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 82: Education + the Grad School Journey

Today I learned...
...that I have learned A LOT in the last 3 years. I had to write a final assignment for my social work program, and as I did so, I became more emotional than I realized I would become. It's been a long ride, but I am emerging different (in a good way) than when I began.

Today I am thankful for...
...being able to end this grad school journey in the presence of great people. I know I still have 5 weeks to go, but it's ending... and I am happy that the hard work will pay off. But I am also sad that the people who have been part of the journey won't be there every week. Cheering each other on has been fantastic and I will never forget it. That said, I don't plan on losing touch with everyone once we grab our diplomas and scream with joy. Still - it's the end of a journey. And I am thankful for the people I have met along the way.

 

[hahaha ;-) I made up a new word!]

Day 72: Simplicity + Elimination of Work

Today I learned...
...that some things are as simple as we make them...including things for classes.

Today I am thankful for...
...our instructor eliminating a paper from our upcoming assignments. Thank God! I didn't know where I was going to find the time.

Day 69: Prioritizing + Cleaning Favors

Today I learned...
...not to make things harder than they need to be. I prioritized school work instead of making myself crazy, did what HAD to be done, rather than everything that exists to be done, and I felt less rushed and more in charge.

Today I am thankful for...
...Rick cleaning my whole car (vacuuming and cleansing all the windows and surfaces) and Rick cleaning my whole bathroom shower. HE IS AMAZING. And a bit of a neat freak. But man, both of those things seriously needed cleaning. And I didn't have to do it. 

Day 65: ALS + Positivity

Today I learned...
...that people facing the bleakest of fates can be inspirational, motivated, and positive. I learned about ALS (http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html) from someone who has it...and how it affects people firsthand and secondhand. And in turn, I was affected too.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to show someone that injecting a little positivity and gratitude into a regular day's events can change outcomes. :-)

Day 59: Final Moments + Honorable Mention

Today I learned...
...that people can hear you even when they are minutes from death. I sat with a patient today who was imminently dying. He was unconscious, breathing in a labored fashion, and unresponsive. And he was alone. So I sat there for almost an hour and I talked to him. It's a little embarrassing even to say here, but I told him that he didn't have to be afraid. I told him that his angels were with him. I told him that he didn't have to wait for anyone or anything. And then, because some people wait for someone to be near and some people wait to be all alone, I told him, "I'll be right back" so he would know I was leaving, and I went out. He died within 5 minutes. I truly believe he heard and wanted to take his last breath in peace.

Today I am thankful for...
...this email I received!

Dear Arielle,

It is with pleasure to inform you that you have received an Honorable Mention for the Polizzi Award for this year. Congratulations! Phyllis & I nominated you with the attached nomination write up. Voting was done via all faculty from all of our MSW programs at our last meeting. Your honorable mention recognition will be presented to you at the Spring Field Colloquium in Scranton on Wed. March 27th & you will be recognized along with the MSW Polizzi Award Winner at this year's Graduate Hooding Ceremony. We are honored to have you as the honorable mention recipient of this award! I am hopeful that you will be able to attend to receive the recognition that you so deserve at each venue! Congratulations! I am copying your field liaison and current & past field instructors on this announcement as well to share this good news! Thank you for all you do as an MSW student & soon to be social worker! Congratulations!


The Polizzi Medal is awarded to a graduating MSW who overall in the SSWAS stands out in class, in field, and in the social work profession and community, etc. The award recognizes the student for outstanding educational performance and service in the filed of social work. The Word document that was attached to the email (the nomination essay itself that was composed by the faculty) was so long and touching and so filled with kind words that it brought tears to my eyes. I am not sharing it, because I'm too embarrassed and it made me blush. The person who won the first place award goes to school in Scranton (a couple hours away) so is unknown to me...as I was unknown to many of the faculty up there who vote on this recipient of this award. As per a conversation I had with Dr. Black a few days ago, I think Dr. Black (Phyllis, the director of my social work program) was a little upset that I did not win, because the instructors on the other campus don't know me. BUT I WAS SO HONORED JUST TO BE NOMINATED let alone win the honorable mention. I tried to impress this upon her. I really am blessed.

