This and that

I wanted to blog tonight but I can't decide what to write about.

We've been doing interviews for an ACUHO-I intern and I've struggled with answering some of the candidates' questions. I mean, you don't want to give them a wrong impression about what the internship and the institution is like - but you also have a responsibility to the institution of presenting it in a positive light - and just because this isn't a good fit for me, doesn't mean it won't be a good fit for someone else.

I read the blog of a former student and it really touched me and made me want to cry.

I've been struggling finding time to do the things I enjoy doing - my free time just seems to be non-existent. I started taking dance lessons and I've been trying to go anywhere between two to four times a week. But often that means skipping a meal, so I can squeeze in the dance class between work and meetings. Then I end up snacking throughout the evening and stuff my face with chocolate late night, which kind of defeats the purpose of working out, messes up my diet...and I end up stressing over gaining weight again.
I also don't seem to be able to find time to study for the GREs and I'm starting to think it's more and more unrealistic to take those at the end of April before I leave the country. The last couple days, I didn't get around to studying until after 11:30 pm - and then I'm so tired (since I've started getting up at 7 am, so I can go running prior to work) that I can't concentrate. I've been falling asleep with my glasses on and the GRE book in my hand.
Oh and let's not even talk about me trying to find time to practice playing the guitar.... maybe this summer or next year, I'll actually be able to focus on that.

I had a conversation today that really upset me. I know I shouldn't take things so much to heart - especially when they come from someone who doesn't know me and clearly hasn't taken the time to get to know me as a professional. But it hurts. My dear grandma always said that wrong accusations don't hurt - sorry, grandma, but you're wrong - they hurt; they hurt A LOT.

A Vice-President of Student Affairs once shared a technique about how he makes sure that his work fits his values. He said that he values spending time with students - even at a high-level position such as the VP of Student Affairs. So he regularly looks at his calendar and checks how much time he's spending on administrative tasks, how much time he's spending with professional staff and how much time he's spending with students - and if there isn't enough time he spends with students, he knows he needs to change something.

I value student learning and development; I value being cutting-edge, trying new things, working toward improvements and changes - but there isn't any time on my calendar that's focused on that. There isn't time in meetings that we spend talking about these things. We talk about facilities, about administrative processes. And I want to change that but I don't know how....

Dumbledore (shout-out to all you Harry Potter fans out there! I just re-read all HP books; even the 10th time, they're just as amazing as the first time I read them) - he said, "Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young." I hope when I'm in a leadership position in a Residential Education department I'll remember how it felt to be an entry-level professional. In the end, Harry was the one who had to save the day...Dumbledore was there to guide and lead him but Harry was the one on the front of tandem bike (yay, learning partnership model!) - I never want to sit on the front of that bike.

I could do with a hug right now. I have friends that I can vent to. But who wants to be that person who always just vents and complains - nobody would want to be friends with someone like that.

So on to happier things....

My plans for the summer are starting to take shape. It'll be a whirlwind of all the things I love to do - quality time with my best friends in Austria...iced tea, girls' night...a wedding...then a trip to India...quality time with friends from undergrad...traveling...another wedding...new experiences.
I still can't believe it....what am I saying - "it?" - there are so many things I can't believe.

My friends are really getting married? Shoot, I'm getting old. Ha. I remember when we were in elementary school together - well, the bride's hair cut hasn't changed much since then (haha...just kidding...I love you!)...it feels like yesterday and also a lifetime away.
And I'm going to INDIA!!! I mean, how freakin' cool is that? Just saying. ;)

Awww, is it summer yet?