Things I know about my topic....

-Counseling services are available at CSC

-Hours during the school year:

*8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

*Walk-in counseling:
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Tuesday and Thursday

-Staffed by professional psychiatrists

-All sessions are confidential

-Resource library with books that can be checked out (self-help)

-Appointments are 60 minutes, follow up visits are 20 minutes

-Sessions are free

-Location: Derham Hall room 214

-Counseling services works closely with Health and Wellness Center for med refills

-There's a "Virtual Self-Help" website students can go to for more information on how to help themselves, and to understand Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, and etc.
http://minerva.stkate.edu/offices/administrative/counseling.nsf/pages/selfhelp/?OpenDocument&Expand=1.5

-No weekend hours

-Goals on healing:
-increasing self-esteem and assertiveness

-clarifying identity

-improving skills in stress and anger management

-identifying and coping with grief or depression

-understanding relationships with family and friends

-managing problems with body image and food use

-recognizing and healing from sexual abuse and assault

Dear CIA,
I am interested in your position as a Field Agent. I may not be as credible as the other applicants, but I learn very quickly. I can speak fluently in two languages: English and Hmong. I am also teaching myself Spanish and I know basic ASL. I want to learn Japanese and Somali as well. The experiences I have that will help me with the position are: watching the T.V. show Alias, studying Bruce Lee's fighting moves, dealing with childhood bullies in Frogtown, and wrestling with my brothers.

I am not as physically fit as your typical Field Agents, but give me six months, and I can prove you wrong. My reading level is excellent, excluding Shakespeare. I've only been out of the country once, Kitchener, Canada. I know that CIA Field Agents are required to do a lot of traveling, and since I am a Sagittarius, I would be an excellent candidate.

I also have high tolerance for pain, so if I was captured, I would be able to with hold pertinent information from the enemy. I loved to play dress-up as a child, so I can be very creative in disguising myself for certain operations. If you have more questions about me that was not explained in this letter, please feel free to contact my English Professor, Dr. Pat Eldred, or her TA, Katie. They would be more than happy to give you any answers you require.

Thank you for your time. I hope to hear an answer from you soon.

Sincerely,
Pachia Xiong, aka, Bruce-leena Lee

I'm usually an easy going person, but one thing I can't stand is when I am waiting in line and someone cuts in front of me as if they never saw me waiting. What's even more annoying is when the employees enforce that! It's happened to me quite a few times, especially at the pharmacy. I stand at least 10-15 feet behind the person being helped. If the rude person that cut in front of me can read, there is a sign posted that says, "Due to data privacy, please stand at least fifteen feet from the person at the counter". As I said, I usually stand at least 10-15 feet from the counter. In September, when I had Bronchitis, an ear infection, and a sinus infection, I was trying to pick up my medication at Walgreens. I was crabby already, because I was sick. I was waiting in line, and was next to be helped. Well, I saw this woman in her thirties approaching me. She stopped and looked straight at me, then continued and parked her big behind infront of me, as if she didn't even see me waiting in line! She completely ignored the sign, and she ignored me.

I tapped her on her shoulder and said politely, "Excuse me ma'am, there is a line here, I've been waiting for quite a while, and I'm next to be helped". I pointed to be end of the line, where 2 other people were waiting behind me.

She simply smiled and replied, "Well, actually, I am next to be helped, I was waiting behind this lady, but they took so long that I decided to go look around. She told me she would save my spot for me". With that said, she turned around and didn't wait for my response.

The store clerk was watching us exchange words, and shrugged her shoulders. When she was done helping the first customer, she looked at the woman infront of me and asked her, "Can I help you?" I was furious! I may be an easy going person, but I'm not going to let people push me around. I spoke up and said, "I've been waiting in line for a very long time, I don't care if she thinks she was here first, she wasn't here when I got here. You're going to help me first".

The store clerk didn't know what else to do, so she asked me if she can help me. I know it sounds every elementary, but rude people continue to think that they can get away with everything because no one speaks up or against them. I know that this doesn't only happen to me, because my mom deals with it too. I've also heard complaints about similar situations from co-workers. So, if you see me waiting in line, please don't cut infront of me, that's my pet peeve. Better yet, if you are a store cashier, or pharmacy technician, don't let the rude person who cut in line be helped first, you will have a larger number of happy customers if you didn't give in to the rude customers.

Exercising makes you feel better in general. When you exercise, you will feel more physically fit. Your muscles will become stronger and more toned. Your flexibility will also increase for the better. You will lose weight, and be able to maintain the weight loss. Exercising also makes you feel better mentally. Your mind will be stress-free. You will be able to make better judgment on decisions. You will be able to concentrate better in school.

