Fall 2009

This semester has been a whirlwind of school stuff that it’s so hard for me to look back and remember the things that happened….so this entry might not make any sense because it’s going to be random thoughts about the semester….

508 – vulnerable populations….never had sooooo many people dislike a teacher so much. She really made people feel uncomfortable about assignments and fear plagiarism…oh! And I hated doing discussion boards for this class….it’s like we had one EVERY week….and she expected so much….it felt like writing a paper every week for that class…gahhh!!! So glad it’s over

508L – the only thing good about this class was that it my group members and I a reason to get together and visit agencies and go to ROSCOE’s! haha! It was fun ray and kat J

511 – all I have to say is….that SYNTHESIS paper was a waste of time!

551 – the semester started off rough with almost half of the class dropping to go into another pharm class….there was only 12 of us left in that class…thankfully our professor lightened up and it wasn’t a horrible class after all…yay!

595/597 – don’t really have much to say except that I didn’t do anything for my project during the semester….but now that I am not in school and clinicals…I need to really step it up and finish up my project during this break….

Externship – I was very blessed to have an awesome preceptor….MS. AMY A….i learned a lot from this externship….i can’t imagine not practicing my skills for a year and trying to get a job….even with a week off…coming back to work was hard…I’m praying that the next semester isn’t TOO crazy that I’ll be able to juggle all the classes, leadership preceptorship….and externing….LORD! BE MY STRENGTH!

I have to say it again…I really don’t think I could have finished the semester without my friends…in this program…you really need a good support system…and I am so blessed to have my nursing friends….and all the people around me praying and loving me…THANK YOU!

And of course…thank you LORD for being my strength and continuing to bless me with these life challenges that make me stronger…

Some pics from the semester...

minority conference at UCLA

and this is how we ended the semester...

this is how we studied for pharm.... :)

summer session 2009

summer session was 11 weeks....

i was not looking forward to having a class on a friday...but having class on thursday and friday actually worked out...

i took nursing research, advanced pathophysiology, and nursing economics

nursing research was cool....dr. vaughn was really nice...this class was mainly focused on beginning our thesis or non-thesis project...so of course....everyone chooses to do the non-thesis project because nobody in their right mind should write a thesis ;)

so my project is designing a STD module to be implemented into a high school....we'll see how the end product comes out later in the upcoming months....

advanced pathophysiology i thought was going to be a good class to learn things...BUT...it ended up being crap....why? because our professor didn't really teach....she expected us to read at least 12 chapters in one week....she couldn't even lecture on ALL the material because there was so much....so she would just give us diseases to know...which is soooo vague...because there's so much you can leran about each disease....so each lecture we sat around...played on facebook...finished homework for other classes...we did everything but listen to prof. jordan.....

nursing econ SUCKED!...that's the class i hated the most...i don't even want to write about it because it brings back memories...and it really raises my blood pressure...haha!

after the final day of class...a group of us went to cantina to relax....i really have grown to love these people...i love how we are all in this together...supporting each other through this grueling program...i seriously couldn't imagine myself finishing this program without these people...WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!...

R&R in VEGAS

saturday, july 18, 2009

i went to vegas with chi and his family....

we stayed at the monte carlo...pretty decent...
it was 115 degrees in vegas that weekend....and it rained and there was sooo much lightening...it was scary because on the way to the strip...we saw lightening every 30 seconds...it was really scary because the lightening was so close...we even saw one almost hit a car...

after this trip..i never want to eat at a buffet again...lol...i felt like we ate a buffet for every meal...it was gross...but i had to suck it up because chi's brother just came back from iraq so he wanted to eat well this weekend...

on sunday...we got tickets to ZUMANITY...oh man!...i felt a little uncomfortable at the beginning because of the "adult content"....but some parts were beautiful... :)
on monday....we ate lunch at SERENDIPITY 3 at Caesar's palace...man...that place was delish! at first i was kind of hesistant to go there because i wasn't sure if their food was good...but it was awesome! chi's steak sandwich was the bomb!...i'd go back there just for that sandwich...the hot dogs were gigantic too!

we then headed to mandalay bay to watch THE LION KING!

it was really good!...music was awesome...and the costumes were amazing! i loved it!
i didn't get home til 4 a.m. on tuesday....the drive home was hard...it was sooo hard to stay awake....but we made it home safely! :)

thank you chi for the best weekend ever! <3

A reminder to myself (and others)...that life is short...

May 9, 2009

i get a text from paul and he says that his dad, brother, and stepmom died from a car accident....

i was in shock because i can't imagine losing my whole family in one day...

that morning was mother's day...and i went to church...looking around hoping to see the romey family sitting on the left side of the church as i did before...but they weren't there...

my heart breaks for paul and the family and friends they left behind....

to paul...i know it's cliche to say...but...continue to be strong...and know we love you...we will all reunite one day in God's kingdom of heaven...

Patrick was going to graduate in a few weeks....he died the morning he was suppose to attend prom...He had attended the private Catholic high school, St. John Bosco, since freshman year, and was popular and well-liked. Patrick played basketball and volleyball, and had plans to attend college.

R.I.P....Maynardo, Lucy, & Patrick Romey

here's a youtube video from HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5v44BGETkM

My 2 weeks of summer vacation - 2009

after the most grueling semester by far...i couldn't be more excited for a little rest & relaxation...

i told myself i was not going to read any kind of book or write any papers...(even writing this journal is demanding on my brain...)...but i thought i'd write in my journal because i doubt i'll be able to write anything else in the summer....

so what did i do during my vacation.....

