So, with all the budget cuts facing the state and the university system, all university employees are being affected by a mandatory furlough. Depending on your position within the university you have to take 10, 12, or 15 days of unpaid leave between now and June 30th
At first I was told that I would need to look at my calendar, pick my 10 days and submit them for approval. this was very hard to do considering I am extremely busy and travel quite often during the spring and in order to not lose too much money in any one paycheck I really needed to sign up for one furlough day per pay period. I plan my calendar so far in advance that I certainly have a couple weeks together where I am out of the office completely and cannot take time off which means I would have to take more than one furlough day during a couple pay periods and be a little poorer during certain times.
Now, they have come up with a new plan. they are calling it "voluntary reduction in pay" but basically is says, you can choose to have your pay reduced by 10% every pay period and then work out with your supervisor when you take your furlough days. So now my pay reduction isnt directly connected to when I take my days off, but i still get the days off! So now I can take a week long vacation in April with 5 furlough days instead of using a combination of furlough and vacation days.
so being the optimist that I am I consider this a lot of extra vacation days. yes I will lose money but since it will come out of my paycheck routinely it won't feel like a loss (and it means I only lose one day's worth of pay during the week I use 5 furlough days at once!!!!)
yay for time off!
PS: I am not terribly worried about getting laid off for a couple of reasons 1) I work in the revenue generating department at the university 2) there are only two recruiters for all of southern arizona and the other one left - so I got a lot of added responsibility and seem to still have my head above water. 3) there is a hiring freeze and they can't replace the people who have left. If I was laid off there would be no one to replace me and my region is too big to go unrecruited.
I love my job :)
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Light Rail is Here!!
So, the Metro Light Rail has arrived! (here are some pictures of my adventures on the light rail so far - mostly of my friends)The Metro Light Rail has taken 12 years to complete from thought to finish and for this first week it is free of charge so everyone can check it out. It very conveniently stops at Mill Ave and Sun Devil Stadium as well as the ASU Downtown campus!
My friends and I rode it last night to see how fun it was! This is Brandon showing you how nice it looks at the Mill station
This is Aida, Brandon, Brett, and I at the Sun Devil Stadium station - the light rail is still nice! (and yes, for our first ride we only rode it a block and back, hahaha) Partly, because we didn't have anywhere to go and mostly because it was PACKED!
Then today, my coworkers and I decided a trip to the Downtown Campus was in order to get some materials and have lunch! This was apparently the idea of every other person in Phoenix as well
We were having so much fun! (Nicole and Jennifer are my coworkers)
But on our return (PACKED) trip we were in the front train car when a car hit our light rail! yes, I made history by being on the first car/lightrail collision on a populated train (the first accident ever had already happened three weeks ago when an old lady crashed into a light rail on a test run)
But no one was even slightly injured - we didn't even know we had been clipped by a car, because it hit and ran - we did see the car drive away, apparently unscathed. We however were stopped in the middle of an intersection for about 20 minutes while light rail personnel and police showed up and our driver was replaced. I think he was more shaken than injured, or maybe it is just policy.
As you can see my coworker Marc and I still enjoyed the ride, even at a halt, and even while being in each other's personal space the whole time. did, I Mention it was PACKED!?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Why am I attracted to potentially devastating music?!
The new Tyrone Wells CD came out this week, and I cannot listen to anything else! In case you forgot, Tyrone is the singer who personally serenaded me
The CD is called Remain and 'Sink or Swim' is my favorite song! how can you not love lyrics like "Kamikaze airplanes in the sky/are we going down or will we fly/this could be a shipwreck on the shore/we could sail away for ever more/this time its sink or swim"
Sink Or Swim - Tyrone Wells
Remain - Tyrone Wells
If you decide you love him too - he is coming to Scottsdale January 31st!! (Martini Ranch, all ages, $12)
The CD is called Remain and 'Sink or Swim' is my favorite song! how can you not love lyrics like "Kamikaze airplanes in the sky/are we going down or will we fly/this could be a shipwreck on the shore/we could sail away for ever more/this time its sink or swim"
Sink Or Swim - Tyrone Wells
Remain - Tyrone Wells
If you decide you love him too - he is coming to Scottsdale January 31st!! (Martini Ranch, all ages, $12)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Out of State Travel
I went to Salt Lake City yesterday for work. It was a one day thing. flew in in the morning, flew out in the evening. All in all I spent 11 hours in Salt Lake.
I was there for a college fair so my only luggage was my literature to hand out to students. I had checked the weather the day before and found out Salt Lake was having a cold spell and would be 25 degrees below normal (read: 40 degrees with chance of snow and rain) this same spell was hitting Arizona and Phoenix was also going to be about 25 degrees below normal (read: 75 degrees with plenty of sunshine). I dug through my closet to find a suitable jacket and a scarf and went off to Salt Lake.
