Time to vent.

I am so tired of the jokes that I receive for being a Special Ed. major. People are so ingorant to the career. It disturbs me the comments I have heard about my major. The ironic part is there isn't a certain age range of people who make the rude comments. I have had young and older (like my dad's age) crack 'jokes' about it. Personally, these jokes are disrespectful. Having someone in my family AND knowing that I will be teaching students with lower abilities, I take offense to the comments.
Go ahead accounting majors, learn your numbers. Marketing majors, learn how to sell. Computer Engineering majors, learn your software. Do YOUR business and let me do mine. We are all here for reasons. No major is better than the other. Special Education is not equivalent to easy or less stressful. What are you going to do if your child has special needs????????? Who will be cracking the jokes then?

Okay, sorry for that awful font color in the last posting. I did not realize the new template kicked in. The changes do appear pretty awesome!!!! Should I keep it? Yay/ Nay?

Okay, so I have been trying to change the layout of the blog and I have been unsuccessful thus far. I want to change it to a premade template that looks super cool but it is not allowing me. Tears. Oh well. So I am sitting in my room (no roommate all semester!! yippee!) and looking out the window. The campus looks great with a blanket of snow covering the grounds. The creek that runs through the campus just finally became unfrozen with the great weather we had last weekend. Of course, it is frozen once again. I cannot wait until spring. I feel like we have been in the winter season for two years.
I have been burrowed in my blankets all day. It has been a well-deserved relaxation day. I officially blocked this weekend off as "Becky's Weekend" I refuse to allow myself to do anything other than things I WANT to do. What a difference it makes!!! I feel I have been on a mental retreat to the bahamas or something. AHH!
I was on one of my friend's websites the other day and found this poem:

ISU girls are pretty
Northwestern girls are smart
But it takes a Northern girl
To win a fellas heart
Eastern girls are dirty
Western girls are hoes
But when you want a hot girl
Dekalb is where to go
Any man who reads this
Truly has to know
That if you have a Northern girl
Dont ever let her go...


I thought it showed some school pride. tee hee hee It is true though, NIU girls are quite amazing. If you are one, then you know what I am talking about. If not, I deeply apologize for choosing a not-so-awesome school. Just kidding!!!! Well, I believe I am going to finish off my relaxation day with a good chik flik. Take Care!

Wow, have not done this in awhile. Let me see, it has been a pretty laid-back semester thus far. I feel like I am a slacker, compared to last semester. I think a lot of this slacker-like feelings are spawned from the fact I am accustomed to pre-student teaching clinicals. These require me to wake up at 4:45am twice a week. I am placed in Machesney Park, IL (north of Rockford). I feel like I am placed in Wisconsin. It takes us about an hour each way. I did just complete my student teaching application for next spring. We have to fill it out a year in advance just because of the high competition among different universities for student teacher placements. I requested the Wheaton, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn area. I certainly hope I get placed close to home. The time is whizzing by!!!!
As for other things going on in my life, I am stuck in a pickle. You see, the beginning of this school year, I broke up with my boyfriend. Our schedules conflicted way too much and there was just no room for a relationship in my school program. We have been close since we were eighteen. We remained close this whole entire time. He stood by me, despite my decision to break it off. He has been amazing and patient with me during my times of stress. That poor guy and all the stuff I put him through. I were him, I would have dumped me a LONG time ago. lol. Well, ever since I broke up with him, I miss him dearly. He was the best! My parents love him and of course just want me to be happy and sane. Anything I choose to do, they will back me up. Here's the pickle: the obvious answer is to get back together with him (for my mom's sanity) lol BUT I still face my school program until 2008. We have been seeing a lot of each other. We have tried dating other people, but somehow we end up back to each other. What do I do?!?!?!?!! Mom, any suggestions? jk. If it was up to my mom, him and I would be engaged, married with a child on the way. It's TRUE! Just do not tell her I said so, she will get the wrong idea and think I am pregnant or something...lol I <3 you mom! Well, that's the dilemma. Any suggestions? I do feel like I am in high school trying to get advice from my friends. Why is this so complicated?!?!?!?!?!? Grumble.

