Z-Upstate on the Hill

First Semester Over.

Hello Everyone!

 

My first semester of graduate school is officially over. All assignments are turned in, finals are finished, and now all I can do is wait for my grades to be posted. I am fairly confident that I did well in 3 of my four classes, but my fourth class, Counseling Theories, is a toss up. Going into the final I was not aware of any of my grades, so my final grade will be a complete surprise. Speaking of Counseling Theories, I had mentioned in  my last post that there was situation with the class before Thanksgiving. I ended it up going to the class, although a little more than half the class did not. My sister met me at Suffolk, we quickly stopped at my apartment and gathered all my bags, and managed to get on the road around 7:00 p.m. It was raining and there was a lot of traffic, so it ended up being an awful drive home.

Of all my classes, Policing turned out to be my favorite, partly because of the topic, and definitely because of the professor. I enjoyed the real-life on the job stories that he was able to provide the students. Human Sexuality was also an interesting class, but I did not get as much out of the class as I had intended.  Seminar in Crime and Justice was not at all what I expected, but I did learn a great deal about my peers opinions about a variety of topics. As an undergraduate psychology major, my background in crime theories was very limited, so this course increased my knowledge in this area. The biggest disappointment turned out to be Counseling Theories. I know it is a required course and the material itself is somewhat dry and straightforward, but the direction the course could have gone, opposed to where it ended up going, are polar opposites. I did not enjoy going to the class, and I felt my work suffered as a result and I ended up not learning as much as I could have if I had enjoyed the class. I wish I had known the differences between the professors when I signed up, as the other Counseling Theories class had a great semester.

So this is goodbye until next year! Have a great holiday everyone and a very Happy New Year!

Finishing up.

Hello everyone!

 I apologize for my lateness in posting, it was a very hectic week- full of presentations, papers, wakes, a funeral, and just general busyness. 

I gave my presentation in Human Sexuality on Wednesday evening, and turned in the paper that corresponded to the presentation. The presentation did not go as well as I had hoped, but overall I think I was able to convey the information to my classmates. Presentations start on Monday in Policing in the 21st century, so this past Monday was our last instructional class. I thoroughly enjoyed that class and feel that I managed to learn new material, as well as reinforce material that I have already learned. Seminar in Crime and Justice will not meet next week, as it is on Thursday, and that is Poultry Massacre Day, or Thanksgiving if you are not a vegetarian. We have one last reaction paper due the following week, and I am very excited to finally be finished writing papers for that class.

I have an issue with my Counseling class on Tuesday. Our syllabus says no class this coming Tuesday, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I had made plans to go home Tuesday afternoon after my sister is done with class and I am done with work. However, in class this past Tuesday our professor mentioned that it was an old syllabus and we do have class. I am disappointed as this means I can either drive three hours home at 7pm or wait until the next morning and drive home. I despise driving at night and would have preferred to drive home at 2pm Tuesday afternoon. I feel that it is the responsibility of the professor to give the students the most up-to-date syllabus just as it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and complete assignments on time based on the given syllabus. Almost half the class had already made their holiday travel plans as well and informed the professor that they will not be attending class. I have to make a decision as to whether or not to go home Tuesday afternoon or to wait until later on that evening or the next morning.

Next week is a short week so I will briefly post- and keep you updated on my Tuesday class dilemma; I'm sure you are all in great anticipation!

Have a great weekend!

Busy, busy.

Hello everyone!

 This past week has been very busy, and the remaining weeks in the semester look to be just as busy.

My partner and I were able to present our PowerPoint on Animal Phobias in Counseling class on Tuesday, so it was nice to get that out of the way. I am still working on my presentation for Human Sexuality and hope to finish that up this week. I need to start the paper for Counseling and pull together the information I already have for my Policing presentation and paper. I need to have everything finished by Thanksgiving, as my presentation for Policing is the Monday after, and the Counseling paper is due that Tuesday, and I know I will not get any work done if I am at home with my family enjoying the holiday.

