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collegeessayguy · 4 years

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Have the adults in your life been hassling you about making the most of high school in preparation for college? Maybe you’ve been nudged towards classes that will look good on your transcript or lovingly pushed in the direction of extracurriculars that lend themselves to impressive application essays?

If that sounds familiar, I want you to know: that’s not what this article is about.

There are so many things to do in high school but, in some cases, the preoccupation with using high school as a tool to get into college can make life miserable and activities unenjoyable.

But there is hope high school is about more than preparing for college. If you want to make good use of your high school years and prepare for college and have a good time, the tips below are for you.

1. PRACTICE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE IT’S LIKELY TO GET HARDER IN COLLEGE.

Using a calendar to track your day is an easy way to start managing your time a bit better. Some people prefer an old-school, pen-and-paper planner. Studies show that writing things down with your hand (rather than typing them onto a screen), makes you more likely to remember them.

But your paper planner can’t send reminders to your phone. If you prefer tech, you can’t go wrong with good ol’ Google calendar. (It’s what I use.) iCalendar is also great, or your parents might have a Cozi Calendar membership you can take advantage of.

Here’s what your calendar might look like:

Regardless of the type of calendar you use, here are a few basics of good time management:

Put tests, practices, events, meetings, appointments, project due dates, and days off into your calendar as soon as you find out about them—this could be as early as the first week of the semester when you get your syllabus. Once you know when something is due, decide how long it will take to do it. Work backwards and schedule time into your calendar to work on that project or study.

For example, if your science project is due on May 10th, you could allot one hour each day to work on it, May 1 - 9. Or maybe two hours every two days.

Make sure there’s space in your schedule for downtime and fun, too! If need be, block out time to see your friends or just binge that new Netflix show. That way, when someone asks you to help them study on Sunday afternoon, you can tell them you’re busy. Busy watching the new season of Game of Thrones, that is.

2. BALANCE YOUR STUDIES WITH LIFE

You know that colleges favor well-rounded applicants–people who volunteer and get good grades, test well and take part in their communities. But balancing your studies and life is about more than just creating a competitive college application.

Taking time away from your studies will invigorate you and activate different parts of your brain. Making art, playing soccer, or just going to a concert will recharge your mental batteries in a way that a 10-minute study break can’t. Participating in life outside of academics also boosts your creativity, increases your emotional intelligence, and helps you strengthen relationships.

And just as importantly–it’s fun.

Make time to get out of your books and into your life.

3. GET INVOLVED WITH ON-CAMPUS (AND OFF-CAMPUS!) ORGANIZATIONS.

Explore a few of your school’s organizations–try the debate club, Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, or student government. If your school doesn’t have any organizations that light your fire, try starting your own. Maybe lots of people would want to play Quidditch if you started a team?

If starting a school organization isn’t your style, explore the groups and organizations your community has to offer. Check out rec league sports, volunteer at the local animal shelter, or sing with your church’s choir.

Here are a few other ways to connect with people in your community:

Your local community center: You know that building in the park with all the flyers promoting rec league sports, town hall meetings, and litter pick ups? Poke your head in and see if there’s anything on the calendar that appeals to you. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors.

Check out greatnonprofits.org to find a non-profit near you

Use the search feature at Idealist.org for even more.

Ask your counselor! There could be something coming up next week that you don’t even know about.

Connect with a local museum–many have teen programs and docent opportunities–or check with your local animal shelter, YMCA, temple, church, or synagogue.

Maybe even go back to your middle or elementary school and see how you can help.

4. GET TO KNOW YOUR TEACHERS

Fun fact: your teachers are real, actual humans who have senses of humor, hobbies, and interests outside of getting you to turn in your homework on time. Shocking, right?

One of the easiest ways to make the most of high school is to talk to your teachers and get to know them.

These conversations will give you deeper insights into the topics you’re studying and–bonus!– will probably (read: definitely) make it easier to get great teacher recommendations for your college applications.

5. TAKE CLASSES YOU LOVE, NOT NECESSARILY THE CLASSES YOU THINK WILL PLEASE YOUR PARENTS/GET YOU A GOOD JOB/MAKE YOU MONEY.

When you’re applying to competitive universities, it’s tempting to stuff your schedule with ‘impressive’ courses you think will look good on applications. AP Calc BC! AP Physics! AP Japanese! If you truly want to take AP Calc or feel it will help with your dream of becoming a civil engineer, take AP Calc. But when you stack your schedule with classes you don’t really like and then use those classes as the basis of your college application, you’re setting yourself up for a pretty miserable academic experience.

6. PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARN HOW BEST TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

Real talk: college can be incredibly stressful. You’re juggling a challenging course load, applying for internships, working part time–all while living far from home with roommates you might not have chosen for yourself. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right?

Use your slightly-less-stressful high school years to build good self-care habits. What does this look like? Well, it looks different for everyone, but these basics are a good start:

Get eight hours of sleep

Exercise 20 minutes each day

Drink enough (about half a gallon) of water per day

Limit social media use (and all the self-doubt that comes with it) by setting social media locks that shut you out after you’ve exceeded a certain time limit

Bonus Tip (if you have an iPhone): here’s how to make it work for you and not against you (one of my favorite productivity articles ever, btw)

Spending time with friends doing something other than studying or talking about college applications

Your high school experience doesn’t have to be a test run for college, filled only with test prep and ‘impressive’ classes. If you follow these tips, you can totally prepare for college while still enjoying high school.

#student life #high school #studyblr #study tips #college prep #education

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animalsoffarmsanctuary · 7 years

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Happy Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day to the Hardest-Working Group of Caregivers I Know!!

Although the first annual Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day was actually 10 days ago, because we are all so incredibly busy doing that caregiving, I am posting this a week late. And although this may be a long blog post, in reality it doesn’t even touch the surface of the work and dedication of our amazing shelter team does each and every day — 365 days a year.

Amy Gaetz with Bianca Giolitto bringing new life into the world and giving mom Julie a hand. Dipping Erin’s umbilical cord, giving him a boost of vitamin E and selenium, and ensuring he can nurse on his own was first priority. Our caregivers are there for each birth and ensure that nothing goes wrong!

Not only do they work hard, but they love hard — and so this job is not only physically demanding, but the responsibility is overwhelming at times. You have lives in your hands, and they are the lives of the most innocent beings that you have already grown to love — often from the moment you meet them.

Caleb Bachara does everything from being a farm assistant to maintenance projects, giving tours to volunteers, training volunteers, and helping out on transport and rescues. Here he is also showing his mad snuggling skills with Regina lamb!

And at Farm Sanctuary, we rescue some of the most abused animals in the world: animals used in food production. More than 70 billion land animals are slaughtered each year worldwide, with the U.S. numbers around 9 billion annually.

Kim Kaspari with her new pal Junip Sydney, getting to know this little piglet and learning just who she is. Piglets like Junip start out at only 2-4 pounds, and by the end of three to four years of growing, weigh in the hundreds. Restricting their diet but also ensuring that they have pain management for early-onset arthritis, which is quite common with industrial pigs, is imperative for a long, healthy life!

And at Farm Sanctuary, we see each animal — from the smallest bantam rooster to the largest Holstein steer — as an individual, and we have worked for more than 30 years to learn exactly what they need to be treated as such.

Jessica Due, caregiver at our Southern California shelter, with the tiniest of bantams, Peanut.

Because many of these animals are genetically altered and selectively bred to have traits that make them more profitable in the industry (to the detriment of their health), they are predisposed to having special needs that only the most talented, highly trained, and dedicated caregivers can supply.

Maddie Cartwright showing love to her favorite species. These misunderstood animals, who are no longer like their distant wild cousins, have so much love to give — and like all animals, they let you know their needs if you just pay attention.

Our healthcare caregivers are trained to help animals who are bred to live only a fraction of their normal lifespans live long, healthy, contented lives instead. So from birth until death — and our oldest animal lived to just over 30 years of age — our amazing shelter team provides the best medical, physical, and psychological care, always based on each animal’s individual needs

Northern California caregiver Teresa Lopes with sweet Rosa pig, a former gestation sow. From early arthritis to skin cancer, these pigs were not bred to be anything like their wild cousins and have health issues because of that breeding.

