Movin' On Up

I AM NOT AN INTERN ANYMORE!!!

Today was my last day as an intern! I am (almost) officially ready to practice Music Therapy. As soon as I take -and pass- my board exams. Graduation is Saturday and then my undergrad career is officially over. How strange. I can remember that first week of my internship- feeling overwhelmed, scared, intimidated, excited. Much like that first week of school way back when. My, how life has changed.

In celebration, I've decided to actually write a real blog post. One with details and everything. I wish I had pics... but I just don't. Sorry world.

The past week has been filled with goodbyes. I have had to say goodbye to the 35 kids I work with! That's a lot of goodbyes! For the most part, they went smoothly, no tears or tantrums. The kids were ok with it, too. I did have one student refuse to sing goodbye, one wrap himself around my legs, one "Love You" from a mostly non-language user, lots of hugs, and even some "I'll miss you"s. I'm not typically one to get super emotional, especially in front of people I'm not super close to, but I will say I've teared up in the car a few times after those sessions. I wasn't quite prepared for having some of those kids mean as much to me as they do now. But when you see students make progress- use language, grow skills, laugh, sing, play... It's hard to separate yourself. These students, and I hope many, many more, are part of who I am. They have changed me and molded me in ways unimaginable. I can't imagine having done my internship anywhere else.

Now I'm (sort of) in the process of packing up to return home. I can't say I'll really miss living in a college town, but I will miss those people I got to know and count as friends here. I was an outsider who was invited into a small part of Virginia Tech for a short while. And even if I don't have any idea what the point of the game of Corn Hole is, I'm glad to say that I have friends here and will count it among the many places I call home.

This past nine months, I have discovered I can live without Diet Coke. And eating out. Which very much helped in the almost 40 pounds I've dropped in the past year. Now for those last 12 pounds to make 50 and to KEEP IT OFF. Wish me luck. I don't want to go back to where I was. Ever. Unless I'm about to birth a child.

Still single. Shocking, I know. But I have faith. That guy is out there somewhere. I just don't know where yet. If anyone out there has any idea, please clue me in.

We're finally settled in the new house. The grass is growing and the driveway is poured. My car is parked behind the house in it's own spot. Obviously, it's time for me to move on.

Now I have to find a job! Eek!

Final Days

I'm down to THREE more days. THREE. Today was my last day at my favorite school with my favorite students. One of them wrapped himself around my legs today. Yesterday I had a student put her face on the ground with her hiney in the air while I sang the goodbye song and she refused to finish the song. =(

I can remember way back to the start of this Internship... days seemed so long and the end of the year seemed so very far away. Now I only have three days left and I'm really sad! I wish I could share the faces and voices of my students. They have wiggled their way into my heart, even on those rough days.

It seems a bit unfair that I have to leave, find a job (!), and make my way in the real world.

Anyone want to hire me?

Twenty Days and Counting

Today I had what is most likely to be my last Sunday at church. Bittersweet moment! I'm over the moon excited to graduate, get certified, and start doing what I have truly come to love. I'm also slightly terrified, but what can I say. So, I've been thinking back over the past nine months, and here are some thoughts I've had...

1. I'm hardly the same person I am when I got here. I'd like to say I've  mellowed out. I may have never been the most up tight person to begin with, but I don't worry when things start to go a little wonky. I've learned to just go with it. I can't get upset when my students throw tantrums or don't want to sing a song I've prepared.

2. I've learned to put a lid on my sarcasm. This has been the biggest struggle for me for years. Yes, my sarcasm is always going to be a part of me. But I didn't want people thinking I was mean when I first got here because I put up my sarcasm barrier. I heard that from a lot of my now close friends at the end of last year; I didn't want a repeat. I didn't have four years for people to get to know me here. I had four weeks.

3. I (almost) always sing in key! As long as I take the time to think about it and don't assume I know how a song goes and where it starts.

4. High schoolers are not scary. Now my high school and middle school groups are some of my favorites.

5. I've come to learn that those kids that are "easy" are actually far more difficult to work with than the "difficult" kids.

