Day after day, the student nurse awakens tirelessly to the screech of the alarm clock blaring at 6 AM. The sun is just beginning to peep through the blinds straight into her eyes as she attempts to dominate those last few moments of precious slumber. The kitchen scene contains a bowl of cold cereal with a glass of water, scattered with the lunch supplies needed for the day and perhaps a few crumbs from the rushed study break of a meal the night before.

Tip-toeing through the house to avoid awakening the great Decrosion in the next room, she makes her way through the house. Plugging in the curlers here, pulling out shoes and scrubs there, a quick swipe of a hairbrush through the matted abyss of stringy hairs. Along with the astronomically weighty load that seemingly grows heavier each passing day, she makes her way to the trunk of her vehicle and is out the door before the clock strikes 7:30.

With a cheerful face but dull spirit, she climbs into her carpool to a lively chat with her new comrades that she seems to feel more closely attached to as the moments pass. For the next 30 minutes, life is bliss. Gazing out the window, she observes the rest of the world zoom by.. grassy meadows covered in morning dew, the fresh smell of cut grass in the farmer's yard, and the rolling fields of corn, cotton, and watermelon all entice her to come and share in their peaceful lifestyle. The cows gather toward the fence with nothing more on their minds than when their next feeding is, causing her to wonder what it would be like to see the world through the soft hazy eyes of one of those gentle heifers. With the cheery sunshine spreading over the horizon, she realizes that there is a light at the end of this seemingly eternal tunnel and that there IS in fact an end. In this moment, she gathers all the determination and willpower needed to endure throughout the day.

Upon arrival at the intimidating house of doom, she and her comrades file out of the car in a sudden trance of solemnity. The hour of knowledge absorption has arrived. As the heavy door is dragged open, the drainage of hope begins all over again and it takes all that she has inside to maintain a spirit of positivity while being motioned into the seat that is to be occupied for the next 8 hours. She convinces herself time and again that TODAY she is going to focus. TODAY is the day to learn and retain every tidbit of knowledge thrown her direction, but as the day drags on the summons of facebook and texts from last night become too great of a temptation to bear. Her guilt is diluted by the realization that 85% of the rest of the class has also fallen under the spell of the wonderful haven known as facebook. A world with well thought through responses to every line, pictures describing every event one could ever imagine themselves engaging in, and catchy status updates that seem to portray a very smooth and witty person when in reality it was a line picked up off of the rejection hotline. Many a time has some innocent victim been deceived by the wonders that facebook can do for the image of another individual.

10:45 AM arrives and the room begins the grow frigid with the anticipation of the upcoming lunch break. Tis an exciting part of the day when one is rewarded the pleasure of an hour of complete and total freedom. But alas, the break ends ever so quickly and once again, the class is motioned into another 4 hour long session of knowledge. Deprivation of sleep begins to set in following the entrance of food into the body, and all around the room eyes become lazy and begin to droop. This is time when facebook becomes a noble and respected title and plays a very crucial role in the world of medicine. The hour is finally reached when all meetings are adjourned and we are released from our fetters of education for the rest of the night, and with stiff joints and muscles all slowly shuffle down the flight of steps to their next destination.

The drive home hums a different tune than the morning's song. The apprehension of upcoming assignments haunts her mind as she attempts to stay motivated and remember why she chose this profession. She observes as a young child runs about catching butterflies and swinging from the limbs of trees. As she is immersed in this pleasant scene, she envisions herself as that child.. so carefree and blissful.. what a wonderful life. In that moment, a branch cracks under the weight of the child who is propelled to the ground with such force as to cause a certain injury. She forgets everything except the poor child's cries of anguish and suffering as she knelt at his side with empathy and compassion pouring from her heart as she gently lifted the child into her arms. As she calmed and comforted the sobbing child, a wave of sudden realization hit her. THIS is why. This is why she trudges on with little over 4 hours of sleep per night, a few cents of change in her pocket, and endless hours of studying.

Going home every day knowing you have just as much to do tonight as you did yesterday is never an easy life, but who said this would be easy? I certainly hope God has a special nursing angel assigned to each one of us students that will be there to hold and comfort us every time we fall down.


(L to R) Ashley, me, Whitney, and Brianna


I enjoyed the residents at an assisted living center we visited!


Yes, our project was on constipation. And yes, we chose the topic.


our board was lovely.




Sweet sweet Ashley!

Well... nothing in the world is new with me.. I am the same horribly busy girl I was before.. except now I'm 18, I have a macbook, a new flash for my nikon D-40, an acceptance letter to nursing school, a bathroom scale, a jigger and mixing set, and a place to live this fall.

A few photos I'd like to show you..


My drink supplies.. I love making cocktails.. it is a wonderfully exciting hobby. As you can see my drinks are beautiful.



margaritas!





I went to vicksburg to attend a ball that some of my old friends there were hosting. It was so much fun getting all dressed up.. though we didn't take pictures until the end of the night when I was all nasty!






After leaving Vicksburg, I went and stayed with Decrosion and we went and played putt-putt.. which I did well in.. at first



Ben and Buddy


Papaw and Pat's house. After a scholarship day in Columbus, Mom, Dad, Aaron and I all went to Papaw and Pat's farm and saw the beautiful earth. Aaron was quite thrilled with the cows and cats..






Haha mom was trying to show Papaw how to text.. I thought this was hilarious

Summer school..

Every day I get up to another day of class, hop in the car and admire Ike's grass.

I jam to my mix while studying for my test, and hope that I will pass for doing my best.

All the six o' clockers are headed to work, as I notice at a red light while eating watermelon with a plastic fork.

I speed down the highway and hope I won't have to stop, as I glance about quickly in case of a cop.

I spot a trooper and quickly brake while practicing my wisdom on the respiratory system.

He lets me slide and I hastily respond with toss of my head and a wave implying our new bond.

Finally to the interstate I lay down my fork as I merge with skill and avoid a driving dork.

With special precision I accelerate my speed, and chuckle at a semi as I take the lead.

Once in ellisville I slow my pace, for the policemen there are in no mood for a race.

I check the price of gas and notice the time as I scrounge in my wallet only to find a dime.

I arrive at school to find my classmate, nervous as a doomed chicken observing his fate.

No apprehension appears on my face, for I knew I had studied this test for days.

I walk out proudly in the end with a smirk, and with no time to waste I head to work.

Thus extends the days of my summer, and to some might seem like a bummer.

And though I hardly have a dime in my purse, I'm confident it will all pay off when I'm a nurse.

     My newest little interest.. 

 

I love him bunches. the hen kicked him out of the house however...>:O

K and I were quite triumphant over our success with our muffins..