Winds that Whirl and Change

Time is going by so fast. It's difficult sometimes to keep up with everything going on.  But I'll try and start from the beginning of where I left off. 

The last time I blogged was in the midst of Summer Springboard this summer working for Orientation.  Now I've wrapped up 1787 August Orientation and completed my first week of nursing school.

Deep breath in.  Depp breath out.  

Looking back on this summer, it's been a whirlwind.  But in the most beautiful way.  A huge gust of change swept through my life and I will never be the same because of it.

 Working for Orientation challenged me in ways I never thought possible.  It taught me things I didn't even know about myself.  It totally threw me out of my comfort zone, and I loved it.  

 Working for 1787 August Orientation was possibly one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences I've had yet.  It was definitely a challenge being in a supervisor role.  I have a whole new respect for my leaders and a small insight into their every day.  I have no idea how they do it.  Luckily I was blessed with the most incredible group of people that love to serve first years.  They make my heart so happy, I love them so incredibly much.  Their energy, positivity and encouragement helped me keep my sanity.  
FROGs rule fo sho. 

I'm not sure what I really feel about my time with Orientation being over.  Maybe I'm still processing it.  Maybe I'm just too tired to feel anything yet.  All I know is that I'm blessed beyond belief.  Blessed for the opportunities JMU has given me.  Blessed for the incredible people I've met so far.  Blessed for widening my horizons.  And blessed for having something that makes saying goodbye hard.  

After going on about 20 hours of sleep during one week I immediately jumped into nursing school this past week.  Can I say...my butt got majorly kicked.  And if you've talked to me in the past week I would probably be complaining about everything I have to do and how I probably won't have a social life this semester.  But then I catch myself at moments like today.  

Today we had nursing boot camp.  Yes, boot camp.  I learned how to give a sponge bath, make beds, feed patients, brush their teeth, dress patients and make assessments.  And I love it.  As menial as it sounds, I love it.  We as fellow nursing students had to do these things to each other to practice for when we do them on patients.  Things get very intimate very fast with nursing majors.  We see a lot of things.  But we build relationships as well.  With each other.  With the patients.  And I can't wait to work with patients and do things for them that improve their quality of life, which could be a sponge bath or a nicely made bed.  They deserve that.  And I can't wait to hopefully make their lives better, even in small ways.

  
Nursing isn't going to be easy.  It's going to be tough as hell, I already know that.  But I just need to remember why I'm doing this.  I'm doing this for the patients.  For the relationships.  For making lives better.  For caring, compassion and love.  Empathy is everything.  

Here's to the nights I won't get enough sleep.  The days that need an extra cup of coffee (or three).  The tears. The laughs. The hard work. The friends. And everything that is to come this semester.  
 
And I think this song directly applies to the picture above.
Sexy and I Know It

:D