Confessions of the Awkward Young Woman

The Joys and Pains of Being an Introvert

2010-08-01T14:09:00.002-04:00

Well, after thinking for a few days on what my next blog post would be, I decided on this: the risks and benefits of introversion.

Welcome to my world:

I wake up, do some studying, maybe do a little internet research on a topic that interests me (usually something to do with healthcare or animal science), socialize just a bit via text message, Facebook, etc. (I still don't get the hype of twitter), and walk the dog. So what do I do with the rest of my time?

I spent quite a bit of time interacting with my family. I feel a lot of people in my age group lose out on the benefits of spending time with there families for being eager to always be on the scene. I for one could care less about "the scene." I rarely party, as I find other things to do with my time. (maybe this is one of the things that makes me so delightfully awkward)

I spend a lot of time talking to my boyfriend. He is a constant in my life and I really enjoy our relationship. Unfortunately, we are about to enter the dreaded territory of the long distance relationship, but I think we can make it.

I also have developed plenty of hobbies. I love to read and to write, although I really need to spend a lot of time clearly planning things out when I write. I also like to play video games and watch anime. I watch the occasional television series, and some movies. I like to be outdoors, either walking, or just sitting and thinking. I even began to embrace my artistic side and found that I like to do different art projects from time to time. I'd say discovering what you like to do is quite a benefit of introversion, if you'd ask me.

Now here's where the introversion really kicks in. I have only a few friends that I have semi-regular contact with. Of course I have plenty of acquaintances, but there's nothing like an actual friend. Now this is a serious issue, because as everyone knows, networking is absolutely crucial to the college student. Here's where my dilemma begins: I am incredibly shy and quite nervous around people I don't know well. I feel as if I may even put up a barrier and inadvertently stop myself from becoming close to others. I have missed out on opportunities due to my shyness. Anyone else ever have this problem?

Fortunately, I have begun to place myself out of my comfort zone. Little by little, I'm realizing how beneficial it is to open up to others. My first real eye-opener was being able to shadow a physician, just by simply asking questions and following through, while leaving my shyness and nervousness on the back-burner. I hope that as I approach my junior year of college, I can keep up this momentum and continue to strive for excellence while learning about myself and what I was meant to do in this world.

Update on the pug

2010-07-25T11:47:00.004-04:00

Doque being dramatic (in case you're wondering doque=dog in my personal language lol)

Top picture: Dozey and his hair sleeping...he sheds ALL OVER the carpet, but we love him anyway.

dum dum dum duuuuum dum dum dum duuuuuuuuuuum ddddum ddddum ddddum etc.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

This convenient photo sent by my little sister also had Beethoven's Fifth Symphony attached to it, but unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to get it to play :/ [It kinda ruins the effect of those lyrics, you know?] But 'tis all beside the point...

DOZEY'S HERE TO STAY!! YES!!

Dozey successfully captured the hearts of everyone in the family, and I do mean everyone. This includes my grandma, who refers to Dozey as "Grandma's Little Boy" ROFL! We've had him for almost a year, and we were able to see him through his 6th birthday :). Dozey is happy and healthy, and we hope to have him for many more years.

Tumultuous Year

2010-07-24T11:53:00.003-04:00

Believe it or not, I DIDN'T forget that I had a blog and I DID in fact enjoy blogging. I just had an extremely crazy year. Surprisingly though, I cannot believe that almost a year has passed since my last post...it's insane to think about. After spending so much time away from my blog, I almost find myself at a loss of what to say...