6. I've accomplished things I never thought I could do. I've done this internship, I've found a church where I feel included and accepted that wasn't a place that I already knew people my age, I've made new friends, and I've lost 37 pounds. That last one is actually the most impressive to myself. I honestly never thought it would happen. =)

7. Today, Logan named me an honorary Hokie.I consider that a pretty big complement. =)

Musical Moments

The end of my internship is drawing near and I'm really enjoying this last month or so of sessions. The students are responding well and I'm comfortable enough to try new and more challenging things. I've been doing more improv activities and I'm learning to make up songs as I go- much sucess with the Clock Song and So-and-so ate Ms Julie. Today I had my additional session with my case study student and it's just so awesome to see the difference in him from the start of the year. He used to say maybe five "words" per session and now he's chattering the whole time, even singing with me! And he looks like a Fraggle, so the combination of enthusiasm and Fraggle is just too adorable. Downside of coming to the end is that I'm swamped with work. Researching and writing my case study, reading two books simultanesly and trying to spend enough time planning sessions to keep them interesting and new, and looking for that all important JOB. As my case study would say, Whew!

"Spring Break" is a week and a half away and I can't wait! I'm headed to Charleston before heading home and I cannot wait to see my friends!

In other news unrelated to anything else, I've lost a total of 35 pounds. =)

I love you, Ms Stephanie!

That's the first thing I heard this morning when I got to school. What better way to start the day? Well, other than Kathy Lee and Hoda, which I also got to watch today! For last week's Tuesday having been so awful, today has  been awesome. =)

Not to be premature, but it's looking like I'm going to reach 35 pounds this week putting me ahead of my goal for graduation and Kayla's wedding! That's exciting! Especially when I consider I never honestly thought I'd be at this point. I wanted to, and here I am. Officially wearing a smaller pants size than I ever did at CSU. Thanks for that, Caf. I blame Jimmy and his Philly Cheese Steaks. Darn you, Jimmy.

Almost down to one month until graduation, less than a month until I return to Charleston! Who's excited? I am!

As Time Goes By

Well, it's trying to be Spring here in the mountains. It was warm for like a week, now we're calling for Winter-mix this weekend. Yuck. Ah well. At least I'm not battling inch thick pine pollen this year. My allergies are thankful. =)

This week started off not great. Tired, ready to be done, beyond ready to see friends from home, in need of a social life, all of these things coming together to take a toll mentally on me. Add on top of that some, admittedly needed, criticism from my intern supervisor, by Tuesday I was about to throw in the towel. Not on life, just on this week. No one call any hotlines, please. =) But after a few words of encouragement and a monologue to myself more or less summed up to "Suck it up, Steph", the week took a sharp turn around Wednesday. I suppose I'm starting to feel like I don't need supervision, I have been here 7 almost 8 months, but I so quickly forget I am still a student and I am most certainly not perfect. I can always improve. Oh, self awareness.

Graduation, the end of my internship, and then my board exams are all just around the corner. It seems like so recently I was sitting in my first class thinking about just how long it was going to be until the end was in sight. Now it's right in front of me and I just hope I'm ready.

Well, time for another session. Off to sing about a Purple Alligator. =)

Rhythm of Love

So, last time I posted the remix Rhythm of Love which is now often stuck in my head. I played it this morning for my middle school group, which is one of my most fun and enthusiastic groups, and they loved it! One student even told me so, unprompted, on her communication device. It's these little moments that make it all worth it.

In other news, I got a new workout DVD this weekend. It's one of the Biggest Loser things, and let me tell you- my legs are killing me today! But in a good way. I hope.

Had an awesome conversation with my best-ie, Christie today. Much needed, much loved. So good to talk to someone about everything going on in life, from friends, guys, what's up in our Spiritual lives, work, you name it, we talked about it. That is probably the number one thing I lack here- a really close friend who I can talk about absolutely anything with. All in good time, right?

This Week on The Intern

It's been a really good week. I had a seven year old ask me "How's life?" and a high school dance the Thriller. What beats that? Found a new favorite song, a MT friendly version of Rhythm of Love by the Plain White T's. Very fun. I like the original version as well, but this one is kid friendly. My echo microphone has become quite the popular item this week. Funny how something so simple that only costs a dollar can become something so exciting.

For your listening pleasure, here's the video of the PWTs song. And as it's me... I can't get the video to shrink enough. Ah well. Visit www.listenlearnmusic.com for the original. =)

The Puddle

This morning, I had flashbacks to this:


And this:



Translation: This morning, I had a nice puddle in my car. Yesterday, it rained. And for those of you who know me well, you know how much I love a good rain storm. Calming, refreshing rain. But not when it's inside your car. But sadly, this time, it was my own fault. Apparently I didn't quite close my door all the way when I got something out of the front seat, I didn't quite close the door all the way. Arg.

Let's continue with Tuesday, shall we? My sessions actually went well. Remembered my lunch, all my kids were here. Yay.

But then, it occurs to me that I left my picture cards at the second school I was at today. So, I had to go get them after my last session. On my way there, my car and didn't seem to be seeing eye to eye on weather or not it should, you know, run. It cut off. In the middle of the road. If only that were the first time that had happened. Arg, again.

