I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with my friends. I have had the time to reconnect, create, and further my relationships and I couldn't be happier about it. My friends keep me wanting to get up in the morning.
While I enjoy living in College Station and all of my friends associated with it, I have the overwhelming urge to get in my truck and drive to wherever I feel like stopping. It has always been a "bucket list" type dream of mine to do this. Get a job at a bar, live in a shitty apartment, and get back to the basics. Learn to live and have no expectations but my own.
Despite how enthralled all 0 of my followers are, I should probably get some sleep since it is 3AM and I need to stop this cycle of non-sleep.
I am now a proud uncle of a healthy baby boy named Charlie. He's 2 months old now...
I started grad school and it hasn't been an easy transition. I'm expected to keep up with graduate coursework while still living an undergraduate lifestyle. The one thing I can say for this semester is that I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with my friends. I have had the time to reconnect, create, and further my relationships and I couldn't be happier about it. My friends keep me wanting to get up in the morning.
While I enjoy living in College Station and all of my friends associated with it, I have the overwhelming urge to get in my truck and drive to wherever I feel like stopping. It has always been a "bucket list" type dream of mine to do this. Get a job at a bar, live in a shitty apartment, and get back to the basics. Learn to live and have no expectations but my own.
Despite how enthralled all 0 of my followers are, I should probably get some sleep since it is 3AM and I need to stop this cycle of non-sleep.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Summer Retreat/Registration/Workday1
Well, its been a while since I posted, but I thought about it yesterday so here's an update.
Summer Retreat - It went over pretty well. It gave the chairs a good amount of time to work on their camp schedules and skit templates. Also, we revealed session directors. I'm the proud director of session E! Whoop! Session E 4 years running...
Registration - Still going strong. More people register every day... inputting files and keeping up with mail-in packets and scholarship applications. We are about to start our scholarship process (as soon as I figure out how that needs to work) and I suspect we'll start getting money in the mail soon for installment plans etc.
Workday 1 - was this weekend. I was there for a few hours each day and got to see the camp's banners etc. We had a few issues with vandalism, but luckily it was washable paint. Also this weekend we had our director retreat which was really good for the team. We had a discussion about our strengths from a leadership standpoint and our summer timeline up until camp.
My Strengths are as follows:
1. Adaptability
2. Strategic
3. Self-Assurance
4. Individualization
5. Maximizer
For more information about StrengthsQuest, go here StrengthsFinder.
Summer Retreat - It went over pretty well. It gave the chairs a good amount of time to work on their camp schedules and skit templates. Also, we revealed session directors. I'm the proud director of session E! Whoop! Session E 4 years running...
Registration - Still going strong. More people register every day... inputting files and keeping up with mail-in packets and scholarship applications. We are about to start our scholarship process (as soon as I figure out how that needs to work) and I suspect we'll start getting money in the mail soon for installment plans etc.
Workday 1 - was this weekend. I was there for a few hours each day and got to see the camp's banners etc. We had a few issues with vandalism, but luckily it was washable paint. Also this weekend we had our director retreat which was really good for the team. We had a discussion about our strengths from a leadership standpoint and our summer timeline up until camp.
My Strengths are as follows:
1. Adaptability
2. Strategic
3. Self-Assurance
4. Individualization
5. Maximizer
For more information about StrengthsQuest, go here StrengthsFinder.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Updates Etc.
Two more days of registration under my belt.
Yesterday went well. We decided to add session changes to the website since so many people were having issues reading the directions or checking their schedules. It is up and running and more people are pleased with the process. I believe one person even called our system "archaic" because we wouldn't allow them to change their session availability until after they had been assigned. Whatever pleases the people.
Today was a little on the irritating side. I got to the office at 9am with starbucks in hand ready to have a productive and positive day... well, instead I answered phone calls and emails for 2.5 hours then had a surprise director meeting which lasted through lunch while 2 chairs didn't show for their office hours (which left no one to answer phones or return emails). Then, everyone and their dog came to the office so I finally got the chance to move down to my office and work on registration itself... even still I only got to print labels for mail-in packets before I went to go pick up the rental mini-vans for our summer retreat this weekend. I got very few of my tasks done, but someone has to take care of the main office.