Even in the egg and dairy industries, animals are killed at just a fraction of their natural lifespans. Our oldest layer industrial layer hen lived more than 15 years and our oldest dairy cow lived to be 30, while hens are normally slaughtered at 2.5 years in the egg industry and cows living between 4-5 years in industrial dairies have a far more stressful and short life then those we care for at our sanctuaries.

Southern California Shelter Caregiver Brooke Marshall doing a bit of grooming on our boy William. This is a younger version of our now-very-tall boy. These Holstein males grow to be over a ton, but that is rarely seen in an industry that slaughters most of them before they reach even a year of age.

And male calves who come from the dairy industry have even shorter lives and are sold into veal and beef production, since they are useless to the dairy because they do not produce milk. The majority of the cattle from the dairy industry who call Farm Sanctuary home are the boys.

Farm Assistant Erika Decker keeps these hosptial pens clean and sparkly — which is imperative when animals need to be kept inside due to illness, weather conditions, etc. Buildup of ammonia is a killer for our farm animal friends, and cleaning barns is a huge part of the well-being of our animal residents.

Most vets are therefore not trained to work with the animals who come to our sanctuaries, because a sick calf, cow, pig, goat, sheep or chicken is usually a dead one in the industry; money on individualized care takes away from profit, so desperately ill animals often die without receiving any veterinary care at all.

All new animals are under strict quarantine and Tuba Agbas, one of our Southern California caregivers, feeds the incoming and elderly Betty Rose, who arrived emaciated and in need of special feeds.

But at Farm Sanctuary, chickens who would have been killed for meat at less than 2 months of age instead can live for years, and pigs who would have reached slaughter weight at 6 months can instead live happily for well over a decade.

Amy Gaetz with Wilhelmina, who, like many so-called “broiler” chickens, has had foot issues since her arrival and needed a middle toe amputated. These birds require not only very restricted and special feeds, but ongoing care to ensure that they are pain-free, healthy, and happy for the years they live with us.

This longevity is wonderful, but it also means that the animals have a chance to live long enough to experience the maladies and diseases their breeding has predisposed them to. It’s an enormous undertaking to keep them all comfortable, but daily treatments from our amazing caregivers make it possible — and the result is animals who are able to live long, happy, fulfilling lives despite the hands they’ve been dealt.

Daniel Singleton has a flock of admirers not even counting the turkeys. Daniel is now working out of our Watkins Glen facility, but he started out as an intern at our Southern California sanctuary and immediately joined our caregiving team there after the internship was completed.

Every animal who arrives at one of our sanctuaries is immediately checked for any health issues, which are then addressed to ensure that an animal in distress does not suffer for another second. This often keeps caregivers going late into the night, but our dedicated team is here to provide the care that these animals have never known before their arrival at sanctuary.

James Dumbleton and Tara Hess helping out with a blood draw on Chandini when she first arrived. We run all necessary tests on our incoming animals to ensure that they are healthy enough to be put in with our residents and also before we adopt them into homes.

The daily work of our highly skilled caregivers has meant the difference between life and death more times than I can count. When Julia pig arrived in shock and ready to give birth, caregivers worked around the clock to ensure that each one of her 16 (!) babies (who’d been born a week premature) would get the vital colostrum they needed to start life right.

Sarah Rappleye shows Julia pig the first real human kindness she has ever had. In shock, overheated, and frightened of people, Julia accepted this first drink of water and then collapsed.

Julia was only able to nurse with half of her teats due to mastitis, so each baby was marked and monitored for time on mom. The family was monitored 24/7, and countless hours were spent getting half of the newborns to take milk without mom, and teaching them instead to lap milk off of cookie sheets, which ensured that every piglet had all the milk he or she needed. Our dedicated caregivers literally saved these piglets’ lives.

Jill Tedeschi and intern Will help Julia deliver her piglets. The birthing lasted hours into the night. Each of these piglets had to be put on a working teat in order to get colostrum. This was the first of a few weeks of round-the-clock care for a very exhausted Julia and 16 piglet children.

This is just one of our hundreds of stories that have happy endings because of the commitment and compassion of our team of caregivers. Taking in animals is only the first step — the care and love they receive afterward is what sets this team apart from any other in the world.

Bianca Giloitto working with Bruce, one of the rescued goats from the backyard butcher in Hudson Valley.

And the work doesn’t stop there. This same team keeps the sanctuary grounds perfect for visiting guests, and for the animals who call our sanctuaries home. At Farm Sanctuary, animals rescued from conditions where they’ve been locked in dark, ammonia- and feces-filled barns are able to live in light-filled, softly bedded, clean barns — often for the first time.

Jim Dumbleton has been with us for years and years ensuring that the maintenance of the farm is completed and creating a habitat that is safe for our animal residents.

Animals arriving with frostbite, or those who have overheated, are welcomed into their new homes with fans and coolers in the summer and draft-free housing in the winter. They are kept in predator-proof barns so they can sleep peacefully, free from fear.

Farm Assistant Scott Curtis not only helps to keep the barns clean and safe, but also works with other farm assistants and projects folks at our Orland sanctuary in Northern California.

Bo Katzakian is our newest farm assistant in Acton and a great giver of the belly rub — which, if you ask pigs like Jumper, is a prerequisite for hiring. He also keeps the barns clean and ammonia-free — a far cry from where most of these animals come from.

Animals rescued from situations where they were picked on and injured by larger or more aggressive animals are instead placed in flocks or herds that meet their psychological needs as well as their physical ones. Having multiple pig herds, for example, is no easy task, but our pig residents are healthier and happier because of it. More herds means more work, but this team is up for any task that’s thrown at them — they’ll move heaven and earth to help these animals thrive.

Dana Penman, shown here as an intern with her goat pals from the Hudson Valley rescue. This crew, like so many, had very special needs and was bullied by other goats from the rescue, so they have formed a little family where they are happy and safe, as you can see by everyone’s love of a good time!

Our dedicated farm assistants, who are also part of our amazing shelter team and caregivers in their own right, transport animals from rescues, to veterinary hospitals, and to new adoptive homes — in fact, they put in more than 100,000 miles just last year.

Kevin Weil coordinates our farm assistants and ensures that everything stays ship-shape on the farm. Like the postman — snow, rain, sleet, hail, high winds, etc., will not stop him or his crew from ensuring the animal areas are clean and safe!

All winter long in Watkins Glen, NY, our farm assistants weather the storm — literally. With wind chills in the negative double digits and snow piling up feet at a time, this crew not only cleans the barn but ensures that the animals are safe and can get around without injury. At our California locations, try doing that same work in temperatures over 100 degrees. WOW!

Jason Klein, former intern and now farm assistant, showing some love to his favorite boy William sheep. William arrived during Jason’s internship and they became fast friends.

And although we carefully screen each potential adopter, we still transport every single animal we adopt out to his or her new home personally so that we can ensure that home will be a safe and happy place for the animal to live.

Ashely Pankratz and Jill Tedeschi getting Pickles to take a bottle after her arrival. Ashley is part of our placement team, but also does shelter administration, all with kindness and compassion. She ensures that hundreds of animals who cannot come to Farm Sanctuary are placed in homes across the country.

Our team drives from California to New York and every place in between for rescues and adoptions, and works with vets all over the country to ensure that we are giving our residents the best care possible.

Chad Richmond transporting Maurice goat to his new home in Orland. When Chad is not on a transport or rescue, he is ensuring that our farms are staffed and the day-to-day work of the maintenance and farm assistants team can be completed to make sure that our animal residents have the best lives possible.

Beyond their already enormous day-to-day workload, our team is trained to deal with animal emergencies and in handling animals during even the most trying of times.

Mario Ramirez carries Sasha calf from a local SPCA van to our trailer to be transported home to out Watkins Glen sanctuary. Besides carrying animals, Mario oversees the building, landscaping, and cleaning of our Watkins Glen facility and has done so for more than 10 years.