So, made it to school number two. Got cards. Got in car. Car doesn't share my opinion on, you know, starting. Arg, yet again.

Then, I slipped in mud. Not on my face or anything, but there's mud on my shoes.

Good thing it's not my day to cook. It would probably burn.

525,600

Last day of 2010. Really? Has a whole decade gone by already? And I spent that whole decade with the same home address. Wow.

January: January is my birthday month, and this year I turned 22. Go me! Fun times with friends, mom came to visit me at school like she usually does. My birthdays are typically pretty small since it's only three weeks after Christmas.What did I even do for my birthday? Oh well. It happened.
I also was a leader, probably for the last time, of Disciple Now for FBC. Great group of senior girls. =)
AND I got my camera. Oh, was that a happy day. =)

February: Uh... Does anything ever happen in February? Oh! Wait! It snowed! The most snow I'd ever really seen on the ground up to this point in time. Very fun, very pretty.

March: Took engagement pictures for the now Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dockery, lost a kite on the beach, built a few sandcastles.  Also this month I interviewed for my internship in both Atl and Montgomery Co. Also rode a motorcycle and threw a bottle into the ocean.

April: Visited the Zoo on Good Friday, built a few more sandcastles, finally saw the lighthouse on Folly Beach. Received the good news that I was, in fact, accepted as the intern in VA! Yay! Second most exciting day of the school year. Second to the day my camera came in. Of course. My official last Lyric Theater show ever with CSU was performed, the two American Operas. First time I got to work all the lights during a show though! That was fun. Walked around like a T-Rex, photographed a song and put pennies on a railroad track.

May: Watched so many of my friends graduate! Came home for the summer, returned to the Pink Dipper. Yay. (Sarcasm card) My last in-country choir tour with Concert Singers. Sad.

June: Chris graduated High School! Yay! Then I left for Italy for my last (planned) over-seas choir tour. So much fun- probably highlight of the year. =)

July: July brought with it Christie and Harry Potter. You can't go wrong with those two. Christie came to stay with us and went with us to Florida to visit my grandparents. And we went to Universal Studios to visit the brand spankin' new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This would have been the highlight of the year had it not been for Italy. 

August: This was the first time in... as long as I can remember that I didn't start school in August. Chris went off to CSU and I made my last trip to Charleston until graduation. Sadly... no pics this month.

September: I moved to VA to start my internship! Yay! This is the furthest I've ever been from the ocean in my life. 

October: Not much happened in October... Construction continued on the house, I met my mom in NC for a weekend... And that was pretty much it. 

November: Thanksgiving brought family and friends and a chance to get out and take some pictures again. Kayla and Allen stopped by to see me on their way back to Charleston. Christie, Ashley and I went out to Mountain Lake Inn where they filmed Dirty Dancing. Super cold that day and we had to drive 7 miles up the side of a mountain, but it was worth it in the end. Construction toils on with the house... 

December: December brought a MT meeting in Aiken, the longest time ever to have to go to school before Christmas break, and Christmas. It was so good to come home! I hadn't been home in months. The drive here isn't that fun, but it could be a lot worse, too. And we finally moved into the house! Hooray! Sadly, December pics will have to wait. Genius here left the camera in VA.

So what's to come in 2011? Another year older, the end of my internship, another move, graduation(!), certification, Kayla's wedding, hopefully a job, and who knows what else. Here's to hoping it's every bit as good and even better than 2010. 

The Intern: A few things I've learned

1. I have learned that I seem to have a certain talent for understanding those with severe speech impediments. And those who have developed their own language of sorts.
2. Changing the strings on a classical guitar is way more of a pain than my acoustic.
3. Guitar strings make your hands smell like old pennies. Yuck.
4. Cold in VA is so completely different than cold in SC. 37 degrees just doesn't feel as cold here.
5. I still don't like eating sandwiches everyday.
6. Pretty much everything can be played in D or A. Few exceptions.
7. My car and I still have a love-hate relationship. That is, we love to hate each other.
8. Driving on some of the back roads in the mountains makes me feel car sick. And I'm the one driving.
9. I like having my own kitchen. Or at least one that I do the majority of the cooking in.
10. If it weren't for Skype and AIM, I probably wouldn't be able to make it through this whole thing.
11. Even though they're hours and miles away, I still have some of the best friends I could ever ask for.
12. Even though I will probably never find a church like Summit, it's good to be getting involved in one here.
13. Whoever invented decaf coffee should be shot.
14. I really miss the convenience of free gym use and evenings with the elliptical.
15. Yes, I can lose 20 pounds. And I have. =)

