My Application Essay for the School Counseling Program

*****Okay guys, I really need your help on this.  I have to write an essay in order to be formally admitted to the program.  The instructions are as follows:

“The Professional Counseling faculty is particularly interested in knowing why you want to become a school counselor.  In addition, given that it is important for students in a helping profession to be open to self-examination and personal and professional self-development, provide examples of how you have successfully engaged in these activities in the past and/or how you would accomplish these things in the future should you be admitted into the program. 

 Please provide in the space below a double-spaced, typed essay (600 words or less) discussing significant milestones and events in your life which have led you to the decision to become a mental health counselor or school counselor.  In addition,provide information regarding your openness to self-examination and personal and professional self-development. “

Some things to keep in mind:
Although I haven’t officially been admitted to the program, I have already started taking classes.  I do have a relationship with the head of the department - she was my professor for the class I’ve already and taken and seems to like me.  Also, I’m not too stressed about being admitted, but I do want to write a good essay.  Make sense?

I welcome any and all feedback!  As it stands, my essay is currently over 800 words, so… needless to say, it needs to be cut.  Please let me know what you think should be taken out, added, or kept the same.  I really need some fresh pairs of eyes to look at this, because I think if I read it one more time I’m going to go crazy!!  Okay, so here it is… please be gentle but firm!  

Kisses and candy,
Angela 

 

 

As I sat in my living room one Tuesday night, lamenting over my unhappiness with my job in retail management (“Angela Garner – Manager, Starbucks Coffee Company” just didn’t sound right), I said aloud to my husband, “I need someone to help me figure out what to do.  Someone to guide me on the path of finding out who I am.  Someone to help me see my options.” 

A moment of silence passed. 

Then, click.  The puzzle piece fell into place.  That was it.  That person that I so desperately needed was the same person I desired to be for others.  Helping others had always been my calling, my gift, but it wasn’t until this moment that I realized it was what I wanted to do professionally and for the rest of my life.

I began to brainstorm about the specifics.  What were other times in my life that I felt like I needed guidance?  The examples quickly piled up, and the majority of them pointed to my time in school.  Although I have no regrets about my past (for my past has made me who I am today), I couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different had I been shown the way while I was still in junior high and high school.  It wasn’t that I needed someone to tell me what to do, but it would’ve helped to have been shown a few different options and been guided to ask myself some probing questions about what I wanted out of life.

Another time in my life that I kept coming back to was the year after the death of my father.  I had just graduated college and was on the verge of becoming an independent woman in the “real world.”  When my dad was suddenly ripped out of that picture, I discovered I didn’t know who I was anymore.  I tried grief counseling, but gave up on it too soon (I realize that now).

“Should I be a school counselor?” I thought.  “Or maybe a grief counselor?  Oooh, I know!  A marriage counselor!”  At first, the possibilities were overwhelming.  As I began to research counseling programs online, I quickly realized that I needed to choose a specialty.  In a way, I needed to discipline myself out of my sometimes faulty ambiguity. 

I felt I was at a crossroads and took some time to think.  The prospect of going back to school made me nervous!  I had been a graduate student once before, just after getting my Bachelor’s degree in 2003.  I went into the 5^th year Masters program in Secondary Education at the same University, mostly because I wasn’t sure what else to do with a Communications degree.  It was during my first semester there that my father died, and though I finished the semester with a nearly perfect GPA, I didn’t go back because something about it just didn’t feel right.

As I reflected on my time in graduate school, I tried to piece out what exactly it was that did feel right.  I loved being in the school.  I loved pulling into the parking lot 2 days a week and walking into the building.  I loved being around the students.  I loved getting to know them personally and forming relationships with them.  I loved education as a subject, but… something was missing.  I just didn’t enjoy leading 30+ students in the classroom day after day.

That was it!  I’d narrowed it down, and once I did, the idea of becoming a school counselor began to take form in my head.  I’d still get to go to the school every day, get to know the students, and form those relationships – it was perfect.  I began to think about all the things I’d be able to help them with that I wish someone would’ve helped me with long ago.

So here I am today, more sure than ever that being a school counselor is where I belong.  To me, counseling isn’t only about telling someone where they should go to school, who they should be when they grow up, or how to survive a bully in their classroom.  It’s about guiding them down the path of self-discovery, and gently showing them how to find out who they are on their own and how to handle those situations.

I don’t always have to be in the driver’s seat.  In fact, I am always open to the guidance of others in the journey of my own self-discovery.  I enjoy learning about myself from the people around me, even when it means listening to things I don’t necessarily want to hear at the time.  I know that it helps me to stay objective and learn from my own experiences.  I will always be on my own journey of self-development.

