this week.

this week. let me sum it up in a couple words...busy but then again, who is surprised by this and fun. ok. let me talk about my week.

yesterday:
so yesterday was my first day teaching at UCLA on my own. going into the day, i was a teansy nervous. i was teaching simulations [sim·u·la·tion –noun 1. imitation or enactment, as of something anticipated or in testing. 2. the act or process of pretending; feigning. 3. an assumption or imitation of a particular appearance or form; counterfeit; sham.]. the first couple of rotations were a little rough [that's what she said], but the last two went really well. it definitely felt good getting over that first day of being on your own. i am really looking forward to my next day of teaching. i am honestly really loving this job.

today/wednesday:
serving the citizens of inglewood aka working.

thursday:
ok, so this is when it starts to get fun. first, i get to fill out new hire paperwork at my new job woooooo!!!!! thank you woo girls. then i am driving to san diego to pick up my younger brother and the family dog lola! and bringing them back to los angeles. because, on friday....

friday:
my brother and i are going on a ride along with fire station 14 . my brother is considering pursuing the fire service, so i figured what a better way to show him what ems is all about than throwing him into south central los angeles. i am excited.

saturday:
back to san diego to take baby brother home.

the week is going to be busy, but it is going to be good. i am really looking forward to spending some quality time with my brother, especially since i don't get to see him that often. and i am also really excited to have a dog at my house. i love dogs, and this will definitely help me decide if i want to take the plunge and get a dog that is.

and here is an inspirational quote [one that has gotten me through quite a few tough days] to leave you with:

courage does not always roar.
sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
"i will try again tomorrow."
maryanne radanbacher


[meet lola. one of the minnick family dogs. she is spending the weekend with us]


[me and nathan. redondo beach. june 2011]

rock steady my friends.

let me tell you...

about new job #1.
so i don't know if you all remember, but i started a new job about a month ago. i got a job as a skills instructor at ucla center for prehospital care in the emt program. the job is pretty much what the title is, i teach emt students the various skills that they are going to be using out in the field when they are working. yesterday i finished my training and have been cleared to teach on my own. let me tell you, i am excited.
ever since i went to emt school at ucla in 2008, i have wanted to be an instructor there. those who taught me were so passionate about what they were teaching, and made such a huge impact on me. i was so ecstatic to finally finish school so i could come work at ucla.
some of the reasons why i am absolutely loving ucla:
1. the students are so excited to be learning. there is nothing more fun than teaching those who want to learn.
2. the students want to hear about my experience. it is kind of crazy to think that people want to hear about my experience going through nursing school and being an emt, and want to get my advice. who would have though that my journey might benefit others.
3. i am getting to work a second job with some simply awesome people from mccormick. there are 5 of us from my station that also teach at ucla, and it has been awesome getting to spend more time with them at another job.

teaching at ucla is such great experience and such an amazing opportunity. i am excited to grow and learn at this new job and look forward to where it is going to take me. go bruins!


[skyping with devon. she and her husband steve leave for india in 3 weeks!]

and now i am off to the beach! have a good tuesday everyone!

hump day.

speechless.

i realize that i have been MIA, i apologize, but i have been a teensy busy [promise]. this past week has been filled with new, random, and exciting things. let me share:

if you forgot, my last post last week was about how i was preparing to taking the NCLEX. i didn't want to make any big announcement on when i was taking it, because there was the butterflies in the pit of my stomach that i wouldn't pass [and any humiliation prevention is always a good things]. so, anyhow, last thursday was the big day. and let me tell you, that test was hard. mentally, i had prepared myself for 100 questions, maybe 3 hours of testing. no no no, that did not happen [the nclex basis the numbers of questions you get by how well you answer some questions...it is weird]. 5 hours, and 264 questions...my brain was mush. i couldn't even comprehend what had just happened. luckily, i got to debrief at cheesecake factory with grace and margie [i am so grateful for these amazing ladies and for being able to share my nursing journey with them]. and the waiting began...

on friday, grace and i had a spontaneous trip to disneyland. and yes, we got season passes [call me a 10-year old, but this place never gets old!]. it was just such a fun and relaxing day, and a great way to take my mind off of post-test anxiety and the curiosity of whether or not i was officially and RN. and, grace officially accepted a position at northridge hospital medical center in the icu, i am so excited for her! she is going to be such an incredible nurse!!

now we are on saturday. saturday morning i had my very first firefighter exam with OCFA [orange county fire authority]. the results are still pending, but i feel like it went really well. it was exciting though, it definitely made me pursuit to be a firefighter a lot more real.

later on in the day, i left for viva las vegas to celebrate my sister amanda's birthday!! the celebration crew consisted of amanda, me, and then her good friend jessica. i was in vegas from saturday to monday [the girls stayed till tuesday], and the trip was so much fun! we laid by the pool, dressed up, went out, and just celebrated amanda and the amazing person that she is. it was such a fun weekend and definitely a much needed vacation.





















now we are on tuesday. not only was it the first day of summer, but it was the day that i officially found out that i am a nurse!!. erin minnick rn bsn. man, i cannot even tell you how good it feels to be able to write that!!



and, the cherry on top, i began at ucla yesterday as well [i recently got hired as an emt clinical instructor, there will be another post about that later]. yesterday was just so amazing in so many ways, i am just speechless.

this week has just been phenomenal. i feel so blessed and overwhelmed by God's goodness this week, i don't even know what to say. for everyone who was a part of my life this past week, thank you. this time has been incredible. i know that big changes are right around the corner, and i am excited to see where God is going to take me next.

happy wednesday everyone!