I like to be a person who looks at all sides of an issue. I wrote a post last time about how it bothers me when girls have children and don't finish their education. Today, I read an article that gives very good arguments why a college education is not necessary.
I do believe college is not for everyone. There are some jobs you need an education to get but it is possible to be successful without a degree. However, as the article points out, this requires a person to be dedicated to self learning, which many people are not. Many need the structure of the classroom; I know because I am one of them. Still, I found the article interesting and wanted to post it here for others to read:
http://www.emptyfist.com/succeed-without-college/
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Baby Fever
Yes, I will be the first to say it; I have a small case of baby fever. I have a few friends who have kids, a couple who are pregnant for the second or more time and a part of me can't help but let myself feel how nice it would be to start a family of my own. Hubby is for sure old enough (36) and I am mature enough and love children enough that I really do want to have them. Now before anyone feels the need to smack me (cough: dad) let me say that I have an even bigger case of common sense. I know how important it is to finish my education so while I may have a small case a baby fever it will remain just that; something to think about, not to be acted upon.
The choice to have a baby is a very personal one. I try my best to be happy for my friends who have children no matter what their age or circumstance but the truth remains that I am a true advocate for planned pregnancy and finishing your education. If people have other plans that is their business but the truth remains that an education is invaluble in the world today and it is foolish for someone to deny themselves one by having children too young. You can make an argument for going back to school but the statistics remain that the majority of mothers do not finish an education interupted by childbirth be it highschool or college. (To be fair planned pregnancies in late college or graduate school cause a lower drop out rate because of a higher chance of a good support system for the mother.)
It is a risk that should not be taken lightly. A good education means a better life for you and your future children. Their are few jobs today that do not require some sort of higher education. Additionally, there are few families who can survive on a single income so chances are both mom and dad will need to have a job. Even if mom chooses to stay at home while the children are young she may want the freedom to be out of the house once the children are all in school full time. A college education opens more doors and makes it more likely for someone to find a job they enjoy instead of one that simply pays the bills. People who are happier at thier jobs are happier at home, it is a simple truth.
The other thing that gets to me is that preventing pregnancy is so easy. Yes, for guys the only option is still the condom but for women there are a lot of options including the pill, patch, depo shot, vaginal ring, mirena implant and the list goes on. Each has its own side effects and ease of use. If someone is dedicated to preventing pregnancy, with the help of a health care provider they can find one that works for them. Insurance is still a problem for some (luckily the new bill is going to change that!!!) but in most places there are free or reduced price clinics; you just have to take the time to find them. Nothing is 100% effective, but when used properly most methods have 99% or higher effective rates. Much higher than no protection at all.
I don't mean to preach or stand on a soap box but sexual health is very important and the resources are there. I worked really hard to get where I am and as much as I want a family, I want to finish my education more so I never regret it. I hope other girls will take the time to consider the same thing. There is plenty of time to have babies but the time to finish your education is while you are young and only have yourself and maybe a boyfriend/husband to support. Just think about it. In the end it is your decision, but make it wisely.
The choice to have a baby is a very personal one. I try my best to be happy for my friends who have children no matter what their age or circumstance but the truth remains that I am a true advocate for planned pregnancy and finishing your education. If people have other plans that is their business but the truth remains that an education is invaluble in the world today and it is foolish for someone to deny themselves one by having children too young. You can make an argument for going back to school but the statistics remain that the majority of mothers do not finish an education interupted by childbirth be it highschool or college. (To be fair planned pregnancies in late college or graduate school cause a lower drop out rate because of a higher chance of a good support system for the mother.)
It is a risk that should not be taken lightly. A good education means a better life for you and your future children. Their are few jobs today that do not require some sort of higher education. Additionally, there are few families who can survive on a single income so chances are both mom and dad will need to have a job. Even if mom chooses to stay at home while the children are young she may want the freedom to be out of the house once the children are all in school full time. A college education opens more doors and makes it more likely for someone to find a job they enjoy instead of one that simply pays the bills. People who are happier at thier jobs are happier at home, it is a simple truth.
The other thing that gets to me is that preventing pregnancy is so easy. Yes, for guys the only option is still the condom but for women there are a lot of options including the pill, patch, depo shot, vaginal ring, mirena implant and the list goes on. Each has its own side effects and ease of use. If someone is dedicated to preventing pregnancy, with the help of a health care provider they can find one that works for them. Insurance is still a problem for some (luckily the new bill is going to change that!!!) but in most places there are free or reduced price clinics; you just have to take the time to find them. Nothing is 100% effective, but when used properly most methods have 99% or higher effective rates. Much higher than no protection at all.
