I don’t want you all to forget me so I am checking in with a pretty blah post. I wish I had more time to be interesting, but lately it’s been all school, all the time!
I have never really thought of myself a being really good at any one thing…. But back when I was in school (the first time!), I was a good student. I was really good at being a student. It was one of the reasons I chose to go right to grad school after college….I didn’t know what else to do, and I knew I would do well in school….so I stayed in school for another 3 years and 2 masters degrees. Just as an aside, this is the wrong reason to go to grad school! It turned out alright in the end, but because I didn’t really have enough life experience at the time to really know what I wanted to do, I didn’t end up doing what I really wanted to. Now, having figured out what I really want to do, I am back in school and back to being a student.
Because I was always good at being a student I think people look at me as a bit of an over-achiever. A bit of a perfectionist. In the last week I have gotten myself really worked up as finals approach. I have done well all semester, and I am still terrified of not doing well. But I insist to people that I am not just an over-achiever or a perfectionist. Sure, I am sometimes. But the reason I am so nervous this time around is that I have taken such a leap of faith in making this career change. We lost my salary so that I can take these prerequisites….all in the hopes that my grades will be good enough to get me into the dietetics program I want. I need to do well because if I don’t get into this very competative program at the end of all this, these 4 semesters of prerequisites will be all for nothing! I am trying not to think about that, but I still feel a lot of pressure. A lot more than I ever did the first time around.
Fortunately, this time around, I not only have most supportive mom in the world, I also have an equally supportive husband. Between my mom and Dave, I have been put back together and I am going into the next 7 intense days feeling calmer than I have in the last week. I just have to keep breathing and not look too far into the future. I have finished all of my pre-finals work and I have completed my Medical Terminolgy final, so I am in good shape.
Still to go:
- Wednesday: Chemistry Final Part 1 Wed.
- Friday: Stats
- Saturday: Biology Final is due
- Monday: Chemistry Final Part 3 and the take home portion (part 2) is due
Sandwiched in between biology and chem part 3 is a blogger meetup on Saturday and Dave’s birthday on Sunday! Oy! Looks like I am going to have to miss another blogger gathering. Even Dave’s birthday is being postponed a day until my last final is over. (He has no problem putting off 33 for one more day!)
I have managed to get in some good exercise and eat breaks in all of this craziness. Yesterday was a great 10.3 mile run, and today, I did some easy ellipticating. I would lose it completely if I didn’t have exercise as an outlet for stress.
Dinner last night was one of my favorites! Spaghetti squash with chickpeas, marinara sauce and artichoke hearts. Such a great combinations. Speghetti squash is so pretty!
All pretty!
And all mixed together!
Dave now accepts that he loves butternut squash. But spaghetti squah….not so much. So he made his own dinner. Granted, he just made a Trader Joe’s bagged meal. But he made it all by himself while I studied and he didn’t ask a single question! He even made his own soda in the Soda Stream!
I know I have been a sporadic and not-so-exciting blogger lately. But I plan to spend some time in between semesters trying to become a little more creative. And definitely playing more in the kitchen!
And to get you coming back this week…. Dave will be writing his very first guest post in the next couple of days. I have no idea what he wants to write about, but he’s a great writer, with one book already under his belt. Stay tuned…..
pb loco is gluten free!!
Spaghetti squash looks great. Has Dave tried the spaghetti squash? You can’t even tell it’s squash when it’s all done up like a real spaghetti meal!
Good luck with the rest of your studies!!
It is?! Yeah!! I need to find it! And I need to find the gluten free choc. chip cookie dough they use! I miss cookie dough!
He tried it once…..he says he doesn’t like it, but I will be serving it regularly, so it is bound to make its way to his plate!
OH my gosh, I can’t WAIT for Dave’s guest post! The past few guest posts I have read from other bloggers’ husbands have been so good, and humorous (no preasure..haha).
Shannon we are so similar. Reading this post I felt like I was reading my own post. Like you I never felt that I was talented in anything, except for being a student. I was, and always will be, a great student. In fact Nick and I were just talking about that tonight, so ironic! Everyone considers me an over-achiever too, and I’m ok with that 🙂
Keep up the good work Shannon! And, your dinner looks fantastic, as always.
Maybe we were separated at birth?!
Good luck with everything Shannon! I have struggled with a lot of the same things you – for a good chunk of my life, the only thing I felt “good” at was studying and getting good grades. Fortunately during college, I gave up on that and got better with not obsessing with grades – I got involved with activities which fortunately now led me to the profession I am in AND met my husband – everything happens for a reason!
Make sure to take some time to yourself every day – otherwise you will burn out!
In my time away from being a student, I have definitely found other “hobbies” to pursue. But part of me feels god to be back where I always felt “in my element.”
Glad everythings going well – including your spaghetti squash!
New giveaway starting TOMORROW, music, fitness + food – http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Drop on by!
Katie
You’ll do just fine on all of your finals!! 🙂 Good luck!! Looking forward to your hubby’s guest post!!
BTW perfectionists are pretty common in the RD world, so I’ve noticed. This means it will be a good fit for you!
Hmmmm. That’s very interesting. I suppose it makes sense. It takes a person with a certain amount of precision to put up with and excel at all of the science.
Nothing wrong with being a perfectionist 🙂 We rock! heeheehee!
Good luck with your studies. I’m very happy for you that you’re going after your dream and following your heart. Life is too short to always be wondering what would’ve happened if we had only followed our dreams. Good luck with your exams. Almost done! Woo hoo!
Thanks. One week from today, I will be a free woman!
All of this will pay off in the end! Your dedication WILL get you into the program! It;s okay to be an “over-achiever” as long as it’s not interfering with your life. It sounds like you still get your exercise in, and get to have meals with Dave… sure, you don’t get to be as social right now, but EVERYONE is like that during finals! I remember eating at my desk and skipping showers because I was so busy!
Good luck! 🙂
looks deliiiicious! and you are so close to being done you can TASTE IT! 🙂 don’t stress and you certainly don’t have to apologize for being sporadic, do what you need to do girl!
Glad you’re still taking time to exercise. That’s a great way to reduce stress while you’re super busy studying. Even though I think you’ll be 110% prepared, I still want to wish you lots of luck. Maybe it’s a blogger thing…I’m a perfectionist too and sometimes I have a hard time just letting go and relaxing a little.
good luck with everything going on! that spaghetti squash does look fantastic; it’s one of my faves….
I can totally relate to how you feel! I feel that I have always been a good student with perfectionist tendencies, but I still don’t quite know exactly what I want to do or feel like I have substantial experience in one area to do well. I am very scared of failure and not being in control which gets me all frazzled. I’m so glad you are feeling calm, family is the best. I sure hope you do well on your last finals/assignments and you are going to be one happy girl when this semester is over!! yay! Have a great holiday and birthday party!
Kristin, you are so sweet. Thank you. I suppose life continues to be all about figuring out what we want to do “when we grow up.” My mom still says she’s trying to figure out what she wants to do when she grows up!