I apologize for not getting any updates to you all that check this regularly. School is really kicking my butt right now. I feel like I'm being suffocated by all the work I have. My schedule begins every day at 6:45 am and ends at about midnight. I have had major assignments due just about every day. I've never been this busy with school in my life. Even now, I have three big homeworks due tomorrow. I have my first exam on Tuesday. I have a quiz Wednesday. At some point in there I have to finish the shooting for the miniseries we started this weekend. Thursday night is the student leadership awards ceremony. My parents are coming up for it. Friday is my birthday. Chris has ordered me to take that night off and relax. He doesn't have to tell me twice. I'm going to.

Anyway, I am going to try to write an update each day that's regarding a different aspect of my life recently. There's been quite a bit going on. I'll do my best to keep my word on that. Keep watching for the New York Times article. It should be out any day now. Have a great day.

Luv,

Jessica

No, that's not bad grammar. I'm referring to the New York Times. I don't have much time right now to get into the details, but I was contacted and interviewed. There will be an article later this week. They may even send a photographer. Watch for it. I'll write more detail on Wednesday when I'm done with my quizes and assignments. See ya :)

Luv,
Jess

Whenever I hear that line, I think of the worms from the worms video game series. Those of you that have played the game will understand. Anyway, sorry for the long hiatus. I had just about every project I could get thrown at me at work. I haven't had much energy to do much else afterwards. So here's the lowdown.

The subject line's phrase in this case is referring to the first spiritual night my friend Lisa, her roommate and I had. We'd been planning to do it for quite some time, and it finally happened. We talked about our spiritual experiences. I read a guided meditation I wrote for the night too. It was the first meditation I've ever written out. They really liked it. I was so happy to hear that. They also did a tarot reading for me. That was the first time anyone had ever done tarot with me before. I was too afraid to touch that sort of thing when I was younger. It was neat. It really seemed to give me a little hope too. All in all, the night was fantastic. We're all in agreement that it will happen again, and frequently.

As I mentioned earlier, I've been getting all the responsibilities at the help desk, but not much reward in return. They have me re-designing our display case, creating a order of operations check list for cleaning up PCs, working on a video prototype help page, I'm re-designing a pamphlet, and I'm also supposed to work on the help desk website. That's a lot to juggle. I got a 30 cent raise. Woohoo. I almost make $7 an hour now. Can we say "underpaid"? I really put too much effort into my job.

On top of that, I am supposed to be redoing all the software on the editor at the TV studio. I have several video projects to edit, including one for this site. I've also been asked to speak in several classes. I have a freelance web design job now. And school's just about to start. Who needs a winter break, you know? Apparently not me. My boss was also about to schedule me for next semester in places that I didn't want at all. Like, for instance all of Tuesday and Thursday nights. That would have meant no volunteer work and no LGBT group. Both of those I really care about, especially the volunteer work. Thankfully, things worked out and I got the hours I wanted. I'll have all the time I need to continue volunteering. That makes me very happy.

Speaking of the volunteer work, I had to do training yesterday for it. It was all of us facilitators and the group "person-in-charge". Sorry, didn't know what else to call him. I felt so....included. Seriously, all those times that I remembered feeling like I wasn't welcome among the facilitators were gone. I felt like I was part of the team. It was refreshing.

On the big job front, I have heard very little. I've been asking around a lot too. All I know is that they have decided to officially post it instead of hiring an interim person. I've been watching to see if it gets posted or not. To be honest though, I'm not sure I want the position. With each passing day I really start to think I may just want to finish out school and be done with it. I only have a few semesters left. Also, I've pretty much been told to apply for the station manager position by my current boss. I know I have lots of opportunities open to me even as a student right now. Maybe it's better this way. In fact, I'm going to make a poll on this subject. Feel free to add your opinions on it.

OK, this is long enough. I'm going to end it here. Talk to you all soon.

Luv,

Jess

So here's a little background quick before the poll. I'm a fifth year student with three semesters left before I graduate. I'm a public communications major with a lot of relevant experience. The job in question is the Media Specialist position at the University I go to. My name has been passed around already by the former media specialist as someone capable of replacing him. I would be putting together video projects for the staff and university. I would also work with students and teach classes on how to use the media effectively.

However, I have a lot going for me at the student run TV studio. I'm currently the production manager and am in the running for station manager. Those two positions are great on a resume for any future media job too. I like the TV station too. I also have potential for advancement at the help desk with some of the projects I'm working on. There's even talk of me and a friend running for very important student senate positions next year. Financially I'll be fine because of my current jobs and the increases in pay and hours I'll get next year. Also, because I'll be 24, I'll get a lot more financial aid.

So it comes down to this: Take the job and finish off school slowly over the next few years. Stay here in my small town, but have a well paying job in the bag already that is in my field of interest. OR finish the three semesters, use my potential and experience learned in the next three semesters to land a job somewhere in a different location. However, that job is not certain. Oh and feel free to add comments if you have advice for me. Thanks for responding.

!++5++!

I love waking up at 2:00 in the afternoon feeling all rejuvinated after a long week. Actually I wish I woke up at 9:00 in the morning feeling that way. I'd still have the whole day yet. But I guess I'm still ok with 2:00. It feels nice. So, I'm back up at school working at the Help Desk again. It's been a good week so far. I've been working hard and not getting much recognition for it. That's pretty normal. At least I enjoy my job though. I fixed a lot of computers this week. I think only one of them couldn't be fixed. It's a great feeling to give someone their computer back working very well when they thought it was hopeless.

The chancellor here now says hi to me every time he sees me. I think that's pretty neat. I also had some great compliments this week. The chair of the University Senate said hi and offered to back me in anything I might want to work on for the school related to gender. I also had a professor that calls in a lot stop in to the help desk and say hi. She said I look fabulous. We ended up talking for a good ten minutes. What an uplifter. I felt great that day.

As far as my crush on Audrey has gone, I've pretty much gotten past most of it. I never expected anything to happen. She's not interested in a relationship with anyone right now. The last several years she's been with someone nonstop. She basically wants time alone now. We talk all the time still. I love being friends with her. I'm content with that. Besides, I'm still not sure if I want to just stay single. I'm fairly comfortable with being alone, and I'm not so good at dating anyway.

I haven't heard much on the job situation. The only thing I did hear was that they aren't going to just fill the position temporarily. They decided to do a full out hire. So, that means applications will start to be accepted in a week or so. They want to hire someone by March. I'll be ok if it doesn't work out for me though. I have been getting offers for freelance web design. That pays pretty well. On top of that, someone asked me to run for a big office in Student Senate. So, we'll see what happens.

Aside from all that, my week's been pretty dull. Not much happening at all. I'll keep you all posted on the exciting stuff....and I guess the not so exciting stuff too. Bye.

Luv,

Jess