I landed and my friend Justin (who goes to BYU) picked me up from the airport. we went to breakfast and then he dropped me off at my fair...as it was snowing. It was a wet snow that wasn't sticking, but still, it was snow. The fair went really well and it was very large, probably 50 or more colleges were represented.
Justin was late picking me up so I took a picture outside of the school
When he did come he and I went and picked up a friend of his, which was a mini adventure in and of itself since we had a hard time finding her house, but on the plus side we both saw a lot of the suburbs. He said he had planned stuff for us to do before my flight home so we picked up his friend and went off to...
The Mormon Temple! (I mean really, was that a shock to anyone?)It really is beautiful and I hadn't been there since around 2000 so it was fun. we took a "tour" of the visitor center and I was educated about Joseph Smith and how he came to find the true church of Jesus and...
anyway, we had to leave soon after so I could catch my flight home. It was great to see Justin and meet his friend. As I got on my plane snow trickled in where the gate attached to the plane. the plane had to be de-iced before we could take off which is something I had never seen before so I am glad I had a window seat. Still all my hopes were that we would take off since I did not want to spend the night in Salt Lake.
All ended well and I am back home, done with my out of state travel for the semester.
Although I did just find out I am the official Minnesota rep now, so a trip to Minneapolis in February might come up...good thing I had some practice in Salt Lake.
I was there for a college fair so my only luggage was my literature to hand out to students. I had checked the weather the day before and found out Salt Lake was having a cold spell and would be 25 degrees below normal (read: 40 degrees with chance of snow and rain) this same spell was hitting Arizona and Phoenix was also going to be about 25 degrees below normal (read: 75 degrees with plenty of sunshine). I dug through my closet to find a suitable jacket and a scarf and went off to Salt Lake.
I landed and my friend Justin (who goes to BYU) picked me up from the airport. we went to breakfast and then he dropped me off at my fair...as it was snowing. It was a wet snow that wasn't sticking, but still, it was snow. The fair went really well and it was very large, probably 50 or more colleges were represented.
Justin was late picking me up so I took a picture outside of the school
When he did come he and I went and picked up a friend of his, which was a mini adventure in and of itself since we had a hard time finding her house, but on the plus side we both saw a lot of the suburbs. He said he had planned stuff for us to do before my flight home so we picked up his friend and went off to...
The Mormon Temple! (I mean really, was that a shock to anyone?)It really is beautiful and I hadn't been there since around 2000 so it was fun. we took a "tour" of the visitor center and I was educated about Joseph Smith and how he came to find the true church of Jesus and...
anyway, we had to leave soon after so I could catch my flight home. It was great to see Justin and meet his friend. As I got on my plane snow trickled in where the gate attached to the plane. the plane had to be de-iced before we could take off which is something I had never seen before so I am glad I had a window seat. Still all my hopes were that we would take off since I did not want to spend the night in Salt Lake.
All ended well and I am back home, done with my out of state travel for the semester.
Although I did just find out I am the official Minnesota rep now, so a trip to Minneapolis in February might come up...good thing I had some practice in Salt Lake.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Serenade
Amethyst and I went to a concert at Club Congress tonight. The headliner was a guy named Tyrone Wells. He is one of my favorite singers and my friend Julie turned us both on to him.
So when I found out he was going to be playing live in Tucson while I was going to be there I knew we had to go. Tickets were only $10 and it was a great opportunity to hang out with Am and listen to some awesome entertainment.
He sang a lot of his best songs but by the end of his set he had not sung "Happy as the Sun" which is hands down my FAVORITE song of his. so when he came out for an encore I immediately yelled out the title. he said the band was surprised they were getting an encore and they would play a new song "but I did hear a request for Happy as the Sun so find me after the show and I will play it for you."
Am and I are thinking: is there going to be a jam session after the concert? is he hanging around at Club Congress and just going to play some more in a few minutes?
He does the one new song and then the concert is over. Am buys one of his CDs and a T-shirt and we wait around while Tyrone meets with fans and finally we go up to him and get him to sign her CD and then I tell him I am the one that requested Happy as the Sun. He says, "ok, let's wait until it dies down a little bit and I have said hi to everyone and then we can find a quiet place and I will play it for you."
well, we didn't have to wait. he didn't really have anyone else to greet so he ran and got his guitar and then came back to us and asked us to follow him to the lobby of Hotel Congress. It wasn't quiet enough so we went outside onto the street (which was deserted) and he leaned against the building and sang Happy as the Sun to us - JUST THE TWO OF US!!!!!!!!!!!
for real, it was awesome, as in I am in awe that he did that. we got a private serenade from him!
After he sang we totally talked to him for about ten minutes about where we all were from and how he gets inspiration for his songs, and why he doesn't play that song in concert and on and on. It was unbelievable! my only regret is that we didn't bring a camera, so I don't have photographic evidence, but it is a memory I will always have.
Watch the video, so you can get an idea of why I LOVE this song and you can understand how amazing it is to have it song TO you!! (it was played just like this - just him and a guitar)
So when I found out he was going to be playing live in Tucson while I was going to be there I knew we had to go. Tickets were only $10 and it was a great opportunity to hang out with Am and listen to some awesome entertainment.
