Oh man, how corny is that title? But I was listening to “I am stronger” by Britney Spears on my run last night and it made me think about some things.
First thing, thank you all so much for your kind comments yesterday. Later in the day I felt like an idiot for being such a whiner, but your comments meant so much to me and really helped pick me up!
Second thing, I guess I freaked out a little too soon. We got a call yesterday morning saying that Eric got his spot back, thank god! His advisor’s boss met with the vice-president of administration and explained the situtation. I guess the VP thought it was completely unfair that he lost his spot (which it was) and figured out a way to get him back in! I tend to FREAK out when things happen and don’t give them time to sort themselves out, it’s something I need to work on. I could probably save myself a lot of stress that way!
Third thing, the whole point of the title, I AM stronger. I was thinking about it yesterday and I am so much stronger than I was three months ago. Look at this post from January 6. On Sunday, I ran eight miles in 90 minutes. Sure, that’s not a super fast pace or anything, but I ran for 90 minutes. Three months ago I could barely run for 21. I’ve tripled that.
I also dropped down and did 20 real pushups in a row last night. 20. At Christmas I couldn’t even do 10 real pushups without dropping to my knees. So, I know my body is way stronger than it was three months ago, even if I weigh the same.
Fourth thing, about my internship. A lot of you have expressed interest in how my search is going so I’m going to go into a bit more background and detail about it.
This is the first year at this J-school that internships have been a requirement. In the past, students were encouraged to do an internship over the summer, but it wouldn’t affect their mark. This year it became required to do a 12-week internship over the summer and that would make up 25 per cent of the students mark. It was an unfortunate coincidence that the same year they decided to make internships a requirement, the economy hit rock bottom. Obviously, when it comes to slashing budgets, paid internships are one of the first things to go.
Recently, due to the lack of students who were able to find paid internships, the chair of the journalism department and the internship coordinator decided to change it so that if you cannot find a paid internship the maximum amount of free work you can do is two weeks. They felt that any longer than that would be exploiting us (I agree). Besides, who can afford to work 12 full-time weeks for free? Not me.
Right now my plan is to get the two weeks over with at the beginning of May and then find a part-time waitressing job. It will be the first summer in four years that I don’t work full-time. I’m hoping to use the extra free time that I will have doing freelance work and training for another race. If anybody has ANY tips about the freelance writing market I would LOVE to hear them!
Oh, and I have a couple of very busy weeks coming up in April so I’m looking for GUEST BLOGGERS!
If you are interested in doing a guest blog for me please leave a comment or shoot me an email at amber_yake_09 (at) hotmail (dot) com and I will contact you about it. It can be about whatever you want, something you would normally post on your own blog would be fine! Don’t be shy, email me!
Thanks again for your wonderful comments, you guys are the best! XO
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
you’re stronger too, huh? and here I just posted about being proud of being able to do 15 pushups, and you knock out 20? good job, sister. nice gains!
Awesome on the running time and push-ups! That’s truly a testament to how strong your body is. Isn’t it a great feeling?
Glad Eric’s situation has been figured out. I’m the same way; I freak out before I even have time to process. I’m working on it, though.
Good luck with the internship situation! I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that is interesting and worthy of your time.
ooo, guest blogging. I would love to, though I may need you to prompt me about something you’d like me to write about =)
I’m so glad you’re doing better! What a pain about the change in internship rules. I’m sure it’s easy to find free ones, but, if you have a problem, I edit a magazine for a nonprofit ….
In my field, students are required to do a 40 week clinical rotation (basically an internship) and pay full tuition for the privilege. Exploitation? Maybe. Essential to my education? Absolutely! If the internship is required, see if you can get a student line of credit and then find the place you think you’ll get the best experience and pay for it yourself. In the long run, you’ll thank yourself.
H =)
That’s amazing!!! I’m so happy for you and Eric, it’s great that things are looking up!
Woah - 90 min.????? I’ll be REALLY excited when I can run 30 non-stop and not fall down lol
So glad everything worked out!
