Reposting this from "random musings": http://alisonsrandommusings.blogspot.com/2010/12/children-left-behind-unicef-report-on.html
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Money and Practicum Updates
Well, I finally got the paperwork for my loans submitted a few days ago. Apparently it'll be fast-tracked to the loan office, but then the paperwork will take a couple of weeks to be processed and for the money to be sent out. I need the grant, so the sooner the better! The loan will be put aside and I don't plan on using it. I'll be repaying it at the end of the year.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Gaia Online Guild - "The Teen Sex, Pregnancy and Puberty Guild"
Those who know me on the website Gaia Online (http://www.gaiaonline.com/) know that I've spent the last 5 and a half years running my personal pride and joy, "The Teen Sex, Pregnancy and Puberty Guild." Guilds on Gaia are like online clubs that users can create on any topic of their choice (as long as it doesn't break any of the site rules).
Mishmash of Updates
Trying this again. *shakes her fist at Blogger*
Lots has been going on with me, what with school and my side projects and volunteering going on.
The biggest thing was my participation in Kaycee Jane's presentation at the Burnaby Public Library on Nov. 18th. She was so gracious as to let me participate in her presentation, giving me a small segment at the end in which I presented on criteria I created for teens about dating and becoming sexually active. At the end of my bit, I presented a list of personal criteria I created for myself when I was a teenager and growing up.
Lots has been going on with me, what with school and my side projects and volunteering going on.
The biggest thing was my participation in Kaycee Jane's presentation at the Burnaby Public Library on Nov. 18th. She was so gracious as to let me participate in her presentation, giving me a small segment at the end in which I presented on criteria I created for teens about dating and becoming sexually active. At the end of my bit, I presented a list of personal criteria I created for myself when I was a teenager and growing up.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Links Update
Just a note that I added 2 new links at the bottom of this blog - one for Options for Sexual Health, and one for Won't Get Weird.com.
More to be added as I come across them.
More to be added as I come across them.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Loans, Bursaries
I heard back from Financial Aid on campus, and got my loan letter in the mail, and I've been qualified for a decent amount based on my "assessment of needs." So I just have to send in the paperwork, and then the money will be deposited to me. I'll also find out if any of the loan money is a grant, which would be awesome because that would be money I wouldn't have to pay back. :D So fingers crossed that everything will go through, and if I end up with a practicum in Vancouver, hopefully I'll have enough money to cover transit.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Practicum & Bursary Update
Hola! I'm still alive. It's been a super busy semester - I have a ton on my plate.
I received an e-mail from my practicum co-0rdinator for the social work program, saying that my original practicum choice wasn't accepting students, but that she'd found me two other locations in Vancouver instead. One is for Options for Sexual Health (on East Hastings), and the other is for a sister organization called YouthCo HIV/AIDS Society. I'd prefer to work at the first option, but it's quite a ways away from Waterfront Station, and it would be quite a trek to get there I think. So, chances are I will end up at YouthCo because it's closer to Waterfront Station and thus far easier to get to (cutting down on my travel time). I just have to re-write a cover letter for both locations and send it in to my co-ordinator, and hopefully something will pan out.
Re: my bursaries, I've completed the online paperwork for my student loan and bursaries. I'll know the details/status of my applications next week when I check back in with Financial Aid. I don't like having a loan, but I'm planning to pay it back at the end of the semester. I just need the bursaries, and/or even a grant would be helpful (since I'm looking at $1,200 for the costs of transit during my Winter 2011 semester). Then I'll repay my loan at the end of the semester, and do the whole thing again in Jan/Feb.
I received an e-mail from my practicum co-0rdinator for the social work program, saying that my original practicum choice wasn't accepting students, but that she'd found me two other locations in Vancouver instead. One is for Options for Sexual Health (on East Hastings), and the other is for a sister organization called YouthCo HIV/AIDS Society. I'd prefer to work at the first option, but it's quite a ways away from Waterfront Station, and it would be quite a trek to get there I think. So, chances are I will end up at YouthCo because it's closer to Waterfront Station and thus far easier to get to (cutting down on my travel time). I just have to re-write a cover letter for both locations and send it in to my co-ordinator, and hopefully something will pan out.
Re: my bursaries, I've completed the online paperwork for my student loan and bursaries. I'll know the details/status of my applications next week when I check back in with Financial Aid. I don't like having a loan, but I'm planning to pay it back at the end of the semester. I just need the bursaries, and/or even a grant would be helpful (since I'm looking at $1,200 for the costs of transit during my Winter 2011 semester). Then I'll repay my loan at the end of the semester, and do the whole thing again in Jan/Feb.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Bursaries?
I'm thinking of applying for bursaries sometime in the next month. Hopefully, I can get enough to cover my travel expenses (about $1,000 estimated over the course of a semester). If I can't, then I'll have to figure out something to help cover the costs.
The downside to bursaries is I have to take out a student loan for me to qualify for the bursaries. If I don't take the loan, my bursary cap is much much lower. So I know one person who is worried that I will spend that loan money and have to pay it back post-graduation, which would be really inconvenient because I already owe my parents a whack of money for an unrelated issue. I keep insisting I won't spend the money, and if I end up getting the loan to apply for bursaries, I intend to keep my word.
