President's Speech on Education

For those of you who read my post yesterday, please please please read President Obama's actual speech he will read tomorrow. It is an amazing speech and should be read to all schoolchildren in America.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

I am Disgusted!

Ok so this is a quick post on the fact that a lot of schools (Jake's school included) has decided to ban President Obama's speech to children next week. I respect the fact that there are a lot of people who disagree with President Obama's policies and the changes he wants to make. This is not an issue/post about politics. I respect every one's different view points, I don't think I can say that enough. Keep in mind that both Bush and Reagan made speeches to children about staying off drugs and other similar topics. Also, neither of those speeches were banned from schools.

This whole issue is DISGUSTING to me. We are teaching kids to disrespect the president and that what he has to say is not important. The topic of this speech is staying in school and how important it is to have an education. Obama's goal is to have the highest college graduate rates in 2020... what a horrible goal. What is socialist about that goal? He is not going to talk about current issues, just encouraging children to stay in school and about personal responsibility to get an education. The assignments that are recommended (not required) are to write a letter to the president about how the child was going to help him (for example: stay in school and become a doctor to keep America healthy... not I'm going to tell my parents that the health care system needs to be changed). Keep in mind this was "how are you going to help the president meet his goal of the most college graduates in 2020" funny how that part is left out. Since people didn't like that, they changed the assignment to the kids writing a letter to themselves about their goals, which I think is a great idea! What parents would go against that?

I understand people think I'm disgusted because I am Democrat and voted for Obama, but that isn't the case here. I think that this is a great speech considering 30 percent of 9th graders don't graduate from high school. How is encouraging students to graduate from high school and go to college socialist??? I am just beyond disgusted that the President is being banned from schools. President Obama is the first half black president (keep in mind he is half white, but half black is different from any president we've had). In the 1950's if Obama had said he was going to be President someday, he would have been ridiculed and laughed at. He is proof that you can be anything you want to be here in America. What about that is a bad role model for children? No one is saying the children or their parents have to agree with his policies, but what parent would not agree with a need to motivate children to get an education and stay in school?

I really hope this changes and that the speech will be allowed to be seen by all students in America.


Here is the article where I found some of my information.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/06/AR2009090601157.html

Miracle Viewing #2 :)

Quick post before I go back to studying!

Today I got to go back to Labor and Delivery (L&D) for a short day. I must be a lucky charm because a teenage mother had been there since Monday... such a long labor and they decided to do a C-Section right when I got on the floor! So I got to go in the OR/Delivery room with the mom and help prep her and calm her down. The whole delivery team was AWESOME! The med students from Monday were in there with me again and they actually got to scrub in (super excited for them!) The poor girl was terrified, so I kept reminding her that in a few minutes she would have a baby and told her to focus on listening to the baby's heart rate, it worked!

So the C-section is way more "ewww" than vaginal birth. A lot more blood and just "ahhhh how can she not feel them doing that!" (YAY for L&D Drugs!) It was definitely different. But, when they got the baby cleaned up, I went by the young parents and the Dad took the baby and kissed him and then passed him to mommy for a kiss. It was such a beautiful thing to see! Even though the Mom and Dad were super young, they love this baby! And yes, I got teary eyed again. It's just such an amazing thing! And for the second time I got over my squeemishness (partially) and was able to witness a baby brought into the world.

All of this is why I do not mind studying for OB... which is why I'm still up now. It's so great to actually learn material and apply it the same day in clinical. Ah, I love OB!!

Good night!

I saw a miracale today

So this will be a quick post because I'm sick... yes already and should be studying.

Here's the background to this story:
So last week we watched the birth/labor video for clinical. Since I had no previous exposure to that process... I was completely TRAUMATIZED. Literally, I almost threw up and got sick everytime I thought about it. So of course I was terrified when my clinical instructor placed me in Labor and Delivery the first day of clinical (after seeing how sick I got during the video mind you, gotta love her!). So last night I looked at the birth pictures in the book to prepare myself.. got queezy once again.

So today we took a tour of the unit and I felt super sick just standing in the unit. Luckily we went to the nursery after that and I got to see the babies which helped calm me down. Then the time came to go to the unit... SCARY! So I got my patient and she wasn't ready to deliver yet... so I thought. So right when I get there it's almost time... great! So I was talking to the medical students who were observing with me and they were kind of telling me what to expect... not good. So then the time came to go in the room and watch.

I got to help support the mom and had a front row seat. And oh my gosh... it was the most AMAZING thing I have ever seen. A true miracle! It brought tears to my eyes and one of the biggest smiles I've ever had. I wish I could explain how great it was. All of my squeemish tendencies went away and I got to appreciate it for the miracle process it is. Now I am not one to pray for myself, but last night I prayed that I would be able to appreciate the process and not let my "grossed out" low tolerance get in the away. It worked! And God performs miracles every time a baby is born. I am so thankful I got to see it first hand. Possible L&D career... who knows.

I just wanted to share that because it was one of the best and most spiritual experiences of my life.

Off to sleep!

Summer Wrap Up :( Part 1

Since all of my lovely friends are blogging... I'm actually motivated to update my blog!

