2017 Reflections

2017

This has been quite the year - so many things have happened and I have grown a lot as a person in so many ways. Some things have been great, others not so much but I have had support along the way.

Last year at this time, I was finishing the most challenging semester of my life - excited to have barely gotten a B in one of the most difficult undergraduate courses (neuroscience) and still had another semester tacked on in order to get all my credits to graduate. I did learn in that semester that sometimes things that are most rewarding won't come without a fight - very applicable to life outside of academia and definitely was a huge lesson for me.

A bit of a recap of early 2017: In the beginning of the year I started a pro-bono, for experience internship learning about nonprofits and environmental health for Pollution Detectives (I have had quite the experience with Dr. Koster).  I was also learned early in the year, I have moderate asthma and I have to take care of myself, take daily meds to prevent symptoms, and learn about asthma itself.  However, having it properly treated has made my life easier... I got the chance to study biodiversity of mosquitoes (spun of my summer internship) and I learned I did actually enjoy seeing environmental science, biology, and public health come together.  Also, I went to Alabama to present in late March/early April.

Graduation: so the spring semester went smoothly minus my persistent worry over painting class (which still is ironic since I draw well but painting eluded my capabilities) and biochemistry was rough... I also made the decision to move to CT in the works as of late last December/early January and that was a transition and a half... But I am still glad I made the move. Then after graduation... there was a trip to the Outer Banks (my first time yet lived in NC since I was 3) and the opportunity to work at a camp in Kent, CT.

Camp - as time passes on - I realize how much Camp Kenmont/Kenwood had on me - directly and indirectly. While I was there - I realized I lacked confidence and the ability to speak up despite having a good work ethic and a passion for kids.  If I do go back to work at Kenmont/Kenwood I will definitely come back with more confidence.  However, I did learn about different people and cultures, interacted with many people from outside the States, and got to be outside a LOT- which is my favorite thing.  I lived with strangers for two months who grew to be like family and I learned how to figure out things without always needing to ask someone for advice (I did a LOT of laundry by hand because of the camps broken dryer :O)

After camp ended, life became a lull and I had to go and search fervently for jobs.  Thankfully, I was able to work at Subway and was offered a remote freelance position (although I do data analysis not necessarily writing/editing as much - but still paid nonetheless) while I attempted to find something full time.  That changed in October when I went for an interview at Faneuil, which is a place that holds Access Health CT and Connecticare health insurance. I started with CTcare on November 3rd, with several weeks of training and have worked in the actual call center for 2 weeks now.  It is definitely a different job than I expected - and also my 7th one of the year. But I do have steady work, I am on the books for Subway still, and do get to do work for Pollution Detectives still.

In addition to going to a new church, I have also recently gotten the opportunity a couple of times to be a one to one for a nonverbal boy at church... He is on the spectrum and definitely has a hard time communicating so I thought it was cool when I was able to make a connection with him and teach my friend E about ASD and sensory processing.  I might also be able to help with figuring out a way to make sure childrens church can help include those with special needs and how to help them feel at home at church - which is exciting to re-explore the topic and help teach others about neurodiversity - and thankfully there is a special needs teacher who is in charge of Sunday School - which is pretty exciting to collaborate or even get ideas to make sure H is comfortable while able to still be a kid.

Lastly - driving.  This is a topic that is very personal and brings out my vulnerability in all the ways I would rather avoid.  For those who don't know, I have had driving lessons in the past with an instructor who made me feel anxious and at the time - I had astigmatisms that worsened that affected my eye sight, leading to eyestrain.  I did have a friend, J, who was the one who encouraged me to drive and taught me basics a couple of years back.  She was (at the time one of the few) who encouraged me to drive).  HOWEVER... I heard a lot of things when the driving instructor didn't work out and pretty much said I should never drive - and it was brought up how it was because I have ADHD (and to clarify - I am predominantly hyperactive - I actually pay attention well and have decent executive functions - or fine motor skills (this one gets me because I am able to draw well and have good dexterity - except for I use my left hand better with certain tasks).... With that being said, my parents brought me driving lessons and education course for graduation.  I had confidence when I was driving with my stepmom even though I still needed to learn mechanics behind things and had weaknesses... However, in early October I got into an accident where I over turned the wheel when turning right and went through the fence and hit a standstill car.  Everything was okay - me and my stepmom were pretty shaken. This unfortunately set me back ALOT in my confidence after building my confidence up from the previously being told I should never drive.  However, I have a very patient and caring driving instructor, R.C. who during the second lesson figured out it was anxiety driven (both performance and hanging onto what people have said).  I still have a LOT of work to do to get back the confidence I HAD and to go forward with driving but I have supportive parents, friends, and instructor - oh and a LOT of determination - even if it means low key sweating so much from nerves! So that saga will continue in 2018... which all goes back to PATIENCE :O!