My Diploma...

..finally came in the mail! What a relief! I truly have graduated...and I have proof! YAY!! (Sorry the picture is kind of poor quality)

The green medal on the left side of the frame (just hanging on the corner) is the honors medallion that graduates received if they qualified (I graduated Magna Cum Laude, which is the second highest honor). The tassel that is hanging in the frame is considered "drab orange," which is the color that indicates the School of Public and Business Administration. To be honest, I would call the color tan or dark tan. May parents bought me this beautiful frame as a graduation gift. It's now hanging on the wall above my high school graduation picture and tassel!

What a great feeling!

I don't want to break my arm patting myself on my back, BUT I can proudly say I'm finished!! As of 1:48 this afternoon, I turned in my last project and finished my last test of my undergrad years! What a relief! I did fine on all of my finals (I think..), and I'm not worried about that! It's a good feeling, but it's almost surreal like nothing's different! I will graduate on Friday, and maybe things will sink in then!

That said, I get word yesterday saying that I was accepted on aprroved status to grad school! After waiting two months, I have finally heard back from them!! Approved status just means that I will be fully enrolled, and not on any provisionary terms (like probationary periods, etc.). I am proud of this as well! I think that maybe the reason why I haven't felt any different is because I still have two years! But things will be different at Grad SChool. No more fighting for great parking spots or carrying a ton of books at one time!

I believe I will celebrate with a stiff drink this evening! Cheers!

My future

Obviously with the upcoming graduation in December nearing, I have been thinking more and ore about my future. I have sent out a handful of resumes and cover letters, and I've heard back from some and not others. Mainly I have been trying to take what I am learning at my internship and apply it to the "real world." Everyday I come here, I learn more and more. I know that, someday, I want to be the "big shot" in an organization (public or private), but have realized that there is a lot to still learn. While thinking about that, I had been looking more seriously into Graduate School. I always knew that eventually I would want to go back to get my Masters degree, but I didn't want to do it right after school. I wanted to get some experience, and then go back. After looking at some of the classes offered for a Graduate degree in Public Administration, I decided that it would be very beneficial to continue my education now. I think right now is a good time--I'm not really grounded. In a few years, it will be harder to pick things up and go back to school. Besides, I like my school, program, and professors so much that I want to do it in Grand Forks. Josh told me...even before I started thinking about grad school...that he wanted to stay in the area for awhile longer because things are going well for him at his job. So I think it's the perfect time.

So now I applied, got 3 recommendations, and next Friday I will take the Graduate Records Exam in Fargo. I have been studying a little bit, but I guess I have three other school tests next week! So next week will be a little bit stressful. I was really nervous for the test, because I am not the greatest at standardized tests, but one of the professors that I talked to in my program said that it's a small factor in determining whether or not a student gets into grad school. I feel a little bit better, but I still want to do well. The test is computerized, which will be nice because I will be able to see my score right away for all of the sections except for the essay portion. That will help ease my anxiety. After that, I just have to wait for the scores to be mailed to the graduate school at UND, and see if I am accepted.

Wish me luck!

Update on My Internship

So for the past month I have been a full-time employee of the City of Grand Forks. I was really nervous before I started, because I didn't want to hate it and be confused about my major (and the past three years I have just spent trying to get to where I am). Well turns out I LOVE my job! I actually got passed up for the first internship opportunity in this department, but I couldn't be happier now when I see what the other intern is working on versus myself. I was originally told that I would be working on a "downtown parking issue," but so far I have done way more than just that project! My first day I worked on researching the downtown parking in Grand Forks. By the second day I was going to meetings down at the mayor's office for a neighborhood project. I have gone to a bunch of meetings, and have had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people. I love meeting new people, and these days great jobs are all about networking and who you know! I would much rather be out and about meeting new people than sitting around reading about one issue, like the other intern. I am currently working on about 5 or 6 different projects, and I honestly couldn't be happier. Then this last Friday the director comes into my office, and tells me that he's very impressed by me thusfar. He goes on about how I am taking on many more duties than most interns do, and I resemble more of a city employee than any other intern. He says that when I'm done with my internship, I will have more experience working in a city government than any other intern that has worked with this department. He also says that he would hire me in a minute, and he's not sure what I will be doing after this summer and after school, but he'd be very interested in hiring me for a permanent position in this department. He did tell me that he can't promise anything, because it's the city government and, ultimately, doesnt have the final say in the matter, but he will work hard to do what he can. Either way, it was a HUGE confidence booster, and I was just beaming all day! I am very proud that someone notices the hard work that I put in! It's really nice to be noticed and appreciated!

So now to the question...what do I want to do after I graduate? Well this is a question that I have been pondering a lot lately. If you were to ask me this a year ago, I could've, without hesitation, told you that I would be looking for a job back towards home. Now, I'm not so sure. I am sure that I do want to settle into a small town...eventually, and that I want that small town to be close to me parents and friends and family...eventually. But what if it's not such a bad idea to get a few years under my belt here? Grand Forks is a booming city, and I really enjoy the department that I am working in now. If I were to take this job, then I don't have to stress about not being able to find a job once I graduate. Josh and I have really been talking about this a lot lately. He thinks it's a great idea to stay for a few more years. This way we both can have a few years experience. He is hoping to climb up the ladder a bit to a supervisory position, so that when we eventually move, there will be more opportunities for him as well. He also has been thinking about going back to school. He has a year under his belt from Alexandria for engineering/drafting. There are a lot of job opporunities for that kind of work right now, and I really have been pushing for him to go back to school. He just isn't sure he wants a desk job. WOW this is a long blog!! I'll stop for now....

Graduation!

Congratulations Christopher!! Yay! This last weekend we went back home to celebrate Chris' graduation! We are very proud of him and his hard work! The ceremony was really nice except for the family sitting in front of us! They were so rude! There were like three younger kids who were terribly loud throughout the whole ceremony so it was kind of hard to hear what was going on. I know children get fussy when they have to sit too long, BUT usually the parents ask them to be quiet or walk them out. These parents actually laughed at their kids, and just acted like they were being cute. That was pretty annoying! Here are some pictures with the graduate!!

Senioritis!

So April just started and I feel lazy...only when it comes to school work! It's so bad! The semester is 5 weeks from being over and I can't get my head in the game! I don't have any tests until finals week, but I do have projects still to do! I should still start preparing for finals because I am just going to die that week! YUCK! But I just would rather do other thing! I just cant wait for summer...I am sick of school! Only one more semester after this one...YES!