New Year, New Adventures, New Challenges

Well, to really sum up 2011, I'd have to say it was probably the craziest roller coaster I've ever been on. It was filled with many more downs than ups, but I am confident that 2012 will be great. Also, I think 2012 kind of owes my family so that's why I'm so confident. The first part of 2012 will definitely be a little stressful as I await the notifications from my graduate schools. I applied to four, and I'm hoping I have the opportunity to interview with all of them. As I finished up 2011 with graduate school applications and finding ways to professionally develop, I have come to realize that it is time I go abroad again. I spent a good majority of my time the week of Christmas researching language schools in Argentina and Costa Rica. My goal is to finally be able to speak spanish more fluently. I can read, write and understand anyone that speaks Spanish to me but speaking back is quite the challenge. I know this is a major skill I need to develop as I head into the international programs aspect of Student Affairs. As of right now it looks like Costa Rica may be the spot as one the Programs Specialist in the CLU Study Abroad Center utilized the school. I'll know for sure if I can for the 10 weeks I want to once I hear back from schools and do interviews for assistantships, but really won't know until April.

That's one adventure I'll be having in 2012 hopefully! The next will hopefully be moving to a new place and going to graduate school. I say hopefully because at the end of the day Colorado State is where I want to be and if it doesn't happen this year, I may just wait it out and apply again the next year...we'll cross the bridge if and when it gets here though. I'm looking forward to the idea of moving to somewhere new, OUTSIDE of California. The five weeks I have left to wait is absolutely killing me! I don't know how I'll wait again after interviews!

The final challenge that will seem like the bandwagon challenge is working on my fitness. I'm not concerned with losing weight however. I've done that, and I'm very proud of what I have accomplished. I'm down an entire size in both bottoms and top and I've never worn these sizes in my entire life! Personally, I just need to get back on track with toning and building muscle. I'd love to get a handle on my abs, as even when you lose weight your abs just don't make you feel like you've really done anything if you don't work on tightening. So here are just a few of my goals for fitness in 2012:
1) Work out five days a week (doesn't have to be necessarily intense and at the gym)
2) Buy a new pair of skates and start skating again.
3) Become a runner
4) Run a 10K
5) Run a Half
6) Drink the daily recommended amount of water
7) SPINACH and VEGGIE smoothies!

Well that sums it up! I'm hoping to fork up the money to join CrossFit because I think I could benefit from something like that but it's a little steep! It would make go at least three times a week though! That makes it completely worth the price!

Well, happy new year and hopefully 2012 will be good to all of us!

Setting The Tone -- A Glimpse Into The Past, Pt. I

First off, I'd like to welcome you to my blog. While this is mostly a streamline of my thoughts and ideas as I begin my application processes for grad school, I hope those of you who stumble upon my blog can learn something as well. Recently, I graduated from California Lutheran University (CLU) with a B.A in Political Science & B.S in Criminal Justice. Yay, for two degrees! Four years ago, I was set about what I was doing with my life...these two degrees were my way to prepare for law school and becoming a District Attorney. It wasn't until I returned from my two consecutive semesters away/abroad in Washington, D.C and Semester at Sea did anything begin to change.

Prior to leaving CLU for two semesters, I had not had the best of experiences. I came into CLU with the intention to transfer but my peer advisor advised me to stay through the whole year. By the end of the spring semester, I waited to see if I was selected as peer advisor as my last hope for a chance to find myself at my school. Once I was selected, and and re-elected for student government the following year, things were starting to fall into place...or so I thought. By the time I reached Peer Advisor training two weeks before the start of school, my life started to take a slow, but sure, turn for the worst. I was forced to resign from my position on student government after an obsessive commitment and effort throughout the previous year and training with the Peer Advisors wasn't exactly what I was expecting. My friends suddenly changed at the start of the year, and I didn't know where I belonged. I unfortunately turned to negative habits in the first semester of my sophomore year and was extremely unhappy, I felt I had nothing left but to run. So I ran all the way to study abroad office. Little did I know, that the first run to the study abroad office would change my life forever, but it would take just a little more than year.

During the spring semester of my junior year, my first semester back to CLU after being gone for a year, I began to see that law school just wasn't the right option for me. I needed something more fulfilling but wasn't quite sure what that was. I felt lost again, with no solid friends and nothing attached as far as CLU went. I reapplied to be a peer advisor for my senior year and again received the position. I also applied to be a Student Leadership & Programs intern, as while I attended Semester at Sea I had a similar position on the ship. A light bulb finally went off that maybe, I could get into this field that my mentor and boss Kristin Price (KP) was in. Let it be known, that obtaining these two positions, was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. This is part one of my story...and this is the extremely shortened version of it. Part two will go deeply into where I am today as by the end of junior year, I was still extremely confused. Part two consists of my entire senior year to present day.

A-Ram