Learning

I've always known that going to college means learning a lot more than just the subjects you're taught in school. One of the most important things to learn is how you specifically and individually learn. Here are some of my discoveries so far...

first of all, I've learned that drinking water (lots of water) helps keep you alive when you're walking across campus all the time

secondly, I've been running a lot more. Exercising is a good break from studying all the time, and it makes me feel like I've had a more productive day. Also, I started getting sick earlier this week, and I'd heard that running can help clear your sinuses when they're gross. I was skeptical, but IT TOTALLY WORKS! I feel so much better today than I did yesterday, and I ran just like I normally do. I started running hills recently, so that's hard, but it's amazing how good I feel!

Now these next couple of pictures are a tribute to Suzan Lake. These are my political science text books. Yes, highlighted and annotated. This method of studying works wonders for me. Weird how different study habits work for different people. What works for you?

So there ya have it. More updates on Infrared, life, and fun to come!

Bad haircuts and their results

So today I will tell you a story involving much hair trauma.

Two days ago, I went to get my hair trimmed and styled a little differently. I had a picture of what I wanted done, so it shouldn't have been too difficult to get a decent cut, right? HA. I told the lady cutting my hair "I want it the same, I just don't want it quite so stacked in the back, I don't want it to bubble out." So what does she do? She cuts a chunk off of the back of my hair. So now, not only does it bubble, but there's a mullet. to make it even more lovely, she left the sides long. So it looked like I had little wings of hair on the side. Really.....terrible.

To fix my problem, I ran to a neighbor's hair salon and said "FIX THIS PLEASE!" She and all her daughters laughed at me and told me to sit in the chair so they could fix it. Fixing it consisted of cutting the rest of it off. So... now I look like this

I've been told it looks "edgy" and "rocking" multiple times.

THE END.

Humble Beginning

So I'm beginning to feel more and more official. Sometimes you'll find me looking like I do in the picture above.

Sometimes I have very important numbers to check...

With my UofU scrubs and my red shoes, you can tell I love my school...

And one reason people say I'll do well in nursing is because I love my patients and take care of them!

Yep-- it's started!

Well...it's officially here. SCHOOL. But you know what's cool?? East High school starts tomorrow, and I'm not attending!!!!! That is a happy, HAPPY fact. P.s. Did you know there's a notebook setting on microsoft word, so you can take notes in class like you're writing it in a notebook?? Sweet eh?

Another cool thing I've discovered this semester is the awesome lining on the back of my backpack that keeps my back from getting insanely sweaty. Awesome little invention.

The backpack it's self is pretty cool too!

Well, there's my little update, just so all of you know, I am DESTROYING these classes. They don't stand a chance against me.... hahahahaha

CNA glories

So, I thought it'd be fun to start school a week early, and take a CNA class from 5p.m. to 10p.m. starting this last Monday. I had no idea what to expect, and just knew as a CAN I'd have to give people showers, clean up their poop, and other fun fun jobs that no one else wants to do. Last night I learned a few key things.....

1. How to insert a Foley Catheter in males and females (which I've had inserted in me before, and it is not fun)
2. How to tie "the knot" for restraints (which are rarely used anymore)
3. Watched two C-sections and a vaginal birth

I knew at one point I'd have to see an old guy's penis, and I kind of worried about it. I just didn't need that picture in my head. However, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. And to my surprise, I found myself thinking "I can handle this..." during the whole catheter-insertion-technique-video. CNA's don't actually insert catheters unless trained and instructed to do so by their facility, but we still learn how.

Now concerning watching the three births. I totally thought I'd be grossed out, but I wasn't. I just kept thinking about how amazing it was that there was a little human growing inside this woman, and now it's here for the world to see and love. Watching the incisions of the c-sections was a lot less painful that I imagined, and the whole process simply fascinated me. I loved it.

I had concerns going into my class thinking that I wouldn't be able to handle the "gross parts" of being a nurse/nurses assistant (which there are plenty of those...) but for some reason those things don't bother me. The things in class that stand out to me are helping those who are unable to help themselves, and that we all do it out of caring for others. It makes me so excited to spend my life as a person caring for others, and trying to empathize with them. We'll see how I feel on my first day of clinicals (I'm sure I'll be a little more grossed out then) but for now, I', so excited to be getting into this field of work!

Organic Apples

A while ago, I tasted an organic apple for my first time. What's so special about an organic apple you ask? First of all, they're a lot easier to wash, because they're not covered in wax. That's a plus. But the biggest reason is that other apples are infused with pesticides when grown conventionally. (And in my opinion, they taste better, which I claimed before I even knew the apple I was eating was organic.)

I know my sister, and probably my other siblings think my organic apple fascination is silly, but for some reason it's something that's stuck with me. Do you have any silly food stigmas? If so, what?

Vocal Adventure

Once upon a time, I had lovely little vocal chords that looked similar to these. A nice grey color, soft, fleshy, and mobile in their vibrating capabilities.

Then, the turned in to something like the picture below. They developed calluses (called vocal nodules or nodes) that made my singing voice sound like... well. Just not good. Last summer, I remember asking my mom if I'd ever recover, and I told myself I never would. It was scary, singing is a passion that will always stay with me, and thinking about the possibility of never singing again scared me to death.

I'm happy to announce, that a year later, after vocal therapy sessions, speech therapy sessions, and weeks of complete vocal rest, my voice is back! Some say it's in better shape than it's ever been! As I've finally overcome my fear of never singing again, I'm starting to become more involved in performing around town, and with school groups.

Yay for healthy vocal chords!