The downside to bursaries is I have to take out a student loan for me to qualify for the bursaries. If I don't take the loan, my bursary cap is much much lower. So I know one person who is worried that I will spend that loan money and have to pay it back post-graduation, which would be really inconvenient because I already owe my parents a whack of money for an unrelated issue. I keep insisting I won't spend the money, and if I end up getting the loan to apply for bursaries, I intend to keep my word.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Practicum Dilemma
I'm faced with a dilemma for my final practicum in my degree (Bachelor of Social Work - BSW). I've asked our field co-ordinator to try to get me a practicum with a place I found in Vancouver. It's *exactly* what I want to be doing with myself, and I'd be so happy if the practicum led into a job with the organization.
The catch? Transit costs. I don't drive, so even just taking the WCE (West Coast Express) train to and from Vancouver, I'm looking at $80/week ($320/month) for transit costs... probably close to $1,000 by the time I'm done. Which is ridiculous. I may have additional costs for bus once I'm in Vancouver, but that's something I'll have to check into.
The issue is that I've had pressure to move back home before Jan., so I'm closer to Vancouver and won't have to use the WCE train. That way I can just use Translink transit, and not have to commute from where I live now. The downside is I don't like that option, plus it's based on a short term scenario and doesn't accomodate for my partner living with me once he comes back to live with me in Nov.
So I'm not sure what to do if my field co-ordinator tells me they'll take me after all. I want to stay where I am and not have to move twice in 6 months or twice in a year, but at the same time those are really really high transit costs, and I'll have to come up with the money somehow.
The catch? Transit costs. I don't drive, so even just taking the WCE (West Coast Express) train to and from Vancouver, I'm looking at $80/week ($320/month) for transit costs... probably close to $1,000 by the time I'm done. Which is ridiculous. I may have additional costs for bus once I'm in Vancouver, but that's something I'll have to check into.
The issue is that I've had pressure to move back home before Jan., so I'm closer to Vancouver and won't have to use the WCE train. That way I can just use Translink transit, and not have to commute from where I live now. The downside is I don't like that option, plus it's based on a short term scenario and doesn't accomodate for my partner living with me once he comes back to live with me in Nov.
So I'm not sure what to do if my field co-ordinator tells me they'll take me after all. I want to stay where I am and not have to move twice in 6 months or twice in a year, but at the same time those are really really high transit costs, and I'll have to come up with the money somehow.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Family Support
I am grateful that I have a relative who works in the upper levels of the BC education system. She has access to experience, information and knowledge that I might not otherwise know about.
Case in point: I spent a night at her house over this weekend. In the afternoon, my relative and I took a walk along the pier and I got to share with her some of my future plans for giong into sexual health research. I told her about meeting author Kaycee Jane and sitting down with her, and possibly getting to meet some other big names in the field. She was excited and delighted for me, and I was happy to have her feedback and her support. She told me about sexual health workshops and classes in some of the BC school districts she's worked in, and I know I have that as a possible option for a future career.
Case in point: I spent a night at her house over this weekend. In the afternoon, my relative and I took a walk along the pier and I got to share with her some of my future plans for giong into sexual health research. I told her about meeting author Kaycee Jane and sitting down with her, and possibly getting to meet some other big names in the field. She was excited and delighted for me, and I was happy to have her feedback and her support. She told me about sexual health workshops and classes in some of the BC school districts she's worked in, and I know I have that as a possible option for a future career.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to my blog!
I'm writing this as a fourth year BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) student in a Canadian university. I will be graduating in June 2011, or at least that's the plan barring any unforseen barriers. Ideally I'd like to work with a group or organization that gives sexual health workshops in elementary, middle and high schools.
I decided to set up this blog to chronicle my thoughts, experiences and questions about being the oddball in university who wants to go into the area of sexual health education, somewhat a niche field of work. Many people aren't aware of it, or at the very least aren't aware of what kind of work it entails, and even more aren't aware that it can be included in the field of social work.
Please feel free to comment on any of my posts - I welcome your questions, feedback and discussion. At the bottom of my blog, I have a list of good sexual health and sexual education links - please feel free to take a look and pass them on. If you can think of any sites you'd like me to add, comment here and tell me, and I'll add them upon review.
Thank you for stopping by!
I'm writing this as a fourth year BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) student in a Canadian university. I will be graduating in June 2011, or at least that's the plan barring any unforseen barriers. Ideally I'd like to work with a group or organization that gives sexual health workshops in elementary, middle and high schools.
I decided to set up this blog to chronicle my thoughts, experiences and questions about being the oddball in university who wants to go into the area of sexual health education, somewhat a niche field of work. Many people aren't aware of it, or at the very least aren't aware of what kind of work it entails, and even more aren't aware that it can be included in the field of social work.
Please feel free to comment on any of my posts - I welcome your questions, feedback and discussion. At the bottom of my blog, I have a list of good sexual health and sexual education links - please feel free to take a look and pass them on. If you can think of any sites you'd like me to add, comment here and tell me, and I'll add them upon review.
Thank you for stopping by!
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