I am attempting to finish my hours for fieldwork and my capstone project. I created a template to chart vaccine refusals. (boring stuff and clinical staff hate change) my challenge is to use technology to remind/and educate staff to use the template in a fun and interactive way. Also! I began to use Canva to create electronic birthday cards for my team. For work, I am responsible for compliance for my team (more boring stuff). I was asked to help with annual N95 fit testing. You can imagine how far my emails got....so, I began to create birthday e-cards with a reminder to get fit for N95 with employee health (better results, but I'm still not popular). Those are my two things I did with tech. Looking forward to learning more.

I'm not sure how our phones can be integrated into the classroom at this point. I think maybe having an interactive app for a class might be interesting--one where you can store ideas/projects. Similarly to what we are doing here, but it might be cool to have one that could track your course progress and give you suggestions for improvement. Kind of like a fitness app, but for school?

For my capstone, I’m focusing on increasing engagement in shared leadership on a medical-surgical unit where participation has been low. In addition to that, I’m also developing a mentorship program to support new and current staff, with hopes of improving both engagement and retention. As part of this, I’m exploring the idea of a content creation project—something that could serve as a resource hub for staff. It’s still in the early idea phase, so it may evolve over time!

The photo I’ve shared is from last Mother’s Day with my husband and son. It brings me so much joy and reminds me how much I’d love to do another family photo session this year.

I’m really looking forward to this class—especially learning more about tools and technology that can help communicate ideas effectively. I’m familiar with Google’s templates and love how user-friendly they are, even though we don’t use Google at work. I’m hoping to get some practice here and eventually become more comfortable with tools like SharePoint too!

Wishing you all a great start to the quarter! 💛

This picture is my husband and I in Dublin in October for our 20-year wedding anniversary. We drove around the lower half of Ireland over 10 days.  I loved it there and hope to return soon.

I taught skills labs at Shoreline CC for two years and we had a few Kahoot quizzes that we utilized. The students were required to participate and had to use their phones to answer quiz questions. Those who answered the fastest and correctly would be awarded the most points. It was a lot of fun and it became quite competitive at times.

Am I the only one who is not graduating after this quarter? I still have a ways to go. I'm happy that I'm halfway done and making great progress given my busy life. My "spring break" has yet to start. I leave to Texas next week when it's the kids spring break and I will get do some homework poolside.

This class is what I needed. I'm so behind on technology. My goal is to gain some tools to use when working/teaching HS students to help with student engagement.

By busy life... I have 4 kids ages 17, 11, 8 and 8. They are what keep me motivated. Picture above is of my 11 yr olds first practice yesterday. All 4 are in soccer and I can't wait to cheer them on!!!!!

I really like Poll Everywhere app that we used in Dr. Ko's pathophysiology course autumn quarter. I see it as a useful tool in reinforcing learning.

I am so excited to be wrapping up the graduate school experience with you all, we are so close! I can't wait to see the culmination of everyone's projects.

In regards to this class, I tend to consider myself not very tech savvy, so I'm looking forward to learning about new tools and how to use them effectively. At this point, I haven't explored many things outside the Mircosoft Office 365 software and Canva, at least in the educational setting. I have used my phone before in class for polls, which I think can be useful for instruction (such as in Dr. Ko's class in the Fall). I'm excited for the prospect of discovering new technologies through this class!

I begin a new job at Harborview Medical Center on April 14th as the Vascular Access Nurse Educator. This is a new position to HMC which offers an opportunity introduce meaningful practice changes. The scope of work is huge, but I am very passionate about bringing evidence based vascular access practice standards forward.

I am looking forward to this course and finding opportunities to bring technology into teaching and training environments for nurses and providers at HMC.

I have a pretty diverse work background, from being a medical assistant to working as a, golf coach, event planner, and even a chiropractic tech. I love to golf! I find myself at the range weekly, and now with the nice weather, I’ve been so excited to try some courses at.

Outside of work and academics, I enjoy building big adult Lego sets (especially flower bouquets and model cars), watching Disney movies (Aladdin is my favorite!), and traveling. I got to travel a lot as a kid, all around the world. My mom is from East Africa (Kenya) and my dad is from Afghanistan, they both came to America in their 30s.

I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and having great discussions in this class!

Other than that our Spring break has been pretty uneventful. I have been enjoying spending time with my family, baking, and seeing some of my family in the area. It has been very relaxing. I did get to read an actual, physical book over the past weeks which is a nice change of pace from audio books.