 I am confident that I can effectively executive my plan to have everything finished by the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as Wednesday I will be driving home with my sister and won't have any time to finish up my work. I could have her drive if I really needed to, but that would be putting my life in danger as she is not exactly a great driver. In fact, I have only let her drive once with me in the car, and I will never do it again! 

My class schedule for next semester is finally set- I had a few problems that I needed to work out. A class I was very excited to take was full, so I was wait-listed, so I signed up for another class that I wasn't really interested in, but then realized there was a core class that would fit into my schedule, so I had to drop the elective I wasn't interested in, and pick up the core class, but now everything should be set. I will be taking two core mental health counseling classes and one crime and justice core class and one crime and justice elective.

As much as I am trying not to admit it, the cold weather is here to stay. I have been searching online for a new winter coat and finally think I have found one that meets all of my specifications: to my knees, casual yet can be dressy, warm!, and a reputable brand. Hopefully my parents are interested in giving me an early present or I can always gift myself.

Enjoy the week!

The rush is here.

Hello Everyone!

  The end of semester rush is here. That means all the presentations, papers, and group projects due for each class are squeezed into the last remaining weeks of class. Last Tuesday I was supposed to give me presentation on animal phobias in Counseling: Theories and Practices, but another group had to present from the previous week and class time ran out. I was actually kind of glad because now the project is finished, and I have more time to work on delivery and figure out exactly what I am going to say. I don't mind speaking in public so it is not a big deal for me to have to wait to present. In two weeks I will be presenting on the HPV vaccine in Human Sexuality class and will be finishing up my research this week so I can start the presentation and brief paper this coming weekend.

 I won't be presenting in Policing in the 21st century until December 1st, so I have time to prepare for that presentation and paper. I have information on the topic already, so I am not too worried about that class. I am concerned about the large Counseling paper I need to write. The paper involves describing our own personal counseling style and creating a vignette of a patient that comes to us and how we would work with the individual in therapy. My career goals do not involve counseling, so I have never developed my own personal style of counseling, and this paper may be a bit harder for me than some of my peers who are in the school counseling program.

 I was able to register for three of my four desired classes, but was wait-listed on the fourth. I contacted the professor for the wait-listed class to find out more information about the class and whether or not it would be  a good fit for my desired career path. Unfortunately there is a long wait-list and some students need the class for graduation so she advised me to try again next year. I was disappointed, but found another class that fits my schedule and my requirements and may even turn out to be very interesting.

 This past Friday was Halloween and the whole city seemed to take part in the holiday. As I walked through the Common to catch the T I saw little fairies and frogs and bumblebees running to the new carousel with their candy buckets in tow. I went out with some friends to a charity Halloween party at a bar, and everyone was dressed up. I think it is funny to see grown men in costume and love that everyone can still be goofy and not so grown up all the time. The only downside of going on on Halloween night was the fact that it took us one full hour to get a cab home. I was not pleased, not only because it was ridiculous to wait that long, but I had to work Saturday morning.

Today is November 4th, I sent my absentee ballot home to NY last week, I hope everyone who is registered gets out and votes today!

 

Work and more work.

Hello Everyone!

 

I hope everyone stayed warm last week- it was a very chilly week in Boston. On my way to work one morning it was 37 degrees out! I'm not ready for that cold of weather yet.

I have been very busy with reading, writing papers, and preparing for my many presentations over the next few weeks. On Tuesday I had my advisor meeting to select courses for next semester- it is hard to believe that I am already moving on to my next semester of graduate school. I have selected two courses from the MSMHC program and two courses from the MSCJS program; similar to what I did this semester. I decided to stack two courses on one day, so if all goes to plan I will have a 4:30 and a 7:15 class on Mondays, no classes on Tuesdays, a 7:15 class on Wednesdays, and a 4:30 class on Thursdays.

This weekend I did some schoolwork and cleaned up my apartment- it seems to get so messy during the week. Saturday I had a visitor from home and we ended up going to the Bruins' game last minute and actually had great seats, plus they won so it was a fun night. I apologize for the short post but I need to get some more reading done before tomorrow.

Enjoy the week!

Fall is here.