He sang a lot of his best songs but by the end of his set he had not sung "Happy as the Sun" which is hands down my FAVORITE song of his. so when he came out for an encore I immediately yelled out the title. he said the band was surprised they were getting an encore and they would play a new song "but I did hear a request for Happy as the Sun so find me after the show and I will play it for you."
Am and I are thinking: is there going to be a jam session after the concert? is he hanging around at Club Congress and just going to play some more in a few minutes?
He does the one new song and then the concert is over. Am buys one of his CDs and a T-shirt and we wait around while Tyrone meets with fans and finally we go up to him and get him to sign her CD and then I tell him I am the one that requested Happy as the Sun. He says, "ok, let's wait until it dies down a little bit and I have said hi to everyone and then we can find a quiet place and I will play it for you."
well, we didn't have to wait. he didn't really have anyone else to greet so he ran and got his guitar and then came back to us and asked us to follow him to the lobby of Hotel Congress. It wasn't quiet enough so we went outside onto the street (which was deserted) and he leaned against the building and sang Happy as the Sun to us - JUST THE TWO OF US!!!!!!!!!!!
for real, it was awesome, as in I am in awe that he did that. we got a private serenade from him!
After he sang we totally talked to him for about ten minutes about where we all were from and how he gets inspiration for his songs, and why he doesn't play that song in concert and on and on. It was unbelievable! my only regret is that we didn't bring a camera, so I don't have photographic evidence, but it is a memory I will always have.
Watch the video, so you can get an idea of why I LOVE this song and you can understand how amazing it is to have it song TO you!! (it was played just like this - just him and a guitar)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I can hear you
So, one of the things I get to do as a recruiter is call all of my prospective students...yes, all of them - even the ones that aren't considering ASU at all. Its awesome really.
I do have bright spots. I occasionally get a kid who is totally excited to hear from me and can't wait to come to ASU. but even better is the conversations I overhear between parents and prospective students when they are trying to pass off the phone!
"It's someone from ASU"
"I don't want to talk to her"
"then tell her you aren't interested"
"no, dad don't make me talk to her, she can hear you"
"she can't hear anything we are saying, if you aren't interested just tell her"
"nooo"
"be polite to her, get on the phone"
"hello"
"Hi, I am your admissions counselor and I am going to be at your school on this day. Are you interested in ASU?"
"no, I don't think so"
"why not?"
"I don't want to move. I like it here"
I am sure your parents are just thrilled.
And ps, I can hear you on the phone, but I will be polite back to you and pretend I didn't hear it. Enjoy living with your parents for the rest of your life.
I do have bright spots. I occasionally get a kid who is totally excited to hear from me and can't wait to come to ASU. but even better is the conversations I overhear between parents and prospective students when they are trying to pass off the phone!
"It's someone from ASU"
"I don't want to talk to her"
"then tell her you aren't interested"
"no, dad don't make me talk to her, she can hear you"
"she can't hear anything we are saying, if you aren't interested just tell her"
"nooo"
"be polite to her, get on the phone"
"hello"
"Hi, I am your admissions counselor and I am going to be at your school on this day. Are you interested in ASU?"
"no, I don't think so"
"why not?"
"I don't want to move. I like it here"
I am sure your parents are just thrilled.
And ps, I can hear you on the phone, but I will be polite back to you and pretend I didn't hear it. Enjoy living with your parents for the rest of your life.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
settled in...
Well I have been a busy bee!
I visited all the campuses and I had no idea how cool they all are. We have some pretty awesome programs.
for instance, you can get a golf management degree here, and a prerequisite is that you have to be good at golf because you get your PGA card when you are done and are considered a golf pro! we also have a flight management program that gives you a copilot's license by the time you graduate. Our journalism school just got a state of the art facility, and a partnership it ABC news, so watch for Cronkite students on the news. we also have the only institute of sustainability (with a school of sustainability) in the country. all good things to know
I have called all my high schools and set up my semester's worth of visits. for the most part I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the counselors were after I heard stories about how mean they can be. I will be in Tucson pretty much every two weeks visiting schools, so I am really excited.
The next step has been calling all my prospective students (at least the ones ASU already knows about) and introducing myself and what I can do for them. It has been a lot of disconnected phone numbers, answering machines, and parents. I have so far only had one really negative encounter with a mother who knew her kid wasn't going to our school because the she wouldn't pay tuition to ASU. nothing like strong Tucson hatred to keep you coming into work in the morning. I have also had a couple awkward encounters calling students that are not mentally capable of coming to college and it is embarrassing that they are on our call lists. One student was severly disabled and unable to speak - that was a fun conversation with his UA professor father.
Things will be different once I start actually going to schools in about a week. So far the best part has been that I now have my very own business cards!!! I feel like everything is real now that I have a little card with my name connected to a job title and phone number. It's so cool!
