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5 1/2 ways I’m taking back the Apron!

Posted by cafevic
February 28, 2014 1 to 3 Motherhood Leave a Comment

 

As you head into the weekend, I hope this post inspires to cook something with your child or hand over the cleaning to your partner. It is all about the meaning behind the apron and how as women of 2014, we canblog image 5 1:2 aprons take it back and be proud.

5 1/2 ways I’m taking back the Apron!

Lately, I’ve been having this tango with my apron. Every time I put on said apron to bake, cook dinner or clean up the kitchen, I have this dance with myself: “Here I go, playing the role of ‘barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen’.” Then my mind shifts to “Wow, I really love cooking and baking with my son.” So, what is happening? When did I start to feel so conflicted about putting on an apron?

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What is Motivating you to Transfer? A Quick Values and Motivation Exercise

Posted by cafevic
February 24, 2014 Leadership Workshops, Transfer Student Corner Leave a Comment

If someone were to ask you today, what motivates you, what would you say? Is it money? Knowledge? Your family?

If someone were to ask you why you were going to college? Or, why do you want to transfer to the University? Would you have an answer for them immediately? Or would you need to think about it?

For some of you, making the choice, setting the goal, doing the work so you can transfer to the University is huge. There might be a family member or a co-worker who do not understand how much work you will need to do. I’ve seen students come from finishing their first semester at the community college to starting their first day the at the university. Some days were easy and some were very hard. It is one thing to earn your A.A or A.S. degree, but it is another thing to be applying to the University, following all the steps your TAG requirers, to making sure your GPA is high enough, AND having to finish your current classes.

So, on those days you think you can’t do it anymore, I want you to think of three words that will motivate you to keep going. If you don’t have those right now, let me help you with a little Values and Motivation exercise.

Quick Values and Motivation Exercise

The following list of words are values that can help you focus and keep you motivated to achieve the status of Transfer Student. I want you to pick three. For those students who have already transferred, I want you to pick three values that will motivate you to reach graduation.

As you read each word, think about how important that value is to you.
Write the word down or take a mental note. I want you to narrow it down to your top 3 values.

WISDOM
SECURITY
HEALTH
RESPONSIBILITY
JUSTICE
LOVE
WEALTH
FREEDOM
FAITH
RECOGNITION
SOCIAL
OPENNESS
WORK
KNOWLEDGE
BEAUTY
LOYALTY
INTEGRITY
SUCCESS
ADVANCEMENT
VITALITY
POWER
CREATIVITY
HONESTY
LIFE
HELPFULNESS

Do not see a value that is important to you? Go ahead and add it to your own list.

Now think about why those three words stood out to you. Do you find something you are passion about? Did you see something you strive to be?

Now take those three values (if you were able to narrow it down to three. You can have four or five if you need to) and find a place you can see them daily. Maybe you can post them on the kitchen fridge. Or maybe somewhere in your car. Or take a picture and make it be one of the screen savers on your phone.

When you need it the most, you will find the motivation you need to keep going. The nice thing about your values is they are always here for you, just some times we need to be reminded of what matters most to us. Now you have a simple reminder to why you might be extra stressed or super busy writing another essay, or solving another math problem. Because you value… (File in the blank)

*This exercise is adapted from the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Curriculum.

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My Camino

Posted by cafevic
February 18, 2014 1 to 3 Motherhood, My Year Off Leave a Comment

The more you think about, the more you realize that each day, you’re walking your own Camino.

My husband and I use the term “camino” as shorthand for the The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), a pilgrimage across northern Spain that many have walked for centuries. Some day we will walk it. Until then, we try to see that each day is another day on our figurative camino. Some moments are harder than others, but we keep walking.

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Checking in

Posted by cafevic
January 30, 2014 Checking In Leave a Comment

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Reading: “Momma Zen walking the crooked path of motherhood” by Karen Maezen Miller
Watching: Downton Abbey!!
Listening to: Taylor Swift album “Red”. If you really enjoyed her performance at the Grammys of “All Too Well” you can find that song and many more awesome break up songs on “Red”. I think I’m not the only one out there that remembers how crazy falling in love was in your 20’s.
Thankful for: So much! From being near family, to having my husband working so close, to our twin girls being healthy, to being able to write this blog.
Looking forward to: Attending the retirement party for my Student Activities Advisor Bruce Berkowitz. He is retiring from Sonoma State University after 30+ years. I’m just part of one group of students that he made an impact with. I can’t imagine how many others will be there. He made a real impact.
Sam Update: “When I’m four, I will do (file in the blank)”. He is very aware that he turns 4 next month. He is also in the stage where he tells us what his toys are feeling. A few weeks ago, he called himself Mario and my husband was Luigi. Reminds us all to keep imagining!
Twin lesson: This month, the girls have taught me so much about focusing on what is in front of you. The girls are sitting up, taking each other’s toys, and practically doing something new every day. Whatever is happening in your life, make sure you slow down at some point in the day to take it all in. There are blessings all around. Keep focusing on them.
Meaning of Home: When I was working, there would be times I would have a leadership quote up in our office. I even went through a time when I would include quotes as part of my email signature. Now with being home with the twins, I use Twitter and Facebook to share my House Quotes of the Day. It has become part of my morning ritual and I like the feeling of sharing something with others even though I don’t get to see them in person. The quote above is our current quote. I use a black board my sister gave me for Christmas 2 years ago. It hangs outside our front door. We call it our “Cline Sign” similar to the sign at the Cline Winery off Hwy 121 in Sonoma County, CA. I usually come up with a quote in the morning.  If you would like to follow along my Twitter account is “cafevic”.