When catastrophic flooding hit factory-farm-filled Iowa in 2008, our caregivers mobilized to rescue the only remaining pigs out of the tens of thousands who had perished in the flood waters — remaining in the state for weeks to ensure that each pig was safe and healthy enough for transport, then traveling back to the sanctuary, where the pigs received care for months afterward to get them healthy and ready to go to new homes.

Jessica Due and Danielle Peterovich guide our sheep flock to the safety of our transport trailer to return home to the Southern California Shelter after it was evacuated due to proximity to the Sand Fire last year.

Rescues like the 2015 backyard butcher case in Hudson Valley, NY, had caregivers setting out from our sanctuary at 5 a.m. and not returning until 1 the following morning. Because the rescue site was a vast area with insecure fencing, this rescue involved not just loading up animals, but setting up a safe way to contain them first, and then getting them onto our trailers. It also included triage, and sending the first groups of desperately ill animals to the hospital.

Farm Assistant Chris Vandussen and former caregiver Abbie Rogers with a tiny little John goat at the Hudson Valley backyard butcher rescue.

There, they were met by other caregivers who’d brought with them healthy goats from our sanctuary to donate the blood that would help save these new family members.

Hilary Woznica and Hemingway goat at our Orland shelter. Hillary has worked at both our Watkins Glen and Northern California sanctuaries.

Vyolet Savage has a full-time job but plays a very vital role with the Daily Squeal gang. Here she is with Avery goat, who, along with his buddies, is living down the shore with Vyolet and company!

After all of that, they were up all night making sure that each animal was settled in and given any treatments they needed before a single caregiver went home to rest. And that same team was on the ground the very next day, continuing to treat these animals who had known nothing but sadness just days before.

Selina Rodriguez doing a hoof trim on Barry. Hoof care and other maintenance care is part of the daily routine of our caregivers and is vital to the well-being our of animal residents.

Rescue days are hectic and exhausting, but the hard work does not end that day. Instead, each day that follows requires that same level of commitment and care from these dedicated caregivers — and they provide it without hesitation.

Ben Hamilton is a farm assistant who always goes the extra mile and helps out with transport, sheep shearing, cattle hoof trimming, and anything we need. Here is is helping to move a very nervous mother Willow (I got to carry the little Josie Mae) to her new pen and pasture.

Chris Vandussen, John Sykes, and Mario Ramirez come up with a game plan in the sheep barn — assisted by the supervisor Skye goat, who is in charge of the sheep barn and its residents.

From cleaning the animals’ barns and living spaces to feeding them the best diets, from providing the treatments that allow them to thrive to transporting them or staying with them during vet visits, from ensuring that every need is met through all stages of an animal’s life to letting these beloved friends go when nothing more can be done — this is the life of a caregiver .

Sierra Sundeth, one of our Orland caregivers, insuring that one of the many Cornish crosses is getting his special diet.

Our shelter team stacked and fed out more than 380 tons of hay — 760,000 pounds’ worth — to ensure that our ruminant animals were fed this past winter. They plow snow in New York and do hourly animal checks hourly to make sure everyone is faring well in the heat in California.

When we agreed to take in Ferdinand sheep at our Northern California sanctuary we had no idea that just months later, his rescuer would do an internship with us and then join our Farm Assistant team. That is a good deal! Perry Snyderman, pictured with his buddy Ferdinand above, helps keep our barns clean and safe for our residents and ensures that they are always getting everything they need — including pears.

They mow pastures, assist with the shearing more than 150 sheep, and trim hooves twice a year for around 100 cattle, and provide maintenance care for more than 1,000 animals between all of our locations, including all hoof trimming, nail trimming, full-body checks, and dispensing medications and vaccines. They handle worming, and do Famacha checks on goats and sheep every month. They conduct oral exams, clean ears, and check blood work and do fecal exams when needed.

Shane Stringfellow and Teresa Lopes working inspecting an injury. Shane is currently working as a farm assistant, but will be switching over to our healthcare team very soon. Teresa is one of our Northern California caregivers.

They give fluids to the dehydrated; tube-feed the weak animals unable to eat (from newborns to elderly chickens); treat chickens with reproductive cancers; drain peritoneal fluids from birds arriving with EYP (egg yolk peritonitis) and/or cancer; they do enemas on pigs; deal with aggressive animals (such as newly arrived bulls or young steers with behavior issues); and they can restrain and treat every animal on the property once fully trained in a way that causes no harm or pain to either animal or human.

Dara Wedel, former Watkins Glen intern and now our newest member of the caregiving team in Acton, is learning the daily routine with help from Nina sheep.

And we have developed protocols for treatments for every age group of animals as well. From the newly born to those who are at the end of their lives, we treat their individual needs with skill and love.

Elder care is one thing we have learned to do well. Here, a very thin, elderly, and sick June Bug goat helps Jill Tedeschi pick out what she might like to eat for dinner.

Between our sanctuary locations, more than 200 animals receive daily or twice-daily treatments, from pain management to ongoing care for problems they arrived with, including viruses or diseases that are lifelong. Some arrive pregnant, others arrive already in their golden years, but most arrive needing a whole lot of care.

Kat Thorpe with Albert, one of our donkey friends at the Orland sanctuary. Kat just moved to our Watkins Glen sanctuary from our Orland facility.

Our caregivers engage with members of the public, telling the animals’ stories to help spread the word that each and every individual is worthy of compassion and respect. They know these animals intimately, and know what to look for to determine if one of them isn’t feeling well.

Jill Tedeschi, Tara Hess, Abbie Rogers, and I speaking at an event at our Watkins Glen facility. We also hold a Farm Animal Care Conference, with the animal and sheltering portion led by myself along with Tara and Jill every September. It is a must-attend if you are interested in starting a sanctuary.

Our entire shelter team will come to the sanctuary in the middle of the night when a large animal is down and we need all hands on deck. They deal with emergencies with every species, from the smallest bird to the largest bovine. They are the most dedicated people I know, and they inspire me every day.

Our master-level caregivers are trained to provide a level of care that is second to none when it comes to farm animals. Here, a baby Hazelton, who could not suckle for days after his birth, is being tubed. Now at more than 220 pounds, you would never know that he was born dead, resuscitated, and had to have very intensive care for the first weeks of his life.

And so every day I feel blessed to be with the most incredible animals on earth, but also the most selfless people, who come in early every morning and leave dirty and tired every night — only to get up and do it again. Because they know that those beings whom they are tasked with protecting deserve only the best individualized care we can give them.

Dean Adickes takes care of maintenance, but like all of our shelter team, also works directly with animals. Making a splint for an animal or creating a safer living space for any one of our residents is just part of his daily routine.

Barbara Vitale, one of our Watkins Glen farm assistants, is like all of the staff who provides daily care for our animals. Isaac sure appreciates the daily neck scratching too!

Erika Hultquist, one of our new caregiver assistants in Watkins Glen, is learning the ropes from our boy Valentino! So far, so good, according to him.

Luke Hess, former caregiver, is now the photo/video genius at our Watkins Glen shelter. This photo was taken during his caregiving days, and when we have an emergency, he often still jumps in to help!

With more than 70 billion farm animals being killed worldwide for food each year, having healthy, happy, secure, and loved representatives of their species living at our sanctuaries allows us to help people make the connection between these animals and the ones who aren’t as lucky, and show that each and every farm animal is someone, not something. Our caregivers allow this to happen day in, day out, and we are so thankful for them each and every day!

Tracey Stewart fills in whenever needed and has done so much for her farm animal friends.

Caregiver-in-the-making Maggie, pictured here with Anita horse, has even read books to the incoming animals who are not used to their new surroundings. She has a natural way with all of them.

Thank you GFAS for celebrating animal caregivers and making this an annual event, which we will definitely be celebrating from now on!

Bringing the babies home following evacuation from the Sand Fire in Southern California, Daniel Singleton giving a relieved welcome home to big boy Bruno. The caregivers never left the sides of our animal residents during the evacuation and even slept at the evacuation sites to make sure they were okay.

