Thankful

Current mood: thankful

As we near the end of 2006 and as I reflect on this year's beauty, I thank God for blessing me with my family, my relatives, and my friends...in addition to the many opportunities of job employment, food choices, unlimited travels/destinations, good health, education paths, and hobbies just to name a few.

May God continue to guide You towards your path.
Best of Life!,
Michelle

The Correlation between this Quote & my Life

Current mood: contemplative

"Sometimes you have to STAND UP and FIGHT for what you BELIEVE in. And sometimes it takes even more courage to stay put. To hold your ground and refuse to be bullied...It doesn't change the bully. But it CAN change you."

In my years of elementary school, I was the ONE being bullied. I was the ONE being teased. I was the ONE who couldn't speak english straight. I was the ONE who had no courage at all. I was the ONE afraid of what everybody else might think. I didn't have any kind of social skills. I was timid, shy, and easily intimidated. I'm thankful I don't have any kind of disability.

In retrospect, throughout those times of being teased & bullied, I am ME because of IT. I am a DIFFERENT person TODAY because of IT. And I would FIGHT if need be; I'd REBEL if the situation surfaces. Now it's just a different set of issues to be fighting against- diseases, people who kill/rape/assault/etc, poverty, my past hauntings, and the list goes on and on...
If each person is granted ONE way to change the world, what would that ONE change of YOURS be?

Peace & God Speed,
Michelle

Introspective Potential Career Paths into Health Science

The latter part of the semester was the most interesting due to the fact many guest speakers were able to present their knowledge in their corresponding specialized fields. The speakers came from various kinds of health professions. Because of the diversity, I felt this was a great addition for the class providing students with a better insight to the uniqueness each guest offered. Their visits will lead me to question my own career path.

When I went to visit my grandparents last year in the Philippines, I became distraught by the 3rd world nature my so-called 'homeland' country is. I am a 1st generation American and because of that, I do not know the day-in, day-out idiosyncrasies of the Philippines. For the month I lived there, I admired the beauty the islands provided but on the other side of the spectrum, I took a step back contemplating the following questions, "How can I make a difference in this province?", "Where does all the trash go?", "How can I provide and incorporate better sanitation methods?" and "How can I ensure the water is not contaminated?" This memory leads me to follow a closer view of Steve Kim's environmental health presentation.

As Steve explained each slide in his Powerpoint presentation, I was enthusiastically listening to the invaluable information he provided. He touched on a plethora of topics- from food protection programs, medical waste, to ocean and water programs to name a few. I found his environmental health presentation to be the most interesting.

Before starting college at CSF, I went on a few government websites to look for "The Job". I stumbled on an Environmental Health Specialist position. Directly taken from the Contra Costa county government website, it noted that Environmental Health Specialists "perform environmental health inspections and investigations, secure compliance with applicable local and state health laws and regulations, and promote community interest in improvement of general environmental health."

The job ad also listed the salary breakdown, certification and education requirements, as well as its benefits. I figure it would be an excellent step to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental health profession. In the future I planned on going back to the Philippines in hope of making a better impact in the provinces. What was learned from the environmental health specialist position would be a great opportunity to utilize the skills learned to better apply efficient sanitation methods in regards with trash or water issues. Because of this, I wanted to become an environmental health specialist- or so I thought.

From northern California, my life's journey brought me back home to southern California in order to go back to college. As I needed a job to help pay mortgage and school supplies, I landed a job with my friend's brother-in-law's staffing company. I ended up becoming the human resource/safety & risk manager/claims administrator for our small company to which I am still presently working. This tidbit of information is crucial because as I thought of this environmental health position, I had envisioned a tedious paperwork of laws and repetitiveness of the nature of the job.

Additionally, having gained a better understanding of what public health is from HESC 220 and its many opportunities of segue ways forced me to re-evaluate the possible interests in health science, aside of environmental health. After a few major life realizations as well as community help I provided in 2004, all I knew was that I wanted to help better the world.

With that said, guest speakers, Laura Chandler's health science insight and Pam Hipp epidemiology knowledge was next on the list of fascinating potential career outlooks. Of these positions, I found a fonder similar liking to Laura Chandler's health education background. She discussed the infinite possibilities of a health science education degree. Pam Hipp's epidemiology background sounded very exciting though in the back of my head I was already imagining corporate America again- plugging in numbers, creating stories, and stuck in a cubicle. This overly exaggerated thought scared me.

