The School That Won't be Named

I've mentioned my time in nursing school a few times here on the blog, and every time I refer to the school I attended I call it "The School That Won't be Named".  The reason for that is that, while I was greatly disappointed in many aspects of my time at my school, I don't feel the need to run their name through the mud, and bash them here on a public website.  It's not really my style, and I think it would reflect poorly on myself just as much as said school.

However, today I'd like to share a little bit about my time at The School, and some things that I've changed my mind about over the last few years since I've graduated.

The main problem with The School was a huge lack of organization, and professionalism.  I had never attended an educational institute that was so disorganized, and so wildly innapropriate.  The professors were not professors - in fact, we often called them "Nurses Who Read Slides", because that was really their main purpose.  I have to mention that there were one or two Nurses who taught at the school who greatly impacted my education and the nurse I am today, and to those women, I will always be greatful.  But as a whole?  Their staff was lacking in their training and the essential traits it takes to make a good teacher.  The exams were hardly fair, and they were often not on what we had been told they would be on.  There were constantly debates about the exams post-grade-handing-out, which was both bizarre and warrented, considering how out of left field the exam questions often were.  It was a lot of memorization and less learning, but I think that has a bit more to do with nursing and science in general than the school.

The clinicals were better in some ways and worse in others.  The sites we were sent to were often unfriendly, ill-managed, and unhelpful to as as learning future nurses.  There were certainly exceptions to that rule, but in general?  Not so much.  There were days that Nurse Sarcasm and I spent 50% of our clinical time walking in circles around one nursing home because there was literally nothing for us to do.  I will always be greatful to one of my Clinical Instructors however, who pushed me beyond my limits, paired me with an inspiring preceptor, and made me feel more like a nurse and less like a scared student.

There were times throughout the thirteen months I was enrolled at The School that I truly did not know if I was going to make it.  I didn't know how many more surprise exams, random canceled classes, dramatic high-school fights, and unprofessional Nurses Reading Slides I could possibly deal with.  But at the end of the day, my education and my future career was more important to me and I pushed through the bullshit to get to the other side.

What have I changed my mind about in the nearly three years it's been since I graduated (wow I can't believe it's been that long)?  My attitude was part of the problem.  Not the entire problem by any means, but I went in with an attitude and it certainly affected my time at The School.  I could have been much more positive, and I think I might have caught more flies with honey, if you know what I mean.  Another thing I've gotta give credit to The School for, is that it taught me some pretty valuable study skills.  Sure, part of that is because there was so little guidance on what you needed to know that you basically had to know everything, but those skills have stayed with me and they are great skills to have, as I have big plans for continuing my education.

So there you have it.  The reason I don't refer to The School That Won't be Named by it's actual name, the parts that made me hate it, and the personal growth that brought me to where I am today about the whole situation.

Have you ever changed your attitude about something after you've been removed from it for a few years?

Would You Quit?

You just won a million dollars.

Would you quit your job?

{via}

 

I tend to think the obvious, easiest and most popular answer to the above question would be a resounding yes!  But, to me, this isn't all that much of a no-brainer.

 

First things first, a million dollars is a lot of money - but it's not a billion dollars.  I mean, a million won't even buy me a mansion in my neck of the woods.  So while it would be nice to quit the old job and roll around in money all day, I've got bigger goals than a million will buy me. 

 

Secondly, I work for money and for satisfaction.  I don't work for just the paycheck, but the feeling I get from working, and working in healthcare.  I wouldn't want to give that up for just about anything. 

 

So, what would I do?  I think I would probably, in fact, quit (Sorry, employer!  The good news I don't see myself winning a hot million anytime soon) my job, but simply to send myself back to school instead.  And I wouldn't stop going to school until I was done.  Not done with my RN, not done with my Masters,  but done with every bit of education I could cram into my brain because a million dollars might just give me the luxury to do so.

 

Oh, and I'd go on a badass vacation.

 

What would you do?

