Counting my Blessings

Thanksgiving might just be my favorite day of the year! I like it more than my birthday, or Christmas, or Labor Day, or Arbor Day, and definitely more than Halloween! Not only does Thanksgiving mean there is an avalanche of some of my favorite foods [read: potatoes and pie] but my family and friends gather at our house and celebrate the day together! BIG shout out to my amazing Mom who cooks a DELICIOUS dinner every year for all of us!!!

In the spirit of giving thanks, I wanted to share a list of all of the things I'm grateful for this year, and there's A LOT of them, so here's a small segment of my list...

1. I am beyond blessed to have an incredible and supportive family. My parents always go out of their way to provide things for my sister and I as well as helping us through all of our many many challenges - I don't know what I would do without them! My sister is also one of my best friends in the world  I'm so proud of her and thankful that I have her in my life!

2. I also have an amazing boyfriend who I'm thankful for every day! Even when I'm upset, or angry, or stressed out, or overwhelmed, or doubting myself, he can always make me feel better and push through whatever I'm struggling with. He never fails to make me laugh and he gives the world's best hugs!

3. I'm thankful for the blessings of education that I have been able to obtain during the past 17 years. My parent's sacrifices and hard work have allowed me to attend great schools where I've grown as an individual and opened my eyes and brain to countless new ways of thought and life.

This year I have some new blessings to be thankful for.

4. I am ridiculously grateful to be here at Penn GSE getting my master's degree. It is a phenomenal school and I'm meeting so many incredible people and learning so much from being here! I'm thankful that this program is helping me to figure out and follow my "dream" career (whatever that may be) and giving me a strong foundation to do so. Even though I've been frequently doubting myself and what I'm doing here, I know I made the right decision to come to Penn, and I would do it over and over again...maybe just a little differently (but that will be a future reflection).

5. I'm also thankful for my Graduate Assistantship at Penn where I get to interact with current and prospective students each day and share something I love (GSE!) with them! I love that I get to share one of my blessings with many other people every day!

6.  The final blessing I'm going to share today is my cohort here at GSE. Coming into the program I was really worried that I wouldn't make myself available to people and that I wouldn't make friends because I already have a lot of people I know and hang out with in Philadelphia. I struggled with that balance for many weeks and I've only recently put forth a really conscious effort to do things with my fellow higher ed students, and I'm so glad I made that change! My fellow higher ed students are phenomenal and I wish I had gotten to know more of them sooner! I fear that I'll leave this program without building a relationship with everyone, but at least I've made a small start. I'm so thankful for these people and the time I've been able to spend with them so far on this journey!

So that's just a snippet of what's on my list this year, not to mention the infinite other things I'm grateful for every day! I hope you all can share your blessings and thanks with others, not just on Thanksgiving, but throughout the year. 

Also, I'm not neglecting all of my friends celebrating Hanukkah - Happy Hanukkah! I'm sad that I'll be missing a small gathering of my cohort members tonight who will be lighting the candles and eating delicious latkes - yum!

Teacher Education Information Session!

Interested in becoming a teacher? Join us for an on-campus information session!

Whether you want to teach pre-kindergarteners or 12th graders, our Teacher Education Program (TEP) can get you on track to certification. 

Through a commitment to social justice and urban education, TEP prepares prospective teachers to transform students and schools. You can read more about the program on their extensive website: http://www2.gse.upenn.edu/tep/.

Read through the website and want to learn more in-person?

Join the Urban Teacher Education program for an on-campus information session on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-noon ET. RSVP here. (Please note only the Teacher Education program will be represented and discussed at this event.)

Hope to see you there!

Winter Is Coming

Wow. It's been a BUSY week between work, school, and various GSE events, but the good news is the week is over, a fun-filled weekend lies ahead of me, and best of all, as of 4:00am today (when I finally finished my paper) TWO of my four classes this semester are completely finished!

Now, I’m not going to pretend I’m the world’s most fashionable person and tell you that this winter you should be wearing tartan plaid and studded accessories or the season’s hottest color – bubblegum pink – but I will show you what kinds of clothes and accessories you’ll need to survive the winter in Philadelphia! (Bonus points to you if you find fashionable versions of these items!)