People who exercise also have a healthier life. Exercising decreases the chance of disease such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, strokes, obesity and diabetes. When I exercise, I feel more energetic through out the day. I also feel fresh and relaxed. When I don't exercise, I feel slow and heavy. My health also seems to get the best of me. I get out of breath easily when walking up a flight a stairs. Also, when I exercise regularly, I get the urge to run and lift weights.

Exercising also helps my mom feel better about herself. She has gout, a medical condition that causes excess proteins to build up in the feet. When she walks on a regular basis, she keeps her gout under control. My father also exercises regularly. He has diabetes. Exercising and eating a healthy diet helps keep his glucose level normal.

Walking through the aisles at Barnes and Nobles, first I notice an older gentleman browsing through the shelves at the magazine stand. He was wearing a red flannel shirt with a pair of dirty work pants. In his back pocket was a pair of yellow work gloves. He was paging through the car magazines. In my mind, I thought he was out of place here. He seemed like he didn't belong in a book store, and it also seemed like he didn't want to be here. He must have come with his someone else who did want to be here. Continuing on my way to the "Arts and Crafts" section, two little boys rush past me headed for the children's section. Their young mother trailing behind them with an infant in her arms. She looked worn out and tired. She was probably in her mid-twenties, long dark hair, with soft brown eyes. As she walked past me, she flashed a half smile at me. I can hear her scolding her boys as I continued towards my destination. Finally when I get to the Arts and Craft section, there was a woman paging through a knitting book. Her purse hung from her arm like a large basket filled with apples. The purse looked full and heavy, but I can see knitting needles and yarn sticking out. I stood beside her. My eyes scanning for a book that contains patterns for a baby blanket. My eyes locked in on a book for first time knitters. I glanced at it for a few minutes and headed to the register with it. On my way to the cash register, I see two college students sitting at a coffee table nearby. They had their books opened and pens in their hands. The student with red hair was leaned back in his chair. His eyes were closed and his hand busy tapping the pen on the table. He let out large sighs every few seconds. I thought the young mother with the three children was frustrated, but this guy was beyond frustrated. His study partner was a tall, handsome, surfer-looking type of guy. He had long wavy blond hair, and wore a loose yellow t-shirt with prints on it. I can hear him explaining some equation to his the red-haired friend. His voice was soothing and convincing. I didn't hear what equation it was, but it made me feel like I could learn from him. As I walked out to my car, I see a family of four walking in. The teenage girls giggling behind their parents. Their dad was telling them a joke. Their voices disappeared behind the door.

If I could be anywhere but here; I would love to be in Nice, France. My dad's only living sibling lives there. I've only met her twice and I haven't seen her for almost six years. She called me the other day and I told her how cold it was getting. She began to describe the beach that's only a few kilometers from her home. I pictured a white sand beach with an endless turquoise ocean touching the horizon. On this beach I see the bright sun rays pushing against the French as their bodies absorb the warmth. I also picture myself laying on a soft beach towel with an over-sized straw hat protecting my face from the sun.


http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~six/Images/Paris/BeachesAtNice.jpg

When I get to Nice, the first thing I want to eat is a creme brulee. I absolutely love the soft, sweet, and creamy custard treat. My cousin is a professional chef in France. He's one of the people you'd see on Food Network's "Iron Chef" show. He makes the perfect creme brulees. When he came to visit six years ago, he made some for us. When I took my first bite, I thought I was floating in heaven because my taste buds were in shock from all the wonderful tastes that was unknown to me. Since the day I was spoiled with the exquisite treat, I haven't been able to find one that fully satisfies my craving. Disappointment always seems to be the result of my creme brulee experiences. What better place to go and get my perfect creme brulee than Nice, France?


http://www.cafepesto.com/graphics/brulee.jpg

It's like hitting two birds with one stone: enjoying the lovely beach near my aunt's home and eating as much creme brulees as my stomach can handle. Nice, France...what a wonderful place to be right now.

Autumn is a beautiful season that often gets overlooked by her sister Summer. Most people think of Winter when Autumn approaches, but I think of the wonderful activities that can become memories which lasts a lifetime. I remember wrestling in the leaves with my brothers and sisters on our front lawn. My mom used to buy us the baby pumpkins and we'd have contests to see who painted the best face. My dad loved pumpkin seeds, so my mom baked fresh ones for us every Fall. The smell of fresh pumpkin seeds filled our house on weekends. I love how the Autumn breeze sweeps across my face. I hate apples, but I really loved going to the apple orchard with my parents and smelling the sweet scent of apples for miles. One of the main reasons why I prefer Autumn over Summer is because there are no humid days in Autumn. In my opinion, it is the best season because it is not too hot, and it is not too cold, nor is it wet like Spring. It is just perfect. People don't give it enough credit, but I sure wish it was Autumn all year round.

Emma Krubees Apple Orchad: Shakopee, MN
http://www.emmakrumbees.com/orchard.html