30 Before 30

I have a 101 in 1001 list, and while I should probably focus on getting those little items checked off, after turning the big 2-5 last month, I was thinking I should focus on a few big goals for the next 5 years.

30 Before 30
in no particular order

1. Go to Hawaii.

2. Buy a second house.

3. Buy a new car (to me, I ain't hatin' on used card).

4. Go on a vacation outside the country with Handsome Husband.

5. Generate income from something creative - Etsy shop, photography, writing, etc. (Stress Case blog doesn't count!).

6. Get a Bachelor's Degree.

7. Complete a Project 52 or 365.

8. Attend a Blog Conference.

9. Go on a camping trip with our friends.

10. Go on a girls' weekend that we must take a plane for.

11. See Miranda Lambert live in concert.

12. Go to Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

13. Learn to do something new - golf, crochet, snowboard - anything that I wouldn't normally gravitate to!

14. Be in a wedding.

15. Take a pole dancing class.

16. Write a book.  It doesn't have to get published, but I have to write it.

17. Do the Susan Komen 3-day Challenge Walk.

18. Spend New Years in the snow somewhere.

19. Upgrade my DSLR.

20. Become a Mommy.

21. Host a shower for someone - baby shower, bridal shower, engagement party, etc.

22. Bake bread from scratch.

23. Go to an Ice Bar.

24. Run a 10K without stopping.

25. Grow a pair (not literally or the photos would be strange) and get a budoir photo shoot done.

26. Go to an NFL game.

27. Fly first-class.

28. Leave a 100% tip for one lucky, and hardworking, waiter or waitress.

29. Throw a surprise party for someone.

30. Own a piece of David Yurman jewelry.

 

Have you ever put together a 30 Before 30 list?  Leave the link in the comments, I'd love to see what's on yours! 

2012 Goal Review

I don't really believe in New Years Resolutions.  I think most people end up failing at them, and that they are always uuber cliche.  However, I do believe in goals, and the end or beginning of a year is a great time to evaluate them. 

Last year, I wrote about ten things I wanted to do in 2012 - you can see that post HERE.  Today, let's see how the heck I did.

1. Buy a condo with my very Handsome Husband.   Check! We put an offer on a condo we absolutely adored in March, suffered through a horrific short sale, and closed escrow on the second-to-last day of August of 2012.  We have been soaking up the last few months as new homeowners, and this was a huge accomplishement for us!  You can read about our Hunt to Homeownership HERE.
2. Start making lunch more often.   Fail. I definitely improved over 2011, but still not where I'd like to be.  I don't see this getting all that much better in 2013 to be honest, but a girl can dream.
3. Work out more often. Note: It's a lifestyle change, not a "lose 10 pounds" thing.   Fail. I definitely did work out more in 2012 than I did in 2011, however, ever since I stopped running with Tutor Girl, I lost a lot of motivation.  I would really like to get better about this in 2013, so we'll see.   4. Read more books.   Sort-of Check! I read a lot during the first half of 2012, due in part to my awesome new gadget at the time - the Kindle Fire.  However, once we got close to closing escrow, I was using my reading time for pursuing Pinterest for home decor ideas, and after that I was using every available second to make Pinterest come to life.  I would like to read more in 2013, mainly because I have SO many fabulous books in my Kindle wishlist!   5. Further my education.   Sort-of Check! I took a whopping one class this year which, for me, is sad.  I would really love to be saying that I will become an RN in 2013, but I know that is not the case.  And not because I do not have the drive, motivation or dedication.  But because the nursing education market here in California really does not favor those trying to work and go to school.  For me to go to school, I would have to change positions, and would not be able to work full-time.  With a Handsome Husband in law school, this is simply not an option for me at the time.  For now, I am focusing my efforts on excelling in my current nursing role, perhaps taking some units next semester to prepare myself for the nursing program even more, and being a supportive wife for my student Husband.  I know he will be there for me when it's my turn, and I know that will come before I know it.
6. Visit my family on the east coast.   Fail. This one makes me sad, but spoiler alert: We are heading to the East Coast in 2013!  More deets to come!
7. Be a strong support for HH as he starts law school in the Fall.   Check!  Or at least, I'd like to think so! I would like to hope I've been helpful and supportive for my sweet HH, I guess we'd have to ask him to find out for sure!
8. Focus on growing my wardrobe in a thrifty and practical way.   Fail. I think the main reason this one was a fail was because HH and I were trying to save as much moola as possible for our move in 2012, so I really tried to keep purchases on the minimum.  This year, I really would like to grow my wardrobe, and on top of that?  I'd like to take more fashion risks.   9. Do more things for and with my girlfriends - I think I do pretty good now, but I don't ever want them to not know how important they are to me!   Check! From Girls Weekend last January (and another one just weeks away!) to lots and lots of girls nights out and even my Victoria's Secret party - 2012 was the year of growing my relationships with my girlfriends.  And you know what?  2013 is going to be, too!
10. Start thinking about having a little kidlet? Key word: Thinking. See HERE. (and also HERE.)   Check! I mean, sure, I thought about it.  

