Done and DONE! For Real This Time...

Hello all!  As I am procrastinating finishing up some documentation, I thought I would update you all on what's been happening the last month.

Well, I graduated!  Again!  I completed my degree and got my MMT!  (Master of Music Therapy).  Here are some pics!

 Me being hooded by Dr. Cassity

 Class of 2011 (Winter Commencement)

 I'm so cool...

 Me and the cuz...he graduated the night before from the Police Academy at Drury.

 As you can tell, we really like taking pictures...

 Me and Maw (my grandma on dad's side)

So proud!

My holiday plans are crazy!  I'm in Springfield until the 23rd, then Laura and I will travel home to Fayetteville.  But we're back in the Springfield area Christmas day to have the family get-together at my uncle's house.  I go back to AR for a couple of days on the 26th, then I leave for Chicago the 29th with a group of friends for New Years.  We stay there until the 2nd, and then I come back to Springfield to start up sessions again.  I'll probably go back home one more time before Drury starts back up, because that will be when most of my sessions get underway again.  Crazy crazy!  And now for some holiday pics of the fam!

 Our friend Hayden was over for the cheesy family photo hour, so we made him jump in as the adopted son

After all of the holiday shenanigans, I will get back into the swing of sessions!  I'll only have a few until June.  It's weird to pick up new clients and only see them for 6 months.  I won't have any school though, so I'll have lots of free time.  It will be weird to say the least.

Now I'm off to record a CD for one of my clients as a Christmas present!  I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  May this time be filled with friends, family, and of course, remembrance of the best gift of all!  God bless!

Thankful

I know it's already the day after Thanksgiving, but I thought I would list some of the things I am thankful for.  It's good to remind yourself every now and then all that you are blessed with.

I'm thankful for...

• my relationship with my Savior and Lord, first and foremost.  Without him, I would be nothing.
• my family, for all of their love and support.  Even when some of them drive me crazy, I know they will always be there for me.
• my crazy, crazy friends.  It takes special people to understand my crazy and be able to relate to it!  :-P
• my health.  I may not be the most fit person in the world (ha!), but I have no major ailments, and for that I am very grateful.
• my church home.  It's been tough not having a church in Springfield to go to regularly, but I am so thankful to be able to come back to FBC Farmington and feel welcome and loved.
• almost being done with school...for real this time!  I graduate in less than a month!
• a profession that I am happy in...music therapy combines music with helping people, just what I like!

Now the fun/silly list!  I'm thankful for...

• chocolate
• Pinterest
• Snuggies (I admit to owning a leopard-print one)
• movies that never get old (The Holiday!)
• sunsets
• my cats and my dog
• the way new books smell
• sleeping late
• the feel of clean sheets
• caffeine
• the ability to not get into Christmas mode until after Thanksgiving
• iTunes
• contact lenses
• cardigans
• the sound a symphony makes when it's tuning right before a concert
• my perfect guy (he's out there somewhere!)

I hope everyone was able to find something they were thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Now get ready for the Christmas season!  Until next time!

Denied

I received an e-mail from the Journal of Music Therapy editors earlier this morning.  Here's what it said:

Dear Ms. Jenkins,

 

I want to thank you for submitting your manuscript, “Functional Musicianship of Music Therapy Students Entering Internship,” for peer review. The reviewers agreed that the manuscript addresses an important topic, but did not recommend publication.  Primary concerns centered on methodology.

 

Although your manuscript was not selected for publication, the reviewers did provide some informative and encouraging comments that you may find helpful as you move forward with your program of research (please see attached letter).  It is also my hope that the reviewer comments will offer greater understanding for the reasons the manuscript was not selected for publication.

 

Thank you once again for your submission. We appreciated the opportunity to review your scholarly work and hope that you will continue to keep the journal in mind as a publication outlet for your research.

 

So, I got denied.  I know I shouldn't be upset...I mean, it was my first attempt at having a study published, having very little idea of what I was doing.  I gave it my best, and at least it got my name out there as a serious MT.  But I am upset.

 

The part that really aggravates me is all of the work I put into this study, virtually for nothing, and all of the BS I had to put up with to get it here.  I relied a lot on the knowledge of my professor/adviser to let me know what I was doing wrong, things I should add or change, etc.  I finished this study with such high hopes of it being published; he told me he couldn't see any reason why they wouldn't publish it.  And now I sit here, over a year later, not having the study published.

 

I shouldn't be so hard on myself.  It's just disappointing.  I can try and correct some things and submit it to a different journal, and knowing my professor, that's what will happen.  And I'm presenting this research at conference next week, so at least other people can hear about it. 

