Today is my 31st birthday, and that means it's time for my annual birthday blog post, giving my readers an update on my life!
Within the last 12 months there has been some changes in my life!
1) Professional Changes
Last year, at this time, I was working 2 positions in the education systems. I was working a part-time para-professional tutor (PPT) position (2-3 times a week) at Niu Valley Middle School (NVMS). On the other days, I continued working as a substitute teacher!
I am no longer working the tutor position at NVMS. However, I'm currently working the same position at Palolo Elementary School (PES). I'm still eligible to continue working as a substitute teacher on the other days I'm not at PES.
While I do enjoy my work as a PPT and a substitute teacher, I only get paid for the days I'm able to work! While that works out great during the school year, it's totally non-revenue during school vacations!
Let's put it this way - I spent 7 weeks during the summer as totally unemployed! Toward the last month of the summer vacation, I did some temporary labor work for Labor Ready, basically as a legal day-laborer!
-----
I also re-applied to work at Macy's!
A year ago, I had absolute zero-experience with retail work!
Wanting some extra-income during last year's winter vacation, I applied and got hired for a holiday seasonal job at Kahala Mall! I was a recovery associate, meaning that I fold clothes, put stuff away, and assisted customers. It was a fun job, but it was only temporary.
At the end of January 2011, I had my exit interview! I was also informed that Macy's headquarters had eliminated all recovery associate positions!
In the summer, I did apply again for various jobs within the Macy's organization. I got hired for part-time sales associate position at a different Macy's store! Now, this time, I'm working the cash register!
2) Finally starting on my Master's!
I want to continue working in the school system, but I'm tired of the non-paid vacations associated with being a PPT and a substitute teacher. I want a job within the system that comes with a higher salary and benefits! It's also time that I take on a job with more responsibilities!
So, I'm about to started my Masters degree program at the University of Phoenix! This program will be in Elementary Education. My goal is to eventually become a full-time elementary teacher, hopefully with upper-elementary students!
This program involves 1 night-class a week! That might sound easy, but it also involves writing papers and doing research.
And doing all this with while still being employed in my current jobs.
But in order to get ahead in life, sacrifices need to be made! You don't get something for nothing!
But if everything goes to plan, in a few years, I'll get my master's and will be working as a full-time teacher! I'll be getting paid better than I do now, and also have vacation benefits! :)
3) Another sign I'm getting old
I'm starting to lose hair. I got a mini-bald spot, and you can see my hair thinning up front!
I still got my hair long, but that's because I won't be able to do so much longer.
My older brothers already lost their hair!
It's gotta be from the European side of the family.
Hair-loss is said to be inherited from the mother's side of the family tree!
And my mother's side of the family has more European DNA than my father's side.
While my mother is Puerto Rican (with Spanish and native DNA), she's also Portuguese and German. A lot lighter skin than me! Her brothers all experience hair-loss!
My father has some European DNA from his father, a Mexican soldier with Spanish ancestry! But my father's mother is purely of Native Mexican ancestry (Zapotec tribe to be more specific). And my dad has no sign of hair loss! More evidence of hair-loss being inherited from the mom's side! After all, there isn't much hair loss if your mom isn't of European ancestry!
My dad did once said "too much shampoo can bring hair loss, just use regular soap on your hair". Well, don't mind getting rid of my chest and back hairs (more inheritance from the European DNA) so I decided to experiment with using shampoo on my body hair, and use regular soap on my head hairs!
The way things are working out, "shampoo vs regular soap" got nothing to do with it! I'm stuck with European hair traits (ie too much on the front & back, but not enough on top). My father just happened to have less European DNA than me!
Enjoy my long hair while it lasts!
4) Birthdays vs the Party Poopers
I've recently heard a former classmate say something like "Who celebrates their 31st birthday!? Seriously though, I'm not much of a birthday person past thirty........... I'm also not sure if I'm up for celebrating birthdays anymore, other than for, you know, kids"
Well, that guy is entitled to his opinion!
Here's mine!
Birthdays are a reminder to celebrate life!
If you want to spend your birthday home alone, wallowing in self-pity, grievances and insecurities, you have the right to do so! I also have the right to think that's very pathetic!
Look, anyone who read my more personal blog posts knows I didn't always have it easy! (see http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-first-3-decades-of-life.html for examples) But I also realize other people have it worse!
Look, even in Haiti, with all its disasters, poverty and violence, people still find the time to celebrate fesitivites. Most of the greatest US party jams comes from the urban ghettos. The Israelis don't stop partying, even though nearly all of them have been traumatized by terrorism!
If they can celebrate life, WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE FOR ALWAYS ACTING LIKE A PROFESSIONAL VICTIM?
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE FOR YOUR "EVERYTHING SUCKS" ATTITUDE?
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE FOR BEING AN ENERGY VAMPIRE? (meaning someone who sucks up everyone else's energy by constantly having long depressing conversations about the negative things in life!Or even worse, constantly asking YOU about your problems!)
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE FOR NOT CELEBRATING LIFE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR?
==
Also, that guy's attitude of "I'm also not sure if I'm up for celebrating birthdays anymore, other than for, you know, kids" shows that he has an attitude of "birthdays are for kids".
Well, ever notice that kids (even though they don't have much control of life) ARE NOT ASHAMED TO ENJOY LIFE? That they can play around and smile at ease?
Too many adults have been so traumatized (or at least irritated) by so much of their life, that they forget to celebrate the joys that life can bring!
A few friends, great food, fun activities are what birthdays are all about! That's what life should be about!
Birthdays are a reminder to celebrate! Even if they happen to be an odd # birthday like 31!
So yeah, you can be all cynical about life!
As for me, I AM READY TO PARTY! :)