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for the late post, my internet has been down and I never made it to the library to update- my fault completely. Last week was a nice short week, no Monday class because of the holiday so only three days of classes. Presentations are continuing in Counseling Theories and Practices and I am busy preparing for mine next week. It is nice to break up the lecture with the presentations as I get bored very easily and I need the new voices to help me stay on track. Presentations are also continuing in Human Sexuality, all of which have been very interesting so far. We discussed an article we read, "Why are we gay?"; I found my classmates responses to be very insightful and thought-provoking. I enjoy seminar classes because I think it is important to learn a variety opinions instead of just the one student who always volunteers an answer. We had a paper due in Seminar in Crime and Justice and articles to read, so I was busy preparing for that class all week. We have another book due on Thursday, which I started this weekend. It is flowing quickly so hopefully I will be able to finish it today or Tuesday.

The weather has finally changed and the leaves are beginning to fall off the trees at record pace. It has been very chilly at night- perfect sleeping weather I think. I drove through the Berkshires and the Adirondacks last week and they are at peak foliage, which lots of reds and oranges this year. Although I do not want winter to come early, I am excited to see my first snowfall in Boston- hopefully not until November though.

  Tomorrow I have my advisor meeting to chose my spring semester classes. It is hard to believe I am already picking out classes for my second semester of graduate school. I can still remember choosing my senior year fall semester classes!

Enjoy the fall weather!

Long Weekend.

Hello Everyone!

This week was filled with reading. For Crime & Justice seminar we had to read a book on the media and violence, which is an interesting topic, but the actual book was too textbook-y. We discussed Adler, one of my favorite theorists, in my Theories of Counseling class and the implications of his person-centered, individual therapy. Policing in the 21st century was interesting as always, and because I submitted my presentation topic on time, I get to choose when I present to the class on policing behaviors that lead to wrongful convictions. On Wednesday, in Human Sexuality, we started class presentations as well as discussion of normal sexual development through adolescence. I thought my classmates both did an excellent job and it is nice to now have a jumping off point to start my presentation. I still have about 5 weeks until I present, but I am creating a survey in order to obtain data to use in my presentation so I need to start administering the survey.

Last weekend was Alumni weekend and it was so nice to be back on the hilltop and see the underclassmen and my classmates again. We tailgated in the picnic grove before the football game, but ended up skipping the game to hang out in the sophomore and junior male dorm and generally act like we were in college still. It was nice to be back, but this week when I was writing my second reaction paper for Crime & Justice seminar, I realized I do not miss the almost unreachable expectations my undergraduate professors set for their students. I enjoy my studies at Suffolk greatly, because the topics are those that interest me, and the professors delineate what is expected, and grade based on those notions.

Well I am home now, not in Boston, and since moving to Boston over a month ago, I have not done laundry, so I should probably get started on that; it might take all weekend.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Already October.

Hello Everyone!

Fall seems to be here with today's weather. It is gorgeous out, sunny, with a nice breeze, but there is a definite chill in the air. The whole week the weather has been back and forth, rainy and humid, sunny and cool. I had my first exam of graduate school last night, and I think, and hope, it went well. We were given seven essays to prepare, and four were on the actual exam, so hopefully my responses were well written.

Classes this week were pretty standard, mostly lecture with class discussion in my Human Sexuality class. We discussed attraction and flirting and were required to give the class an example of how we flirt to let someone know we are interested. I was actually voted Class Flirt in high school, but I was too embarrassed to bring that up in class so I just gave a simple response. Functions of the police was the topic in Policing in the 21st Century, and as always, it was great to get the perspective of a member of law enforcement. Next week I have a paper due in Seminar in Crime and Justice and also a book to read so I am going to be very busy next week catching up on the work I can't do this weekend.

This weekend is Alumni Weekend at  SAC and my friends and I are heading up tonight and staying until Sunday. I am very excited to attend my first event as an alumna but I am sure it will make me sad to be on campus as an outsider and not a student.

Enjoy the Weekend!

Long Week.

Hello Everyone!

The school/work week is finally over- I am fortunate to have Fridays off, which is amazing. I just started a new job so I have to get accustom to waking up in order to be at work for 8 am, and be able to schedule effectively to make sure my schoolwork does not suffer.

