I Win!

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like I'll be moving to Indiana this fall! Well, technically this summer. I received an email from the head professor at Bloomington giving me "unofficial" notification that the faculty has recommended me for admission into the Masters in Elementary Education program! So while technically it's not official yet, I think it's a pretty done deal. I'm finally going to get out of Utah! Now, I'm not gonna lie, my Utah life hasn't actually been that bad. I've had a lot of good times here. But it's still Utah, haha. I'll finally be moving back to the good ole Midwest. Now, I've gotta admit I'm still scared as heck. It's starting to sink in more and more that I'm leaving my friends and I'll have to start from scratch in Indiana. But, seeing as I've done that before I guess I can do it again. Besides, there's really only a handful of friends in Utah that I'd actually actively stay in touch with- the Jensens, Melanie, and Ben. I have other friends and people I'll talk to, but only a few strong ties. I'll still try to be social and make the most of the summer though. I'll probably be spending a lot of time at Seven Peaks, haha. I'm mostly just glad that things seem to finally be coming together. I remember trying to get into grad school for physiology and that just was not going to work out. Just thinking about it stressed me out and made me feel like I'd never be good at it and I'd be the dumbest person in the program. But with this one, I actually think I can do just as well as anybody else. People I've talked to about me becoming a teacher all think I'd be a good teacher. And I think they genuinely mean it, lol. I get excited about the idea every time on my way to work when I drive by the elementary school. I've had a lot of crazy ideas for my life, but this one actually seems to fit. It's taken longer than expected and a lot of trial and error to figure it out, but hey, better late than never right?

Keep Moving Forward

So I finally took my Praxis exam on Saturday. Yay! I actually feel pretty good about it. I already know my scores for the Reading/Math portions- 183/184. Indiana was asking for like a 172/174 so I'm at least safe there. The writing was split into two parts, multiple choice and essay. They grade them together though so it'll be about 3 weeks before I find out how I scored overall. When I was filling out what schools to send my scores to, I realized I only applied to one school, haha. I know that normally you should apply to a bunch of different schools, but I really couldn't find another school that offered what Indiana does; that is a Masters degree when you didn't get your Bachelor's in El Ed. I'm surprisingly not too worried though. I figure I got the impression to move in this direction, I did what I could, and if God wants me to do it He'll make sure I get in. No worries.
I took the test at the same place I took the GRE and man, have they gotten tight with security to make sure nobody cheats. I had to turn out my jacket and jean pockets, and pat my butt down so they could see I didn't have anything in my back pockets. Then they used a metal detector across my front and back. Probably because so many people nowadays are sketching notes onto metal slabs that they tie around their stomachs... or to make sure you don't have a cell phone.

So there you have it. One step closer to what I'm actually going to be doing with my life. My big brother Dave should be happy to know that he'll at least be in his career before me, haha :) Just for fun, I want to remember all the different careers paths I had considered at one point or another: lawyer, doctor (pediatrician), PA, University professor, cancer researcher, forensic scientist, librarian, HR rep, and now elementary teacher. I had even thought half heartedly about being a geneticist, clinical counselor, and museum curator. If you go back before college I had even cookier ideas like storm chaser. Everyone in jr. high wanted to be a storm chaser; I think that's when the movie Twister came out and we were learning about tornadoes... I've definitely been one to bounce around. Better that than getting stuck in a career I have no love for though. I suppose I'm a bit backwards since I typically don't like change and like things to stay simple, but I also don't like being stationary and feeling like I'm not progressing. I can't be the only one like that though, right?

Seriously?

Ok, so I'm gonna go on a little venting streak right now. Are you familiar with the sayings "Please" and "Thank you"? I mean seriously, I thought those were concepts taught as soon as a kid learned how to talk. Barney even has a song about it. I was taught to say please and thank you so you'd think other people have been too. It's really not that hard to do or remember. Especially for adults! It should be second nature to say please and thank you. I can understand kids may still be learning, but there comes a point where you should already know to say it. This venting comes because someone at work "asked", "Can you unlock the conference room?" No please. And after I did, no thank you. I'm even going to ignore that fact that technically she just asked me if I was able... We're talking about an adult here who can't even say please or thank you. If adults can't seem to follow through with the polite social norms, how can we expect kids to do so? Seriously, it seems hypocritical to me for adults to get away without saying please, but tell their kids they need to. I'm sorry, but it's just rude and rudeness is something I have a low tolerance for. I try to be a nice, helpful person but if people aren't showing me any amount of respect I'm less inclined to go out of my way any more than I have to.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are still a lot of people out there who still say please and thank you, who open doors, and will pick up something you've dropped. It just really irks me when the basics are forgotten. I'm not asking you to make a banner or a dramatic gesture; just say please. If the people I work with were kids, I wouldn't do anything for them until they said please. And after I helped them I'd go, "Now what do we say?" I get the feeling though that would cause more tension rather than relieve it... though it'd still be funny as heck.

Wait for it...