I visited all the campuses and I had no idea how cool they all are. We have some pretty awesome programs.
for instance, you can get a golf management degree here, and a prerequisite is that you have to be good at golf because you get your PGA card when you are done and are considered a golf pro! we also have a flight management program that gives you a copilot's license by the time you graduate. Our journalism school just got a state of the art facility, and a partnership it ABC news, so watch for Cronkite students on the news. we also have the only institute of sustainability (with a school of sustainability) in the country. all good things to know
I have called all my high schools and set up my semester's worth of visits. for the most part I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the counselors were after I heard stories about how mean they can be. I will be in Tucson pretty much every two weeks visiting schools, so I am really excited.
The next step has been calling all my prospective students (at least the ones ASU already knows about) and introducing myself and what I can do for them. It has been a lot of disconnected phone numbers, answering machines, and parents. I have so far only had one really negative encounter with a mother who knew her kid wasn't going to our school because the she wouldn't pay tuition to ASU. nothing like strong Tucson hatred to keep you coming into work in the morning. I have also had a couple awkward encounters calling students that are not mentally capable of coming to college and it is embarrassing that they are on our call lists. One student was severly disabled and unable to speak - that was a fun conversation with his UA professor father.
Things will be different once I start actually going to schools in about a week. So far the best part has been that I now have my very own business cards!!! I feel like everything is real now that I have a little card with my name connected to a job title and phone number. It's so cool!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Getting Started
Well, today was day three and I finally got a laptop! woo hoo! Brett and I visited the Downtown Campus and it is sooo cool! Tomorrow we visit the Polytechnic Campus, and then at somepoint I will have to set myself up a West campus visit.
In fact, I need to set up a lot of meetings. I missed the recruiter training week, so I kind of have to make that up and meet with the various colleges on campus. Also I have people coming from me at several angles asking if I can go to this thing, or that thing, and I still have to contact all my high schools and find out when to visit them!
oh yeah, and you know, learn what it is I am supposed to say. minor really. hahaha
It is certainly overwhelming and I can't wait to know what I am talking about!
In fact, I need to set up a lot of meetings. I missed the recruiter training week, so I kind of have to make that up and meet with the various colleges on campus. Also I have people coming from me at several angles asking if I can go to this thing, or that thing, and I still have to contact all my high schools and find out when to visit them!
oh yeah, and you know, learn what it is I am supposed to say. minor really. hahaha
It is certainly overwhelming and I can't wait to know what I am talking about!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Workin' Girl
Friday was my last day as a student worker...EVER! As of monday I am a fully employed productive member of society.
I don't know if I was just excited to be leaving or what, but it wasn't as sad to be leaving Biodesign as I thought it would be. Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet, but I feel free!
I think it helps to be excited about my new job - Tucson here I come! It's like the best of both worlds, I get to live in Tempe, but work in Tucson, and they give me cars to do it too!
We will see how productive I become. especially after classes start. Thank you grad school.
I don't know if I was just excited to be leaving or what, but it wasn't as sad to be leaving Biodesign as I thought it would be. Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet, but I feel free!
I think it helps to be excited about my new job - Tucson here I come! It's like the best of both worlds, I get to live in Tempe, but work in Tucson, and they give me cars to do it too!
We will see how productive I become. especially after classes start. Thank you grad school.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Time for work
I finally, finally got the call! After about 4 months of applying to various campus jobs I got hired as a recruiter.
I will be responsible for the Tucson/Yuma region as well as an out of state region that has yet to be determined. There are other Tucson recruiters too, so I don't know which schools I will have, but how amazing is that that I am basically going to be in my hometown all the time?!
I start in mid-August just because I have to give my two weeks notice, but I am fine with that. Now that I know I have the job it doesn't bother me when I start.
Although I think I will be great in this position, I am a little worried about a couple things. 1) I am trying to get my M.Ed degree and this is a travel heavy job so I have to pick and choose my classes closely so that I don't miss important work functions class time. 2) I still don't have a car, and as I said, this is a travel heavy job. But from what I understand I will get to use a company car for trips to Tucson and my office is actually at the Tempe campus so I still live super close!
As far as I can tell this could be perfect for me. :)
I will be responsible for the Tucson/Yuma region as well as an out of state region that has yet to be determined. There are other Tucson recruiters too, so I don't know which schools I will have, but how amazing is that that I am basically going to be in my hometown all the time?!
I start in mid-August just because I have to give my two weeks notice, but I am fine with that. Now that I know I have the job it doesn't bother me when I start.
Although I think I will be great in this position, I am a little worried about a couple things. 1) I am trying to get my M.Ed degree and this is a travel heavy job so I have to pick and choose my classes closely so that I don't miss important work functions class time. 2) I still don't have a car, and as I said, this is a travel heavy job. But from what I understand I will get to use a company car for trips to Tucson and my office is actually at the Tempe campus so I still live super close!
As far as I can tell this could be perfect for me. :)
Friday, July 04, 2008
Artiste!
