Self-Improvement Summer

In the month since graduating, I have been spending time working on job applications and figuring out where my life is taking me. Unfortunately, I am still jobless, but trying to stay on the positive side. I've been told August is the peak hiring season for my field, and have also been advised that July job posts/hiring are usually scarce. I can't believe next week is already JULY!

So with the apparent expectation of a job search lull, I have decided to dedicate the month of July towards overall self-improvements. With my previous gym going through multiple renovations (and portions of the building that I used often being closed), I have planned a new work-out routine. Something with more interest and diversity. I've been told keeping the working out routine new and different on a daily to weekly basis helps the body work harder as it attempts to get used to the changes. Although I believe that exercise is an important part of transforming one's self, I also understand that no changes are going to be possible without watching what you eat. I plan on doing more of a portion-control "diet" rather than the usual starvation method. Besides, from previous experience, no carbs = no fun.

In addition to my physical goals for improving myself, I would like to continue becoming an expert in my field - through books, webinars, journals, etc. If anything, it will also help me improve my likelihood of getting hired once the job interviews begin (hopefully).

Mental health is also important, and through introspection I have realized I have a really low threshold for stress...that meaning I experience panic attacks when I am feeling highly stressed out. I would like to start getting back into trying new things, but also enhancing previous skills and hobbies I used to enjoy. My goals this summer is to spend more time getting back into creative arts - drawing, sketching, painting, crafting, etc. Even if it just means taking 20-30 minutes of my day to sketch in my sketchbook.

So hopefully a combination of all of these personal goals will help me improve. I will try my best to keep this blog updated with my progress. Feel free to leave comments, as any encouragement is always welcomed.

Happy Summer!

Graduation Day

I got a little teary-eyed this morning as the reality of graduating set in. I've worked my butt off for the past three years studying, trying to learn as much as possible, gain a greater sense of self-awareness, improved my counseling skills, and meeting great people along the way. In the first semester of graduate school, it was the first time I realized that this is really the field for me, and that working so hard to do well was the right (and enjoyable) thing to do. I've had to make sacrifices, had to push myself, had to encourage myself to do more and I'm so happy with the outcome.

I am so so grateful for all of the kind messages my friends and family have sent me sharing their pride in my reaching this graduation day. Maybe even more important is the pride that I finally feel about myself. I worked hard and I accomplished so much, and along the way I've made differences in the lives of students!

Thinking back on my past year of practicum and internship experiences, I've confirmed again that school counseling is the field I am meant to work. I think I cried this morning thinking back on all of the warm smiles, hugs, and encouragement I received from the students that I worked with and the staff that have helped me along the way. Hearing things like, "school won't be the same without you here", "thank you for helping me not feel alone", "thank you for helping us all so much this year", "thank you for making this year so much fun", to teachers telling me "thank you for helping my student. She has improved so much because of all the effort and care that you put in", to messages on the board the last day of my internship, "Thanks for everything! We will all miss you", to two of the students that most of the faculty find to be the most difficult to work with giving me hugs and telling me that they will really miss me, to the handful of homemade cards from the students...thinking back on all of it really brings me to tears. Happy tears.

Three years ago  I came into the graduate program with an inkling that school counseling might be a great job for me, and three years later I know that it's what I want to do.

So happy about graduating today, but even more excited about the future students I can finally help by earning this degree.