My application is submitted! Woohoo! I have finally finished my application to Indiana University in Bloomington to the Elementary Education licensure program. I asked my HR boss Marjolein and my old security boss Sterling to be my references since it's been a few years since I was in school (not that I was good at talking to professors then anyway...). What's funny is when I asked them if they'd write references for me both of them mentioned that our company has a place in Bloomington if I wanted to transfer and still have a job. Score! That location is only like 10 minutes away from campus too. Even though I may not end up doing HR afterall, I gotta admit that ModusLink has been good to me. I'm lucky to have gotten to work with such cool people. Granted there have been some wackos, but you find those anywhere :)

Oh, I realize I haven't written anything regarding my transition from a "maybe" to a "more certain". I guess it started last week when I was reading my scriptures. Sometimes I like to go up on campus and do my scripture study in the library, since I love the library. I was thinking about what I was going to do and as I was just bouncing around in my scriptures I keep finding ones like, "Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?" That reminded me of the time probably last summer when I was at the temple. I hadn't been thinking about my career but all of a sudden it had popped into my head that I should be a teacher. I had put that thought aside though when I got this HR job because it seemed like such a good opportunity. And it is, just not for me. I'm finally feeling a sense of clarity! I guess we'll see what happens :)

Now, I'm not sure if I'll get accepted for this fall or not, but I may move to Indiana in the fall anyway. I've decided there's not much left for me here. Brett and Janille are the only real friends I have left around here. All of my close friends are married. I've gotten everything I can out of Utah. I figure if I get accepted to IU, I'll move probably beginning/mid August. If not, maybe move there anyway in September/October. I'm just kinda seeing how things go. I'm trying to save up my money and figure out the easiest way to move out there. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. I'd definitely feel more at ease if I had a job lined up for me though :) Ahh, to move back to a place where trees are indigenous...


Indiana University in Bloomington





Second only to the great Ohio State!

Tra-la-la-la-la

Ok, so I've decided no grad school... again. I don't want to do it and I found an alternative route if I want to do HR anyway. My new boss, Marjolein, has been talking to me lately about how to get me moving forward in the HR department. She's the reason Marni became an HR manager and she helped Amy at the Spanish Fork location become a generalist. She's all about getting me involved in the HR world and helping with projects that involve some of the other HR managers at the other sites (Riverside, Miami, Raleigh, etc.). She wants to at least get my name out there. Yesterday she was talking to me about getting some funding for an HR class so I can eventually take the HR test to get my SPHR (Senior Professional) certification. That certification seems to be the most valuable thing to obtain for this field. It would pretty much guarantee me an HR job anywhere. I confess, I'm still not super into the whole HR stuff. Maybe when I got more involved that will change, but I don't know. Marjolein was asking me what things I would just love doing and getting involved in more, but I don't really love anything. I don't mind doing it, and it's a good job but I'm not all "Oh my dream job has finally come!". Oh well. Maybe a dream job doesn't exist and it's all make believe.

Going along with that, I'm still contemplating moving to Indiana at the end of the summer. I actually get excited about that prospect, which is weird because normally the thought of moving to a state where I don't know anyone would terrify me. Though I do have friends who have friends living in Bloomington, which is where I'd go. If I haven't mentioned it before Indiana University at Bloomington has a "graduate program" for students who already received their bachelor's degree but want to get their teaching license in elementary education. You take classes that help you prepare, you get to do student teaching, and then get your certification. It's the ideal program for someone like me. I figure I can go ahead and apply to the program and make the decision later (assuming I get accepted). Maybe I can get my HR certification this summer and have that as my backup plan and move to IN anyway :) Oh to be out of Utah... back to a place where fall is a real season and trees go in their natural habitat. And it's only 3 hrs away from Dayton :) Not that it's a sure possibility, but ModusLink actually has a facility in Bloomington; it's only like 10 minutes from campus. Wouldn't that be the ideal if I could just transfer facilities, still have a job, and be in the perfect location? I don't hear much about that location though, so I don't think there's much going on there.

Oh, I've also started working at the Provo temple! I work Wednesday nights after work, so it makes for a long day, but it's been really good. I've been learning a lot. The ladies I'm around are pretty cool. Everyone's been super nice and very willing to help me and teach me the ropes. At least there's one thing I know I'm doing right, lol. Well, that's my update.

Oh, and this was funny-

So... What's New?

