Friday, May 20, 2011

I. Am. Graduating.

Confession. I am awake right now (1:30 in the morning) listening to the Vitamin C graduation song, feeling unexpectedly really sad about graduating tomorrow. The past two years I have been working towards a Masters in Public Health, and tomorrow I get it! The day has finally come, and I don't know  if I want it to now! I have absolutely loved the past two years. Really.
My former teacher from UVU, Mary, asked me a couple months ago to come visit her class and share why I decided to go on to grad school. As I started preparing what I was going to share, I found myself wondering just why DID I sign up for two more years of stress and debt. Now that I am done I know exactly why I chose to go, and why I would choose to do it again.
1. Well, obvious reasons such as being surrounded by professors and students who are so So SO bright and being able to learn from their experience and learning of the endless opportunities public health has to offer
2. Not so obvious....
   - Food. Free food is everywhere at school. I could find a pizza party at least once a week.
   - Introduced to new Youtube favorites. Stressful times = procrastination= watch Youtube. I discovered   the Beyonce Clown Mask video, and the worlds largest zit video. Classics.
  - Humility. I had one of my most embarassing moments when in a cancer epidemiology class, I said " what are the recovery rates for women suffering from prostate cancer?" I left the whole class speechless. For a good two minutes.
  - More Humility.... In realizing that when the teacher offered candy to students who answered questions, I  was 99 times more likely to participate. I am ashamed that food is my motivating force.
 - Money. Through participating in health research studies (such as cold sore studies, vein flow studies, back pain studies) you get paid! A lot!
3. Friends. Can I just say that I had the best classmates ever? They read this blog, usually as a source of procrastination from studying, so hopefully they are still reading this part. I become insta friends with three girls on day one of class. They are probably the reason why I cry when I listen to Vitamin C, and the cheesy lines start about how Vitamin C is sad to leave her friends. I feel ya Vitamin C. I really do.

On a more serious note, I really am grateful for the opportunity to keep going to school. Education is a gift, one of the best gifts.


Oh, and I bet you are all wondering what I am going to do now. That's a good question I wish I had the answer to but I can tell you what I want to do in the public health world! I want to create health programs for the community that will improve exercise and nutrition. Next dream job for the moment is joining the public health political effort to fight childhood obesity.

I will be sure to let you know if I land one of these anytime soon.

6 comments:

Camille said...

YAY!!!! Congrats SIL! I am so proud of you. You are SO legit.

And yes, it is 3:51 am. I cannot sleep, so I am reading your blog! Even though I loved this post, I wish I was sleeping. Maybe soon? Anyway, See ya later today for an awesome pizza party! :)

Marcella said...

What!!! vitamin C? Are you for real??? hahaha!! Oh my gosh I haven't heard that song for like 9 years! I am excited to see your journey! I am glad you love what you have done and hope that even better things are yet to unfold.

Unknown said...

i'm so so so proud of you! YOU DID IT! AGAIN! remember when we listen to vitamin c when we were packing up lib square? we weren't even graduating, but i have that song on a video somewhere.

why have i never heard these humility stories before?!! hahahaha i love those!good luck with these public health programs, and if you want me to bring refreshments for childhood obesity meetings...

Unknown said...

Oh geez... you're gonna make me cry! You are my favorite. Hands down. I'm glad we all still aren't sure what we're doing with our lives because I think it means we are more likely to see each other. Whatever happens... you better keep in touch. I love ya, Nat!

Brookle said...

Dearest Nat Nat,
How I love thee! I for one am so grateful you decided to do this program. It's been a long road, but a good one at that! I'm so happy we became friends and hope we can still see each other all the time. Thanks for all the laughs and good times. And, or course, the lemon drop cookies...I am also motivated by these! :)

Laura said...

Natalie! It is your cousin and yes I stalked you to find your blog and now I will follow it :) I was so sad to miss Taylor's thing the other week (we were flying home from Boston) and we should hang out soon!

Also, you are adorable.