This week in Policing in the 21st century we learned about the amendments that the police are most concerned with. As I said before, this is mostly a review for me, but I do learn something new when I am taught from the prospective of a police officer. The first presentation was given this week in the Counseling Practices and Theories class so it was a nice jumping off point to figure out how I am going to work my presentation. I always like to see two or three presentations before I do my own, to see how the professor reacts, and ways in which I can improve my existing presentation. We discussed anatomy in Human Sexuality, which I am comfortable discussing, but I know some of my peers are not. However, the professor creates a comfortable environment in which we can discuss topics as adults, but also realize that somethings are just funny and there has been lots of giggling going on. I would rather have a class where everyone is comfortable, especially because it is a seminar and we want to interact with each other, than a class where the teaching is very rigid and strict and giggling is not permitted. We were given back our first paper in my Crime and Justice Seminar last night, which was graded pass/fail, but the professor put a grade on it just to demonstrate what we would have received if it was given a true grade. I was pleased with my achievement, but I am glad that I know how to improve in the future. However, we did have another paper due last night- so I wish we had received the first paper with the grade on it prior, so I could make any necessary changes to the second paper, but I am not too concerned.

Currently it is pouring outside and I left my raincoat at my friend's apartment in South Boston so I have two choices:  use my umbrella, take the T, and go pick it up- while getting wet. Or I can just run my errands and use my umbrella- while getting wet, and when I go to their apartment tonight I will get my raincoat. I think I will chose the later just because I am somewhat lazy and taking the T just adds to my day. Last weekend it was beautiful out- chilly when you weren't in the sun, but very warm when you were in the sun. There was an event on the Common for MassCann- the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, which drew a large crowd of mostly younger people. I took one of my class readings and sat on a bench where I got to listen to the live music and read- well mostly people watch as there were a larger assortment of people to watch walk by than usual. I checked the weather and it is supposed to rain all weekend which means no people watching for me , unless I find an indoor venue with as many interesting people as the Common provides.

Well I am going to go try and persuade my friend that it is in her best interest to come see me at my apartment and while she is at it- bring my raincoat.

Enjoy the weekend!

 

Third Week.

Hello Everyone!

It is hard to believe that this is the third week of classes, I still feel like it is the first day all over again. Yesterday I had my first paper due. It was an exploratory paper for Human Sexuality that will not be graded, but hopefully I will get some feedback from the professor if my writing is not up to par. Tonight I have my first movie commentary paper due for Seminar in Crime and Justice. This paper is graded, so I am planning on spending more time than usual editing and proofreading, just to be sure there are no mistakes.

Policing in the 21st Century, on Monday night, was a refresher lecture for me, as I had learned about Sir Robert Peel and his 9 Principles of Policing during my last semester of undergrad, in the Spring of 2008. However, the principles are open to some interpretation so it was interesting to see how my undergrad professor compared to my graduate professor in their interpretations. On Tuesday we discussed Freud and psychoanalysis in my theories of counseling class. For that class we have to prepare a dialog between a therapist and patient for the class, explaining a counseling technique or theory. Presentations start next week so I am eager to see how my classmates approach the assignment. Last night, Wednesday, we chose our thirty minute presentation topics in which we are to teach the class about a topic of our choice relating to human sexuality. I am excited about my presentation and happy that I will be presenting the week before Thanksgiving, so I don't have to worry about the presentation over the holiday.

The weather has been up and down lately which is disappointing as that means fall is approaching. I do enjoy the fall weather but I love summer and hate to see it come to an end. This morning, on the way to my first day of my new job, it was only 60 degrees out,which is bearable of course, but I wish it was 75 and sunny instead. However,  I'm sure that when it is 25 degrees and snowing I am going to wish it was 60 and overcast. This weekend is going to be devoted to decorating my apartment, and of course, reading. I have plenty of pictures and wall art sitting in my closet, but this weekend I am making it a priority to actually decorate my apartment so it looks less like a dorm room and more like a home.

Now- time to proofread and edit. Enjoy the weekend!