{Fabulous Holiday Blog Challenge} Things Thursday: Things I'd Like To Do in 2012

1. Buy a condo with my very Handsome Husband.
2. Start making lunch more often.
3. Work out more often.  Note: It's a lifestyle change, not a "lose 10 pounds" thing.
4. Read more books.
5. Further my education.
6. Visit my family on the east coast.
7. Be a strong support for HH as he starts law school in the Fall.
8. Focus on growing my wardrobe in a thrifty and practical way.
9. Do more things for and with my girlfriends - I think I do pretty good now, but I don't ever want them to not know how important they are to me!
10.  Start thinking about having a little kidlet?  Key word: Thinking.  See HERE.  (and also HERE.)

Things Thursday: Things I Will Do To Procrastinate During Finals Week

1. Facebook.

2. Blogger.

3. Google Reader.

4. Address and send my holiday cards.

5. Make these babies:

Source: powellfamtx.blogspot.com via Casey on Pinterest

6. Gchat.

7. Online Christmas shopping.

8. Twitter.

9. Put things in my cute Erin Condren planner.

10. Pretend to study.

Social Media, you're an enabler.

I Have a Potty Mouth

It's true.

I curse like a sailor.

It's not a rebellion thing - my parents have never cared.  It's certainly not a thing to make me sound cool - I know I'm cool.  I don't really know where it even came from (probably Hat Dad - is cursing genetic?).

Up until recently, I never really cared.

My MO was always kind of, 

If you're going to judge me by what curse words come out of my mouth,

you don't deserve to know the sweet girl behind this potty mouth.

But that all changed recently.

Due to someone in my current science class we will call...

Pink Lab Coat Girl.

Pink Lab Coat Girl (PLC Girlie?) puts any sailor-mouthed shit stuff I thought I had going on to shame.  She literally curses so much she'd be a freakin' musical on a cable TV show with all the bleeps she would require.

Recently I accidentally sat in front of her during class.  It is was like sitting near two teenage boys.  F-bombs were flying like it was a curse war.  It was bad.  

And then it hit me.

Is that what I sound like?

Obviously no judgement, but it sounded rash, trashy, and just rough on the ears.  After that fateful curse-ridden day in class, I have decided to make a much bigger effort to clean up this potty mouth.  I had actually already improved quite a bit due to the whole working with kids thing.  But now, every time I blurt out a dirty word, PLC Girlie flashes before my eyes and I cringe a little.

Real Life Friends, feel free to call me out on this one.  Seriously thinking this could be a big improvement for this potty-mouthed girl.

Oh, and if you're reading this PLC Girlie?  Sorry, but the truth hurts.  Also you're kind of a biatch.  See - improvement already!  Biatch doesn't count as a curse word, right?  

Old Stomping Grounds

This weekend, it's Alumni Weekend at Handsome Husband's alma mater (and university he clocked many soccer playing hours at), and my man and I are off to San Diego - our old stomping grounds!