 

I guess I'm done ranting about it.  Off to class. 

Fall 2011

Hello all!  One of the things I love about Drury is its trees in the fall.  They are absolutely gorgeous!  During my undergrad years, I would walk around campus each year with my friend Erin and take pics.  Sadly, E-Mac is in San Antonio, but I was able to get a few pics from this year.  Here they are!

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Quick Update

Hello all!  Obviously, I haven't blogged in awhile.  That's only because nothing super duper amazing has happened in my life lately.  It's the same ole same ole.  I'm just getting through these last few classes, doing a few MT sessions, and chillin' in Springfield!

Looking at my semi-professional side, I finally finished my first major research.  I sent it off for review the first time at the beginning of September.  It was quickly sent back with a few minor corrections that needed to be made, and I sent it off again.  I should know by December if it will be published in the Journal of Music Therapy.  So here's hoping!  I'm currently working on my second research and will hopefully have that done and ready for review by December.  And in November, I'm going to the AMTA Conference to present my first research in a Poster Session. Pretty much, I make a pretty poster, stand there for two hours, and answer any questions someone might have.  Woohoo for me!


Now for the fun side of my life!  A few weeks ago, the music therapy students had a talent night fundraiser at a local coffee shop.  My friend Brittany and I got up on stage and did a rendition of a youtube video called "Axis of Awesome" (look it up, it is indeed awesome).  Of course I tried to upload the video on here, and of course it didn't work.  So for now, if you wanna see it, it's on my facebook wall!

My friend Zach had to have some head shots taken for his portfolio, so I took a few for him.  And afterwards we decided to have a Supermodel Documentary Hour photoshoot!  Here are a few goodies.

 I finally graduate in December!  Yay!  I am soooo ready to be done.  I'm tired of the same school routine.  I think I'm finally ready to be a big girl and have a full-time job.  The plan for now is to stay in Springfield until next June, then move back to Fayetteville in the hopes and attempts to start my own MT practice.  Prayer for that would be greatly appreciated, since I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing in that respect.

Well, that's all I have for now.  Time to finish my coffee and some laundry before getting ready for today's sessions!  Hope everyone is enjoying the Fall weather!!!

The Final Stretch

Hello all!  I probably shouldn't be writing this right now, seeing as I am currently in my professor's office during a research meeting (oops!)...but since he is busy editing my paper in silence, I felt the urge to update.

This is the last day of summer school!  Hooray!  And it looks like I will be holding onto my 4.0 for a little longer!  I had a couple of good classes:  Web Design and Language & Development of the Exceptional Child.  Both were very interesting, and I gained a lot of resources from both.   I just submitted my last assignment, and now wait for the final grades to be in.  And since I'm done with school and half of my sessions are on hold until school starts again, I'm taking this next week off!  I'll be going home to AR (hopefully tomorrow) to just chillax for awhile.

I can't believe that it's already August!  This makes me realize that I only have 5 months, and then I will be done with school forever!  I don't plan on getting a PhD or anything, so this will most definitely be it.  All I have left is a couple more online classes, a final resesarch, and then I'm done.

Here's some exciting news about me and my profession.  I may be presenting my current research project at the national conference this November!  It would be during a poster session, which I'm not completely sure what all that entails.  But it gets my name out there and shows people I know what I'm talking about!  Also, said research project may be on its way to being published in a research journal...can we say LEGIT?!?!

Now for the "scary" part of my life:  I have no idea what is going to happen after I graduate in December.  I had a job planned out in Monett, MO at a private clinic, but that has fallen through.  So now I have to figure out what to do.  I'm torn between moving straight back home to start my own practice and staying in Springfield until June (when the lease on the apt. is up) and keeping my current clients to make a little more money.  I'll probably end up doing the second option, but who knows.  My life is so sporadic right now, there's no telling what will actually happen.  I may end up singing to moose in Alaska.  So if you think about it or have time, send a little prayer up for me that I will go down the path God has planned for me.

Well, my professor is done editing now, so it's my turn to work!  Hope everyone is doing well and staying cool!

Authentic

Well hello again all!  I had a random desire to post a video of one of my original songs today.  I've been writing songs since about 10th grade, but I'm always a little leery of showing them to anyone.  Here's one of the ones I'm more proud of.  It's titled "Authentic."  I wrote it a couple years back after helping out at a D-Now weekend.  Let me know what you think!  If you like it, sweet!  If not, I'll still try to be your friend.  ;)

Enjoy!