So for Christmas my mom got me a whole bunch of beading stuff: Pliers, beads, clasps, tweezers, etc.
I haven't done much with them since then. I made a simple pair of earrings out of some of the beads she gave me, but otherwise nada. Although the pliers have come in handy for fixing some of my other jewelry.
Well behold my first project!!
I ordered this necklace from New York and Company, but didn't like how long it was. I thought it was going to be about 20" long but it was 36"! That is what I get for not reading about it before I bought it. But I loved the color and I knew I could shorten the necklace. Then, I decided to be thrifty and reuse the excess wire and beads to make a complete set!
Mind you I dropped half the beads on the tile floor twice! yeah that was fun. I am sure there is a bead or two under the couch - but luckily I found most of them!
I haven't done much with them since then. I made a simple pair of earrings out of some of the beads she gave me, but otherwise nada. Although the pliers have come in handy for fixing some of my other jewelry.
Well behold my first project!!
I ordered this necklace from New York and Company, but didn't like how long it was. I thought it was going to be about 20" long but it was 36"! That is what I get for not reading about it before I bought it. But I loved the color and I knew I could shorten the necklace. Then, I decided to be thrifty and reuse the excess wire and beads to make a complete set!
Mind you I dropped half the beads on the tile floor twice! yeah that was fun. I am sure there is a bead or two under the couch - but luckily I found most of them!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Longer Weekend
Not only is my friend Julie coming up to Tempe for the 4th, but my friend Cortney is visiting for the weekend as well. She asked if I had to work today and I said "of course I do, Thursday isn't a holiday."
"Well, can you get off early, like at 2pm?"
"ha! Maybe 4:30, but certainly not 2! It is still a work day"
Well, little did I know... At 10:30 today, the building lost power. Of course some back up generators came on to save the more important experiments, but most of the lights, all of the computers, and definitely the air conditioning all shut off. Luckily I work in a very large building so the lack of AC was inconvenient and noticable but not unbearable at all. It was really funny to see how everyone came out of the offices and labs to the center of the building. we all stood around looking dumbfounded at each other. after all, a majority of us couldn't do anything. I know, shocking, even though I am in facilities I am not really very useful fixing facility problems.
We found out that the entire east side of campus was without power, so we stopped worrying that something was wrong with our building and instead settled in to wait, knowing that it was doubtful anyone had figured out what had happened yet and it would be a good long while to fix.
At about 12:30 a co-worker and I went on a lunch run and got Wendy's for everyone. we came back and about an hour later my boss let me and a couple other students workers leave!
So what do you know?! I got out of work at 1:30!! Not to shabby. I was also at a wine bar with Cortney by 3:30 hahaha, so it is going to be a very good holiday weekend
"Well, can you get off early, like at 2pm?"
"ha! Maybe 4:30, but certainly not 2! It is still a work day"
Well, little did I know... At 10:30 today, the building lost power. Of course some back up generators came on to save the more important experiments, but most of the lights, all of the computers, and definitely the air conditioning all shut off. Luckily I work in a very large building so the lack of AC was inconvenient and noticable but not unbearable at all. It was really funny to see how everyone came out of the offices and labs to the center of the building. we all stood around looking dumbfounded at each other. after all, a majority of us couldn't do anything. I know, shocking, even though I am in facilities I am not really very useful fixing facility problems.
We found out that the entire east side of campus was without power, so we stopped worrying that something was wrong with our building and instead settled in to wait, knowing that it was doubtful anyone had figured out what had happened yet and it would be a good long while to fix.
At about 12:30 a co-worker and I went on a lunch run and got Wendy's for everyone. we came back and about an hour later my boss let me and a couple other students workers leave!
So what do you know?! I got out of work at 1:30!! Not to shabby. I was also at a wine bar with Cortney by 3:30 hahaha, so it is going to be a very good holiday weekend
Monday, June 30, 2008
All-star
I joined the MU club softball team this summer since my roomies are not around to entertain me and I didn't want to lose touch with my MU friends and co-workers. So far it has been a lot of fun but I have realized several things
1) I totally throw like a girl (or as Yetman says "I throw like an academic decathlete")
2)I am not nearly in as good a shape as I should be
3)6pm is really an unacceptable time to be playing outdoors
4)I am great at catching the ball, but as stated before can't throw it to anyone
5)right field is the best position if you don't want much contact with the ball - however it is sucky when you do get the ball because you have to throw it...really far
6)celebrating with teammates after each game even though until tonight we were 0-6 is totally still fun
7)even I can hit and RBI triple!!
8)celebrating with the team after we win our first (and the last) game of the season is way more fun!!
good thing we have a fall league, I am just getting the hang of things!
1) I totally throw like a girl (or as Yetman says "I throw like an academic decathlete")
2)I am not nearly in as good a shape as I should be
3)6pm is really an unacceptable time to be playing outdoors
4)I am great at catching the ball, but as stated before can't throw it to anyone
5)right field is the best position if you don't want much contact with the ball - however it is sucky when you do get the ball because you have to throw it...really far
6)celebrating with teammates after each game even though until tonight we were 0-6 is totally still fun
7)even I can hit and RBI triple!!
