inspired.

I was, to say the least, super bummed the internship wouldn't work out. I was looking forward to adding it to both my "Child Care" resume, and my "Biology" one. Awesome right? And it seemed like fun, assisting a teacher in fun "enrichment" classes. But really, I have no desire to be Therapist. Not a Speech one, not a Physical one, not an Occupational one. No thanks. So in the end, I wasn't doing something that was going to be worth my time. It really wouldn't better prepare me for my future. It'd just be another line on my resume, that didn't really enhance it. 

Also. Two other things happened: 

1) I joined "Critical Thinking." I guess I wasn't exactly sure what it was. My Microbiology professor teaches it, and I've really liked the other classes I've taken with him so I said, sure, why not?

The first day of class, I realized it was going to be a lot harder than I thought. The whole class is about how to interpret research articles, analyze them for yourself, as well as present the findings. UGH! This is the number one thing I dread about science classes, and the number one thing holding me back from graduate school. 

With that being said, I'm actually looking forward to this class now. It's gonna kick my butt, but I think it's a necessary class. It'll be challenging (where the internship wouldn't have been). It'll also be beneficial, not only for grad school, but any other facet of life. Learning to think critically on every aspect of life.. faith.. politics.. etc. So. I'm glad this happened, as much as it is going to make me dread Thursdays at 9:50 every week.

2) THIS IS THE EXCITING PART!!! 

I should have opened with this! but I guess I'd rather end on a real good note. I attended the first ESL training this weekend and I absolutely loved it. I'm getting really excited to tutor. I learned so much about teaching in those 6 hours that have gotten me really stoked for volunteering this semester. At first, I wanted to tutor to see if ESL was something I would want to do. Ya know, live abroad and teach English. Although I had no experience with that really. Now, after attending this training session I'm really looking forward to this! It also gives me hope that teaching English in a foreign country is a legit possibility for me! It wouldn't just be an excuse to live abroad, it would be an occupation I would enjoy!

So this is good. I'm excited. I obviously won't be teaching English all my life. But I definitely am strongly considering it for the future. 

God has other plans...

Things aren't turning out how I'd hoped them too...
...but I know there's a reason for everything

lessons

Finished the paperwork for my internship today!

The people seem great and I'm so excited to meet the kids! I start next week.

It's funny how God has this plan for your life... and it's completely different than what you intend for it to be. I guess that's where I really need to start listening to him more. I've been really stressed out about a LOT of things lately. But I'm starting to realize that no matter how much researching, preparation, and planning I do, nothing is for certain and nothing is promised to me. God can change all of my plans in an instant. With that said, I'm going to keep on this journey called life... I'll continue my planning, but with a lot less worrying. Even if things start looking grim and like nothing is going right, I know that God has some awesome things in store for me.

"...  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ..Call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:11-14

1/11/11

So yesterday was De'Andre's birthday. His 24th, he's old. I made him this lovely cake and then we went out for soul food at Dee's Place and it was delicious. 

 I guess the importance of this day goes beyond just celebrating a birthday.

It was a really snowy day too.
...just stay with me. I'm getting to a point. I promise.
I hate driving in the snow and I was in a really bad mood on the way to dinner. I was getting frustrated and started to declare I was moving to Atlanta, Florida, or ideally Mexico. Dre chimed in and made a really good point. Our parents had all the choice in the world to move where they did. Why on earth start a family in cold Chicago, or Michigan? They must have made the decision sometime in the summer, because if it were in the heart of January or February, they would have chosen some place warm. 
So this started our conversation about where we would spend the rest of our lives. He's really my only tie to Chicago, and my family is my only real tie to the midwest, could I move? Should I move? Would he come with me?
I came up with the idea of sticking around for the summer at least, because I do enjoy the Midwest's summer. Whether it be Chicago or Michigan, I will still be spending a lot of time in both I assume. But the goal is to get some sort of nanny job or lab job that will go through the summer. During the summer, I'll apply for an english teaching job in Mexico (or maybe some other exotic place) and hope to be able to find a semester long position. Just a little taste of culture. Also during the summer, I'll be applying to graduate schools. This is where the hard decisions start to come in. Where? and for what? Microbiology? Biology? Public Health? but I guess I have some time to think about that. If I do get accepted, I've been thinking of joining the armed forces. They *appear* to have some amazing opportunities, aaand loan repayment options. Always a possibility. I'll also apply for a forensic training program with the state, that I would be stoked to get into, but chances are slim.
All those options.
All these choices to make.
Part of me wishes I would have stayed a nursing major.
But at the same time. I don't think I would enjoy it.
And this gives me countless possibilites. So really, I need to just keep listening to where God is calling me.


Anyway, this is the start of my "journey after graduation."
I'll keep you updated.