Graduation on the Brain

I was contacted by financial aid at Drake last weekend about graduating early. No, they didn't tell me that I should stay until May so they could get more money out of me. Instead, they decided I should graduate early to save money and because I can meet all my requirements by December.

Easier said then done. I need to get into ONE course that fulfills 3 of the six criteria I need to graduate. In essence, this is the JACKPOT of classes because it means I can take research and a marriage and family course for fun, instead of sacrificing those to take other courses I need. Additionally, it is a course that I purchased all the books for 2 semesters ago because I was scheduled to take it and it was dropped last minute. Haha.

Anyway, I am now patiently waiting to hear back from the professor to see if she would be willing to let me in her class. I now there is a very slim chance she will let me in, but a girl can dream, can't she?

You may be asking why I am so eager to graduate early. Well, here is a pro/con list of graduating early:

Pros

• Much cheaper - I'll save about $5,000 in tuition alone
• I am able to work full time from January through August 2013, which helps me earn more cash. In addition to this, I can be more settled in my job before going back to part-time during graduate school when I start back in August.
• I am able to move back home in December, saving even more money on rent
• Moving to Bolivar, MO also means I can be closer to Matt (5 hours in Des Moines versus 45 minutes in Bolivar).
• Have more time to apply for graduate school because I won't be in school when I apply (the apps are due anywhere from January to March of 2013).
• It will give me an 8 month break from school before starting graduate school.

Cons

• I have already promised to babysit for Hailey and Abby in the spring, which would not be possible if I graduate early and live down in MO
• My on-campus job is year-round, so it would force my boss to find someone new for the second semester
• My position in SIFE will be up for grabs during the second semester, which is a HUGE bummer 
• I am leaving Eryn to find a new roomie or figure out a new living arrangement

If you are reading this, can I ask something from you? I am desperate and I have no idea what is in store for me. The one thing I do know is that I need to follow God's will for my life. In other words, graduating early may just be an attractive idea, but not practical in God's eyes. Can I ask for your prayer to ask for God's will in my life and in this decision? I desperately need it in this time of need. 

I hope you had a great Sunday and God bless. :)

Half Canadian

The love of my life is in Calgary, Canada right now. No, he isn't ice fishing or whatever else Canadians typically do for fun. He is with his family visiting his mom's parents and family. 

This will be the longest time Matt and I have spent apart our entire relationship. Not only will he be gone for 10 days, but he doesn't get cell phone service, so calling and texting is sketchy. Needless to say, I have time to start blogging again. Why not, right?

I have never been to Canada, let alone anywhere else outside of the US. I feel like such a homebody sometimes. What is wrong with the US? Without going into governmental or political rants, I love the US. Even if it is all I know, I am aware that there are many worse places I could call my home. 

One day, I hope I too can go along with Matt's family to Canada, just to see all of the places he has talked about before. It also helps put a place to some of the things he has talked about before. 

Even though Matt disagrees, I call him "half Canadian" all of the time. If a person's mom is born in Canadian and his dad is born in the US, the child (Matt) is half Canadian...right? I'm pretty sure I'm right. However, his family is actually from Denmark like my family, so I'm not really sure what happened there. haha.

Well, I hope everyone is having a relaxing Saturday night. I should probably get off her and do something more productive, like reading a book or watching TV. Goodnight fellow Americans.

Becoming a Teacher for a Summer

The job I have this summer is undoubtedly the hardest job I have ever had. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. 

I am the first and second grade teacher to students all summer long at the science center. Let's just say a good day is when I leave with my voice and no headache. I haven't had a day like that since probably week 2. 

Needless to say, this is why I have not blogged in a very long while. I come home from work, most likely crash, eventually eat and then do something rather productive like curriculum, go to my second job or going to bed early. This is my life these days.

Though I realize I will never educate anyone under the age of 18 for my permanent job, I have learned many things from job. Here is my current, ever-changing list:

1. Rules must include every possible outcome to a situation. If even one thin is left out, your rule may as well not exist. Kids WILL find the loophole.
2. A child's sense of time is based on the next time they can eat.
3. Little boys cry more often than little girls.
4. A child's attention span is less than 15 minutes long...on the lengthy end.
5. If a child misbehaves in class, it is the teacher's fault for not disciplining the child correctly...not the parents who don't know how to raise a child.
6. Sometimes the cutest children are the ones who misbehave the most. I think that's why God made them so darn cute.
7. Bathroom breaks are the most important things to get correct during the day.
8. Transitioning time between activities takes at least five minutes. Much time is wasted on just getting children quiet. 
9. I get attached to children very quickly.

There are many other things I learned from this camp, but my brain is too fried to even think right now. 9 items is sufficient for now.

On a side note, Gavin, my little curly red-haired kid will not be coming back this summer. I have spent the first five weeks with him and I will miss him dearly. Though he wasn't perfect, he was wonderful for a boy. I actually shed tears (though I hope no one saw) when he walked out of the door. Sad day.

Eryn is going out bowling with Kody right now and Matt is almost in Canada on a roadtrip with his family at the moment, so I shall lay in bed and watch The Notebook for my first time ever, by myself. Sounds like a lovely night to me. Peace out. 