The Intern: Day 40

I have completed eight weeks of my internship! Go me! Monday I (sorta) take on my own case load. I say sorta because I'm actually seeing everyone we see on Monday by myself. And Tuesday is a little funny as well, but that's ok. Today was a really good day. I've identified the student I'm going to be working with as a Case Study and I'm really looking forward to it. My case study in school was so different than this student and I think this will be more interesting and beneficial for me in the long run. Next week I'm tackling some journal article reviews. Easy-peasy. I've done so many of those I could do them in my sleep at this point. But, it must be done, so do them I shall.
Still not doing much to talk about on my weekends. It's a little difficult to meet people my own age. Even at church where I'm in Sunday School with my "peers", they all see each other more than once a week for an hour or so, unlike me. I do hope I can make a few connections with people. If not, well, I'm going to be watching a lot of movies and doing lots of craft projects. Such is life. But here's to hoping. =)
One thing that I really want to do but can't due to my lack of friends here is going out to take pictures. =( So much to photograph, no one to keep me from falling to my doom.
Well. 19 days until Thanksgiving break and with it come some of my very favorite people! And 50 days until Christmas, so 46 or so days before I get to go home for Christmas break. Huzzah.

Happy Halloween from The Intern

I guess I could just change the title of the Blog to "The Intern"... but then I'd have to change that picture up there and that's just too much hassle. At least for now.

Anywho, today is Halloween. How exciting. Not really. I'm certainly not doing anything and our house is so far off the road we don't get many kids Trick-or-Treating. Oh well.

My weekend thus far has included such exciting acts as... moving a fridge from the garage here at the rental to the garage in the new house, looking at appliances for the new house- including the ones that will be in my apartment, hitting my head on my cabinets in my apartment- not so enjoyable, watching Leap Year with Mrs K further solidifying the fact that I want so desperately to go to Ireland, watching Notting Hill, church this morning, and here I am. I think a Target trip is in my future. Not that I have money to spend. But it's something to do and somewhere other than my room to be. I'm looking forward to having all my stuff again. Then I can at least do some scrapbooking or other such crafty things will all this spare time I seem to have on the weekends. *sigh*

I finished and sent off my initial MT proposal this week, so that was exciting. And one less thing to have to worry about on my list of things to do as an intern. Yay me.

Hmm... what else. Thursday and Friday I was on my own this week- my supervisor was out of town at a GIM training thing. Friday went really well, Thursday was ok. Not bad, just ok. I've worked a lot more with the Friday kids than the Thursday kids. But in all, not bad. All good experience. I really hope I come through this internship ready for the real world! Sometimes it seems like I'm never going to get to that point. But we'll get there! One day at a time. =)

I really wish I could go take some pictures to get put up here. Fall in the mountains is so pretty! But I haven't met anyone who would be willing to keep me from falling off the side of the mountain in my pursuit of the perfect picture. Christie- when you and whoever's coming with you get here at Thanksgiving, you know what we're doing? Going into the mountains and taking pictures! Be prepared! Bring appropriate foot wear! And a jacket! Apparently it's cold here at Thanksgiving. What a concept. Speaking of cold- Friday's high was only 59. 59!!! What is that about!?

The Intern: Day 27

It's Tuesday and Glee is a rerun. Read: I'm bored. I'm also waiting on a Skype date with Kayla. Ugh. Hurry up. Kay!

So, an update on my life:
The apartment and house are painted! My apartment has most of the tile laid, so we're waiting on cabinets and electrical stuff. The end is in sight! It will be so nice to have all my stuff again.

The Internship is going really well. I've started working with some of the students "on my own". My supervisor is still in the room, of course, but it's just me, doing Music Therapy. =)

Meeting Mom halfway between here and home this weekend, so that's something to look forward to. It will have been six weeks since I've seen anyone in my family outside of my computer screen!

And- get excited- I have actually added someone from VA as a FB friend. Go me. Making progress. He's in my Bible study and SS class from church. Speaking of which, finally found my way into the college SS class and really enjoyed it. Yay! Here's to hoping I make at least a few friends between now and May.

And... yep, that's about it.

The Intern: Day 21

Today's first session ended in vomit.

Thankfully, the day only got better.

The Start of Something New

So... It's here. Tomorrow is DAY ONE of my internship. (Read: Day One of the Road to Graduation!)

Excited? Check. Nervous? Sorta. Hope I can actually find where I'm going? Man, I hope so.

Here's the big question: What am I going to wear?