Thank You Eleanor Roosevelt!

" No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What a week it has been.

First thing Monday morning, my school schedule for the week ahead was already overwhelming. I had 2 exams and 3 homework assignments on my shoulders. And it doesn't help Monday morning when you wake up that you already know you have to go to work for 9 hours and then go to school for another 5 hours. WHERE is the bright side to that!? On top, Monday night is the class from hell. I have a Professor, who for lack of a better word, is unbearable.

I actually enjoy the degree I am pursuing and since I am paying for the education I receive, you would think that some respect and courtesy would be included in that bundle. Nope. Not with this man. In four years of college, I have never encountered someone so out of touch with his audience.

I really work on trying not to complain, because in the scheme of things I should have nothing to complain about-I live in America. I am getting an education. I am blessed with a family and friends-the list goes on. It could be much worse. But, this week hit me head on when I went to speak the same Professor I mentioned above about a paper I had written that apparently was not to his standard or liking. Being that it is still relatively early in the semester and I still have 3 papers to write for this man, I wanted clarification on what exactly he did not like about this one so that I could improve. Well, I was surprised at the criticism I got when I brought it up. He REAMED my paper, top to bottom. He accused me of making my "font larger and margins more narrow, so that I could reduce the quantity of my writing". Excuse me, really? On top of a few other insults, it was also thrown in that I did not have the college level writing style he preferred and I spent little to no effort (it took me at least 3 hrs) on the assignment. Never in my life, have I felt so inferior. Ever. In a ten minute conversation, that man managed to put me down, far, far down. And then I thought about it...I let him make me feel that way. I didn't have to, but I did. I did not stick up for myself, I took the blow. Why did I do that, it is pretty unlike me.

After I left speaking to him, I spent the next 15 minutes of our class break crying. Emotional Meltdown #1 of the semester. I had 15 minutes to let it out and then head back to listen to my Elementary School/College Professor teach for another hour and a half (This man writes a list on the board and crosses things off as we go). Awesome. I spent the rest of class thinking about why I said nothing, and I knew why. This guy scares me. I have anxiety when I walk into that room. When I left that night, Jessica met me outside (also beginning her week pretty crappy), and I decided after talking to her that I can't let him intimidate me. I will not let someone make me feel inferior, no sir, no thank you. Now, I just know that I have to get an A in the class, to prove him wrong.

That whole experience did teach me a lesson. I am getting ready to graduate and over the next few years as I will search to find my niche with a company, I am sure I will encounter people like this and will need tough skin. Well, its there now!

Good news, to prove to you readers that I am not just a stupid college student who can't write and is just complaining--I did great on both of my tests this week and got all those homework's done. Holla!



On to happier things.

Chad and I started our Wedding Registry. Oh My. I have never had so much fun shopping my life, and I didn't even have to spend any money. I can't wait to get into our own house (sometime shortly after the wedding) and start decorating and using everything. This is such an exciting time in our lives and I am trying to enjoy it because these next few years are the only ones we are going to have by ourselves and I want to make them great!


Only one dose of laughter this week:

I got home from class Tuesday night a little early and caught the new Honey Boo Boo. Sugar Bear and June got married. OMG. Here's the laughter part:
Holy Camo!

I feel like I have dwelled a bit on my Professor it was a real eye-opener for me. When bad stuff like that happens I am so thankful to have a great support system. After all, the World isn't going to end and I need to be reminded of that sometimes, lol. It really does mean the World though, that I am fortunate enough to have people around me that pick me up when I am down. And I could not ask for more. 

Lord, thank you for this life. 

Xo

How Many Weeks Left ...

Today is finally Thursday, woop woop! I look forward to Thursday's, they are the first day of the week that I do not have class until 9:45 and I so love it. The beginning of weekend bliss.

