shameless self promotion

Ruzielle Ganuelas

OEO Communications Intern

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"I am passionate about educational advocacy, philanthropy, creative non-fiction, and holistic healing."

By Ruzielle Ganuelas

I was born and raised in the Philippines and migrated to the US at the age of 17 after a year of college in an ivy league university. I received my Associate Degree from Seattle Central Community College with a Phi Theta Kappa Honor's Society distinction and was a Dean's List awardee. I was recently accepted to Washington State University for a Bachelor's of Arts in Humanities and English. I was also awarded the Allied Students Washington State University $2000 Scholarship for the 2012-2013 school year and the first annual recipient of the American Advertising Federation's Seattle Silver Medal Scholarship worth $2500. I work at PCC Natural Markets Issaquah as a Deli Lead and Sushi Chef.

I am passionate about educational advocacy, philanthropy, creative non-fiction, and holistic healing.

Recently I started volunteering and will soon intern for the Seattle Education Access Group which provides scholarships, academic advising and mentoring for low-income and disadvantaged college-age students.

my balance

My balance, or lack therof... How do I find balance in my life when it looks like there's none to be had. My internship ended on Friday without a fuss and I'm grateful (so grateful) for the experience and I'm happy too for the time that it unclogged for my work-school-social life schedule.

I'm taking four classes and really, it shouldn't be this difficult. But I'm running on fumes from the endless barrage of homework, reading, work and social commitments.

How do I find balance?

scholarship: SEA chapter

Almost two hours ago I stepped out of the office of the Seattle Education Access close to the UW campus. I came in begging for school money--$2023.00 to be exact and I left with smeared eyeliner and a rejuvenated passion for school, learning and success.

Part of the interview was discussing the gnarly bits that go into a student's life like my meager earnings, educational goals and what I plan to do when I graduate. Big, giant questions I know considering I could barely answer the simple "how science relates to technology?" homework essay in my Sociology class much less answer Big, Giant questions like what do I need to succeed in my educational goals?

Unfortunately, going to school isn't just about getting good grades and turning in your homework on time. There's finances to worry about, going to work, relationships that need to be addressed and other things that get in the way of getting your diploma.

Mentors.

I told the scholarship committee I need mentorship in my life in order to accomplish my goals and I wasn't getting any. Other than Mr. Big of course. I suppose I need the mentorship of women in my life and if things go as planned, maybe I can be a mentor to somebody else too.

And as an aside, I received an email from the Linda Lael Scholarship for Women that they've received my scholarship application.

All I have to say is, bring it on.

taste of disappointment

I read "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" last summer and I vaguely remembered thinking how incredibly isolating it must feel to taste the feelings of the cook who prepared your food and the farmer who harvested the raw materials.

Once again I went to Chipotle for dinner. I ordered the chicken bowl--grain fed, antibiotic free chicken, organic guacamole and salsa, five star chilies, brown rice and black beans. I took one bite and more until I ate a quarter of my meal. I dipped my tortillao chips in my guacamole and I pushed it away.

My meal tasted of relationship disappointment and love turning into grief on yet another cloud day in downtown Bellevue.