Leaving Orange and Black Behind and Moving Forward to Maroon and Gold

 I joined the iQuest class because I needed the gift of time. I wanted to continue my internship but with a new job I didn't that have the time. Being able to go into my internship during class time gave me the opportunity to explore veterinarian medicine more without having to cut my hours at work. I feel like I made the most of my time while at my internship but I still wished I could have gone in more and to be able to see more. The time I would go in was the lunch break so the last hour I was able to see and do more. The thing I enjoyed most about my internship is how hands on I was able to be. I feel like it really gives me an upper hand because now I know more than a colleague would because of my internship. I also enjoyed hearing about what my peers were doing at their internships every week. I was most productive at my internship at the beginning of the year and the summer when I went in. I lost my focus in the middle but then I took a step back and reevaluated how I was spending my time. Ever since then I have regularly been going in. I learned a lot about my interest area. I was able to connect what I have learned at the pet store I work at with my internship. Having personal conversations with Dr.Block has also been a great way for me to learn things about becoming a veterinarian as well. I learned so many important things about animal medicine that I will learn more on later down the road. I have also learned many things about animal behavior and how to approach each situation. The most important things I have learned are things that won’t be taught in a classroom later in my life. What I learned about myself is that I am a hardworking person and I will do dirty work to make someone happy. I didn't mind doing the dishes or laundry because I knew it was helping the staff out. I also feel like I have the skills to become a veterinarian and to be a successful one at that. I would give myself a seven out of ten at my learning at my internship because I put in a lot of effort but I feel like I could have asked more questions. The reason I didn't ask an overly amount of questions is because I always felt like I didn't want to bother the staff and be in the way of them being productive. If I didn't understand something or I was unclear then I would not hesitate to ask questions. I have recommended the iQuest class to juniors and I have told them it's a great class to learn about something you actually want to learn about. I feel like the things I have learned in the class are things I will actually use in the future. The only thing I didn't like about the class is that we were told to act like college students but I felt like some of the time we were treated like little kids in return. At points I feel like we had to contain our opinions. Other than that, I feel like the iQuest class has been a great class and I will continue interning at Bollinger Canyon Animal Hospital until I leave in August for the the University of Minnesota. 

Digital Workplace

Technology is a very important part of my life. I use it and interact with it where ever I go. At work, I use a computer to ring costumers up and find important information for them. At school, I use technology less frequently because the use is much more restricted. Occasionally I will use my phone to  look up information but most all my teachers have strict rules on technology. With my friends and family, I use technology to communicate. I like to have a solid plan and I try to never be late.
Technology frustrates me very easily because I don't understand complex computers. I understand how to use the internet, Word, Powerpoint, and Excel but not much else. I use these programs to do school work. I have also used two different programs at my two different jobs. I understand programs that involve money and taking down information. I was able to find shortcuts and tricks to make me more efficient in the programs. I am good with phones, cameras, and televisions. I like to find new things and treat it like a challenge. With my camera I have been able to mess with the settings and been able to take better pictures.
I believe I should learn more about the smaller details when it comes to technology. I know how to do the easy stuff but I want to be able to know how to change something on a document without having to look it up on the internet. I believe I should become more comfortable with Excel also. I feel like I could learn these skills on youtube over an amount of time. I want to have more knowledge before I go off to college. I will work on this when I have time during the summer and I will do it by thinking of problems I need to learn the answers to before I have real problems.

Puppy kisses are the best medicine

Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?         
                   ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

I choose this quote because right when I saw it I connected to it. When I went to a leadership camp this past summer a speaker said something that has stuck with me ever since. He said, " The words you think and often use create your attitudes." I thought about it and realized that even if I think and talk words that are positive then my attitude could change. When ever I am in a sour mood I think about this quote and remember I can influence others by my attitude. I feel like this quote is spot on because I do believe that attitudes are contagious. If my boyfriend is in a bad mood I instantly get in a bad mood and the same with good moods. The people around me most of time have positive attitudes but if someone is being negative I know not to surround myself around them because I don't want my attitude to change because of them. I want people to remember me as being able to brighten their day and putting a smile on their face. I like how the quote is short and to the point. I like how it ends in a question because that makes you think after you read it. 

SMILE! :)

                                                                       Puppy Kisses

My essential question

What is the most effective way to communicate to a pet owner bad news?

This was the first question I thought of when we were told about the assignment. I have learned that vets need to have good communication skills and not only be good with animals but they have to deal with people A LOT. I feel like I could learn a lot from this question and be able to use it in other areas of my life. I tend to be a person that will sugar coat things but as a vet I need to learn how to give the best answer. I am also not the best at delivering bad news so my research will help me discover what the best ways are. I didn't want to do my question about something boring or relating to science. I also don't want to get a direct answer or a common answer. I want to see each different example and what could work for ME! I found some good websites with research so I feel like I can learn a lot about this question.