Looking forward to this quarter and what this class will have to offer. I feel it is going to be a steep learning curve but it will be very beneficial to my current role as a nurse educator.

Chelsea Brock

I am in the MN program part time, but opted to take two classes this quarter in order to balance out next year for myself.

This class is so exciting to me and I am hoping to soak it all up as best I can! Even after exploring our class website I have already been introduced to different technologies that I have never heard of or thought to explore (for example, NotebookLM). I know that this class will take me out of my comfort zone, but in the best way.

I’m excited to learn more about how I can incorporate technology into my curriculum through this course. I feel like it’s getting more and more difficult to engage learners and technology feels like the perfect tool to mix things up! Bit nervous about having three classes this last quarter, but we will make it!

Technology is amazing and I know that it contributes so much to our daily lives, but I certainly am not skilled in navigating it. This class has already pushed me to work with technology in ways that I never thought I would. It is my hope that this class will make me feel more comfortable with using technology.

I got hair down recently which is a nice way to relax and feel refreshed which is what the picture. I'm looking forward to going to a stand up comedy show with one my friends and boyfriend at Tacoma Comedy Club and we are seeing Kelsey Cook. Yesterday I went and saw the new Minecraft movie with my boyfriend and his son it was super cute! We also went to the park since the weather was beautiful out and it was fun to see how outgoing his son is.

After a COVID long hiatus, I have started running again and I am signed up for a half marathon on May 4th. A month ago I ran 8 miles and Saturday morning I did the full 13. Yay for me :)

Needed a little wine to keep me going (hehe). We enjoyed the nice weather at our wine tasting this weekend. This weather is making me so excited for the summer and more sunshine (and no more school?!)! It's been a little hard to keep my focus as it gets nicer outside... I have to keep telling myself to keep going, we are so close. I hope you all were able to take a break and relax a bit this weekend!

Pic of my oldest and I after a hard loss, 0-7. But he is just like his mama, always all smiles.

m also struggling adding a photo :(

This is 4/5 of my children and my hubby. I was holding my little one's hand. My children are 12,10,7 (boys) and 4 and 2(girls). We were on the way home from Spokane and seen a view spot. We pulled over and got out and walked for a bit, soaking up the fresh air and the beautiful view. My son had a football tournament out there. It was a refreshing trip.

I started my job at King County Public Health end of January along with moving and it has been quite the change. Overall, I am thankful to still be here.

I am excited that this is our last quarter in the Master's program. I do have a few more things to complete for my capstone project . I believe by the end of this week I will be done. I am also a bit nervous that we have a third class this quarter but we can do it! I know we can.

Looking forward to this course.

I did not know how Ko was creating his class sites and I really want to get good at creating on google sites. I think that is a really fun tool and it looks very professional. I have used Kahoot before in nursing school. It is one of my favorite quiz like games that are really interactive. I am excited to learn more in this course.

One thing I've been thinking about is if we are trying all these new technologies (especially in the context of teaching/education), how do we know when something is a flop? vs need for a pivot? I certainly think being uncomfortable is ok, and many times a good thing. What signs would you look for that would tell you that a different technology may be better suited for certain content?

Today, I am watching an AACN webinar regarding end of life nursing education (ELNEC). I really like the platform used for this presentation. I plan to explore the tool further. I will admit that sometimes I find the various tech tools to be overwhelming.

The puppy is keeping my family busy! Luckily we had a great first couple days due to the weather, but the rain has not helpful. This pup HATES being in the rain! haha. We bought a grass mat which we planned to train her to use since we can put it on the back of our boat. As the whether gets nicer we will be taking her out and if we anchor it may be hard to get her to shore to potty quickly.

This week I will be doing my best to start updating my portfolio and completing my objectives. Will try to pop on for the meeting tonight at 6.

My final thought: has anyone seen this news about the wolf brought back from extinction due to advances in genetic cloning?! Crazy stuff.... Seriously Jurassic Park is not too far off! ;)

Outside of that, I’ve been trying to keep up with all the assignments and class projects this quarter. Luckily, our two new kittens, Cinnamon and Sugar, are always nearby to keep me company while I work on homework. 🐾💻

I've been feeling apprehensive about starting this quarter, not only because I had a late start with work conflicts I could not get away with, but also because we have three courses to end grad school and I'm not able to decrease my FTE at work, so I'm hoping for the best these next 3 months. This weekend I started reading Donald Schöns The Reflective Practitioner, and I am really enjoying it so far.

