Hello, Blog world!

I think it is time for an update! I am finishing up my last weeks at work. All of the youth that I was a job coach for have graduated (save one who left the program). The graduation went really well! I helped make a video with pictures of the youth and quotes from their supervisors (from their job sites)-- two co-workers and I stayed in the office until 9:30pm working on it!

 I am glad work has slowed down a bit. I also finished my second summer class. I got an A! In my last paper I wrote how the government should sterilize single women after their 4th child they have if they are not in any committed relationships (think 4 children but 3 or 4 dads) or after their 3rd child if their children have already been taken away from them. I was half in jest, of course... as I do not think the government should be in charge of sterilizing people (again), but I agree with the sentiment that these women should voluntarily get their tubes tied...I mean, if you don't use birth control and continue to sleep around with every man you meet, then you seriously need to make sure you don't bring children into that mess!

Last night I went out to the river and climbed trees and wrote in a journal. It was so lovely! Then the sun began to set and HOLY MOLY!!! IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GORGEOUS!!! Check out the links to my pics (on the side bar) to see what I mean. It just kept getting even more breathtaking. I was sitting under a large willow tree that was next to two other willow trees, creating a perfect fort. The tree was right on the edge of the water. Another fun part of this experience? There was a lady that had brought her cat out on a leash! I was literally thinking of bringing Chai, but I didn't want to carry him screaming bloody murder all the way there. This lady's cat was certainly enjoying herself, she was exploring and didn't hide at all when strangers came up to pet her!

In other news, my grad school list has narrowed even more: University of Rochester, University of Denver, University of Northern Illinois, and Temple University. University of Kansas is a maybe-- I haven't been able to get ahold of the mentor I'd like to work with. 

Speaking of professors, I also got hired as a Research Assistant for a Sociology prof. at Suffolk who is working on a project with previously incarcerated women. It is a longitudinal study they have been doing for 5 years now with about 50 women. The prof. I'll be working for is currently writing a book. My job is to give her feedback, edit her manuscript, pick out themes within the qualitative data, play with the data, basically be her soundboard and let her know what I think is most interesting or worthy of her attention and what is not. I already gave her some feedback on the introduction of her book and she replied "This is extremely helpful feedback. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!!!" :-) It was fun because I was honest about where I disagreed. You see, she is a strict sociologist...i.e. she is against many psych. theories-- which is completely my opposite! I think it will be a really fun job, plus it looks AMAZING on my resume for PhD programs... a lot of the programs look for research experience, not even clinical experience.

As for my clinical experience, I am STILL looking for a practicum site. The one I was going to have (through my summer job) fell through because it was more of a social work position, not mental health. I have contacted a bunch of other places and am waiting to hear back. My prof. also said I can just come to practicum class and there is usually someone who knows of opening spots that I could look into. 

Fall classes start on September 4th. I am taking Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Neglect (a counseling course!), Quantitative Analysis (a CJ class), Practicum, and Childhood and Adolescent Development. 

That is all for now!