Wesley made me a Posterous, which I'll figure out soon.
As of right now, I'm irritated, so it may be a bit before I post again, as I don't want to be overly pessimistic. Next week, though, I'm sure I'll be able to resolve the problem.
9.21.2009
9.18.2009
June 10, 2009 to September 18, 2009
Yes, it has been a very, very long time since I wrote on this. I'm not sure why I stopped, but I do know that in the over three months that have passed, I believe I have become a different person: probably the person I should have become when I first started college.
I've always relied on comfortable. I've always known the people around me, the places around me, and I've pretty much coasted by through life. Of course, there were difficult times, stressful days, but for the most part I relied on others for my happiness, for my comfort.
Then I moved out to Santa Barbara, where I didn't have a job, where I didn't know anyone well, besides Wesley, who was there for seven days before he left for the Middle East for over a month. We're used to being apart, having been long-distance for three years, but we're also used to talking every day, numerous times a day. While he was gone, we talked on average once, maybe twice, a week, only via the Internet.
I knew Sarah, not incredibly well though, and we got a lot closer by living together. And as far as the job goes, it was definitely the most stressful part of the summer. I wanted a job at Anthropologie very badly, but felt a little discouraged that it was taking so long and that perhaps I didn't have the personality for it. Again, this was one of the more difficult points of the summer, because every job I've had previously I've gotten because of some kind of connection: with an employee or with the boss. This job was solely based on me, and I wasn't too confident. But I got it.
This summer may have been a risk, but I think it was a defining risk for me. I believe it was successful in ways that I haven't explored before. Of course, there were things that didn't go perfectly, but the parts that didn't go well taught me things and the parts that went better than I could have imagined only made me excited and wanting more.
My experience with amazing managers at Anthro and my management classes made me want to make a difference in other employees'. They were hard-working, friendly, creative, upbeat, and willing to help me learn more. Additionally, Anthro's view on sales and customer service are some that I am all for: focus on the customers, the women that shop there, and not on the dollar sales. I do realize, though, that as a manager, I would worry about the dollar sales, but I think the main basis for a successful retail company is to serve the customers first, which will ultimately add up to profits.
Also, I think that being a manager is kind of in my genes. My mom just started a job managing 20 or so people in Longview and she loves it. I think our personalities also fit the managing position well: desire to help, love of people, and a team-minded working perspective. Managers too many times just tell others what to do, because maybe they think that they're too busy or even that they're above the "petty" employee work. But I believe that you have to do what the employees do and more, you have to inspire the employees to work harder, and even move up within your company (from an Accounting/HR perspective, you'll reduce your turnover rate, and most likely get the most out of your labor hours).
I'm really meant to do this.
I don't know what this will turn into this semester. I got the idea of writing on here yesterday when I was in my Sociological Theory class. I'll probably turn my notes from there into something soon, it was very interesting. Plus, this may turn into following my journey into graduating from college, moving away again, and beyond, as well as a sociolocial "tirade" which is what I love: talking about what is important, talking about prevention in all aspects (family ties, education, as well as the political [though it shouldn't be] healthcare, etc.) Perhaps prevention isn't the right word, but maybe. I'll figure that out.
I've always relied on comfortable. I've always known the people around me, the places around me, and I've pretty much coasted by through life. Of course, there were difficult times, stressful days, but for the most part I relied on others for my happiness, for my comfort.
Then I moved out to Santa Barbara, where I didn't have a job, where I didn't know anyone well, besides Wesley, who was there for seven days before he left for the Middle East for over a month. We're used to being apart, having been long-distance for three years, but we're also used to talking every day, numerous times a day. While he was gone, we talked on average once, maybe twice, a week, only via the Internet.
I knew Sarah, not incredibly well though, and we got a lot closer by living together. And as far as the job goes, it was definitely the most stressful part of the summer. I wanted a job at Anthropologie very badly, but felt a little discouraged that it was taking so long and that perhaps I didn't have the personality for it. Again, this was one of the more difficult points of the summer, because every job I've had previously I've gotten because of some kind of connection: with an employee or with the boss. This job was solely based on me, and I wasn't too confident. But I got it.
This summer may have been a risk, but I think it was a defining risk for me. I believe it was successful in ways that I haven't explored before. Of course, there were things that didn't go perfectly, but the parts that didn't go well taught me things and the parts that went better than I could have imagined only made me excited and wanting more.
My experience with amazing managers at Anthro and my management classes made me want to make a difference in other employees'. They were hard-working, friendly, creative, upbeat, and willing to help me learn more. Additionally, Anthro's view on sales and customer service are some that I am all for: focus on the customers, the women that shop there, and not on the dollar sales. I do realize, though, that as a manager, I would worry about the dollar sales, but I think the main basis for a successful retail company is to serve the customers first, which will ultimately add up to profits.