I am back at school once again. YAY for new semesters! I am super excited for this one because I have two clinicals. One is for high school and the other one will be for lower functioning students (ie- students in wheelchairs, mentally handicapped, etc) AND I am excited because so far I do not have a roommate! My dreams have come true!!!! I can't get my hopes up just yet, but boy is this quite a surprise for me. I <3 it. Slowly but surely I have been taking over the whole room.. I deserve this, that's for sure.
Do you believe in second chances? Well let me tell you, I am beginning to. You see, I had difficulties with a certain professor last spring. So much so, I was almost delayed a semester because of it. We really had it out. I had to go to the Department Chair and everything.. it was messy. Low and behold, I pick my classes for this semester and guess who I get as a professor? You got it! Talk about awkwardness. I have not spoken to her since our last confrontation. Well, instead of turning this semester into a disaster because of it, I decided to take the mature step and to email her and apologize for any unnecessary conflict that was caused from our last meeting. I figured if anything, at least I tried to step up to the plate and handle this in a professional manner. Hopefully she can see my attempt and look past our bump in the road and move on to have a successful semester. She has yet to email be back, but hopefully we can get this resolved. Second chance?
We will see.

The semester has ended! I have not earned the 4.0 I had intentions on, however I did end up with a 3.75 . All because of one teacher, bummer. Oh well life goes on I suppose. I now have a little over a year until this is all over and the real world begins.

As for now, I just got home from seeing the movie, "The Holiday". What a fantastic movie. I do not normally cry in movies, but this one, I was dropping the tears. Very much a chik flik, but I think guys can def. get something out of it. I want the movie when it comes out on DVD.

So I got to thinking about this movie and all. It really had some excellent points in it. The movie was set up where the emotions that I really hide were verbalized. I was astonished! On another note, it really emphasizes Christmas and how important it is to spend it with the ones you love, even if it means by yourself. Given, I will not be spending my holiday in England alone, but I will be spending it with the ones I love. It would be nice to have a date this holiday, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose. Plus, being single and all, who needs a date when I can have two or three anyway? lol : ) I'm funny. Well, I am going to get to bed. Farewell!

I did it. Today is the day that I finished my education clinicals for the semester. My evaluations went well. As far as I know, I will be continuing onto bigger and brighter things. (a.k.a- clinicals next semester :o) More importantly, I grew an attachment to my students. One in particular, Jennifer. When she found out it was my last day today, she cried. It was sweet. It took everything inside of me not to cry myself. I am going to miss all of the boys and girls at Nashold Elementary in third grade. Each and every one of them had an impact on me, whether they knew it or not. I know I am on the right track with my education. It just feels right.

I would love to blab on about this, but I am not feeling so well. I am going to take this opportunity to rest. I will publish more at another time.

It is a small world! Let me explain (not like one is needed, but I am sure it would help). My dad used to work at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, his rank was a captain. Anyway, my dad's best friend Bill worked there too (still does). Bill is the one who is the connection to all of this. Somehow, Bill and this other person, Jim,(who also worked at the Federal Reserve) got on the subject about Jim working at Otto's (a bar here at school) Bill knows that I attend Northern so he mentioned my name. Obviously Jim didn't know me, but then requested that I should go in and introduce myself. At the time this happened, I wasn't 21. So to make a long story short, if possible, I went to Otto's last night and met this guy. He is sooo wonderful! Not only did I get my drinks for free, but he also extended it to my friend Laura who happened to be with me! How nice of him! I thought he would be this old creepy guy, but actually he is 29.
Wow, it truly is a small world.

On a side note, I would really like to show pictures of my friends and me. I will do so as soon as I figure out how. Unnnntil then, enjoy!

Saturdays are wonderful days, aren't they? This is the first Saturday I have to myself since the semester began. Well, actually I am babysitting today, but it's not like I am doing a group project or anything. Here is an update in Becky's World. I have been extremely busy with school and babysitting. Lucky for us, the university was closed on Friday so my friends and I played in the snow. What fun! :o) I am still single and I am okay with that. I do not have time to blink my eyes somedays, let alone dealing with the dating scene. I have had potentials. Thanks, but no thanks.
I am nearing the end of the fall semester and boy the time flew by! I cannot believe that this time next year I will be preparing to graduate. <> All I can do is take this process one day at a time.
I am looking forward to being home for the holidays. There is nothing like the love of a family. It is comforting to come home and know that the support will always be there.
I hope everybody's week/month is going well. Mine is moving right along.

Yes, it has been awhile. I began my education clinicals on October 23rd. I do not think I have stopped moving since then. I absolutely love this experience. My students are so wonderful! I wish I can take them all home with me. After all, I probably could provide a better homelife than what they have now. Sad.
On a lighter note, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I am awaiting this time off of school. I also cannot wait until the day I graduate. That day is coming up rather quickly. Until then, school, school, school. LoL. Back to Thanksgiving. It is common around this time of year to really reflect on what one is thankful for. I am thankful for a lot.

