Goodbye Summer! Hello Real World!

First of all, I realized how slack I have been with this blog. I have SO MUCH to catch everyone up on. I will try to summarize my summer with few words and several pictures. I'm a visual person, so that's how I will present my life to you!

After graduation, I expected a sweet summer of bliss. Living at home with my parents, visiting friends in NC and DC occasionally, and just enjoying NOT being in graduate school. Luckily, I did all of those things, but it wasn't pure bliss. While visiting Zak in DC (and interviewing for several metro area jobs), he got in a motorcycle accident. He broke his left wrist and right tibia (at the knee). He had surgery on his knee and I spent 7 days in the hospital with him. It has been an interesting summer for that broken boy. Here are some pictures that he has allowed me to share with you...

Zak in the ER with his wrist and knee in temporary casts

The only real damage the motorcycle sustained from the accident

Caretaker and patient

When he got home from the hospital, I thought I was done with hospitals. Unfortunately, my mother was admitted. That was frustrating, but we all got through it. My mom had a good outlook on things and we are all proud of her!

I spent some free time out of hospitals to enjoy friends. Zak flew out to his parent's house in Utah to do his physical therapy, so that meant that I wouldn't see him the rest of the summer. Fortunately, Zak's mother is incredibly nice! She flew me out to Utah and took care of everything for my full 8 days in Ogden. It was such a nice vacation to see Zak and see Utah! I had never been there and really enjoyed meeting his family and friends. He flew back to DC last week and has been doing well (even walking most of the time without a cane now)!

Zak & I at the dinosaur park in Utah

The Vono's backyard!

Me feeding a tortoise in the Vono's backyard

Zak's mother made this amazing quilt for me! I did not deserve all her kindness!

In other big news, I moved and started my new job!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved to Statesville, NC a week and a half ago into a one-bedroom apartment. I love my new place!! It is very spacious and I've enjoyed getting furniture (with the help of good, family friends) and decorating. I didn't know anyone when I moved to Statesville, but have met a few good people so far and think I can handle this slower lifestyle for a little while.

My living room/study area

My dining area is a bit bare so far, but still nice!

Bathroom

Bedroom

Kitchen

My mom, dad, and Aunt Kaki visit my new apartment!

I started my job...TODAY! I will be contracted into the Iredell-Statesville Schools. I will be working at an elementary school with children Kindergarten - 5th grade. Today was just organizing my new office/therapy room. Below is my new room after a full day moving boxes and putting things in their places.

My new job!

Me, Dad, & Mom in front of my new job! We are the Crawdads!

My new office/therapy room!

I am very excited about starting life in the real world and in a new place for a while. What an adventure!!!!


Also, on September 11, my brother (David), sister-in-law (Vickie), and I will be walking in the Gail Parkins Ovarian Cancer Walk. We have been raising money and appreciate those who have given time, money, thoughts, and prayers the last decade during my mother's fight. If you would like to give, please visit this website ( click here ) and click on SUPPORT OVARIAN-PORTANT CAUSE underneath my mother's photo. Thank you for your support (both monetary and emotional)!!

Commence: To have or make a beginning; to enter into

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. -Charles Darwin

I will try to catch everyone up on my goings-on since Snowmageddon (which was my last blog post on here) as succinctly as possible.

Balancing classes, internship, and a social life proved difficult during my last semester at Gallaudet, but I think that I succeeded at all of them. I got out into DC and enjoyed more of the city and what it has to offer than any other semesters, thanks to my friends and the stubborn side of my brain that knew this may be my last few months living in DC. The following photos show some of the fun things I have done during the springtime:

My suitemate, Krystin, & myself out dancing in DC!

One of the highlights of springtime was my parents visit to DC at the start of my spring break. It was so much fun to show them around DC! We even got a White House tour!! It was really neat to be in there with the Obama administration because we had not been inside since the Clinton administration (I think). Unfortunately, I did not take many photos of us around DC because I was having too much fun!

Chapel Hill friends! Maggie, Mandy, Emily, & Myself

David, Vickie, & I went to see the Carolina Hurricanes v Washington Capitals in Raleigh, NC (hockey game!)

Zak & I at a DC United (soccer) game! We had fun despite the score!