Also, I think that being a manager is kind of in my genes. My mom just started a job managing 20 or so people in Longview and she loves it. I think our personalities also fit the managing position well: desire to help, love of people, and a team-minded working perspective. Managers too many times just tell others what to do, because maybe they think that they're too busy or even that they're above the "petty" employee work. But I believe that you have to do what the employees do and more, you have to inspire the employees to work harder, and even move up within your company (from an Accounting/HR perspective, you'll reduce your turnover rate, and most likely get the most out of your labor hours).
I'm really meant to do this.
I don't know what this will turn into this semester. I got the idea of writing on here yesterday when I was in my Sociological Theory class. I'll probably turn my notes from there into something soon, it was very interesting. Plus, this may turn into following my journey into graduating from college, moving away again, and beyond, as well as a sociolocial "tirade" which is what I love: talking about what is important, talking about prevention in all aspects (family ties, education, as well as the political [though it shouldn't be] healthcare, etc.) Perhaps prevention isn't the right word, but maybe. I'll figure that out.
6.10.2009
Second Day at Anthro
Since my last post, I've worked two shifts. I love it at Anthropologie. The clothes, the store, the vibe, the people. It's been a lot of fun, and I've really been working hard to show them that I can and to get lots of hours. Today, before I left the girls started buzzing about an actor that was in the store. I believe (after research, cause I've never seen the movie) it was Cam Gigandet from Twilight. He's the one with the long blonde hair (according to pictures online). Exciting, right?
Umm, other than that.. well there's not much other than that. I'm so glad to start working again. I think I enjoy it better than sitting around with nothing to do.
Two weeks, yesterday, until my birthday. That's exciting.
PS I'm only updating this because Emily asked me to. I really don't have a whole lot to say right now.. perhaps I'll think of something more later. Love you, E.
Umm, other than that.. well there's not much other than that. I'm so glad to start working again. I think I enjoy it better than sitting around with nothing to do.
Two weeks, yesterday, until my birthday. That's exciting.
PS I'm only updating this because Emily asked me to. I really don't have a whole lot to say right now.. perhaps I'll think of something more later. Love you, E.
6.05.2009
Recent Events
I watched President Obama's speech yesterday in Cairo. I really enjoyed it. Besides being eloquent, I think that he has very concrete ideas and goals to reach in our quest for peace between all nations in the world. I also liked how he reprimanded each group within the Israel/Palestine conflict. He didn't take one side, but instead identified with each and told each that they are just as deserving as the other for land and peace, but they each also are in the wrong. I believe that Barack has the knowledge and ability to make a difference in not only that conflict, but in the many, many others that are putting our world in jeopardy.
As for all of those people who were offended or put off by his words of equality regarding religions, honestly.. that is so incredibly naive. He used words that were peaceful and invoked a trust from the Muslim listeners. He put each major religion (Christian, Judaism, Islam) on the same field and acknowledged the peace and beliefs of each as not below another. I think that is so important. We must realize that just as I believe in my religion strongly, someone else believes their religion just the same. And I cannot gain their trust if I only talk about my own. It is just as if you were wanting to befriend someone, but only talk about yourself, your family, and your likes and dislikes. That will not cause a person to want to get to know you more, they've seen all they want and understand you as being selfish and self-absorbed.
That is exactly the view of America that we have to show others as being untrue. We have such a power in the world, and we have grown accustomed to it and have abused that power in some instances. History shows over and over again that when this happens, when a person or a government abused its power, there will be a revolt. We have to stop that before it happens. We have to apologize, genuinely care for others and help them, take an interest in the world and its problems including nuclear weapons, global warming and ecological destruction, and especially global poverty, hunger, and often curable disease. We have to reach our hands down to those who don't believe we will help, and we have to help them. If the tyrannical king of a country reaches down to help a poor, filthy, and disease-ridden man from the ground, he (of course) will be skeptical. We just have to push through that skepticism. We have to keep trying and not just give one meal and be on our way. We have to continually care for those who are downtrodden, and honestly don't believe in us.
I believe that is what Jesus wanted us to do. Before Jesus was around, the Caesars and Lords of the land had power and domination over their subjects; after Jesus was risen to heaven, our human nature continues to produce kings, presidents, and leaders who enjoy power more than the difference they could make. And honestly, this could happen to ANYONE: e.g. the Stanford Prison Experiment.
But Jesus showed us how to live, and how to live for others. He put others before his own image, his own power, or his riches. He reached down and helped the lowest who probably didn't trust him at first. His genuineness resonated with those that he helped and those around him. We should pursue that in everything we do.. as a country, as a city, as an individual and within our families and friends.
