Soooo this week started out like any other week, except for the fact that I would be attending the Coachella Music Festival that weekend, something I had been waiting for since literally junior year. Maddie and I, or rather our parents as a Christmas/graduation gift, had gotten us tickets to weekend 1, pre-sale. This meant we weren't frantically clicking reload, praying we didn't lose internet connection, or having a mild panic attack, the day the actual tickets came out, like a few of our other friends. Coachella was absolutely amazing. For three days I was in heaven, a whole separate world. Usually when people describe an amazing event or part of their life, they say how it goes by in the blink of an eye. Coachella did not. Three days was the perfect amount, and I came back feeling like I had been gone for months. I felt more knowledgable and experienced, and even enlightened. It wasn't because I saw any life-changing or jaw-dropping things, but the connections and friendships I made were incredible. Everyone looked out for each other, and Maddie and I became even closer. Coachella was another thing that connected us, and connected us to so many other people. After the third day, I was absolutely dead, and while I wouldn't describe it as ready to come home, I was looking forward to getting more than a few hours of sleep and partaking in some day-to-day activities. I just realized while typing this that Coachella and OPI affected me in somewhat similar ways. I would never have seen the connection, as they are completely different, but both hold very special places in my heart because of the power they shared to bring people closer together.
Now back to my third space, and my dilemma, telling them about the cat. I walked in sheepishly and exchanged some "hello"'s and "how are you"'s and then cut to the chase. I quietly confessed, just loud enough for them to hear. I still remember the exact words I used: "sooo, I have some bad news.. the cat escaped.." I explained my story and everyone was very understanding and actually felt bad for me! Everyone but Dr. Hagler. I had talked to Madi before going to the vet, and we kind of planned what I would say, and their reactions. We both predicted Dr. Hagler would give me the cold shoulder, and he did just that. For about an half an hour Dr. Hagler did not say a word to me. Maybe it was because he was busy, but still, I was worried and felt very awkward. Kim helped by telling me the cat would come back, and asking me about lacrosse and things like that, and I asked Edward a few questions about Santa Cruz, and shared some new knowledge. At the vet they call Santa Cruz "UC Summer Camp" because UCSC, while at Santa Cruz I learned perhaps an even more fitting nick name: "UC Sexy Calves" because of all the walking. After a while Dr. Hagler started talking again, and he was even nicer than before. That same day I got to fill up syringes with vitamin B12 for someone to give to their dog. Prior to this I had been doing very little, and nothing that posed any danger. This time I was using needles and doing some actual sciencey stuff!! I loved it! The Thursday before I left for Coachella I met with Mr. Fitz, my mentor. In the past we have talked about religion and bigger themes, and go off on, what some would call, tangents. every time, however, these are vital to my wise experience. More importantly, when I meet with Mr. Fitz, I feel like he challenges me to look within myself. A couple of weeks ago while talking about religion, Mr. Fitz asked me why I talk about it so much if its something I claim to dislike, and asked if maybe I wanted to believe. This is something I have thought about at various keystone moments of my life, in Honors English, over summer while in italy surrounded by religion, my favorite book is actually heavily influenced by the religion. This Thursday he asked me what I have learned about myself. Fitz always has the best, but the hardest questions! I didn't know how to answer for a while, I answered very narrowly, focusing only on what I had learned about the career I wanted to pursue. I said that I wanted to do something engaging, something new (not routine, same thing day-after-day stuff, that I see at the vet), and something meaningful. I am very thankful to have such a skilled and invested mentor, and am incredibly incredibly lucky to have Mr. Fitz as my mentor. Goals and reflection: During the week I had been feeling a lot closer with the vet, and more like a family, but typing this now and talking about the Santa Cruz jokes, I really feel like a part of the vet. I honestly don't know if I could be in a better spot with the people at the vet than I am right now. They trust me, they bring me into their consulting rooms, and every week they give me more opportunities. This summer I want to come, even just once a week, and help out and shadow surgeries, and just do small things to repay them for the opportunity they allowed me to have. Obviously, moving forward, I would love to have even more responsibilities, but I would say that I am at a pretty good place with my third space. And now a Coachella picture, or three :)
1 Comment
Mr. Poling
4/26/2015 01:49:29 am
Like Mr. Fitz, I think you can push your self to reflect more deeply. Your realization that OPI and Coachella were both important events this semester deserves reflection. Why do you think this is true? Was it the people, the place, the events? Is there a connection to how you feel at the vet hospital or even your first impressions at UCSC? Think about these questions and push yourself to address them. Meanwhile-- I'd like to hear more details about the "sciency stuff" at your 3rd space.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMy name is Emily Burch. I am a student in the WISE program at Miramonte. This is my WISE journey (I think that's a good word for it). Archives
May 2015
Categories |