As I was packing my backpack tonight, getting ready for my first day of graduate school, I reflected a lot about the long path that has brought me to this point.
I thought about the last 8 years, 7 of which were filled with an effort to complete my bachelor's degree. I thought about that day 4 months ago when I finally was able to proudly walk across the stage and receive my diploma. I thought about how I finally was accepting the idea that I had actually graduated, and how weird it was that I was still about to start school.
I thought about all of my other first days and all the emotions that came with each of them - excitement, dread (yes, I admit it), anxious, nervous. Each semester brought another step on the seemingly never ending road to completion.
But I finished and now I'm moving forward and continuing my education.
The emotions for this first day are similar, but in a different way. I'm mostly excited. Excited of the uncertainty of it all. Excited for the chance to learn more and to shape my knowledge to lead me to new and great things.
I've had so many changes lately. I'd had my very first full time job for 2 months, my very own apartment for 1 month (along with it a new ward and new friends) and I'm about to start a new program at a new school with new teachers. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous or anxious; change is scary. So far though, the changes have been good and I'm sure starting my Master's will be just as good.
Here's to the next adventure.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Friday, May 8, 2015
The Next Big Step
The past six months have been just crazy! Senior year was way more stressful than I thought it would be. I don't think I've even been that stressed in my life. But I made it through!
This semester I worked on my senior project, which was a documentary on interactions between those with and without disabilities. It was a lot of work but it was well worth it! Watch it below or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tilzwtn1KrY
Two days before graduation, I started at a new job. It's non profit called Child Rescue dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking located in Salt Lake. If you wanna check them out, here's their website: http://www.childrescueassociation.org/. Right now I'm doing part time but it will develop into a full time position. I'll be doing a variety of things involving anything from communications to marketing or whatever they need help with.
On the same day as graduation, I got a call from Westminster College in Salt Lake and they told me that I got accepted! I'm going to be getting a Masters of Arts in Community Leadership. It's basically a combination of communication, marketing and business with a goal towards working with nonprofits. I'm going to be meeting with the program director this coming week to plan my fall semester. I'm super excited for it! So look for another graduation announcement in two years!
Since both my job and my school will be in Salt Lake, I'm working on moving up there. There aren't any solid plans at all, but it's in the works. I'm going to miss being down in Provo/Orem, but I'm excited to see where my life goes in the next few months!
Now I just need to figure out a method to be able to most a little more often than twice a year...
This semester I worked on my senior project, which was a documentary on interactions between those with and without disabilities. It was a lot of work but it was well worth it! Watch it below or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tilzwtn1KrY
Two days before graduation, I started at a new job. It's non profit called Child Rescue dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking located in Salt Lake. If you wanna check them out, here's their website: http://www.childrescueassociation.org/. Right now I'm doing part time but it will develop into a full time position. I'll be doing a variety of things involving anything from communications to marketing or whatever they need help with.
On the same day as graduation, I got a call from Westminster College in Salt Lake and they told me that I got accepted! I'm going to be getting a Masters of Arts in Community Leadership. It's basically a combination of communication, marketing and business with a goal towards working with nonprofits. I'm going to be meeting with the program director this coming week to plan my fall semester. I'm super excited for it! So look for another graduation announcement in two years!
Since both my job and my school will be in Salt Lake, I'm working on moving up there. There aren't any solid plans at all, but it's in the works. I'm going to miss being down in Provo/Orem, but I'm excited to see where my life goes in the next few months!
Now I just need to figure out a method to be able to most a little more often than twice a year...
Monday, October 27, 2014
Learning and growing from the past
Over four years ago, I heard some news that shook my world and turned it upside down. It took me a little while to get over it and figure out why it had to happen. I was ashamed though because I brought it upon myself so I kept it to myself except for a few select people. But I'm finally ready to talk about it.
Beginning of 2010 I was at BYU-Idaho in a tough semester on my very last thread of sanity. I had two jobs and was taking 18 credits. I was on my fifth full time semester in a row with. Then at the beginning of the semester my brace broke so I had to traipse up and down the snowy hills with poor balance. I also wasn't as good as I thought I was at balancing my desire to have a busy schedule.
So I put a lot of things upon myself without the tools necessary to handle it all. I did it to myself and I know it.
I ended up not doing as well on my grades as I thought I did. I got put on academic suspension. I had to leave BYUI for a year and get at least a 2.0 GPA with at least 12 credits at another school before I could go back.