Coming Soon: Science Camp

Today was my last day of planning before summer camps start on Monday. I have gone through 2 weeks of team building activities, curriculum planning, and workshops, all in preparation for the next 10 weeks. Basically, my summer job is about to begin.

When we first started last week, I realized I was one of three camp educators (there are 14 total) who are not current teachers or education majors. Of the three of us, there are two biology majors and me, the psychology major. Because of this, I know very little about science and nothing about educating students. I felt like clearly the underdog.

All week, the curriculum director, Kim, met with each of us individually to see how our curriculum looks and what we need to change. I was the last one to meet with Kim and I was nervous as ever. I had no direction and kind of went in blindly. After meeting with her, she told me she was least worried about me of all camp educators. She said she was shocked that I am not an education major, nor have not ever taken an education class. 

That was a major ego boost for me. There are three current teachers that I am working with as well. They have written curriculum before. No wonder I used to want to be a teacher! It is little things like Kim's compliment that made me realize hard work pays off. 

I am so excited to start camp next week! I hope I can live up to the expectations my bosses have of me. We'll see!

Rewards of Babysitting

Babysitting. My favorite thing about the last 5 months of my life. Well, excluding Matt. He is always my favorite thing.

Anyway, like I promised, I will share photos of all of the goodies the girls have made me throughout this semester.

All of the designs together.

Three of these are specifically special to me, however. This little pot was the first thing Hailey made me. She actually started making it before my first day watching them. When I got the tour of their house, I noticed she was working on it. Then she gave it to me on my first day. It's amazing how unconditional a child's love is. She didn't even know me and she already wanted to make me something!

Hailey made this for me one day after school. I picked it up and swiped it up against my coat. I then sat down to drive and my coat wiped against the car door. At any rate, I still have a red spot on the inside of my car door from this creation. I have gone to wipe it off several times but I enjoy the memory the spot brings, so it may take some time before I wipe the spot off my car door.

This one is my favorite for a couple of reasons. One, I love that Hailey spelled my name as Cala. That just brings a smile to my face. Haha. Secondly, I think it is cute that she made a poem for me. She has called me the best babysitter she has ever had several times. In fact, they both have. I know they probably say this to every babysitter, but a small part of me hopes it isn't told to every babysitter. :)

Tomorrow is my last day watching the girls this year. It's a little bittersweet. I enjoy taking them to dance practice, watching movies with them, playing games with them, and just spending time with them. But I will also enjoy the free time without worrying about missing things while I am babysitting. So, yes, it is very bittersweet. I can't wait to see how big they get the next time I see them!

What Does GPA Stand For?

Our official grades were posted yesterday. I got a B in a class that I felt like I didn't deserve it. The class, called Drugs and Behavior, was actually quite hard for me, though it is lower level. I am terrible at biology, so I am shocked I did as well as I did. I ended with an 89%, which stinks because it was so close to that A. And so close to a 4.0. But it's okay, I'll still get in grad school, I hope. Haha

I went over to Matt's house last night and started talking about that class with his parents. His mom said, "well if you aren't very good at biology and you still got an 89%, that's saying something. You'll get over it." First off, I am not used to such straightforward talk. I was initially offended because I worked hard for that grade. Two, it was helpful to hear that she is right. If my lowest grade this semester was an 89%, in a class that I am horrible at, that's a great semester. 

Every semester, I shoot for a 4.0 Nearly every semester, I fall short. I get disappointed in myself because I fell short of what I think is expected of me. I got through this process every semester. I am done with that. I honestly didn't look at my overall GPA until today, forgetting that overall GPA even matters anymore. 

It read: 3.83.

Not ideal. Definitely not up to Kaila's standards. But I finally put it into perspective for myself. A perfect college career is 4.0. I am at a 3.83 out of a possible 4.0. If I calculate the perecentage, that's 95.7%. Overall, I am at the top 5% of possible GPAs in a college career. That makes me feel better.

One day, none of this will matter. I tell myself that I work hard now so that one day I won't have to work so hard. Of course that won't happen. I'll be working hard toward some other goal in the future. But it's good to be optimistic, right?

Love is Being Stupid Together

"Love is being stupid together." - Paul Valery
I found this quote earlier today and I thought I would share it. The one thing I have learned in my 21 years of life is that you should be able to be yourself around the ones you love.

Yesterday was my dad's birthday and I talked to him a little on the phone. I called him "old man" and he just laughed, knowing I was kidding. We have a great relationship together and we have a great time joking. I have a very similar relationship to my mom. We are rarely serious and I love that.

I also think of Eryn and I who can spend car rides joking around with one another and telling funny stories. I think of our funny singing voices and our laughable silly antics. I think of how we are both dumb blondes at times and can completely accept our faults together. That's the love of my sister. 

The relationship I have with Matt is no different. I can honestly say we spend more time joking around (or at least I do) than being serious with one another. He just puts up with my jokes and occasionally laughs. He probably laughs at me more than with me, but I'll take it. 

I've noticed lately he has been a goofball himself. I'm not sure if reality is hitting him that once classes start again, we will no longer be in the same state, so he wants to treasure the time we have together now. It may be that he is finally becoming comfortable around me and wants to have fun. Regardless of the reason, I love being stupid together with him. :)