Day 41: Studying + the iPhone!

Today I learned...
...that studying for this licensure exam with a team of my fabulous classmates is much better than studying for it alone. Yay for teamwork and camaraderie.

Today I am thankful for...
...my brand new iPhone5! My 3GS got an upgrade today. And thanks to my dad, I am the proud owner of this glorious little technological tool that makes my busy life sooooo much easier on the go. :-)

Day 37: Group Projects + Love Notes

Today I learned...
...that a group project doesn't have to be a chore. Normally when the term "group project" is uttered in a school setting - whether that setting be high school, undergrad university, or graduate school - it strikes fear and trepidation in the hearts of most. Maybe it's just the fact that we're social workers and care about each other a lot, but I'm working on a group project right now and it's smooth sailing. There haven't been many times I've been able to say that about group work. Tonight, armed with a laptop, we easily and efficiently planned and planted all our PowerPoint slides into one presentation in less than an hour. There is no worry about one person doing more work than another. There is no fear that a deadline won't be met. Yay! Go team!

Today I am thankful for...
...the note from Rick that was waiting for me when I arrived home after a long day and night. It made me smile, as his notes usually do.

Day 30: A New Term + a Safe Arrival

Today I learned...
...that the role I've been trying to live and embody and exude is that of a Servant-Leader. I never heard this term until tonight in my graduate Policy class. Yes, I want to be a leader... but not just a leader - a Servant-Leader. Don't know what one is? Check it out: Servant-Leadership

Today I am thankful for...
...getting home safely in the torrential rain, fog, and flooding. My drive home from class tonight was a bit treacherous, but I made it. If it wasn't the wall of rain making it difficult for me to see, it was the dense fog near Northampton. At one point, my brakes didn't really work, but I said "thank you" when I skidded safely to a stop.

Day 28: Communication + Cancellations

Today I learned...
...that learning how to talk to someone about something difficult and receive the outcome you desire is a true accomplishment. Today I was told, "Good for you" regarding a conversation I had with someone I love. I got the outcome I wanted and I was happy, but I didn't consider that I had played a part in contributing to the outcome. I had placed all the power with the other person. Only when I was told, "Good for you," did I realize that had I approached the situation and the conversation differently, would a very different outcome have transpired.

Today I am thankful for...
...grad school classes being cancelled for the evening. I now have more time to relax and to prepare for tomorrow without getting home at 10 pm.

Day 26: Celebrities + Licensure Prep

Today I learned...
...that mooning over an attractive TV star like a 14 year old makes me human. :-) And that mooning over one with a good friend makes it both fun and funny!

Today I am thankful for...
...the big licensure prep manual I received in the mail that will help me study for licensure for my MSW in the next few weeks!

Day 24: Ethical Dilemmas + Rick's Health

Today I learned...
...that there are very serious situations that are not just black and white. In hospice today, an ethical dilemma was discussed...and I'm damned if I can even choose what I would do in the situation. There's just no good, right answer. So many sides.

Today I am thankful for...
...my husband finally feeling better! He was pretty sick for a few days and went back to work today, feeling almost human. I'm so glad.

Day 20: Libraries + Cards

Today I learned...
...that I get far more accomplished at the library than I do in my own home. It's been a theory before, but I think by now it's been tested enough that I believe it to be fact.

Today I am thankful for...
...the money to buy special cards for all the unknowing strangers who will be recipients of my "Letters on Monday." Cards aren't cheap and I'm grateful.

Day 7: Letters + Education

Today I learned...
...that writing a handwritten letter to a stranger, in the interest of being kind, loving, helpful, and empowering, and leaving it for him/her to find, feels totally AWESOME. Yes, I did it. I wrote a letter and I sealed it up and I addressed it to: "If you found this, this is for you. (Yes! You!)" I left it at an empty table at Panera Bread. I was inspired by www.moreloveletters.com


Today I am thankful for...
...my first day of my LAST semester of graduate school...because it means a) I got to see my wonderful, caring classmates and b) there are only 16 weeks left between me and my LMSW!!!