It is the last day of school for my not-so-little one, and I just returned from attending the award ceremony. She really racked them up, boy. The most important award, in my opinion, was the citizenship award. Go ahead and gasp, all you overachievers out there, but if she accomplishes nothing else in her life, I am proud that she knows how to get along with others and be a support system to those around her.

I had to sit through all of the classes, and unfortunately it was evident that some of the children will not be advancing to the next grade level. Major bummer. It made me think about the kids who will not be graduating form high school due to not passing the TAKS. How exactly does this happen? How do you get all the way through 12 grades and not learn the basic skills necessary to graduate? Is the TAKS that hard? Is it a parenting problem? Do the teachers suck that badly? Do these kids have neurological disorders? I'm sure the No Child Left Behind campaign has something to say about this.

Catching Up

The thing about counseling is that you really don't learn how to do it until you are doing it - sitting in that chair across from that human being who is trusting you to do something helpful. That's when it all becomes very clear that you have no idea what you are doing! But it is really challenging and really fun. And the other counselors that you go to for guidance want you to succeed. That's worth a lot right there.

Mikel and I took the girls to Scarborough Faire Saturday. Mikel rented a kilt (he has the legs to pull it off) and the little one rented a Fairie costume, complete with wings. The not-so-little one and I opted out this year. We had a great time. The weather this year was sheer perfection. Didn't get to see the jousting as the little one and the not-so-little one have discovered shopping. They are becoming great consumers, let me tell you.

Just got back from the little one's school. Sang a song for the teacher (teacher appreciation day) and the kids performed choreography that I taught them. I have a tremendous appreciation for folks who can spend all day, every day with second-graders. Whew... I'm exhausted!

Until next time,

Anita

Hey, everybody! I finally got to see a couple of counseling clients. So far so good! It was just as mentally demanding as I thought it would be, and a whole lot more fun. The best part? Turning the "In Session" sign over on the door as I closed it. Made it feel real. The worst part? The paperwork.

Since I'm just an intern, I don't have my own office. I have to see clients wherever they can squeeze up in. That kinda sucks, but my middle name is "flexible," after all. Which is way better than the middle name my parents gave me and which I do not share with the world.

Gotta run. Depression support group tonight. Sounds fun, huh?!

gettin' started

Haven't blogged much. Don't really have a lot to say. Definitely ready for the weather to get warm and stay that way. I live down here for a reason, and biting wind ain't it!

I'm getting close to graduation - Aug. I still need to complete 100 face-to-face counseling hours to graduate, which would be a whole lot easier to do if only the clients would show up! And seein's how I haven't even had one session with any of my scheduled clients, I can honestly say that the problem is not with me. They haven't even met me yet! I haven't had a chance to pour on the charm.

That's a funny thing about depressed people - if they're feeling depressed they don't really feel like going anywhere (like counseling) and if they're feeling good, they figure they don't need counseling...

Drop me a line sometime, reader.