California

Our California Christmas trip went by quickly and was splendid. We went to the Broad Museum, LA Zoo, Griffith Park (with the Observatory and Hollywood sign), Long Beach Christmas canal lights, Huntington Beach, Universal Studios, and South Coast Plaza. We also spent some good time with our California aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was still plagued by my sinus issues and it even caused a meltdown on Christmas, but I will block that out. This will be a busy week with a lot of primary research for my master's thesis! See you in 2019!

Off to California!

I’m off to spend Christmas with Katie and my extended family in California. I’m currently in the airport. Next week I will write about the trip and my job interview at Weber State. Merry Christmas!

Still Have Sinus Infection and Job Rejection

Not much has changed since last week. I still have my sinus infection and still have been getting job rejections. I even saw an ENT on Friday for the sinus infection. I am, however, confident that things will get better soon. I will be able to get a new job and my sinuses will be healthy and clear again. Next week the California trip will take my mind off of these things!

Sinus Infection and Job Rejection

I continued to battle my sinus infection last week and only got about 2-3 hours of sleep each night. I am finally taking Flonase and antibiotics that seem to be helping. I also got rejection emails for two jobs last week. Oh well. I can only apply for more. I am doing my primary research for my master's thesis this week at University of Utah and BYU Special Collections. I am also looking forward to my trip to California in two weeks!

Thesis Prep and Job Applications

Not much to report on this week. I still have my sinus infection that is keeping me up at night. I am planning my trips to the University of Utah and BYU special collections and archives to do primary research for my thesis. I am also applying for full time jobs at the U and Weber State. I am desperately trying to leave my teaching assistant job at Summit by January. On Thursday it was an inside recess day and the teachers expected that the new TA and I would just each entertain 60 kids in one classroom without leaving anything for us to do. It was horrible! I hope that it works out!

Thanksgiving Break

I have had some time off due to Thanksgiving this week! I finished my thesis proposal and visited with my friend Jessica who was in town yesterday. She even came to my bug brigade program at the Natural History Museum of Utah. I also think I am getting sick again so that sucks.

Hectic Week

This past week has been crazy! I had an interview for a geography teaching position, applied for a world history teaching job, and was assigned my thesis advisor. I am off to a stake family history meeting this morning, so this will be short. I read my feedback on my thesis proposal tomorrow!

Speaking in Sacrament Today

This will be short because I will be speaking on the women's session of General Conference during Sacrament meeting today. I got sick again this past week and quit the advisory committee of the Political Science Scholars. It seemed like that woman was just did not view me as a person from the beginning.

Worst Weekend Ever

Another hellish weekend. Yesterday was my Grandma Cressall’s funeral, my mom went off the rails, and my laptop died. I am waving my white flag. I’m done.

Still Recovering

This past week was just as bad as the week before. The old work drama. I did not get an interview for the other jobs I applied for. I also am stressing out about my master's thesis proposal. I certainly hope that this too shall pass! I am not looking forward to tomorrow...

Recovering after a bad week

Last week was pretty bad. It started on Monday and continued throughout the rest of the week. Let's just say that my current job has been very difficult. Even the hell of the behavior of the students last year did not affect me this much. It is mainly one of the coworkers acting like she is in charge and bossing the rest of us around. This may be the time I start looking for a job in a secondary school because that is the age level I actually want to teach. I am mailing the materials for my teaching license today, so I am excited for that.

Choosing My Master's Thesis Topic

I am in the very difficult progress of choosing my master's thesis topic. I went through many Native American topics this week that had already been researched. I am trying to just refine one idea I have to research Arthur V. Watkins. My basic proposal is due in two weeks! I better get to work!

Slow Week

After the craziness of last week, this week has been very slow. It is nice to actually have free time, but I have found that it is not actually good for my mind. This week should be busier though which is actually better for my mental health. The announcement of 2 hour church yesterday definitely made things better!

Last Weekend of Courseweek and Birthday

My coursework for my graduate program officially ended on Friday! I now start on my master's thesis tomorrow. Yesterday was also my birthday. It was actually really weird having a day off.

Last Week of Coursework

This is my last week of the classroom portion of my graduate history program. I have two big papers to finish. I am a little scared to start my master's thesis but it is also bittersweet. I survived the year and a half of coursework. It will all end before my birthday on Saturday. I will update later!

Busy Week

I am applying for a museum coordinator job today and have one of my big research projects this week. Nothing else to report on!

Praxis This Week

Happy Sunday! I have my Social Studies Content Praxis test on Tuesday. That is really all going on this week. I am getting set apart as a member of the temple and family history committee today as well. This is my third time in this calling. I will do my best at both!

Labor Day Weekend

There is not much to report this week. I have the day off work tomorrow and have fully recovered from my cold. I do have a lot of homework to do this week so I will be focusing on that. Tomorrow we are going up to Golden Spike! I am so excited to visit such a significant historical site.

Difficult Weekend

This has been a difficult weekend. It started with me getting sick on Friday. It was also on Friday that we discovered our tortoise, Tariq, had passed away. We buried him yesterday and I skipped my animal handling shift. It has been hard to deal with his passing, but it was a great year we spent with him.

New School Year

The new school year starts tomorrow and I get a new group of first graders to look after. The last week has mostly been playing catch up with grad school, work, and personal responsibilities. I will update on how the new kids are.

Coming Home

It is my last day in Denver! I will be going home tomorrow! My dad was also in town this weekend. I had an amazing summer!

Last Week in Denver

It’s my last week in Denver. Yesterday I did the sloth meet and greet at the Downtown Aquarium. Then we went to Elitch Gardens and a Switchfoot concert!