In the time I was gone, I experienced a lot. Here is my year in a nutshell:

Took 17 credits during the fall of my sophomore year...enjoyed most of my classes (including *gasp* general chemistry) in retrospect. Made the Dean's List! YES!
One of the classes I took called Infants and Children, centered on child development, caused me to remember the fun I had as a camp counselor and to rethink my choice of dermatology...maybe pediatrics?
Got a job working in a cafe on campus= FREE COFFEE! I learned just how important a skim vanilla latte could be to me.
Had a relaxing winter break, found out that my older sister was expecting! YAY! (Maybe I could observe some of those child developmental theories in my nephew lol)
Went back to school, lightened the load some so I could work more hours...FAIL! I was just as stressed with my 15 credits as I had been with 17.
Took Anatomy and Physiology, began to understand the complexity of the human body; took Nutrition through the Life Cycle, which provided me with more inspiration to change my field of interest...OB/GYN, Neonatology?
My sister unfortunately lost her baby, gave birth to my nephew at 21 weeks *many tears*
Struggled with depression during my spring semester.
Finished strong, DRAKE came to my college and gave a free concert SLOPE DAY 2010!
Made the Dean's List AGAIN! Unbelievable!
My boyfriend of over a year graduated college and will be entering law school in the fall CONGRATS!! Went to Martha's Vineyard to celebrate-->SO MUCH FUN!
Taking Physics II and shadowing a doctor at a family medicine office as of now...

So, as you can see, I had a lot going on in the last year: some good, others bad. But I wouldn't trade this past year for anything...SUCH IS LIFE =)

Live Life, and Stay Awkward =P

Welcome Back?

2009-08-25T22:49:00.005-04:00

I have returned from my extended hiatus to discuss returning to school. After enduring the hell that is packing your life and carrying it with you to a small room, I am all unpacked and settled into my new single. After having a roommate my freshmen year, it was time for a change of pace. I like my own space.

Well, as I listen to my suite mates and friends prepare to go to a welcome back party, I'm so depressed. Why, you ask?

Because of one major problem:

F-I-N-A-N-C-I-A-L A-I-D. I have to get up at 7am before classes have even started for the year (I am NOT a morning person) to beat the rush and try to get enough aid to help me attend school. Because of the recession, they are hard-pressed to find money to give me. Unfortunately, without their help, it would be absolutely impossible for me to attend college. This is the ultimate form of Catch-22. With a prayer, I can feel confident that everything will work out for the best.

A word of advice:

PLEASE complete and turn in all forms as soon as possible.

Try to work out some agreement well before deadlines if your parents are divorced or separated. Non-custodial parents can be your worst nightmare. I break into cold sweats just thinking about my non-custodial parent. *shivers* Not cool. At all.

Do not be afraid to pester the office. It is their job to help you.

But most importantly, complete everything as soon as possible.

Man I wish I could go to that party, which is one of the few I would be able to attend with my heavy course load this semester. Down with responsibility! Just kidding =)!

Guess I'll have my own welcome back party in my room... :/
Or maybe I should just go to bed. *sigh*

Doggy Love

2009-08-10T00:40:00.005-04:00

Well, after a tough day at work on Friday, (I was left basically on my own to supervise 22 kids at a state park) I had the greatest surprise that I have had for a few years. My mother told me to look in the hallway, and to my surprise there was an adorable little pug standing there. (God sure does know how to make things better.) Her friend is no longer able to commit the time necessary to care for him and he is ours on a trial basis. As long as we (my sisters and I) take care of him, we can keep him. Yay!! =).His name is Dozey and he is 5 years old. He is just too cute!! I REALLY hope we get to keep him.

I have wanted a dog ever since my German Shepard named Princess died, so we are talking about 12 or so years. Finally. This is like a dream come true! The only thing is that I have to go back to school soon so I won't get to play with him as much. But that makes breaks even more enjoyable =).

Why I Think Everyone Should Watch Anime...At Least Once.

2009-08-06T17:21:00.004-04:00

As I always tend to mention, there are many things that make me unique and wonderfully awkward. One of these things is my love for Japanese animation, better known as anime.

Anime. Cartoons. Most people in the teenagers and young adults tend to tuck their tails and run at the mention of anything animated, minus popular American cartoons such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill. Well, I'm here to tell you there's more out there: anime is an extremely underrated type of entertainment that really deserves more exposure than it gets.