So, I see it's been a while since I've written anything. I can't decide if that's because I'm really lazy, or really busy. Last month I got a new job. I'm with the same company but I work up in Orem now as an HR Admin/receptionist. I wasn't looking for a new job, but I got an email about the job opening and was told I should apply, so I did. I interviewed with Marni, the HR manager, and a couple days later was offered the job. I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda freaking out about it. I mean, my job in the security office wasn't always the most exciting but I still became attached to a lot of the people I worked with and it was comfortable. I knew the ins and outs and how to do my job. But I realized it would've been stupid not to take the new job since it paid more, offered great benefits, and would give me better experience in the business field. It was hard my last day at Spanish Fork. I was pretty lucky to have gotten to work with a lot of those people. Good times. I'm adjusting ok though to the new job. There are nice people here too. I really like my boss, Marni. She's been great about helping me transition. Unfortunately though, next week is her last week since she found another job. Isn't that funny? She's not too much older than me so I think she's just moving on with her career. But it's a good job. Still not one I'd do the rest of my life, but I'm moving up. If I decide to get my MBA (never thought I'd even consider that...) the company will pay up to $2000 a year towards my tuition. I still don't know if business suits me, but it's almost like I might as well get my MBA if they're gonna help pay for it. Couldn't hurt. If I did decide to get it, I'd probably get it in HR, seeing as that's what my experience will be for. I think it'll be better when I get a little more settled. so that's the update in the job field.
I also got to go to California last month for a few days. I stayed at my friend Scott's parent's house in Riverside and we got to go to Disneyland/CA Adventures. I was sick pretty much the whole time, but it was still good. The Indiana Jones ride is still one of my favorites. The new Star Tours ride was pretty awesome too. I also surprisingly enjoyed Space Mountain. I still don't like the Tower of Terror. How can people enjoy plummeting hundreds of feet to the Earth while strapped to a seat even though your butt is still lifting off the seat and you're only still there because of your seatbelt? Not cool. I refused to look out when you're lifted to the top floor and they open the doors so you can see out over the whole park. I looked out last time and was not happy. People are crazy. We also got to see World of Color, which is awesome as always. It was funny cuz the show was at 8 or 9:15. It was 7:40 and we were debating if we should run over and catch the 8 or wait for the 9:15. We knew we weren't going to get good seats either way, so we decided to go ahead and run to make the 8 showing. We get there and we're standing near the pier and I was telling Scott it's at least better than when the Jensen's and I went the first time. As I said that one of the Disney workers came up to us and said he always carried a couple of extra fast passes... so he led us through the crowd to where the fast pass people were standing closer up. It was a pretty good spot. Scott looked around to see if we could get closer and so we started moving down closer to the water's edge. It looked like they had some areas blocked off in order to keep a pathway open so we asked another Disney worker about it. He said, "Yeah, but I think I have a couple spots open down here..." So we followed him down even closer! We were at the very front right as the show started. Pretty sweet deal! So, that was my California trip. I got out of Utah for a few days.
On a different note, I started dating someone (nothing serious) last month too. His name is Ben. You may recall him in previous blogs since we worked together at Spanish Fork. And no, we didn't do anything while we were working together! I never saw him outside of work until I was up here in Orem. We're only casually dating because he's still working on going back to church. Don't worry, I still have my standards, I will still get married in the temple. The fact of the matter is, he has a better heart and treats me better than other guys I've gone out with so I'm willing to put the relationship in a probationary period, if you will. Not much else to tell. In a nutshell I like being with him, I'm not planning a wedding, and I feel good about where we are right now. I figure ya'll want to know what's up in all aspects, so I told you, lol.
Hmmm, is there anything else I'm forgetting? I wouldn't be surprised. I can be so forgetful it's scary. Just the other day I was headed over to Janille's for our Christmas party and realized I forgot to get Brett's gift on my way home from work so I had to go get that. Then I get to Janille's and realized I forgot to bring the Christmas shows we were going to watch so I had to drive home and get those. So annoying. Oh well. This time next week I'll be back in the great Ohio. You know, I really don't know why I stay in Utah; I'm defintely a mid-western girl. Mountains just don't do it for me like forests and rolling hills. Well, now I'm just rambling. As is customary for me, I shall leave you with some entertaining quotes just for kicks.

“It has been said that the hardest job in the world is raising a child, but the people who say this have probably never worked at a comb factory or captured pirates on the high seas.”
― Lemony Snicket

“If loving someone is putting them in a strait jacket and kicking them down a flight of stairs, then yes, I have loved a few people.”
― Jarod Kintz

"An old friend will help you move. A good friend will help you move a dead body."
- Jim Hayes

"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity."
-Albert Einstein

"If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made of meat?"
-Tom Snyder

I Won't Grow Up!

So, I'm sitting here just letting my thoughts wander, and I realized how much like a kid I still am. Allow me to list why:

-I have printed coloring book pages that I color sitting here at my desk.
-I have flown my spiderman kite at work during my lunch break over in the grassy area by the parking lot. And yes, people saw me and thought it was funny.
-I bring fruit snacks to work, as well as church. I recently got a few boxes including classic Disney, Toy Story 3, and Super Mario Brothers. Oh, and Batman.
-Just this morning I sat on the floor in our living room and watched Looney Tunes while I hate my cinnamon toast crunch for breakfast.
-I have an Alice in Wonderland teapot with a matching cup and saucer on my bookshelf in my room that I got at Disneyland last year.
-I liked riding Dumbo at Disneyland, though I grant the movie is kinda messed up.
-I like juice boxes and it's not uncommon for me to need help opening it. Especially if it's a Capri Sun.
-I'll spin around in circles in my chair occasionally at my desk, drawing odd looks sometimes. Though I think most people are used to me by now...


I'm sure there are other things, but these are the ones I thought of off hand. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. It's like what Walt Disney said, "Too many people grow up. That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up." I don't want to cause any trouble. So I will continue watching cartoons and eating fruit snacks.