I had been wanting to get my college degree for some time now, but there always seemed to be something more important or demanding of my time and energy. 22 months ago, I finally embarked on the path to a lifelong dream: A college degree. Now, at 48 years of age, I completed my Associate program and plunged right into my bachelor program. My goal is a bachelor's degree by the time I reach my 50th birthday. So far, I’m on track.
January 2008 - Posts
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I spoke with my academic counselor again today. I have only 12 credits to complete before earning my associate degree. Six of those are math. I hate math. I so do not get math. For example, she (my counselor) had just told me that I needed 6 math credits and 6 elective credits and I said “ok, so that’s like two and a half blocks at 9 weeks per block, so we’re talking 24 more weeks after I complete the block I’m in, right?”
I could just see her shaking her head in disbelief.
When I realized that I was NOT right, I said to her “see…you just witnessed my not getting math.”
I have the study guide to try to CLEP math but to be honest, I really do not think I will pass the CLEP. I am so intimidated by the subject that I have put off studying and now I am out of time. My counselor said that I really need to schedule my last 12 credits and the deadline is mid-February…that’s like less than 2 weeks away. I wondered quietly whether I should even try to CLEP math or if I should just resign myself to the fact that I am going to have to take the darned 9 weeks. Twice.
Yes, I did ask her if I chose to go ahead and take the math classes, could I take them at the same time to get it over with (like ripping a bandaid off of furry arms—the quicker the better), and she interrupted me mid-thought and said if I have trouble with math I should split them up or I’ll end up in a padded room where they’ll have to spoon-feed me jello as I’ll have my arms wrapped around me inside that pretty little white jacket with the really long sleeves that tie in the back.
Yeah, I have trouble with math alright. I wonder how many people will agree to loan me the use of their fingers and toes for 9 weeks (twice). And, if when I have to do fractions if they’d be willing to stand on top of each other…
Ugh.
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Read everything. The syllabus, the instructor’s notes, your classmates’ comments, everything. Compare it to everything else. And do this BEFORE you turn in your work.
I was determined to break my habit of procrastinating on my weekly assignment; you know, the one due Sunday? I usually don’t even start on it until Sunday. This block was going to be different, I told myself. Starting with Block VIII, I was going to really plan out my homework schedule from week-to-week and make certain I have plenty of time.
The syllabus for my Human Resources Management class instructed me to name three selection tools I would use in a supermarket’s hiring program, choose which is the best one, and relate whether I would make the same choice of selection tool if hiring for the position chosen for my final project (which, for clarification, has nothing to do with a supermarket…I think). The syllabus instructions did not specify a chapter or chapters from the text as resources; it just described the assignment. So… I scanned the recent chapters the class had been reading for the previous week (of course, I didn’t go forward in the book…why would I do that?), and found a section that talked about selection and I settled in. I needed 1400-1750 words overall and I started pulling it together on Thursday. I was in the University Library most of Friday evening, and again Saturday morning. I had my draft completed by Saturday night and was polishing it all up on Sunday.
At first I didn’t think I’d be able to come up with 1400 words. My draft was at just over 1300 and that included citations and references and title pages, etc. So, I fluffed it up some. It looked pretty good, I thought. So, at 5:00 PM on Sunday evening, I happily posted it in my individual forum pleased that I would be able to relax for once on a Sunday evening and not be buried in last-minute submissions to meet assignment deadlines.
As I went to place a printed copy in my class notebook (I keep a printed copy of everything…yeah, yeah…I know…but, I do, ok? Get over it.), I flipped my index divider to the classroom section where the instructor’s note (also printed out) about the class stared up at me and I saw the words “Remember by selection tools we mean things like: applications, resumes, interviews, drug tests, physical test etc.”
Crap.
The first 900+ words in my essay were on how an employer selects recruitment types, you know, walk-in applicants, labor unions, employee referrals… Great. I now needed to replace about 900 words. Needless to say, I spent the rest of Sunday evening re-researching, re-typing, re-formatting, and re-gretting the oversight of not thoroughly reading the assignment instructions both from the syllabus and from the instructor.
So I reiterate: Read EVERYTHING.
Sigh.
I keep trying to fix the formatting on this post but the site keeps undoing what I fix...so my apologies for the way it looks.
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I was finishing up some Sunday puttering and as I updated the family calendar posted on the refrigerator…you know, the one that helps us know what each other are up to so nobody plans anything when something else is going on except that not everyone updates their own stuff so there is a conflict nearly every week? Ours is an erasable one that we use every year so the years are not on it…that calendar…and as I put my 3-times-a-week physical therapy appointments down for this week I realized I was having to go find a “real” calendar for February because not only was it coming up in less than a week, I did not know if there were going to be 28 or 29 days in it. As I searched for the confirmation that we are, indeed, in a leap year, I said to myself, “Where did January go?”
Tomorrow I start Week 4…WEEK FOUR…already since the holiday break. That means I am already two-thirds the way through this, my eighth block of classes. I feel like I am in the freefall of a rollercoaster just before that intense loop-dee-loop, you know, the one that will make me want to hurl as soon as it stops?!
I got a phone call last week from my “transition counselor” wanting to walk me through the application process to enroll me in my bachelor degree program. Wait. What? But that’s still six months away, right? No, she said. From her records (‘her’ records…aren’t they ‘my records’?) it seems I will have completed my associates degree by May. Really? No kidding? Yes, she assured me. And, if I CLEP math like I keep saying I am going to, it could be sooner. No way. Really? For real?
Oh…my…goodness.
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Once again, life interferes with homework deadlines. It is only day four of my first block since the break and already I'm pressed to get to and complete my assignments on time. Is it just me, or is it merely a tedious chore to restart school after winter break? I do not recall this experience last year, but I think last year the break didn't span two weeks. Getting back into the swing is sluggish at best for me. It doesn't help that my 11-year-old is experiencing angst of his own. Brandon is at that adolescent age of pushing boundaries, testing limits and pushing buttons. Goodness, gracious he knows where all of mine are. I am so ready to call Super Nanny to find out what I am doing wrong because after trying all of the things that I think will get through to him and failing miserably, it appears obvious that I lack some skill that will take the belligerence out of him and make him recognize that his behavior is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong. It's not like he's behaving like a juvenile delinquent or anything. But his pre-teenage antics (not doing his chores, conveniently forgetting his homework at school, lying about whether or not he brushed his teeth or fed the dog...among other things) are interfering with my ability to focus for longer than 10 minutes at a time on my schoolwork. I feel I must constantly be checking on him to make sure he is both doing what I asked him to do and not doing anything he is supposed to not be doing.
I managed to get my CheckPoint and my DQ done before the deadline today. I probably had another hour but with daylight savings time, I’m still worried that if I turn something in after 11:00 PM it won’t count (even though the rules say that only attendance goes on UoP’s clock)…I still worry.
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