I don't mean to preach or stand on a soap box but sexual health is very important and the resources are there. I worked really hard to get where I am and as much as I want a family, I want to finish my education more so I never regret it. I hope other girls will take the time to consider the same thing. There is plenty of time to have babies but the time to finish your education is while you are young and only have yourself and maybe a boyfriend/husband to support. Just think about it. In the end it is your decision, but make it wisely.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Summer Plans
Short post but my summer plans are mostly final and I forgot to post it here!
I was accepted to two local externships. One at Oakwood Hospital and one at St. John's Medical Center. So, I will be going to Haiti for three weeks to see my dad (May 15-June 6), then I will do my Oakwood externship in Family Medicine the last three weeks in June.
The first week in July is my week off from everything.
The last three weeks of July I will be at St. John's. I don't know which specialties I will be shadowing yet but I will do a different one every week.
M2 year will start July 30, 2012. Going to be a great (but busy) summer!!
I was accepted to two local externships. One at Oakwood Hospital and one at St. John's Medical Center. So, I will be going to Haiti for three weeks to see my dad (May 15-June 6), then I will do my Oakwood externship in Family Medicine the last three weeks in June.
The first week in July is my week off from everything.
The last three weeks of July I will be at St. John's. I don't know which specialties I will be shadowing yet but I will do a different one every week.
M2 year will start July 30, 2012. Going to be a great (but busy) summer!!
Hurt
I think it is kind of rude when people say they are sorry first and then do something anyway but unfortunately I am going to be one of those people today. There is a chance this post will offend some people and for that I am sorry, but I need to get some things of my chest.
I am aware that everything posted on the internet is painfully permanent so I will refrain from airing any specific dirty laundry. I'll just say that my dad and step mom got divorced. They fought a lot and couldn't work it out. The details and no one's business but their own. However, I ended up caught in the middle and I hate it.
I don't want to take sides. Both parties were wrong about different things they did; it is the same with almost any break-up. Just because my step mom isn't my "real" mom doesn't mean that is doesn't feel like I am choosing between my parents. My dad and her married when I was in middle school. That means I lived with her and her kids half of the time for almost all of my teenage years. The years where you fight with almost everyone but also the years where you mature and grow up. I didn't always get along with my step mom and step siblings but they were my family.
When my mom and dad got divorced it had no effect on how their families felt about me and my brothers. I now had two families instead of one who did not blend with each other except at school events and baptisms. I think many children of divorced parents have the same experience.
The same has not been true with this divorce. I try to believe that my step mom's family still cares about me but the truth remains that things are just different now. I get that they don't like my dad but I feel like these feelings have awkwardly extended to me. I feel as if all that made me their family was that piece of paper between my dad and step mom and now that it is gone we don't know how to act around each other. No blood ties us so what should we do? I don't mean to imply total guilt anywhere it is just hard to explain how it feels. I was out of the house when this divorce started. It was finalized after I was already married and started a life on my own. It shouldn't effect me so much, but it does.
It does because this is my family. We came together in an awkward way (what are blended families but awkward anyway), but we made it work. I formed true relationships with my step family and now they are strained. Some still talk to me once on a while and some don't talk to me at all. I don't know the solution. I don't even know what I want from writing this.
I guess I just want an outlet and for all my family to know (mom's side, dad's side, step mom's side): I do love you. I want to have good relationships with all my family members. It is complicated right now but I hope it gets easier.
I am aware that everything posted on the internet is painfully permanent so I will refrain from airing any specific dirty laundry. I'll just say that my dad and step mom got divorced. They fought a lot and couldn't work it out. The details and no one's business but their own. However, I ended up caught in the middle and I hate it.
I don't want to take sides. Both parties were wrong about different things they did; it is the same with almost any break-up. Just because my step mom isn't my "real" mom doesn't mean that is doesn't feel like I am choosing between my parents. My dad and her married when I was in middle school. That means I lived with her and her kids half of the time for almost all of my teenage years. The years where you fight with almost everyone but also the years where you mature and grow up. I didn't always get along with my step mom and step siblings but they were my family.
When my mom and dad got divorced it had no effect on how their families felt about me and my brothers. I now had two families instead of one who did not blend with each other except at school events and baptisms. I think many children of divorced parents have the same experience.
