Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Two Things

So as most of you know, if you are ever with me, the two things that I have been complaining about the whole semester... my internship and online class. The last and final two things in my way before I graduate from BYU in April.

I really have had it pretty easy this semester; going to my internship and working on my online class. Everyone, especially my sister, dies about how much I complain about my only two things. But you must know why I dislike these two things SO much.

1. I guess I can see that the end is in sight and I must have SEVER senioritis

2. My internship is in all the way in Salt Lake. I drive there during rush hour at 7 and drive home at rush hour at 5. Yuck. (12 hour days)

3. I am in the Epidemiology Bureau, Department of Communicable Diseases and Prevention Program at the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) for my internship.

4. #3 is significant because in this bureau I work with HIV/AIDS, STDs, Hepatitis C, and sometimes TB stuff. Yeah, most of you would think that sounds really cool, which some of it really is, but I just do not want to work with this stuff longer than my internship. I have to go counsel and test usually gay men, prostitutes, drug users, or anyone else at risk, for HIV. Not that any of these people are bad at all, I have made some great friends there, and it is actually fun, but just totally out of my element. In this counseling session we talk about all the super fun things in life about how to prevent getting HIV. If you know anything about how these diseases are spread then you may know just a slight amount of what we talk about with these people. We have to be extremely graphic and straight forward. If you would like to know more about these graphic things that we talk to them about, email me. So if you know me at all... this whole thing is just kinda completely out of my element. It is gross, scary, and makes me totally nervous. Not to mention I had to get trained to give positive results to someone who tests positive for HIV. Um no thanks. I would rather not give these life changing results, find all of their partners, etc. when I dont even like talking about the prevention. HIV prevention really is a GREAT thing. You should get tested:)

4. Half the time at the health dept. I sit there super bored acting like I am doing lots of stuff for 10 hours (luckily I can work on my dreaded online class)

5. I am working on calling every substance abuse center in the whole state for a survey we are doing for Hep C. There are hundreds

6. My online class (English 316) has to be done by April 2. Final taken and everything. I started it January 11. Stupidest thing I have ever done. NEVER take online classes.

7. I have to get all the assignments for my online class done before I can request the final. Which takes 2 weeks until you can take it. So this means by next week, everything has to be completed and turned in.

8. I hate this online class a million times more than my internship. It is the only online class I have ever taken in my life.

9. Internship notebook, final papers, projects all have to be turned in April 13! Didn't know this until the middle of the semester so recently I have been going to salt lake to sit there for 30 hours a week to get it done.

10. Due to the fact that I have weird deadlines for both things, I look at the calender EVERY DAY, probably 20 times a day. I calculate my hours I need done for each day, everyday. Like it changes?

11. Finally, my semester isn't really that bad... I just am so close, about 3 1/2 weeks. Then we can play, go to AZ all we want, and go on fun vacations. Hooray for spring time!! Our tulips are coming up everywhere!! I love them.

12. I can't wait for everyone to come up to Utah for graduation in April!!! Only a few more weeks! Yay!

On a happy note. I had an amazing birthday!! Thank you everyone for all of your nicest happy birthday's and fun presents. I loved them all. It was seriously like christmas. So many presents and they still keep coming. Our car is also finally back and fixed and I love it so much. Don't ask how much it cost... And Ryan rocks.

Love Lauren

6 comments:

Lyd said...

I laughed in places I probably shouldn't have. Ooops. I just couldn't help it. Keep it up girl! You're almost there! Stay positive! Love ya and can't wait to see you in a "couple few" weeks! :D

Brady and Brittany said...

Laur you are funny!! I look at a calendar every day too...just to see how many more days are left. My senioritis is just as bad! I almost feel bad but I am not teachable anymore haha

Stephanie said...

Lauren! I am excited for you that you are so close to being done! That internship certainly sounds...interesting. Maybe you should talk to Dr. Cole about it...he would think you are doing the most important job in the entire world!

By the way, I totally agree with you on online classes...the worst thing in the world! At least for me.

Lets get together sometime! Get your mind off the two dreaded things!

Bree :--) said...

HAHA. I CANNOT wait for you to be done and come play. Seriously. No more stress for awhile after that. Horray!! Fixed cars are awesome, paying to fix cars sucks!! Big time! Also, I smiled real big when I saw you're wearing the belt I gave you for Christmas. At least I think that's the same one. ha. I seriously was nervous giving it to you because I didn't think you'd wear it! YAY;). GOOD LUCK!!

Ryan & Lauren Nelson said...

Stephanie: Ha ha Dr. Cole would seriously love all of the things we do in this department. I remember when you did your ageing process class online class too... So annoying!! And yes we do need to do something sometime!! I just had lunch with Heather up here at the health department last week. It was fun. We all need to catch up.

Bree: I totally wear the belt you gave me all the time!! I love it! Goes with lots of things.

Alli Easley said...

You are so dang cute! I was talking to Sue the other day and totally realized that we have met like...two times ever? What the eff is THAT?