#39 - Get My MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Hello, Blogland.

I have returned to update you on my Day Zero progress.  I'm not gonna lie, it isn't going spectacularly, but things are still happening!  In fact, I graduated!

Me with my mom and dad on graduation day!

Yes, it's very exciting and I'm so happy to be done with my degree.  If you don't know much about I/O psychology, I won't bore you here.  But I loved the program at Hofstra University, so feel free to take a look.

Now to find employment...

NY vs. TX

As you all know, I'm a Texas girl.  I've lived in Texas since I was seven years old, and moved up to New York in August 2010.  Since I've been here, I've grown to really appreciate things about Texas and, in turn, really miss those things.  But I've also fallen in love with a lot that New York has to offer.  My typical activities have also changed since living here.  I bring you a comparison of my life in Texas (mostly in College Station, during college) to my life in New York:

Typical weekend activity:
Texas: eating, $4 movies (always!), sometimes dancing
New York: wild brunch, sleeping, going to bars, lots of dancing

Favorite hangout spots:
Texas: Sweet Eugene's (warning - plays music automatically), the 212, Halo
New York: Pranna NYC, Bar Social, Public House

Quick meal:
Texas: Chick-fil-A, Blue Baker, Rosa's, McAlister's, pasta
New York: falafel, cart food, pierogi, hummus

Preferred place to study:
Texas: library annex, Sweet Eugene's
New York: Hauser on campus

Parks:
Texas: Research Park (CS,TX), Andy Brown West (hometown)
New York: Central Park

Commute to school:
Texas: 10 minutes via bus
New York: 30-45 minutes via car

Extreme weather experienced:
Texas: over 100 °F high temperatures, hurricanes, tornado warnings
New York: lows in the teens, hurricane, tornado, earthquake

Accessories/clothing of choice:
Texas: Toms shoes, jeans, cardigans
New York: heels, boots, tights

Friends:
Texas: choir kids (CS love), seester
New York: I/O people

I love both places.  And I can't wait to make Texas my home again after I graduate!

When you've moved to a new place, have your tastes and activities changed?  For better or worse?

Impostor

[via Threadless]

Do you ever feel like you're totally making things up as you go?  Like at any minute, your boss is going to realize that you have no idea what you're doing or talking about?  Like you should never have gotten into graduate school?  Like you're an impostor?

You are not the only one!  I spend half of my time wondering how I even got to where I am right now.  "How did I ever get into grad school?"  "Why did they even hire me?"  "Soon everyone's going to realize that I'm making this up and I have no business being here."

This is known as Impostor Syndrome.  Basically, someone experiencing impostor syndrome cannot internalize their own accomplishments.  They believe they are not capable of what they have accomplished, and have done so by sheer luck.  The term was coined by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in their 1978 paper, "The Impostor Phenomenon Among High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention" (PDF available here).

In an article on Science Careers, Lucas Laursen summarizes:

They gave this name to high-performing but inwardly anxious women who were among the professionals attending Clance's group-therapy sessions. "These women do not experience an internal sense of success," wrote Clance. "They consider themselves to be 'impostors'" despite scoring well on standardized tests, earning advanced degrees, and receiving professional awards. Early on, this phenomenon was associated with women, a belief that persists today. But subsequent studies, including another by Clance, have shown that men are affected in equal numbers.

So why does this happen?  There are many beliefs as to what causes this impostor syndrome.  This is often seen in individuals who were placed in remedial classes as children, who, in spite of their later success, still believe themselves to be underachievers.  It is also seen often in women and minorities, likely due to stereotypes of intelligence (e.g., "women aren't good at math" and "black students are not as smart as white students").

The author offers suggestions for overcoming your impostor syndrome.  These include keeping track of positive compliments you receive rather than blowing off praise, and simply talking to other people who feel the same way!

So read the articles, and let me know what you're doing to work on your impostor syndrome.  I personally am practicing the art of taking compliments sincerely, rather than blowing them off.  When someone compliments my work, in my head, I remind myself - "yes, I am AWESOME.  I deserve that compliment.  So thank you, friend.  Thank you."

[via Kevin]

Final Countdown

My third semester of grad school is almost over!  As of Friday, it will officially be Christmas break.  Needless to say, not a lot of blogging happens when you live and breathe school/work/gym.

Some recent photos from around here:

Yes, our cat owns me.  Hopefully I'll have a real post to go up after this week!Have a great week, friends!

Cake Walk

Blogging is tough.

This month has been incredibly busy, and blogging has been the last thing on my mind!  I will obviously have to extend my day zero six months of blogging again, but that's okay.  Some photos from around here, edited with Little Photo on my Android phone:

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I'm hoping to get into a better blogging groove for the rest of my "6 months."  I have a couple of ideas, so it's just a matter of sitting down and writing them out.  I already have an idea for my last post in this challenge.

