It has been four years of sitting in hundreds of hours of lectures, reading thousands of pages of theory and research, writing hundreds of pages, and seeing clients for hundreds of hours. It has been long weeks, late nights, steep learning curves, and lots and lots of thinking. It is amazing how much learning you can do in four years of 60-80 hour weeks! In 2009 I finished a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, with a research assistant position in Sara Hodges’ social cognition lab, a practicum position at a residential treatment facility for teenage sex offenders, an honors thesis entitled “Differentiating the Effects of Social and Personal Power,” and a GPA of 4.23. Yesterday I graduated with a Master of Education degree, Couples and Family Therapy specialization, 455 client-contact hours at the Center for Family Therapy and Looking Glass Counseling Services, one term as a counselor for the University of Oregon Crisis Line, four terms volunteering for the UO Men’s Center, a GPA of 4.19, and a “Pass With Distinction” on my final Formal Client Presentation. It has been a wonderful, exhilarating, exhausting four years.
It has also taken a bit of a toll on my health, but the major loss was in community. If you do not live in Eugene and we have not made a point of a regular visit, I probably have not spoken or even written to you much, if anything, since 2007. For that I sincerely apologize. It is not how I prefer to live but I could not seem to do this any other way. Know that I miss you. Let’s reconnect. Call me up, write, send me your unfinished song, your idea for a book, something to read and talk about. Let’s go for a walk, go swimming, have lunch, see a show. I am looking forward to it.
Couples & Family Therapy 2011 Cohort
Me & My Dad, June 14, 2011
June 14, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Congratulations, and welcome back to the surface. I assume you made your scheduled stops and won’t be needing the decompression chamber.
June 21, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Hmm. I don’t seem to remember any scheduled stops… and why are my joints hurting?
June 14, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Congratulations Nathan!!
It’s been awesome following your progress and thoughts in this blog for nearly two years. It feels like just yesterday you were mentioning looking forward to starting grad school.
June 15, 2011 at 7:27 am
You are such a badass Nathen!! Looking forward to chatting with your more relaxed self at camp this year.
June 15, 2011 at 8:15 am
Congrats Nathen. Now that you are free again, we should dance!
June 21, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Yes!
June 15, 2011 at 10:10 am
hooray! i’m so proud of you and so, so, looking forward to the next phase of nathen the husband, uncle, and neighbor!
June 15, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Congratulations!!! I have one more year before I get to write this post, you’re giving me inspiration along the way.
Thank you for writing this blog – even as you were overwhelmed with school/clients – it’s a great way for those of us who don’t live nearby to feel like we get to stay in contact with you. It’s been a treat!
June 15, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Congrats Nathen! What’s next – will you still be in Eugene? Might you still be convinced to give dance lessons?
June 21, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Yes, I will be in Eugene for the summer, and available for dance lessons!
June 21, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Dearest Nathen,
While I have not known you prior to your academic career, I have had the pleasure of knowing you during this time. I am sorry to say that only now have I myself had time to read some of the more detailed entries in your blog. But I can tell you that I have been privileged to share a couple of special moments with you during our two year connection. Those are moments I shall never forget. They came and went in the blink of an eye but their imprint remains. I can’t say that I knew who you were before I met you and I don’t know who you’ll become after this experience, but my sense is that your path is laden with adventures and contemplations that leave you feeling as though you are completely, %100 living in the moment. Whether that be in Eugene or Joshua Tree, or in worlds beyond, I envy those who will have the pleasure of your company long after I am but a memory in your subconscious. You are one of the smartest and certainly most sensitive men I have had the pleasure of knowing and my wish for you is that you continue, just as you have in these past years, to pursue that which makes you think long enough about how to figure out the next Rubik’s Cube in your life.
All my best,
Linda
June 21, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Wow. Thanks, Linda! It’s been a pleasure spending two years with you, too. I so appreciate those moments, too. You were a great support to me in some times when I really needed it.’
Love,
Nathen