I want to make a difference, to use my gifts and intuitions where they can help.  “Angela Garner – School Counselor.”  Now that has a ring to it.

It’s Alive!

Ryan is gone for the weekend.  We had a fight and he picked up and went to his momma’s.  Just kiddin.  He went home to watch a horse race with his dad and I had to work.  

Anyway, the living room is making funny noises.  And I’m not even in there.  I have a sneaky suspicion it only makes those noises when I’m home alone.  It makes this cracking noise.

And I think I hear it giggle afterwards.

In Case You Haven’t Heard

Okay, I’m back.  It’s me, Angela.  And I’m not talking about LOST.

I am quitting my current job and going back to school full-time.  Well, as “full-time” as possible while still being able to hold down some sort of income-producing position at who-knows-where.  I’m pretty excited about it!  

Can you see me as a school counselor?  I hope so, because I just may be the one telling your kids where they should go to college someday.  You never know.

It feels good to have finally made the decision and be moving forward.  I’ve got 2 weeks left at work, then a small break, then a family vacation, then another small break, and then I start my first class.  Class!  Weird!  I’m a little nervous.  Not about the actual studying and writing and all that, but more about the simple logistics.  Like… where do I park?   How do I find that out?  It’s not like there’s a graduate student orientation.  How do I know if there is a book for this class and if I need it?  Do I figure that out before the first class or wait till the first day?  Do I bring a notebook or a binder or a folder or both?  I don’t know!  How did I know all this stuff when I was in college?  I was so smart!  I took it all for granted and look where I am now!

(Sorry for the overuse of exclamation points.  I just want you to feel my anxiety.  Has it worked?)

Anyway.  I’m a little nervous… okay, a LOT nervous, but mostly excited.  

I’ll keep you updated on the adventures.  I have a feeling there will be MANY.

Hey, maybe I’ll even take a picture of myself on my first day of school and show it to you.  Awwww.

Which makes me wonder… should I get a new backpack?????

LOST, a Primer: Volume II

Ryan is Writing:

Due to the popularity of my first posting I have decided on an early release date for this: volume II. 

Tier II: Philosophy/Theoretical Sciences/Political Philosophy

LOST masterfully crafts its stories through the aforementioned approach to characters/settings/etc. but this sort of narratival skeleton requires flesh for the purpose of LOST to have proper impact.As mentioned in the previous post, LOST’s usage of literary techniques are intending to forward major themes. Yet, this target  unified theme can remain somewhat elusive and mysterious on purpose. To publicly declare the purpose of the show would short-circuit the investigative act of watching the episode and conversing with peers about its intent and value.

To be more clear, the producers (like many literary icons) disguise the overall theme in hopes that the mystery about the wrok’s purpose will prompt perpetual interest and consideration. LOST, like others, will work within many sub-themes as a means to “flesh out” the largest thematic concerns of the show. If we were to examine Lord of the Rings we may notice a large theme of Good/Evil being worked out amongst many smaller themes such as industry/agriculture or technology/tradition.In LOST,  circling within its interplay of characters/scenes/large theme is a strong affection by the writing team for various academic theories on physical reality, social stratifications, and the meaning of human action.

Lets look quickly at the three categories mentioned in the title of this tier and then privately measure their ability to construct and sustain the larger narratival concerns of LOST.

1. Philosophy–It is no secret by now that many of the characters are named for philosophers (locke, rousseau, etc.) but it remains to be seen by some viewers just “how” these philosophies mingle with the LOST narrative. Desmond is named for David Hume, the scottish philosopher who called into question or ability to interpret reality as it exists before us. Hume questioned traditional categories of thought like “causality” that provoked a radical skepticism about expectations. for Hume, nothing could be determined, not even our simple categories of cause/effect. This is blatantly portrayed in the characters concern over how they may shape or misguide the future.

2. Political Philosophy–These questions hover around how social entities interact and form. Te ideas of what constitutes power (charisma? coordinated effort? Hierarchy? Religious support?) are all stitched in the conflict between the three corporate bodies of the Island: Survivors/others/freighter folk.

3. Theoretical Physics–This has emerged as one of the main catalysts to the show’s intent and purpose. To prevent disorientation in a world of scientific verbage let me just suggest the following: All of LOST’s allusions to theoretical physics concern the space-time continuum popular in post-einsteinian physics. The considerations that have been fruit of the types of physics are: can we be in more places than once? can we affect space by affecting time? can we move throughout time like we can space? these questions are entrenched in the shows concern about where/when the island is, and where/when the characters will be in the future. These scientific questions project back onto the philosophical concerns about how the future will be shaped.

