the [start] of something new

This summer ended up being somewhat of a stressful, but fun one. At the end of June I was laid off from Med One Medical. They claimed they didn't have a job for me anymore. This happened one month before my lease was up at my apartment. Yes, I started to feel the stress of everything. We were in the process of house-hunting, but the pressure of not having a job and paying for rent really set in. Everything combined was too much to handle. But, it was one of the best things that happened to me.

I spent majority of my days looking for jobs and sending my resume in. But since it just happened to be around the 4th of July and summertime, I definitely took advantage of having the free time. And it also helped that Alisa had the summer off too. We made a few trips to Lagoon a Beach and caught some rays. I went to Colorado and hiked a freaking mountain! Went to Lake Mead and surfed for the first time. And I got to sleep in. Which I really loved. (Though I would still wake up by 9:00 every morning, bleh).

This all happened in the month of July. I was let go on June 30, and went through two and a half weeks of sickening stress. I didn't know what was going to happen- how long I would be unemployed, what I was going to do about moving, etc. Alisa and I planned it out that we could move in with her parents for a few months until I found a job. That way we could get free rent and then still be roommates. Kevin, Alisa's boyfriend found a duplex on KSL. We went and looked at it on Tuesday morning, and by Thursday we were signing the lease and moving in. It's up near the Capitol, right by Beck Street. Nice, quick, easy access to I-15 for me. It's a great central location for Brooke, Alisa, and me.

Back to the Job Searching...

I'd been searching on craigslist, ksl, indeed, jobseeker, etc. I kept seeing an ad for Challenger School and a few different people had mentioned it to me. The requirements were to send a resume, cover letter, and short essay about my views on America. This caused me to get nervous about the essay and what exactly they were looking for, and so I put off sending it in. Signs kept coming around and I couldn't avoid it any longer. So, I finally sent in my resume on July 15th. The following Tuesday morning I got a call from Challenger School. They wanted me to come in for a test at their Corporate office. So, that afternoon, I went in. I filled out an application after taking a test. Oh man did I feel stupid afterwards! When I left I for sure thought I wouldn't be hearing back from them because of my test scores. But I was wrong. The next day, Wednesday, I got a call from Heidi. Heidi is the Headmaster at the Farmington campus of Challenger School. She called to set up a teaching interview. So, the next morning, Thursday, I went in and read a book and taught a little lesson to the 4 year old class. It went very well, and before I left she offered me a job.

Soooooo, now I am a Preschool Teacher at Challenger School in Farmington. I started work last Monday with training. We spent 7 days in Sandy doing workshops. It was very informative, so I hope that I can apply everything to my class when the students come. I spent all day getting things ready in my classroom. So far on MWF I have 13 students and TTH I have 10. I am really excited, but oh so nervous at the same time. It is my first year teaching at Challenger, so of course I am still learning everything. But, I am also all by myself and don't have a co-teacher like most everyone else. So, needless to say, this will be interesting. Tomorrow we have Preschool Orientation, so I will get the chance to meet some of my students and their parents. Exciting!

Well, that is all for now. I need to finish my lesson plans! Hope you enjoyed the update! :)

I know you're all wondering..

What is going on in my life?! Well, lots has happened since my last post, and even before that I left some stuff out. So here's to a little update. ---->

I found a job! Yes, back in June, a little late, I know. I am working as a receptionist at Med One Medical. It is a Sleep Laboratory, so they do studies to test for sleep apnea and such. Then they also sell Cpap machines, along with masks and supplies. So it's something I've never really known much about, but boy have I learned a lot in the month and a half I've been working there. It has been an overwhelming amount of information, but I think it's all sinking in pretty well, at least I hope. :)

My move down to Salt Lake was a quick one. I interviewed with Med One on Wednesday, got a call Friday morning to come in that afternoon for a second interview, got the job an hour after leaving, and started on Monday, two days later. So pretty much, I went home and packed up a bunch of clothes and necessary items and moved in with Karen and Greg. They were kind enough to let me cramp their style until I was able to find an apartment. Luckily, I was able to find one pretty quick and only had to bother them for about a month. {Thanks again Greg & Karen, I really appreciate it!}

So while living with Karen and Greg, I would come home and search online to look for apartments that were available. I checked out a few different locations and met a few different people. Some which were nice and seemed pretty normal, others who were, well, maybe normal to some, but not all... With the few that I looked at, there was one that I couldn't stop thinking about. So, I decided I'd give it a GO! I found it on Craigslist and was so nervous about it. Then I went to the Apartment complex to check it out and meet the girl who posted it. When I met her, I could tell right away that we could be great friends and that we'd get along. You could say it was meant to be. ;) [that's a little joke between Steph & me]. Anyway, so here I am, living with Steph and Alisa. I lucked out big time, because it's not everyday you find a normal person for a roommate, on Craigslist of all places! We live in a three bed, two bath apartment.

my apartment

the complex

It's a great location, easy to work, shopping, freeways, etc. I love it, and I love my roommates. We get along great and have a lot of fun together already! We have only been in our apartment for three and a half weeks, but it feels like it's been much longer than that!

I am getting ready to go up to Idaho tomorrow. My old roommate Lindsey is getting married on Friday! I'm so excited for her and Rob. They are a great couple and I couldn't be happier for them. I try to take the credit of their love, but I'm sure it wasn't all me. :) While I'm up there I'm also going to see my old roommate Kaylee! We lived together Fall 07 and worked together at the Admissions Office. She just returned from her mission in Nauvoo last week. It will be great to see her again after 18 months!!

Well, there's still much more that has happened that I am leaving out. OH! Like the fact that I CHOPPED my hair tonight! Yeah, it's gone. I like it. I think. I will let you know after I do it myself tomorrow. Pictures to come, eventually. We have internet at our apartment, but Steph hasn't quite set up the wireless, so I'm bumming off her laptop right now and that's why there are no pictures for your viewing pleasure. Apologies. Next time!

countdown.

in 35 minutes i will be done working for the BYU-Idaho Admissions Office. it's realy starting to hit me. i have worked here throughout my entire four years and have loved it. i couldn't have asked for a better job with better people than the admissions team. (jessica has given us the name, "team admissions"). i have met some wonderful people and formed great relationships that i will never forget.

i have one last paper to finish and my last final tomorrow morning at 8:00 am. if i finish my paper today, i will be done with college tomorrow by 9:30. (if i procrastinate, i'll probably be done by 1:00 pm). :) after finishing these final assignments all that is left for me to do, which i am dreading and putting off on purpose, is to pack up my stuff and clean. i have not even started packing and don't really plan on starting until tomorrow afternoon. yes, i am a procrastinator, but like i said, i'm good at it.

Graduation is Friday morning at 9:00 am. The newly called Apostle, Elder Neil L. Andersen will be speaking at Commencement. i don't know about you guys, but i think that is pretty neat. then, i will be walking at convocation at 11:00 am. then, i will be a BYU-Idaho College Graduate. weird. i don't know where the last four years have gone. i feel like i just started college not that long ago. definitely not long enough to already be graduating from it.

what now you ask? well, that is still up in the air. after graduation i plan on driving back to logan and moving home for the time being. i am looking for jobs down in the salt lake valley, more specifically the sandy/draper area. (but really i'll take anything). i have applied to a few different job openings within a few preschools. we'll see what happens with them. this is a scary thing, mainly because of the unknown that is out there. not knowing where i'll work, where i'll live, etc, etc. but, after a long journey of being in school, i am really excited to be DONE.