Post graduation reflection

Hi everyone,
     Four years has come and gone like leaves in the wind. I still remember getting that phone call from my admissions councilor at George Fox saying that I had been accepted. Thank you to all of you for reading these monthly blogs. These blogs allowed me to reflect on my journey through college in addition to providing an update to those of you who I didn't keep in contact with on a regular basis.
     Going to George Fox challenged me in more ways then one but Im not even going to pretend that that was bad. Going to a Quaker school allowed me to learn about and somewhat appreciate another branch of christianity that I did not grow up with. I was able to intern at and then later fully attend a quaker church were I could witness what an evangelical Friends(aka quaker)church service looked like.Up until February, the church participated in as part of their service a time called open worship. At first I didn't fully understand or appreciate what this time was used for but then the more I attended and learned about their beliefs began to appreciate and enjoy this time of the service as a time to fully engage with God and let our minds and hearts process the message that was preached.
     Attending George Fox not only helped me to learn more about myself but about my cohort and the world around me. I feel like I was truly able to learn how to advocate for myself to people that didn't already know me or the needs that I had. I was able to learn in more depth about issues happening in the world around us such as houseless-ness, unemployment, and what it truly means to be a social worker in today's world.
     The Bible tells us that God will be with us wherever we go. Well, I have felt him more in the last four years then maybe ever before.  I feel as though I have become closer to him and that my relationship with God has become stronger. I have mentioned this before in a blog or two but I have a firm belief that God created a plan for each of us as to what will happen and where we will end up in each stage of our lives.As many of you know, I had decided last fall that I was going to apply to grad schools and attend right away. Well, that clearly was not his plan. What this taught me was that we may think we know what the plan is for our lives but despite what we think will happen. God is in control and I think that was the ultimate message and lesson that I learned during the last four years.
Thanks for reading these and for following me on this journey,
Allison😊

March-April: year 4, semester 2, month 3-4

Hi everyone,
     I know this is a little late. During the month of march, I had the opportunity to participate in a lobby day put on by the National association of Social workers. This is an event done every year where social workers and social work students come and lobby for bills passing through the state legislature.  It was an interesting event. I am glad that I had the opportunity to participate but if I am being honest probably wouldn't do it again.
     A few weeks ago, I had spring break which was much needed. This break allowed me to relax but also get work done in a leisurely manner. I also had my first job interview which went great. It was for a position working with children and teens with autism. I would go into their homes and/or schools and help them implement the plan they created. I also had a great birthday.
     The next big thing is graduation. I can't believe it is here already. The closer it gets the more I excited I get for the future and what the future holds.
Thanks for reading
Allison

February: year 4 semester 2 month 2

Hello,
     This has been one crazy month. I have started applying for jobs and recently got to pick up my Cap and gown for graduation. The whole job search thing has been stressful for me not  in the sense that I am worried about what will happen if I don't get a job but more in the sense that I am worried that I won't say the right things or present myself in the right way. Even though in the moment it seems like the semester is going by really slowly, it is really speeding by. At the time I am writing this; it is already the end of the 8th week.
     Next week on March 9th I am going with my colleagues and some professors to Salem for National association of Social workers(NASW) lobby day. This is an event that the department participates in every year in order to help students understand the social workers role of fighting for legislation relevant to their clients.
     As I mentioned earlier, I applied for a family advocate position in San Jose. I am excited because it is at a Head Start program. For those of you who don't know I am currently doing an internship at a head start program so I feel as though having that experience and having some knowledge about head start and how it works will be beneficial.
     As the semester continues and opportunities continue to show up; I will be interested to see where I end up.
If you feel comfortable sharing I would be interested to know what your first paid job was as an adult?

