Mondays

Ode Joy.

What do you feel when each Monday comes around?
Usually for me, I dread Mondays - this day signifies that another week is starting and I still need to get through 4 days till the next weekend when I can really lounge and take care of myself to the utmost relaxing level ever.  This year and especially spring quarter, Mondays mean that I am yet another step closer to commencement.  However, today was something truly different.

For the past 3 quarters, every Monday I have an hour leadership team meeting scheduled with my supervisor and fellow team member, then a 30 minute one-on-one meeting with my supervisor right after.  I must say, I usually enjoy our meetings because it really is a time when all three of us know what is happening within the team as a whole and for us to know our tasks for that entire week in Mesa Court and our positions.  Don't get me wrong, we definitely have our stressful moments when there's a huge program and when it's crunch time, afterall an 8-week weekly course does not jump up and get accomplished by itself.

Today was unbelievable because I never could imagine this day to come.  Every week I constantly looked forward to accomplishing the MCLI class because it is work and essentially a required task.  Oh boy, I am finally done with MCLI forever.  Isn't that insane?!  I was looking through my previous posts, and I ran into a post about finishing my winter quarter MCLI class and the relief I have every quarter once this arduous task is completed.  But now what?  It's really all over, and a job well done I might add.


Kudos.

Which one is it?

Now more than ever, I have been trying to figure out what my passion or true calling in life really is...so now the real question, what is it?  I haven't been too sure for the past 6 months or so, and when I thought I knew what it was I wasn't sure if that was going to satisfy what I wanted to do with my life.  The time I have here left in this world is so valuable that I need to somehow strategically accept all my wants and I guess so of my needs mixing in with the different spontaneous actions and unexpected occurrences - oh wait... that's called LIFE.

So here are my options: 

Option 1: Travel 

Whether I like it or not, I am going to need an occupation/career that will either allow me to travel by giving me plenty of vacation time or is willing to pay me to travel for my expertise.  OR Travel while I'm young, not get paid, become broke, and experience amazing cultures before global warming destroys the world.  I like the second choice please.  Thanks!

Photo courtesy of my friend Taz, who is interning in freaking Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Organization!  This my friends is a picture of Switzerland, is this country awesome or what?!  Not only is this country neutral but it has an amazing countryside with great weather.  When I was looking through Taz's pictures I feel like she experienced everything from the hills from Sound of Music to the sea to the snowy mountains!  I need to travel period, done deal.

Option 2: Photography?

Photography is more of a hobby, I love capturing all the different moments in my life and literally freezing present time.  I carry a camera around with me at all time, and when I forget my memory card in my laptop is when I get most upset. GAH. haha  This option reminds me that I need to take some specific pictures of places/things that remind me of UCI before I leave. 

Option 3: Wedding Planning

I don't think this dream is completely out of this picture just yet.  Although planning events is not my favorite things to do, I'm good at doing it and I'm pretty organized to plan huge beautiful this is my once in a lifetime event for other people.  Don't you think?  I would love to work with young couples, especially those who love to make cute quirky wedding invitations like the one above (courtesy of greenweddingshoes).  Also, I predict within the next 10 years a majority of my friends will be getting married, so I should have a major clientele base.  Sounds good so far yeah?  The icing on the cake is that this option incorporates both of my previously stated options.  Umm.. Awesome!

 Leadership is not an option, instead it is always something that will be incorporated into me - something systematically wired within me now, especially after my experiences at UCI.

Where do my options leave me?  I'm still in the process of answering that questions, but until then I have figured out the most legitimate and easiest way for me to leave the "bird's nest" and fly away to the east coast.  Go to grad school in the east!  So, my next plan is to stick with doing something productive that will guide me to what I want to do with my life and then bon voyage I am eastward bound!  I hope this doesn't mean that I automatically get a government job or some other office job that does not let me express my creativity of have color in my life.

I now leave you with this video.
I checked out some of her other videos and they are all equally cool.  While I was watching some of her videos, I also realized that the reason she would never end up on the radio is because her music doesn't necessarily fit into the crappy, club-popping shit they blast on the top radio stations.  Enjoy.

Adieu darlings.