The National Dean's List, Mermaids, and Frosted Flakes

So, here I am, back in my studio in Detroit. I am soooo sick of the snow! I have to walk everywhere, and it just makes for a mess. Anyway, even though today was our first day of class, we had to turn in a portfolio that we should have been working on over the break. One of the items in there is our curriculum vita, which is basically a resume, but you list your training on it instead of your previous employment. One of the accomplishments I contemplated putting on there was that my name had been published in this book entitled The National Dean's List. Twice. Sounds good, right? I thought it sounded a little fishy when I received the letter in the mail, but sent my biographical information in anyway, opting NOT to purchase the $70 book. The company that publishes this book also publishes Who's Who Among American High School Students or something like that. I think that one is legit. While I was pondering putting this on my vita and potentially getting laughed at by a future prospective employer, I decided to do some research. I came across others who had received this honor, but had been out of college for 30-some years! Some people got fictitious names appointed the dean's list, too. Too bad, because it sounds nice to be one of the "1/2 of 1% of our nation's college students that are eligible for this award." They even have a catalog with collector's items, and their letterhead lists several committee members. They also offer scholarships. I am confused, as this is not really a scam, but is not the honor it presents itself as. And so, I have decided to leave it off my vita.

As for mermaids, my bridesmaids and I have selected their dresses. The color is mermaid. As Darcy put it, "I always wanted to be a mermaid!" Here is what it looks like:


And the Frosted Flakes? Well, I left a little treat for my squirrel friend on the porch and discovered that 5 or 6 birds were also fans. I felt like the Snow White of Detroit with all my furry and flying friends scurrying around on my dilapidated porch!

First Semester of Grad School: Check

Well, the first semester is officially done! I ended up with an A in:
Introduction to Behavioral Psychology
Human Developmental Psychology
Psychological Evaluation I
I got an A- in Practices and Procedures in Professional Psychology. I'm a little bummed about that one, as I was borderline A/A-. That professor is going to send us some recommendations for what we can work on. There are some high expectations here, but I feel more comfortable and I feel like I am more prepared to handle the next semester. But let's not jump ahead of ourselves, here. :)

School Psychology named as 1 of the 30 Best Careers in 2009

In this time of economic turmoil, financial uncertainty, and especially the stress and questions involved in my postgraduate training, hope was sent to me via an email from one of my cohorts in the program. The email contained an article recently published by U.S. News & World Report newsmagazine. It listed the best 30 careers for 2009. Here are a few snippets:

The first is an example of a day in the life of a school psychologist, in case you are wondering what I am going to school for.

A Day in the Life . A teacher wants Johnny placed in a special-education class, so you make a classroom observation. You see something different, however. If the teacher provided some individualized instruction for Johnny, he probably wouldn't need special ed. The teacher isn't pleased with that assessment, but you have the final say. Next, you test another child's eligibility for special education. This time, you administer an intelligence test, an achievement battery, learning disability diagnostic tests, and personality instruments, and write the results and recommendations in a three-page, single-spaced report. The most stressful part of your day is a meeting to agree on the annual individualized education plan for a severely disabled child—most of the time, he rocks back and forth. The parent and teacher demand more services for the child, while the principal argues they're not cost effective. You facilitate the decision-making. Next, you and a teacher show a parent how to help her dyslexic child improve his reading while coping with his "depression" about it. The final activity of the day is illuminating: your weekly Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll discussion group with seventh graders.

The second is the estimated salary...might seem a little off-beat that I'm posting that information, but can you blame me for considering it an important part of the career these days?

Salary Data
Median (with eight years in the field): $60,700

25th to 75th percentile (with eight or more years of experience): $53,700-$80,100

An overview of my future career and why it was chosen:

Overview. The job outlook for school psychologists should be strong. Many are reaching retirement age. Plus, parents of children with special needs are increasingly emboldened—and often armed with lawyers threatening to sue school districts if desired services are not provided. In addition, the media are focusing on many of the problems school psychologists deal with: autism, school violence, bullying, and Ritalin prescriptions for active boys.

Not only is the job outlook good, so are the working conditions. You are likely to follow the school schedule and work just nine months of the year. Status and job security are high, and the stress manageable. And school psychologists often get to do such rewarding tasks as conducting parenting workshops, counseling teachers and parents, and screening kids for gifted-student programs. Most school psychologists spend more time assessing students for special education, writing individualized education plans, and persuading parents and teachers to sign off on them.

To read more, go to http://tinyurl.com/5q86v3.

Source: Nemko, M. (2008). Best careers 2009: school psychologist. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 12, 2008, from http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-school-psychologist.html

My Apartment, Yo!

I hope it doesn't make you sick!!

