Day 133: Missing Class + Grad Gift

Today I learned...

...that I kind of actually miss going to class on Monday nights...

Today I am thankful for...

...an unexpected graduation gift from my boss. :-)

Day 131: MSW + BFF

Today I learned...
...that my MSW journey is bittersweet: I am thrilled to be finished and happy about my achievements, but sad that it means the end of some wonderful, challenging times with great people.

Today I am thankful for...
...my amazing best friend coming surprising me by showing up at my hooding! I almost peed my pants and was so shocked. Having friends and family who love me and show pride in me is phenomenal. Oh...and I'm thankful for my MSW! WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Day 128: Good News + Rick's Birthday

Today I learned...

...that some friends got good news and I couldn't be happier.

Today I am thankful for...

...the birth of my husband, Rick. It's his birthday and I am glad he was born.

Day 126: Sadness + Celebration

Today I learned...
...that you can't take away everyone's sadness, but you can support them through it.

Today I am thankful for...
...a chatty night of celebration at the Copperhead with the best group of social workers I know and love. :-)

Day 119: Wonderful Words + Masters Robes!

Today I learned...
...that listening to wonderful things being said about my amazing classmates is every bit as good as listening to wonderful things being said about myself.

Today I am thankful for...
...my very delightful cap and gown! The Masters robe is weirder looking than undergrad robes were once upon a time, but hey - I get to rock a HOOD and some pretty high heels will spice things up. :-)

Day 114: Truth + Abundance

Today I learned...
...that truth triumphs.

Today I am thankful for...
...so many things! A new niece to love! The promise of a vacation with Rick in July! No more assignments! Some relief for friends!

Day 113: Hope + Final Paper

Today I learned...
...that even when you previously assumed the good would not prevail, there is still a chance it may prevail...so essentially, don't give up hope, even when things look hopeless.

Today I am thankful for...
...FINISHING MY VERY LAST PAPER OF GRADUATE SCHOOL. EVER. THE END. I feel like I sing Hallelujahs all night long.

Day 112: Battles + Classmates

Today I learned...
...that the good guys don't always win.

Today I am thankful for...
...my wonderful and inspiring classmates- a beautiful group of people who make me smile.

Day 111: Filler + Coffee

Today I learned...
...that some instructors want you to fill pages just for the sake of filling pages.

Today I am thankful for...
...coffee to fuel me through the writing of my last grad paper ever.

Day 110: Learning + Dinner Celebrations

Today I learned...
...that I learned A LOT during my crazy 3 year graduate program. After completing a 21 page paper detailing tons of field experience, therapy practice, etc...I feel...accomplished.

Today I am thankful for...
...a delicious dinner out with Rick. We never go out so it was nice to have some time together without having to cook.

Day 107: Lack of Heart + Sisterhood

Today I learned...
...that some people do NOT have your best interest in mind. And that stings. Even when it's directed at someone other than yourself.

Today I am thankful for...
...the sisterhood of my Student Association committee. I love these women who fearlessly stand by each other and their friends...and who happily stand with ME when I intend to advocate on behalf of another. Thank you thank you thank you, sisterhood!

Day 106: Counseling Stats + Advocacy Day

Today I learned...
...that MSWs provide 60% of counseling services. Go, MSWs! I'm 2 weeks away...

Today I am thankful for...
...Advocacy Day in my state's Capitol. Time with friends is always great, but time with MSW friends is cohesive and makes me feel like part of a profession.

Day 104: Paper Writing + a Walk

Today I learned...
...that paper writing is not quite as hellish when you 1) know that other fabulous people are writing along with you and 2) you make a hilarious and frightening video to document the insanity.

Today I am thankful for...
...a nice, sunny walk in my neighborhood. :-)

Day 100: Knowledge + Weather

Today I learned...
...that my classmates are a wealth of information and knowledge about a wide variety of really important topics!

Today I am thankful for...
...the beautiful warm weather that means spring is finally here to stay!

Day 99: Healing + Field Respect

Today I learned...
...that some people have a real, true gift for healing...and that I highly respect that.

Today I am thankful for...
...a field instructor and field liaison who respect me, have given me good experiences, and think I am ready to be a graduate level professional in a mere few weeks time.

Day 93: Nap + Classmates

Today I learned...
...that a good, long nap can make a sick woman deliver a presentation without failing. I was sick, but went to work...decided what was best was for me to go home...so I left at 10:45 am, went home and slept until 3:30pm. Then, I got dressed and drove to class to give a presentation. If I had worked all day, I highly doubt I could have delivered a presentation.

Today I am thankful for...
...my very intelligent and caring classmates. They never cease to support me and each other.

Day 87: Field Placement + Romance

Today I learned...
...that my field placement will end earlier than I thought it would. By April 11th, I will have enough hours to graduate - so for a couple of weeks, all I will have to worry about are classes and work. ;-)

Today I am thankful for...
...quality time and closeness with Rick. Finally.

Day 86: Art Therapy + Magical Conversations

Today I learned...
...lots of art therapy activities I can use with people with eating disorders.

Today I am thankful for...
...good conversation with a classmate, which led to exciting information.

Day 84: Good Company + a Driver

Today I learned...
...the truth of the above quote. I found it in an old calendar at work today and was struck by it. It reminded me instantly of my grad school friends. This whole MSW experience initially seemed so long, but with good company we prevailed and made the best of everything.

Today I am thankful for...
...a solution to my driving dilemma for Wednesday. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get to Scranton for a colloquium and still make it back for class that night, because I am too afraid to drive all the way up there myself. A classmate came through for me just as I was resigning myself to backing out.

Day 83: History + To-Do List Success

Today I learned...
...that there is a lot of history in my own area of which I was never aware. I am doing a paper/presentation on Women's Suffrage in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, and while women's suffrage is one of my "things," I never thought to research some more local aspects of the movement. I am liking what I have found.

Today I am thankful for...
...getting a big chunk of my final assignments done. Yay! Still a long way to go, but definitely was able to cross some things off my To-Do List.