Holy moly, am I EVER overwhelmed!
I know big life changes are always full of hard and overwhelming decisions, but SHEESH! It's so hard because every single school is on a totally different timeline, they all require confirmation before I've heard from the next one, etc., etc. I have a hard time making decisions until I have all the information, so this is majorly overwhelming to me.
I sent my deposit in to Maine in December because I had NO idea if I would get accepted anywhere else, and I figured even if I had to forfeit it, at least I knew for sure I had a spot somewhere. I still haven't heard anything from NY, but supposedly I should hear by Feb. 15. However, VCU's deposit (which is 2.5x more than Maine's was) is due Feb. 15. So then there's Duke...
Duke is the only program I applied to that doesn't start until August. This is a major check in the "con" category on my pro's and con's list, just because I would like to get started soon, and the other programs start in May. However, the closer my sister gets to having my sweet little nephew, the more I think that starting a few months later might actually be a "pro." A few more months to hang out with the little guy would not break my heart. Duke is more expensive than the others, but it's also ranked a lot higher (#7 in the country for nursing), and it's the only school I've applied to that offers complete tuition reimbursement if you work in their hospital for 3 years post-graduation. They also offer quite a few more scholarship opportunities than the others.
Anyway, I was originally told I wouldn't even hear if I got an interview with Duke until the end of February, so I had kind of just ruled it out and decided I would go to VCU. Then today I got the email (a full month earlier than expected) that I have been invited to come to North Carolina to interview (by the way, THIS IS SO EXCITING!). So now I have this total conundrum. The interviews are at the end of February/early March, so I won't know until probably mid-March if I'm accepted or not.
HOLY MOLY.
So if you have any advice or prayers to spare, I could use them. I know that none of these decisions will be the wrong decision. It's just a lot to figure out right now. In the meantime, does anyone know anything about Raleigh/Durham, NC, or Richmond, VA?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Exciting News, Part 2.
I have had a crazy week at work (yes, I realize it's only Wednesday), so a bit of good news in the midst of it was definitely welcome!
I got accepted to VCU yesterday!!!!!! I'm suuuuuuuuuuper excited about it because this is a really fantastic program. Yayyyyyyyy! So here's the update so far:
*University of Southern Maine--accepted and confirmed.
*Virginia Commonwealth University--accepted.
*Binghamton University (NY)--waiting. Should know by Feb. 15.
*Duke University (NC)--waiting. Should know more by the end of Feb.
I have to confirm my acceptance (i.e., pay the deposit) at VCU by 2/15, so unless something crazy happens in the next week or two, whether I've heard from the other two or not, I'm thinking I'm probably moving to Richmond, VA. CRAZY. I will keep you posted (and am still definitely considering the other two), but looks like I may become a Southern belle. :)
My best friends are amazing. When I told them about Maine, their first words were, "Girls' Weekend in Maine?" When I talked to them yesterday, it was, "So, Girls' Weekend in DC?" Love these girls!
I got accepted to VCU yesterday!!!!!! I'm suuuuuuuuuuper excited about it because this is a really fantastic program. Yayyyyyyyy! So here's the update so far:
*University of Southern Maine--accepted and confirmed.
*Virginia Commonwealth University--accepted.
*Binghamton University (NY)--waiting. Should know by Feb. 15.
*Duke University (NC)--waiting. Should know more by the end of Feb.
I have to confirm my acceptance (i.e., pay the deposit) at VCU by 2/15, so unless something crazy happens in the next week or two, whether I've heard from the other two or not, I'm thinking I'm probably moving to Richmond, VA. CRAZY. I will keep you posted (and am still definitely considering the other two), but looks like I may become a Southern belle. :)
My best friends are amazing. When I told them about Maine, their first words were, "Girls' Weekend in Maine?" When I talked to them yesterday, it was, "So, Girls' Weekend in DC?" Love these girls!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Everyone!
I am soooooooo excited that it is 2013!!! They say 13 is a lucky number, and I'm definitely hoping this year it proves to be lucky for me.
