Waiting

I took the BOC exam last weekend and it didn't go as bad as I expected. The test book I used and Arnheim's were really helpful. The only problem I had was I got kicked off the server 3 times which was a little nerve racking, but the test saved my spot and my time. I finished with almost 2 hours to spare which was good. Now I just have to wait, which I am not so good at, but I feel pretty calm which is unusual.

Last night I did the Relay for Life. Selling wrist bands didn't go as well as last year, but perhaps I can try selling them outside of Shaws or Hannaford or something. There is always next year at the grad school as well. I won the sit-up contest. We had to do as many sit-ups as we can in 1 minute. Of course the first time I did it I didn't know it was in 1 min. so I was taking my time at first and lost about 5 sit-ups, but I got 52 and tied with another girl. Then we decided to do a rematch in 45 seconds and She got 52 and I got 53 so I won a water bottle. Of course the rest of the night my sacrum was hurting because of the floor. When I got home I used a bottle of vodka that I had in my freezer as an ice pack. Now it is swollen and bruised....sweet.

Tonight we are having a party to celebrate my roommate's birthday. Pat (my boy friend) is bringing a couple friends from home. I think it will be a fun night.

I am glad I finally passed over the torch for treasurer of AT club. Tonight we have a ULEAD awards ceremony and our club was nominated for Academic Club of the year. Hopefully we get it! I still have so much homework to do, but only a little over a month until graduation..and 9 days until I find out my BOC results!

until next time...

BOCCCC

So I have been SUPER busy. First, I am an auntie!!!!! My niece's name is Lily Grace and she was born on March 8th. She is already getting super big ah!

Secondly, my life has been consumed by my 7 classes and studying (Cramming) for the BOC exam. I am taking it in 10 days!!!!! I am not freaking out or anything...cough..sarcasm. It is the whole notion that you could pass or fail and if it is only by 1 or 2 points that would be just as, if not more, disappointing as bombing it. I think quite a few people also expect me to pass it the first time and I don't want to just disappoint myself, but them as well. Not to mention my summer job is kind of depending on it.

Also, we are transitioning club officers, at the worst time possible. I have to train the new treasurer as well as help her put together the budget request for our money for next year. It does not help that we are hosting a student symposium so we have to break down costs for that and get quotes for food, etc. It's due April 13th...my exam is April 10th....oh and I have an exam April 13th... sweet right?

The only thing keeping me sane right now is chocolate, nachos, my new niece, graduation (sorta), the idea of any day after the month of April, my boy friend on his good days, and mmm chocolate. I don't know why but I have been grabbing handfuls of chocolate chips...

My other outlet has been my sculpture class. We just finished making clay masks and mine came out pretty darn good, even though I was super OCD about it. I'll have to post a picture when I get it back. We are now starting rock carving. My rock "spoke" to me and is going to be a dolphin. It is going to take foreverrrr, but something about sawing away at a rock is soothing.

I also just mailed out my graduation invitations. I am actually excited because I am going to have a little get together back at my house near the beach. So far I think about ten to fourteen people are coming so it will be a nice group. I just want to wear my cool Alpha Chi sash haha. That is pretty much all I want. I still cannot believe four years has gone by already. Even so, the next three years seems so far away...Well time to start cramming again. Until next time...


Alysson

Officially stressed

For some reason this week feels like there is 110% more stress than usual. I'm not sure if it is because I feel pressured to give the camp job a definitive answer or if it is because of all the homework and athletic training club responsibilities I have had. Lately I have been obsessed with looking for summer jobs ever since the camp job accepted my application. I guess I did not expect them to accept me after only one day. The reason I am so hesitant about signing the contract is A) the contract states I'd be paid as a student and they will switch my pay to 400 once certified, but who's to say they will once I sign B) it is a 6 week commitment of working 7 days a week for God knows how many hours a day C) I'd be underpaid and overworked and D) It is my last summer of "freedom" before my 3 full years of hell begin. Okay, so hell is a bit of an exaggeration...more like... prison? no...torture?...okay maybe not.... but needless to say this is my last summer to spend with friends and family before I dedicate my every waking hour towards getting my doctorate. Call me selfish, but I've been told to enjoy this summer while I can even though I need some money to put food on my table and a roof over my head. Although sneaking into the library at night could be an option..(ha). It'd certainly be more of an incentive to study more. Anywho...

On top of the stress of finding a job for the summer (such an easy task) I have been preparing the presentation for Bill Irwin, the only blind person to hike the Appalachian Trail. Not to mention the immense amount of homework that makes me dizzy. Speaking of dizzy...Patrick (my boy friend) tried to crack my back this weekend while I was lying prone, but it did not work very well so I stood up, but the blood rushed from my head. He proceeded to grab me and pick me up and crack my back while standing, but due to the lack of blood flow to my vital organ I passed out and fell onto the bed. I can only laugh when I think about it, but it was kinda scary waking up with a cold feeling/sound in my ears. Of course he wasn't the least bit worried. I suppose being in the military you get use to the cadets passing out left and right from having their knees locked. Just thought that was an interesting tangent....

So in order to get back on track and actually get some homework done instead of spend 6 hours obsessing over jobs, I listened to some Bach that I found on Youtube. Of course this search led to child prodigies of children who are 6 years old composing their own works and then led to babies who can read. Yes...procrastination. And so "Senioritis" begins. Pray for me ...please?