Dana Penman helped raise this little bundle of joy, who is nearly 800 pounds now and will eventually weigh well over a ton. It is amazing when a baby arrives and can have the same caregiver throughout the many stages of his life. Gary clearly loves his human mother right back!

Tuba and Kerrie at our Southern California location doing a foot wrap on one of our industrial Cornish hens. These girls, although on a restricted diet, still get so large that they are prone to pressure sores on their hocks and feet, which, if not properly treated, can become infected.

Totes goat getting a trim with caregivers Sierra, Amy, and Hillary.

Amy cleaning up and bandaging the post-operative surgical site on Peepers.

Oakley cow getting a much-needed sweat wrap on her inflamed knee with Kate and Kat.

Caleb and volunteer pal Kat Von D showing how maintenance work can be fun!

Kate overseeing the arrival of Emma after her rescue from the side of the road.

Sierra carefully wrapping one of our older hens’ feet.

Alicia and her duckling fans.

All smiles for Kat and goat pal Dana!

Kerrie holding a post-op Regina.

Violet sheep getting the love and snuggles she deserves from Kim, Brooke, and Daniel.

Appreciation given to our volunteer caregiver Kim Kaspari at our Southern California location.

Daniel and Brooke, just another day of caregiving.

More kisses at the evacuation site. Jessica reassures Mo sheep that everything will be okay.

Alicia with her rescued lamb friend Regina.

Alicia and Paul Harvey hugging during the evacuation during the Sand Fire.

Perry in the sheep barn with Bleu, keeping his friends’ barns as clean as possible.

Maggie making sure her friend Anna gets cooled down.

Tracey and tiny pal Cecilia.

Vyolet strikes a pose with one of our beautiful Watkins Glen turkey girls.

Hillary feeding the pigs in Watkins Glen, where she worked before moving out to our Orland facility.

Elise and sheep friend Bleu pose for a shot.

A beautiful Noel goat with his caregiver pal Amy at our Orland sanctuary.

Shane and his waterfowl pal Pip.

Dean on the scene making things well constructed and clean!

Teresa Lopes with new boy Napoleon, having a bit of fun during the work day.

A very beloved and missed Alexander with me surrounded by giant pals Tweed and Moo.

Amy Gaetz and a very young Ari strike a pose during the work day.

Kevin taking a break to check out his pal Francis sheep.

Mario and Tara bringing home newborn babies Jenny and Forest from Cornell.

Tara surrounded by newly rescued dairy goats Phoebe, Babs, and Carmen.

John Sykes, our Watkins Glen Maintenance staffer, always has a smile while he works.

Bianca making sure every one of her feathered friends gets the best possible care.

Tara Hess and Chris VanDusen bringing Jerome home to meet his new family.

Chris working hard keeping the barns clean.

Sarah bringing home new babies Henry and Lola.

Amy Gaetz with the triplets, Duncan, Tove, and Thomas, ensuring they get the proper diet to start out their lives.

Collecting hay samples! Jim and Tara making sure our ruminants get the best food possible!

#animals #animal rescue #animal jobs #animal rights #farm sanctuary

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loreal-interns · 5 years

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Work Hard, Play Hard - Wilson

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely interested in interning at L’Oréal and are doing your due diligence to research. To help with your decision, I’m currently writing this only halfway through the internship, and I can already say that this comes close to being the best summer of my life so far.

A Lil About Me

The title of this blog is probably a saying you’ve heard people use to describe the ideal job or school environment. For me, “work hard, play hard” is my perception of the ideal environment. My name is Wilson and I come from a school that is known for their “work hard, play hard” culture – Georgia Tech. The “work hard” side of Tech is known to have incredible workloads coupled with a competitive atmosphere that stresses students to always do better. The “play hard” comes from being surrounded by the right people to effectively spend every bit of free time that’s available. My major in Industrial Engineering, minor in Computer Science, and different organization involvements keep me busy with work while my fraternity, friends, and love for food allow me to balance work with things I enjoy. Through long nights of studying to make the grades I want to long nights of dancing to 2000 throwbacks, I’ve learned to love the strenuous work coupled with stress relievers and strived to find a work place where I can learn lots while having time for fun. To my surprise, my experience as a Supply Chain intern for L’Oréal’s luxury brand Kiehl’s in Manhattan has been that way.

Work Shtuff

My role at Kiehl’s has me learning current processes with the ability to disrupt and challenge those processes in hopes of improving them. It also gives me an opportunity to provide direct impact to the business. For instance, my weekly task is to submit orders to replenish inventory in our Luxury Beauty Stores which are our outlet stores. I’m trusted as an intern to make decisions on how much product to ship based on sales data and inventory levels. I also have the opportunity to redesign how we handle our returns data giving us the ability to create pricing strategies to liquidate inventory. The ways the business and people work weren’t easy to learn and required a lot of studying business lingo, reading performance analyses, learning software, and shadowing my manager Pete to get to the level I am at now. However, the fact that it wasn’t easy makes the work that much more attractive. I think it’s important to leave work feeling like you accomplished something or learned something new, and that’s how I feel at the end of every day walking out of the office. To give some advice from what I learned over the years of interning and studying, if your work doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable then you’re doing it wrong. There’s no growth if you don’t have to worry about a deadline, last minute prep for a meeting with the supply chain VP, or present an idea to a room of upper management. Learn to love the hard work and you’ll feel much more accomplished.

Aside from the actual work, the people on my team and in the office have been extremely welcoming giving me exposure to other areas like demand planning, finance, and marketing. Being in a role that allows you to temporarily step away from your function to explore other ones is very freeing. On top of learning about different functions, other social and first-time opportunities have popped up as well. I’ve had the chance to model for the first time for a Kiehl’s advertisement with make-up artists, clothing specialists, and professional photographers and will be featured on Kiehl’s social media sometime later this year! I also walked in my first ever #PRIDE parade, recorded my first podcast with Talent Acquisition to speak about my experiences, and got selected to be featured on L’Oréal’s Instagram as a summer intern spotlight. The things you can do here are endless especially if you put in the effort to find them. Everyone here is willing to help if you are willing to ask for help and I love that about the culture.

Play Shtuff

L’Oréal was kind enough to put a large group of interns in company provided housing encouraging us to become friends with each other. The apartments and the entire complex is incredible. Groups of 4 interns share a 2 bed, 2 bath, and furnished apartment with walk-in closets, a balcony, and a full kitchen. The complex also hosts barbecues, pool parties, and workout classes that we can participate in for free! I love this because I now have a community much like my freshman year of college where like-minded people can live, cook, eat, swim, commute, and hang out together. We are also a short train ride away from NYC, so on weekends we typically find unique restaurants, rooftop bars, clubs, or concerts to go to. During my 5 weeks we’ve seen concerts on top of a Pier 17 overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, on a Yacht making its way around the Hudson, and at a club called the Marquee. It’s been so much fun so far and we still have so much more planned for the rest of the summer.

On top of loving night life, I also love eating. I was raised eating all kinds of ethnic foods. To name a few favorites I love Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean, Peruvian and so many other cuisines. And as many know, New York City is a hub of all kinds of food. My love for grub along with videos on social media highlighting unique foods such as the famous ramen burger, personal rotating shawarma machine, or 2” high fluffy Japanese pancakes caused me to make a personal effort to eat at as many restaurants as I can while in the city. Luckily, I’m working near West Village and have the opportunity to go out every day for lunch to places like Mamoun’s Falafel, Xi’an Famous Foods, Fiacco’s Italian, and other renowned restaurants. The location, and the opportunity for delicious eateries makes internship have the best lunch break out of any other internship I’ve had.

End Blog Scene

To wrap it all up, I wanted to show that interning here is one of the best things that I have decided to do during my college years. Hard work is important as I’ve noticed real happiness comes with feeling accomplished by overcoming challenges and feeling accomplished. It’s important though to not overwork and burn yourself out. So, be sure to put time away to let off any steam by doing the things you enjoy most. For me it’s food, music, and friends, but for you it may be going on a jog, baking, or reading. Whatever it is, be sure to pair it with your hard work. This internship has been more than incredible so far and I couldn’t ask for a better experience.