The same has not been true with this divorce. I try to believe that my step mom's family still cares about me but the truth remains that things are just different now. I get that they don't like my dad but I feel like these feelings have awkwardly extended to me. I feel as if all that made me their family was that piece of paper between my dad and step mom and now that it is gone we don't know how to act around each other. No blood ties us so what should we do? I don't mean to imply total guilt anywhere it is just hard to explain how it feels. I was out of the house when this divorce started. It was finalized after I was already married and started a life on my own. It shouldn't effect me so much, but it does.
It does because this is my family. We came together in an awkward way (what are blended families but awkward anyway), but we made it work. I formed true relationships with my step family and now they are strained. Some still talk to me once on a while and some don't talk to me at all. I don't know the solution. I don't even know what I want from writing this.
I guess I just want an outlet and for all my family to know (mom's side, dad's side, step mom's side): I do love you. I want to have good relationships with all my family members. It is complicated right now but I hope it gets easier.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Spring Break was great :)
Sorry for being missing in action for a while! I had my spring break and took full advantage of it by doing a lot of sleeping in and seeing friends.
The first couple days of break I spent with just hubby and I. We watch movies at home and cuddled on the couch. It was really nice. We almost never have time for that sort of thing anymore. Then, I spent a few days in my home town visiting family and friends there. I went to a bonfire with friends, played cards with my aunt, uncle and grandma and even spent a night at work with my mom (she does home health care). Then, I rode a bus to the other side of the state to stay with a friend who lives near Holland, MI for five days. The weather was horrible so we only got to drive by the beach while I was there but we had an amazing time catching up. This friend has been a true friend to me for many years but I don't get to see her much since she lives on the other side of the state. She is married as well but luckily their apartment has a guest bedroom so it wasn't a bother for me to stay. We spent our time thrift store shopping, watching movies, sleeping in and just hanging out. I had a blast. I was sad to leave but ready to go home to hubby and my animals when all was said and done.
Now it is back to school! I have less than two months left and I will be done with my M1 year!! Right now my classes are neuroscience and nutrition. In early April nutrition is over and genetics starts. (I am also taking clinical medicine which spans the whole school year). I am really excited about neuroscience. For some reason I love learning about the brain so that makes it a great way to end the school year. I find out today if I am accepted into any local externships for the summer. If I am I will be shadowing at local hospitals anywhere from 3-8 weeks of my summer and then hopefully saving some money to spend 2 weeks or so with my dad in Haiti. If I don't get offered any local opportunities I am hoping for a grant that would allow me to be in Haiti for 10 weeks. Hubby would be sad for me to be gone that long but agreed it would be alright if none of the local externships offered me a spot.
Alright, that is my update for now. Check back for some more interesting posts later ;)
The first couple days of break I spent with just hubby and I. We watch movies at home and cuddled on the couch. It was really nice. We almost never have time for that sort of thing anymore. Then, I spent a few days in my home town visiting family and friends there. I went to a bonfire with friends, played cards with my aunt, uncle and grandma and even spent a night at work with my mom (she does home health care). Then, I rode a bus to the other side of the state to stay with a friend who lives near Holland, MI for five days. The weather was horrible so we only got to drive by the beach while I was there but we had an amazing time catching up. This friend has been a true friend to me for many years but I don't get to see her much since she lives on the other side of the state. She is married as well but luckily their apartment has a guest bedroom so it wasn't a bother for me to stay. We spent our time thrift store shopping, watching movies, sleeping in and just hanging out. I had a blast. I was sad to leave but ready to go home to hubby and my animals when all was said and done.
Now it is back to school! I have less than two months left and I will be done with my M1 year!! Right now my classes are neuroscience and nutrition. In early April nutrition is over and genetics starts. (I am also taking clinical medicine which spans the whole school year). I am really excited about neuroscience. For some reason I love learning about the brain so that makes it a great way to end the school year. I find out today if I am accepted into any local externships for the summer. If I am I will be shadowing at local hospitals anywhere from 3-8 weeks of my summer and then hopefully saving some money to spend 2 weeks or so with my dad in Haiti. If I don't get offered any local opportunities I am hoping for a grant that would allow me to be in Haiti for 10 weeks. Hubby would be sad for me to be gone that long but agreed it would be alright if none of the local externships offered me a spot.
Alright, that is my update for now. Check back for some more interesting posts later ;)
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