College students, family, friends, co-workers and visitors; what is stressing you out?
For my CSA 584 Course Counseling Issues and Practices, I am working on a slide show and information table on Overcome Stress and Depression by Staying Connected. I need your help, what is stressing you out right now? Leave a comment if you can.
For me: Having 2 grad. school assignments that need faculty input before they leave for Winter Break with only 2 ½ half weeks left in the Fall Semester. Yikes!
TESTMatthias and I went up Grass Valley to share Thanksgiving with my parents, sister and great Aunt Marie. The day was filled with playing ping pong, Aunt Marie sharing stories about living in Europe and India with her late husband Glenn, and enjoying a wonderful meal cooked by my Sister Missy and my Mom.
After all the eating, sharing and playing games came to a close, the family got ready for the Annual Saturday Go-Kart racing at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. The driver: my dad Michael Estrella. My Dad got back into go-kart racing almost 4 years ago. He used to race in his 20’s. It was so much a part of his life that he was introduced to my mom Patty at a go-kart race.
These days, Missy and I take turns pitting for him. Missy is the Crew Chief, and I am the stand in. Either way, watching Dad race on the Famous Infineon Raceway track is the best. My Dad turned 60 years old this year and he is full of life. Way to go Dad! Watching him get excited about racing inspires and reminds me how important he is to my life. Both my Mom and Dad are really good people. They are hard workers; honest and truly care for their families. Thanks Mom and Dad for being the best role models.
TESTThe days you live and learn are:
Keep believing.
TESTMatthias and I saw the movie “Flushed Away” last night. Totally funny. I was really surprised. Got to love British Comedy!
TESTOften times, I find myself is the middle of this journey of grad school feeling overwhelmed, disconnected and asking myself, Why I am doing this again?. I have realized that if I do not stay connected to the people around me I am going to lose my passion for why I studying Student Affairs or Higher Education in the first place.
When you are finding yourself feeling stressed, confused, or distant, take a moment to give a friend a call, or write an email to a distant friend or family member. One of my favorites is giving your partner a really long hug. You will be amazed how it will make you feel.
Staying connected: Tonight, I am excited to connect with Marta for her 30th birthday! I am meeting up with her, her friends and her family in the city for some swing dancing and catching up. She does not live near me anymore, but staying connecting through email or a random phone call makes all the difference.
Staying Focused: For my Mental Health of College Students course, I want to focus on making a connection between Student Life and the Mental Health of college students. What if feeling connected could make all the difference?
In my life: Cherishing the time I get to connect with people over holiday meals, parties and shopping.
Comment Question of the week: How are you staying connected? What is your focus right now in life?
TESTOne of the hottest new shows on T.V. is Heroes. I have only watched part of one episode but I kind of know the story line. For all you Heroes watchers, I think I have a new character for you to look out for, my boyfriend Matthias.
On this past Saturday morning, Matthias was on his way to the Oakland Airport to see his friends in Seattle. Later on in the morning, I was going to head down to San Luis Obispo to see my sister Missy and friends Marta and Natalya. As Matthias was driving down 116 hwy towards hwy 37, he had just passed our favorite winery Cline, and something happen. As he went to make the turn, he flew off the road. As he flew off the road, his car his a tree and slide down the side of the road. He is not sure how long he was in his car but was able to get out, and walk to the top of the road. Another car stopped, allowed them to use their cell phone and he called the CHP. Matthias was taken to the hospital. I received a call a few hours later to come see him.
It was pretty scary. They kept him at the hospital for tests. He was laying flat on his back with his neck in a brace. A few hours later, the tests came back and just like that, I could take him home. The only thing he suffered was a concussion. Matthias had no broken bones. He can walk, talk, and really enjoy life once more.
If you saw his car, you would understand why Matthias is now the new character on HEROES. Gracias Universe!
