As per Sandy's request, an update:




I am still unemployed.




Ta-da!

Hello, unemployment.

Recent Events:

1) I have my Bachelor's in Science in History from Caltech. :) It sure felt good to walk across that stage and receive my diploma... though that may've been the first time I've ever shaken hands with Baltimore.
2) I have no job - Paramount Academy in Alhambra turned out to be not so great. Gonna check out Trader Joe's and Borders today.
3) I'm living in a great apartment with 5 friends for the next two months.
4) I miss my family. And my dog.
5) I miss living in Blacker around my other friends.
6) I miss the folks who moved across country... or farther. :(
7) At least I'm still seeing Sandy, Abby, Lucie et al. fairly regularly, dropping by the house to chill. It's fun.

I'm now a Caltech graduate/alumna! :)

I have to admit, it's a really good feeling. I just wish I didn't have to move too!

I just finished my 42 page thesis and sent it in to my advisor.
That was the last obstacle between me and graduation.

Now, I find myself asking, "Was that it? Is that all?"

I just feel like there should be something else more memorable. I guess graduation acts as the ritual of passage, to give some closure. Still, it's very hard to realize that I have 5 days here with friends, and then everyone scatters to the four winds. I have no idea if I'll see many of these people again. I think back to the time I had, and wish that I could've spent more time with all of them. (But then, of course, I would have flamed.) Did I enjoy most of my free time here? Absolutely. I just wish I could've been two to three places at once, and gotten to know many more people.

It's funny - I thought I'd be jubilant when I finally finished with this place, but it's ending not with a bang, but a whimper.

Wow, what a week.

1) Finally have a job! I interviewed at Paramount Academy in Alhambra Friday night, and the secretary signed me up to teach classes of 10-15 of English (4/5 grade), Math (4/5 grade), and composite Science (1-5) from 9-6 Monday through Thursday. I'll also be doing a fair bit of tutoring on the side during weekdays and Saturdays - although I admit to being very apprehensive at first, this place seems very legit and happy. Already today I had my first student, a 9th grader who needed help in Algebra. It was so nice to explain something and hear someone say, "Oh, NOW I get it!" :) That's certainly something I haven't heard in a long time. In any case, she really seemed to like me, and I'll be working with her for 4 hours every Saturday in English/Writing, World History, Geometry and 1 other topic I can't remember. Hello, 60$/Sat. Every little bit helps...

2) Speaking of little bits, I'm still considering doing stuff in my spare time for fun and/or profit. I'd like to keep painting and sewing, and those are easily things I could do in the evenings at home or in Blacker library. Selling things like that on eBay (or possibly through a gaming store here?) might be worth a try. And if it doesn't pan out, well, no harm done, and I can still pay the rent. :)

3) Began moving stuff into our new apartment on Orange Grove today. It's really nice, though getting large things up the stairs is a little tricky. Still need to move in the couch, and I should probably move my Ikea chair and lamp over in the next few days. Gosh, I really should pack up all my books - it'll take forever to do that - but I don't like the idea of living somewhere without making it feel like home. :/ The minute I take the books out of the bookshelves and the posters off my walls, 8 will feel empty and lifeless. All the same, I don't want to have mom and dad helping me move in - dad's back isn't doing so great, and I want them to be enjoying their time here instead of acting as free labor. :)

4) Trying to cope with the reality of upcoming graduation. I think that's part of why I've been so on edge: my stomach's been in knots recently, and finding a job was only part of it. I need to learn to stop worrying over the future.