There are so many reasons San Diego has a huge place in my heart...I mean where do I begin?

San Diego is...

the first city where HH and I lived together.

where we were living when we got engaged.

the first place I lived away from home and really started my own life.

the city I met some amazing women in - Nurse Sarcasm, Dimples, and Future Dr. Babies just to name a few!

where I went to nursing school, and actually where I was when I realized I even wanted to be a nurse.

where Handsome Hubs went to and graduated from college.

the place where so many of our dear friends still call home.

the city that HH's old soccer stadium stands, and where I got to spend hours really getting to know Mother-in-Law Red and Grandma Beach Bum - hours I accredit to the close relationship I have with them both now.

the zip code from which I planned the majority of our wedding, which was actually held nearly two hours from the seaside city of SD.

the place we were living when we turned 21, and first learned the ropes to bar-stomping (in and around Pacific Beach, duh!).

the place where I saw my first patient pass away, where I passed my first meds, where I learned what it meant to be a nurse, and where I wondered whether I was cut out for the job.

I lived in San Diego, I loved in San Diego.

I found myself there, lost myself again a time or two, and re-found myself there.

I love Orange County, it's my home...but San Diego will always have a big place in my heart.

Things Thursday: Things To Use as Excuses For My Bad Blogger Behavior

1. Hello - new job?

2. 40 hours of working a week...this is new to this stressy Casey.

3. Microbiology - aka the most boring science class since Physiology.

4. My Handsome Husband actually likes to talk to me for more than 30 minutes a day.

5. Turns out I can't really run on 5 hours of sleep a night.

6. Taco Tuesday Club.

7. My DVR is practically bursting at the seams.

8. My online classes are calling my name.

9. Clocking hours breaking a sweat at the gym thinking about the gym.

10. Attempting to maintain an acceptable level of social contact with my beloved friends.

It's Definitely Fall Y'all!

Due to my vacation in August/September, August's monthly recap was never posted!  So lucky you - double monthly recap today!

In August…

We celebrated Fashionista’s 23^rd birthday a few weeks early, because she was off to India over her actual birthday.

Birthday Girl Fashionista, Handsome Husband, Me, and Dimples

Nurse Sarcasm and her husband celebrated their first anniversary, and I remembered the wonderful times we had at their beautiful wedding last year.

I got my annual fried food fix when Handsome Husband and I went to the OC Fair with some friends.

Twin Unicorn, Twin Uni's Garter-Catchin' Boyfriend, Handsome Hubs, and Swagger

HH and I enjoying a spiked totally innocent ICEE at the Fair.

My Handsome Husband and I celebrated our 3 years of love – our “dating anniversary”.

I finished up my online summer class just in time for a 2-week break before fall classes start.

Best Friend Cute Apartment moved into a new (wait for it…) cute apartment!  She is now steps from an awesome Taco Tuesday watering hole, and minutes from the beach!

I started off the Fall semester – going to be a rough one with a science/lab course, 2 online classes, and work, but I will make it happen!

We headed off to our Tour de Oregon 2011! 

In September…

We watched Best Cousin marry the love of her life in a beautiful ceremony in Albany, Oregon.

We went to a fun mid-week lunch to celebrate Grandma Beach Bum’s birthday!

Sister Swimmer and Sister Singer had their first day of their last year of high school – they are growing up way too fast!

The soccer itch really got to Handsome Husband, and he started playing in a men’s league.

We did things big when we celebrated for Cute Apartment’s 26^th birthday – jello shots, beer pong, and getting down at a local bar!

The Birthday Princess and her little princess, Roxie.

Sister Singer took to the stage again as one of the leads in her high school’s musical, “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

We got to watch Handsome Husband’s alma mater’s soccer team play in the LA Galaxy’s home stadium – The Home Depot Center.

We had the great honor of being invited to Fashionista’s parents’ 25^th Anniversary Party – and watching as their friends and family showered them with love and celebratory words.