I might be interested in guest blogging for you…I just have no idea what I would blog about! Haha =)
I’m glad things are working out for you!! I remember looking for internships when I was in college and it sucked! I finally found one (unpaid) and although it was boring the company it was for is still impressing employers! Sweet!
Good luck in your search, I hope you find a fabulous one!
I’ll guest blog for you in April, if you’ll return the favor for me in May (when I’m off in Europe). I hope to post a bit from Europe, but it definitely won’t be several times a week so I’d love a guest blog or two. And just let me know what you’d want me to write about on yours!
I can SO relate to your comment about how you FREAK out about things & don't let them settle in. I am the same way. I'm sort of like "Chicken Little" I guess you could say! It's something I am working on as well.
I am glad you are feeling better about things & I am relieved that Eric got his spot back - I am glad that common sense prevailed as there was no reason they shouldn't have given him his spot back since he had done everything he was told to do.
Ahh, the stress of it all. I am glad that you are feeling better today, though! Sometimes you just have days like that & then you wake up the next morning w/ a new perspective on things. Glad that you are feeling better!! I was having one of those days yesterday as well!!!
I am so glad to hear that things are working out a bit better!!!!
And that sounds like a good idea (the 2 weeks free and then waitressing - enjoy your part time summer jobs while you are young!!!)
I would love to guest blog for you if you would let me!!! i could answer all YOUR questions in it!!! Perfectly tailored for Amber!
I’m so glad that you’re having a better day
Horses are the best…you are so lucky to have had one growing up!
Oh I just read your last post today. I don’t know why it didn’t show up on my Reader.
I’m glad things are looking up for you again!
And I’d love to guest blog for you too, but I don’t know how much you’d appreciate me talking about things that make no sense.
PS/ how awesome about the internship. Yesterday this interviewing intern at my company cried because she didn’t pass the interview. Ugh I felt so bad.
Hi Amber- I totally missed your blog post yesterday because I was out visiting family, but I’m very glad you are feeling better now. I agree that things have a way of working themselves out when you give them some time- I know I try not to freak out about things until it’s had some time to develop, because a lot of time it turns out just fine. I also think you should be totally proud of how far you have come physically regardless of your weight. Weight is only a number, but strength and energy are really lasting, tangible things. Keep developing those and the weight will eventually go too. Good luck finding and internship!
~Amanda
I am so glad you are feeling better today and realizing how strong you are! the number on the scale is not always the best representation of how well you are doing, especially when muscle weighs more than fat!
interestingly enough, even though I started off yesterday ok, I had a pretty crappy night, which is another story, but just saying, I get how you felt in yesterday’s post. things happen and it sucks. but at least in the light of a new day you can see the “silver lining” so to speak. and I’m happy everything worked out with Eric. now, if only that internship drama would resolve itself! for my journalism major I had to do an internship too. but out here in cali, a paid-internship is practically unheard of. all three of my internships were unpaid. at least they changed the rules to accommodate you and you only have to do 2 weeks. that makes it a bit easier.
I don’t have any freelancing advice really. except check out mediabistro.com, ed2010.com and maybe buy Writer’s Market book if you are really serious about it (it is kind of expensive, but I think you can actually subscribe to the info online now…)
finally, I would love to guest blog for you! just let me know when
1. Mad props on the push ups. I definitely couldn’t pull that off.
2. Britney Spears recently moved into the same community as one of my clients. My goal for the next week? STALKING FEST.
Just kidding. Sort of.
whoo! so glad a few things turned out right for you. i totally get the internship thing– at the same time, i wish my school had really made it mandatory, but the problem was a lot of internships were unpaid, and there was no way I could afford to do unpaid. i did one unpaid 2 times a week for the summer, and it didn’t even really get me anywhere. while i pulled in 12 hour days at my other job for 3 months, needless to say by the end of the summer I was done for and moved back home.
I’m gonna do 8 miles this sunday, I’m hoping to do it around 90 minutes too! i’m nervous though!!!