I am looking forward to this course. In general, I consider myself very technologically savvy at work and very technologically unsavvy at home. I don't like new tech, phone, gagits or gizmos in my personal life, but I absolutely love trying out new technology at work. I'm an EPIC SuperUser and an early adopter/pilot beta-tester for a ton of technology rolls outs at work. In my diabetes nursing roll, last week I just started using a program that records my visits with patients and generates my notes for me, so I can focus on the conversation. I love it already. Happy to discuss in more detail for anyone who wants to hear more.

One highlight was engaging in our group project discussions. Collaborating with peers not only provided diverse perspectives but also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose. It’s encouraging to see how collective efforts can lead to innovative solutions.

On a personal note, I took some time to reflect on my goals and the progress I’ve made so far. While there’s always room for improvement, acknowledging small victories has been motivating.

Looking ahead, I’m focusing on maintaining this momentum and continuing to support my peers. I’m also planning to allocate time for self-care to ensure sustained well-being.

In the midst of the busyness, I’m grateful for the moments of stillness. The photo is the view from my front yard, and it helps me stay grounded. It brings a sense of peace and calm to my day, especially when life feels overwhelming. I feel truly blessed to have this view as a daily reminder to pause, breathe, and take in the beauty around me.

-Jessika Barajas

This week I plan to take on the video challenge and will post it as next weeks check in.... not sure what I'll do just yet. It may include noisy kids and a barking puppy.

I am finding that I really have no idea what to put in my portfolio other than a resume and my teaching philosophy so will be checking out a lot of examples to get some ideas.

Enjoy all this sunshine! Hope everyone has a good week.

I am wondering if anyone knows any good apps for free AI headshots. Everything I keep finding costs money that I'd rather not spend on an experiment. thought it would be fun to try out!

Picture of 3/4 of my kids on the first day of vacation right before my husband started vomiting and got us all sick.

This week I finally fully updated my resume and have spent some time reflecting on what to include in my portfolio. I need to get some updated photos of myself for the website - I don't have a single professional photo of myself from the last ten years! Best of luck with your projects this week everyone!

1) I love the sun! I'm very happy with the transition into Spring and the promise of Summer around the corner. I'm very fortunate to have a WFH job; I worked upstairs on my roof for an hour doing admin work yesterday. This is the photo from the set up.

2) I am excited to share that 3 weeks ago, my boss gave me a dedicated, protected 4 hours a week (Wed PM) for me to do work on CNS responsibilities (the work our past Diabetes CNSs would do, before KP got rid of their FTE). It's been nice to work on ongoing education for our department, regularly meeting with pharmacy for DM med changes, process improvement projects, working on pilots (the Abridge AI record/note generation), curriculum revamp, partnering with nursing schools for a student project pitch, and having time for doing EPIC EHR chairsides with my peer nurses wanting tips/tricks from me, their EPIC SuperUser.

We had the entire (adorably tiny) park to ourselves, and it turned into such a sweet little moment. Just the two of us, laughing and playing. It was a much-needed reminder to slow down and be present in the moment.

I’ve come to realize that making a website is hard! 😅 I found this YouTube video helpful. If you’ve found any tips, tricks, or tools that have helped you, I’d love to hear them!

I saw Pride and Prejudice on the big screen for the 20th anniversary yesterday after class. It’s amazing how I have watched that movie so many times and it’s always just as breath taking. The Brits’ acting skills are truly top tier. Highly recommend!

That said, I’m currently visiting my cousins in California, so I’ve had a bit less time than usual to work on things. Still, I’ve been brainstorming ideas and jotting down notes on the go, and I’m excited to dive back into building out the homepage and uploading some of my content once I’m back.

-Feliz

My sister in law taught me how to make sourdough bread this weekend. Seems like everyone else is doing it so I thought I’d join in as I love sourdough. 😆 I’ve had a starter for awhile but always feel too intimidated to actually start - it’s a bit involved! At this point I’ll probably wait until after school is finished, I feel like I’ve reached my max capacity right now. Anyway, she walked me through the steps, but she had to bring it golfing to do all the stretch and folds haha. It turned out delicious!

I hope you all enjoyed some rest this weekend!

She is my other study buddy, for short periods of time. The puppy in her has trouble sitting still with me for extended periods of time. She is a love.

This tree is my favorite Magnolia trying to bloom. I think it is also Kea's favorite tree as she hoovers up all of the fallen blossoms as she runs by.

Playing fetch outside in our backyard on a sunny day is a great way to break away from studying for a bit.