The weather in Philadelphia during the past month or so hasn’t been able to make up it’s mind and earlier this week we had a bit of a cold snap, which got me thinking about my winter wardrobe. I wanted to share with you a few of the things that I use to get me through the winters here. I highly recommend investing in these pieces if you end up in Philly next year!

Winter Is Coming 

1. A warm jacket - the puffier the better! Try to find one with a hood that you can pull up on cold, windy days or during an unexpected rain/snow/sleet shower.

2. Scarves - both fashionable and functional! I wear scarves year-round as an accessory for lots of outfits, but in the winter I love thick, knit scarves that I can use to cover my neck and face when it's cold or windy.

3. An umbrella - This isn't Winter specific. A good umbrella will come in handy all year. I always recommend a bubble umbrella to everyone - the shape can cover you in even the windiest of storms without those unpleasant moments when your umbrella blows inside out! It's also clear so you can hold it down in front of your face, but still see where you're going!

4. Cozy sweaters -You can never have too many sweaters! They're the perfect winter attire!

5. Snow boots - Walking to class is a lot more pleasant when your shoes aren't getting wet and covered in salt. Snow boots are warm, waterproof, and provide great traction when walking on the icy sidewalks. I have a great pair of snow boots, but I also recommend getting fleece boot liners and putting them into rain boots if you already have those!

6. Thick socks - These are a must for walking around in the cold weather. Smartwool is a great brand to look into to keep your feet nice and toasty!

7. Gloves - Gloves are kind of an obvious winter accessory. Your hands can get painfully chilly from the cold air and wind. Look for a pair of "smart gloves" or "tech gloves" that allow you to still text and use your smartphone or other devices without taking off your gloves!

8. Head coverings -Lots of your body heat is lost through your head, so you'll want to have something to cover it. Ski hats or beanies are a great choice, but earmuffs or fleece/knit headbands are also good for keeping your ears warm if you don't like to wear hats or if your hair is in an updo.

9. Thermal shirts -Often overlooked, long-sleeve thermal shirts can be a huge help for keeping you warm, especially if you're going to be outside for a long period of time. Plus, you can get them in lots of different colors and they look cute under sweaters or short-sleeve t-shirts!

10. Travel Mug - Having a hot coffee makes leaving my house a little more bearable on cold mornings! I love my Penn GSE travel mug, but this mug from the bookstore shows your school spirit while keeping your beverage of choice nice and hot during your commute!

A Star-Studded Week

One of the great things about going to Penn is that prominent speakers and celebrities are always coming to campus! Last week I set aside some time to forget about all of my reading and writing and had the opportunity to see not one, but TWO of my favorite TV stars - Matthew Perry and Bill Cosby!

Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry is best known for playing the sarcastic Chandler Bing on the show "Friends", which just so happens to be my favorite television show of all time! I own all ten seasons on DVD and have seen every episode AT LEAST ten times! (My sister and I are champions of obscure "Friends" trivia!) If you haven't seen the show before, you're really missing out! If you need thirty minutes or three hours of entertainment look it up on YouTube or Netflix, or just turn on any one of the five channels that plays re-runs of the show. Matthew Perry is also the star of the more recently cancelled show "Go On" (or "goon" as my dad likes to call it) about a man who is attending a grief counseling group after his wife passes away. The show was really good, but evidently the network didn't agree...

Matthew was here at Penn to talk about his prior struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. Nearly a decade later, he is able to spin his natural sarcastic humor into the situation, but the primary message of his speech was clear - Addiction is not something that you should be ashamed of or try to hide. He encourages people to speak up and get help for themselves rather than trying to hide their problems. He was really inspirational and his impact as an activist is evident through his work with various organizations and the federal government.

Dr. Bill Cosby

I had the chance to see Bill Cosby - a Philadelphia-native and Temple University alum - speak at the Palestra (the arena on campus where the basketball team plays) after the men's basketball tip-off last Saurday which was also amazing! I grew up watching re-runs of the Cosby show and have always thought Bill Cosby was hilarious! (I especially like his old sweaters!) He's doing a tour for his new book so he talked a lot about being a parent, dealing with your children, and specifically recounted stories from his daughter's time in college. It was incredible to see a legend like Bill Cosby in person!
*Bonus fact for all of us education folks: Bill Cosby has an Ed.D. (doctorate of education) from UMass-Amherst!