This had started out as me wanting to write about abstinence-only education because of something I saw on the news. I wondered if this would stir up too much controversy. Would it? I definitely have some opinions on it, incredibly honed-in with help from my mom, Rob Bell, and so many of my peers from highschool and beyond. Perhaps.
As for all of those people who were offended or put off by his words of equality regarding religions, honestly.. that is so incredibly naive. He used words that were peaceful and invoked a trust from the Muslim listeners. He put each major religion (Christian, Judaism, Islam) on the same field and acknowledged the peace and beliefs of each as not below another. I think that is so important. We must realize that just as I believe in my religion strongly, someone else believes their religion just the same. And I cannot gain their trust if I only talk about my own. It is just as if you were wanting to befriend someone, but only talk about yourself, your family, and your likes and dislikes. That will not cause a person to want to get to know you more, they've seen all they want and understand you as being selfish and self-absorbed.
That is exactly the view of America that we have to show others as being untrue. We have such a power in the world, and we have grown accustomed to it and have abused that power in some instances. History shows over and over again that when this happens, when a person or a government abused its power, there will be a revolt. We have to stop that before it happens. We have to apologize, genuinely care for others and help them, take an interest in the world and its problems including nuclear weapons, global warming and ecological destruction, and especially global poverty, hunger, and often curable disease. We have to reach our hands down to those who don't believe we will help, and we have to help them. If the tyrannical king of a country reaches down to help a poor, filthy, and disease-ridden man from the ground, he (of course) will be skeptical. We just have to push through that skepticism. We have to keep trying and not just give one meal and be on our way. We have to continually care for those who are downtrodden, and honestly don't believe in us.
I believe that is what Jesus wanted us to do. Before Jesus was around, the Caesars and Lords of the land had power and domination over their subjects; after Jesus was risen to heaven, our human nature continues to produce kings, presidents, and leaders who enjoy power more than the difference they could make. And honestly, this could happen to ANYONE: e.g. the Stanford Prison Experiment.
But Jesus showed us how to live, and how to live for others. He put others before his own image, his own power, or his riches. He reached down and helped the lowest who probably didn't trust him at first. His genuineness resonated with those that he helped and those around him. We should pursue that in everything we do.. as a country, as a city, as an individual and within our families and friends.
This had started out as me wanting to write about abstinence-only education because of something I saw on the news. I wondered if this would stir up too much controversy. Would it? I definitely have some opinions on it, incredibly honed-in with help from my mom, Rob Bell, and so many of my peers from highschool and beyond. Perhaps.
5.27.2009
Good morning!
I woke up early this morning so I wouldn't sleep in (until 11:30 like yesterday), and usually start my morning with coffee and the previous night's episodes of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Oh, yes. I'm such an adult.. beginning my day with hot, black coffee at 6 am and watching the news.
Wait. I drink my coffee with lots of creamer, I didn't wake until 8:45, and I watch pseudo-news. My mistake.
Neither of the shows are on Hulu yet, so I seem to have woken up for nothing. There was an ad for a new show called Mental, so I turned that on to its pilot to see what it is like. So far, I don't really have much of an opinion, but there was a very, very interesting monologue that Dr. Jack Gallagher, new "boss" to the hospital performs at his first staff meeting.
I've been thinking about the Church lately, and what it means to have church on an ongoing basis. Of course, I enjoy the hours-long conversations both in order to get to know others and to discuss different topics within Christianity, the worship and fellowship; but I've been wrestling with as if it is adequate. Yes, it is adequate for ME; me, personally, benefits greatly from this.. to a point. We have to, as Jesus did, dine with others who are not at all like us. In this, I believe we will encounter incredible intelligences and thoughts on our own behavior and the works of Jesus. In that, our conversations could be so much more interesting, even than they are now.
This isn't to say that every meeting of the Church should be with others, outside of our comfort zone. Or maybe it is. I'm sure it has to come from a gradual move to that. Maybe not. For me, it seems to be about comfort, which is.. null and void, in my opinion.
Back to the monologue. I think it fit very well.
Dr. Jack Gallagher, to his new staff at his first staff meeting.
"First staff meeting. Hot coffee, juice, jelly doughnuts. The problem is we're in here, and they're out there."
"Who's out there?"
"Patients. See gang, I'm thinking this whole secret society thing isn't the best way to go. So, starting today, I've invited a few of the patients to sit in."
"You want us to discuss diagnoses and treatment in front of the patients?"
"Bang on! There's a tendency, and I'm as guilty as anyone, to wall ourselves off from the people we're here to help. But it's really more their hospital than ours. We work for them. They have the right to be involved in their own recovery."
"But we're MDs, not social workers."
"MD! Medical doctors, not medical deity. It's their heads."