Grateful Sundays

This week, I am grateful that my online summer class is over!

I am so excited to have a (short) little break from school work for a few weeks before I start my Fall classes!

I have taken at least one online class every summer since I graduated high school.  For me, it helps me to stay focused and not forget what it's like to be a student.  While some might want the break (and I, too, sometime wish I could just take a break), it is truly in my best interest to stay taking at least one class all the time.

Online classes are super easy for me now, especially as I've gotten older.  I am able to go at my own pace, and take in the knowledge without the full-fledged stress of having to memorize instead of learn for the sake of passing a test or ace-ing a class.

I literally only have 2 weeks off, but I am going to love coming home these 2 weeks without worrying about hitting the books as soon as I walk in the door or before I pass out from exhaustion!

P.S. Have you checked out my Day in the Life over at Nicole's blog, yet?  I even talk about studying in it! :)

Things Thursday: Things That I Don't Understand

1. Gravity

2. The joy of gardening (sorry Gardening Mom)

3. Why the more you sleep, the more tired you are

4. How anyone can not love the color pink

5. Why I'm not famous

6. How computers work

7. Why little Diego doesn't want to be my best friend

8. Why you can't keep your eyes open when you sneeze

9. How this year has flown by (seriously, it's already almost July?!)

10. ABGs (no matter how hard I tried in nursing school, I never understood these!)

Goodbye to May, Hello to Summer!

In May…

Sister Singer totally rocked her part in her school’s musical, “Little Women.”

We celebrated our moms and grandmas over Mother’s Day Weekend.

Family Fun at the Lake.

Handsome Husband started hitting it out of the park when he started playing on the company softball team!

We got together for dinner to wish Ms. Does It All bon voyage on her exciting journey off to Spain!

I got to watch HH play in his old soccer uniform at the alumni game – and we got to see some of our closest friends.

Best Friend Swagger and I joined Gardening Mom and friends for a girls’ trip to Arizona. 

I took my last final for the Spring 2011 semester – although summer “break” includes 3 online classes.

Sister Singer nearly brought me to tears while we watched her perform in her high school Talent Show.

Twin Unicorn moved home from spending a few years away for college, and we had a super fun BBQ at the lake to celebrate!

Tutor Girl, her sister, and I ran a 5K (my very first ever!) on Memorial Day – so glad we decided to start the C25K training, and that we stuck with it!

Handsome Husband entered “The Redhead Roundup” redhead competition at a local Strawberry Festival – and was completely robbed of the victory (by what we think was a bottle red, at that!).

My little pageant contestant.

I posted my first ever blog GIVEAWAY and link-up - the link-up left much to be desired (shout out to Tutor Girl for participating!), and the giveaway will end this month! 

Bring it on, June.

Things Thursday: Things To Look Forward to This Summer!

1. Not having to drive a total of 1 hour+ to get to and from school.

2. No more Professor All Over the Place!!

3. Twin Unicorn moving back to beautiful Orange County - and a fun BBQ to celebrate her homecoming!

4. Watching some of Handsome Husband's best friends from soccer graduate from college.

5. Celebrating Cute Apartment's graduation - this is something I know she is looking forward to!

6. Singing "Happy Birthday" to Lil C for first time - lil guy is turning 1!

7. Rekindling our annual trip to Arizona with our best friends.  (The first trip to Arizona was the one in which Handsome Husband and I finally got together - story to come, promise!)

8.  The Orange County Fair...something to look forward to every summer.

9. Another family poker tournament with HH's competitive family!

10. Family vacation to Oregon to see Best Cousin marry the love of her life and to see Handsome Husband's dad who lives up there, too!

11. Camping trip with Kindergarten Teacher and anyone else lucky enough to join.

12. Seeing more of and spending more time with HH, my amazing friends, and my wonderful family.

Nurse Appreciation Week: May 6 - May 12

Being that it is Nurse Appreciation Week (okay, I think the official name is National Nurses Week, but I like the appreciation one better!), I'd like to take a moment to mention a few of the nurses most important to me.