Social Issue

         I think a major social issue is teen depression and suicide.  Of the 132,423 deaths of young people in the 90 countries age 15-19, suicide accounted for 9.1%. Suicide is not just a major issue in one country it is a problem all over the world. Reasons for suicide among teenagers vary but one of the major causes is bullying. Bullying has become a more major problem because of the use of technology and the internet. In third world countries, suicide is a problem because of the social situation and the quality of life. 
         I think suicide can be prevented all around the world by having better relationships. Parents should be aware of the signs and be comfortable communicating with their children. Teachers should be aware of any signs also and be able to prevent bullying that occurs at school. By making life better in third world countries these rates would decrease. Suicide not only affects the life of the person attempting to. It also affects friends and family.
        I think this is a major social issue because teenagers are the future for the next generation and we want them to be successful. Suicide decreases the quality of life for everyone. We need to decrease these rates and be able to prevent it successfully. 

The Lumps and Bumps of High School

      It's exciting to think that I will be a high school graduate in five months tomorrow! I have spent 3 1/2 years at this school and as I reflect on these years I'm happy to see how much I have grown. My freshmen and sophomore year all I cared about was being popular. Thank goodness I somewhat cared about my grades at the time also but I could have done much better. With my Junior year slowly approaching I finally realized that it didn't matter if I was "cool" or not because being "cool" in high school wouldn't get me into college or land me a job later in life. What mattered is what I did to reach my goals and better myself as a person. So I did just that. At the very end of my sophomore year I had a plan for my life. I realized that I wanted to save animals' life's one day and to become a vet. Everything changed in just one month. I got my first job to save money for vet school, I became a volunteer at the East Bay SPCA, and most importantly I became an intern at Bollinger Canyon Animal Hospital. This past semester, has been very different from all the other semesters. With graduation being the light at the end of the tunnel I have been trying as hard as a senior can try. Sadly, I no longer volunteer at the SPCA because I didn't come in enough and I'm on their waiting list. I should have gone in to my internship more but that will change second semester. I work at Pet Food Express now and I am learning so much that will have an impact on my career late in life. It's been a great 3 1/2 years!
      My grades should be higher in a few of my classes. I bombed an honors anatomy test that I studied for but I could have studied for in a more effective way. I did extra credit that will bring my grade up in that class though. English has always been easy for me but this semester since I have a light case of senioritis I decided not to go two days. I missed work which shot my grade down but I learned from that mistake. On a better note, in my government class, I got 195/200 on my research paper! I missed five points for forgetting my rubric. OOPS! I was very pleased with myself and this gives me the confidence that I can write great papers in college!
       I can't wait for 2nd semester. I'm excited for so many opportunities that only Seniors get to be a part of! To name a few Im excited for Ball, Lip Sync, Mr. Cali, my Senior trip, Leadership Banquet, Powderpuff, Grad Night, Senior Picnic, and of course, GRADUATION! I am also very excited for the Tri-Valley Leadership Conference that I am in charge of planning! It's going to be the best semester yet!
      I have applied to the following colleges so far...
       1. Washington State University
   *  2. University of Minnesota
       3. Oregon State University

My Smart Goals for this semester are...
1. By the end of the IQuest class, at my internship I want express the anal glands of a dog for the very first time.
2. Before I leave for college, at my internship at the animal hospital I want to be able to vaccinate an animal without messing up more than two times.
3. By the end of the IQuest class, I want to locate the vein on the neck and the leg and draw blood from them both successfully.
4. Before I leave for college, I want to see surgeries preformed at the animal hospital during the summer mornings and have very good contact with the hospital for when I come back to volunteer during break.

The Barking Bucketlist

A few things that are on my bucket list are...

1.) Get my skydiving license! (It used to be go skydiving but that has already been crossed off my list!)

2.) Fall in love and get married! (I want to have my very own happily ever after!)

3.) Travel the world and find my own personal seven wonders!

4.) Do a handstand at the South Pole so I can say I held up the world!

5.) Go bungee jumping! ( The prettier the place the better!)

6.) Put a flower on every grave in a cemetery!

7.) Kayak in a bay of Bioluminescent plankton! (When the stars are out too!)

8.) Celebrate major holidays in different countries! (Day of the dead in Mexico, New Years in china and NYC, ect.)

9.) Learn to surf!

10.) Jump off a bridge with friends! ( Just like the saying I heard when I was a kid!)

11.) Go on a road trip in a convertible! 

12.) Be an extra in a movie!

13.) I want to be someone's hero!

14.) Read the entire bible!

15.) Touch as many species of animals that I can! ( Sharks, Polar bears, and lions. Oh my!)