This has been a really interesting summer.
Though there are a million and one words that could describe this break, I can definitely agree on the word "interesting." It's been boring, very boring in fact, fun, sad, exciting, eventful, non-eventful, monotonous, enlightening, confusing, scary, wonderful, amazing, blah, pretty much everything under the sun. I guess I'm not used to this kind of summer. At least I was prepared for it and this time, I don't consider my summer a disappointment. Instead I just think of it as that's how it is. The first summer after starting college isn't the same fun and games as the past summers have been. No more mission trips, no more Lambec (so sad...). All of the constants of summer are taken away and replaced by one goal: making as much money as possible. And then making fun during the few breaks/weekends available. I'm not going on vacation this summer and I don't have a random work schedule. Now I have a steady 40 hour work week Monday through Friday and not much else planned. Am I making the most of my summer? Not really. I guess I appear like I'm not doing anything else and that's not true. I've gone to three grad parties, seen Legally Blonde the Musical, gone to a Pirate game, and I see Aaron pretty much every weekend if possible. But I am kind of in this weird funk where I don't really mind that I spend a lot of time relaxing at home and I don't really feel like seeing people. Is that weird? I loveeee talking to people all the time, that won't ever change. But I don't know...I guess combining tiredness with not wanting to spend money and there being nothing exciting to do in Hampton doesn't leave me with much enthusiasm to do anything. Luckily I finally got paid so I can do more things, but what exactly? I feel like I probably should stop wasting my life by sitting around, but at the same time, I think it's nice to have a break.
As for my job, I lucked out this summer. The last time I wrote, I was worried because my job wouldn't start for an entire month, leaving me with an empty wallet and a LOT of time. Fortunately, I was told about Hampton's need for a substitute paraprofessional so I applied and soon found myself called into work. I worked for four hours at Poff one day and then had a steady two week job at Central. I was mostly a clerical aid, making copies and signs and doing projects for teachers, but I also did the bus room in the morning and watched the kids at recess. It was definitely a valuable learning experience. I got to see things from the paraprofessional point of view at a school and how teachers interact with them and with each other. I am pretty sure I was the youngest person they've ever hired for that kind of thing, so I'm proud and I hope that I was able to bring more credibility to people my age. I think I worked really hard and I received some positive feedback. I think it's really important to put your name out there and establish yourself as a good person and worker, especially in schools where it's really competitive to get a job. I would love to work at Hampton some day or schools like it, so I hope this will help me in some fashion.
Once school ended, my official job for the summer began. I work at Summer Playcamp in the community. I used to go there as a kid, actually. It's for children whose parents work during the summer. The kids come to the community center for organized games in the gym, crafts, free time, snack, and lunch, and then we take them to the pool for the afternoon and end at the pavilion and playground. I absolutely love the job. I have always enjoyed working with kids, but this has been a very wonderful experience. Almost all of the kids are a joy to work with and I really love spending time with them. I won't lie and say it has been all fun and games though! It has certainly been exhausting and stressful. I get very frustrated at some children or situations, as to be expected. But over all, I really really like it. I think all of my working experiences have been really helpful and valuable, especially this one. I am also happy with the staff. We get along fairly well and we even have a Biggest Loser competition going on, which is fun. I definitely won't win that, but it's a good idea.
What an awesome fourth of July! I can't believe that a year ago I started this blog while I was at the beach in Cape May and I wrote about my disappointment over the rainy fourth and somewhat missing the celebrations at home. This year, Hampton decided to hold its activities only on July 3rd to cut costs. I did not have to work on Friday (!!) so I had a really great day off, shopping and relaxing. In in act of sheer boredom, Amy and I decided we would attend the fireworks at the park. I arrived early and walked around by myself and then with Megan and her friends for awhile, realizing how out of place I felt. Amy arrived and we both walked around, trying to avoid people we didn't want to see, and thinking how lame the whole thing was. The fireworks were nothing exciting. It was just like wow, how different this was a few years ago when going to the park for the 4th was a big deal. Not that I'm complaining that things are different now because I'm glad, but it was just weird. And spending a long time in traffic afterwards (even after leaving early) just emphasized that it wasn't really worth it. Luckily I had Amy with me! The fourth, however, was a blastttttttttttt. I drove up to Camp Bucoco to see Aaron and we spent the whole day together. We went to Westminster for a picnic. That was really strange. I have been really nostalgic recently about school, so being on the empty campus was a crazy feeling. I had a blast and I can't wait to go back. Then we went to the outlets for a bit, back to camp for an extremely short swim, out to dinner at The Brewery in Slippery Rock and then to Harrisville for a fair/fireworks. I had so much fun. It was definitely the best day of the summer and one of my favorite days of all time.
I have barely taken any pictures this summer and that makes me sad :( I want to change that. Things to look forward to for the rest of month:
Harry Potter 6 comes out July 15th
Hopefully getting July 17th off to go to the Lambec concert
Birthdays! Amy's and Mine :) (which I haven't even like thought about at all...)
Okay that's a short list. I need to fill it up more! Gahhhhhhh. I need a life.
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