If you’re interested in following my food adventures, check out my highlight on my Instagram @thelifeofpu

#lifeatloreal #interninsider #kiehls #pride #gatech

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ambernorman222-blog · 5 years

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Things to do in High School To Prepare for College (Without Missing All The Fun Stuff)

Have the adults on your lifetime been hassling you in taking advantage of high school in prep for faculty? Perhaps you've been nudged towards courses which will look great in your transcript or pushed into the management of extracurriculars that give themselves to remarkable application essays?

If this sounds familiar, I would like you to understand: that is not what this guide is all about.

There are many things to do at high school however, sometimes, the preoccupation using high school for a tool to enter school can make life unhappy and actions enjoyable.

But there's hope high school is all about more than simply preparing for college. If you would like to create decent usage of your high school years and also prepare yourself for school and have a fantastic time, then the hints below are for you personally.

One reason faculty is more stressful compared to high school? You are much more independent. And as you are much more independent, life generally requires greater time control. You will have far more duties as well as your professors aren't likely to chase you to remind you of that deadline weekly. Not just this but your parents will not be only a couple of feet away and equipped to bug you once you knock off.

With a calendar to keep track of your daily life is an effortless method to begin handling your time a little better. Some people today prefer an old fashioned, pen-and-paper planner. Studies indicate that writing down things with your hands (instead of typing them on a display ), which makes you more inclined to recall them.

However, your paper planner can not send reminders for your mobile phone. In the event you would rather technology, then you can not fail with great old Google calendar. (It is exactly what I use.) ICalendar can also be good, or even your parents may have a Cozi Calendar membership it is possible to make the most of.

Here Is What your calendar may seem:

Put evaluations, events, practices, meetingsand appointments, and project due dates, and weeks away to your calendar the moment you learn about these --this might be as early as the first week of this session once you receive your syllabus.

As soon as you understand when something is expected, decide how much time it will have to perform it. Work backward and program time in your calendar to work on such a job or research.

Or perhaps two hours every 2 days.

Ensure that there's space on your program for both downtime and enjoyable, too! If need be, then block time to view your pals or merely binge that fresh Netflix show. This way, whenever someone asks you to allow them to research about Sunday afternoon, you could tell them you are busy. Busy watching the newest period of Game of Thrones, that's.

You understand that schools prefer well-rounded applicants--individuals who offer and receive great grades, examine well and get involved in their own communities. But balancing your research and life is more than simply developing a competitive school program.

Taking the time off from the research will demonstrate you and activate different portions of your mind. Making artwork, playing football, or only visiting some concert can recharge your emotional batteries in a manner a 10-minute research break can not. Engaging in existence out of academics also fosters your imagination, raises your mental intelligence, and assists you reinforce relationships.

And just as significantly --it is fun.

Be sure to escape your novels and in your own life.

ORGANIZATIONS.

High school is more than GPAs and SATs; it is frequently a location in which you form friendships. And at times it's simpler to form these friendships once you see folks out chemistry course.

Research some of your college's associations --attempt the discussion clubUltimate Frisbee, fencing, or pupil. If your college does not have some associations that light your own passion, consider beginning your own. Perhaps a lot of people might love to play Quidditch in case you began a group?

When beginning a college organization is not your style, research the classes as well as organizations in your neighborhood has to offer you. Have a look at rec team sports, volunteer in the local animal shelter, or even sing along with your church choir.

Meetup.com: A site which permits users to make occasions and meetup groups within their regional community any subject you can imagine: Pick-up baseball games, including book clubs, weekend, and painting classes, cellular program developer meetup groups for women. Have a curiosity? There is likely a meetup for this. Do not see it? Begin your own!

The regional community facility: You understand that building at the park including all the flyers encouraging rec league sports, town hall meetings, along with litter pick ups? Poke your head and see whether there's anything about the calendar which appeals to youpersonally. It is a terrific way to become familiar with your neighbors.

Take a Look at greatnonprofits.org to Locate a nonprofit near you

Use the search feature in Idealist.org for much more.

Consult your adviser! There might be some thing coming up next week which you don't know about.

Join using a local museum--most have adolescent programs and docent chances --or check to the regional animal refuge, YMCA, church, temple, or synagogue.

Perhaps even return to your central or middle school and find out how you can help.

Interesting fact: your instructors are actual, real people who own senses of humor, hobbies, and interests beyond getting one to turn in your assignments in time.

Among the simplest methods to take advantage of high school would be to speak with your instructors and get to understand them.

Stay after class and ask that issue which looked too comprehensive for the remaining part of the course. Inform them that you loved the final book they picked and inquire if they could suggest any comparable novels. Consult your Government instructor exactly what she thinks of the bill that is going through Congress.

These discussions will provide you deeper insights to the subjects you are analyzing and--bonus! -- will likely (read: certainly ) make it a lot easier to acquire good teacher recommendations to your school applications.

When you are applying to schools that are competitive, it is tempting to stuff your own program together with'remarkable' classes you think will look great on software. AP Physics! AP Japanese!

If you genuinely need to take AP Calc or believe it will assist with your fantasy of being a civil engineer, then consider AP Calc. However, while you pile your program with courses you do not really like and use those courses as the cornerstone of your school program, you are setting yourself up to get a fairly gloomy academic experience.

Actual talk: faculty can be incredibly stressful. You are juggling a difficult course loading, searching for internships, working part timeall while living away from home using roommates you may not have picked on your own.

Utilize your slightly-less-stressful high school decades to construct decent self-care customs. What exactly does this look like?

Get 5 hours of sleep

Exercise 20 minutes Every Day

Drink sufficient (roughly half a gallon) of water Every Day

Restrict social media usage (and each of the self-doubt that comes with this ) by placing Social Networking locks that closed you out once you have exceeded a specific time limitation

Bonus Suggestion (if You've Got an iPhone): here is how to make it work for you rather than against you (among my favorite productivity posts , btw)

Spending some time with friends doing something Aside from studying or speaking about college applications

Your high school experience does not need to become a test conducted for faculty, filled just with exam prep and'remarkable' courses. Should you follow these ideas, you can completely prepare for school while still appreciating high school.

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rileejacksonvisuals · 7 years

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That’s a Wrap! On the Road with FELICITY

I don’t even know where to start and I mean that in the best way. A little over a year ago (June 2016) I was introduced to my final project for school. A final project that I had to build up from scratch over the course of a year. Paperwork (so. much. paperwork.), sleep deprivation, and staring at editing programs for 8-10 hours at a time was basically what my life consisted of this past year. Add in my internship, dealing with the worst of my depression, and working part-time and you got it.

From the very beginning I was passionate about this project. I was nervous and anxious, but mostly excited. Out of all the styles of videos we could do, I chose to do a Music Promotional. During the very first lecture on this project, FELICITY came straight to mind. Earlier that week I remember seeing them on Facebook and we interacted in some way so I checked them out and liked their band page. The same night of the lecture, I went home and contacted them via their band page. Within an hour if not less, they got back to me and were all on board. The following week I went over to the band house and gave them the very, very, rough outline of the project. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect either so I winged it as best I could. The guys were super nice and presented a totally “go with the flow, tell us what you need from us and what we need to do” kind of vibe (which honestly, I could not have gotten more lucky on that front).

After I met with them, the first thing I had to do was submit a proposal. The proposal consisted of the kind of video and its duration, the client, the locations, the idea of what the video would convey, and how the video would be distributed. I had to make that proposal and a back-up proposal because, well, shit happens. Both of these proposals had to be approved by my program’s Board of Directors.

