last year came sooner than expected...
And so the new year has already begun.
Tomorrow marks the start of my penultimate undergrad term. The term after that will consist of only three classes and I'll finally have my degree come June. Looking back, this should've taken less time but given the extra hoops that were thrown in that extended things this long, I'd like to think I managed to make the best of it. You're going to require me to take extra classes despite going over my aid maximum? Fine, I'll just devote that time to learning another language. Looking back at it is kind of weird. Running through my flashcards, I discovered that out of the 1500 words they include, there are maybe 50 or so that I still have trouble remembering and that's not counting the additional words from almost four years of classes, bits of slang, colloquial words, and antiquated words from older literature. It doesn't feel like I know that and I still feel I mumble like an eight-year old, but there you have it. Tomorrow I throw myself back into the fray, only this time, with the paperwork that made up the recuperation time of December, there seems to be an end in sight. But even that isn't without its own set of trials and ordeals.
So I suppose now would be a good time to reveal the big secret I've been alluding to in other places. It's been in the works for a while and granted it was nerve-wrecking when it was finally announced, I can't say I was completely surprised. In fact, I've been expecting this for some time now and it was one of the main reasons why I knew I had to do something other than rely on these crappy jobs that I've been lucky enough to stumble upon. That being said, as of February, my department will be closing permanently and I will be laid off with about two months worth of severance to tide me over. I had hoped that there would be some extension in the closing until the time I graduated but realizing the energy that was being drained trying to keep up with my studies amidst the ridiculous commute, overtaxing my system in the process, a decision came up over what would be more worth the trouble: trying to maintain the job and barely squeeze by doing adequately well but not as well as I could be in my Russian (knowing I'll be graduating and left to my own devices afterwards) or request to put my name in the list of people to be let go once the productivity in my department starts decreasing to the point that my bosses will lose sleep over whose head must be placed on the chopping block first. I volunteered because I decided it would be in my best interest to go sooner and concentrate more on my studies and because I have to putting together my resumes and start looking for work soon anyway if I'm going to be obtaining work later in the year. It took a while for them to negotiate everything with the higher-ups, but they eventually agreed. The main reason I haven't broadcast this to everyone yet is largely because I don't want my parents to find out about it until I have other work in line. Given their ever-increasing paranoia I, for one, simply do not want to hear it from them and, for two, they have enough to worry about as it is trying to make ends meet in the desert doing their odd jobs. Otherwise, I'm not too worried and that's probably a good thing because as of now, I'd rather focus on the tasks at hand. December, while being my rest from a hellish autumn, was also rather productive. I basically had the chance to start taking care of a bunch of different matters, some of which include using my health and dental insurance while I still have it (and FINALLY a trip to the dentist that didn't involve some major reconstruction of some kind, in fact, everything looked a-ok).
Also, looking in terms of future plans, Dan has been putting money aside for a down payment on a house and looks to be getting one later this summer. I will be joining him, with my portion of the rent going to helping him pay it off sooner. Seeing as I can't imagine really be able to doing anything just yet, this is a bit of blessing and it looks like I will continue to be here for a number of years. My intention is to find some work and do that for about a year or two before attempting to see if I can get into grad school for social work and, if all goes well, hopefully I'll be working for some division within the Department of Human Services, probably starting the long road into eventually becoming a psychologist of some kind. I have to start setting up informational interviews with various folks within different areas of the Department and those will probably happen after February, when my schedule will become considerably freer since I won't have eight hours of my day being devoured. There's still the concern over money that goes beyond whether or not I'll find a job right away, granted I'm rather confident after I realized, shortly after a panic attack, that I actually possess a number of skills (along with an extensive work history) that set me apart. The service work that I was doing for last summer with at-risk youth only solidified that, when both the staff and some of the kids had asked me if I'd be interested in continuing to volunteer beyond the time I was required for the college credit. But there's still the possibility that I may not be getting paid all that more than what I'm making now and by the end of next year, the student loans will be demanding what I used to give every month for the credit cards. The idea of having to get some second part time job to help deal with that wasn't exactly appealing and given the current economic climate, probably not the easiest thing. Then, a conversation of sorts, if you will, came up. And given that this is already long enough, I'll have to get into that later. Cliffhanger, yes, but I don't have to work Mondays anymore because of the Counseling Theory class I need to take that, for whatever reasons, is only offered in the Winter and only on Monday nights.
So for now, things are looking up. And interesting. I've finally arranged my room properly for the first time since I've moved here. It's taken more than four and a half years but it seems I've settling down for the time being here in Portland, whether they want me to or not. Indeed, I am still here and, as graduation looms closer and the semblence of an actual life begins to take shape, I shall be staying in this home for now in better spirits knowing that the end of the tunnel is sight.
