michelle rivers - my adventure blog

Five years ago, I loaded up my Honda with all of my stuff (including my snake friend, Mojave) and drove from San Diego, CA to Stow, OH to start my PhD adventure. Somehow I'm at the end of this journey (already?!), and I thought I would take a moment to reflect on some of the things I've done during graduate school. ( google scholar link ) ( cogbites blog link ) I would not be at the end of this journey without the support of my community. I am fortunate to have too many people to thank individually here, but I appreciate everyone who has mentored, encouraged, or supported me in small or large ways. To my mentors, who have consistently challenging me to grow as a thinker and provided me the tools and support to become the researcher and educator that I am today - I will do my best to support my future students and colleagues by following your generous examples. To my peers, who have been the best critics and cheerleaders - may we continue to lift each other up. To my friends (so...

So, it's official! I am a college graduate! I finished my degree (Psychology B.A. with a minor in education) back in December. Graduation was delayed slightly due to some health issues (more on that later), but I was able to get back on track and still graduate with highest honors from UC Santa Cruz. I am so grateful to have completed the beginning of my higher education at two incredible colleges, not to mention all the amazing friends and mentors I met along the way. Of course, I am disappointed that it's over, but looking forward to the next chapter. My plans are constantly changing, so I think it's best to focus on the past and present for the sake of this blog. Although I will say this - travel is definitely in my future! Squash pancake (flax seed, almond flour, winter squash) with homemade ghee and yogurt. Celebrating the end of a quarter with some lab colleagues.  My plan to stay in Santa Cruz for a while longer had to be cut short as I have been struggl...

Sunrise - view from my back porch  As usual, I've been busy with my last year of college! Started this year living off campus in a house only a few blocks from the base of my campus. I live with 2 other housemates who are very quiet and respectful (I barely ever see them) in a large room that overlooks the ocean and downtown. I've had a wonderful time living on my own and learning how to cook. I have definitely gotten a lot more quality sleep and study time now that I'm out of the dorms.  Nature's playground - 5.7  Fall quarter started last September. I took two amazing psychology classes: learning and memory and social psych of flim flam (why people believe in silly things). I learned a lot and was offered a great opportunity to work in my professor's memory lab (more on that later). I also worked to create better educational assessments for a program called " Mariposa's Art ", designed to allow after-school art classes and teaching oppo...

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! I had some pretty big assignments due at the beginning of the week, so once they were done I was able to enjoy myself. Monday night was my roommate's birthday, so I took her out to a local Italian place. We got all dressed up! Tuesday afternoon my Mom arrived in Santa Cruz. Being the busy- bee that she is, she was stopping by for a "lay-over" on her way home from New Zealand! She had a wonderful trip, and we spent the last couple of days exchanging stories. We spent Tuesday at my campus's arboretum. The lighting was perfect so I went a little picture crazy. Here are a few: That night we headed up to San Francisco, with a quick sto p at my friend Erica's house to say 'hi' to her family who were also visiting. On Wednesday we explored Fisherman's wharf and ate our traditional "clam chowder in a bread bowl" while watching the sea lions. After a drive down Lombard Street, we went to Ghirardelli Square...