By the end of January I should have answers from 3 out of 4 schools I applied to for Nursing School. By the end of February I should know more about the 4th. In February my sister will have her baby and I will get to be an Auntie!!!! Sometime between April and August I'll be moving to the East Coast for Nursing School. This is already a crazy year, and it's only Day 1!
Working in a school, things were pretty intense that last week before Christmas break after the Newtown shooting, and it will be interesting to see how things go when we get back to school next week. I am a pretty sensitive, sentimental person, and that whole thing hit me pretty hard. I have to admit those events tempered my holiday season in many ways, and have also flavored the things I'm thinking about entering into this New Year.
So this year, I choose to be more patient and kind. To be courageous. To listen to my heart, to pray more, and to listen to the still, small voice as I make big life changes and decisions. To stay in touch with the people I love and to let them know I love and appreciate them as often as possible. To work hard and play harder. To do fun things. To listen and learn and stay caught up. To make plans with friends and to accept invitations whenever possible. To be healthy and active. To sparkle more.
Cheers to an amazing 2013! Happy New Year!
2012: Year in Review
2012 was a pretty eventful year! Just as a reminder for myself, in the future, here are a few of the highs and lows of 2012:
January: Started the New Year in Vernal with my awesome parents; had dinner with my mom and Audri on my way out of SLC; first started talking with Clay; helped with my 5th Young Adult Retreat.
February: Testified before a State Senate Committee about education funding; was officially recognized at the Oregon City School Board meeting by my awesome principal; went on a couple dates with Reg.
March: Went on my first date with Clay; was invited to be the Women's Session Speaker at RISE UP! Rally in Portland; started dating Clay; Grandma Margie passed away.
April: Made an unexpected trip to Montana (20+ hours in the car with Amy and Ster and two dogs in four days), stayed with our hilarious Grandma Laverne, met some cousins for the first time, and played and sang at the funeral; spent Easter at Debbie and Dave's in Seattle with Amy, Sterling, and Clay; through the generosity of my incredible friends, I got to fly to SLC to spend a fabulous (albeit quick) weekend with my girlfriends to attend Val's baby shower for baby Alissa.
May: Decided to move from my apartment closer to Amy and Ster and found a new apartment; coordinated amazing "Finding Kind" event; finished out another school year at work.
June: Got strep throat for the first time since 7th grade; celebrated Ster's birthday; moved to my new apartment (with Amy and Ster's help); Celeste moved away; spent some time helping a friend; my mom visited and we bought my new couches; found out I will become an auntie next year!!!!!!!
July: Met Jill and Jeremy's baby for the first time on the 4th of July; broke up with Clay; went to "Jersey Boys" with Amy and Sterling and Caitlin for my birthday; went camping with Amy and Ster in Central Oregon (I LOVE CAMPING!!); went to Mark and Morgan's wedding in Seattle; had another (out-of-the-blue) date with Reg.
August: Rode my bike 45 miles in one day to complete the Portland Bridge Pedal and rode over all 10 of Portland's major bridges; coordinated and carried out a successful week-long summer camp for 100 at-risk kids with 30 camp staff/volunteers; work frustration led to making some major life decisions; made a last-minute trip to Las Vegas to spend 4 1/2 days with my best friend April and her amazing family (including meeting sweet baby Luke!).
September: Came home from Vegas; officially decided to apply to nursing school; took part in my first "race" when Amy, Ster and I did the Color Run (so fun!); started my Human Development and Stats prereq classes at PCC.
October: Studied. And worked. And studied. And worked. Applied to the University of Southern Maine, celebrated Amy's birthday; spent a weekend in Seattle for Chelsea's baby shower. And studied and worked some more.
November: Applied to Virginia Commonwealth University and Binghamton University; spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with Kim and Aunt Marie Ann, Michaela and her boyfriend, Eric, Chad and Jayme, and Debbie and Dave (plus FOUR dogs, and Allee got a black eye).