If you have never read the about me section on my profile, you probably do not understand why I feel the need to speak about this aspect of my personality. When I was young, I, like many late '80s early 90's born kids, watched anime. Of course, at the time, I didn't realize it. And many people who did still do not recognize that many of the most popular shows that they watched were made in Japan. If you watched Pokemon, Sailor Moon, or anything in the Dragonball series as a kid, you too are, or at least were an anime fan.

As I got older and went through that "cartoons-are-for-babies" phase, my younger sister continued to watch many of the newly released anime shows. I used to tease her and tell her how immature she was. Boy, was I ever wrong. I was far more immature than she.

About 2 years ago, I watched several episodes of InuYasha, an anime that my sister recorded via DVR. I was hooked. I have watched several animes since in many different genres including romance, mystery, fantasy, comedy, and even historical fiction. With anime, there is something for everyone.

If you are interested, I have some suggestions. Here are my top three:

This show is called Rurouni Kenshin (aka Samurai X). It is my all-time favorite and is in the romance and historical fiction genres. Set in during the Meiji Restoration, it follows the story of a young revolutionary assassin's journey for redemption in a time of peace. This show puts you on a emotional roller coaster: ranging from extreme satisfaction to extreme despair and including everything in between.

This anime is called Ouran High School Host Club and is in the romance and comedy genres. It tracks the story of a poor female student who is forced to cross-dress as a member of a host club at a high school full of rich students in order to repay a debt. There are no words to describe how funny this show is.

This anime, called Fruits Basket, is one of the more unrealistic anime shows out there, but it still has a really great plot. It makes use of the drama, romance, and fantasy genres. The story follows a young woman who has recently been orphaned and has been forced to live in a tent. The land that she secretly lives on is owned by the Sohma family, which has a secret of its own. This show has lots of depressing moments, but they offset by the perfect balance of hilarious moments.

As you can see, all of these shows tend to be marketed to young adults, these are not kiddy, Spongebob-type shows. They each have a set plot; there is always a sense of consistency in the episodes. If you grow tired of American cartoons, please look into anime. You won't be disappointed!
(PS I did not produce, nor do I own, any of these images)

I Just Wanna Be, I Just Wanna Be Successful

2009-08-06T16:28:00.009-04:00

As a camp counselor for the YMCA at a neighborhood charter school, I spend a lot of time working with the kiddies. They are so much fun! It is so refreshing to witness the innocence of small children and to, if even just for a few hours a day, revert to your inner kid self. It is important to strike this balance: focusing too much energy on adulthood can be really boring. Kids really do have the most fun!

In summer camp, I teach 1st graders basic character education--they learn about respect, self-esteem, responsibility, honesty, caring, and success, spending a week on each topic. This week is caring week, and we did a project in which the kids drew a picture about something they do that demonstrates caring. Here is my example:

At the end of the summer, my class will be performing in a school-wide show for their community to prove that they have climbed the ladder to success. They will be reciting a poem called "You Must Not Quit" by an anonymous poet. The kids will also act out their parts. Today we decided to add a line from a popular song called "Successful" by rapper Drake featuring. Trey Songz. (If you ever heard the song, don't worry! We only taught the chorus) Too cute!
Here is a sample ringtone that includes the part we taught them:

Horrifying Emergency Care

2009-08-05T01:16:00.013-04:00

This post could very well be considered a rant. I did not originally intend to rant, but I have to write on this issue.

America, we have really got to do better in emergency care.

I have severe myopia (nearsightedness in both eyes), so I take any issues I have with my eyes VERY seriously.

So today after extreme discomfort in one eye for the entire day, I call my primary care physician and she recommends that I go to an Emergency Room just to be sure that everything is OK.

My mother and I head off to the nearest ER and arrive at approximately 6:00 pm. The waiting room is so crowded that we had to stand in the hallway outside of the ER. Many patients who had been waiting voice their frustrations about the length of time they had been waiting. I hope to God they are exaggerating.

