So I finally had my Fall Break last week. It was greatly appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed. I went shopping with my mom, worked at the park, went to church, carved a pumpkin with Nonna, and just enjoyed spending time with my family. I conquered my fear of driving in the dark and rain though!!! I was absolutely terrified and prayed all the way home and back, and of course God kept his hand on me.
This week I had my first Links-Up Mentoring meeting with my group. Our objective is to take these 6 troubled students and make them leaders in their school. The mentors, like me, do activities to build self-esteem, teamwork, responsibility, respect and other qualities needed to be a leader. It might be an interesting year, because one of our students was suspended and wasn't there that day. I didn't get to have the full experience because I left the surveys in my room and I had to come all the way back to the dorm to get them and by the time I got back to the school there was only enough time to take the survey and then go.
About 3 weeks ago my roommate, Shelby, went to give blood and the recruiter lady kept bugging me to give blood. After listening to her for about 20 minutes ramble on I finally told her I hadn't eaten that day and I couldn't give blood that day but that I would one day. Well little did I know the opportunity would arise today. My friend, Kenna, was going to give blood and asked me to go. Well I didn't have an excuse today because I ate breakfast this morning and just finished my lunch. So I decided that there was a first time for everything. This is where my experience begins. I passed all the initial screening, I had a good weight, iron, blood pressure and all that other stuff needed. I was surprisingly nervous. The needle was HUGE!!! A lot bigger than I expected it to be, but needles don't scare me or anything. I got about 8 minutes into giving my blood when I told the nurse that I was beginning to feel dizzy, so she laid me down and gave me some apple juice. They finished "sucking the life out of me" and I had to lay there for 5 more minutes. I finally felt OK and I finished my apple juice so I got up to leave. I went to pick up my backpack, went to grab some Nutter Butter's and another juice. I walked to the elevator and passed out. I literally just fell to the ground. I couldn't see anything, everything was black. I could hear what people were saying but I had this horrible ringing in my ears. My friend Kenna runs back in there and everyone comes running over there. They pick me up and take me to a place to lay down. I had to lay there for 30 minutes and finish my Nutter Butter's and another juice. This one hour process turned out to be a 2 hour journey; however, I saved 3 lives. GO ME!!! So now my arm feels like it has been punched 10 times and then wrapped in a pretty blue bandage. I think I had a productive day.
Things I learned this week:
1.) My nursing teacher is not as intimidating as I thought he was.
2.) Driving in the dark isn't as scary as I made it out to be.
3.) Money goes fast!!!
4.) I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out this summer and I'm not excited at all.
He is worth the wait!!
