Thesis Proposal Defense & #Rhizo15

I just had my thesis proposal defense last Tuesday and I passed. Although of course there's still a lot of work and revisions to do so I should not allow myself to let time pass by again. I guess I have to memorize the comments so that I know the revisions I have to do, by heart. Before I start hanging out in the library again.

In other news, Rhizomatic 2015 class is already up. I actually can't seem to catch up even if it just started yesterday but then I realized, this is what Rhizomatic Learning is all about. It tells you there is no beginning and there is no end. It's just like a black hole or tornado, feel free to jump in when you're ready and just hold on to whatever thing you feel like holding on into.

My life feels a Rhizome, right now. Maybe I should just jump in, even if I'm not ready, and let's see how things go, shall we?

Transcend. The culminating activity of the student organization I handle.

People who give advice are just talking to their past selves. As I woke up this morning, I realized that yesterday I gave 3 advices to the scholars which you would never believe came out from me. 

1) "Relax" 

2) "Don't Panic" and

3) "When things don't turn out as planned, things actually turn out to be better."

If my friends heard me saying this to my students, they probably think I'm such a pretentious person. Because for one, I admit, I barely relax and I panic a lot. These are just reactions of people who have high expectations of themselves. This is exactly what composes the students that I have handled this past school year. Scholars. They are the cream of the crop. The best of the best. And they have a maintaining Grade Point Average to reach in order to keep their scholarship grant until they graduate. 

We have this student organization which I can never imagine how my life would be like without it's existence. It was their first year, and I am so blessed. Or maybe it's the other way around? Maybe I was placed in this position for a purpose. I remember I never really applied for this position because my university had posted a different opening.

Through out the year I always reflected, what did God and St. La Salle want me to do?

Our OIC President and Chancellor wrote me a personalized Christmas greeting last year. 

"Take good care of our scholars. You are in charge of 20% of the student population."

It was such a load to bear. And I have to admit that, I am not good with names !! It took a while for me to recognize and match a face with a name. I promise to work on that. Remember a name is crucial. 

Anyway, here are some photos of the event yesterday. 

This was their going away surprise for me :) 

My thesis proposal defense is actually happening next week already. And remember, my thesis is all about students benefiting from student financial aid. So, things really does not end after I resign.  

Seeing how they have evolved makes me feel I did a great job. My mission has been accomplished. I have planted seeds, watch them break the ground and I believe that they can already do this without me. 

Happy Easter!

Okay so holiday Holy week is almost over and I didn't do any school work as I have told myself would do during the break. But I was able to clean my room!!! Wohoo... actually it just took me two days to do that... The rest of the week I laid on my bed. in my own room. because I missed it so much (good by accumulated crap).

Right now I'm spending the rest of my free time watching TED talks and here are some of my good finds.

Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems... palsy is just one

Liza Donnelly: Drawing upon humor for change

Count your blessings.

Today is a holiday and I finally have the time to clean my room.

I found my gratitude journal and the last time I wrote in it was in 2012.

A lot of things I wrote there no longer exists now, it it's okay because I have new set of blessings to be grateful for. 

When we lose things, we make room for something else. 

I am grateful and happy for a lot of things.