Corrie Dorman...School Counselor?

I'm the new long-term substitute part-time school counselor, but you can call me Corrie.

This is how I introduced myself to the staff at MVE through email. I haven't really written in awhile, but I figured I should write some sort of update. I am in my final semester of graduate school. The plan is that I graduate in December. I sure hope that happens because the ring I ordered is gonna say '14 on it. I recently got hired for the position above at a local elementary school. Things are slowly coming together. For example. I now have a mailbox, an official email address, an office, keys, an ID, and a blurb introducing me in the school newsletter. I don't have the ability to print in my office, voicemail set up, or computer dock. So basically I work, but parents don't contact me much yet. This will change soon b/c of the whole newsletter thing! yay!

ALSO: How great is this picture!?!! I am one of those annoying people who hates pictures of myself. But hello! I think this one is great! AND I GET TO WEAR IT AROUND MY NECK EVERYDAY. So basically that says "yeah I may look like this today, but...one time I took this here photo."

So if you are reading this and you are like, "wait Corrie aren't you a full time student and doing an internship?" The answer is yes. So now I am a full time student and in the schools everyday, so basically working full time. So for those of you wonderful people who love to tell me "enjoy it before being in the real world." No. no I will not. I would like to be in one please. However, I am working to learn everything I can now and enjoy this phase and not just wish for December. 

Fun fact: I am helping with the youth group at my church. Corrie Dorman, Youth Leader. 

So please pray for me to enjoy this final semester. 

For me to finish well. 

For me to do well on my Comprehensive finals (Oct. 10-24).

For my stress level.

I will leave you with a few of my favorite things that children have said to me lately. 

"You look like a teenager."

"My sister who I am pretty sure is younger than you is already married and is about to have a baby. " 

"Do you have a drivers license?" - child 1

"Yes...are you trying to figure out how old I am?" - me

"yeah" - child 1

"Dude she went to college she isn't a teenager!" - child 2

"How old are you?"

"Do you have a husband or a boyfriend?" - child A

"I am not married." -me

"are you engaged?" - child B

I hold up my left hand to indicate that I have no engagement ring, so no. 

"YOU HAVE FIVE FIANCES???"

The entire class including myself erupts in laughter

Childhood Celebrity Crushes

If you were homeschooled and from a large family, then there are probably many things that you thought were normal and later in life realized how strange you must have been.

For example, I did not learn until high school that tacos do not normally have refried beans mixed in with the meat. My mom did that to stretch the meat so that she could feed 9 people. Most kids do not love Bonanza, Andy Griffith and The Brady Bunch. I learned that most seven year olds do not want a sewing machine for Christmas. I learned that most 11 year olds do not want a perm. Also, most adults do not listen to Adventures in Odyssey when they fall asleep...yeah...me neither.

But one of the weirder things that I have noticed is childhood crushes.

Now of course naturally I had a crush on the kid from the homeschool group who I used to race at the skating rink on the homeschool skate day. First thursday of every month. He was so fast. Now I was fast too, but I was impressed by this kid. Now that is pretty normal, roller blading was awesome.

What is weird is that I now realize that most of my friends had celebrity crushes that were very different than mine.

Now of course I did not listen to Backstreet Boys or 'N Sync (I now love thme). I probably was not allowed to. I was too busy listening to Stephen Curtis Chapman, Plus One, and The Beatles. Most girls were in love with Justin Timberlake, Zack Morris, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Orlando Bloom (ok I did like him), or Erik Von Detten (Brink!)

Here were my four biggest crushes.

In third place was Matt Theissen from Relient K. I had some posters up in my room that I am pretty sure I got from my Brio Magazine.

In second place we have Peter Pevensie from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Now some of you are probably like...totally normal. I loved that movie. However, I am talking about the BBC movie. Man I loved it. I own all of the BBC Narnia films. High King Peter in my mind was awesome. 

Now first place is a tie.

Gilbert Blythe. To this day Anne of Green Gables is my favorite movie. Yes, I know this is embarrassing, that is why I do not watch it with other people. I think they will ruin it for me. Gilbert is the best. I'm pretty sure I still have a crush on him.

And last, but most certainly not least. Macgyver.

The hair. Being able to fix anything. Who wouldn't have a crush on him??!!

So if you ever wondered what I was like as a child. This gives you a pretty good idea.

cd

When life isn't particularly "fun," and a few of my favorite things

As most of my blogs are you can expect disjointed paragraphs, sentences and thoughts. Also, probably things you already know and maybe some you don't. Also expect spelling errors for I rarely if ever edit. Sorry to my friends and my professors.

Okay. So do NOT get me wrong. I had a super fun weekend! I got to make tacos and queso and watch tv with friends AND I got to see one of my super good friends from freshman year get MARRIED!!

However. Overall my experience in grad school has not been "fun." I am not one of those people who just loves school. I love some classes here and there, I love learning, I love working with kids. But research...reading journal articles...sitting in 3 hour long classes...not so much.

Lately it has been a struggle. I am caught between being ready to truly plug into my church and my friendships but my program is split between Clemson and Greenville and so is my life. I graduate in December, but there is a lot of work between now and december.

My friend Challie and I were talking about a week ago about not wishing time away. I catch myself constantly thinking... well in december... I just have to make it until december... Life will be different come december. In reality life may very much feel the same come December. I will have a Masters plus 30 which will be awesome. But I may be the same. There is a good chance life will still feel hard. so what do I do?

About a year ago I was in a group counseling class and one of my friends led the session. She talked about how we enjoy things through our senses and how when things are busy to make sure to do things we enjoy and do our best to use our senses to soak in good parts of the day.

A few of my favorite things

One of my things is food. I like veggies, fruit, meat and I LOVE carbs. I do my best to eat well and I want it to taste good. I try to cook food I like. Those in my classes probably get annoyed with my hot meal (I know they get annoyed b/c they say I am making them hungry). This is probably the biggest part of my "self-care." I got tired of cold food. So I have to plan it out, and it can be tricky, but I attempt to cook a lot of food on the weekend.

I am currently eating this and it is the best. 

Another thing I try to do is work out. It is so easy when life gets busy and exhausting to cut this. But I have found that it makes me feel so much better to go run and even though I show up to class in shorts and covered in sweat, well, at least I am a little happier to be there. 

WARM WEATHER. IT IS FINALLY COMING!!! I got to sit on my porch in shorts and a flannel today! My Favorite Weather! :) 

Watching boy meets world. I got the ENTIRE SERIES of boy meets world (BMY) for Christmas. It is the best. I usually watch it on the bus on my way home from Clemson. John Michael tells me that is an indie rom com intro in the making. 

This is where the nerd in me comes out. I went to the library this week and it literally was one of the highlights of my thursday. I refuse to check out books that have any actual connection to school and it  is so fun. I realize not everyone's favorite place is the library, but seriously in my opinion it is one of the best things.

And finally. Coffee out of a mug. For those of you who have to get up early and leave for the day you might understand. Now I love my travel mug. Hopefully I don't offend it here, for it truly is a wonderful companion on my weekdays. But. Man. There is just something about drinking a cup of coffee in the morning and just sitting. 

These are the things from my past week that were the best. :)

Oh also. These ladies. 

(I stole this photo from Mrs. Jack)

- cd