LOST, A Primer: volume 1

Ryan is writing:

It is likely that NO one will comment on any of my postings let alone spend the time reading them. I am becoming settled on this matter and have redirected my intentions for posting. formerly, I sought publication in hopes of admiration and prolific status, but now i seek to simply honor the titular “US”, while expunging my obsessions.

Due to the upcoming LOST finale i wanted to give a quick primer to those viewers, like my wife, who find themselves- interested in the show/perplexed/and often disinterested in its conundrums. the following is a quick review of LOST’s various tiers of meaning in hopes that it will elucidate LOST’s intentions. I want to describe one tier at a time so that IF you are reading that we can eat slowly…

Tier 1: Narrativity or Storytelling

This is LOST’s largest and broadest category. most television shows, films, and literary works, intend to articulate a large meaning through stories of various sorts. The usage of characters, settings, and themes is a recipe any child can be familiar with. Just take any childhood tale and you will discover this apparatus at work. The stories may seem to be about a tortoise and a hair, or even about magical wizardry (Harry Potter), yet the writer intends to use these paradigms to forward their evaluation of life/reailty etc. Due to LOST’s cryptic story-line it is often forgotten that the primary thrust of the show is directed towards general themes. These themes (death/life, hope, despair, etc.) surface sometimes through the mouths of characters, through the interviews with producers, and often through the texture of the show’s scenes and events. It remains to be seen what exactly is the unifying theme of LOST (although its own title seems to allude to one…”discovery”?). We must observe them where we can. you might be reading and thinking “what does this discussion profit” or “I just wanna watch the show for fun”. Yet, it is the more complex portions of our lives that provide the most meaningful stimuli and propel our development. hopefully it will prompt us to put on the narritival filters and listen to the show’s clues.

 For example: the conflict between the others and the survivors is constantly shifting so that our survivors are “becoming” the others. This raises macro questions like “who is to be trusted in corporate matters” and “are our enemies really more like us than we first expected.” these questions do not remain locked inside the show for consideration but emanate into our larger social discourses. (back to the show) this transition (survivor-other) is alluded to at a micro level when we see that Locke is running the risk of “becoming” ben. but is this a fatal progression or can the characters “re-new” the tribe of the others rather than simply repeating their history? This beckons thematic consideration. this hope to re-contour character identities is pervasive through LOST. The themes begin to rise out of the plot-line. 

May times the themes of the show pop out of the mouths of a character during an angry diatribe or an intimate dialogue. These methods have been used by writers since the Ancient Periods. Throughout the Torah (first five books of the Bible) Moses will sum up a story and nearly say “and this is why this event happened”. he does this to provide abstract meaning to a seemingly peculiar event. Jesus does this when reviewing his miracles or parables. We must listen and watch for our LOST writer’s to do the same. We must avoid the temptation to be engrossed in the “unrealistic” nature of events so as to forego the themes as they are matured through these same events. We often get distracted from the show’s purpose by our lust for mysterious events or quick-paced action. 

This is only one level of meaning used in LOST. While i believe it to be the most comprehensive purpose behind LOST there are other levels of meaning. when i return we shall look at those and hopefully crystallize a more unified vision of the show itself.

-Ryan

The Library

Call me lame.  I love the library.  It’s way cheaper than any bookstore.  And it keeps my reputation as the smart girl intact.

Today I checked out “The Time Traveler’s Wife” based on a friend’s recommendation.  I had to get the large print edition because the regular one was already checked out.  And if you didn’t know this about me already, when I get something in my head, I have to do it, like, now.  Anyway, the sucker’s HUGE.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

The thing is, I can’t spend too much time in the library.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my quiet time just as much as the next extroverted introvert.  But something about the high ceilings and the echoed whispers just… creeps me out.  Can’t explain it.  I usually have a couple of books in mind, go look for those, and then grab a few ones around that one off the shelf.  And I have a tendency to read all the books by one author at the same time.

Today I checked out 6 books by 3 authors.  Not bad.

Our plans this weekend include reading (obviously), work (that’s me), more work (still me), baseball (not me), and hopefully watching 27 Dresses.  Don’t ruin it for me!  

Like I said in my previous post:  pure, unadulterated, mind-numbing entertainment.  Thank you.

Aaaaaaaand we’re off!

