Quote of the Week 10/21/2013

"Not all those who wander are lost."

 -J.R.R. Tolkien

 I have been a bit MIA lately, and it's not just been on here; school had me completely stressed and it was horrible. I was on the verge of just dropping out entirely. However, I talked to a friend who has been through this before and she told me to look over all of the majors my school has to offer, pick out a few, and she will help me decide on one. Unfortunately, while I loved learning Italian at my community college, it did not translate well at university: the language is all-of-a-sudden way beyond my grasp. 

Anywho, I'm wandering right now... I thought I was lost, beyond help; it was just the situation I was in. I let it take over my life when in reality, it is one small part of my life. So that is my advice this week: step back from a problem that has you entirely stressed, and ask yourself if this is really going to matter in the grand scheme of your life story? Sometimes it is, and I'm sorry for those times, but they make us stronger. But other times, you will come to realize it's not that important. 

It's okay to wander. 

xoxo

Quote of the Week 9/30/2013

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." 

-Julia Child

I have found things that I am passionate about. Many things. But usually they do not keep my attention for very long. My passion for the last two years of my studies has been the Italian language and culture. It fascinated me; I was always wanting to learn more.

But as of late, my passion for not only the language but the culture, too, has grown weak. I am taking two history classes related to Roman culture and so, Italian culture. And I am also taking a class, taught in Italian, about opera. And I am falling apart a little bit. I feel incredibly behind already, and I am at a loss. I want so dearly to love my major, to regain that passion, but these classes (especially the opera class) are making me detest everything I once loved and wanted to know more about. 

So, I will remind myself that it is only a quarter: ten weeks of my life. Then I can hopefully find some better classes, like Italian art history, or something to do with Italian literature that doesn't bore me to tears. 

Until then, I will attempt to listen to Julia Child. I will try my hardest to keep tremendously interested in my passion. 

What is your passion and what are you doing to keep it interesting?

xoxo

Work in Progress

This blog, at the moment, is a work in progress. I hope to figure out the ropes of this thing, so please be forgiving!
My life, too, is a work in progress. I live in this wonderful new town by the ocean, I'm transferring to a UC this fall, and I am so lucky to have found a job that I love here already. I'm currently a pre-school teaching assistant, and as I get more classes under my belt, I can become a teacher! It's not necessarily what I want to do permanently, but for now, I am loving it.

I even get to teach/read to them in Italian! Considering I'm majoring in Italian Studies, this is really a perk. I even learn new words when reading books like this one. So far, the kids have really enjoyed listening to me say the numbers. It's just so great that I get to incorporate my passion into my job. 

What are you all passionate about?

Until next time, 

Caryn Elizabeth