This week, I’m continuing to enjoy the creative process involved in our projects. I’ve been reflecting on how to make my portfolio project stand out. I am still trying to brainstorm unique ways to tie in my learning philosophy through connection, reflection, and technology. Balancing all my classes' other assignments and projects has been challenging, but I’m staying focused and reminding myself to take things one step at a time.

Honestly, this last quarter feels like a marathon—I’m exhausted, but I’ve got my eye on the finish line. A bit of nervousness still lingers, but I’m trying to stay grounded and trust that all the hard work will pay off soon.

In the middle of all the work, I’m also making time for what matters most—family. Here’s a picture from last year’s Mariners game with my little crew. We had such a great time and plan to go again this Friday. Tridents up! 🔱

I feel for all of us with the heavy course load, illnesses, work, family and days so beautiful all we want to do is play outside!

My family and I drove to Oregon to celebrate my mom's 84th birthday - it was a fast trip down and back in 24 hours but it was so nice to be somewhere other than work or in my home office!

This week has been tough emotionally. My brother accepted a job in Wenatchee, which means he, my sister-in-law, and my one year old niece will no longer be 10 minutes away. Being an aunt is one of my favorite things so this is going to be a big change. Additionally, today would have been my grandpa's 104th birthday and I've always used this week to celebrate and miss him. I'll be meeting my family at the bench dedicated to my grandparents at the Mukilteo Waterfront after I get off work tonight.

Switching gears, here’s a video I edited using Microsoft Clipchamp. It’s my first time using the app, as I’m a definite newb at video editing/uploading. I’m going to explore the app a little more and then add this to our Tools We Explored list!

The video is of our bird feeder — they make them compatible with home security cameras so you can see all the little visitors who stop by. :)

I decided to post a video of Easter morning with the girls. They were soooo excited to do their easter egg hunt and find their baskets. Next year the easter bunny will need to be a little sneakier with the hiding spots.

I feel at a standstill with my professional portfolio. I have ideas on what needs to go in it, but the creativity getting it all into the google site is lacking. Hoping it will kick in soon and I can add more it and get it finished.

I took a break from work and homework to enjoy some baseball. It was a beautiful day and such a fun game to be at - Mariners won by a landslide! While I do enjoy sports, my favorite part of Mariner games is definitely the food... I love getting the fish and chips!

I feel like I'm losing some stamina on my project and capstone this week, so I'm hoping I can gain more motivation and focus as we round the corner of this quarter. Spring in Seattle can certainly be a distracting thing. As can a baby haha. Hope all is well with everyone!!

Meanwhile, I think the Seattle pollen is trying to kill me. For the last 12 days I've had off and on the worst headaches of my life. I think I'm getting allergies; thankfully Covid-negative. I found some expired loratadine and I'm thankful for extra strength Tylenol. If I'm not working, doing homework, or actively at an event on my calendar, I've been mostly resting and sleeping. Can't wait for this to resolve.

Last week was tough emotionally for me but I ended up getting a day of one on one time with my sweet niece before my brother, sister-in-law, and niece moved yesterday. I'm glad to feel more emotionally present this week.

Also, I found out that my team had our poster accepted for the Children's Tumor Foundation annual conference!

Here's to the second half of the quarter!

Needless to say, I got a little behind in the assignments and reading so I will playing catch up.

I hope you were able to enjoy some sunshine this weekend! Yesterday turned out to be beautiful. The perfect afternoon/evening to celebrate LOVE! My longtime friend Emily got engaged to a fantastic man - it was so fun celebrating them and seeing her soooo happy. My husband and I spent some time reminiscing about our own engagement weekend and how much fun we had with our family and friends (8 years ago already, WHAT). It was nice to take a break from homework and reflect on wonderful memories and enjoy new celebrations!

I hope everyone had a great week enjoying this gorgeous weather. We were able to spend it out in the Montlake Cut for Opening Day of boating and getting to watch the crew races. It was a nice change of pace to not have to sit out there in the blustery wind/rain as we have had to endure for the last 5 years.

In other news, all the things I avoided for a day are still waiting for me.

I'm feeling very behind this week! Week 6 is practically over, yet some how I am just starting to do all the work. Time for me to get to get moving!

Outside of that, we have been to a few track meets so far and my children have been enjoying that. I am always trying to look at the positives but right now we need prayers.

I am looking forward to being done with school and just being able to focus on my family . Hoping things go more smoothly the rest of the quarter.

-Feliz

Now that I’m back, I feel more grounded and ready to take on the rest of the quarter. Breaks are definitely underrated, but sometimes exactly what we need.