I was devastated and embarrassed. I had to call home and tell my parents what happened and suddenly figure out what I was going to do with my life for the next year. I knew I could go stay with my family but after living on my own I didn't want to do that unless I needed to. Luckily for me I had a family I was close with that let me come stay with them in Spanish Fork for a bit while I found a job and a place to live.
Two months later, I had a job and an apartment. I got started at the nearby university towards the end of my year requirement so that I could go back to my beloved school.
But to my surprise, when my year was up I didn't want to leave.
I had grown attached to my new life in Utah. I had made some great friends and new connections and I loved it. Then I got confirmation that I did need to stay.
So I stayed. I wasn't sure why but for some reason I needed to stay. The longer I stayed, the more I loved it.
Still though, I hid my reasoning for leaving Idaho. I avoided the question and kept it a secret from anyone who I deemed "unworthy" to know.
But I have finally moved on.
It's taken a while, but I am done hiding. I may not be proud of my prior mistakes, but I have overcome them, learned from them and grown from them.
It may have taken longer than I originally planned, but I'm graduating in April in a field that I never before imagined me loving. From leaving Idaho, I took off my career blinders and allowed myself to develop other talents I had and some that I didn't know I had. And because of that, I'm grateful that I had to leave Idaho. Because of that window opening, I have made some of the best friends that I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky to have them.
The amazing thing that I didn't realize until recently was how much I have focused on doing the best that I could and how much that effort was paying off.
Wednesday, October 22 I was inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta: Alpha Beta Beta, a National Honor Society. In order to be eligible for this, you had to be a junior or senior, have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, at least a 3.25 GPA in your communication core and be in the top 1/3 of the graduating class. Once you join the society, you are a lifetime member. I also will wear honor cords with my cap and gown at graduation.
It was after receiving notice about being eligible for this society that I realized how far I have come. Never mind that it took me 7 years to graduate. I have been on the path that I needed to be on the whole time. My mind just didn't catch up with it until now.
Upcoming status: Amanda Hollman, proud graduate with honor society standing and a lot of life experience under her belt and unashamed of her past.
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So I put a lot of things upon myself without the tools necessary to handle it all. I did it to myself and I know it.
I ended up not doing as well on my grades as I thought I did. I got put on academic suspension. I had to leave BYUI for a year and get at least a 2.0 GPA with at least 12 credits at another school before I could go back.
I was devastated and embarrassed. I had to call home and tell my parents what happened and suddenly figure out what I was going to do with my life for the next year. I knew I could go stay with my family but after living on my own I didn't want to do that unless I needed to. Luckily for me I had a family I was close with that let me come stay with them in Spanish Fork for a bit while I found a job and a place to live.
Two months later, I had a job and an apartment. I got started at the nearby university towards the end of my year requirement so that I could go back to my beloved school.
But to my surprise, when my year was up I didn't want to leave.
I had grown attached to my new life in Utah. I had made some great friends and new connections and I loved it. Then I got confirmation that I did need to stay.
So I stayed. I wasn't sure why but for some reason I needed to stay. The longer I stayed, the more I loved it.
Still though, I hid my reasoning for leaving Idaho. I avoided the question and kept it a secret from anyone who I deemed "unworthy" to know.
But I have finally moved on.
It's taken a while, but I am done hiding. I may not be proud of my prior mistakes, but I have overcome them, learned from them and grown from them.
It may have taken longer than I originally planned, but I'm graduating in April in a field that I never before imagined me loving. From leaving Idaho, I took off my career blinders and allowed myself to develop other talents I had and some that I didn't know I had. And because of that, I'm grateful that I had to leave Idaho. Because of that window opening, I have made some of the best friends that I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky to have them.
The amazing thing that I didn't realize until recently was how much I have focused on doing the best that I could and how much that effort was paying off.
Wednesday, October 22 I was inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta: Alpha Beta Beta, a National Honor Society. In order to be eligible for this, you had to be a junior or senior, have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, at least a 3.25 GPA in your communication core and be in the top 1/3 of the graduating class. Once you join the society, you are a lifetime member. I also will wear honor cords with my cap and gown at graduation.
It was after receiving notice about being eligible for this society that I realized how far I have come. Never mind that it took me 7 years to graduate. I have been on the path that I needed to be on the whole time. My mind just didn't catch up with it until now.
Upcoming status: Amanda Hollman, proud graduate with honor society standing and a lot of life experience under her belt and unashamed of her past.
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