My Chariot

So, today going to work, five minutes into my commute I could tell I was going to have one of those I hate everyone transit commute days. Come on, people, learn how to act.  If you've never ridden MUNI, get ready. If you're currently waiting for MUNI, um, good luck. In any case, it reminded me of one thing I'm really excited for about going to UCSF for, which is totally unrelated to the actual top-notch learning I get to do: the UCSF shuttle system!!! Even though I have yet to actually ride the shuttle, I am already positive it is my own, personal chariot. Sure, I can share it with others. But it's so plush, and efficient and drama-free (most of the time), that I just can't wait to take it.  I created this picture to express my dreams and aspirations for riding the UCSF shuttle to/from home/campus/clinical sites. I mean, MUNI charges me $2 to burrow my way on board just to then try to hang on for dear life as it jolts away (assuming the bus even comes or stops for me. Big assumption.). Plus, see above links for the kind of crazy you risk by being on board. But my chariot? It's free! Well, free because I will have already paid one trillion dollars in tuition.  But free! I simply cannot wait. In the mean time, I might channel my MUNI frustration into creativity. Maybe.

Live the dream

In about two months I will head to orientation to begin becoming a nurse. One of my friends famously said on a first date that one of the things she is best at is making her dreams come true (accurate assessment on her part). Well, attending UCSF in the Masters Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) kinda makes me think I am developing that personal quality as well. I can remember the first time I read about the program, like five years ago (!!), while distracting myself at one of what was to be a few not-so-awesome jobs. I recall thinking to myself "whoa, that's what I want to do. like, for real". For a long time, nagging voices in my head convinced me that I could never  become a UCSF-trained nurse practitioner because: I wasn't smart enough, I got that C in 9th grade biology (that's still true), had a fun / silly liberal arts bachelor's degree and no prerequisite courses, was already going to graduate school and once was enough, had never been nor did I live remotely close to California, but most of all, that  I'D NEVER GET ACCEPTED. So, I instead focused on other activities and opportunities, just to be totally, surprisingly overwhelmed by an intense desire (panic) to pursue nursing (at UCSF because it's the only place I wanted to be and subsequently the only place I applied) whenever I thought I'd found my path. Using the strikethrough function really is a lot more efficient way to demonstrate the hard work, crazy choices, gutsy moves and lots of time it really took to get where I am. And now, there is so much ahead! I'm still working on a new list of things to cross off, like not being shy about telling people I'm going back to school or that I already have graduate degrees. Oh yeah, there is that whole 1-year RN boot camp part plus 2 years advanced practice study. But honestly, it's mostly just awesome. As another close friend told me, when I slyly mentioned in an email to him that I was going to UCSF to become a nurse and then nurse practitioner, just like I had been saying I wanted to do every time we drank beer together for like the last 5 years: "LIVE THE DREAM". (he did write that in all caps in his email. fitting.) So, here I am, living in my tiny, San Francisco shoebox apartment 2.3 miles from campus. With my acceptance letter to UCSF. My stethoscope for clinicals purchased. Feeling so ready to begin and that this is just so right. I keep thinking of what my favorite character in my favorite movie says in (one of) my favorite scene(s):

Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room.