Cafe Victoria

Reading: “Songs Without Words” by Ann Packer
Listening to: “Girls Mix from my Wedding Shower/Girls weekend”, randomly found it in my car
Thinking about: Balance
Watching: our birds
Thankful for: my car 1998 Acura, I am now calling it nonY2k compatible.
Looking forward to: a full day with my husband

I realized this morning that one year ago this week, was also Spring Break, and I had spent that week finishing my capstone (the portfolio section of my blog). When I think back I remember it being a lot of work! I had fun though. I had to organizing all my essays, upload examples, photos, etc. I sure learned a lot about pdf.

A year later though, I am happy to share that this Spring Break I spend the week catching up with friends and family. Here are a few high lights:

• Playing chicken foot dominoes with my sister and Grandma Grace in Tustin Ca.
• Hiking with Maria and having this amazing clear view from the top of the Sonoma Overlook trail
• Randomly playing bowling on a Wednesday afternoon with my Dad in Grass Valley
• Watching Lost with my parents and seeing them totally understanding the plot and having a blast, while I am totally “lost” (he he)
• Text messages Matthias while he is chilling at GDC (Gaming Development Conference) in S.F., feeling pretty lucky

This semester I am observing Marci Sanchez’s Tuesday/Thursday 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Counseling 98: Learning Community Experience/Community College Experience. The Counseling College Success course is paired up with English 85 as part of the English Learning Communities. The ELC program has had excellent retention rates and has done my favorite student affairs thing; built community for those students. I decided to make time in my schedule this spring to observe because I learned over winter break that the graduate program I was part of less than a year ago added one more course requirement and changed the degree to Master of Science in College Counseling and Student Development. It originally was called Master of Education in College Student Affairs (CSA).  I am scheduled to take the additional course in summer of 2009.

During my time researching and writing about the field of student affairs, I discovered that I also have a passion to engage students about the college experience at the classroom level as well. I’ve really enjoyed sitting in her class. I hope down the road I can be part of the ELC teaching community or teach one of many counseling college success courses colleges offer.  I think understanding more of the faculty site of the house will make me a better college leader and advsor to students.

Since being part of Marci’s class I have learned:

• what needs to be in a syllabus such as information on learning accommodations, attendance policy, late work policy and grade chart.
• how to use Career /Personality assessments such as CareerDimension.com and the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI)
• how to write class objectives and be flexable at the same time.
• teaching “College Success” really comes down to helping students understand why they are in college in the first place and helping them to over come the fears they carry with them about learning.

The 2009 NASCAR season is alive and kicking. Today was an awesome race in Las Vegas. Each race, Matthias and I pick 2 drivers. Whose ever driver comes the closest to winning, wins that race. Today, Matthias picked Kurt Busch, I picked Jimmy Johnson and right towards the end, Jimmy crashes and ends up finishing right behind Kurt. Sad Face. This year, I’m going to create some “bonus” points just in case I fall really behind on my picks. So, I’m having us pick now who we think is going to land in the top 12 for the Chase. 26 races before we get there. The most picked drivers who makes it into the chase wins bonus points.
My Picks (in no special order)
#18 Kyle Busch
#24 Jeff Gordon
#14 Tony Stewart
#31 Jeff Burton
#5 Mark Martin
#99 Carl Edwards
(this is harder then I thought)
#17 Matt Kenneth
#2 Kurt Busch
#88 Jr.
#16 Greg Biffle
#9 Kasey Kaine
#83 Brian Vickers

I’ve been noticing something new about myself in the last couple months. I’m discovering my own style of leadership. But at the same time, I’ve felt uneasy about showing it. One side of my leadership style is that I want everyone around me to have the same kind of energy and excitement as I do. I want them to follow through and aim to do great work. But the reality I’m facing is that what might be a priority for me, might not be for that person.  I saw this poem on my co-hort’s member Tira’s blog. It rings true to what I’ve been feeling lately.  Thanks Tira for sharing!

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, Illogical, and self-centered
Forgive them anyway
If you are kind People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives
Be kind anyway
If you are successful, You will win some false friends and some true enemies
Succeed anyway
If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you
Be honest and frank anyway
What you spend years building, Someone could destroy overnight
Build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous
Be happy anyway
The good you do today, People will often forget tomorrow
Do good anyway
Give the world the best you have, And it may never be enough
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway

You see, in the final analysis It is between you, your self, and God . . .
It never was between you and them anyway