It's Going

Thats generally my answer when people ask me how things are. I'm busy. I work. I go to school. I typically don't get out. But its ok. Theres a purpose.
Last Friday I assisted in the "coverage" of a track and field meet at UWM. As much as I enjoy watching specific events, I can't say it was the most exciting time. Fortunately no one got hurt, and even though thats when I actually get to do something, no Athletic Trainer hopes that an athlete gets injured. But coverage was long. I was at UWM at 8am for classes, reported to the Athletic Training room at 1:30 and left finally at 10:15. It made a long day. I did enjoy myself though. Talking with the athletes and seeing them in action.
It was a busy weekend in addition to that. I worked from 8am-3pm on Saturday at Milwaukee Ballet. I got a lot of homework done so that was super good. After I was finished with work my sister and I made our way to O'hare International Airport. We had to catch a flight to Atlanta, GA.
My younger sister, who is a senior in high school, is currently pursuing a professional job as a Ballet Dancer. She had an audition in Atlanta on Sunday and I volunteered to go with her. We got to Atlanta about 11pm rented a car and drove about an hour to our cousins house to spend the night. She had her audition on Sunday morning which went well for her. Then we went right back to the airport, got there around 2pm. All flights to Chicago were of course oversold. Stacey and I enjoyed our time waiting in the gate area and walking around the airport and we finally got on a flight at 630pm. Made it back to Milwaukee about 10.
It was a good, successful trip and I'm super proud of my sister for going to the audition and performing as she did. I'm excited for her to continue with her auditions and pursuit of a professional job in ballet!

Wait....What?

The title of this blog is dedicated to my little brother. He's 15 and his favorite thing to say is "wait...what?" Sometimes just to annoy his family members...rarely does he say these words because he actually didn't hear the person talking. He's great!
Anyways, the reason for this title: For the first time since going back to school I second guessed the decision. Not just questioned the decision, which I have done before, I seriously thought maybe I should drop out. This came about I believe on Tuesday of this past week. I was not happy with this feeling of un-surety. The reason for this: One of the athletic trainers, who works for UWM, had a birthday. We sang to her, she smiled, then I found out; she had just turned 23. That was the moment I thought "Wait....what?" I turned 24 in December, and now I will be working under and taking some hard criticism from someone a year younger than me. For the rest of my rotation in the athletic training room, roughly 4 hours, all I could think about was how I should have transferred from Northwestern and gone to an accredited school, then that would be me.
But I didn't. And reflecting on this week, and my decisions that have led me here, I'm glad. Despite that after spring break I will be working very closely with this woman I'm ok with it. I'm learning to trust in God during this, let go of my pride, be humble, be the "newbie" and learn/absorb whatever I can. I am the student, and this was my choice. And I think it was the right one.
During my time at Northwestern I met some great people, I had my first mentor and will cherish her forever, I developed a friendship that will last my whole life, I led a hall of women and learned how to be a leader, and I was pushed to pursue and take on the role as an intern with the United States Olympic Committee. Which brings me here. So many things would not have happened if I had transferred from Northwestern College.
Ultimately I wouldn't be volunteering for the Olympics. God has been faithful, despite the many times I have fallen and disappointed Him. So this position that I am in is a learning experience and will be something I look back on and cherish.....Hopefully

Information Overload

So two weeks ago I got a call from Dr. Jennifer Earl of UWM. She was calling to tell me that I had passed the application process, interview and everything, to be selected as a first semester athletic training student in the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's Athletic Training Education Program! I was so excited. After I had my initial interview I was not confident at all, I felt like they could make a decision either way. I felt like I had interviewed well but I just wasn't confident that I would be admitted into the program.
Fast forward to day 2 of classes in the spring semester..........completely freaking out right now! I knew this semester was going to be a lot of work, but I finally got all the information today of what I will be doing.....WOW. UWM sure knows how to run an athletic training program. In addition to the 8-10 hours a week I will spend in the Athletic Training room with the Track team (which honestly isn't that many) I will have to complete 15 PDU's, which is basically the undergraduate student equivalent of CEU's, 6 clinical proficiency's, which I still don't know what that means, x amount of clinical hours each month, in addition to exams and homework. That's for one 3 credit class! Once that class was finished I was talking with some of my classmates and we were all saying how we had no idea what any of the papers we were handed meant. SO CONFUSED!
It's ok though. I'm slightly excited for the semester. Its going to be a lot of work, and even though I don't feel prepared for it I think I'm ready. Weird, maybe a little, but athletic training is something I love, so hopefully, aside from reading textbooks, I will be motivated to complete all my work and I will enjoy it also :).
On another note, I have one support letter out to a contact. I hope to get another two out this week. The semester is moving and the London Olympics are coming, even though they seem far away, I got to get a move on with my arrangements!