7:28pm: I have yet to even be called back for registration. But hey, we finally found two adjacent seats in the waiting room.

8:00pm: A young woman enters the waiting room in extreme pain and can barely walk. The receptionist tells her that she will have to wait and she sits as her mom explains the severity of the case. The girl then stands up, attempts to ask for help, and collapses. It takes several minutes for them to find her a bed, leaving her to suffer on the floor. Two minutes later, they roll her out in a wheelchair to complete her registration paperwork even though her mom was with her. She almost collapses again in the waiting room. Unbelievable.

8:45pm: I have finally registered and have my wristband. They continue to call the same three people at least 4 times, even though they left due to frustrations with the wait time an hour before. My mom sees a friend, who says she hopes we are next. Move on...please!

9:00pm: Finally, I am taken to an examination room. I am examined briefly, diagnosed, and told my treatment. This was perhaps the fastest segment of my visit, which is a plus.

9:30pm: The nurse returned with my prescriptions, and takes my temperature and blood pressure after my diagnosis. Hmmm...a little late, perhaps?

My pharmacy is now closed, and I ask if they happen to have my medicine on-hand. Of course, I get a no. I cannot start my treatment until the morning. How ideal =/.

I, for one, think that the emergency care system in the US is in serious need of a re-vamping. The things I saw in the waiting room were absolutely ridiculous. The method of registration should be standardized across all hospitals. I know some hospitals offer digital registration which can really expedite service. Speed should be maximized as the object of emergency care is to treat patients as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The care for people who are in severe pain should also be improved. That young woman needed to remain in her bed. They should have had her mother complete the registration, or at the very least, brought it to her. To bring her back out was utterly ludicrous.

Even though I greatly appreciate the availability of emergency services, I was disappointed today.

I give today's experience with emergency care 2 thumbs down.

Rant over =)

Please subscribe to my blog. Oh and read The Freelance Diaries. Thanks a bunch!

Photo from:
http://www.theinsider.com/news/1947944_9_patients_made_nearly_2_700_ER_visits_in_Texas

The Freelance Diaries

2009-08-03T20:57:00.007-04:00

Hello all,

I have been pretty busy this weekend, so I unfortunately have not had the chance to post.

Every cloud does have a silver lining.

My absenteeism can be attributed to the fact that I wrote and published my first two articles as a freelance writer!! I received an upfront payment for one of my articles and will continue to receive performance pay based on the number of views on my articles. I have included a link to my Associatedcontent.com RSS feed, labelled the same as this post. So please, subscribe away and tell your friends! I would also appreciate comments on the articles. The articles I wrote about were assignments given to me by Associatedcontent.com, as I would like to retain my own ideas for larger opportunities. Again, I plan to use this website as an opportunity to get my foot in the door and gain experience and exposure as a writer. For readers interested in writing for associatedcontent.com click on the image below:

Even though the job is not high paying, I feel blessed to be given an opportunity to write articles that may offer entertainment or advice. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me!

So Younique

2009-08-01T14:06:00.006-04:00

Yes, the title for this post is inspired by a brand name for jeans. But I think it pretty much sums up my discovery: I am so unique! I have so many different interests and aspirations that sometimes I feel as if I am drowning in possibility. I really have God to thank for that!

I'm interested in writing. Many years of avid reading inspired me to try my hand with a pen and paper when I was 10. I have always written as a method of relaxation and just because I simply enjoy it. Writing is awesome. I am even trying my luck with a few online freelancing opportunities. For example, I plan to submit some articles to associatedcontent.com just to become accustomed to world of the published word. Who knows, maybe some good will come of it for me.

I'm also REALLY into science. I got a telescope for Christmas when I was 8, and I've never looked back. Right now in college, I'm majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society. I just can't get enough of the life sciences. Although it is extremely difficult, I feel I'm up to the challenge.

Finally, I have an artistic side. I like to create beaded jewelry, especially necklaces, when I have a spare moment. Occasionally, I will make mosaic pieces like this ( I made this one last week):

These things I do for fun because I don't have time to really attempt to improve my art skills.