Ang’s TV Thoughts for Tonight (alliteration unintentional)

There are 3 shows that I really, really like to watch.  None of them I lose sleep over if I miss.  The first one, Grey’s Anatomy, I am sort of embarassed that I watch.  I actually prided myself for a long time on the fact that I’d never seen it.  ”Did you watch Grey’s last night?” some college chick at work would ask me.  ”Nope,” I’d quip proudly.  ”Never seen it.”  I like to think I saw admiration glimmer in her widened eyes.  ”Never?” she’d ask, incredulous.  By then I was already paying attention to my new toenail polish, or looking for my ringing phone, or looking up new frappuccino recipes and barely heard her surprise.

Then BORDERS had to go and send me a huge coupon off all DVD boxed sets, and I just happened to have a gift card burning a hole in my wallet.  We already owned the first 2 seasons of Lost (more on that later), and they were apparently all out of my favorite cartoon show, Animaniacs, so I broke down.  If nothing less than to see what all the fuss was about, you understand.

Consequently, I bought all 3 seasons, became addicted, and (because at the time no new episodes were airing - thank you Writers’ Strike) caught up on all of the recent Season 4 episodes.  Now I watch it most.. okay, I haven’t missed an episode since the new ones.

Another show that I’ve seen every single episode of is Lost.  Ryan is much more addicted than I am.  If you know him, or have met him even only briefly, you know he’s pretty hardcore.  He subscribes to the producers’ podcasts.  Enough said.  I enjoy the show, for the most part, but find myself increasingly frustrated with its complexities.  I watch TV and movies for pure, unadulterated, mind-numbing entertainment.  So when I have to think real hard about what I’m watching, I tend to get bored.  It’s a paradox, I know.  One great thing the show has given me is a new outlook on physics.  That’s impressive, if nothing else is.

And finally, rounding out my top three shows, is America’s Next Top Model, also commonly known as ANTM.  Like I said, mind-numbing.  Love it.

The finale of season (or Cycle, to the expert) 9 of ANTM was tonight.  It was the first time a plus-size model won.  Hip hip hooray!  (No pun intended.)  The best part about ANTM is that when it’s over, I don’t think about it.  Ahhhh… bliss.

After it was over, I begrudgingly watched the results show of American Idol.  BOOOORING.  Fantasia is a joke.  A trainwreck, even, dare I say.  I’m not impressed with any of the contestants this year.  David Archuleta is too young and awkward, and David Cook is… who?  That’s the question.  Who is he?  He wears this armor of emo-coolness that keeps us from seeing any semblance of the real guy underneath that oily hair.  

I realize that I sound cynical.  I think it’s just that I have exceedingly high expecations and most people and things fail to meet them.  So yes, the flaw is mine.  But enough about my flaws.

In conclusion (I kind of feel like this is an essay, so I’m bringing all together now as though it were), I feel good about my choices.  Now, please, don’t take any of this to mean that I am not open to other shows.  We pay an exorborant amount of money for extended cable so that I can watch useless shows on Bravo, E!, and Style Network.  Sometimes I even like to try out new shows, like Samantha Who? or that one about the guy who never ages and won’t die until he finds his true love (I think it may be cancelled already).  I just can’t commit to more than three.  And now, ANTM is over.  Until the fall.  So I have an opening.

Any suggestions?

[Other shows that the author enjoys/tolerates includes, but isn't limited to, the following:  The Office, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, What Not To Wear, Girls Next Door, The Hills, practically any E! True Hollywood Story, The Simpsons, old Batman reruns (when you can find them - which is rare), The Patty Duke Show, Saturday Night Live, and Dateline.  You may find this list helpful when making suggestions.]

New Beginnings

So. This is a re-attempt, if you will, to get back in the habit of writing. Ryan and I have so many friends and family that are spread out everywhere, and thought this would be a great way to keep everyone updated with what we have going on! (Well, if you’re into actually caring about that sort of thing.)

Here are a few answers to questions you may or may not have:

• We have been married for 7 months and 15 days. Or 229 days. Or 5,496 hours.

• We currently live just outside of Nashville, Tennesee. And that’s all the info you get about where we live, just in case you’re a crazy stalker. (You know who you are.)

• We can’t wait to have kids! We’re not pregnant! Or actually, look, I’m not pregnant. It weirds me out when couples use the “we’re” term when talking about pregnancy.

• Ryan LOVES his teaching job. He teaches 7th and 8th grade Biblical Studies and also Logic at a Classical Christian school. If you aren’t familiar with Classical education, go here. It’s a long article.

• I am currently working in management at Starbucks. If you aren’t familiar with Starbucks, go here, not here. I won’t judge you no matter which side of the camp you’re on.

 

That’s all for now - I’m off to work! Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.

Until then…