I'm ready for summer retreat to just happen already. Its been a long time coming. Also, it will be good for me to see a great deal of the chairs that I haven't seen in a long time.
I swear one of these days I'll talk about something other than Fish Camp... but for now thats about all there is to my life. So, enjoy.
Stay classy, blogspot.
Yesterday went well. We decided to add session changes to the website since so many people were having issues reading the directions or checking their schedules. It is up and running and more people are pleased with the process. I believe one person even called our system "archaic" because we wouldn't allow them to change their session availability until after they had been assigned. Whatever pleases the people.
Today was a little on the irritating side. I got to the office at 9am with starbucks in hand ready to have a productive and positive day... well, instead I answered phone calls and emails for 2.5 hours then had a surprise director meeting which lasted through lunch while 2 chairs didn't show for their office hours (which left no one to answer phones or return emails). Then, everyone and their dog came to the office so I finally got the chance to move down to my office and work on registration itself... even still I only got to print labels for mail-in packets before I went to go pick up the rental mini-vans for our summer retreat this weekend. I got very few of my tasks done, but someone has to take care of the main office.
I'm ready for summer retreat to just happen already. Its been a long time coming. Also, it will be good for me to see a great deal of the chairs that I haven't seen in a long time.
I swear one of these days I'll talk about something other than Fish Camp... but for now thats about all there is to my life. So, enjoy.
Stay classy, blogspot.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
First Day of Registration - UPDATE
I didn't end up sleeping at all last night because I was too anxious/excited to sleep.
All the hard work paid off because today went so smoothly. Compared to years past, everyone was so impressed with how few problems occurred. No servers went down (although they were slow around 9:30 when EVERYONE was on our site), no one was charged multiple times, and we had very few angry phone calls (although we did have a few).
All in all, it was a success. As of now, there are over 2,500 freshmen who are complete and paid through the process. There are over 2,700 (including the ones before) who are in some stage of the process. When you think about our maximum number of almost 6,000, that is a tremendous amount of freshmen in one day. Its not completely off base from years past, it just blows me away how many people are so excited to go to Fish Camp even with the economy in its current state. This, however, is not a political blog.
For now, I'm going to sleep. I took a 4 hour nap earlier (since I didn't sleep last night), but that just won't cut it for the whole night.
Keep on keeping on.
All the hard work paid off because today went so smoothly. Compared to years past, everyone was so impressed with how few problems occurred. No servers went down (although they were slow around 9:30 when EVERYONE was on our site), no one was charged multiple times, and we had very few angry phone calls (although we did have a few).
All in all, it was a success. As of now, there are over 2,500 freshmen who are complete and paid through the process. There are over 2,700 (including the ones before) who are in some stage of the process. When you think about our maximum number of almost 6,000, that is a tremendous amount of freshmen in one day. Its not completely off base from years past, it just blows me away how many people are so excited to go to Fish Camp even with the economy in its current state. This, however, is not a political blog.
For now, I'm going to sleep. I took a 4 hour nap earlier (since I didn't sleep last night), but that just won't cut it for the whole night.
Keep on keeping on.
First Day of Registration
Well, today is the day.
I should be asleep, but I can't seem to shut my eyes without thinking about the day ahead. Registration starts today. On the first day of registration last year, over 3,000 freshmen registered. I guess we'll see how 2009 works out.
We will have around 9 students and several staff members working from 8AM to 5PM to answer phone calls and checking/returning voicemails and emails. The online system is looking good and the new payment system assures that we will have no crashes or multiple charges.
I will post again later today after we get a final tally and with any major issues or accomplishments.
I should be asleep, but I can't seem to shut my eyes without thinking about the day ahead. Registration starts today. On the first day of registration last year, over 3,000 freshmen registered. I guess we'll see how 2009 works out.
We will have around 9 students and several staff members working from 8AM to 5PM to answer phone calls and checking/returning voicemails and emails. The online system is looking good and the new payment system assures that we will have no crashes or multiple charges.
I will post again later today after we get a final tally and with any major issues or accomplishments.
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