Winter Solstice “The turn of the wheel”. Another year comes to a close. I love how I get to finish off the year being with family and Matthias. Tonight, we are celebrating Missy turning 26 in Nevada City and then meeting up with Kristina and Janel for dessert. I’m looking forward to catching up and sharing the sweet highs of 2006.
To the world, I wish you peace, joy, and a moment of silence. Just a few minutes, somewhere over the next few days to reflect on how amazing life is. Gracias!
December 2006
Monthly Archive
Sat 23 Dec 2006
Mon 18 Dec 2006
Can you imagine working for a place that gives everyone at the same time 2 weeks off? My college does. I realized this morning that giving your staff along with faculty forced 2 weeks off means that you are investing in the mental health of your people. Lately the news have been reporting on end of the year bonuses companies give to their employees to motivate them to work extra hard all year. At NVC, instead of a cash bonus they give you 2 weeks off. It’s funny, because through out the year you think boy, I could sure use the extra cash, but those 2 weeks arrive and you wake up thinking, yahoo, now this is what I needed.
For all those about to take a week of vacation or 2—Enjoy! You’ve earned it and deserve it. Hey and if you already took your week vacation, cheers for taking care of yourself.
Today, I am going to take my homework and laptop to the local Starbucks, meet up with my co-worker Marcel who is also working on her graduate degree, and try that Gingerbread Latte I watched so many people buy yesterday..hmm..It must be the ginger.
Sun 17 Dec 2006
Tonight Matthias and I were able to get into the sold out performance of “Songs from RENT” performed by the Experiential Theatre Company (ETC) of the Sonoma Community Center. ETC is the bold youth theatre company where teens and young adults from around Sonoma County come to learn and perform musical theatre. I give a standing ovation to the director and producers of ETC for providing these young actors with RENT to perform. The teens not only gave a 4 star performance, but you could feel they now have this deeper understanding for people who live and have died from HIV/AIDS. What better way to teach them about a disease that at one point in time did not even have a name. I wonder if for today’s youth AIDS just sounds like another STD or just another reason for a Triathlon? Do they really know the story?
As I watched these teens perform songs such as “Seasons of Love, Life Support, and No Day But Today (Another Day)” it hit me that a play with the story about life and living with HIV/AIDS in the late 80’s, that was written in the 90’s, was meant to be told today. In a way, Jonathan Larson the playwright of RENT wrote the story of HIV/AIDS that is now teaching the young people of today and tomorrow. How will I tell the story of HIV/AIDS to my future students, maybe even children? I hope I will take them to see RENT.
Wed 13 Dec 2006
My high for today was being there to listen. Through out the day I interviewed faculty and staff for a grad assessment on the mental health of college students and I even got the chance to sit and talk with a few of my own students. In the middle of one of those talks it hit me that my role as an advisor could be compared to a dorm RA.
I remember how I looked up to my residential assistant in the dorms. She was only a few years older then me but for some reason it really made a difference having in her in the building.
Today, I do not manage a residence hall or even work at a campus that has them. However, I realized today that the time I spend listening to my student government officers talk about their jobs, family or finals is just as meaningful to them as the moments I had with my R.A.
Cool beans.
Ohh and on a fun note: Matthias game Lair is being shown during the Play Station 3 commercials. If you see a kick ass dragon on a bridge that’s Matt’s technical art direction in action!
Sat 9 Dec 2006
Before I head off to study, I want to share this great wellness resource site that was emailed to me by our Student Health Center Coordinator. It reminds us that many of us are dealing with stress, depression or other life changing events often alone. If you are feeling overwhelmed? What to help a friend? A family member? Take some time to email or visit this great Wellness Site produced by MTV University and ULifeline called www.halfofus.com
This weekend I am working on my Counseling Course Mental Health Workshop. My goal is to find time to write a script of a mental health crisis that could be acted out during my presentation. Will see how it goes. The college is allowing me to use this assignment to develop a workshop for the Spring Semester Flex Day. I so excited for the opportunity. I am starting to see myself shine in the area of Staff Development.
In between studying, I hope to buy a Christmas tree with Matthias and do a little Christmas shopping. Ohh..an finish those Christmas cards.
Thu 7 Dec 2006
Thought for the day by one of my favoriate artist Richard Stine
“Q. How long do we have? A. As long as it takes.
Q. How much do we get? A. As much as we need.”
Mon 4 Dec 2006
Today is my 5 year anniversary as the Coordinator of Student Life at Napa Valley College. Yahoo! Life has been pretty amazing. I have gone from starting with 6 students to now having 20 very active student government officers. I love my office. My highs are the joy I get when students stop by to grab some candy and check in. I want to say thank you Dr. Ed Shenk for hiring me. You always gave me the support and freedom to build up my program and an office to take to new heights. Cheers!