8)celebrating with the team after we win our first (and the last) game of the season is way more fun!!
good thing we have a fall league, I am just getting the hang of things!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Graduation!!!
So I finished the Thesis, I somehow finished all my honors classes and projects for my major sooo...They let me graduate!!
First up was my Barrett Convocation (I look good considering I had a final about 2 hours prior to the ceremony) The Barrett convocation was my favorite. I really felt graduated afterwards. Every person walks to the middle of the stage as their name, degree, thesis director, and thesis title are read aloud and then you face the audience and your thesis director puts the Barrett medal around your neck!
Afterwards I was able to get a picture with the Dean (who told me on stage that he would really miss me)
And my thesis director, Prof. Blasko
Next up was the Big ASU commencement with President Crow and all the other 8,000 graduates. That was fun, and I got to sit next to my roomie Brett (can you find us?)
We got to stand up when we were recognized for our major and other accomplishments like graduating with honors or having a scholarship (I am in the center wearing all the yellow around my neck)
The balloon drop really was very cool :)
Last, but certainly not least was my Cronkite graduation. Walter Cronkite was even there!!...in spirit. He gave a very nice and vague taped congratulations to us. Almost like they can use the video over and over at each ceremony for eternity. weird.
I also got to see my favorite professor ever!! Wilma is so personable. She would tear your work apart but tell you that you knew better and made stupid mistakes so it was no big deal. regardless of the fact that she tore it apart.
And, life really is cyclical. My best friend from first grade, just happened to also be graduating from Cronkite. We have known each other most of our lives. We started school together, and we get to end it together. Awesome!!
So what's next? Grad school!! I have been accepted into the higher and postsecondary education program at ASU. while I am sure I could teach with it, the main focus of this M.Ed program is to learn how to lead in university administration and student affairs. I am pretty excited, now if only I could get a job to pay for it...
First up was my Barrett Convocation (I look good considering I had a final about 2 hours prior to the ceremony) The Barrett convocation was my favorite. I really felt graduated afterwards. Every person walks to the middle of the stage as their name, degree, thesis director, and thesis title are read aloud and then you face the audience and your thesis director puts the Barrett medal around your neck!
Afterwards I was able to get a picture with the Dean (who told me on stage that he would really miss me)
And my thesis director, Prof. Blasko
Next up was the Big ASU commencement with President Crow and all the other 8,000 graduates. That was fun, and I got to sit next to my roomie Brett (can you find us?)
We got to stand up when we were recognized for our major and other accomplishments like graduating with honors or having a scholarship (I am in the center wearing all the yellow around my neck)
The balloon drop really was very cool :)
Last, but certainly not least was my Cronkite graduation. Walter Cronkite was even there!!...in spirit. He gave a very nice and vague taped congratulations to us. Almost like they can use the video over and over at each ceremony for eternity. weird.
I also got to see my favorite professor ever!! Wilma is so personable. She would tear your work apart but tell you that you knew better and made stupid mistakes so it was no big deal. regardless of the fact that she tore it apart.
And, life really is cyclical. My best friend from first grade, just happened to also be graduating from Cronkite. We have known each other most of our lives. We started school together, and we get to end it together. Awesome!!
So what's next? Grad school!! I have been accepted into the higher and postsecondary education program at ASU. while I am sure I could teach with it, the main focus of this M.Ed program is to learn how to lead in university administration and student affairs. I am pretty excited, now if only I could get a job to pay for it...
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Complete!!
I turned in a final draft of my thesis today!! It is officially done! I also got my final Honors projects finished this week, which means I have actually completed all my Honors College requirements.
All I have left to say is...I AM GOING TO DISNEYLAND!! Woo, my friend Cojo and I are going to Southern California for the weekend to play at the beach and go to the happiest place on Earth. Considering I just completed not only the roughest semester of my life, but turned in/presented my final projects to all my classes this week, I feel like I deserve it. Did I mention that my ticket to Disney is free? yeah, Cojo's sister works there - I am still very much so a poor college student.
The sticker says: Congratulate me! I submitted my honors thesis today!!
All I have left to say is...I AM GOING TO DISNEYLAND!! Woo, my friend Cojo and I are going to Southern California for the weekend to play at the beach and go to the happiest place on Earth. Considering I just completed not only the roughest semester of my life, but turned in/presented my final projects to all my classes this week, I feel like I deserve it. Did I mention that my ticket to Disney is free? yeah, Cojo's sister works there - I am still very much so a poor college student.
The sticker says: Congratulate me! I submitted my honors thesis today!!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
APPROVED!
Success! (and there was much rejoicing)
I successfully defended a thesis! not just any thesis, but my very own! WHO KNEW!?