School has surprisingly been flowing well for the past few weeks. I go to work, I go to class, I go to sleep, I do it again. It is repetitive and mundane some days but I do have the fortunate luck to have classes with good friends. Thank God. Sitting through 2 and a half hours of lecture without a little poking fun at our professor (or crazy classmates sometimes) would be unbearable. My other saving grace?! Starbucks. Bless them and the PSL, tehe. Now, don't think I am there every night blowing away money but some nights coffee is dinner and on those nights, I have good coffee and not the $1 cup.

What is killing me so far this semester though, is not work or my classes--It's not being able to workout AT ALL during the week. It makes you feel so gross. I love to workout. My fiance and I enjoy going to the gym together and I can never go anymore. I have to force myself over the weekend now to go do it (and on your only 2 days off, that end up being filled with homework eventually-it is hard to do). I am very much looking forward to May (only a month before my wedding!) when I will be graduated and have my nights free again because there will be some serious work to be done!

Speaking of wedding...I am so glad that I got most every detail taken care of over the Summer when things were less stressful. People would tell me that I had so much time and to not worry about getting anything done a year in advance but I am happy that I listened to myself instead of others because if I had to worry about the details of the wedding right now there is no way I could be working full time and going to school full time. The only thing we do not have yet is a DJ, so if any of you guys out there have a suggestion please let me know!

"Things are about to get Real", next week Jessica says. That is when our first exams start. I got the luck of the draw and have 2 back-to-back exams on Tuesday, right after work, wow.

Enough about school.

I do have a few doses of laughter.

1st: Chad and I missed Miley's now infamous performance at the VMAs but, last weekend when we were out with some friends of ours, they had it DVR'd and we just had to see. Oh my sweet Lord. That Teddy Bear leotard, and her Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, circa 1998 hairdo kept me laughing the whole time. Thank you Miley. Sorry Robin Thicke. Go JT.

2nd: Short and sweet. I went through the whole day yesterday thinking it was Tuesday, Nicole told me as I was getting ready to leave work that it was in fact Wednesday. How did I forget?!

"Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike-What day is it? It's Hump Day-WHOOP WHOOP"

NASCAR. I went to my first NASCAR race this past weekend. Oh my. NASCAR fans are serious. I personally do not know the driving skills of Gordon from Dale Jr. but oh did I learn. I will say one thing, I saw more American Pride at a NASCAR race than I have ever seen anywhere else in my life. I didn't understand the whole experience of staying there for 2 days before the race and sleeping in your truck but once I had those earphones on I was into it. Totally surprised! 

Here are a few other tid-bits in pictures: 

Saw Darius Rucker at Innsbrook last week, he does not disappoint! 

Had an awesome time at JMU

In remembrance of yesterday, may our country always be united with one another and never forget what we have risen from. I love America and what we stand for. 

Everyone have a great weekend.

Enjoy the laughter,

xo

FRIDAY!

It's Friday! I love when the weekend finally gets here--and this weekend is a long one! Chad (my fiance) and I are heading up to JMU to spend the weekend with my sister there. She just got her first house and we are gonna go live it up!

This week felt like it would never end. After my water-spilling-horrible-professor-late-night-class Monday night, it dragged on from there.

I finished my first full week of Senior year (Whoop Whoop!). All week long I had no idea where to go to next. I am having serious trouble keeping up with my classes. MGMT 389? MGMT 403? MGMT 433? ECON 303? Bleh.

But, a little light came through the tunnel Tuesday night while in my Managerial Econ class. I am one of 122 people in  this classroom waiting for our 10-minute late professor to show up. Classy on the first day, eh? A little Indian man walks through and turns out to be our professor. I love his high pitched voice and accent. He is the funniest, most light-hearted professor I have ever met-and he's teaching Economics !?! Ill take it!

Luckily, as the week went on I found out that I have several classes with an old friend from High School and it was good to catch up after so long. And, since my classes are so small now, almost all the same people are in all of my classes, which I prefer since we have so many group projects. Speaking of....Group Projects will be the death of me. In one week, I was assigned 4 semester long Case Analysis projects....Holla! NOT.