My parents: Really, what would I do without them? Mom and Dad provide me with endless amounts of support. I don't think I could ask for better influences in my life. I honestly do not believe that I would be where I am today, if it wasn't for them. I Love You!

My education: School can really stink at times, however I am lucky that I have the opportunity to chase my dreams. This provides me with the chance to make something of myself as an individual.

My health: Over the past couple of weeks, I have heard of friends, family members and such that are ailing. I pray that everyone makes a full recovery. I am a young, vibrant female who has the rest of her life to live. I am thankful for my good fortune and health. Suddenly I realize that a mere head cold is nothing, when compared to the stories I have heard.

I am truly thankful for the air in my lungs and the heart in my chest. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Hopefully everyone has a chance to take the time to appreciate their family and friends. After all, 'tis the season!

What is it with everybody in such a rush to get engaged and married?!!? It seems like there is something in the water that is causing a whole bunch of females to get rings on their fingers. Well, it's a good thing I don't drink water... lol I cannot believe it. This engagement thing is like an epidemic. It could just be me having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I am in my early twenties now. Yikes, where does the time go? Why can't I go back to being a young nieve little girl who likes to play with Barbies? I know that one day I would like to get married and have children, but for now, I think I am going to stick with the college experience. Even if I may be the only female without an engagement ring on my finger, at least I can guarantee my happiness.

Relationships are a huge part of life and for developmental reasons, we all need them. I find it strange that essentially we are all searching for the same thing, but a good bunch of people are struggling to find it. College is not the place to hold long-term, long-distance relationships (in the dating sense, of course) It simply is not fair to the persons involved, nor the health of the relationship. College students are here for a reason; no person should come between the student and the dream, it is just wrong. I think there are guidelines written in a book somewhere. If one were to search for this book, try Borders, I hear it's quite a hot item . . .

As one can probably tell, I am quite biased in my opinion. I tried the whole long-distance thing. One can come to an obvious conclusion or I wouldn't be writing this. As much as my heart tells me to follow it, my mind suggests otherwise. I thought it to be wise to follow my mind because it allowed me to realize that I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to receive what this man had to offer, nothing more than his love for me. I wasn't ready to be the woman he wished me to be. As much as it hurt to let him go, it feels better knowing that I was completely honest with my feelings with him.

College is a wonderful experience. My heart goes out to those who are struggling with their relationships. Just know that there is an ending; whether it's happy or not is up to the people involved.

I came across the scariest article in the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper today. Well, actually is was on the front page. Title, "Cops: Rapists Lured Girl on MySpace.com . How scary? There is not one online database on the internet that is safe enough to allow young adults to chat with different people. Whatever happened to the idea of penpals? The whole idea of creations like MySpace is to meet people, get to know their interests. From this article, databases like MySpace is a new way of sex predators to find victims. How disturbing! The perks of MySpace is that the user has a chance to create an online personality. The user can be anyone they wish to be on the internet, but do not find it within themselves in the real world. It is almost genius. Well, unfortunately the downside of MySpace is that ANYONE can have an account, including sex predators. Such people take advantage of the users who are just there to make something of themselves in a cyber world.

Similarly, I often watch the show on MSNBC called MSNBC Investigates. On MSNBC Investigates, episodes consist of exploring prisons around the United States. In addition to that, there is a section of it called "How To Catch a Predator". Basically, there is a group of people who work with the police officials to set up accounts and pose as young teens surfing the internet. Via instant messaging, predators scope out these 'young teens' and attempt to meet up with them. Well, to the intellectual mind, these predators are certainly looking for more than companionship. I suggest watching the show if you or someone you know has young teens who are often on the internet, using instant messaging.

What a gross world we live in.

Here I am, jumping on the latest trend of blogging. Ya know, a few of my friends partake in blogging and I guess it never occured to me how helpful it could be. I believe that writing your thoughts down is really theraputic, so I probably should have taken my own advice a long time ago. Well, anyway, let me exlain my title, "As Becky's World Turns". The title was actually named after my own life, given from my father. Back in grade school and junior high, I always had something to say when I got home from school, whether it be updates on who is (not) dating, what that group is fighting about, and so on. So after listening to my many, at times pointless stories, my father just learned to ask about the soap opera of my life at school. Hence the parody of "As the World Turns".

My title also has a more personal meaning. It metaphorically represents my transition from a young woman into an adult. As my world turns, each day is a new day. I am thrilled to now be able to share my thoughts and happenings via blogging. On a side note, I promise there won't be any high school drama... lol : )