Santa Fe Weekend

Hi everyone! I spent the weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico with my sister to celebrate her birthday. We saw the whole city in pretty much a day. I enjoyed learning about the nuclear testing that went on in the state and how it affected the community. There was also a community arts festival going on all weekend and we ate a lot of Mexican food. I only have two weeks left in Denver now!

Back in Denver

I am back in Denver until mid August. Yesterday we went to the Butterfly Pavillion! It really made me miss my animal handling at the museum. This weekend we are going to Santa Fe. I am already excited to travel again.

Back from JNSLC

I came back to Denver from D.C. on Wednesday! It was an amazing experience and it was great to work with the students! I will definitely come back next summer! I will do a detailed post next week!

Less than a Week!

I am less than a week away from D.C. I will probably update the most on Facebook!

Two Weeks Away!

I leave for D.C. in two weeks and I am in two graduate classes. I will update!

New Blog

I am in Denver and had a great time seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls yesterday. Next week I will create my new JNSLC blog and then I will return to this blog!

Leaving for Denver this week!

I am leaving for Denver on Friday! We will be seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls on Saturday! I am so excited. I also have to get all my graduate work done before I leave for D.C.

Summer Job

I got accepted for the JNSLC job last week! I am so excited to go back to D.C. and teach kids about history and government. I received a disappointing evaluation last week at my teaching gig so I needed to get cheered up. I just need to focus on the kids at not the administration these last two weeks. I also leave for Denver in less than two weeks!

Interview Fail

So I pretty much did not get the NSLC job. I really wanted to travel to D.C. this summer, but it will not happen. At least my master's degree graduation will be there next year. Alas disappointment is a part of life.

Getting into Summer

I am getting into summer. There are only 4 weeks left of teaching. I have applied for more political science internships this weekend, so hopefully I'll get one of them!

Another Week Off

I have a week off from grad school until I start my Civil War class next Monday. I am also finalizing my plans to go to Denver for the summer. I will be applying for more internships this week.

Last Week of Class

I am writing my last paper for my Antebellum America class this week. I start my Civil War class on May 7th. I am also applying to more political science internships for the summer! I will update!

Summer Plans

I unfortunately had to turn down a job offer from Envision. Now that I have to take more graduate classes this summer, I just did not see how doing both would be feasible. It would have been a lot of fun to teach in D.C. though. I am hoping I am do it next summer.

Spring Break

This last week was spring break and my paper was done. I spent more time watching TV than I have in a long time. It was nice to have a break though. Going back to work tomorrow will be hard.

Paper Weekend

This weekend is General Conference, but I spent all day yesterday just worrying about my paper. I got it done though and just have to look at the Turnitin report. This week is spring break, so I will have a break from school!

Interview Update and School

Grad school is stressing me out to the max this week. I just have to get used to the professor's procedures and then I should be fine. I have my second interview with Envision this week! I just hope if I get the job, I will be able to fit it in with my grad school classes.

Interview with Envision Experience

I had an interview on Friday with Envision Experience. If I get the job, I would go to Washington D.C and teach kids about government and history through hands-on learning. It is very similar to the People to People program I went on in 8th grade. I hope I get it. I'll keep the blog posted!

New Class

I started my class on Antebellum America last Monday. I only have to write 2 eight page papers for this class on topics the professor already assigns! I am so happy and excited about this. I am still trying to figure out my summer plans. Other than that, just the same old.

Week Off, Week Wasted

I had a week off of grad school but spent it being sick. Literally 5 hours after I submitted my final paper, the sore throat and stuffy nose came. Oh well! My class on Antebellum America starts tomorrow!

Procrastination, An Endless Cycle

I just finished up my American Revolution class and I have a week break from school! Unfortunately, I did not learn my lesson and put off my 15 page paper! I was up all night finishing it, but at least it is done. I did wake up sick again today. I should pretty much just count on one cold per month.

Another risk, another heartbreak

This week's post will be straightforward. I was rejected yet again. It doesn't help my big paper is due this week too as I have to endure this trial. I will make it through!

Most unproductive week ever

This was probably one of my most unproductive weeks ever. At least in terms of schoolwork. I think I only did about 2 hours of grad school last week! This week I will get everything done!

Paleo Classes at NHMU

I just finished taking my paleontology class at the NHMU. This is in addition to the paleontology certificate I am doing online through University of Alberta. Although modern wildlife is still my passion, I love learning about dinosaurs. I hope to be a gallery guru in the Past Worlds gallery next year and put all my learning to work!

Bad Week

This last week was just awful so I’ll keep this short. At least I got everything done! One day my anxiety will go away!

New Essay

I am currently writing the proposal for my next research project. It will be about Native Americans of course and their role in the Revolutionary War. I am also no longer sick!

Sick...Again

A busy day is upon me but just know that the kids did not fail and got me sick again!

New Class

As soon as I finished my monster of a research paper last Sunday, I immediately started a new class on Monday. While I despised my colonial America class, I have a feeling I'll enjoy my Revolutionary War class a lot more. I have had the professor before and he is so much nicer than my last professor... Speaking of my old class, I am really worried about my grade... I got invited to join the historical studies honor society. I am afraid they will reject my membership now that my grade from that class has come through. Oh well! I will do better this term. I keep telling myself I did so poorly because of the wedding, being horribly sick virtually the entire class.

New Year

It is January 1st and I am making it one of my New Year's resolutions to write longer and more detailed posts on this blog. I will actually write about education. I go back to teaching tomorrow and my new class starts today.