Busy First Week

This week I started my new job as an Associate Food Technician at Nestle Nutrition. (Gerber) Monday morning I had a Welcome Breakfast with the on-boarding team, HR orientation, Safety tours, and an Innovation Team Meeting (I didn't understand a word of it) that had lunch catered in. Tuesday I had a weekly and monthly team meeting with the core team that I will be working with (still didn't understand a whole lot). I had more safety tours and one on one time with my supervisor. I also had time to look around in the computer a bit and start reading over some procedures and processes. Wednesday I watched other technicians work in the lab for a bit, seeing what they work on and how they do things. I also played around on the computer so more. Thursday I got to help with a process called Heat Penetration testing. It's a way to see how hot a food item has to reach internally to make sure it is safe for consumption. We we're working on a project that is in it's very early stages. This Heat Pens. took up a large portion of the day, along with systems training. Friday I helped finish up the last set of Heat Pens. and read over more processes and procedures. We had a Welcome Kara lunch with my team- that was fun! Throughout the week, my supervisor walked me around to the various "pods" of desks so I can meet my coworkers and see where everyone sits. This week was a little overwhelming, because as soon as we got home on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I had to rush off for class. I was a little late each day, but my teachers are very understanding. I'm trying to cram as much as I can into my little head. There's so much! They keep saying I'll learn over the next 6 months to a year. I sure hope I can learn it faster than that! One of the talents I have been blessed with is the ability to learn quickly. The next 7 weeks will be hectic and stressful, but once I graduated it will be a whole different story. I just have to make it through!

Oh yeah, this coming week I will be in Lansing for Better Process Control School at MSU. That will be another post for another day!

Off to a Great Start!

This semester is off to a great start. We are in the 5th week of classes (out of 16) and I am doing well in my classes. I have had two exams in my accounting class. The first one I got a 97% on- the class average was 66%. After I took it I actually came home and cried because I felt that I did horribly. I was so confused, but I must have understood the concepts. I took my second exam last night and I thought I did pretty well on it. The grades were posted tonight and I got a 98% and the class average was a 89%. So overall, I have a 97% in accounting, a 98% in Computer Applications in Business,and a 98% in Ethics.

One more class this week and then it's the weekend! I have some homework & reading to do. I also get to make 2 cakes this weekend for a birthday! Be watching for pictures of that to be posted in the near future!

The end is near....

Well.... Another month has flown by! I can't believe that tomorrow is December 1st! I'm in the final stretch of the fall semester. I have just 2 weeks left! But included in that is: 3 tests, 3 final papers due the last week, 2 papers due next week, 2 presentations, and lots of studying!!! Besides what I have to do, what did I do this past month? Joel went hunting with his dad in Port Huron area. He got an 11 point buck with his crossbow and then a 5 point buck on opening day of rifle season. I went to Joel's parents' for a visit at the beginning of the month and for Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving morning I went to Nantucket Baking Company for our traditional bread and muffins. Then we packed and went for a 14 mile bike ride. It was chilly! After rushing to get cleaned up and the car packed, we went to Muskegon to visit my dad's side of the family. It was so great to see my grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked, because we had to get on the road so we wouldn't be late to Thanksgiving dinner with Joel's family. We had a lot of delicious food and I'm proud to say that I didn't gain weight this year from it! I only ate a plate of food at each location- no second helpings for this girl. I'm finding it very hard not to put weight on now that I don't have time to exercise. I'm already looking forward to spring and the chance to ride my bike at least once a week again! I feel like I should have done more stuff this month, but I honestly can't think of what else I did. Here's to a great (and busy) December!

We're getting it mounted...

Another year done.... many more to go

Now, I chose a different path than most. I married my best friend at age 19 and at that point I started working full time. I graduated high school in 2008, then headed off to Ferris State University. I only attended for one year, got married, and transferred to GRCC. I have been taking classes at night and online ever since. Because I work full time, I only take 2-3 classes a semester. Last night I finished another year of school. My final grades were a 99% in Business Math and 96% in Supervision. Next year I will be taking 3 classes in the fall and 3 classes in the winter to finish my Business Administration associates degree. Then I will continue taking classes at GRCC for another year or so, before transferring to Ferris to get my bachelors degree. All I can say about being on my summer break is:   WOOOHOOOO!