Proposal 1

Fast forward to August and I’m shooting my very first show. FELICITY was playing at The Social; a popular hole-in-the-wall venue in downtown Orlando. For the most part, everything went smoothly. Luckily my sister Holly was visiting me so she was able to be there for me for support in case I freaked out. It was my first show so I just went with the flow and tried my best. It was such a comfortable, happy feeling and a major adrenaline rush! After that night, everything was pretty steady and consistent when it came to working with them. I shot every show they played thereafter and I have never felt happier while doing anything else.

Jump to January of 2017. This was the month where I had to write out an Audio Video Script which again, had to be approved by the Board. Audio Visual scripts are a little different than screenplays. They require scene and shot numbers, dialogue, color coding (for objects, actions, props, locations, etc), and the music/voiceovers that will be used in the video and at what time in the video they would be present. Basically, this was the outline of my video.

Lined Script

This month had the first actual “shooting day”. It was the interview portion of the video. I had to create lighting diagrams, storyboards (minimum of 30 with a minimum amount of certain shot types), and interview questions. Besides getting establishing shots, this was the only time I really had to plan word for word, visual for visual because it was something I had control over. I had no control of the shows, their lighting, their venue, etcetera. That is probably what I’ve learned that I love most. Although it can be a major pain during post-production, you’re forced to go with what you have and make best of what is presented to you while shooting a concert. Every show is different so it’s always exciting and a challenge which I really enjoy!

The next few months were pretty smooth. I kept shooting their shows and stock piling footage. June is when I was probably the most stressed I’ve ever been while creating this project. First off, this was the first of two classes I had that was strictly about my project (in other words, I learned everything I needed to and it was time to focus on the project only). This month was nothing but paperwork. When I say paperwork I mean more than 100 sheets of paper, easy. I had to do location scoutings/maps, location permits and releases, talent releases, crew member deals, liability contracts (for myself and the school), safety plans, copyright documents for any audio and footage that was being used, casting calls, call sheets, scene breakdowns, shot breakdowns, budgeting sheets, and shooting schedules. I know you probably got lost about halfway into that sentence. Yeah, it was incredibly difficult and stressful simply because of the amount of time I had to do it (3 weeks) and how many people I had to get in contact with. Oh and not to mention, if you didn’t have all necessary contracts, you had to retake the classes the following month. I’m pretty sure I cried about three times during that month out of frustration, worry, and sleep deprivation.

Shot Breakdown Sheet

During July things kept rolling, but the paperwork portion was finished! This was the production month of the project. So it consisted of more shooting and submitting 3-4 minute videos, aka dailies, of footage each week that was going to be used in the final edit. I was pretty nervous about this month mainly because this was the month right before the guy’s began their tour so I didn’t have any recent footage to submit. From what I submitted, my teacher for that month didn’t think I had enough content to move on. I passed that class by the skin of my teeth.

Now, August- my favorite month by far! This month was all about the post-production stage. After getting home from work, I spent an average of 8 hours a day in front of my computer editing in Adobe Premiere. Those 8 hours quickly rolled into the early mornings till about 3am. My sleep schedule was terrible and barely even there, really. For this Post-Production class, I had to submit an edit each week. The first week an assembly edit was due. An assembly edit is the roughest kind of edit one can do. No music, no fancy editing or transitions. You literally place the clips in the order you think you want them in and you’re done. It looks awful. I got a 100 on it. The second week the rough edit was due. This edit is where you added in the music, trimmed the clips to your liking, and added the transitions in. The third edit was the final edit. All color grading and correction needed to be done and the title/introduction of the video needed to be added. Any effects you wanted to add were required as well. Finally, the fine cut was due aka, mother of all edits. Up to this point, everything visually should have been fixed and polished. This edit was where you focused on the audio levels between all dialogue and music. You focused on the audio effects and overall balance of the mix which needed to average around -6dB. I got a 100 on the last edit, too!

Fine Cut Edit

I received my grade and tears came to my eyes. This project has been my baby for the past year and the fact that it’s all finished is very bittersweet. With that being said, I still had to show the guys. A year of shooting and I never showed any of the guys of FELICITY any part of any edits. I wanted it to be a surprised and to be the best it could be! So I went over to the band house during rehearsal and we all watched it together. It was such a great moment. I was smiling the whole time with butterflies in my stomach, slightly nervous because I didn’t know what they would say. Thankfully, they loved it and wanted to watch it over again!

I’ve already had my sappy moment with the guys, but I will never be able to repay them or thank them enough. They did this to me as a favor. I had nothing to give them except a finished product. I was a stranger to them and they let me in with open arms. Without a doubt, they are five of the sweetest, respectful, funniest, easy-going, most talented guys I’ve ever met. I’ve gained a friendship with each of them and will forever cherish this project and them for helping me get started on the path of my career. This past year has been one of the best. I’ve made some great memories, experienced so much, met and worked with awesome people, learned a lot about myself as a videographer and photographer, and have become confident in my work. I’m doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do, exactly what I’m passionate about and it all started with them.

With that being said, they’ve decided they still want me around! I’m going to continue working with them for the rest of this tour and beyond (...or at least until they get tired of me). I am still working at my internship and plan to stay in Orlando once I graduate on September 29th. And if things keep going how they are, I’ll have a big announcement to make soon!

Again, this is such a bittersweet time in my life and I’ve loved every minute of it. Thank you to my mom and sisters for the continuous support and for watching every edit of this project even when the slightest of changes were made. Thank you to my friends who have understood my passion for what I do and have stuck around even when I can’t see them as often as I’d like to. And thank you to Andrew, Damien, Mike, Tyler, and Cory for trusting me to portray your music and brand to your fans and for just being you. I am grateful for you all.

-R

#rileejacksonvisuals #pop punk #felicity #we are felicity #orlando fl #orlando videographer #videography #music photography videography #editing #project #local music #local band #music promotional #music promo #concert videographer #concert videography

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things-un-spoken · 6 years

Text

4/9/18

I’m writing this not really knowing where it’s going to go. I have lots of homework to do and I’m procrastinating as always, but I feel like I need to write. and cry. and write more. and listen to sad music. I’m such a weird person.

I’m 23 now. and I really am starting to feel 23. I’m dating Marisa, who has two kids (5 & 6) and although we don’t see them all the time, I’m still a parent when we do see them. I pay all my own bills except for my phone bill (thanks Dad). I’m almost 2 years into my grad counseling program, and this coming August I will officially begin my internship at a substance use facility in Tampa.

I can feel myself maturing in a lot of ways. I am less dependent of a person - I am coming into who I am going to be. however, there’s still this big empty gap in me, especially when I am alone. I can feel it gaping; I can feel myself reaching for something to fill the void. sex, food, anything that I can focus on to temporarily distract me from this empty feeling. is this something that is always going to be there? I’ve learned that relationships cannot fill the void. they make it a little smaller, as do friendships, but nothing takes away the emptiness I feel when I am alone.

I am thankful for Marisa. I am thankful for her independence and her unwillingness to tolerate my dependency and codependency. I know this next year is going to be so busy and so important for my career, and with anyone else I’d be scared that my relationship would crumble. I know Marisa will be there though. And she will be understanding of my time. She will support me in the ways she knows how, even if at times I don’t feel like it’s enough.

I am also thankful for my mom, who is now sober (due to some medical issues), and with whom I have a much better relationship with now. although I couldn’t talk to her about the deep dark things I have going on, I can talk to her about my day to day stressors and joys. I am thankful for my therapist, who helped me come to terms with my codependency, and who recommended that I attend an al-anon support group, which has been fantastic and eye-opening. she has provided me with a safe space to spill my thoughts, no matter how messy. my two closest friends at this point, JJ & Mason (formerly Marisa), have also proved surprisingly unwavering when I have let my crazy out to them.

there’s a part of me that just will not let myself completely tear the walls down with people. my therapist is the closest person I’ve come to completely letting my walls down with, but I can’t even let go all the way. I feel safe with JJ and Mason and have shared a lot with them, but there is still something that prevents me from becoming completely vulnerable. maybe that is contributing to the void. I just don’t know how to tear it down. I’m there but I’m not there. I don’t know.