I've enjoyed looking at your projects this week, you all are so creative! You've helped inspire me. Keep pushing through. Summer is behind the corner!

With all that going on, I did not have the time I wanted to spend on homework for my classes this quarter. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed at the moment knowing there are only a few weeks left in this quarter and still so much to do.

Happy last day of Nurses Week and belated Mother's Day!!!!

Despite the chaos, I’m feeling incredibly grateful. My amazing husband and son treated me to a lovely brunch at the Fairmont Hotel for Mother's Day. The best part? I got my ultimate wish: a relaxing, low-key afternoon. These days, it’s the simple things that mean the most. 💛

This week, I really appreciated the feedback assignment. It was nice getting the chance to read through other people’s projects and offer supportive, constructive feedback. I also found it inspiring to see everyone’s creativity and ideas, it definitely gave me new perspectives and sparked some ideas for my own work. Getting feedback on my project was also super helpful. It helped me see what’s working and what I can still improve, which I’m grateful for.

I finally got a chance to work on my portfolio a bit more this week, which felt good. Even though I didn’t get as far as I hoped, I’m planning to put a lot more time and energy into it this upcoming week. I really want it to feel more complete and reflective of my growth.

Outside of class, I made it to yoga a few days this week, and that honestly helped a lot with clearing my mind and reducing stress. It was a good reminder to take care of myself while balancing all the work I still need to get done.

Homework wise, I think I got the hang of Google sites and am progressing along well. 4.5 more weeks and I'm off for summer break 🙌

Mother's day was great! We went down to Seattle and had dinner on the water and took our little dinghy out for a ride around lake union. super relaxing :)

This past week I realized that my initial goal of utilizing google sites as a portfolio option, however this poses a risk for data breaches. There is information that most likely should not be shared on this type of platform. So we are pivoting and attempted to get our clinical ladder nurses set up with a company laptop (or other way of remoting in to our server) so they are able to access their documents at home. Time to pivot! It's an essential skill in this line of work.....

We are almost to the homestretch. I decided to do a self-care saturday and do a face mask. I wont share the photo though lol. But it was much needed . I have not been taking care of myself like I should.

I did some relaxing at home along with schoolwork. I played some games with my kids. We cooked as a family. I started nightshift this week so I am already loving being home more during the day. Soon I will be nightshift back to my regularly scheduled program. Lol. I completed all four of my exploring technology assignments. I would like to make a video and then my teaching portfolio will be done. Looking forward to what's next.

We are so close to the end of the quarter! It's both exciting and overwhelming. I am 90% done with my portfolio which feels great!

My next portfolio focus is tidying up, and adding a diversity statement.

I thought I'd try my hand at uploading a video... I hope it worked. Grammy (my mom) is in town to help watch Georgi while I work on finishing up all the homework for this quarter. I'm trying to finish everything for our Capstone class and feeling a bit overwhelmed yet excited to be finishing it all up. It's hard to believe we are almost done! We are so close! Hang in there.

Tonight, I'm having dinner out at the Pink Door with some dear friends, so I'm trying to get some schoolwork done before turning off my brain for 12 hours... or more. Cheers!

This is the Anxiety character from Inside Out 2. This is how I am feeling this week as I had to do my poster for the third time so it was the right sizing. I can see the finish line. I am finishing up my paper at this point and need to record my presentation. Maybe I will do that when the kids are sleeping because otherwise it won't happen lol. I hope you all are doing well. I had the whole weekend off and I chose to pick up shifts. Yay me lol. I am done with my teaching portfolio. I can't believe our next in person class is the last class we will have! That is so exciting. It has been a long journey. The weather change has my allergies all messed up. The cotton or whatever that is floating around is also bothering me. I am looking forward to warm weather and also working out. I have some goals and I have been a bit preoccupied with school and work. I can't wait to be more active with my kiddos.

I'm currently enjoying the long weekend in Las Vegas with my husband, and it's been such a nice little getaway. Hope you all did something fun this weekend too!

I’m also starting to really feel the end of the quarter approaching. It’s bittersweet, there’s a lot to wrap up, but I’m also trying to soak in these last few weeks of school, enjoy the rhythm I’ve built, and make the most of the remaining time with classmates and instructors. I’m feeling both proud of the work I’ve done and motivated to finish strong.

We are getting so close ya'll!! This week has been crammed with schoolwork at every "free" moment. I am very much looking forward to being done. I also can't wait to see everyones projects and posters! Hang in there, we can do this.

