Janice’s Blog

ALLOW ME TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, BUT A VIDEO WILL HAVE TO WAIT. BUT I NEED TO SHARE THIS.. THIS BURDEN ON MY HEART WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT.

Okay, so for those of you who don't know -- I'm from Jersey. Born and raised a Jersey girl. Now, when you think of people from Jersey, what is one of the FIRST things you think of?

We don't pump our own gas.

I've had people laugh when I tell them that, and their laugh implies something along the lines of "Stop being silly, what do you mean, you don't pump your own gas..?" I mean exactly what I said -- I don't pump my own gas. Never have and never planned to, until this year when I realized that having my car with me meant I'd have to learn how to do so otherwise I wouldn't be using my car much at all. Oh, fantastic.

I've driven around with my friends before and seen them pump their own gas, but it never really interested me. But when the realization hit that this is something that I need to be interested in, and fast, I called upon one of my good friends to aid me in my predicament. So my friend, Rachel, who is also a blogger and I went to educate myself on the art of pumping gas. Actually, she wanted to record me attempting to do so and post it on HER blog -- but I really didn't want the public humiliation. Anyway, so we went and she slowly walked me through the process.. which I still deem unnecessarily long (but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do). A full tank of gas lasts me about a week, with all the driving around I do.. so the next time I needed gas I immediately dialed Rachel's number and begged her to come with me once more. I think that by this point she has tagged along a handful of times, but oh, she has been perfectly lovely about it. Besides giggling when I get awkward and ask her which way I'm to twist the cap to get it off.

I mention all of this because I went to go pump my own gas ON MY OWN for the first time ever yesterday. It started off okay, I got the cap off without much of a problem and successfully swiped my card and all of that. Then I stuck the nozzle into the gas.. compartment.. and it wasn't too horrible at all until the gentleman at the next pump asked for my assistance regarding something that had nothing to do with the actual pumping itself. So I got sidetracked. In the end, I got in and out of my car a grand total of seven or eight times, one of them to grab the receipt I had forgotten I requested. Needless to say, I left the gas station feeling a tad foolish and unhappy, contemplating the illogical-ness of pumping one's own gas.

Then I decided that I will become an ambassador of good will and aid those future Jersey folks that I know will end up at PBU one day with their cars and teach them how to pump their own gas (I mean, once I am able to successfully do it on my own without too much mishap). I will not laugh at them, nor will I rebuke them when they need moral support for the first several times. So for all you Jersey people who have humored the idea of pumping gas before but never got around to it and have dreams of attending University in the good ol' state of Pennsylvania -- I will help you. Come to PBU, come to me! We will be victorious together at the gas pump.. then run back to Jersey and process the entire experience at a diner while eating cheese fries. Because that is what we DO.

Posted by Janice at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was going to post a video blog, but after several attempts last night I realized that I look waaay too tired to be showing my face like that :P so, dear readers, you will have to wait until I am a bit more rested.

This week has been amazing. First off, let me just announce that I love my Practice III and Seminar and Field III class (technically they're two separate classes, but the way it works out it's more like one 7-hour class with the professors switching in and out). Two of my most beloved professors are teaching these classes, which is an automatic bonus, and I adore my fellow peers. No, really. They're a fantastic bunch and I'm comfortable around them to the point where I just can't stop talking, only to later reflect on what exactly I shared earlier that day and end up facepalming out of embarrassment.

Anyway, they're fantastic and lovely and I could not ask for better friends to share my placement journey with! I say this because the other day I was telling someone how when I first came to PBU, that I had this I-don't-need-any-more-friends attitude, and how I quickly came to the conclusion that I could not be any more wrong. Being a transfer and already having what I had deemed "enough" friends back home and at my previous University had me thinking I could function perfectly well for the remainder of my college career here without anyone, and being where I'm at now.. and just knowing how much I enjoy the company and presence of my peers.. well, I feel a bit foolish.

Okay, fine. I feel a LOT foolish. But Jesus still loves me :D

Posted by Janice at 3:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh my goodness! I just stumbled through the door! After braving this crazy weather!
...but thank you, Lord, for the rain. It looks like I won't need to get my car washed after all :D

My second week of placement is officially over. Even though it's only been a week since last week (that makes sense, right?) I feel strangely different about all of it. I think the fact that it is a four day placement had me nervous and so last week I was very quiet and hung back a lot. I felt kind of out of place because I was the "new kid" and didn't have any relationships with anyone there, leaving me to do a lot more observing and listening than anything. But this week? Well, not that the verbal floodgates opened and I'm suddenly best friends with everyone, but things have a taken a turn for the better. I have interacted a lot more with the faculty and staff as well as the students and even made a "connection" with one student in particular. It's all very exciting! I feel more comfortable where I'm at, not just as an intern but as a part of the school and just.. in my skin, overall.

You think that just because you went through high school that you know all about it, but what I've really learned is that I know nothing. It's been an ever-surprising but pleasant experience, revisiting the high school years through the eyes of the students around me. Some things never change: like the groups of friends, the cafeteria food and having to get to class on-time.. but other things are constantly shifting and mysterious. Go figure.

God has taught me a lot about peace these past two weeks, as I hear and see crazy things all around me. He's reminded me that to help someone, you truly have to love them first. It's too easy to blame the kids and shake them until they want to give up their old habits because they're too annoyed to put up with you any longer (as if it were that easy), but the more I get to know the students the clearer it becomes to me that they are each unique and amazing individuals with stories of their own. I love it, I really do.

Posted by Janice at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Answer: definitely not Telecounseling!)

So, this song --

I've been listening to it on repeat for the past two days straight. No lie.

So this semester I'm doing my Social Work 4-day placement. Basically this means I'm on-campus on Mondays for classes, but on Tuesdays through Fridays I'm out in the field. Being the best intern, ever..
I'm placed at an alternative school, and even though I've only been there for a few days I'm enjoying what I've experienced so far. Today was a little quiet but I was able to spend quality time observing pretty much everything, which I think will ultimately be beneficial. I like watching people interact with one another and get a better understanding of the dynamics of their relationship, and no, I'm not creepy about it either :P

Anyway, most of the time I end up returning to campus after placement lets out so I haven't had the opportunity to miss anyone or anything yet~ haha. I'm super tired though, can't deny that.. just gotta get into the swing of things, I suppose. I'm a million times grateful that I've finally made it this far and for this experience.. in the mornings I drag myself out of bed but I always think to myself that I am so fortunate that God has brought me to this exact moment in time..

Posted by Janice at 6:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)