This picture was taken before I defended, but that is totally the look of a champion, or a graduate, I should say.
Woot!!
now, on to the other 18 projects I have to finish
Monday, April 07, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring Break '08!!
So I have already had an action packed spring break and it isn't even over yet!the first weekend was the decathlon state competition which was super fun! I got to judge speeches, do test proctoring, proctor super quiz relay, and then, cuz I am a super cool board member, I got to hand out medals at the awards ceremony!
oh yeah, I also fenagled Barrett to give $750 to decathlon because Mr and Ms Barrett (the namesakes) were emceeing the awards banquet. and, I created the first ever decathlon exit survey for graduating seniors to take! not only is my electronic design class coming in super handy (its 'awesome on a stick' as my swedish professor would say) because the survey looks awesome but now I get to tally the results and have super handy info for future PR stuff with decathlon.
a day after competition ended, I got on a plane to south New Jersey to visit Brett's hometown and the Jersey shore. It was super fun, and she introduced me to lots of Jersey-specific things like jughandle turns, turnpikes, and Mack & Manco's pizza. We went down to the shore and to Atlantic City the second day. boo for losing $50 to the slots, but Woo to being in Atlantic City!!
Wednesday we walked along the boardwalk (yes, as in Monopoly) and I got to see a bunch of shore houses and the beach. I think I need to come back in the summer to get the full effect.Wednesday afternoon I hopped a greyhound bus to NYC (we were originally going to spend the whole day there, but instead chose to stay at the shore, and then I went alone to the city.)
My bus got in at about 7:30pm and was meeting Greg at 8:30 to catch a train to his house. I never saw above ground in NYC. I started at Port Authority, and took the subway to grand central, then got on a train there. good thing I had been there before.
Now I am in my greg's apartment, hanging out with Tomoko and playing with my niece Ariana. She is super cute, and likes to snuggle. She is a keeper.
Tomorrow I catch a flight home and then Saturday my parents are taking me to cottonwood for grandma's 83rd birthday - I will be around 6 kids instead of one. woo! I don't come back until Monday!
Oh yeah, and my thesis director wants pages this week (as in, I am supposed to research and write some of my thesis, while on break!!)
oh yeah, and I keep having to check email to make sure the info desk has all it's shifts covered
oh yeah, and today I checked my email, and decathlon wants me to write the press release (for immediate release) about the state results. so when you see it in newspapers know that was written by me :)
even on spring break my life doesn't stop!
oh yeah, I also fenagled Barrett to give $750 to decathlon because Mr and Ms Barrett (the namesakes) were emceeing the awards banquet. and, I created the first ever decathlon exit survey for graduating seniors to take! not only is my electronic design class coming in super handy (its 'awesome on a stick' as my swedish professor would say) because the survey looks awesome but now I get to tally the results and have super handy info for future PR stuff with decathlon.
a day after competition ended, I got on a plane to south New Jersey to visit Brett's hometown and the Jersey shore. It was super fun, and she introduced me to lots of Jersey-specific things like jughandle turns, turnpikes, and Mack & Manco's pizza. We went down to the shore and to Atlantic City the second day. boo for losing $50 to the slots, but Woo to being in Atlantic City!!
Wednesday we walked along the boardwalk (yes, as in Monopoly) and I got to see a bunch of shore houses and the beach. I think I need to come back in the summer to get the full effect.Wednesday afternoon I hopped a greyhound bus to NYC (we were originally going to spend the whole day there, but instead chose to stay at the shore, and then I went alone to the city.)
My bus got in at about 7:30pm and was meeting Greg at 8:30 to catch a train to his house. I never saw above ground in NYC. I started at Port Authority, and took the subway to grand central, then got on a train there. good thing I had been there before.
Now I am in my greg's apartment, hanging out with Tomoko and playing with my niece Ariana. She is super cute, and likes to snuggle. She is a keeper.
Tomorrow I catch a flight home and then Saturday my parents are taking me to cottonwood for grandma's 83rd birthday - I will be around 6 kids instead of one. woo! I don't come back until Monday!
Oh yeah, and my thesis director wants pages this week (as in, I am supposed to research and write some of my thesis, while on break!!)
oh yeah, and I keep having to check email to make sure the info desk has all it's shifts covered
oh yeah, and today I checked my email, and decathlon wants me to write the press release (for immediate release) about the state results. so when you see it in newspapers know that was written by me :)
even on spring break my life doesn't stop!
Monday, November 12, 2007
I just read through my last few posts and realized there is a lot I have to tell you!
For starters my jobs have changed quite a bit. I no longer work at testing services. I decided to leave that job at the end of the summer, since really, being a receptionist is not my life goal.
as for biodesign, in the middle of the summer I was told I was going to be let go. Reception just didnt have enough work for me to do. well, I have never in my life been let go from a job, and I was really upset because i had just learned how to ride the segways. and for greater reasons, I couldn't find another job in the middle of the summer or pay rent without this job.
luckily the facilities manager for the building had heard of my plight, (because i had made friends with a woman in facilities) and he offered me a job the same day! so I became a facilities student worker. technically it means that I am moving furniture, making repairs, and escorting contractors around. but in actuality I have become the office girl, and I am in charge of answering the facilities email and assigning work to the other student workers and maintenance guys. I love my job, and my bosses are super fun!