December: Applied to Duke University; spent four glorious days basking in the sun in Phoenix, Arizona, with my best friend from college, Debi, and her beautiful, amazing family (including meeting sweet baby Alexandre!); dealt with the news of two shootings (one in a local mall and one in a school in CT) that hit me really hard; somehow pulled A's in both my classes; got accepted to USM; worked with a lot of crazy, interesting, difficult kiddos; my folks visited for a week and a half; and we rang in 2013 with champagne, shrimp, and Settlers of Catan. :)
Wow, apparently I actually did quite a bit of traveling, saw a lot of friends and family, and had a pretty eventful (often wonderful but sometimes VERY difficult) year! But I'm glad to say goodbye to 2012, because I know 2013 has a lot of amazing things in store already.
January: Started the New Year in Vernal with my awesome parents; had dinner with my mom and Audri on my way out of SLC; first started talking with Clay; helped with my 5th Young Adult Retreat.
February: Testified before a State Senate Committee about education funding; was officially recognized at the Oregon City School Board meeting by my awesome principal; went on a couple dates with Reg.
March: Went on my first date with Clay; was invited to be the Women's Session Speaker at RISE UP! Rally in Portland; started dating Clay; Grandma Margie passed away.
April: Made an unexpected trip to Montana (20+ hours in the car with Amy and Ster and two dogs in four days), stayed with our hilarious Grandma Laverne, met some cousins for the first time, and played and sang at the funeral; spent Easter at Debbie and Dave's in Seattle with Amy, Sterling, and Clay; through the generosity of my incredible friends, I got to fly to SLC to spend a fabulous (albeit quick) weekend with my girlfriends to attend Val's baby shower for baby Alissa.
May: Decided to move from my apartment closer to Amy and Ster and found a new apartment; coordinated amazing "Finding Kind" event; finished out another school year at work.
June: Got strep throat for the first time since 7th grade; celebrated Ster's birthday; moved to my new apartment (with Amy and Ster's help); Celeste moved away; spent some time helping a friend; my mom visited and we bought my new couches; found out I will become an auntie next year!!!!!!!
July: Met Jill and Jeremy's baby for the first time on the 4th of July; broke up with Clay; went to "Jersey Boys" with Amy and Sterling and Caitlin for my birthday; went camping with Amy and Ster in Central Oregon (I LOVE CAMPING!!); went to Mark and Morgan's wedding in Seattle; had another (out-of-the-blue) date with Reg.
August: Rode my bike 45 miles in one day to complete the Portland Bridge Pedal and rode over all 10 of Portland's major bridges; coordinated and carried out a successful week-long summer camp for 100 at-risk kids with 30 camp staff/volunteers; work frustration led to making some major life decisions; made a last-minute trip to Las Vegas to spend 4 1/2 days with my best friend April and her amazing family (including meeting sweet baby Luke!).
September: Came home from Vegas; officially decided to apply to nursing school; took part in my first "race" when Amy, Ster and I did the Color Run (so fun!); started my Human Development and Stats prereq classes at PCC.
October: Studied. And worked. And studied. And worked. Applied to the University of Southern Maine, celebrated Amy's birthday; spent a weekend in Seattle for Chelsea's baby shower. And studied and worked some more.
November: Applied to Virginia Commonwealth University and Binghamton University; spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with Kim and Aunt Marie Ann, Michaela and her boyfriend, Eric, Chad and Jayme, and Debbie and Dave (plus FOUR dogs, and Allee got a black eye).
December: Applied to Duke University; spent four glorious days basking in the sun in Phoenix, Arizona, with my best friend from college, Debi, and her beautiful, amazing family (including meeting sweet baby Alexandre!); dealt with the news of two shootings (one in a local mall and one in a school in CT) that hit me really hard; somehow pulled A's in both my classes; got accepted to USM; worked with a lot of crazy, interesting, difficult kiddos; my folks visited for a week and a half; and we rang in 2013 with champagne, shrimp, and Settlers of Catan. :)
***********************************
Wow, apparently I actually did quite a bit of traveling, saw a lot of friends and family, and had a pretty eventful (often wonderful but sometimes VERY difficult) year! But I'm glad to say goodbye to 2012, because I know 2013 has a lot of amazing things in store already.
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