3.74

And that's the GPA I will graduate with. Woot!! With honors. As a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Yesterday, my mother and I headed up to Madison Square Garden to participate in my previous college's graduation ceremonies. Wearing colors that were supposed to be red and gray, but resembled rust and silver, I received my Associates in Art. My major was Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and it wasn't without thinking about the pain and anguish I had been through up until this milestone.

Originally, I wanted no part of the ceremonies. My heart and mind bitter at the rigmarole I went through dealing with the college administration. My feelings only gave way because my mother wanted so badly to watch her daughter graduate. My brother and I are the only grandchildren on my mother's side of the family to receive a degree. Telling someone my feelings about this, it was pointed out that I should go and view it for what it really was...an academic achievement. Not for what the administrative side of the school had done.

Still, I have another round to go before I can even think about obtaining my bachelors. But if I have come this far, I can only believe that day will come too.

Starting it All Over Again in Two Weeks

Whew! Summer classes are done. The university hasn't entered the grades yet, but I know I did pretty good. Judging from the grades of all the essays I turned in, I'm confident I received an A in the intercultural communications class, but not sure what I received for the Internet essentials course. Grades should be posted soon to confirm or deny the above.

I'm not going to lie, it was difficult, especially when it came to forcing myself to dedicate the time and energy. I worry because I'll be attempting three classes next semester. That said, I have to do this. There is no other way around it all. Getting my degree is not a choice, but a necessity.

Reaching The Halfway Mark

So far, I've been acclimating myself into the two classes I'm currently taking this summer session with the new school.

One is the web essentials course (required), which is very interactive and the most time consuming so far. The other is the intercultural communications course (also required). It has already become a source of contention. The professor seems to think that we students should focus on the class 24/7. There was a bit of anarchy when the university activated all classes on the first day and we discovered on the syllabus that by Thursday noon of that week we were instructed to read close to 200 pages and submit a 400 word essay using points from the book. After a major coup d’état by us students, the professor agreed to extend the deadline for the next week's project.

Meanwhile, the other class is much more laid back, our discussion board posts are more free flowing, less fearful. For extra credit, I've already begun and submitted another blog through WordPress. I may end up using it to switch over there someday. More on that in the future (wink).

A Fresh Start

Summer classes start today at my new university. I'll be taking on two courses in eight weeks. Both are part of the required curriculum. Logging on, I was ecstatic to be welcomed as a full student, regardless of the fact that I am learning from a distance. What an excellent start! Though I don't have my books yet. Those should be trickling in shortly.

Fingers crossed!

Transfer...Next Stop

There is such excitement in the air. The university has finished evaluating my college transcripts. I received in the mail confirmation of the classes and amount of credits they were able to transfer over into my intended degree program. I was ecstatic when I opened the envelope to see that I've been awarded the full 60 credits. This is also the maximum they can transfer under their rules and guidelines. It really gave me a sense of exaltation. Like it was all coming together for me now.

Yeah, so they didn't honor two of my courses, but their policy clearly states the 60 credit maximum, so I was happy with what they gave me. Besides, they dropped the two classes that each earned me only two credits, so it wasn't that bad. One thing that rubs me, but I'll get over soon, is that I'm required to take a three credit English course that focuses solely on writing a research paper. This happens to be one of the two credit courses the university chose not to honor. Now, I can write a mean paper, but it kinda feels like an academic version of the movie Groundhog Day where I'm repeating the same course over again.

In the meantime, I've matched the courses that correspond to my future curriculum and it's looking good. It's looking like I'll be able to focus pretty extensively on my major. Another bummer is that although I took statistics as a math requirement for my current college, two courses in algebra are required for my intended degree. That brings the total to three math classes. I can't get upset, and can only shrug my shoulders at the way the curriculum cards played out. Lucky for me, I can count statistics towards my general electives, so that's coming as a plus. I just deplore math, is all.

Right now, it's just so…new. It's electric. Now that I have the accepted course outline, I feel as if I can get going. For now, another question mark, another obstacle, has been removed from my continuing path of studies.

C Ya!

After waiting anxiously all Sunday night and all Monday morning, I finally received the e-mail that contained my grade for the semester. It's a C. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually happy with this grade. It's exactly what I anticipated. I worked very hard for this grade and I knew going in that an A was out of the question, and that a B was asking too much. A nice little C.

I'm praying this will be the end of attending my current college, and I'll be able to graduate with my Associates degree. But I'm not hopeful. I am currently in the process of dealing with the college appeals committee to move my entry year back to its original date so that I don't have to take two more classes. You see, I was away from my school for a year due to a situation I am convinced was the college's fault. It's long and complicated and I can't explain without tears welling up in my eyes. I just never expected my school to act in a way that would bring me to this level of frustration.