January: Year 4 Semester 2 Month 1

Hi Everyone,
This month's update will be more about how I feel about events that have happened than the events themselves.
     This semester so far has been both mentally and emotionally exhausting. This may sound ridiculous to some of you but it is how I feel. I have been applying to Masters programs lately and just received my first rejection. I am a little disappointed but not too devastated. I have had a hard time focusing on my school work no matter how hard I try. Its those cross roads of being a student and figuring out what to do afterwards.
     This is something that I have been wrestling with internally. I know in my heart what the right way to go is but my mind is saying something complete opposite. I have been looking online at a few jobs that I think would be interesting to have post graduation if my grad school plans do not happen immediately.
     I try to always be in the mind set that God has a plan for all of us and we try to follow it but never know where it will take us. Nevertheless, I know that whether I work first or finish school first; God is in control and I will go wherever his plan takes me.
     Nothing too interesting has happened this month other than applying to programs. It has been very stressful for me because I don't like to feel as though the decision I am making is not fully agreed on. While I feel support from my family and friends no matter what happens. I can feel a vibe from my professors that let me know that they don't support that decision and they aren't afraid to show it. Sorry this update is so negative but I have been feeling many negative feelings lately and I think it is healthier to talk about them then to keep them bottled up.
See you next month on
What's going on with Allison

November: Year 4 Semester 1 Month 3

Hi,
    This month has been a busy one. At the end of October I got to go to Roloff Farms. For those of you who don't know is a famous farm from the TLC show Little People Big world. This to me was a once in a life time opportunity. When I heard that my local LPA chapter was going to be making a  trip there I knew that I had to tag along and experience in person what I have watched on TV for the past ten years. I was also able to get a picture with Amy the Matriarch of the family, take a wagon tour of the farm, and even pick a pumpkin of my own. I would say that it was well worth the effort.
      This month I also made progress in the process to apply to graduate school. I met with a few professors about letters of Recommendations and all that but the process for me is an interesting one. I think that deciding to apply to grad school and all that encompasses it is a lot harder than applying to college was. I feel like a lot more is at stake and the decision that I make could affect me for a while so I am kind of stressing about whether or not to work for a year or two or go directly into my masters. I have heard a variety of different people's experiences. Some say it is better to wait and some say that it is harder to get back into the school mode after taking a few years off and that it is better to go directly into your masters. I will say that I want to go directly into my masters but I am taking into consideration what my professors and others who have already been to graduate school have to say.
     On a happier note, I am looking forward to coming home for thanksgiving this upcoming Tuesday. It won't be long before the semester is over and Christmas break is here. I would appreciate prayers about graduate school and that I make the right decision.

October: Year 3 semester 1 month 2

Hello,
       This month has been crazy. First of all I can't believe that it is the end of week 8 of a 15 week semester. The semester just seems to be flying by. I would say that since I last updated you four weeks ago my busyness level has gone up a lot. My internship has started picking up. The kids have been coming for a few weeks now and every week I feel like I am learning right along with them. The different experiences that the other teachers plan out for them also become memories for me that I can take with me.
     I have 5 or 6 group projects to complete this semester along with a variety of other things. One of the individual projects that I have to do is meet with an "older" adult 6 times throughout the course of the semester for a total of 8 hours by the end of the semester. The person I have picked has gone out of her way to provide me with a great experience already and we just met. I spent four hours with her yesterday and I had more fun than I have had almost all week. She gave me quite the tour of the retirement center. Started telling me about her life (even gave me some more assignments to do). She is a super sweet lady who just tells me like it is. At the end of the month I will get to go to roloff farms with my local LPA group and i am excited about that.
  I will be coming home for thanksgiving which is always a fun event especially because that means my next trip home isn't as far away.
Talk to you next month,
Allison

September: Year 4 semester 1 month 1

Welcome back,
        It is my senior year and it still amazes me how fast time has flown bye. Summer is over and fall has officially arrived. This last month I experienced my first LPA district regional and it was really fun. I met a lot of really nice people and got to reconnect with some friends of mine. At the convention I got to go on a boat tour of Lake coeur D'Alene and it was fun. I also got to fly to Spokane and celebrate my grandpas 80th birthday with my family.
         I am interning at a Head Start program here in Newberg this year. I am looking forward to it since I will be working with my ideal client population. This first month has gone by so fast. This summer I experienced post op depression which I now know happened last summer as well. I think the traveling that I did helped me to have a smoother transition into the new school year.

Tune in next month to hear what new adventures I had
Allison