Things I'm Thankful For - Thanksgiving 2011

1. My family (and soon-to-be family :))

2. My friends

3. College and the few weeks I have left there/my education

4. The fantastic teachers and professors I've had over the years

5. That I was able to go to Europe on my own dime

6. That I am able to fund a hobby that I love

7. That all the jobs I have are enjoyable (tutoring, Phonaton, quilting, babysitting)

8. Music

9. Good movies

10. Book series that make me want to drop everything and keep reading right now

11. Pumpkin bread

12. My sewing machine

:) Just off the top of my head... more soon.

Current favorite book: the Hunger Games

Current song: "Turning Page" by Sleeping At Last

Current taste: Pumpkin bread, duh

Sitting in Barnes and Noble

I think this is going to become a normal thing for me. Something about sitting here with my coffee really makes me get work done (okay, not right this second, but you see my point). I've only been here for about 20 minutes and I got more work done on my paper than I would in an hour in my dorm.

It's very relaxing - I'm sipping a delicious pumpkin spice latte, and I'm listening to the Vitamin String Quartet's Christmas Album, but I can still hear people talking in the background. Specifically, the people ordering coffee and a lady next to me, who is tutoring a 3rd grade boy. I can't help but think about my future as a teacher while I sit here. I want to be that person who tutors kids, who helps them understand. I'm enthusiastic and I really care about them. It just makes me want to finish college right now and start living. I know I talk about college in a different way than other students might, but hey, that's just how I feel. I feel like these last couple months are holding me back from my full potential. I know being in the "real world" is going to be difficult. I know it's going to cost a lot of money that I don't necessarily have - especially when I have to start paying back my student loans.

But I am so ready.

Also, being here makes me excited for Christmas. The mall, from what I can see, has a few decorations up already - is that holly? Maybe. Haha. Maybe not. I can't wait for the holidays. I can't wait to be home with my family.

Bring it on, November... now, to finish this historiography paper.

-Jess

Real Life!

It is literally 1 month and 3 weeks until I will be back to real life. College will be over (excluding student teaching). I will no longer live in a drafty dorm. I no longer will be out of the loop with everything going on in the outside world (as much as I try to keep up). I will never have to write a paper again for a class I couldn't care less about. I will never have to do statistics problems every week to hand in. I'll never (hopefully) be woken up again by drunk people stomping up the stairs at 3 am. I'll have all my stuff in ONE PLACE (and downsized). I'll be able to eat normal food; ie, not microwaveable oatmeal and cutting vegetables over the sink on a tiny bathroom counter. I will never again (hopefully) be woken up by a fire alarm at 2 am the night before an 8am final (freshman year... good times). Being able to sew whenever I have free time. NOt having to walk a quarter of a mile or so to get to my car.

There are things that I will miss, though. One of my best friends being ten feet away in the room next to me. Going to weekend breakfast at 12:30 pm with my friends. Going to dinner with friends almost every night. Not having to pay tons of bills. Getting ice cream or fast food or greasy food in general at midnight. Getting coffee at the library cafe and relaxing there. Walking and riding my bike around campus. Being a student (as much as I want a break from school right now, I will eventually miss this - at least, being in classes that interest me). Doing research on the Holocaust for my thesis. Working at the tutoring center and at Phonathon. Going on school-sponsored "free" trips. Using my ID to pay for things.

It's just a new chapter in my life. I was inspired by Julie to make the following visual representation of my life after college. They are all things I would like to do - but in terms of going back for my master's degree one day - possibilities.

This is really helping me write a career goal essay for a scholarship.

Thanks for reading.

-Jess