Though I do not have the exact professional degree at hand, I do know that I would like to be a health educator- to inform and teach people public issues- environmental or health-related. Additionally, homelessness, poverty & water conservation are sensitive personal topics to me and in these particular topics I would also like to better educate people of such issues.
Ideally, upon graduation I would like to work as a health educator for the government, school-system or not-for-profit organization working out on the field. I would also like to volunteer and work internationally. In the future, I aspire to open an education center in the Philippines.

As a health educator, many responsibilities incorporate their daily demands depending upon the environment of the job. Working from a medical provider such as Kaiser Permanente, compared to educating students in a college forum or educating adults in prison is completely different. Major tasks would differ with the primary responsibility to EDUCATE. Secondary responsibilities might include outreaching, developing new kinds of programs, screenings, and possibly writing grants.

Currently, as a safety/risk manager, I am responsible for posting mandatory posters, creating an OSHA 300 log, developing safety incentive programs, safety days, and claims management just to name a few. Though it is exactly not a health educator per se, I am continuously learning occupational laws and I am able to see the kinds of injuries that are most common in the tradesman industry. Additionally, with my assistance, the last few months our company has contributed to helping the public out to such organizations as Micah's Way (adult learning & shelter) and Su Casa (domestic violence).

In addition, having worked with the Wellness Community for a few of their events has enabled me to continue outreaching towards cancer survivors and their love ones. Last month, I went with several others from CSF to volunteer for a one-day trip to Baja, Mexico to help assist an orphanage. On an international volunteering level, I am already registered to volunteer with ISV (International Student Volunteers) for four weeks in the Dominican Republic as of August 2007.

Upon graduation of a Baccalaureate degree from CSF and having acquired a Certified Health Specialist certification, I would like to continue furthering a degree towards a Masters of Public Health or International Public Health.

Throughout each guest speaker's presentation, I learned that health science incorporates an array of career paths and categories. The growth is limitless. Their presentations have made me question and reflect on my own potential career paths into the world of health science.

The Evolution of Michelle Hair

As many of you know, my hair has undertaken so many changes.

I've always had long hair- the longest was near by buttocks. Though I started cutting it shorter to mid-length and even by my shoulder by late 1990's and this phase continued through early 2000.

I took a census from the male specimen. "Do you prefer females with short or long hair?" The majority said 'longer'. I was partially torn... :(

Anyway, I had undertaken quite a few personal challenges in my life in 2004 (the year that changed my Life). Though those memories can be categorized as 'good' and/or 'bad', both still contain a similiar purpose: Deep reflection, an opportune time for changes, and positive "Michelle" movement.

As the year transitioned to 2005, my hair, too has changed. How? I chopped about a foot in length and donated it to Locks of Love (organization that create wigs to provide for people with cancer).

What was the result you ask? Can I say how much I loved my hair & my new look? The fringe haircut was what I got with a few partial layered layers. I felt more sophisticated and felt 'prettier'. Self-esteem usually runs in most females and I won't deny that I do have my fair share of self-esteem/low confidence times & issues...Overall I felt better and funny to say this, but shoot, I even felt sexy! (FYI: I never refer to myself as sexy)

Eight months passes and because I had one of those salon cards that I purchased months back, I chopped my hair slightly shorter than the first-- I still liked the cut prior.
My hair is naturally straight. Difficult to curl.

Let's move to summer of 2006. I say to myself, "I've always wanted my hair curly. I have one life and if i were to die tomorrow, would I regret not having one?... umm.. YES, I would!" Few weeks before I turn 27 I got a perm. After a few weeks of having my hair settle, I finally felt 110% comfortable with it.

That's when it occured that my personality combined well with curly hair. Plus given the fact that the majority of women are going for a straight look, I looked the other direction so that I wouldnt be caught into that zone. Though I felt slighty sexier with straight and sometimes wavy hair, I felt the curls showed my funny, goofy, the "true Michelle" side. Curly is me because I feel goofy, I feel ecleltic, and I feel like a nut sometimes! Okay, erase the, all the time! haha...

Approximately two weeks ago, I chopped my hair to be in closer proximity with my chin....and you know what, my hair is all over the place and I absolutely love it!!! I think I found the new M-Z style, the style that I've always wanted. I feel crazy because I am crazy
Whacka whacka!

With Peace/Love/Prosperity/Hope/Positivity/Unity/Preserverance,

The infamous Michelle My Belle

God Bless all....

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the companythat we are working for could easily replace us ina matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves moreinto work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think? So what is behind the story?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

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F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down."Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger,common courtesy you use,but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."