Study & Soul Saturday: A & C are for …

Apprehensive

Have you ever felt that way when you had something important to face?

I most recently experienced this anxiety this morning, as I planned to close my doctoral survey this weekend to run my statistics and start analyzing my results for my dissertation. When I was about to pray the Rosary (Joyful Mysteries on which to meditate today on Saturday), I tried to calm my overwhelming sense of a ton of bricks falling on me and my sudden urge to purge those aforementioned bricks…

Then Angelic Annie approached me and snuggled up against my right side!

Face of an Angel: To the ♫tune♪ of Hinder’s Lips of an Angel♫

Therefore, she most certainly is my Right-Hand Cat!

Although Annie‘s not verbal, she’s most definitely vocal!

As I prayed, she purred!

During times like these, I’ve previously turned to other people who I’ve trusted or terminal degree grads, but I don’t want to burden anyone, even if they’ve joined #TeamDrDISPO … This time, I’ve reflected back on similar situations when I’ve overcome this apprehension:

• When I studied for my Master’s degree comprehensive exams
• When I studied for my doctoral luminary (first year) comp exams
• When I studied for my doctoral candidacy (total coursework) comps

At this point, I must allow my go-getter attitude to prevail, as it’s led me to what I consider the greatest feeling:

A sense of

• Accomplishment
• Achievement
• Completion

Based on

• Ambitions
• Aspirations
• Confidence

Here’s Angel Annie‘s and my theme song ~ ♪I Can Only Imagine♫ ~ by ♫Mercy Me♪, who performed in the Valley the weekend when she found me/I rescued her!

Study Saturday: Superstar Students

🎼Shine🌞 🌠bright💫 like a 💎diamond🎵

My summer speech students impress me more and more every single day! Our principal informed me when I started teaching there that they’re the Cream of the Crop,🌽 as the top students of our school.🏤

As we wrapped up the week, they turned in their résumés📜 and did their interviews💼 to prepare them for the workforce. Props👊 to their professionalism👔 and my photography📷 skills!

Following our interviews, they expressed their value of their class ranking, GPA and bright future careers. I have one particular student who aims to become a trauma physician😷 and already is making her mark on campus through her club involvement. All of them are ambitious and are heading toward their aspirations through their 🍎academic achievements🍏 and participation in extracurricular activities.🏈🏀⚽️⚾️🎾⛳️🎻🎺🎷🎸🔬🎮

Once class was over, I enjoyed lunch🍛 with the ☝️Rising Seniors. They all seem wise beyond their years, and I feel extremely blessed to teach them one of their college credit courses (amongst others, as well as Advanced Placement/honors classes).

CHEERS to this Class of 2015!