Wait. I drink my coffee with lots of creamer, I didn't wake until 8:45, and I watch pseudo-news. My mistake.
Neither of the shows are on Hulu yet, so I seem to have woken up for nothing. There was an ad for a new show called Mental, so I turned that on to its pilot to see what it is like. So far, I don't really have much of an opinion, but there was a very, very interesting monologue that Dr. Jack Gallagher, new "boss" to the hospital performs at his first staff meeting.
I've been thinking about the Church lately, and what it means to have church on an ongoing basis. Of course, I enjoy the hours-long conversations both in order to get to know others and to discuss different topics within Christianity, the worship and fellowship; but I've been wrestling with as if it is adequate. Yes, it is adequate for ME; me, personally, benefits greatly from this.. to a point. We have to, as Jesus did, dine with others who are not at all like us. In this, I believe we will encounter incredible intelligences and thoughts on our own behavior and the works of Jesus. In that, our conversations could be so much more interesting, even than they are now.
This isn't to say that every meeting of the Church should be with others, outside of our comfort zone. Or maybe it is. I'm sure it has to come from a gradual move to that. Maybe not. For me, it seems to be about comfort, which is.. null and void, in my opinion.
Back to the monologue. I think it fit very well.
Dr. Jack Gallagher, to his new staff at his first staff meeting.
"First staff meeting. Hot coffee, juice, jelly doughnuts. The problem is we're in here, and they're out there."
"Who's out there?"
"Patients. See gang, I'm thinking this whole secret society thing isn't the best way to go. So, starting today, I've invited a few of the patients to sit in."
"You want us to discuss diagnoses and treatment in front of the patients?"
"Bang on! There's a tendency, and I'm as guilty as anyone, to wall ourselves off from the people we're here to help. But it's really more their hospital than ours. We work for them. They have the right to be involved in their own recovery."
"But we're MDs, not social workers."
"MD! Medical doctors, not medical deity. It's their heads."
5.25.2009
I will update this soon.
Perhaps tomorrow, because I know you all are dying for something new to read ;)
I ran a lot today, and my eyes are very tired. I'll go to sleep now, and wake up refreshed and ready to write.
I ran a lot today, and my eyes are very tired. I'll go to sleep now, and wake up refreshed and ready to write.
5.19.2009
The Boring Continues
Wesley would hate me for this title, since I'm currently watching The West Wing.
But let me explain. I have caught up on The Office (all that are on Hulu), watched all the Gilmore Girls that are online (perhaps numerous times), and now I'm finally watching The West Wing, which is something Wesley has been telling me to do for years.
I am so ready to have a job. And I'm so tired of that sentence.
Today, I finally slept past ten. This is the first time since I've been here. Not because I didn't want to, but because I physically couldn't sleep past eight.
Despite my severe boredom and pending bankruptcy (maybe a little overexaggerated), I don't want to leave... I'm already beginning to try to find a way for myself to stay, though right now it looks like I would come back next Spring. Here's a pseudo-plan: Spend a fantastic summer here, go back to UTT to finish and graduate, then return here for an internship and some more classes (online, I hope) at UCLA. That'd be sweet, and I have nothing else to do.
I don't want to be shoved into a job at 21.5 years old, just because I've graduated. I want to experience things I can't later. So why not? Why not just do something? I did by moving here, but I don't want this to be my only adventure.
Back to today. I want to cut my hair, but I need a place to go. Umm, I'll probably go run in a few. I also would like a bike. The one I am using now is for a 14 year old boy, so obviously it doesn't fit me too well.
Adios for the morning.
But let me explain. I have caught up on The Office (all that are on Hulu), watched all the Gilmore Girls that are online (perhaps numerous times), and now I'm finally watching The West Wing, which is something Wesley has been telling me to do for years.
I am so ready to have a job. And I'm so tired of that sentence.
Today, I finally slept past ten. This is the first time since I've been here. Not because I didn't want to, but because I physically couldn't sleep past eight.
Despite my severe boredom and pending bankruptcy (maybe a little overexaggerated), I don't want to leave... I'm already beginning to try to find a way for myself to stay, though right now it looks like I would come back next Spring. Here's a pseudo-plan: Spend a fantastic summer here, go back to UTT to finish and graduate, then return here for an internship and some more classes (online, I hope) at UCLA. That'd be sweet, and I have nothing else to do.
I don't want to be shoved into a job at 21.5 years old, just because I've graduated. I want to experience things I can't later. So why not? Why not just do something? I did by moving here, but I don't want this to be my only adventure.
Back to today. I want to cut my hair, but I need a place to go. Umm, I'll probably go run in a few. I also would like a bike. The one I am using now is for a 14 year old boy, so obviously it doesn't fit me too well.
Adios for the morning.
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