Nurse Aunties, I am so glad I got to follow in your shoes in being a member of our family and going into the rewarding profession of nursing.  Thank you for being inspirations to me, and for listening to me whine all throughout nursing school (when I was lucky enough to see you ladies)!

Nurse Clinical Instructor, it was the clinical rotation in which you were my instructor that I truly went from being a student to being a nurse.  You assigned me to follow the nurse who pushed me past my comfort zone, and for that I will be forever grateful.

Nurse Learn From Me, you are the reason I stopped being perpetually nervous during clinicals.  You pushed me to just jump in and "just do it," and didn't give me time to think about all the reasons I was scared.  You made an 8-hour shift fly by like it was 8-minutes long, and for the first time in nursing school you made me feel like I was actually doing something instead of just filling up hospital hallways.

Nurse Sarcasm, you inspired me throughout all of nursing school.  Your eager attitude to try everything, and your refusal to just sit and watch the hours tick by at clinicals helped shape me into the nurse I am today.  You held my hand until I was ready to venture off on my own, but I always knew if I needed help, you were right around the corner if I hollered.  You allowed me to follow your footsteps, even though I know it annoyed you at times.  You comforted me when I felt like quitting, and you encouraged me when I thought I couldn't do it anymore.  I've said it before, and I will continue to sing your praises - without you, I don't know how I would have passed my nursing school courses, gotten through clinicals, graduated school, or what kind of nurse I would have ended up.

Former Fellow Nursing Students, I always knew I would never miss The School That Won't Be Named, but what I didn't know is how much I would miss so many of you.  The camaraderie we felt when we banned together to fight for our grades, argued against the insanely disorganized bureaucracy of our school, or just helped each other through the personal battles that didn't stop just because we went into the demanding nursing program, is a bonding I think lasts a lot longer than the bruises from our IV certification class.  I hope everyone is doing well, and on their way to their ultimate goals, whatever those may be.

Do you know a nurse that deserves some appreciation?  

Source

Grateful Sundays

This week, I am grateful for San Diego.

Going down to visit for the weekend just helped to remind me how fabulous it is to have so many of our memories just an hour drive away.

I kept feeling waves of nostalgia as we spent our short weekend trip down in SD, and it felt nice.  We got to see some very good friends, finally get a double date with Twin Oh Yeah and Future Dr. Babies, and just generally remember what it was like when we lived down there.

San Diego was where Handsome Husband and I first lived together, and where we had our first apartment all to ourselves.  It was where we were living when he proposed, and where we planned the majority of our wedding from.

San Diego is where Handsome Husband played four seasons of college soccer, where he made friends who mean so much to him, and where he completed his Bachelor's degree.

San Diego is where I went to nursing school, met Nurse Sarcasm, and got to make friends with some amazing girls through a shared interest in rooting for people we cared about playing soccer.

I will always be an Orange County girl through and through, but San Diego will always have a very special place in my heart.

Source

Happy Hour

So I’m a day late for happy hour, but not to worry – I’m sippin’ on some Simply Lemonade this afternoon getting ready to drive down to San Diego for a fun weekend!

Handsome Husband and I lived in San Diego, and that is where I went to LVN nursing school and HH got his Bachelor’s.  We made some fabulous friends (a huge majority of which Handsome Husband got to know through soccer). 

We are so excited to get to see some of our favorite people that we haven’t gotten to see much of since we moved away! 

Today, we will get to have dinner and dessert with Twin Oh Yeah and his lovely girlfriend, Future Dr. Babies.  Afterwards, we are hoping to enjoy a real (meaning alcoholic) happy hour at their fun house with some more friends!

Tomorrow, we are having lunch with Nurse Sarcasm, and her husband, Secret Agent.  After that, we will go by and watch some soccer games in the blazing heat, and HH will (inevitably) get sunburned. 

It should be a fun weekend, and although I am very happy HH and I moved back up to Orange County (OC born and raised, what what!), I love that we can down to San Diego so easily to see some of our dear friends!

