My 2.5 seconds of fame!

Last Thursday the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, gave a speech about the quality of the education teachers in this country are receiving. There is much debate among educators about the details of his opinions and what exactly this could mean for how teachers are educated - but that is not what this post is about!

So anyway, CNN was going to be doing a feature on Duncan's speech and they filmed some education classes at AU and interviewed the School of Education Teaching and Health's Dean about the issues being discussed etc etc.

*I am getting somewhere, I promise!

The two classes they filmed in, I am in!!! The first class was the site of amazing footage.... we were taking our midterm (yay for this looking like a scene supporting testing!) then my next class they filmed a discussion and we students listening and taking notes.

I am in the footage, but didn't see it until last night - I missed the first 5 airings on CNN - the first by 15 minutes!

Enjoy!!

The Beginning of the End

This morning I feel like I began the final stretch of my time here at American U.... I registered for my final semester!

I really feel like it was a bittersweet moment. I can think back to every other semester I registered for, the time spent finding the classes that would fit my schedule and needs, the annoyance of the online registration system, and I can think all the way back to May of my senior year of high school trying to figure out HOW to register for college! Wow time has flown by....

Senior year is well under way: my top graduate school application is off, I'm working on the essays for other applications, I've registered, and am making sure all my requirements will be met!

Time sure flies by - don't get me wrong I am savoring each moment here this year realizing that this time next year I won't be here - it is nice to think about what comes next but bittersweet to know my time here is almost up.

I don't know if anyone saw the Newsweek article last week about completing college in 3 years, well one never would have happened for me, but 4 years has been perfect, I've had another year of experiences and explorations another year to grow as a person and I still have one more semester to go (well one semester and 6 weeks!)

For now I'll savor this momentous "last" but still am going to focus on the rest of this semester and having more fun in DC and AU!

The Smallest Patient

Who knew the smallest items can cause so much trouble and get into so much trouble!! Wondering what I am talking about? This little device:

Since September the middle of September this little sound generator which weighs ounces has been traveling around in search of "medical" care. It first went to Philadelphia, well Bala Cynwd to be exact, then it was shipped to New Orleans (I have never been there!), then back to me. It's first (yes, first) trip to New Orleans didn't do the trick as it broke again hours into being back....

So..... back to Bala Cynwd, then back to New Orleans, then back to me..... it wasn't fully fixed yet!

So Tuesday I sent it back to the Big Easy - really - my sound generator has been places I haven't!!! As of this afternoon it was in "open device surgery." They are going to try replacing everything in hopes of fixing it - if not my left ear is jinxed!

Hopefully by this weekend it will be back in DC and can rest up where it belongs, in my ear, not traveling around the US!!!

Life Passing By

Sometimes life just passes us by. We try to keep up, but life hits the gas and speeds up, while we pedal ahead at our own pace.

And sometimes it's really nice to take a seat for a moment and watch life pass by around you.

Sitting out for even a moment can allow for a different view of life. You can notice the finer details, like early hints of red, that you might miss while going miles a minute.

Signs of changes can be observed, like signs the seasons have changed; no more shorts and caps but jackets and hats.

There is a simple peace in the art of people watching; watching a snapshot of someone's life as their path crosses with yours for that split second.

And in some cases you can notice the plain and simple joy some have for approaching life; a running start and a giant leap to clear any obstacles in their path.

If we could all just take a simple running start and leap through life with youthful innocence; back into the fast lane that we all know, and hopefully love, as life.

"No, your first name."

Raise your hand if you do not like those automated telephone customer support systems.

You could see my hand from the moon. Really.

You know how it is:

Voice on the phone: "Please say the reason for your call."

Me: "Billing."

Voice: "Did you say billing?"

Me: "Yes."

Voice: "Please tell me more information about your call."

Me: "Billing...question."

Voice: Please verify the first name on your account."

Me: "Tamar"

Voice: "Please provide only your first name."

Me: "T..a..m..a..r.."

Voice: "We need to verify your first name."

Me: "TAMAR"

Voice: "No, your first name."

Me: "UGH! Representative..... please."

Voice: "Thank you for calling."

--click--

The good news is I was laughing so hard that I was barely mad, but really? I called back, immediately requesting a human. I got one! Then it went like this....

Human: "May I please verify your first name?"

Me: "Tamar"

Human: "No, your first name."

I laughed, told the human that WAS my FIRST name - he finally got it and resolved my billing issue, so I cannot be too mad, right? What a way to begin a Friday!

Change

Hello, my name is Tamar, and I do not like change.

There, I said it. Admittance is the first step in acceptance and growth right?

For the longest time, (okay, still), I have freaked out when a change occurs in my life. I have always been fine once I accepted the changes in my life, but that jumping off point - not so easy. My mom tells me this goes against my Aquarius nature, but it just is....I do not like change!

I have been doing slightly better, lately but I still know that I need to learn to trust the universe and have made it my goal for 5770. I really thought hard about this during Yom Kippur. Being able to accept the cards I am dealt and find the goodness in the changes around me. Being opened minded and seeing everything as an adventure is the way I hope to be able to see things from now on.

I have really been thinking about this lately because of all the changes I have gone through in my life lately, most not my choice, and those that will be coming this year, most by choice. Sure graduating college (7 months and 8 days to go!) is one of those scary changes, going off into the real world; but, I am beginning to see it as my next adventure. I am excited for the prospects of beginning graduate school, moving to a new city, and starting a new chapter.

I know I will always be apprehensive during times of change, but I hope that each new adventure will provide me opportunities and fun -

When one door opens another door opens!