Now it's time for me to go listen to some Christmas music.  First up?  A Charlie Brown Christmas on vinyl.

Do you listen to Christmas music?  What's your favorite?

Why My Boyfriend is the Best

Last week, I had a bad day at work.

Isn't that the worst? When you feel like you can't do anything right?

Luckily, I had a wonderful Sunday to look forward to: Kevin and I had already made plans to stay in bed the whole day while watching TV and computer-ing. In order to remind me of these plans, he made me this:

Yes people. This is a cake. Shaped like a bed(!!!). Our bed, in fact. See photo below for reference.

He made the fondant himself, and dyed it with food coloring until it matched our colors perfectly.

It totally made my week so much better. I'm so lucky to have such an incredible boyfriend!

What do you do on a lazy Sunday?

Texas, Our Texas

As I mentioned before, I just spent a week back home in Dallas, Texas. It was such a wonderful trip! I got to see a lot of old friends and ate a lot of good food. I got my Chick-fil-a and Sonic fixes, and had a lot of frozen yogurt. And tacos. Many tacos. Plus my mom made lots of yummy things to eat, as well. (Can you tell I love food?)

I did not do a very good job of taking pictures, though. Here are a few from my week:

With Courtney and Sarah at Tappy's Yogurt

At Daddy's, on his two computers

Lunch with Mom (and Dante): Turkey, Apple, and Brie Wraps

A visit to Jenelle's house with Courtney

I also got to play with my Dad's iPad 2! I took several photos of myself with it. I'm so vain, I know.

What do you do when you go home? What foods do you like to eat? What people do you like to see?

Happy Birthday!!

Almost three years together, and I can't believe how lucky I am.

Happy birthday, Kevin!  I love you to the moon and back!

Takin' Care of Business

I'm a real girl!

My grown-up badge!

My first week of work went really well.  Thanks to everyone for the nice thoughts and kind words this week.  I'm excited about my new job, but it'll be a lot of work!  In December I'll be taking over for a co-worker going on maternity leave, so a lot of it is teaching me her job as well as my own.  Yay!  Everyone I work with is incredibly nice and I even have my own desk and computer and voicemail.  How cool am I? (Answer: very.)

I hope you had a good week, too.  Enjoy the holiday weekend!

So Quotable

I love quotes.  I love it when my friends say hilarious things and I like to remember them.  What better way to do this than by writing things down?  I have what I call the "quote book," where I take down anything funny my friends say.  It serves other purposes as well, such as writing in poems I like, making lists, and placing stickers I want to hold on to.

The notebook itself.  Last names removed to protect the hilarious.

I've been writing down quotes since my freshman year of undergrad (fall of 2007), and it's only just over halfway full! That leaves many pages for more hilarious things to be said.  Here are some of my favorites:

"Ya'll's friendship sucks.  Wait - can I say that?" - Mary, my high school Sunday School teacher.

"I'm so existential.  I'm so I ♥ Huckabees right now." - Jeremiah, a friend from undergrad.

"Orthopedics... I had braces once." - Andrew, my current roommate.

"A comedian was making a job about it on TV and I was like, 'oh my God, I can't spell restaurant.'" - Sasha, a friend from grad school.

"I'm so original when I'm not with you." - Jill, my darling sister.

"I was this close to saying 'make me a sandwich woman.' ...That never works out well for me.  I'm always making my own sandwiches." - Chad, a friend from grad school.

"It's super.  Thanks for asking." - Jaime, a friend from grad school.

"He was like stale dough and now he's risen." - Lisa, a friend from grad school.

"The only thing I don't like about this camera is that I can't play Angry Birds." - Paul, Kevin's father.

"They all have their big ideas, like sparkling vampire! And dystopian bloodsport!" - Kevin, my boyfriend, on fantasy fiction.

Do you and your friends have inside jokes like these?  Do you ever document them?  Or am I just weird?

Working Girl

Look out, Melanie Griffith - Kelsey's employed!

I start my internship tomorrow at a hospital on Long Island.  After filling out a ton of paperwork and getting a physical (which included having blood drawn - ick), it's official!  I will be the Human Resources Intern; I can't wait to start.  I'll be working with the recruitment team as well as employee education for a year while I finish my MA.

Wish me luck!

TOMS: One for One

Some people think they’re ugly, and some people think they’re the best shoes in the entire world.  I am most definitely in the second camp. TOMS Shoes are possibly my favorite footwear.

I got my first pair during my last summer in College Station at Texas A&M.  After coveting my friend Jenna’s for a long time, I finally purchased some of my own.  I got the Ash Canvas Classics:

For Christmas of this year, I got a TOMS giftcard from my mom!  I was really excited about getting another pair, but I was worried about being able to wear them, since it’s so cold in New York.  My solution was to get the Grey Wool Fleck Botas!  They have a faux fur lining and are very warm.

