When life gives you lemons, make lemonade (and if you're in gradschool... add vodka!)

Hi friends!

I just realized it has been 2 months since I last posted... my bad! So to catch ya'll up (yes I have started using ya'll; the south has corrupted this midwestern girl!) I was able to go home to my family in St.Louis for a month to celebrate the holidays. It was a wonderful time but not very relaxing as I have 3 teenage brothers that rule the house and my room had been turned into a storage room which meant I slept on the couch for 4 weeks. Needless to say, when I got back to Texas I scheduled a massage right away!

Now I am back into classes, internship, and work. I am really excited for my classes this semester as they deal with more macro topics. In social work we deal with clients in a micro, mezzo and macro setting.

Micro- individuals
Mezzo-groups
Macro-communities

We already have already  begun talking about internships for next year! Grad school is going by so fast!

This semester one of my classes is on policy. One of our requirements for the course is to create a blog to submit class assignments regarding current events in policy. Therefore I will be using this blog to submit those assignments. I am hoping it will give you an idea of what the social work profession discusses. It is very important to note that my blog posts relating to my class with be only my thoughts/ feelings/ reflections and not the opinion of all social workers or all of my classmates.

But don't worry, I will still post some fun things not relating to my class! So keep tuning in!

I better get going, I've got class in 30 minutes!

LIVE.LOVE.SOCIALWORK

Yours truly,
Katelyn

Thankful student

Hi friends,
 Sorry it's been a while since I last wrote, things have been kind of crazy around here! Although, realistically, when are they not, I'm in grad school!

As tomorrow is Thanksgiving I thought I would take a moment to share a few of the things I am thankful for this year. There are too many to list but there are a few worth noting. So here it goes...


I am thankful for my life because there was a time I was not.
I am thankful for my puppy because nothing is better than coming home to a wagging tail and wet kisses
I am thankful for my mom because she is my best friend and my rock.
I am thankful for my grandmother because she is the one I look up to in life and love beyond measure.
I am thankful for grad school because I am turning my passion into a career.
I am thankful for my friends because without them I would be no where.
I am thankful for my brother Scotty because he knows how to make me laugh when I want to cry.
I am thankful for the military because without them I would not be free.


I try to take time out everyday to think of at least one thing I am thankful for. I am glad that there is a holiday where we take time to celebrate these things but I encourage you to be thankful everyday of the year not just Thanksgiving.


So, here's to turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yours truly,
Katelyn

Pick one- eat, sleep, do homework #gradschoolproblems

Well, my first semester of grad school is coming to a close. I never thought I would be going to grad school let alone be getting straight A's! I am so thankful to be where I'm at in life, even if it does mean living off fast food, 5 hours of sleep(on a good day), and no social life.

As a first year grad student I have so many thoughts/feelings about this whole grad school experience. I'm hoping this blog will be a way for me to share some of my experiences and maybe some dos and donts of grad school. Some day it may be cool for me to be able to look back at these posts (and to remind myself not to get my Doctorate).

So, a little about me... I am 24 (well in 13 days, at this point I always just round up), I go to Baylor University School of Social Work in Waco, TX, I am from St. Louis, MO, I am a big city girl (I would kill to live in Manhattan,NY in a city loft), I love fashion (if you know me you'll probably be like, seriously?!), I have a 6 month old puppy named Rusty, my best friends name is Megan and we have been friends for 19 years (kindergarten besties), I am currently single and loving it, I sleep with a night light (goosbumps scarred me for life), I want to travel the world, I love crafts, and I am extremely sarcastic. That should be enough for now. I don't want you to steal my identity(sarcasm). 

Anyways, first thing on my agenda to discuss...that whole living off fast food thing I mentioned. It has been a huge issue for me. I have gained 12 pounds since I started grad school 4 months ago(thank God it's winter). Large Dr.Peppers and recently tall pumpkin spice lattes have gotten the best of me. So, I have decided to make a lifestyle change. For the next month its going to be counting Calories (1300 a day at the moment) but I hope this will just be a starting point to guide me in the right direction. These posts may sometimes include a new healthy food I try or an update on my lifestyle change. I apologize in advance.

So, tip # 1 for all you crazy kids thinking about grad school...don't let $1 burgers and sodas tempt you. They are $1 or a reason! For my friends already suffering through grad life, this is just a reminder, you're in grad school, I'm sure you already knew this.

Well, Baylor football and massive amounts of homework are calling my name. When I said no social life, I meant it! Saturday nights are homework nights. ..along with every other night of the week! Luckily, I've got my cuddly puppy and a skinny cow ice cream sandwich to enjoy!

Sic 'em Bears!

-Katelyn