This College Thing

Ah school...

That thing that come every August and ruins all our lives!

Especially in college.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE college! It's the best time of my life! Everything is so so fun! HOWEVER! Tuition sucks. This has been the first semester that I've had to pay tuition... I know "boo hoo Aubrey. It's your 5th year of college and you're just now worrying about this." And you're right! I'm very blessed! Although, now I know how the rest of my school feels. Thus, it suck!

I pretty much fell apart for a week because of school stuff... and other stuff... but it all stemmed from school issues... Anyway! Anthony helped me through it and all is good now.

Guess how many credits I'm taking!!!

Drum roll please.....................................

7.

Yep. Just 7! The lowest I've ever taken is 12 and now I'm just over half that.
Well, I guess this is my reward for only having to take 6 classes this year before I start my student teaching. Thus 3 classes this semester and 3 next semester. It all works out though because these classes are the hardest yet! Luckily, my teachers are awesome and they actually care about teaching us and helping us learn. Therefore, I want to do the work for them. I know it's not about the grade to them. It's about us.

That's the kind of teacher I want to be.

I think I can do this college thing.

Losing Drive

There comes a time when you just are not as motivated as you used to be. It can happen with school, dating, work, social life, homework, ballroom dance team, dating... Some areas of my life are taking priority over others even if they shouldn't.

School:

Working on my fourth year of college! The last time I was so unmotivated was about two years ago when I was finishing up my sophomore year at Salt Lake Community College. How did I get through two more years after that? I got my Associate's Degree, before I took all the elementary education class offered, and transferred to the University of Utah. Well I cannot do that again, well I could, but that would be a very stupid thing to do. So I'm just pushing through with an even busier life with two jobs and the ballroom dance team. Leaving me very little time for homework... haha oops!

Work:

I have two wonderful jobs!!! I work in a diagnostic kindergarten as an assistant teacher. I love teaching those little 5 year-olds! They make everyday so much more fun!!! Some days they drive me crazy, but I still love 'em!
My second job is at the Cowboy Grub as a waitress. I love it too... some days it ruins my fun by preventing me from having fun with my friends and, then again, I work with a bunch of my friends. Some of the customers are crazy and some are super cool... then there are a lot of average ones too... :) I LOVE serving families because I love those kiddies! If you make the kids love you then the parents will love you too!

Homework:
Not going to waste my time on this subject. I'll just tell you that I have 3 hours with nothing to do and I'm choosing to do write on my blog and organize EVERYTHING ELSE.

Social Life:

I am a girl who has way more guy friends than girl friends. It's so much more fun that way!!! My guys range from all types of life styles! There's the Trio which consists of Griffin Mansell, Russell Davis, and myself. I love hanging out with those two, they just make me happy and we're goof balls!!! There is Ephraim Jaussi who is my movie buddy. We both love talking during movies and thus we go to random movies on random nights and critique them and make fun observations. I've seen some VERY good movies with him. Anthony Badger is my facebook buddy... hehe yep. To clarify, he and I have AWESOME conversations over facebook. In person we just make fun of each other and say ridiculous things. Tyler Voorhees is an old friend. We hung out a ton back when I was 18, but he got married to an awesome girl a couple years ago and I don't see him as much. He just is so positive and I love being around him. Josh Bates is one of my very best friends. I've found so much peace in our conversations during long drives. On the girl end, I have my set of girl friends who know everything about me: Allie Vincent, Sarah Matheson Snow, Amy VanTienderen, Elisa Warren, and Katie Butters. I love those girls more than you know. Their random texts of love and fun just make my day so much better!

Ballroom Dance Team:

Yep! I'm on the University of Utah Ballroom Dance Company again!!!!!!! It's so much fun and I can't even go to all the practices because I'm working so much. I just get to learn what I missed over the weekend and be ready for the next practice on Mondays. I get to raise $150 of sponsorships so if you're interested PLEASE let me know!

Dating:

Ah... dating... Let's just say that I've been trying to date as much as possible lately... I've sadly been unsuccessful though. I been spending time with some pretty awesome guys as of late and they remain nameless as to avoid awkward situations in the future. Just know that I'm totally up for blind dates... please?  

All in all my life is pretty busy, but I'm loving every minute of it! Whatever ups and downs may come, I love dancing in this roller-coaster of a life!

The Beginning of the End

Finals are coming up.

dun - dun - duuunnn!

This is when I start hyperventilating and making LOTS of lists! Very intricate lists of what I need to do in the next 4 weeks. I know that finals is in 4 1/2 to 5 weeks, but projects are not due that week... they are due the week before. These lists are color coordinated, pretty looking - it calms me - and then slowly turn MESSY! But they do get me through the finals month. I have so much to do! Math: practicum, dictionary, portfolio, notebook, and workbook. Reading Methods: practicum, tutoring observation, emergent literacy group project, and the rest of the reading summaries. Linguistics: group project, quiz, and take home final.

I've done this before right? WELL... I didn't used to work two jobs and go to school full time. A lot of my days are full and the only way to get it all done is to go MIA for a while... Don't worry, I'll surface on Sundays.

End of Summer and Beginning of my Awesome 20's

I am now in my totally awesome 20's!!! What did I do to celebrate? Well my friend Ephraim stole me away from my homework and took me to an amazing Brazilian Steak House and then I had a girl's night later that night; filled with Bob's Brainfreeze and chick-flicks! It was an awesome birthday!!!

After that, it was enough partying. I had to get to work because finals week was the following week! After a couple of break downs and a lot of sugar I was able to pull through, create an awesome presentation, fix a very rough group paper, and skip out on a couple of social activities. (amazing right?). I guess it was all worth it! Today the grades were posted and I got an 'A!' I really only wanted to pass and get my associates, funny huh?

I also went to Summit last weekend but that's another story. Yes, I'm going to leave you hanging :) haha don't forget to dance in the rain!!!

I Can See the Light

Well friends! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel called Spring Semester 2010. Today is my last day of actual classes!!! I just turned in my music video for my Technology in the Classroom. I filmed myself singing "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. Needless to say, I will NOT be posting it online. It's pretty stupid. However, my teacher was impressed with my editing (as was I, I just got lucky) AND I made my classmate cry. I'm pretty proud. If you want to see it... then you have to watch it with me... THAT way I can control who sees it, etc. :) I have my last Pacific Islander class next. I'm turning in my service learning project and then I have till next Thursday to email my teacher my final essay. I have one take home final for Multicultural Education due Monday by noon, the last test (not comprehensive) for Life Span Human Development on Wednesday, and a final portfolio for Into to Writing due tomorrow by noon. It's all coming together and I am slowly able to breath easier!

My birthday is three months from today and I'm excited. I turn 20. I won't be a teenager anymore. I'm not sad at all. I've had fun and now it's time to move on! Don't worry, there WILL be a party. :) So I will be 20 when I start my first semester at the University of Utah. I got my acceptance letter LAST WEEK! I'm estatic!

My older brother, Cameron, comes home tomorrow and I'm using it as my motiviation to make it through this week. Pretty good bribe to myself eh? :) I will be running errands all morning just so I can kill time and not go crazy with anticipation.

Here's one last thought from mylifeisaverage.com to give you a smile:
Today, I was chewing gum while at a stop light. I blew the largest bubble ever and frantically tried to get the attention of the guy in the next car. He looked, just in time to see the bubble burst all over my face. MLIA