 

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University of California Services for Transfer Students

Posted by cafevic
January 14, 2014 Transfer Student Corner 1 Comment

Hey Transfer Students! Look what I found!

I am super excited to share this 2011 information sheet from the University of California Admissions site for Community College Transfer Students. This information sheet provides transfer students will a list of every University of California ranging from UC Davis all the way down to UC Riverside, and what services they have to assist community college students both before and after they arrive at the UC. Programs are categorized as serving either prospective or admitted students. Contact information is also available.

Either you are transferring this spring or are starting your 2nd quarter or semester as a transfer student. It is never too late to make a connection on campus and find that academic and social support your need.

Click here: UC Campus Services for Transfer Students

Click here for the main UC Transfer Admissions website: UC Transfer Admissions

Good Luck!

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3 Months left to go Along my own Pacific Crest Trail

Posted by cafevic
January 10, 2014 1 to 3 Motherhood, My Year Off Leave a Comment

My First year of Twin Motherhood.
Currently, 9 months into my year off as a stay at home mom with twin girls, 3 months to go.

If I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail I’d have entered the last 10 miles in CA and would be in Oregon by nightfall. 3 months left to go. If you have had the chance to read Cheryl Strayed’s memoir “Wild – From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail”, you would remember that when she made it to Oregon, she still had a long way to go to the top of Oregon, but it felt like a major millstone. She knew she was close. Very close. This morning, I feel close, yet I know there is still time and much more to see. Yet, the planning mode kicks in.

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Keep Leaning In

Posted by cafevic
January 2, 2014 1 to 3 Motherhood Leave a Comment

Keep leaning, keep refocusing, then sit up straight and enjoy.

2013 brought the Lean In movement into my life. Since it started in March, I’ve had many conversations about this idea of leaning in. Some have been about how Lean In is a great motivator. I started blogging about how the Lean In movement is not only about careers but could also be about motherhood. I’ve also said that the Lean In movement might simply be the idea that now we, especially women, need to lean in more because we are still not doing enough in our careers.

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My Student Affairs Highlights from 2013

Posted by cafevic
December 29, 2013 Student Affairs in Action Leave a Comment

2013 was a great year for the simple moments in Student Affairs. Here are my top three that stood out the most:

June- Making it to my Redwood City/Belmont/San Carlos Chamber of Commerce Class of 2013 Leadership Graduation. I was pregnant with twins the whole time I was part of the class and I learned so much about how cities and counties work on the Fridays I made it. I especially appreciated economic development and learning how it truly is the backbone to everything we need to keep our cities and local colleges thriving. It inspired me to be a leader in my own community and start applying to be part of my local City Council Community Boards.

August- C0-leading the Transfer Hike at the Dish on the Stanford University campus. I was in my final weeks of living in Redwood City, and from my apartment I could see the satellite dish tower. For the last three years, I had heard about this “Dish” hike and driven by it many times. I knew it was something I had to do before I moved. Then one day the idea came to team up with a fellow student government officer, Lexie, who was transferring to UC Davis and to organize a Transfer Hike for student leaders who were transferring that fall and those student leaders continuing at the community college with plans to transfer the following year. We booked the Saturday before the fall semester started. Even though we only ended up with 2 other students it was worth it. I think Lexie and I planted a seed for future Transfer Hikes and for each other. I’m looking forward to being there as her transfer advisor and checking in as she finishes up each quarter. As much as I was there to help her transfer, I now want to be there when she earns her university degree.

October- My Student Life Department Highlighted in my college’s Accreditation Visit. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) came to Canada College during the month of October. As many of you know who work at CA Community Colleges, there is a lot of hard work that goes into preparing for their visit. Even though I was on maternity leave during their actual visit, I had finished my program review before I left including assessment of my student learning outcomes and the final edit for the accreditation chapter that I was in charge of.

On that Thursday afternoon the Visiting Team Chair Dr. Pam Luster (President of San Diego Mesa College) shared both commendations and recommendations in her exit presentation. As she presented the top four Commendation for Canada College, my department of student life was number two!

Commendation for Canada College

  1. The college has an inclusive environment with broad participation and collegiality in decision-making.
  2. There is a high level of student engagement in the campus and student life and its leadership promotes many activities.
  3. Excellent collaboration among faculty, students, and Classified Professionals to conduct great student support programs such as STEM, Beating the Odds Peer Mentoring, and Student Ambassador programs.
  4. CIETL provides excellent opportunities for faculty to have dialogue to support student learning.
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That State of Peace

Posted by cafevic
December 7, 2013 1 to 3 Motherhood Leave a Comment

Some thoughts that came to me as I continue to go through this huge transition of being a new twin mom. My twin girls are now 6 months old. I’m starting to find that peace that comes with having twins and spending their first year at home with them. Something, I think anyone can relate to that is going through any large life changing experience.

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