I even found out one of them knows how to play canasta!
in other job news, I finally took the plunge and got the job as supervisor at the info desk! turns out, I am really good at it and I love it! my staff has a lot of respect for me because I actually follow through. the added responsibilities agree with me and I like being the go to person for problems.
Recently, the MU had a fire on the second floor, and our entire building will be closed for the rest of the semester. I have been working with the MU administration to relocate the info desk and find jobs for other MU student staff. we are trying to provide all our normal services while the building is being cleaned up and refurbished, which means we have scattered all over campus. my info desk has moved to the student services building, and my lost and found has just been set up at the student rec center. In order to staff both places I have become supervisor to about 6 new people who had other jobs in the MU. it's a good feeling to know your bosses can rely on you to get services set up and create jobs for other student employees.
what else can I update you on? Brian and I broke up in July. we are still friendly and talk every week, but we have both moved on. oh, and I have dyed my hair again, so I am back to brunette. I forget how many people I meet when I am one hair color and how shocked they are when I change. no one knows my natural color but me!
I made a new friend at biodesign. her name is Michaela and she is my age. she and her husband Joe live in Maricopa and I have spent the night at their house several times. her mom already calls me Meja, and everyone considers us twins. just this weekend the three of us took a day trip to Jerome! it was so much fun, and i felt so grown up. Joe told me that I had to find the guy I am going to marry and Joe has to like him so they can be friends. it reminds me of my mom and her best friend Becky. I hope that is the relationship I will have with Michaela. I get excited at the thought of finding a guy that wants to do couples things with them.
Brett and I are getting along wonderfully in our townhouse. she just asked me today if I had been planning to visit her over winter break. I told her I hadn't thought of it but if she wanted me to, I totally could do it. she said we could go to Atlantic City! I am excited at the thought of visiting the East Coast again.
As usual I cannot wait for Thanksgiving. it is my favorite holiday. Turkey,pie and canasta!!
For starters my jobs have changed quite a bit. I no longer work at testing services. I decided to leave that job at the end of the summer, since really, being a receptionist is not my life goal.
as for biodesign, in the middle of the summer I was told I was going to be let go. Reception just didnt have enough work for me to do. well, I have never in my life been let go from a job, and I was really upset because i had just learned how to ride the segways. and for greater reasons, I couldn't find another job in the middle of the summer or pay rent without this job.
luckily the facilities manager for the building had heard of my plight, (because i had made friends with a woman in facilities) and he offered me a job the same day! so I became a facilities student worker. technically it means that I am moving furniture, making repairs, and escorting contractors around. but in actuality I have become the office girl, and I am in charge of answering the facilities email and assigning work to the other student workers and maintenance guys. I love my job, and my bosses are super fun!
I even found out one of them knows how to play canasta!
in other job news, I finally took the plunge and got the job as supervisor at the info desk! turns out, I am really good at it and I love it! my staff has a lot of respect for me because I actually follow through. the added responsibilities agree with me and I like being the go to person for problems.
Recently, the MU had a fire on the second floor, and our entire building will be closed for the rest of the semester. I have been working with the MU administration to relocate the info desk and find jobs for other MU student staff. we are trying to provide all our normal services while the building is being cleaned up and refurbished, which means we have scattered all over campus. my info desk has moved to the student services building, and my lost and found has just been set up at the student rec center. In order to staff both places I have become supervisor to about 6 new people who had other jobs in the MU. it's a good feeling to know your bosses can rely on you to get services set up and create jobs for other student employees.
what else can I update you on? Brian and I broke up in July. we are still friendly and talk every week, but we have both moved on. oh, and I have dyed my hair again, so I am back to brunette. I forget how many people I meet when I am one hair color and how shocked they are when I change. no one knows my natural color but me!
I made a new friend at biodesign. her name is Michaela and she is my age. she and her husband Joe live in Maricopa and I have spent the night at their house several times. her mom already calls me Meja, and everyone considers us twins. just this weekend the three of us took a day trip to Jerome! it was so much fun, and i felt so grown up. Joe told me that I had to find the guy I am going to marry and Joe has to like him so they can be friends. it reminds me of my mom and her best friend Becky. I hope that is the relationship I will have with Michaela. I get excited at the thought of finding a guy that wants to do couples things with them.
Brett and I are getting along wonderfully in our townhouse. she just asked me today if I had been planning to visit her over winter break. I told her I hadn't thought of it but if she wanted me to, I totally could do it. she said we could go to Atlantic City! I am excited at the thought of visiting the East Coast again.
As usual I cannot wait for Thanksgiving. it is my favorite holiday. Turkey,pie and canasta!!
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