But I did finally sit myself down and crank out 30 pages of reading on a book on Gandhi. It won't help me pass the BOC, but hopefully human traditions. I then decided to vent here so that I can start fresh tomorrow and get back on track. Ah, college...or life I should say. I wish I could be more like Gandhi...

"A principle is the expression of perfection, and as imperfect beings like us cannot practice perfection, we devise every moment limits of its compromise in practice."

job and busy busy

A few days ago I applied for a summer camp job with Offense Defense NIKE Sports Camps. It is a 6 week sports camp in Boston. Room and board is included. I received an e-mail today with a contract, but it is as a student athletic trainer. I'd only be paid 275/ week which is great if I were only a student, but I think if I am certified I should be paid more. I am taking my boards in April. Obviously if I do not pass I would not mind being paid as a student. I e-mailed them back asking about this so I am awaiting a reply. On top of that it runs 6 days a week. Every Sunday is check-in day which obviously means going through stacks of health forms and all the goods. I know it is a good resume builder and great for experience. Plus, it's about the same I would make if I was working at the ice cream shop 4 days a week. Odds are many "Koners" will be coming back this summer so I won't get many hours. Decisions decisions. I e-mailed Chris to discuss his opinion on the matter with him tomorrow. I have to also take into account getting licensed and insurance coverage. :/

http://www.mbsportscamps.com/Home_Page.html

I made a schedule for studying for the BOC. Every week I am going to cover one major topic. For example, this week is the basics of the BOC and Kines. Then I'll do nutrition, pharmacology, anatomy, administration, etc. The week before spring break I plan to do many quizzes so that where I am weak I can focus on over break. Not that I won't be distracted with my niece who is due March 12th or anything.... :P

I'm really enjoying the third book of the twilight series. The only problem is I cannot put it down! It's relaxing to just sink away into another world and not be reading something for class, but for pleasure. I wish I knew reading could be so fun when I was younger. Only a few years ago did I discover I like it, and even since then I have not kept up with it until recently.

Well, it is getting late and tomorrow is another busy busy day. The induction ceremony for Alpha Chi is on Friday so that is being planned; as well as a speaker for AT club, clothing orders, and reimbursements.....fun fun! :/ Looks like I won't be helping out as much in the AT room on campus after all...

BOC

Currently I am in the process of signing up for the BOC (the exam I take to become an Athletic Trainer). I hit a little speed bump though because I cannot find my NATA card so I am waiting for the NATA to e-mail me back with my member number. The count down begins now since I am taking the exam in April. That means I have less than 3 months to prepare... sounds a little scary. I think what's more frightening is the cost...$300. That is assuming I pass the first time around (I have my fingers crossed).
In other news I am helping out on campus tomorrow with men's basketball practice. I am feeling a little rusty since I haven't practiced my AT skills since last spring. I was at a PT clinic last semester doing mostly manual therapy or helping out with exercises. Tuesday I will go to UNE's AT room to help out with rehab. though so that will be nice. Our AT club clothing orders came in as well and I like the new athletic shirts and shorts we have. They will be great for Michael Mullin's rehab. class on Fridays. It is mostly lab/hands-on. I am really enjoying his class and I think everyone else is too. I am glad that I have a basic foundation of his philosophies after being with him last semester for clinical. This class will only build upon that foundation and make it more solid. Even though it is 3 hours long it goes by so quickly and I really enjoy it. I suppose that is a good thing since I am going to school for PT.

One more thing, I am now treasurer of Alpha Chi (due to lack of volunteers) so I may have to coordinate bylaws and make a budget for next year because they want to be more active. I'll have to stop in at student accounts or see Liz in the campus center about how to go about it.
Well that is all for now I suppose...oh and I highlighted my hair this past weekend and luckily it came out well. I was worried it would go terribly wrong since I did it at home.
Until next time....

re-run

First, I started this blog after I was inspired by my sociology professor. She has a blog that we have to respond to. I accidentally signed up instead of just becoming a fan of hers, therefore I thought I should make use of what I had already done. I also thought this would be a great way to have others who are interested in AT and PT know what it is like to go through 7 years of school. Not that I would intend to deter them away, but I think it would help prepare them and answer any questions they may have. I am also doing this for me as a type of memoir. Or perhaps just a way to vent or talk to myself. haha. So here it goes....

Today was the first day of spring classes of senior year. They went okay... I stayed on campus from 11-5. I got quite a bit done actually. Picked up my books, signed up for the fitness challenge, stopped in a talked to Kristen about upcoming events and funding for NATA (I am treasurer of Athletic Training Club), fixed Eric's back, and worked out what I am doing this semester for clinical. I had originally asked to only be on General Medical, but Chris forgot and put me at Yarmouth too...which is about an hour away. I'm tight on money and time because I have 7 classes again (yes, I know...rediculous) and my bank account is only being eaten...soooo after much debate it looks like I might help out the ATCs on UNE's campus and if Emily at Yarmouth needs extra help I'll head over there. I think I am just so burnt out from the past 5 semesters of living at clinical that I just want to take things a little slower for once before Grad school starts. Having classes and clinical all year round will definitely wear a person down...

Well, I should probably get started on the first night of homework...and perhaps visit the fridge for a nighttime snack... :)

until next time....