Nesting with the Squirrels

So right now the temperature feels like 35 degrees outside, and I've got my window open. Why? Because I live on the third floor. I have NEVER once turned on any of my three radiators, yet my apartment is usually in a semi-sauna state. Well, I lie. Saunas are steamy, right? My apartment is dry. I guess all the heat drifting up from everyone else is enough. There hasn't been a night yet where I haven't slept with my window open and a fan sitting in it, and it's mid-November! Today is the first day I've had to get up and close it to just an inch-wide crack because of the temperature and because of the rain. What a crappy weekend! It's supposed to rain, snow, and be cold. I have a tree right outside my window where a little black squirrel used to take naps when it was warmer. I wonder if he'll come back to snuggle away from the snow. Where do squirrels go in the winter anyway? Do they find a new home? Or just re-insulate the old one?

A Well-Dressed Prostitute?

So I attended a conference in Grand Rapids recently for the Michigan Association of School Psychologists, otherwise known as MASP. It was 3 days, and took place at the Amway Grand Plaza. Wow, that hotel is beautiful! But I couldn't afford that, so I looked online through a hotel search engine and found a Travelodge. I've stayed at those before. The online reviews were fine, stating that you got comfort and breakfast for the convenient price. So I booked my time there, feeling good that I researched the distance, the area, the price, and so on.

I have a friend who lives near Grand Rapids that I haven't seen in a while, so we planned to meet up. He was to pick me up at my hotel. I decided to make a quick trip to the store before he got there, and headed for my car, which was parked in the back of the hotel. That section of the parking lot had a deserted, fenced lot next to it, and a section of woods behind it. I thought it looked a little desolate, but I was able to park right next to my door. I figured that this wasn't Detroit, and I also figured there weren't that many cars back there because not that many people stay in hotels on Sunday or Monday night.

So I get into my car, put the keys in the ignition, put my purse on the passenger seat, and straighten some papers over there as well. All of which took about 30 seconds. Then I notice in my driver's side mirror that a car is trying to pull in to the space next to me. I also notice that they didn't turn soon enough and will have to back up to avoid hitting me. I wonder if it's my friend. That silly guy! So I turn around to look at the car, and BAM!! Spotlight! What in the ???? So it's a cop! Have to admit I'm a little peeved. I'm totally innocent! I haven't even put the car in gear! Or what if it's not a cop?? We've all heard those stories of people posing as official enforcers of the law. So I turn around again to try and look at the car and see if it actually is a cop car, but I can't see ANYTHING! Efforts to look into a spotlight are futile. So I make sure my doors are locked, window up, hand on the mace, and a real-life cop approaches my window. I roll down the window.

Cop: "Hi."
Me: "Hi!" My face says: What's goin' on???
Cop: "You stayin' here?"
Me: "Yeah."
Cop: "You from around here?"
Me: "No. I'm in town for the MASP conference."
Cop: looks puzzled "MASP?"
I explain it to him.

He proceeds to tell me that this is a high drug-trafficking area, and also a well-known area for prostitution. He mentioned something about crack whores. I said "So you're telling me I should park in front?"

Ah, the efficacy of researching something before you make a decision! I never would have thought that I would be suspected of running prostitution games for drugs. I think when he saw how I looked he changed his mind. I had my hair in a french twist, was wearing a nice sweater and a leather blazer, jeans, and leather boots. I looked like I just stepped out of the JCPenney's fall catalog. I also looked like a well-dressed prostitute, apparently.

My neighbor is learning how to play the synthesizer

Yes, the synthesizer. At first I thought it was the sounds of actual piano chords I was hearing through the walls. But then the piano got sort of funky and electronic sounding. You know, kind of "Axel F"-esque.*



Then I remembered that we were on the third floor of an apartment building with no elevator and narrow steps on the staircase. Who would want to carry a piano up that? Yes, it must be a synthesizer. Anywho, aside from the soundtrack of Bill Murray's "Life Aquatic", I wasn't sure I would ever hear a synthesizer again after the '80s. Kind of refreshing.

I have friends and family that I know will think this little tidbit about the keyboard is entertaining, but I also know there are others that are undoubtedly unhumoured. Well, I have a couple other odd stories and random facts that might tickle your fancy. That's why I started this blog. You see, I'm approaching 30 and still in school. I am engaged, but I live by myself right now. I have no steady job and attend graduate school over full-time in a city which I am unfamiliar with. Those close to me know that I periodically drop off the face of the earth, but still want to know how it's going in outer space. Those who support me deserve updates. While I crave some sort of consistent communication with others, my schedule is not always conducive to this and neither is theirs. This is one way for them to check up on me whenever they want. Now if I can just get them to do the same.

I am also selfishly looking for an outlet for some past experiences that I didn't get to share with some. We'll see if I am motivated enough to put them down on the proverbial paper.

* He's not that advanced yet. I can hear him the clearest when I take a trip to my bathroom. It's like an odd serenade of sorts...