One Month Down

"I'm a survivor. I'm not going to give up." Survivor - Destiny's Child

It's been one month of posts, one month of goals, one month of progress and one month of holding myself accountable. I've cut out soda for 31 days, I've only missed 2 days of class and I've spent less money on food. Overall 2014 has been a fairly good year. 

Today's progress consisted of finishing assignments, paying my rent for the next four months and inviting 10 girls to be a part of my sorority. Today was also a little frustrating as I skipped my second class of the semester and I had to deal with the city bus system making me an hour late to something. However, the day wasn't as bad as it could have been. I could have not made it at all or I could have ended up being stuck somewhere I had never been before (this has happened... it isn't fun) or something equally as catastrophic. Things can always be worse. February however is not going to be one of those things. Like this last month, February is going to be full of good choices and progress towards goals. Merlin help me.

Well That's Different

Usually there is quote right here followed by a picture of some sort in order to get people's attention. Today didn't warrant that. Today was a little different. 

I went to my internship and worked on my assignment for the class by filming my placement site and interviewing the director of treatment for the kids. Afterwards I joined the kids in the cafeteria and started talking to a few of them about their day. A bunch of them have started to be able to recognize me and talk to me more openly which is great! I really like that a few of them are opening up and not being so quiet or abrasive. 

After lunch, I joined the middle schoolers for math and life skills where we spent 2 hours getting four 14 and 15 year old boys to do a project that consisted of learning how to budget and do percents. Two hours. It was really frustrating but fun none the less. Eventually I was able to help one of the students work on one of his sanction essays to hopefully change his case a little bit.

IN OTHER NEWS MY BIG CAME TO VISIT TODAY AND I'M SO HAPPY BECAUSE I LOVE HER AND SHE PERECT AND IM DONE 

In the Box

"Sometimes to get out of the box you have to get in the box." -Allisyn - Kim of Queens

We had a snow day (read: ice) which meant no class or work for me today. Instead I slept in and then  did GRE math prep for three hours. Afterwards, Brandi and I went and tried a new restaurant (it isn't better than Panera) followed by my roommate and I vegging out on the couch to "Kim of Queens."

This show is about a former pageant queen who takes girls in Georgia and turns them in to pageant girls through hard work, personality lessons,  glitter and practice. At first, I was a little afraid and worried to start watching the show. Four episodes later I was in love. Kim is all about "real talk" and tough love which I can appreciate. Her type of motivation is focused on building off of failures and by believing in yourself. Now who does that remind you of?

Go To Them

"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Today I was evaluated by my site supervisor at my internship and I was able to work more hands on in the class room with the youths. I've been pretty standoffish with my interactions so far just because I've been trying to catch my bearings at my site and the kids can be kind of intimidating. This morning I decided to be more productive with the students. Instead of studying for the GRE or just waiting for the  teachers to need me in the classroom I just jumped in to the classroom and tried to help as many of the kids as possible.

All of the mentors met as a group and talked about goals for the semester. All of us are trying to achieve different things but will all be working together to achieve these goals. Personally I want to become as involved as possible in the treatment of these youths, motivate them to progress and be successful in their program, and I would really like to become heavily involved in four of the youths lives. 

SIDENOTE: IT MIGHT SNOW TOMORROW!!! And based on how cold and wet it was today, I can absolutely see it snowing tomorrow.

I Hate Mondays

Mondays will just never be easy. There's just too much to do. Most of my Mondays start the night before at 11pm when I pack my lunch for the day. Then I search my house for all of the stuff I need to complete my 16 hour day the next day. This usually consists of all of my texts books, my GRE prep book, my wallet, filling up my water bottle and then tracking down my keys. Once I finally finish that, I get to sleep (normally) until 8 am before I have to get up, get Rey, catch a bus to my 9 am class, sit through class then get to my job by 10, work until 3, insert various activities between 3 and 5, go to class from 515-630, have a snack, go to chapter until whenever it is that we end. Mondays. Last. Forever. 

Today was extra long due to having to wake up at 6:30am to get ready for the day so that I was read for rush at 7pm. And then rush. And then home. Mondays are hard.

You're Not Invisible

"You're not invisible. Hear me out. There's so much more to life than what you're feeling now. Some day you'll look back on all these days and all this pain is going to be invisible." Invisible- Hunter Hayes

Most people know I'm mildly (read beyond severely) obsessed with a mister Hunter Hayes pictured above. Last year as a birthday present to myself I spent an obscene amount of money to go to Savannah and meet this incredible person and sit in the second row and just be baffled by how amazing of a performer/HUMANBEING he is. And now, I have the chance to do it all over again. 

He released the song "Invisible" today at the GRAMMYS and while it was not his best performance ever, it was the most important. The song comes from a dark time in his and many of our lives: being bullied. I wasn't heavily bullied when I was younger but I had a few instances that made some days feel like the worst day ever. I've had other instances in my life that made me feel like nothing and this song speaks to those as well. The song is about empowerment and not letting what has happened to you keep you in that dark place. I'm instantly in love with it. http://youtu.be/ucA63CEuXpo

The song debuted today and so did the new tour which I will be participating in either May 30th or May 31st because that is when he will be Florida. Two hours from my house is better than six so I'm ridiculously excited to meet Hunter again and hear him sing "Invisible" in person. And "Wanted" and hopefully "Cry With You" and "Storm Warning" and all of his songs. Okay I'm done.

The Sweetest Thing

Wreck-It Ralph: You're a winner!

Vanellope von Schweetz: I'm a winner...

Wreck-It Ralph: And you're adorable!

Vanellope von Schweetz: I'm ADORABLE!

Wreck it Ralph - 2012

Considering tomorrow will consist of an intense GRE Prep session, gearing up for my final rush week, and a new Hunter Hayes single, I took today easy. I slept in (read until 1pm) and then went to the mall with my roommate in order to get my outfits for rush week to then come home and watch Paul Walker (RIP) and Vin Diesel destroy Rio in Fast Five. Basically I did nothing and in doing nothing I've worked up an appetite/desperate need for cupcakes. They are seriously all I've wanted since 2 o' clock this afternoon. It's ridiculous.  So after I'm finished with this post I will be venturing out to navigate the night bus system to get either ingredients to make cupcakes to buy pre made cupcakes. Cupcakes will be acquired some way or another.  While I'm at the store I may grab something to cook my chicken with for dinner. Baking cupcakes counts as learning how to cook right?