My Summer

Hello Housemates,

 I hope that all of you are doing wonderfully. Well, I got to start my summer plans in April because I finished therapy in March! (which was fantastic.) From April-May, I took a c.n.a class at Wake Tech. I signed up for this class for two reasons. 1) I want to be a PA one day, (and I need patient-contact hours in order to do that) and 2) It is a great way to ease back into school.

 The class went really well and I met a lot of interesting people. I was actually one of the youngest in the class. Going in, I knew that it would be a challenge. When I started, my energy level was still low. I had trouble concentrating during lectures. But, I made it through and even survived the lab portion (we had to learn 69 skills!!!) Our instructor was quite a character as well. He was a military nurse and ran the course like we were in the Marine Corps! Some days, I literally felt like it was survival of the fittest!! We started off with 21 students. By the end of the course, there were only ten left! 

 Anyway, I’ve been spending a lot of my time studying for the state exam! I take it on June 11^th. Thankfully, I’ll still be able to use the labs before the state test (to practice the skills). Also, I’m feeling pretty good because at my last UNC appointment, I asked about NA positions on the rehab floor. My doctor said she would contact the nurse manager. I may get to work there next summer….*fingers crossed*

 I’ve also been cashiering at Food Lion: D. I worked there last summer, so I know most of the employees. The store isn’t overwhelming at all and has a friendly atmosphere. My original plan (before my accident) was to study abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Seeing my friends post pictures of Spain on facebook kind of bums me out, but I know I’ll definitely get to go abroad some other time.

 I’ve been spending time catching up with friends around town as well. One of my best friends is a swim coach for our old swim team, so I definitely plan on watching some of the meets! There’s also quite a big group of Wesleyans that live in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, so it’s been nice to see them too!!

 Next up: I’m doing summer session 2 at UNC! I’m very excited about spending M-F on the hill. Also, Caroline will be returning from Sweden pretty soon and should be back on the hill around July! I’m really excited to see her again. J

 Lastly, tomorrow is a big and exciting day!!! I will have an updated MRI of my brain. After that, I will talk to my PA and neurosurgeon about my progress. My surgeon will also show me the scans of my new brain. I am very excited to compare the before and after images. J

 BWhousemateL,

Courtney

Summer at the Hill :)

So, as some of you may know, I am taking a few classes here on campus over the summer. That is about all that is going on in my life so far this summer. I haven't done anything very interesting or exciting yet. Campus life is very different than when all of the other students are here during the regular school semesters. It is a lot quieter and a lot less people. The pit is still a good hang out place as well as the Union. However, the amount of people in each is very slim compared to when it is a regular semester. It's a bit shocking. I walked into the Union one day and there were literally on about 15 people total that I could see. It looked so empty. I don't mind the change though. I'm getting used to it. Living here at Wesley thus far has been great though and I can't wait until all of us are here together because I know that we will make a great living community/family :)

Oh, one thing that was interesting/weird...Karen and I were walking on the upper, upper quad near Graham Memorial one evening on our way to dinner and there was a group of people playing some game kind of like quidditch, but not that game exactly. They asked us to join and we kindly kept walking and said maybe another time...lol. At the same time, there was a woman who was walking as well and she was calling out back to the birds that were singing/chirping/calling out. It was quite an interesting encounter that night with the middle aged people playing with brooms, sticks, and padded things to the woman calling out loudly as if she were a bird herself...