Happy Week 9. Two-ish more weeks to go, I think. I am tackling one parcel of schoolwork at a time. My daily yoga is keeping me grounded. Namaste.

The week ahead is about to be intense with a lot of final assignments coming to a quick end as well as competing in my second minor league tournament. Here we go!

A beautiful show for a beautiful day!

I’m still learning a lot, and I'm incredibly grateful for all the experiences in my life right now, especially the support from my family.

📸 This photo is from our weekend outing. We went to our first Seattle Storm game, which was amazing! It was a great reminder to take a break and enjoy life with the most special ones.

Feeling grateful. 🏀✨

I did a lot of work in my other class this last week as I feel pretty good regarding my portfolio/teaching philosophy. I finally feel like I am caught up and can "relax" a little this last 2-ish weeks. Time to finesse my projects and enjoy the sun!

my friends and I spent the afternoon at Golden Gardens. It was one of those perfect Seattle days where the sun stays out just long enough to make you forget all about the rain. The sand was warm beneath our feet, and the view of the mountains in the distance looked like something out of a postcard. We brought snacks, blankets, and a portable speaker, and just spent hours lounging, laughing, and catching up on life. There’s something so grounding about being near the water, it reminds me to slow down and appreciate the moment.

A few of us took turns dipping our toes in the freezing Puget Sound, daring each other to go further in, and screaming dramatically every time a wave splashed up too high. We played a few rounds of beach volleyball, and even though most of us were terrible at it, the laughter made it worth it. As the sun started to set, we all gathered around to watch the sky turn gold and pink, wrapped in our hoodies and sharing stories. It felt like time paused for a bit, like we were all just exactly where we needed to be.

This day reminded me of how important it is to balance hard work with moments of connection and joy. Being surrounded by friends who make me laugh until my stomach hurts, in a setting as beautiful as Golden Gardens, was the reset I didn’t know I needed. I’m learning that wellness isn’t just about going to the gym or eating right, it’s also about giving myself permission to play, to be still, and to be present with the people who fill my cup.

I'm so proud of all of you that are graduating this quarter!!! I'll miss you next year as I finish up. It's been a great 2 years getting to know you all.

After graduation, I’m planning to celebrate with family. We’ve got lots of grad parties and birthdays coming up, and then we’re off to San Diego for some much-needed sun and fun. ☀️🌊

No big career changes on the horizon just yet, but I’ve decided to apply to the DNP – Population Health program next year. Gotta keep the party going... 🎉

We finally made it, friends! Congratulations!! I'm so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to learn alongside such brilliant, fun, caring people! You all are rockstars! I look forward to finishing strong with you all on Monday!

My parents took me on an Alasks cruise when I graduated from undergraduate nursing school. So I am hoping to go on another Alaska cruise this time too! :)

As a University of Washington student, this week has been incredibly emotional, exciting, and honestly a little surreal. After all the late nights, early mornings, exams, papers, and moments of self doubt, I’ve finally made it. I’m officially wrapping up my time at UW and getting ready to walk across the stage with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Pre Med!

This week was filled with big moments. I took my graduation pictures, and seeing myself in that cap and gown brought everything full circle. It felt like a celebration not just of this past year, but of every version of me that worked so hard to get here, especially the younger me who once dreamed of this day but wasn’t sure it would actually happen. I made sure to soak in every moment during the photoshoot, from laughing with friends to holding back tears thinking about how far I’ve come.

Now I’m getting ready for the big day graduation! I’ve picked out my outfit, and even started thinking about what’s next. It’s overwhelming in the best way. I’m proud of my journey especially as a woman of color, daughter of immigrants, and someone who’s carved their own path in both psychology and medicine.

Congrats to those who are officially done and get to move on to the next chapter. I wish I could have walked with you but it has been so much better stepping back and going to part time (except this quarter of course).

I plan to spend as much time with my kids, husband, pup, and sourdough.

Have a great summer all!

I thought this quarter would never end. With life and everything the past 6 months has been a blur. I appreciate you all for supporting me on this journey, especially when I had to move sporadically. I can't thank you enough. I am so thankful to have met you all. It takes a village. You all were a big part of my village. I am finishing up on the last couple assignments , the little things. I will see you all on Monday for the big Shabang! I am a bit worried about standing there for a while and no one engaging. But hey its a requirement lol. I may apply to DNP school. Who knows. I have big plans this summer , there is so much to celebrate! Congratulations!

Have an amazing summer.