My friend Sasha had a pair of grey TOMS, the right one of which ripped while she was on campus at Hofstra, and the left one of which her dog chewed.  I convinced her to let me have the two bad shoes (she had them replaced, care of Hofstra), and with the help of a patch and an iron, they’re good as new!  Now I have two pairs of grey, but my first pair are practically brown now that I’ve worn them so much.

Can you believe those were once the same color?!

And finally, this summer as a gift to myself for finishing my first year of graduate school, I purchased a pair of Coral Linen Classics.  They’re very light and airy, perfect for the summer!  I’m in love.

This brings my total to four pairs, and all I can think about is getting more, more, more.  I may have a problem.

Image from toms.com

TOMS donates one pair of shoes for every pair purchased.  And that’s pretty awesome.  They also now sell sunglasses, and for every pair purchased, they give the gift of SIGHT!  And that’s really awesome.

I think that may be the best part about owning TOMS - knowing that because I wear four pairs, four other people wear a pair as well.

Do you wear TOMS? What kind do you have?

#79 - Go to Cape Cod with Kevin

At the end of May, Kevin and I went with his family to Massachusets for his cousin's wedding!  While we were there we got to go to the Cape, and I got to check off another thing on my Day Zero list.  We spent a day in Provincetown, MA and it was delightful.

Crazy house in Provincetown with the coolest art in their yard.

Because we all know Kelsey has an owl obsession...

Pictures from whale watching!  I didn't get any great ones of whales, so you'll have to be satisfied with one of us instead.

I can't wait to knock #78 off the list - Travel with Kevin out of the country!

A Hiatus of Sorts

Hi Blogland, remember me?

My last update in October = pretty sad.  I hope to get back into blogging here now that I have the summer on my side.  Some updates on my life here:

• Finished by first year of grad school AND passed my comprehensive exam
• Making great progress on my 101 in 1001 list (it will soon be updated on the blog)
• Started Weight Watchers (and I've already lost 2 pounds!)
• Bought Harry Potter 7 tickets for the midnight showing on July 14!!
• Read (and loved) The Hunger Games trilogy

Get excited for more 101 in 1001 posts, as well as things I like. I leave you with a picture taken by that cute little boyfriend of mine on our trip to Connecticut.

Today's the Day!

So I can barely contain my excitement - Kevin is coming to visit TONIGHT!
I've been counting down the days since he bought the plane tickets and now it's finally here. I'm charging up the camera and making a list of everything we simply MUST do together. Here's what I have so far:

1. Hug for a long time

2. Eat dinner at Cenare for our anniversary and my birthday

3. Go to Austin to visit his family

4. Watch GLEE!

5. Hang out with our cool friends

6. Swap music

7. Eat at Spoons Yogurt

8. Sleep all day on Sunday

9. Watch Friends together

10. Carve pumpkins!

I can't even tell you how thrilling this week(end) is going to be. It's been two months since we've seen each other in real life and it's so exciting. He leaves New York after his two midterms and he should get here around 9:30 tonight! I'm super bummed out because I can't pick him up at the airport for the epic "Welcome Home!" embrace in public, but our dear friend Jenna is doing the honors (just no funny business). This will give him an hour to get used to being on the ground again before I get home and take care of #1 on the list above.

Did I mention how stoked I am?! Are there too many exclamation points in this post? Well I don't care, because my boyfriend's coming home!(!!!!)

What are you excited about this weekend?

My Very Plushie Boyfriend

Updating on a Sunday again! It was yet another great weekend. As we speak my adorable boyfriend is boiling water to make us tea. He's just the best. We're watching Friends (Season 4 - The One With Chandler in a Box) and enjoying what's left of the weekend before it's back to school/class.

On Friday, we had a lovely double date night with our dear friends Jenna and Nick! Nick goes to school at UT and he came in for the weekend. We made dinner together - chicken sandwiches on the grill, corn on the cob, and brownies! Then we saw The Proposal, which was fun. Totally predictable, of course, but cute. Here are some pictures from the evening:

The adorable couple.

It was a delightful evening. We should most certainly do it again. Also, notice my attempts at being a food photographer.
Saturday was spent on running errands, watching the O.C. and Friends, and eating greasy Chinese food. We were trying to find The Time Traveler's Wife so we could read it together, but we couldn't find it anywhere! The movie is coming out on August 14th, so everyone is buying it up to read it ahead of time! It is one of my favorite books in the world, I can't wait to see it.
This week is "finals week" of Summer I. I have a Skills Test in Strength Training tomorrow and a test on Wednesday. My Educational Psychology paper is due on Wednesday as well, and my Psychology of Adjustment final is on Thursday. Then I have a whole three days before Summer II starts, hooray!
Next weekend is Kevin's birthday, America's too! Here is my favorite picture of him from this weekend, posing as one of my plushies:

I think I'm in love.