One month into classes.

Well, we're on four weeks of graduate school. I think that is  pretty good milestone. :] Things are going well so far.

It's Saturday, so I guess it's as good a time as any to reflect on my week.

Hmm. On Monday I was up early assisting with the general psych class. Funfunfun. A representative from the Arctic Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Training Center came by my psychopathology course. I'm super glad I got to experience that. I think I learned a lot from it. Although I have some knowledge of FASD, I think my knowledge was expanded greatly. I definitely think it is something I'll keep in mind- apparently since without any visual indicators FASD can appear as a variety of disorders.

Tuesday was ethics- interesting but uneventful. Well, we were assigned our first critical analysis paper and reminded that our topics for the powerpoint presentations will be due. Originally they were set to be due this coming Tuesday but that due date has since been extended (thank goodness). I would like to examine the dilemma of services that typically serve one gender more often, and the duty they have to still provide help to everyone else. For example, a shelter that helps women dealing with intimate partner violence- the shelter is obligated to provide a safe space for women, but men who also experience IPV are basically screwed. So there is the balance of acting with beneficence to one population-- but also acting non-maleficence. It's tricky. Everyone deserves to feel safe after all. (I realize this world does a lot to convince us otherwise.)

Wednesday, is when I realized I was getting sick. I was at school at 8 to assist with administering an exam. Later, I basically was falling asleep in my Psych testing course. I felt so bad for my professor, who is super duper awesome. I had to grab a coffee before running to office hours (which my professor requested I come to her office for). Apparently my professor is having issues with a student that she believes is acting in an inappropriate manner (probably best not to get into that too much here). So, she had me come to her office in case he came by my area- and he has come by twice.

I went to the graduate student resource fair that was put on my the graduate student association- got some free stuff! And while I was enjoying the pizza and conversation I started to feel that tickle in the back of my throat. Yep. Definitely a cold. Things went down hill from there.

Thursday I felt like a blob. Intervention was helpful and interesting as always, but I was way off my game. My attention and cognitive abilities were...below my norm to say the least. I went and met with my advisor later though. She is always wonderful. Now I guess I have to get going on my lit search though. No excuses!

Oh my friend brought me beer and mead- homebrewed! Nomnomnom.

Aaaand yesterday was just recovery day. Sitting around, writing a little, working a little on grade stuff. Lots of being a bum because I was sick.

Today I feel so, so much better. That said I am currently coughing up a lung. The virus seems to have kicked it but now my body is getting rid of all the excess mucus. D: Gross. Painful. Better than the sluggish feeling of being sick though.

Anyways, I need to go back and rework the essay I worked on yesterday, and get a head start on some other things. Maybe make bacon. So, tata!

Getting settled

I'm posting on a Saturday. I feel like normally I do this on a Friday.

As long as I sit down to type something out, I guess.

Lets see...over the past week. Hm.

Well, on Sunday I submitted my first writing assignment. I think it was pretty rough. I was still struggling a bit to really organize my thoughts. I got some great feedback though and I think it will help me a lot for my future assignments.

I guess it was a good first run to get my brain really kickstarted and producing things.

As of Thursday, I have finally used the gym at the university. It's actually pretty convenient for deadlifts, as they actually have bumper plates. The gym on base has two deadlifting platforms, but they don't have bumper plates. (Definitely makes sense, right?) So, they have this awesome space to deadlift, but the plates they provide are excellent for moving around so the bar lands wonky- back tweak city anyone?

A friend of mine wants to make it a weekly thing for Thursdays. Which is fine for me. So on Thursdays, we deadlift. And by we I mean just me.

That makes me happy though. Even though pulling bumper plates off of the bar can be awkward and annoying.

Oh and on Tuesday I actually did some hip thrusts. Yay! Gettin my booty muscles workin in Alaska!

Today I attended a Community Psychology Research Collaborative meeting. That was nice. I learned a lot about refugees, their needs, and specific challenges they face. So, that was informative. I'm excited to continue my involvement with that group. :]

Mmm. Plus I got a dirty chai. It's been a while since I had one. Perfect drink for gloomy weather.

Still considering the direction I want to take with my thesis. I have to submit an idea for my Lit Review by Monday. I was considering something like trauma interventions with transgender individuals. Unfortunately it's a pretty narrow area of research, but there is definitely research in related areas that I could pull in.

I guess we'll see!

Week 2!!

Well, I've done it.

I've made it through my second week of graduate school. Yay!

I suppose it's a good sign if I didn't give up after the first week.

Although, I should note- due to the labor day holiday, I really only had two days of class. Is that cheating?

Maybe I should wait until I get through another FULL week of classes before celebrating my amazing accomplishment. :]

Although I had a short week, I suppose I do have a couple of things to reflect on.

First-- on Tuesday I was able to finally meet with my advisor. Namely, because I actually got my advisor. I guess it's important to actually HAVE one before you can meet with one. My advisor seems to understand my interests and the direction I want to take. I'm pretty excited about that. I think that she will be able to help me immensely. I'm excited to see how this relationship can help me in my development in the field of psychology.

Second, I'm finally getting work done with the other professor I am TAing for. I was only able to get work started with one professor last week, and was stressing out a bit about not hearing anything from the other one. I'm happy to finally get work started with that. Fortunately I am working with another grad student with this professor, so we're on the same page with our worries and whatnot. I'm happy to get crackin' with that. Being busy can kind of help me stay on track.

Third! For my intervention class, I was able to do a little practice therapy session with my partner. We both talked for 20-25 minutes, while the other listened. It was an exercise in non-verbal communication, so while we played the role of therapist, we weren't actually allowed to speak. Just listen and encourage, facilitate the session through nonverbals. Weird...but ultimately enlightening. I had an experience at a women's conference in Chico in which we did a similar activity, but for a shorter period of time. It can be difficult to just listen without interjecting your own thoughts.

So often in conversations we're not really listening, we're just waiting for our turn to speak. Completely eliminating the option of speaking and taking of the conversation is kind of amazing in how it allows the other person to fully realize their thoughts out loud. During those moments of silence especially. It gives the speaker a chance to reflect, and possibly expand further. For the listener, it can bring to light how in other situations you're not really listening. It gives you a chance to focus your attention so much more on the other person.

So, overall that was a very interesting experience. I am excited to further experience these little practice sessions.

Unrelated to the academic stuff- my leg is killing me. I don't know why, but as I was sitting at home working on putting things into blackboard and reading, I felt a really deep strain in my leg. I went upstairs and used my foam roller and that seems to have helped, but ding dang! I can't even find the tylenol. :c

We'll see how I feel in a bit. I'd like to do yoga, but I don't want to further exacerbate this achey leg thang.

Anyways, those are my thoughts concerning this past week.

Gotta get back crack-a-lackin' on this reading and assignment mess!