Tomorrow marks the start of my penultimate undergrad term. The term after that will consist of only three classes and I'll finally have my degree come June. Looking back, this should've taken less time but given the extra hoops that were thrown in that extended things this long, I'd like to think I managed to make the best of it. You're going to require me to take extra classes despite going over my aid maximum? Fine, I'll just devote that time to learning another language. Looking back at it is kind of weird. Running through my flashcards, I discovered that out of the 1500 words they include, there are maybe 50 or so that I still have trouble remembering and that's not counting the additional words from almost four years of classes, bits of slang, colloquial words, and antiquated words from older literature. It doesn't feel like I know that and I still feel I mumble like an eight-year old, but there you have it. Tomorrow I throw myself back into the fray, only this time, with the paperwork that made up the recuperation time of December, there seems to be an end in sight. But even that isn't without its own set of trials and ordeals.
So I suppose now would be a good time to reveal the big secret I've been alluding to in other places. It's been in the works for a while and granted it was nerve-wrecking when it was finally announced, I can't say I was completely surprised. In fact, I've been expecting this for some time now and it was one of the main reasons why I knew I had to do something other than rely on these crappy jobs that I've been lucky enough to stumble upon. That being said, as of February, my department will be closing permanently and I will be laid off with about two months worth of severance to tide me over. I had hoped that there would be some extension in the closing until the time I graduated but realizing the energy that was being drained trying to keep up with my studies amidst the ridiculous commute, overtaxing my system in the process, a decision came up over what would be more worth the trouble: trying to maintain the job and barely squeeze by doing adequately well but not as well as I could be in my Russian (knowing I'll be graduating and left to my own devices afterwards) or request to put my name in the list of people to be let go once the productivity in my department starts decreasing to the point that my bosses will lose sleep over whose head must be placed on the chopping block first. I volunteered because I decided it would be in my best interest to go sooner and concentrate more on my studies and because I have to putting together my resumes and start looking for work soon anyway if I'm going to be obtaining work later in the year. It took a while for them to negotiate everything with the higher-ups, but they eventually agreed. The main reason I haven't broadcast this to everyone yet is largely because I don't want my parents to find out about it until I have other work in line. Given their ever-increasing paranoia I, for one, simply do not want to hear it from them and, for two, they have enough to worry about as it is trying to make ends meet in the desert doing their odd jobs. Otherwise, I'm not too worried and that's probably a good thing because as of now, I'd rather focus on the tasks at hand. December, while being my rest from a hellish autumn, was also rather productive. I basically had the chance to start taking care of a bunch of different matters, some of which include using my health and dental insurance while I still have it (and FINALLY a trip to the dentist that didn't involve some major reconstruction of some kind, in fact, everything looked a-ok).
Also, looking in terms of future plans, Dan has been putting money aside for a down payment on a house and looks to be getting one later this summer. I will be joining him, with my portion of the rent going to helping him pay it off sooner. Seeing as I can't imagine really be able to doing anything just yet, this is a bit of blessing and it looks like I will continue to be here for a number of years. My intention is to find some work and do that for about a year or two before attempting to see if I can get into grad school for social work and, if all goes well, hopefully I'll be working for some division within the Department of Human Services, probably starting the long road into eventually becoming a psychologist of some kind. I have to start setting up informational interviews with various folks within different areas of the Department and those will probably happen after February, when my schedule will become considerably freer since I won't have eight hours of my day being devoured. There's still the concern over money that goes beyond whether or not I'll find a job right away, granted I'm rather confident after I realized, shortly after a panic attack, that I actually possess a number of skills (along with an extensive work history) that set me apart. The service work that I was doing for last summer with at-risk youth only solidified that, when both the staff and some of the kids had asked me if I'd be interested in continuing to volunteer beyond the time I was required for the college credit. But there's still the possibility that I may not be getting paid all that more than what I'm making now and by the end of next year, the student loans will be demanding what I used to give every month for the credit cards. The idea of having to get some second part time job to help deal with that wasn't exactly appealing and given the current economic climate, probably not the easiest thing. Then, a conversation of sorts, if you will, came up. And given that this is already long enough, I'll have to get into that later. Cliffhanger, yes, but I don't have to work Mondays anymore because of the Counseling Theory class I need to take that, for whatever reasons, is only offered in the Winter and only on Monday nights.
So for now, things are looking up. And interesting. I've finally arranged my room properly for the first time since I've moved here. It's taken more than four and a half years but it seems I've settling down for the time being here in Portland, whether they want me to or not. Indeed, I am still here and, as graduation looms closer and the semblence of an actual life begins to take shape, I shall be staying in this home for now in better spirits knowing that the end of the tunnel is sight.