-So here is my wrap up for summer.. it might be jumbled, but I was busy:

- I went to go visit my grandmother in Pennsylvania a few days after school got out. Mom and I went to celebrate her birthday and Mother's Day. It was a lovely visit, although we were in the hospital the whole time, but it was nice spending time with my mom and Mimi. This was the last time I saw Mimi before she passed away. I am so thankful I got that time with her and that she is no longer suffering. She passed away on June 9th and we went up that week for her funeral, which was a lovely ceremony. I got to write a eulogy and I thought it was really good and was a great way to honor my grandmother. (Please hold the I'm sorry's, we are all doing fine and we are all relieved that she is no longer suffering).

- Stephanie Marie got married to Kyle!!! This was the day we had been waiting 8 years for and it was an amazing ceremony and so much fun!!!

Steph dancing with her hubby :)

- I went to summer school and took two of the easiest/most interesting classes. Death and Dying and Care of the Elderly Patient. I really enjoyed my classes and they came at a good time. I feel that these classes helped me handle the loss of my grandmother better.

- I got an amazing job!!!!! I did not get the internship I applied for at a children's hospital, which I was devastated about, but I am so glad I did not get it now. It is so true that when God closes a door he opens a window. So about my job... our school has a program with the Good Sam day camp in San Antonio called Healthy Choices for Kids. This program has medical and nursing students work together to teach 10-14 year olds how to make healthy lifestyle choices. Our lessons ranged from abstinence and contraception (the lesson I taught) to nutrition and respect. We also did an hour of physical activities with the kids each day.. such as running, soccer, and kickball.
I also got to meet some amazing people and become great friends with girls in my class. Our kids were absolutely amazing! They were all so sweet and they learned a lot! I also got to plan a reward field trip for them to Laser Quest and it was so awesome for them to have such a nice trip. Here are some of our pictures..

Our 12 and up boys and girls

Our 10-11 year old boys

Our 10-11 year old girls

Well this will have to be my first half of this post. It's bedtime for this sleepy girl. Stories from the cruise will come in the next post.

25% of a nurse.. going on 50%

So I'm finally finished with first semester of nursing school!!! On to the crazyness that is second semester.. yuck!

I am so pleased I chose to go to this school! It has been a great fit so far and I'm excited to see where it leads me this semester. Last semester, my clinical instructor told me that she was not sure I would make it, but that I had made the most improvement. :) I was super upset when I got Saturday (chronic) clinicals, but then I met some new people from my group and I'm so excited I get to know them better and experience clincals with them! Plus, all of my lovely group from last semester is there too! I'm excited for clinials this semester! Also, we have mental health clinicals which I'm rather excited about!

So Winter break came and went. I had such a great time! New Year's with Adeeb and the girls was the best! Christmas with my family was wonderful as always! And work was... well only those of us lucky enough to work at FCCU would know. :)

I do miss time at home already. The week I left, my grandmother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. I don't say that to ask for sympathy, I just want to get it off my chest. I feel terribly guilty for not being super upset or even crying when I found out. Of course, I was sad because she's my grandma, but she lives out of state and it's kind of out of sight out of mind thing for me. She has set her "goal" to live to my graduation. I really hope some miracle happends and she will be able to attend.

Well that is my little update. Hopefully I'll have more soon.

- Jessie

First semester: Almost complete!

Ok so this is my first post so excuse the randomness.

Well I am almost done with my first semester of nursing school. Mind you I still have ATI's to take, return physical assessment demonstration (deathhh), and finals... blah. I can't complain though :) This has been one of the best/scariest semesters of my college life. I went from being a terrified student, not wanting to touch patients to actually having confidence with patients. My first clinical experience really scared me and made me question if I had made the right decision. I saw a trach suction... the patient's movements, noises and gagging really freaked me out. So needless to say I was lightheaded for most of the first shift. I ended up actually liking the OR (operating room), which I had been dreading since last year. I got to see an orthopedic surgery (drills and x-ray machines were involved) :). Then on my last clinical I gave a suppository and remained calm (yeah, gross I know, but I'm a nurse so these things come up). My clinical instructor was awesome and I could not have asked for a better, more encouraging teacher.

My grades this semester have been better than they've been in awhile. I like what I'm learning. Plus, it's fun to gross people out with what we talked about in class that day. Pharmacology is better this time around because I know how to study. :) Our teachers are the best and I couldn't have asked for better professors. The professors love us and always encourage us and tell us that we can do it. They even give us good luck blessings with fairy wands before tests. Silly, I know.

I'm also thankful for the huge family support I've recieved this semester. My parents are nothing but encouraging and not annoyed with me like they were last year. I'm so glad I can make my family proud and exceed their expectations.

My roommates this year are FABULOUS! I am usually not home alone and we usually eat together and watch our shows. Nisha is a great source of information and encouragement (she is third semester). Kim is so intelligent (4.0), she works very hard which helps me out a lot because she motivates me. We all make each other laugh which helps ease the stress. Our personalities just click.

The move to San Antonio hasn't been the easiest though. I don't get to see Adeeb as often as I used to last semester. I felt very guilty for quite some time because I moved away from him when I did get in to UT Austin nursing school. He has been nothing but encouraging, patient, and loving. I really could not ask for a better boyfriend. It's been a year and a half and I have never felt so loved in a relationship.

Ok so that's it for now. Study time and Nap time.