Everyone has the potential for youniqueness!
I feel that everyone has a special talent and/or hobby that can brighten their day. Seriously, all it takes is a little bit of time thinking about the things that you can do well. It's well worth it.

I think its important to embrace all of the different things that bring you joy. Life can be so stressful. Seize every opportunity for happiness.=)

PS please comment if you have any advice on my attempt at freelancing. Thanks a bunch!

Preventing Pay Day Blues

2009-07-31T19:55:00.000-04:00

In my never ending quest to becoming a mature woman, I am slowly but surely learning the rules and regulations of surviving in the adult world. You know, like when you stop relying on mommy and daddy and handle your own business. Because my family has always had pretty tight finances, I learned the value of a dollar as soon as I hit legal working age (16 in NY). However, when I quit my job to focus on school my first year of college, I have discovered several things to do when you are unemployed:

Disclaimer: To some readers this may seem like obvious stuff, but for those of us just starting out in the adult world, I feel that this is VERY relevant advice. PLEASE don't learn the hard way.

1) Do not open a credit card, even if the limit is extremely low. On my eighteenth birthday, while still employed, I got a credit card with a $150 limit because I decided that it would be a good time to start building my credit. After going away to my first year at college and being unemployed to focus on school, I've had several "emergencies." Paying the credit card company for those emergencies is much worse than paying back your parents. Just wait until you are financially stable to worry about building credit.

2) Always keep record of purchases made with debit cards. Overdraft fees are probably the worst thing ever created. One time, because I neglected to keep accurate records, I paid $35.99 for a soda at McDonald's.

3) Keep in contact with your college's Office of the Bursar. I have several "questionable charges" from the bursar's office that are extremely difficult to dispute. My guess is that I could remember them if I KEPT RECORDS.

4) Keep accurate records of EVERYTHING. If you are ever are making a transaction, or even just asking a question of a customer service representative, follow these steps: write down who you talked to, why you talked to that person, the time and date, and any answers or agreements. This can help you dispute problems with accounts and/or ensure that you are being provided the possible service. Mom gave me this nugget of wisdom. Works like a charm!

I learned these lessons the hard way. Today was pay day from my job as a summer camp counselor. I have a net $20 more than I had before. Ah, the joys of early adulthood...

To Address My So-called Awkwardness

2009-07-30T23:59:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had those times where you looked around yourself and pondered your life?

I know, so have I.

Sometimes you can come to some pretty disturbing conclusions. But one thing that I discovered with my 19 years of wisdom is that the only result of thinking too hard about these things is that you can seriously hurt your self-esteem. I am just leaving the prime of my peer-pressure/take a beating on the self-esteem vulnerability age, and believe me, I did NOT come away unscathed. But the most valuable lesson I've learned is not to concern myself about what others think about who I am. I'm different, and that's why I'm me. I mean what type of gray, George Orwell's 1984 type world would this be if we weren't different? An extra-bland one, that's for sure. At this point in my life, hate it or love it, I'm exploring the person I am...and so far I'm great! =)

Hello All

2009-07-30T23:05:00.000-04:00

So, this is my interesting experiment with internet blogging. I hope the e-world will be supportive in my endeavor. I'll give a very brief about me.

I'm a 19 year old college student. My hobbies include calling financial aid, emailing financial aid, and basically using any mechanism humanly possible to contact financial aid (haha...just kidding!) But seriously though, if you're a college student, I'm sure you understand that I was only HALF kidding. :/
<-- Train Heartnet, from the anime I'm currently watching called "Black Cat" (picture from animepaper.net)
Well anyway, I am your average quirky college student. My REAL hobbies include reading, writing, watching anime, hoping that the show "The Game" starring Tia Mowry doesn't get cancelled, having movie nights, and the occasional party. As a pre-med student, studying takes up about 85% of my free-time meter so that's pretty unfortunate. But yeah, that's me in a nutshell.