Hints.

Hints of why I'm indeed destined for Washington.

1) Today I found out someone in one of my classes is originally from Seattle, Washington.
2) The friend I'm with tonight is wearing a Washington sweatshirt.
3) Spokane, Washington was used as a weather location on the National news.
4) I found my San Juan Island brochure I ordered this past summer.

Dear Hints,

Keep coming. I enjoy thee.

Sincerely,
Monica 01 02 18

Sharing my ambitions.

Tonight while I was working out, I ran into one of my superiors. We chatted for a bit talking about the gym and hours that the facility is either busy or empty, paused, then I was asked the infamous question, "When do you graduate?" My reply: "Three months. In May." Having those words roll off my tongue has happened quite frequently recently, perhaps because the reality is that three months is a microscopic amount when compared to my whole life ahead of me. And those same three months will pass by so quickly that I will be left wondering just how did the past four years of my life go by like a blink of the eye.

"What do you plan to do after you graduate. What are you goals or aspirations?" My reply: "I would like to move out to Washington State." And then the explanation of why, the explanation that I have not been there before, and the explanation that yes, my family is okay with this decision for the most part. After discussing that Seattle is a great city and classified as "young" I proceeded on my way after saying goodbye and I was left with a "Have a good workout, Boss."

This brief conversation made me aware that I would love to be able to share with everyone an offer for a concrete job in WA that I could have. I love to explore my options, I love to dream that the world will be a better place, and I am discovering what my true talents are in relation to my career path. 01 02 18

Patience.

Each day when I check my favorite websites on my toolbar, I hope that a new job will be listed that will have a start date of around June 1st. I hope that magically an apartment will show up in one of the better areas of Seattle for a relatively decent price. I hope to hear back from jobs I have applied to. Yet, I have realized that I must have patience. I realize that everything will work out. Today is only January 23rd - exactly four months from my potential departure date. I have time to figure out my future, and that's what I'm going to do. 01 02 18

February is National Humpback Whale Awareness Month.

In honor of my love for whales:

"Humpback whales are one of the largest baleen whales at 40-50 feet long and weighing up to 79,000 pounds! They are well known for their 'songs' and acrobatic leaps out of the water. Once on the brink of extinction due to whaling their numbers have increased greatly, but they are still at risk. If you are interested in learning more about whales, or what you can do to help conserve whales, visit: www.wdsc.org"

Side note: Shopping at Target the other day I stumbled upon the DVD 'The Cove' - I have yet to see this documentary and need to. Not a want, but a need. Because although graphic and disturbing I know I will discover much more than I already know about the content and for me, learning is the greatest process in life. 01 02 18

Resume.

After attending a recent presentation about resumes, cover letters, and applying for jobs I realize I have changes to be made to my resume. The very one I've already sent to multiple places and still have lying on my desk ready to be sent elsewhere. Looks like I need to stop my busy life and update this crazy document that outlines my whole life. Pencil in time for myself to do this? Let's see if it's possible. 01 02 18

Being real.

I have read many blogs recently, not just my friends, but random ones as well. And I have come to realize that the blogs that contain fluff and are nothing but positive comments are not that interesting. Who wants to read about someones life who is nothing but happy moment day after day. I want to read something that I can relate to. Something that is raw and real. Those blogs exist, so thank you to those who write about negatives in life and being real.

With that said, my blogs have been nothing but positive thus far. But this is not to say my life is perfect. For my life is not. So this post is dedicated to being real.

1) I am scared to up and move. I will be alone in "the city that never sleeps." If not that city, another in the U.S. I won't have friends or close family to see on a daily basis. My independence will be tested.
2)I don't have the money required for my exploration. Fact. I don't have enough saved up to even get me out to the West Coast right now. Am I worried? Yes. Do I express this feeling? No. Will things work out? I'm not sure. Time will tell.
3) I feel guilty that I am up and leaving my family in their minds. I am not, not at all. I just need a break, a getaway, and a chance to discover who I really am without the chaos of family weighing me down.

Welcome to the beginning of my inner feelings. My excitement far outweighs these three points. Yet I'm rooted and realistic in realizing the downfalls of my future tried success. 01 02 18

Discovering talents.

The past two night I have had 18 hour days at work. Back and forth to the airport picking up international students, training eight new staff members, and assisting with orientation work has left me realizing that a job in which one is never doing the same thing is what I enjoy.

I cannot see myself working the typical 9am to 5pm cubicle job in which I do the same research or work day in and day out. How boring in my mind. I need change. Never in my life, now more than ever, have I thought change is such a great thing. I love it. I cannot sit still. I need to be on the move, pushing my boundaries, advancing my professional portfolio, and discovering talents I never have used before.

