Wednesday, June 24, 2015
ZOMBIES!
What I imagine my new class "Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease" is going to be like.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Time To Pick Up Something Heavy
First, the good news.
I passed my CSCS!
After 3 hours of staring at a computer screen, attempting to figure out how those three multiple choices even apply to the question that was asked, I managed to pass!
Sure, maybe I only passed by 5 questions, but it still counts! I'm now a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist!
Now, the annoying news.
A few months ago, a buddy of mine informed me that the MPH program had an "exit exam". What did that mean? What did it cover? Why didn't they tell us about this sooner?
These were all some of the questions that instantly spewed out of my mouth.
Apparently, the exit exam is a gigantic essay exam covering everything that I've learned since my first biostatistics night class that if I fail, forces me to retake my entire 16 week practicum (essentially an internship for married people that are already in the workforce and are now forced to juggle multiple jobs. Thanks grad school.).
Oh joy.
Why my school's administration didn't tell anybody about this sooner, I have no idea. I was just officially told about it last month, and told that it was strongly suggested that I take the exam within the next two weeks.
Aside from two week's notice being a bit short for such an exam, especially when I had scheduled a beach vacation one of those weeks a year in advance and had just paid $500 to take my CSCS - which, if I failed, was around a $200 retake fee - I need to have all of my old textbooks to take the exit exam.
THE ONES I SOLD TWO YEARS AGO.
Did anybody ever tell me I should keep those textbooks, just in case I happen to have a gigantic comprehensive exam near graduation? Nope.
"So, what's the big deal? Just go to the library, man."
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Except the library recently decided that it's going to be closed all Saturdays this entire summer, and only be open for five hours on Sundays.
"Well, just go on a different day, man."
That'd be fine, but I've already gotten a phone call from my professor, and multiple emails complaining about how I said I was going to take the exit exam and that I didn't. Did I ever say any of that? Nope, but that doesn't matter, I'm now the lazy, apathetic Southerner in the eyes of my professor.
I passed my CSCS!
After 3 hours of staring at a computer screen, attempting to figure out how those three multiple choices even apply to the question that was asked, I managed to pass!
Sure, maybe I only passed by 5 questions, but it still counts! I'm now a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist!
Now, the annoying news.
A few months ago, a buddy of mine informed me that the MPH program had an "exit exam". What did that mean? What did it cover? Why didn't they tell us about this sooner?
These were all some of the questions that instantly spewed out of my mouth.
Apparently, the exit exam is a gigantic essay exam covering everything that I've learned since my first biostatistics night class that if I fail, forces me to retake my entire 16 week practicum (essentially an internship for married people that are already in the workforce and are now forced to juggle multiple jobs. Thanks grad school.).
Oh joy.
Why my school's administration didn't tell anybody about this sooner, I have no idea. I was just officially told about it last month, and told that it was strongly suggested that I take the exam within the next two weeks.
Aside from two week's notice being a bit short for such an exam, especially when I had scheduled a beach vacation one of those weeks a year in advance and had just paid $500 to take my CSCS - which, if I failed, was around a $200 retake fee - I need to have all of my old textbooks to take the exit exam.
THE ONES I SOLD TWO YEARS AGO.
Did anybody ever tell me I should keep those textbooks, just in case I happen to have a gigantic comprehensive exam near graduation? Nope.
"So, what's the big deal? Just go to the library, man."
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Except the library recently decided that it's going to be closed all Saturdays this entire summer, and only be open for five hours on Sundays.
"Well, just go on a different day, man."
That'd be fine, but I've already gotten a phone call from my professor, and multiple emails complaining about how I said I was going to take the exit exam and that I didn't. Did I ever say any of that? Nope, but that doesn't matter, I'm now the lazy, apathetic Southerner in the eyes of my professor.
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| USE. BETTER. COMMUNICASHUUUUUUUN!!! |
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Here's To Tomorrow
After six months of saving money/studying, I finally decided to register for my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam earlier last month. I'm scheduled to take it tomorrow.
I've been doing a good bit of freelance writing lately, and I wanted CSCS after my name to add a little more oomph to what it is I have to say. That, and if I ever want to teach classes at the university level someday, having the CSCS will help.
It's widely regarded as an extremely difficult test, while simultaneously being the gold-standard test to determine whether or not you know what you're talking about when it comes to training. That typically means you devote hours every evening attempting to absorb too much material.
310 questions in 4 hours.
