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Today my online college courses began, and this is so cool I can't stand it.
Saturday I go to my first on-campus class.
My husband has used the word "giddy" to describe my behavior lately.
I can't begin to express how much I am enjoying being back in college. I just wanted to share my happiness, and tell everyone here that encouraged me to go back - Thank You. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I'm extra impressed that you are going back to school because I know how busy you are being a mom. It's often hard to take time to read a book, much less study one.
Best of luck to you, Belle!
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
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jexx, the twins and I had long talks about how they must behave when Mommy is in class. There are online quizzes I have to take, that are timed, so I've explained to them that they can always come talk to me if they need me, but those are times when they should play quietly or watch tv.
No quizzes are due yet, so I don't know how it will actually go.
As for studying, so far I've been doing all my reading at night after they're in bed.
I'll make it work - it won't be easy, but it's going to work out.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Congratulations, Belle! I am so excited for you.
School librarians are awesome and they make much more of a difference than anyone knows. My HS librarian, Mrs. Hale, was supercool and would recommend books for me all the time and always ordered everything I requested.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I felt the very same way when I finally returned to school at the age of 33. I didn't mind the bad weather, the parking problems, the long lines, the pop quizzes and midterms or anything else. I was so thrilled to be in school again - and honestly, the feeling stayed with me pretty much until I graduated.
I'd love to go back for grad school now, but that doesn't seem likely for a while.
I am planning on graduate school, because I can't be a school librarian without the master's degree. Of course, right now I still have to focus on finishing the undergrad, so one thing at a time.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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When I went back to school, I was still married and had planned a very different course than I eventually followed. After a couple of years, my husband left me and I had to make some major changes in my educational goals. I'm very grateful every day that I was able to finish my degree. I was raised by a single mother myself, and I remember very well some of my mother's struggles to work a very low paid job (she was a waitress for most of my life) and raise a family when she was so very tired and never had enough money or time to do what was needed.
When I have difficulties, I remember that and appreciate my scientific job so much more. I have a climate controlled office, where I don't have to be on my feet all day. I can make my own hours within reason to accomodate my children's needs. I have good benefits, including a liberal vacation and sick leave policy... all things that my mother never dreamed of, and which I would not have without my education.
Of course, all those years ago, I wasn't thinking of those things. I was just so thrilled to be learning and expanding myself.
Again, good luck with your studies. In my experience it's one of the best things you'll ever do.
Posts: 2069 | Registered: May 2001
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Belle, you will do wonderfully I'm certain. I'm excited for you.
I'm also hoping that your excitement is catching. I'm 27 credits away from graduation and can't seem to gather up the motivation to finish. I began an online course and have yet to turn in a single assignment - and it's all due in May.
One thing at a time - complete the first assignment. Don't look at all the stuff you have to do by May - just take them in sequence and work on completing each one.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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But I don't wanna do it! No, seriously, I don't. I've been in a sulk since I finished all of my english courses and am not allowed to take anymore. Ok, I could - but they won't count towards my degree.
It's a history course, which I really thought I might enjoy. Nope. Too many memorize this fact or that - which I don't do well at. Literature and sociology courses always made sense to me because you kind of get the main idea and extrapolate from there. You're right though; I should set a goal for getting the first assignment finished and go from there.
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All right, Belle!!! Congrats on jumping back into the "pool". Good luck!!!
I hope to return to college someday, and if it takes me a couple of years, I will know where my inspiration came from.
As for History, it is one of my favorite subjects. I like how it flows back and forth. How one thing leads to another and, yet, at the same time, it isn't entirely linear. Yes, learning just about the facts can be a bit boring, but it is what is behind those names, place and dates that is where the real story lies. So, have fun with it.
Opera... I've done those online courses before. They seem easy, but self-discipline is key. I suck at self-discipline. The only things that kept me from failing those courses were a couple of all-nighters and the fact that I hate failing.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
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This semester I'm only taking three. Western Civ I, Public Speaking, and Music Appreciation. Yes, it's a cupcake schedule, but when I registered, they still had not done the evaluation on my transcript, so I couldn't register for anything that required a pre-requisite.
Public speaking and History are online, music I have a Saturday class. The online classes are going to take a lot of self-discipline, there's a lot of reading and assignments and quizzes to take, but there is a good structured schedule, that if I stick to it I'll be okay.
Taking a speech class online was a little weird to me at first, but it's actually kind of cool. I will have to schedule five different speeches with the instructor, and I'll have to go on campus to give those in front of an audience, of course. As for history, I only have to go to campus twice, once for the mid-term and once for the final.
Things have definitely changed since I went to school last - even the classes you take on campus make use of email and online grade postings. No more anxiously waiting in the hallway for the instructor to post them!
I have worked out a general plan in my mind, if all goes well:
Take three classes in the summer - Eng 101 (they credited me for 102, but not 101, because I tested out of it and went straight to 102 before), American Literature 1, and either Calculus or Physics.
In the fall I'll take Calculus or physics, American Lit 2, Computer Applications (required course, I have to demonstrate proficiency in things like Word and Excel ), and Psychology - Human Development.
After I complete all these courses I'll be ready to transfer to the four-year institution as a junior and begin my courses for the school of education.
After I finish the undergrad in elementary education I have two possible paths I can take. One is to go straight to the master's in library science program and get that degree. The other is to get a master's in education first, then add-on the library certificate. The advantage to doing it the second way is that it will allow me to be licensed in Alabama as an educational librarian right away. If I just get the MLIS without the M.Ed, then I must work for two years before I'm eligible for the certificate. Job hunting may be tougher, because the school that hired me would have to apply to the state superintendent's office for an exception for the first two years, until I can be certified.
I won't make that decision now, because I have more immediate concerns - getting my GPA up to the point that I can be admitted to the Teacher Education Program at JSU. I was such a screw-up at 19, that I just up and left college without withdrawing. That plays havoc with your GPA when you fail every class of your last semester! (Praise God I was a good student before that and had a high GPA, so it only dropped down to a 2.4) Anyway, I need a 2.5 to apply for admission to the program but naturally I'd love to get it even higher than that.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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), and Psychology - Human Development.