Zak enjoyed the National Botanical Gardens (note: this photo is not of a real flower!)


The following photos were taken at a Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves baseball game!
Zak, Teddy, Me, & George


Erin & myself (SLPs in the graduating class of 2010!)

Will, Erin, Me, & Zak at the Nationals game! We got fancy seats in the Diamond Club because we have a fantastic connection!

The semester went by without too many hitches. I did not make it home for Easter for the first time in my life, but I joined my DC family (my cousins, Mark & Marsha and their sons, Hunter & James) for church and a delicious Easter lunch! I made it through my internship at Building Blocks Therapy and found out that I really enjoy working for a private clinic and working with children (I guess I already knew that part though). My classes went by with MANY ups and downs. We had to alter our class schedules dramatically after snowpocalypse in February. It really threw everything off, but we persevered and survived!

When we finally hit Friday May 7, we were done with all classes, all assignments, and all internships. We had a fantastic cookout at Cheryl & Michael's house (Cheryl is in my program and is graduating in 3 years due to being pregnant and having her adorable baby last summer). It was SO nice to just relax and enjoy each others company without worrying about assignments. We could just enjoy the weather and the festivities! Here are a few photos from that night!

10 out of 11 of the SLPs in my year
(Jackie, Rachel, Erin, Cheryl, Heather, Carolyn, Meredith, Erica, Me, & Nada)

We even had a pinata! At this point, we had already knocked the head off! (That's me in the blindfold!)

Less than a week later, we all gathered with our families to celebrate finishing our Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. I was SO lucky and blessed to have many family members and friends join me in celebrating.

On Thursday, May 13, my fellow SLP ladies and myself threw a party and invited our families and 3 speakers to join us. The speakers were two woman who have been affected by tragic circumstances (one suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury and the other from a Stroke). They spoke of their troubles and difficulties and how speech-language pathologists helped them to where they are now, able to make speeches in front of crowds! They were both really inspirational and it was difficulty to keep a dry eye!

The graduating girls (plus 1 and minus 1)
Anna, Carolyn, Meredith, Cheryl, Jackie, Erica, Nada, Heather, Erin, Rachel, & me

Afterward was the Hooding and Graduate Awards Ceremony was held, which is when I received my Masters hood. It was a strange experience to put on that hood for the first time! I smiled like a goofball the entire time!

My parents & I post-Hooding ceremony in front of the Gallaudet Bison statue

The whole group post-Hooding ceremony
My uncle Steve, Aunt Jackie, Aunt Kaki, me, Mom, Dad, Mema, David, & Vickie

Zak & I post-Hooding ceremony
(he does not get credit for the rose, Gallaudet gave it to me)

On Friday, May 14, the full Commencement Ceremony was held and took a long time. They called out every individual's name (both graduate student and undergraduate student) and we all walked across the stage to receive our diplomas from Gallaudet's President Hurwitz. It was a very exciting week and I still do not think that it has fully hit me.

Me with some of my SLP ladies waiting for the Commencement Ceremony to begin
(we took our gowns off because this building was so hot!)

The whole group post-Commencement ceremony!!!
Aunt Kaki, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Steve, Vickie, David, me, Mom, Dad, & Mema

Dinner party at Mark & Marsha's house! This cake was so cute and delicious!
Mom, Dad, me, David, & Vickie

The entire group at Mark & Marsha's house!
Uncle Steve, Marsha, David, Aunt Kaki, Mark, Dad, Lisa, Kevin
Mema, Me, Mom, Vickie, & Aunt Jackie

I have moved back home to NC with my parents for the time being. I continue in my job search and want to work somewhere on the east coast within a days drive of my parents. I have applied many places and have several interviews. Thank you to everyone who has helped me in this search. It is not easy!

The week after graduation my parents and I enjoyed a WONDERFULLY RELAXING week at Holden Beach. We sat around, watched TV, enjoyed the sand and waves, and I read a lot of Harry Potter! It was SO nice to have a wonderful week of no-worries!



I cannot have completed consecutive 19 years of schooling without support. I want to thank all of you for helping me become who I am today! I cannot believe that I am done but...I AM DONE!

I will continue this blog if anyone seems interested. I do not know where the next step will take me...but it will be an adventure!