Pictures from London

I decided it was time to put up some pictures from my trip to London! Enjoy!!

I was in Trafalgar Square for this picture. Lots of people around, it's a big tourist site. But they had a countdown for the Olympic and Paralympic Games so I had to get a picture! :)

Trafalgar Square

Had to be a tourist and see the Palace!

This was where the wrestling competition took place

View from the stands 

Some Things I noticed while in London

-I like to walk. Its fun and refreshing and you can take in so much more.

-If you listen to music while riding the underground you cant listen to all the different accents you might hear.

-The underground is small and curved, the men are tall and thin; they have to bend when standing in the underground. That should be fixed.

-I think I need to travel with friends, then I can share all the new experiences with someone. And take better pictures too.

-I really want to be an athletic trainer

-London has a great public transportation system

-I need to find a sense of style. I really don’t mind not having one but when I travel and pack clothes I get to my destination and realize that a: the clothes I packed don’t match, b: I don’t want to wear the clothes I packed, or c: I just really don’t like them. I was very aware of these things while in London because everyone clearly has their own sense of style and is confident in it. I need to learn how to do this.

-I like the Olympics

-I like meeting new people.

-I have a great relationship with my family.

-Somehow British guys can pop their collars and look good.

-For some reason I found British guys to look better in general.

-Even though I had things to catch up on when I got back my trip was much needed. Even though I was doing “work” while I was there it was good for me to have a little change in my daily routine. 

Withdrawal

First thing today, drove to UWM from home to go to my last Introduction to Kinesiology class. Kind of a waste of time; just reviewed for the final exam next week. Then I made up the exam I missed last week for the same class. Took about 20 minutes. Not difficult.

I got my CPR/AED certifications and met with the Director of Athletic Training to talk about how to raise money for next summer’s trip to the Olympics. She was so helpful and put me in touch with someone who will set up a fund for me through UWM so that people will be donating to UWM, even though the money will go to me when I need it. So that was extremely good news! Really encouraging since I was nervous that people wouldn’t take too much interest in donating financial support to an individual. Things are in motion for next summer people! 

On to finding a place to live while I’m in London next summer!

Competition Begins!

Saturday: Today was a bit more exciting since competitions actually started for the wrestlers. I had the morning shift and was late, of course. And today the construction started on my normal route so I had to take the longer one. But it was fine and there was a lot to do once I got there. Just setting up the mats and area of competition for the matches. And then after that: I got to watch! :) It was very exciting to watch, and then my shift was done. It went by really fast and I hardly did anything.

After the shift I went downtown London and explored Harrod’s, which I had been told is a London experience. It’s a huge store, and as soon as I walked in the doors I felt overwhelmed and wanted to leave. It was huge! Six stories and out basically as far as it went up. It was way too much merchandise for me to handle. Afterward I went back to “the flat” and just relaxed for a little bit. Uel and Nina were there and had waited to have dinner with me, but before we went to dinner they took me for a little tour around London. They drove me around and told me a lot about the city. It was great! And so pretty because it was dark out so all the lights in the city and decorations were up, I loved it. Then Uel and Nina took me to dinner at an Authentic Turkish restaurant. Delicious is all I can say about that!

Sunday: Today was great. I went to church with Uel and Nina; “All Soul’s church in London”. It’s beautiful and big. I liked it a lot. Then I started my last shift. :(

I did basically the same work as I had done yesterday, still fun. Watched some wrestling, and then ran over to the weightlifting to watch my friend lift. She did really well and I was proud of her.

Fortunately, the group that carries the country flags in front of the athletes when they walk in was short today so I got to do that a bit. For basically 3 hours. I also was able to present medals at the medal ceremony. So much fun! After the competition was done my team was in charge of clean up which took an hour or two and then we were done! Goodbye’s, exchanges of emails and customary goodbye traditions followed.

Monday: Flight back to the US.