Gratitude

First off, I have to say I have the most amazing family members and friends.  They help me through life and make me want to be a better person.  My family has taught me about God and most importantly about forgiveness.  They really do make it look so easy to forgive someone's past doings.  And while I'm sure it's not easy, it helps make me to aspire to stay positive and happy.  There are some things going on in my life that have hurt me and made me cry recently.  I don't care to go into detail.  But I just hope I have the same kind of light my family has shown me when the time comes.

So...  Sorry my post is so vague, but it's best kept that way.  I just look forward to the greener hillside and a happy (although not perfect) family.

Update on the job hunt.  Both interviews ended well.  One has invited me to an onsite interview, and I have no idea how that all works out.  But I'm going to Wisconsin!!!  Funny how I've never been there, but I may end up living there.  The other job I've applied with interviewed with me today, so I won't hear back from them for another couple of days.  But I think I'll get another request for an interview with them.  Who knows?  We'll see how it all works out.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I have a nice career before the middle of this summer.

Support Our Troops

Story Here

It's not easy keeping America free and safe.  It's not easy saying good bye to those you hold dear.  And a lot of our veterans and current soldiers do not get the support, respect, and thanks they deserve.  If it were up to me, all soldiers would have the best benefits available because they go through a lot to keep America free.

Thank you veterans and current soldiers for keeping our country safe.  Thank you family members for supporting your loved ones and letting them go over seas to keep us safe.

Back to the Drawing Board

When a door closes, a window opens.  The only problem is I have a few windows open, and the door never really closed.  Granted, there are screens in the windows that I need to punch out.  Difficult life-changing decisions.  Ugh...

I talked to my boss today.  And he truly is a nice guy.  Sure, we had a rough start in the beginning.  But what can you expect from a crazy, headstrong college student?  I'm just glad he puts up with me and is willing to help me with the research.  But anyways, come to find out, I will have funding for my Master's Degree if I so choose to continue with my Master's Degree.  So, that option is still open to me.

I feel a little bit better about it all now.  I thought I didn't have funding and that I was just a poor excuse of a bio-engineer.  Well, I'm happy to say that my department doesn't think that way about me.  And I guess I shouldn't think that way about myself either.

Anyways, now I don't know what to do.  The idea of not being dirt-broke is so appealing.  And I know I could go back and get my Master's Degree whenever I want and have the company pay for it.  I don't know what to do.  The idea of finally owning a house is very appealing to me.

I guess I could hope to get the best of both worlds.  One of the jobs I'm applying for is in Logan.  If I got that job, I could still continue with my Master's Degree at Utah State.  Granted, I'd be super-super busy and slower at getting my degree.  But I wouldn't be poor.  I'd be able to go to fancy restaurants with my husband, and we'd be able to have mini-vacations.

Cross your fingers for me.  Or pray.  Or think happy thoughts for me.  I know I'll be praying, crossing my fingers, and definitely thinking happy thoughts as I go through these interviews.  I know I'm an amazing person and worker.  The only problem is I also know my shortfalls and tend to think a little too heavily on those.

Graduation Pictures

Jared after he got his diploma holder.

My dad and I.

My awesome shoes!!

My step-mom and I.

My husband with me and my doting family...

Me and my diploma holder...

Jared and I all graduated...  The end to one part of our lives and the beginning of the next part.

Finished

I graduated over the weekend.  The best part about it was I got to lead the Senior Engineers line at the ceremony.  All thanks to the Biological Engineering Department being alphabetically first and me volunteering to lead the line.  It was awesome.  And I wore bright pink heels.  I figured since only 10% of the graduating class could pull this off without cross-dressing, I was going to do it.  And I definitely stood out.  It was fun.  I'll have pictures later.

And now I've moved onto finding a job.  I'm still working at the University, but I don't know how long that's going to last once I let them know that I have no way of financing my master's degree and will therefore not be pursuing it.  I'm also going to apply at some of the retail stores here to supplement my income while looking for that engineering job.

I do have a phone interview sometime this week.  I've filled out two online assessment interview things last week.  And I should be hearing back about one of the jobs this week.  So, here's hoping something works out...

I've been looking over the numbers of how much it really cost to get a college education.  I know I have pulled out some student loans as well as received scholarships.  So, I wanted to list my scholarships to remind myself one day just how much was given to me (so that I may one day give back).

Presidential Scholarship, GPA>3.5 (2006-2010) - $13200

Engineering State Scholarship, attended camp (2006-2007) - $300

Engineering Scholarship (2007) - $400

Don & Melba Corbett Scholarship, female engineer (2008) - $100

Bertis & Anna Embry Scholarship, biological engineer (2008-2009) - $2750

Biological & Irrigation Engineering Scholarship (2009) - $500

Pell Grant, poor person (2009-2010) - $1000

Smart Grant, poor engineer (2009-2010) - $4000

Utah Engineer (2010) - $1000

That comes to a grand total of $18250 in scholarships that Utah State University has given me.  They really did take care of me throughout my college career.  And then, when the state finally recognized me as being poor and not attached to my parents (sorry Utah, my parents did not take care of my college funds like you said they would and should), I got $5000 in grants.  So, the money that was given to me to help me through my college career totals to $23250.  And let me tell you, that definitely was not enough money to fund my college career; it barely paid for tuition, student fees, and books (maybe one or two month's rent extra).  I would guesstimate that a college education at Utah State costs somewhere around $45000 unless you want to be homeless and starving while in school.

One day when I've made my millions of dollars, I will give back.  I aspire to become a philanthropist.  And I really hope that I don't let my not-a-super-rich salary stop me from achieving that.  Opportunities were given to me because I worked hard at being a good student, and I hope that same opportunity will be available to the next generation of students like me.