Student SPHere 2008-09

This past week I met with my advisors concerning my thesis, also known as a Plan B Project or Master's Project. People always refer to it in any of the three, which made it confusing for me when I first came here.

My first advisor is Kathleen Call, who is a professor in the Health Policy and Management Department. She is also the director of Graduate Programs in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration. She teaches the research methods course for my department, which I took my first semester here. She was very kind to me as I fumbled around, trying to adjust to graduate school. Donna McAlpine is my second advisor. Kathleen recommended that I ask her to also help co-advise on my thesis, as her dissertation was about patient satisfaction. I am also currently enrolled in her seminar dedicated to helping HPM students finish their theses.

We have finally narrowed down my topic to patient satisfaction; the next step is to create a specific question. For me, making a decision means making a commitment. Some would describe me as someone who is unwilling to commit to anything until the last moment. Deep down I am afraid that I have made the wrong decision and that I have to stick with it. So it's difficult to decide on anything until it's nearly too late. However, I am beginning to learn that it's better to move forward in one direction in order to start moving at all; if I want to change topics I can always do it with some work, so I'm glad to have these two women guide me in this final step towards receiving my Master's degree.

Last Thursday also saw me and some of my friends driving seven hours to Chicago in order to attend a wedding for one of our friends. Katie was in the HSRPA program during her first year and switched to Maternal and Child Health for her second. However, she was still working at the City of Minneapolis' Department of Health and Family Support when I met her. So we became familiar through that and through our mututal MCH friends.

I used to hate driving long distances, but I think due to genetics - my father is a champ at driving four plus hours comfortably - and practice - I've made a few epic trips down to Madison and to Chicago from Minneapolis since moving up here, I've learned to tolerate it. It also gives me the chance to sing out loud without being embarrassed.

Everyone is comfortable with my driving enough to fall asleep

Driving also gave me the opportunity to admire the afternoon autumn light. It's one of more beautiful sights to look forward to everyday during the season. The way everything looks golden when the sun begins to set can't be found in any other season.

The wedding was awesome, needless to say. Although many of my friends are attending weddings frequently right now, this is the first wedding I've gone to in about three years, so I can't say that I'm jaded about the whole event. There was a relaxed atmosphere among the wedding party and it was evident that both families were supporting the bride and groom - who are extremely good together - to the fullest. That made me enjoy it too. The reception was great; I was even moved to dance. All. Night. Long. But when I say dance, it's more akin to flailing around and occasionally hitting someone on accident. To everyone I hit or kicked: sorry.

Congratulations, Katie and Aaron!

Limbo!

We drove back on Saturday afternoon and returned to Minneapolis after midnight. We were all a little tired and cranky, but feeling pleased that we had made the trip.