That’s what I’m thinking about during my own personal afternoon happy hour. 

Things Thursdays: Things I Thought About When I Should Have Been Studying Yesterday

1. Will there be another baby boom?

2. How would I look as a blonde, AND do they have more fun?

3. Why are rhinestones not more prevalent in everyday life?

4. Will the US ever switch to the metric system?

5. What is it like to be older?

6. When will there be a woman president, and who will it be?  AND is she born yet?

7. Will I ever get to be BFFs with a celebrity?

8. Who or what was I in another life?

9. Will the current recession be in history books like The Great Depression?

10. Why is pink not a common vehicle color?

My First Grown-Up Friend

I have a friend who is a total grown-up.  She is married and owns a home, and she hasn’t lived with her parents in years.  She is seriously like a grown-up.

Nurse Sarcasm was my first grown-up friend, at least the first who I didn’t watch turn into one.  There is something special about friends who you’ve known your whole life, but there is something equally as special about friends who meet because your paths so happen to collide at different times in your lives.

I met Nurse S in nursing school in San Diego, and shortly after the program started, we became friends.  She was so different than my friends, and from the moment we got to know each other I really looked up to her.  I don’t know whether it was because of our age difference, or because she has done so much with her life already, but I always saw her as more than just a friend – more like a mentor.  Someone I could ask advice of and look to for inspiration when I was stumbling unsure (which I am often doing - very life-clumsy).

She is also so. much. fun.  Like she made me get in trouble at school for the first time in my collegiate experience from laughing too much during class.  And she made studying fun because it wasn’t so much studying as it was reviewing with someone you adore.

The School That Won’t Be Named ran a program that was completely disorganized, inordinately difficult, and occupied by a lot of frustrating people (understand why I won’t be naming the school, now?).  Having a friend, that over time grew to be a best friend, while trekking through this program was so essential that I will be forever grateful to her.  Without Nurse Sarcasm, I don’t know if I would have made it through my LVN program with my self-esteem, sanity, and clean arrest record in tact.

Nurse S and I have been through much more than school together though – she was the first person I called when my house was broken in to, I helped her plan her wedding and she was smiling at mine, she listens as I vent about my classes, and I’m there when she can’t decide what to do.

(Me giving a Toast at Nurse Sarcasm's wedding in August)

(Nurse S and Me 6 months later at my wedding)

I am so glad I met Nurse Sarcasm.  And so glad I met her when I did (she would NOT have liked the high school me – and I’m pretty sure she was a cheerleader!).  She makes me feel more grown-up because she’s such a real one!  I also adore that she is always willing and eager to give me adult advice – like what home-buying entails, how to change your last name after you get married, how to file your taxes, and where to buy rainbow chip frosting.

(Nurse Sarcasm and I saying the Nightingale Pledge at our Pinning Ceremony)

Stress Case and School: A Love-Hate Relationship

I have always been a little weird about school – like since Kindergarten.  I really like it – I like learning, and I like homework, and I love school supplies (it’s the little things).  But I tend to really enjoy myself for a bit, then get a bit complacent, and then spend the last few weeks of the year or semester making up for my complacency.

Now that I’ve been in school without a break (other than summers) for almost 18 years, I have developed a real love-hate relationship with it.

I love…

• the way I feel when I ace a test.
• reading – especially when I find the material interesting.
• highlighters.
• feeling like I am actually learning.
• homework, especially when done in pencil.
• re-typing my notes, until everything is review and nothing I’m learning is new.

I hate…

• professors who make classes more difficult than they need to be.
• the way I feel when I do poorly on a test.
• assignments that feel more like busy work than valuable learning experiences.
• concepts that no matter how hard I try, I just cannot grasp.
• professors who take attendance (if I can pass the class without coming, why fault me?)
• people who talk non-stop in class (just GO HOME).

So, school – I think we’ve got a few more years together in our future, lets try and work this thing out.