The End and The Beginning....

Summer's end nearing....it feels like change is on the horizon. I truly hope the next school year brings challenges, joy, and a dissertation proposal success. I am coming to the end of my classes and the beginning of research. I am frightened, and worry that I will not be able to make it as a scientist-practitioner. However, I know that if I truly push myself to do good work, and do not allow myself to get overcomitted and careless, then I will certainly succeed.

Change is hard and I have dealt with it in maladaptive ways for most of my life. These strategies worked at the time but they no longer suffice. I need to be OK with the anxiety of science and allow myself to master it without aid or distraction.

Wish me luck.

"Take One Day At A Time, Everything Else You Can Leave Behind"

Panda Bear's "Take Pills" sounds incessantly good in the summer time...but it's this title line that seems to resonant the most with me right now. Allow me to update you all on this summer's happenings!
After getting back from Toronto, I was instantly thrust into two new jobs: teaching and counseling. I teach at UH Outreach college, and my class is Psy 371: Abnormal Psychology. Honestly, teaching is so much fun. I had an inkling I would like it but I had no idea how truly gratifying it is to help people learn more about their minds. My students are quite brilliant, and have insightful ideas into how to make the field more scientific and less "quack-ish" for all. I hope some of them decide to get their PHDs!
My counseling job is back in the comfortable but interesting field of substance abuse. I work for the BASICS program, which allows me to do two brief interventions sessions with students who get disciplinary actions taken against for the University. These sessions are mainly preventative in nature and allow me to use my newly-gained Motivational Interviewing skills. Hopefully I will be able to count this position for internship, however the PhD on board is retiring in December. I will be sure to monitor all my hours carefully, lest only the first half of the year count!
Glenn and I are currently not speaking for the first time in two and a half years, which is tough for me. Still, the universe has delivered me a gift with a new friend and companion, Jake Aesthete! Check out his sweet electro sounds at http://www.myspace.com/aestheteisimage. I knew the scene was good for something...
And speaking of the scene, my band, the Behaviorists, has been getting more shows as well. Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/thebehaviorists. We already have a mini write-up in the Honolulu Weekly, thanks to our percussionist being on board with them. I am grateful to promotors for having us and to be able to perfect my sound. I've come full circle...from Lepidoptera to Behaviorists, and if this is my last ever project I have to say I am quite proud of it.
The summer progesses apace. Soon, I will start my new practicum with Dr. Marvin Acklin. I sincerely hope I can show him that I can do valid assesments with critical thinking. Wish me luck!!