I don’t feel overwhelmed with depression or anxiety. I have some sad days when I feel grey but overall I just feel disengaged. I am going through the motions of life with some success and from an outside perspective I’ve got a lot going for me.

here are things I am happy about:

I am two years done with my graduate program & have one to go before I graduate and can really help people

I am in a relationship with a woman who is patient, low maintenance, and genuinely kind

I have a job I don’t hate as a server, and have good relationships with the people I work with

I have a developing relationship with my mom

I have one really good friend (JJ) who I know I can always confide in and who will always be there for me

I am helping to raise and create a good life for two really good kids

I have two cats who I absolutely adore

I am working out a good amount which increases my confidence

I am getting good at playing with makeup and feel confident in how I look with and without it

here are things I am stressed about:

money & the crazy amounts of loans I have to pay back upon graduation

eventually moving in with Marisa and having her kids more frequently

getting a full time job when Marisa only works full time & not being able to balance our schedules with our time together

my “void” & my tendency to reach out for temporary sexual relationships with people who are no good for me - or reach out for unhealthy food

my brother connor who is failing classes, smoking and selling weed, taking antidepressants, and refusing to talk to a therapist

my dad who I feel like could die any day due to bad health, and with whom I barely have any relationship

my weight

my mom, who is handicapped, and almost never gets out of the house. I know she is depressed but trying to make the most of the situation

also here are some updates since I haven’t posted in almost two years:

I broke up with Emily pretty shortly after graduating in May 2016. We moved in together to an apartment downtown (which I LOVED) but I knew I was going to end it with her. while I was living there, I was talking to DJ and messing around with her, and I even slept with a guy from work in our bed one night when Emily was with family. we broke up while we were sitting at the pool one night. I think we both knew it was over, but we had to decide about logistics. how we were going to handle terminating the lease, and what to tell our friends, etc. It was uncomfortable, and she was justifiably mad. it was primarily one-sided. she still texted me from time to time for a while, but I haven’t heard from her in probably six months by this point.

slept with a server at work who also trained me. he was incredibly attractive and I knew it would be a one night stand. he gave me herpes. I cut myself for the first time in a long time when I found out the news (and I haven't cut since). I had to tell marisa before we slept together, and thankfully she was very understanding. I did some research on herpes and found out that it was more common than I thought, and also treatable (but not curable). I haven’t had another outbreak since when I found out in August 2016, and as far as I know I have not passed it to Marisa.

I started my grad program for counseling in august 2016. It’s been an amazing journey and I’ve learned sooooooo much, including things about myself. I am looking forward to being done but I am really going to miss this progress and the people it has led me to meet.

I started dating marisa. we slept together a lot before we made it official in November 2016. she had some issues with being loyal early in our relationship. It has come a long way since then. I genuinely love her and for the most part trust her. we are required to have a more mature relationship because her kids are involved. she has been through a lot of shit, including both of her adoptive parents dying and being in two abusive marriages. she’s a tough cookie and I admire her a lot.

my mom got really sick december of 2016. she was in hospitals for 3 or so months, detoxing and having hallucinations, etc. she was sober during this whole time. my dad blamed her sickness on a medication she was taking, but my parents denied her alcohol use to all her doctors. one night I was in the hospital over christmas time, and i took her doctor aside privately and told him about the alcohol use. he thanked me and said it was probably wernike’s enchephalopathy that they were seeing. my mom eventually got out of the hosptial, but seems to be permanently handicapped. can’t walk, has trouble speaking, but still is pretty mentally stable. I worry about her lonliness though.

2017 was a pretty stable year. I focused mainly on school and work. Marisa and I had our ups and downs but overall stablized a lot. we celebrated our one year November 2017. we also met two really great brazilian friends who we spent a lot of time exploring with, but who moved back to brazil :( we still keep in contact as much as possible and hopefully we will be visiting them in a few months.

I got to have my pre-practicum experience at a residental adolescent campus for teens with s/a problems. man, was that rewarding. I developed a love for working with adolescents and I hope I can work with them again one day.

i began therapy once again and began attending an al-anon support group in town. I did a ton of work on myself both through therapy and classes at school. I have grown immeasurably this past year. I’ve developed so much more self-awareness & have learned new coping skills.

marisa and i got to spend christmas with my family and her two kids. it was nothing short of amazing. the kids had a blast, my family was notably happier than previous years and everything worked out about as perfectly as it could have. we rented a car and drove both ways, which was tough, but a worthwhile experience. my parents really love the kids, and I know they will be sad if Marisa and I ever break up. my brothers also loved and bonded with the kids. it really was an amazing week and I hope we can do it again because everyone was so incredibly happy.

it’s now 4 months into 2018 and things are going pretty well. marisa and I are a little distant but we are stable. her kids have really warmed up to me and even tell me they love me. I’m very settled into the routine of work and continue to make new friends there as new people start. I am over the weirdness with the guy who gave me herpes. JJ and I are very close and I really appreciate that relationship. I will begin my next prepracticum at a domestic violence shelter in a few weeks, then in august I will begin my real practicum. I hope this year continues to go well.

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dis-coordinated · 7 years

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Got news from my school today that if I don't have $9000 for them by Friday they will remove me from my on campus housing. You know what? I can't go to fucking school if they do that, I don't have that money and there's no way for me to get an apartment in the next week before classes start and no commute since I live four and a half hours from the school. So I just hate that education is a fucking business, like how will I get education to get a job to pay back all of the $32,000 in debt that I currently have from just two years at this school? And how is it that I go to the "cheapest public university" in my state and accumulate that much fucking debt? This school doesn't accept most outside scholarships unless you have applied to have the accepted a year ahead of time, and there are only three scholarships available to people of my gender/ethnicity/major by the school that are worth about ~$500 a year (not a semester, a fucking year) my bill for each semester is about $8,500. how am I supposed to pay that bill if I were to just get the endowed (from the school/alumni) scholarships? That would only be ~$750 a semester. Of course, fucking loans! Through FAFSA I am eligible for $0 due to my fathers income, my father doesn't pay for me to go to school, in fact the only times I talk to him he only wants to talk about my schooling costs and his money issues that have been brought upon him by his wife and her daughter (their son doesn't ask for/receive much). If my dad isn't paying for my school, why does his income effect how much money I can be awarded/loaned during the school year? And on top of that, if I were to even receive the full Pell Grant, I still would not be able to cover the cost of my schooling. I don't understand how the fuck the system works so hard to keep us down when, in the end, we will be the ones controlling it when all the people controlling it die. I don't like ranting but education stresses me out, once I'm out of this school I'm being thrown into a different one for graduate school so that I can actually get a job (possibly, no guarantee). At this point I'd like to drop out but then I'd immediately have to start paying on that $32,000 that I currently owe and am paying on now. If I could afford it, I would live off campus and only pay ~$8,000 a year to the school and the rest to a landlord. Plus guess who has mental illness that requires me to have therapy (which I don't get while out of school because my insurance doesn't pay for it but it's free therapy during school, through the school) but this therapy is only available on campus during the week unless it is "crisis counseling" which I had at the end of last semester when my two friends and I were too drunk to function and were all incredibly suicidal. So my insurance doesn't pay for my birth control, my dental, my vision, or my mental health and I'm screwed financially because I'm in college. I will likely be in debt for the rest of my life unless I'm luck enough to land my dream job right out of school; this is realistic because there is a desperate need in the field I'm going in to but also unlikely because my class schedule doesn't allow for internships or work outside of school so I will not have the experience that I need to go in to that field. The world is ass fucking backwards. Apologies that I make no sense when ranting and raving about things.

#education #rant #school #college #university #loans #I'm so sorry if you read that #I want to die

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collegeessayguy · 4 years

Photo

If that sounds familiar, I want you to know: that’s not what this article is about.

There are so many things to do in high school but, in some cases, the preoccupation with using high school as a tool to get into college can make life miserable and activities unenjoyable.