Let's do this.
I've been doing a good bit of freelance writing lately, and I wanted CSCS after my name to add a little more oomph to what it is I have to say. That, and if I ever want to teach classes at the university level someday, having the CSCS will help.
It's widely regarded as an extremely difficult test, while simultaneously being the gold-standard test to determine whether or not you know what you're talking about when it comes to training. That typically means you devote hours every evening attempting to absorb too much material.
310 questions in 4 hours.
Let's do this.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Time to Invest in Some Purell
So, I just finished my food safety class. Yeah, I didn't really know what that meant either, but it turns out that it's a whole lot of microbiology, something that I've never been very good at but still find fascinating.
I most definitely learned more about norovirus and salmonella than I ever thought possible, but one of the most interesting facts to learn was in regards to E.coli, a bacteria that grows in your intestines, but that can kill you if it gets out into other parts of your body.
To be hospitalized for a case of E. coli has an average cost of $6,922.
Holy smokes.
To be hospitalized for a case of E. coli where the patient suffers from hemolytic uremic syndrome and dies, the average cost is $6,963,826.
That's quite a legacy to leave behind for your family.
Sooooo, the moral of the story?
Wash your hands before you eat, cook your food well (particularly beef), and make sure your water is clean. Your family will thank you.
I most definitely learned more about norovirus and salmonella than I ever thought possible, but one of the most interesting facts to learn was in regards to E.coli, a bacteria that grows in your intestines, but that can kill you if it gets out into other parts of your body.
To be hospitalized for a case of E. coli has an average cost of $6,922.
Holy smokes.
To be hospitalized for a case of E. coli where the patient suffers from hemolytic uremic syndrome and dies, the average cost is $6,963,826.
That's quite a legacy to leave behind for your family.
Sooooo, the moral of the story?
Wash your hands before you eat, cook your food well (particularly beef), and make sure your water is clean. Your family will thank you.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
What Registering for Class in Grad School is Like
"Woohoo! Time to register for new classes!"
"That's odd. It's not letting me register online. Looks like another trip to the registrar."
*later at registrar*
Registrar: "Just fill out this paper, get your professor to sign this paper, bring it back, and you'll be set!"
*later at professor's office*
Professor: "That's the wrong paper. The correct one is online."
*later at home*
"Sweet. The paper is printed. I'll just fill this out real quick, annnnnnd....I need a preceptor to sign this form."
*later at preceptor's*
Preceptor: "It's signed! Here ya go!"
*later at grad school office*
"Here's my paperwork. Am I considered registered now?"
Office: "Nope. You didn't complete the online form. Thanks for the physical copy though."
*later at home*
"Great. I need a copy of the form I just turned in. Oh, and my preceptor's resume as well."
"I'll see if I can get that and then I'll be done."
Grad School: "Nope. You need to do a criminal history check to apply for that class. It's $40."
"That's odd. It's not letting me register online. Looks like another trip to the registrar."
*later at registrar*
Registrar: "Just fill out this paper, get your professor to sign this paper, bring it back, and you'll be set!"
*later at professor's office*
Professor: "That's the wrong paper. The correct one is online."
*later at home*
"Sweet. The paper is printed. I'll just fill this out real quick, annnnnnd....I need a preceptor to sign this form."
*later at preceptor's*
Preceptor: "It's signed! Here ya go!"
*later at grad school office*
"Here's my paperwork. Am I considered registered now?"
Office: "Nope. You didn't complete the online form. Thanks for the physical copy though."
*later at home*
"Great. I need a copy of the form I just turned in. Oh, and my preceptor's resume as well."
"I'll see if I can get that and then I'll be done."
Grad School: "Nope. You need to do a criminal history check to apply for that class. It's $40."
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Personal Training Hiatus
Ever since I was a little kid, I've always known that I wanted to be a personal trainer.
I've always been on the go, I love science, I love the fitness scene, and I can remember being absolutely captivated by peoples' stories of weight loss and what it took for them to get there.
It was in high school that I recognized just how much physical activity caused even the most shy guy in the class to finally open up and be themselves, even if just for an hour.
And so, I went to college, getting my degree in exercise science, and taking a job as a personal trainer right afterwards.
I absolutely love it.
And so, it was kind of hard to put in my two weeks notice today at the gym I've worked at the past year and a half.