This week killed me physically, mentally and emotionally. Wednesday morning I found out that my dad was hit in his tractor trailer by another one in North Carolina. Just what I needed. Life slaps you in the face at the oddest/awful/weirdest/most unexpected times. I am thankful that he is OK. Since my parents are separated and my dad is the semi-healthy one, it is weird to think about losing  your parent who is not the one that is permanently ill. That was a big reality shock for me this week.

I felt so lucky to have two great friends there for me, Nicole and Jessica. Nicole is that friend that fixes your troubles with chocolate and that is just what she did, with an entire jar of M&Ms (Shhh don't tell Chad ;) ). Jessica is the person who does funny cute things to make you feel better so before class she treated me to my new favorite thing: Starbucks Orange Iced Coffee and after I got out of class (at 9:45 I might add!!!) I had the nicest, funniest note from her waiting for me on my windshield.


This week I am thankful for:

Great Friends
Great Family
God's many blessings in my life
Chaddy
And....Delicious Starbucks Coffee to keep me awake :)

Everyone enjoy your weekend!


XO

Jessica :) the Kate Spade Monster

Nicole :) my Chocolate Advocate (wearing her fabulous Bridesmaid dress for my wedding might I add!)

Am I Ready For This ?...

I planned on posting yesterday but remembering to got away from me. Oops. Its Tuesday, and my first full week back to VCU. My senior year has finally come and I am trying to get through it, hopefully in one piece, and make it to May 10th graduation.

I decided it would be a good idea to take 5 classes and work 40 hours and plan my wedding this semester. My professor called  me a "crazy person" last night for that very reason. Eh, I think I can do it. I am sure at least one other person out there has done it successfully, and I will be the second.

Here's my dose of laughter to you all for the day: After working all day yesterday, I get to school and make it through my first class (that I was surprisingly very interested in) and head to get some coffee. While walking with a cup of water and my cup of coffee from the cafe downstairs, what do I do? I spill my entire cup of water. Everywhere. People staring at me, coffee on my pants, water everywhere. Hello Monday! I calmly went back to the cafe and told the nice lady working there that someone had spilled some water and asked for a wet floor sign to put out. Hey, I did the right thing, I just decided to leave out the embarrassing part that it was me.

Moving on, I get to my next class and am greeted by my professor. A man dry of personality and humor, he assigns a paper before class and expects us to turn it in as soon as we get in the door, "Aint nobody got time for that!", is running through my head at that moment. He then proceeds to tell us that we will never be leaving this 2 hour and 45 minute class a single minute early. Thanks Teach! Way to make my evening on a Monday! As I sit there in my coffee stained khakis, listening to this lecture, all I can think is, "What did I get myself into?!". This man continues to talk for the entire class period and by the end I am so exhausted I can barely stay awake. I was so thankful when 9:45 arrived.

Even on my weakest, hardest, longest days, God is there with me. Complaining comes so easy to us all and it makes us feel better in times of annoyance, hurt, anger, etc but the real task at hand is to put aside the complaining and focus on how blessed we truly are to have the things we do. I am working on this.

I am blessed to be able to go to college. I am blessed to live in a country where I can go to college. I am blessed to have a support system while I am there. I am blessed to even have a vehicle to get me there. I am blessed with a job that helps me pay for my education.

When we shrink it down to blessings, the complaining ceases and we see how much we truly have.

Hopefully Tuesday has less spills in store for me!


xoxo

Here Goes...

Why am I doing this? That's what I'm thinking right now. I am a full-time college student, I work more than  full-time, AND I'm planning my wedding. But, despite all of that, I have a desire to share what is going on in my life right now. So, I will try to make time.

So much change is coming my way in the next year and I want to be able to get out stuff I necessarily wont talk about and I'll try not to complain about. So, here is my outlet.

I love the funny things in life. Laughter puts you at peace in the tough times and makes you happier in the sad ones.

Although it is a roller coaster for me right now I look forward to sharing the ups and downs, mundane days, and unforgettable moments with all you e-readers.



xoxo