My advice for all you future Quakers out there - take advantage of all the events and speakers that Penn offers! I don't know when I'll ever have the opportunity to see Chandler Bing or Cliff Huxtable again so I'm glad I did it now! I can't wait to see who will show up later in the school year!!

Doc Student Deadlines!

REMINDER!

The deadline to apply for all Ph.D. programs for Fall 2014 enrollment is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013!

• This means ALL materials must be received by the admissions office by that date.
• All applications received by that date are guaranteed a faculty review of all materials.
• If you have not yet taken the GRE, you must do so no later than NOVEMBER 22, 2013 or your test scores will not make it to us in time.
• We always recommend that you submit your application and materials earlier rather than waiting until the absolute last day!

Any questions? Please email admissions@gse.upenn.edu or give us a call at (215)898-6415.

Where to Eat in Philadelphia: Part II

As promised, here is the second half of my list of favorite restaurants in Philadelphia!

Enjoy a Night (or Morning) Out

Philly is full of great chain restaurants and unique little cafes or eateries, but when I’m looking to go out for an evening, I love to try one of the Garces Group or Starr restaurants.

Garces Group, operated by Iron Chef Jose Garces, includes eight different nice restaurants in Philadelphia all with delicious food! I’m a big fan of Amada, but Distrito is located right on Penn’s campus and easily accessible. I can’t wait to try Village Whiskey - it’s next on my list!

Renowned chef Stephen Starr also owns and operates a whopping twenty-two restaurants in Philadelphia! Andrea has already given a great review of Alma de Cuba, but my favorite Starr restaurants are El Vez and Pod (also located on Penn’s campus).

One of my family’s favorite restaurants in Philly (also a Stephen Starr restaurant) is Jones. The restaurant itself looks like a home right out of the 1970’s (think Brady Bunch!) with a sunken living room, swivel chairs, and a cozy fireplace. Jones serves amazing comfort food like mac & cheese, fried chicken, and meatloaf, but we’ve been there for several brunches and dinners and have never been disappointed!

One thing you should know about me is I LOVE BRUNCH! I love breakfast foods anyway, but there’s something so satisfying about integrating them into a “late-breakfast-early-lunch” meal that really becomes its own event! Sabrina’s Cafe (located a few blocks from Penn on Drexel’s campus) has an amazing brunch, it’s affordable, and you get a lot of delicious food - they even theme the constantly changing weekend menu based on tv shows or other pop culture themes. I should note, Sabrina’s is open for all meals of the day, but brunch there is my favorite!

Another recommendation that I always make (with a few disclaimers) is the Philadelphia Water Works. This GORGEOUS restaurant right on the Schuylkill River hosts a phenomenal brunch every weekend with lots and lots of delicious food, beautiful views, and excellent service. However, brunch here is a little pricey so it’s probably not an “every weekend” kind of place - I see it more for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. But the food, service, and atmosphere are fantastic! Like Sabrina’s, Water Works is open for all meals, but I’m always looking for brunch locations, so that’s what I like about it! Final tip: you need to have reservations for the Water Works, so book early, especially if it’s a holiday. 


So there you have it. My guide to dining in Philly. Of course, if you have any other suggestions or recommendations of great food or cool locales, definitely share them here! I'd love to hear them!


Quick reminder for our several events coming up in the next few weeks - 

Tuesday, November 12th
Virtual Information Session
Online, 4:00-6:00 pm ET
RSVP here.

Wednesday, November 20th
Web Chat with Current Students & Alumni
Online, 8:00-9:00 pm ET
RSVP here.

Saturday, December 7th
Urban Teacher Education Program Info Session
On Campus, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
RSVP here.

Tuesday, December 10th
Web Chat with Current Students & Alumni
Online, 12:00-1:00 pm ET
RSVP here.

Guess What Day It Is?!?

 

No, not Wednesday, Hump Day, Friday, or November 1st...it's the first day of red cups at Starbucks!!!

This means it's officially holiday season!

Call me crazy, but this is one of my favorite days of the year! So I'm superficial - whatever.

A peppermint mocha latte just tastes 100 times better in a red holiday cup.

 

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend and enjoy the start of the holiday season!