1) I SLEPT!!!!!!! i would wake up around 9....fall asleep again and officially get up at 11....

2) I NAPPED!!!!! i took naps around 2:30 (even after i woke up at 11)

3) I CAUGHT UP ON ALL MY TV SHOWS...and watched korean drama...haha! yes! i watch asian dramas now... :)

4) Cleaned my room....threw away a lot of papers...study guides...etc...i'm sure my parents are happy about that....

so that's what i did in a nutshell....

but here are some highlights with photos :)

May 30,2009 - ACS reunion at JUMPA THAI in garden grove

ACS (my old work place at csulb) had a little gathering...it was more of the newer generation there...i was considered the oldest since i graduated in 2004...our boss lady wanted us to invite more of the older peeps...so hopefully they'll come out even though they don't know the newer generation....

funny story - not everybody knows that Chi and I are together....so we were placed on different tables...the boss lady is pretty close to Chi so she wanted him to sit near her, of course...lol...so later during the meal, CHI and the BOSS LADY have this conversation...

boss lady: so chi...are you dating anyone?
chi: yes....
boss lady: oh really? why didn't you bring her?
chi: uhhhh....she is here...
john kim: oh yea...she's here with you in spirit?
boss lady: really?!?!?! where?
chi: there...(and points behind to where i'm sitting)
boss lady: where?!

lol...i think it was hard for her to believe that we got together...i'm still in shock myself :)

May 31, 2009

we went to the SAN DIEGO ZOO!!!!!!!

i haven't been to the zoo since the 1st or 2nd grade...i didn't know how much fun the zoo was... :) i felt like a kid again

i know it's late...but december recap

i told myself i'd update my blog at least once a semester so i can reflect on things

but here's a 6 month overview...lol

december 2009....
finished my last semester before taking nclex....

these were the 2 last projects we had to work on...a group change project and a patho chart for critical care....

this is some of the class getting ready for a group photo....
on the last day...after our critical care final....a group of us went to eat at boiling crab....mmmmmm!

december 20 10 a.m....pre-pinning gather at my house...

it was a time for all the believers to get together and recite the original nightingale oath...

it was awesome...we had a short praise and worship session....we heard words of encouragement from students and faculty....we recited our oath...and the people supporting us recited an oath of support...and kuya jon closed up in prayer....

PINNING CEREMONY



we were limited to only 8 guests...but i had exactly who i wanted to be there...my parents...my older brother (little brother had work...i forgive him)...my lovely cousins....and kimi and jim....these people have stood by my side...and encouraged me when i felt like giving up....thank you!

post-pinning after-party...the asians headed to downtown fullerton for some drinks and dancing :)

this is our 1st picture as an official couple :)

my bestest carpool

my backrow asians...(missing kat)

CHRISTMAS 2008

gathered with the penaflor family....this has been a tradition for 9 years....and this may be the last time i go there for christmas :(

i was surprised when i got the invitation...but i was hoping it would give me closure....it did give me some closure...but it also broke my heart because i love this family...and they've been a huge part of my life...

i pray that we can still continue to have a relationship..because they will always be a big part of my life....

CHRISTMAS day...was spent at my house...

it was awesome to be around the people i love...

no party is complete without rock band :)

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2009....

spent the day with chi...unfortunately we don't have pics :( boo!!!!! we bought annual passes...it was awesome...i've never been out on new year's eve...hopefully next year we'll do something bigger...like vegas ;)

JANUARY 2009....

studied for nclex...gag! it was not an excited winter break when i was going to kaplan everyday for 2 weeks...

JANUARY 23rd....my 27th birthday....BLAH! i'm old!

the ladies treated me to happy hour in downtown fullerton....

cousins surprised me and made my night complete

theresa treated us to dessert at cheesecake factory...that was my first time having cheesecake there...my cousins were a lil bothered that i was being a plain jane...and just getting strawberry cheesecake...lol...but i'm a plain person...haha!

shhhh!!!! i rather have cheesecake from costco...i guess i like my cheesecake a lil more frozen or solid...rather than soft and fluffy... :)

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS @ DISNEYLAND with joe, kleng, jim, pops, char, elok, maddie, and krystal...

it was seriously the best time at disneyland ever....the whole day was filled with laughs...

w/ joe, a fellow january birthday

the january babies by the castle (jim, kleng, me, & joe)

MARCH 2, 2009

took the nclex....stopped at 80 questions...felt like i failed...

waiting for 3 days was the worst!!!!! i couldn't sleep or focus...i get a text from raymo at 645 a.m....saying that results are up...

I PASSED!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!

Spring 2009

we officially begin the masters portion of our program...they told us before we entered the program that the first 14 months would be the toughest...and then once we get into the masters portion it would be easier...

THEY LIED!!!!!!!!

it was the worst semester of my life! i seriously felt like dropping every week! i've never cried so much in a semester....

the workload was ridiculous...so many people dropped or dropped to part-time...

i was only able to finish this semester because of the help from my friends...if it weren't for them...i would have failed...

sometimes we would get together to do homework...but take some time to vent and of course....eat! hehe!

rite-aid ice cream (cuz we're broke)

celebrating dielle's birthday :)

he makes me laugh :)