Talent #1: Training agendas and activities. I had the privilege of training eight peers for staff positions as Orientation and Transition Leaders for my department. I loved it. Not only is it because the eight individuals are phenomenal people, but also because I was offered the opportunity to push myself to be a stronger person in communication and organization and grow individually. Developing a schedule, planning an agenda, leading ice breakers, and answering many questions were all part of what I created. Being able to shape what new leaders and role-models learn about themselves and the University was very rewarding. Thus, talent #1 - I enjoyed teaching others and the preparation involved.

Talent #2: Demonstrating positivity. I am a positive person. The glass is always half full. However, although I know I am a positive person I admire when others tell me I am. I feel as though I can bring light to any situation, keeping calm, collected, and bring an attitude that can change how one sees a situation. Yesterday, I was told "You are so positive" during a period of time where more planning was occuring and stress and tiredness was starting. I said, thanks and proceeded to talk about how optimists lead such wonderful lives. Myself included.

Talent #3: I am healthy and have rid my kick of junk food that I grew up on. My last grocery run consisted of: regular instant oatmeal, craisins, fruit cups, cottage cheese, soy milk, yogurt, string cheese, a bag of oranges, water drink mix flavoring, fish oil vitamins, yoga capri pants, and a new whitening mouth rinse to try. I am loving the life I live.

I am a strong believer that every day there is an opportunity to learn something new. Each day of my life I look forward to realizing my potential, meeting new individuals, developing new skills, trying new activities, learning about others, and shaping my true self. You learn as you go, never would I have it any other way. 01 02 18

Summer 2011.

Two posts in one night. Perhaps, I am experiencing an overdose of Blogger right now. I'm okay with that. I love to write and wish I had more time to do so, although that is a common theme in my life right now with many things. At 22, I could have never pictured myself any busier. My accomplishments far outweigh any shortness of sleep I have experienced though.

So far the list of jobs applied for in 2011 are the following:

• AmeriCorps NCCC Team Leader - college campuses nationwide
• Roche Harbor Resort - San Juan Islands, WA (technically this one is in an envelope on my desk ready to be mailed)
• Rosario Resort & Spa - San Juan Islands, WA
• Starbucks Administrative Assistant - Seattle, WA

So far the list of jobs that I will apply for in 2011 are the following:

• AmeriCorps SN- debating between a program for Literacy or CAC which focuses on environmental impacts. Literacy is in Palm Beach, FL; CAC in Knoxville, TN. Both begin in mid to late August. Applications are due in May, so at least I have 4 months to see what else might arise. If I had to choose today I'd go with Tennessee. Why not? What do I have to lose.
• San Juan Island Nanny job... although appealing, not exactly my course of action wanted.
• Random job that sounds appealing from the San Juan County classifieds.
• [fill in the blank]

I also am contacting my Sorority's Alumnae Chapter of the Greater Seattle area. Perhaps this may create a lead or two from Phi Mu sisters on the West Coast.

My resume has been updated, my cover letters are spell checked. Looks like I've got every "i" dotted and my "t's" crossed. Now, the waiting game begins.

Summer 2011: You're going to be like nothing I have experienced before.

01 02 18

Work.

I am usually not one to blab beyond the path of whales for this blog. Or at least something that relates to exploring, dreaming, and discovering. So I'll make this post relate to one of the previous somehow. This week at work has been crazy. I have had four full work days to get together two PowerPoint presentations: one an hour long on culture shock, the other a full days worth of training for orientation leaders. In addition, organizing all the host family applications and matching. Plus, random things here and there. Like today, photo shoot with my college mascot Freddy the Falcon. I couldn't ask for a more rewarding job, yet I ask myself what have I discovered about myself? See, I threw discover in there somehow.

Well, I love to plan training materials. And I love the feeling of being in control of a group of individuals who are in the stage of learning new material, teaching others, and growing themselves. Thus, I think it best that my course track stay with Event Planning that I have always deemed necessary combined with having a staff and being able to train them as well as change others lives, even if just one small step at a time.

Work. I love what I do. I think I discovered who I am and what I enjoy, I can explore careers based off of this, and I will dream of the possibilities. Successful post: yes. 01 02 18

Quotes.

"Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined."

One of my friends on Facebook had this as their status and I 'liked' it. I have been in the quote mood recently. Some may find quotes corny, dorky, even stupid. Yet I treasure them. I think they provide motivation, guidance, and remembrance to be who we are and to achieve all things small and large in life. To continue my trek of finding quotes, I have decided to adopt one of my shoes boxes as a quote box. The purpose: to provide one positive spot to have dozens upon dozens of inspirational words at my finger tips.

This specific quote will be written down on an index card and placed in this fresh new box that will one day be decoupaged. As my box grows, I will have a collection that will always keep me going. Full of inspiration to explore, dream, and discover. 01 02 18