I ended up taking a full time job as an exercise physiologist for my hospital (a job I absolutely adore), and grad school has really begun to ramp up as I prepare for the final stretch. When you add those two things on top of personal training, I was consistently working 10-12 hour days, which I quickly discovered you can't do forever.
Am I glad to be able to clear a little room off of my plate so that I can finally breathe again? Absolutely. It was getting to the point where I had little time other than just to sleep and work. My own workouts went down the tube, my studying suffered, I found myself irritable, and it was making it so I barely had anytime to spend with Yellowhed.
I had to make a choice, but I sure do hope I'll be able to get back to it someday.
I've been talking about that with a guy at work lately. Both of us want to someday open our own gyms, and personally, I'd love to open a personal training studio as well. But if you want that to happen, you have to have a leeeeetle bit of working capital.
And so, I save.
I don't know. We'll see what happens.
Do I absolutely love being an exercise physiologist? Yes. Did I absolutely love being a personal trainer? Yes. However, I've also come to terms with the fact that I have limits, and so, personal training has been put on the backburner.
Maybe I'll get back into it after grad school?
I've always been on the go, I love science, I love the fitness scene, and I can remember being absolutely captivated by peoples' stories of weight loss and what it took for them to get there.
It was in high school that I recognized just how much physical activity caused even the most shy guy in the class to finally open up and be themselves, even if just for an hour.
And so, I went to college, getting my degree in exercise science, and taking a job as a personal trainer right afterwards.
I absolutely love it.
And so, it was kind of hard to put in my two weeks notice today at the gym I've worked at the past year and a half.
I ended up taking a full time job as an exercise physiologist for my hospital (a job I absolutely adore), and grad school has really begun to ramp up as I prepare for the final stretch. When you add those two things on top of personal training, I was consistently working 10-12 hour days, which I quickly discovered you can't do forever.
Am I glad to be able to clear a little room off of my plate so that I can finally breathe again? Absolutely. It was getting to the point where I had little time other than just to sleep and work. My own workouts went down the tube, my studying suffered, I found myself irritable, and it was making it so I barely had anytime to spend with Yellowhed.
I had to make a choice, but I sure do hope I'll be able to get back to it someday.
I've been talking about that with a guy at work lately. Both of us want to someday open our own gyms, and personally, I'd love to open a personal training studio as well. But if you want that to happen, you have to have a leeeeetle bit of working capital.
And so, I save.
I don't know. We'll see what happens.
Do I absolutely love being an exercise physiologist? Yes. Did I absolutely love being a personal trainer? Yes. However, I've also come to terms with the fact that I have limits, and so, personal training has been put on the backburner.
Maybe I'll get back into it after grad school?
Parents Are Weird
Parents are weird.
At least new parents are.
I guess I'm at the age where a lot of my friends begin to have kids of their own, and I get the opportunity to observe how that little diaper head changes their lives forever.
Just this past Christmas break, I walk past one of my friends at a party who's changing his kid's nasty diaper down in the basement.
I didn't realize he was down there, and so I wasn't sure if diaper changing was a public endeavor or not. I was just about to leave when he said,
"Parenthood is great, man. I can't even begin to describe it to ya."
Yeah, you can start once you finish wiping feces off of that little guy's butt.
The same deal just happened the other day at a dinner we had with some friends from church.
They're telling me all about how they wake up at least 5x/night, how their baby cries all the time, and how high maintenance kids are, all while their smallest continued to throw applesauce all over the floor.
Yet despite all of this, they still were able to say that parenthood was easily one of the best experiences of their lives so far.
I don't know, maybe I'll understand it someday, but for now, new parents are weird.
At least new parents are.
I guess I'm at the age where a lot of my friends begin to have kids of their own, and I get the opportunity to observe how that little diaper head changes their lives forever.
Just this past Christmas break, I walk past one of my friends at a party who's changing his kid's nasty diaper down in the basement.
I didn't realize he was down there, and so I wasn't sure if diaper changing was a public endeavor or not. I was just about to leave when he said,
"Parenthood is great, man. I can't even begin to describe it to ya."
Yeah, you can start once you finish wiping feces off of that little guy's butt.
The same deal just happened the other day at a dinner we had with some friends from church.
They're telling me all about how they wake up at least 5x/night, how their baby cries all the time, and how high maintenance kids are, all while their smallest continued to throw applesauce all over the floor.
Yet despite all of this, they still were able to say that parenthood was easily one of the best experiences of their lives so far.
I don't know, maybe I'll understand it someday, but for now, new parents are weird.
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