TESTAttention all Student Affairs Professionals! Start looking through your travel conference budget at work and see if your college will sponsor you to attend your regional NASPA conference. Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Regional V and VI NASPA conference in San Francisco.
Highlights from the conference were:
*Attending the Women Listener’s workshop where I met Beth Hellwig-Olson, Dean of Students at Gonzaga University.
*Thursday’s night reception at the Giants Baseball Stadium ATT Park. Way cool!
*Being part of the Dorothy J. Keller New Professionals Institute 2006. The 2 day institute allowed me to network with other first time NASPA conference attendees. I think the best part about it was most of the participants were graduate students. It was nice to share the craziness and success of being in grad school in Student Affairs. The guest speakers lead discussion on becoming the best leader for your campus, how to see the greatness in yourself and your future in Student Affairs.
Ladies and gentleman, I am now officially halfway done with this graduate program! Shauna in my cohort told me on Friday to focus on the small lights along the way. This one is a bright as the full moon tonight.
My high today: Day of the Dead exhibit showing at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. I loved all the bright colors and the tons of paper butterflies everywhere. There was even a community altar where visitors could leave messages for their loves one who have passed on. Think about you often Grandpa Grace. (Just incase he has Internet in heaven.)
TESTAny free morning I get, I try to take a walk before I do anything else. This morning, as I was walking along the bike path near my house, I thought about the chapter I read last night from the book Mexican Days Journey into the Heart of Mexico by Tony Cohan. The chapter was about the city of Guanajuato and its mummy museum.
Almost 2 years ago and a time before Grad School, I had made a trip to Mexico for Christmas with my good friend and old roommate Maria. We stayed with her grandma in the small town of Zamora, located in the State of Michoacan, Mexico. Reading that chapter last night, totally reminded me of how much fun and relaxing my trip to Mexico and especially when we went to Guanajuato. The mummies were interesting, but what I remember most about that day was enjoying a Victoria beer and shrimp ceviche, looking out over the city, and the sun shining on my face. We were there in December and the weather was in the 70’s. So nice.
As I was walking this morning and remembering my trip to Mexico it dawn on me that here was my life BEFORE Grad School. Here I was…kind of a different person. A little bit more relax, adventurous…So, here are a few insights about my life before Grad School:
• In my free time, I was stage managing, assistant directing or directing plays at the community center here in Sonoma or at the Napa Valley College. My favorite theatre experiences were working on the The Laramie Project and my first directing debut 4 Seasons of Love, an evening of One Acts.
• I had just met Matthias 3 months before I applied to Grad School so we were in that fun early stage of dating where you show each other around the towns you live in.
• I was 27. On my 28th birthday, I mailed off my Grad School applications.
• I was pretty much hiking every weekend.
• I read the North Bay Bohemian for their weekly horoscope.
• Often made trips to Seattle, Boston, Rhode Island and Grass Valley.
• I enjoyed reading travel novels, shopping at IKEA and watching the WB shows Everwood and Jack and Bobby.
What about my life today? In one day, I will be half way done with my graduate program. In less then 3 months I will 30. Life is good!
TESTWelcome Napa Valley College staff and faculty and who else might be visiting my blog. This week, I am asking for feedback on a Draft version of a “Frequently Asked Questions for Field Trips†for the Facilities Service / Risk Management Office.
I have been working with Susan Brinson in Facilities who’s role is risk management and coordinator of liability related to travel. She also does many other things at the college like coordinating campus reservations. Together, we have developed a set of questions to better inform and facilitate current and helpful information to all faculty, staff, and administrators of Napa Valley College with the intent to decrease the risk and liability the college faces when Napa Valley College students are traveling. This is part of an assignment for my grad school class Legal and Ethical Issues in College Student Affairs. To complete the assignment, I need your feedback.
Before Thursday afternoon of this week, please take a moment to click on Grad School at the top of this web page and scroll down to the section titled Draft Frequently Asked Questions for Field Trips.
Cheers! Thank you!