SIX WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF HIGH SCHOOL AND STILL HAVE FUN

1. PRACTICE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE IT’S LIKELY TO GET HARDER IN COLLEGE.

Here’s what your calendar might look like:

Regardless of the type of calendar you use, here are a few basics of good time management:

Put tests, practices, events, meetings, appointments, project due dates, and days off into your calendar

as soon as you find out about them

--this could be as early as the first week of the semester when you get your syllabus. Once you know when something is due, decide how long it will take to do it. Work backwards and schedule time into your calendar to work on that project or study.

For example, if your science project is due on May 10th, you could allot one hour each day to work on it, May 1 - 9. Or maybe two hours every two days.

2. BALANCE YOUR STUDIES WITH LIFE

And just as importantly--it’s fun.

Make time to get out of your books and into your life.

3. GET INVOLVED WITH ON-CAMPUS (AND OFF-CAMPUS!) ORGANIZATIONS.

Explore a few of your school’s organizations--try the debate club, Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, or student government. If your school doesn’t have any organizations that light your fire, try starting your own. Maybe lots of people would want to play Quidditch if you started a team?

Here are a few other ways to connect with people in your community:

Check out greatnonprofits.org to find a non-profit near you

Use the search feature at Idealist.org for even more.

Ask your counselor! There could be something coming up next week that you don’t even know about.

Connect with a local museum--many have teen programs and docent opportunities--or check with your local animal shelter, YMCA, temple, church, or synagogue.

Maybe even go back to your middle or elementary school and see how you can help.

4. GET TO KNOW YOUR TEACHERS

Fun fact: your teachers are real, actual humans who have senses of humor, hobbies, and interests outside of getting you to turn in your homework on time. Shocking, right?

One of the easiest ways to make the most of high school is to talk to your teachers and get to know them.

These conversations will give you deeper insights into the topics you’re studying and--bonus!-- will probably (read: definitely) make it easier to get great teacher recommendations for your college applications.

5. TAKE CLASSES YOU LOVE, NOT NECESSARILY THE CLASSES YOU THINK WILL PLEASE YOUR PARENTS/GET YOU A GOOD JOB/MAKE YOU MONEY.

6. PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARN HOW BEST TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

Use your slightly-less-stressful high school years to build good self-care habits. What does this look like? Well, it looks different for everyone, but these basics are a good start:

Get eight hours of sleep

Exercise 20 minutes each day

Drink enough (about half a gallon) of water per day

Limit social media use (and all the self-doubt that comes with it) by setting social media locks that shut you out after you’ve exceeded a certain time limit

Bonus Tip (if you have an iPhone): here’s how to make it work for you and not against you (one of my favorite productivity articles ever, btw)

Spending time with friends doing something other than studying or talking about college applications

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collegeessayguy · 5 years

Photo

There are so many things to do in high school but, in some cases, the preoccupation with using high school as a tool to get into college can make life miserable and activities unenjoyable.

SIX WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF HIGH SCHOOL AND STILL HAVE FUN

1. PRACTICE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL, SINCE IT’S LIKELY TO GET HARDER IN COLLEGE.

One of the reasons college is more stressful than high school? You’re more independent. And because you’re more independent, life in general requires better time management. You’ll have way more obligations and your professors are not going to chase you down to remind you about that deadline next week. Not only that but your parents won’t be just a few feet away and able to bug you when you slack off. Using a calendar to track your day is an easy way to start managing your time a bit better. Some people prefer an old-school, pen-and-paper planner. Studies show that writing things down with your hand (rather than typing them onto a screen), makes you more likely to remember them. But your paper planner can’t send reminders to your phone. If you prefer tech, you can’t go wrong with good ol’ Google calendar. (It’s what I use.) iCalendar is also great, or your parents might have a Cozi Calendar membership you can take advantage of.

Here’s what your calendar might look like:

Regardless of the type of calendar you use, here are a few basics of good time management:

Put tests, practices, events, meetings, appointments, project due dates, and days off into your calendar as soon as you find out about them--this could be as early as the first week of the semester when you get your syllabus.

Once you know when something is due, decide how long it will take to do it. Work backwards and schedule time into your calendar to work on that project or study.

For example, if your science project is due on May 10th, you could allot one hour each day to work on it, May 1 - 9. Or maybe two hours every two days.

Make sure there’s space in your schedule for downtime and fun, too! If need be, block out time to see your friends or just binge that new Netflix show. That way, when someone asks you to help them study on Sunday afternoon, you can tell them you’re busy. Busy (re)watching the new season of Game of Thrones, that is.

2. BALANCE YOUR STUDIES WITH LIFE

You know that colleges favor well-rounded applicants--people who volunteer and get good grades, test well and take part in their communities. But balancing your studies and life is about more than just creating a competitive college application. Taking time away from your studies will invigorate you and activate different parts of your brain. Making art, playing soccer, or just going to a concert will recharge your mental batteries in a way that a 10-minute study break can’t. Participating in life outside of academics also boosts your creativity, increases your emotional intelligence, and helps you strengthen relationships. And just as importantly--it’s fun. Make time to get out of your books and into your life.

3. GET INVOLVED WITH ON-CAMPUS (AND OFF-CAMPUS!) ORGANIZATIONS.

High school is about more than GPAs and SATs; it’s often a place where you form lifelong friendships. And sometimes it’s easier to form those friendships when you see people outside of chemistry class. Explore a few of your school’s organizations--try the debate club, Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, or student government. If your school doesn’t have any organizations that light your fire, try starting your own. Maybe lots of people would want to play Quidditch if you started a team? If starting a school organization isn’t your style, explore the groups and organizations your community has to offer. Check out rec league sports, volunteer at the local animal shelter, or sing with your church’s choir.

Here are a few other ways to connect with people in your community:

Meetup.com: A website that allows users to create events and meetup groups in their local community around any topic you can imagine: Pick-up basketball games, book clubs, weekend, painting groups, mobile app developer meetup groups for girls. Have an interest? There’s probably a meetup for it. Don’t see it? Start your own! Your local community center: You know that building in the park with all the flyers promoting rec league sports, town hall meetings, and litter pick ups? Poke your head in and see if there’s anything on the calendar that appeals to you. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors.

Check out greatnonprofits.org to find a non-profit near you

Use the search feature at Idealist.org for even more.

Ask your counselor! There could be something coming up next week that you don’t even know about.

Connect with a local museum--many have teen programs and docent opportunities--or check with your local animal shelter, YMCA, temple, church, or synagogue.

Maybe even go back to your middle or elementary school and see how you can help.

4. GET TO KNOW YOUR TEACHERS

Fun fact: your teachers are real, actual humans who have senses of humor, hobbies, and interests outside of getting you to turn in your homework on time. Shocking, right? One of the easiest ways to make the most of high school is to talk to your teachers and get to know them.

Stay after class and ask that question that seemed too in-depth for the rest of the class. Tell them you loved the last novel they selected and ask if they can recommend any similar books. Ask your Government teacher what she thinks of that bill that’s moving through Congress. These conversations will give you deeper insights into the topics you’re studying and—bonus!—will probably (read: definitely) make it easier to get great teacher recommendations for your college applications.

5. TAKE CLASSES YOU LOVE, NOT NECESSARILY THE CLASSES YOU THINK WILL PLEASE YOUR PARENTS/GET YOU A GOOD JOB/MAKE YOU MONEY.

6. PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARN HOW BEST TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

Real talk: college can be incredibly stressful. You’re juggling a challenging course load, applying for internships, working part time--all while living far from home with roommates you might not have chosen for yourself. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Use your slightly-less-stressful high school years to build good self-care habits. What does this look like? Well, it looks different for everyone, but these basics are a good start:

Get eight hours of sleep

Exercise 20 minutes each day

Drink enough (about half a gallon) of water per day

Limit social media use (and all the self-doubt that comes with it) by setting social media locks that shut you out after you’ve exceeded a certain time limit

Bonus Tip (if you have an iPhone): here’s how to make it work for you and not against you (one of my favorite productivity articles ever, btw)

Spending time with friends doing something other than studying or talking about college applications

#studyblr #high school #college #college prep #college admissions #productivity

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