Friday, May 20, 2011

I. Am. Graduating.

Confession. I am awake right now (1:30 in the morning) listening to the Vitamin C graduation song, feeling unexpectedly really sad about graduating tomorrow. The past two years I have been working towards a Masters in Public Health, and tomorrow I get it! The day has finally come, and I don't know  if I want it to now! I have absolutely loved the past two years. Really.
My former teacher from UVU, Mary, asked me a couple months ago to come visit her class and share why I decided to go on to grad school. As I started preparing what I was going to share, I found myself wondering just why DID I sign up for two more years of stress and debt. Now that I am done I know exactly why I chose to go, and why I would choose to do it again.
1. Well, obvious reasons such as being surrounded by professors and students who are so So SO bright and being able to learn from their experience and learning of the endless opportunities public health has to offer
2. Not so obvious....
   - Food. Free food is everywhere at school. I could find a pizza party at least once a week.
   - Introduced to new Youtube favorites. Stressful times = procrastination= watch Youtube. I discovered   the Beyonce Clown Mask video, and the worlds largest zit video. Classics.
  - Humility. I had one of my most embarassing moments when in a cancer epidemiology class, I said " what are the recovery rates for women suffering from prostate cancer?" I left the whole class speechless. For a good two minutes.
  - More Humility.... In realizing that when the teacher offered candy to students who answered questions, I  was 99 times more likely to participate. I am ashamed that food is my motivating force.
 - Money. Through participating in health research studies (such as cold sore studies, vein flow studies, back pain studies) you get paid! A lot!
3. Friends. Can I just say that I had the best classmates ever? They read this blog, usually as a source of procrastination from studying, so hopefully they are still reading this part. I become insta friends with three girls on day one of class. They are probably the reason why I cry when I listen to Vitamin C, and the cheesy lines start about how Vitamin C is sad to leave her friends. I feel ya Vitamin C. I really do.

On a more serious note, I really am grateful for the opportunity to keep going to school. Education is a gift, one of the best gifts.


Oh, and I bet you are all wondering what I am going to do now. That's a good question I wish I had the answer to but I can tell you what I want to do in the public health world! I want to create health programs for the community that will improve exercise and nutrition. Next dream job for the moment is joining the public health political effort to fight childhood obesity.

I will be sure to let you know if I land one of these anytime soon.

6 comments:

Camille said...

YAY!!!! Congrats SIL! I am so proud of you. You are SO legit.

And yes, it is 3:51 am. I cannot sleep, so I am reading your blog! Even though I loved this post, I wish I was sleeping. Maybe soon? Anyway, See ya later today for an awesome pizza party! :)

Marcella said...

What!!! vitamin C? Are you for real??? hahaha!! Oh my gosh I haven't heard that song for like 9 years! I am excited to see your journey! I am glad you love what you have done and hope that even better things are yet to unfold.

Unknown said...

i'm so so so proud of you! YOU DID IT! AGAIN! remember when we listen to vitamin c when we were packing up lib square? we weren't even graduating, but i have that song on a video somewhere.

why have i never heard these humility stories before?!! hahahaha i love those!good luck with these public health programs, and if you want me to bring refreshments for childhood obesity meetings...

Unknown said...

Oh geez... you're gonna make me cry! You are my favorite. Hands down. I'm glad we all still aren't sure what we're doing with our lives because I think it means we are more likely to see each other. Whatever happens... you better keep in touch. I love ya, Nat!

Brookle said...

Dearest Nat Nat,
How I love thee! I for one am so grateful you decided to do this program. It's been a long road, but a good one at that! I'm so happy we became friends and hope we can still see each other all the time. Thanks for all the laughs and good times. And, or course, the lemon drop cookies...I am also motivated by these! :)

Laura said...

Natalie! It is your cousin and yes I stalked you to find your blog and now I will follow it :) I was so sad to miss Taylor's thing the other week (we were flying home from Boston) and we should hang out soon!

Also, you are adorable.

 

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