Free To Be From the CPE

So, there's this exam my current college has and students are required to pass it in order to graduate. It's called the CPE, and after so many credits, the administration chases you down until you take it. Apparently, each time they send you a letter, if you don't register to take the exam, it's marked on your record as an absence. You're only allowed three absences until, who knows, they send you to the guillotine? Of course, I didn't know this until the third letter arrived, spaced years apart.

Under duress, I finally registered for both the workshop and the exam. During the workshop it's very important that you take lots of notes and ask lots of questions because there is a certain way you go about doing everything in order to pass. To top it off, the only day I could participate in the workshop was on a Sunday from 10-3. Gah!

The day of the exam, after being bossed around by officials on where to sit and what he could have on our desks, we sat down to begin. There were two tasks; an essay and a claim. The quiet of the room was interrupted frequently by the sounds of student officers, who walk around to make sure no one is cheating. There are no bathroom breaks during the four hours you are sequestered in this room. While the process is indeed stressful and at times intense, if you did well in English 101 and 102, you'll do fine.

I did fine and passed.

Solid C

Today, the professor presented the class with our grades for the quiz we took two weeks ago. I got a C. Not a plus or a minus. A solid C.

Oh well, better luck next time.

Did I tell you how much I absolutely hate the chemistry segment of biology?

Like a Band-Aid - Rip it Off, Get it Over With

Biology class started today and I thought I was going to die when the alarm clock went off at 7:20am. That's not a normal time to be up on a Saturday morning, unless you're just coming in from a night out.

My first worry was that the class would be difficult, though my biggest fret was over the issue of dissection. This is something I am morally against. After some investigation, I learned that previous classes dissected fetal pigs, was resigned to this fact, and only okay with it because I consume pork. Infrequent as it may be. Thankfully, the professor informed us that instead, we will be dissecting owl pellets.

Since the professor has an accent, I misheard owl pellet as owl palette. For the remainder of the class, I was beside myself with anxiety. An owl's palate? What a serious waste of a living creature. My mind danced about with disturbing visions of owls being culled only for their precious palettes and left to die a cruel palette less death on the ground beneath the tree they were perched in. After doing an online search, Yahoo blasted back at me with a corrective, "do you mean owl pellet?" Woosh! Thankfully, I learned it was nothing painful and will actually be a cool thing to dissect. Well, not painful for the owl, just their prey.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I think this professor will make the class informative and interesting. I have a weird feeling I'm older than her too.

I keep telling myself that it's only twelve Saturdays until it's all over. Twelve Saturdays.

I've Made It In!

I have been formally accepted into my college of choice!

I'm not surprised really, just happy that the process is finally over. I can wipe my brow and begin to worry about a whole other host of problems. I am still waiting for one set of transcripts to be sent. Afterwards, the college will give me an evaluation so I can choose the proper curriculum path. Until then, I won't know what classes will transfer over into my intended program. That is one of the worries.

What I'm really fretting over is the fact that I will have to take out student loans. A first for me. Since I'm attempting status as a full time student, my bank account won't hold up against the tuition demands. Luckily, I paid the first half of college out-of-pocket, which will help tremendously towards expenses. At my age, this is worrying me the most. As much as I realize that this is an important investment, the idea of being in my thirties with brand spankin' new student loans is proving to be very hard to confront. Day by day, I'm slowly talking myself down.

While I'm also seeking out scholarships and grants, I realize that I'm up against what feels like millions of other students who are vying for the same money. Besides, there are only so many original essays one can submit about how you're saving the world or what you've learned about ferrets in sub-Sahara Africa who are suffering from tuberculosis.

I shouldn't complain considering how lucky I am to even have these problems at all. Especially when so many don't even have the opportunities to further their education.

Done and Dusted

I have made my decision. I've applied to school number one's online history degree. I'm sure this comes as no surprise considering all the previous gushing of said school!

The transcripts have been requested and are in the process of being sent to the school's admissions office. Then, I'll have to wait on their decision. The waiting is the hardest part.

I'm not fretting. The school has rolling admissions and a pretty liberal acceptance policy. I'm just worried and full of wonder for what's ahead.

Now to find the dosh to pay for this damn degree.

Let's Make History Happen

I've noticed lately that my options have opened up tremendously on this journey I call "completing my Bachelor's degree". Whenever that will happen. After much thought, I have chosen to complete the last half of my studies through distance learning. It was a difficult decision to make. I enjoy going to school. But the physicality of attending grew harder and time constraints have become tighter. I simply had to find another way to make this successful.

What has worked in my academic favor is that many schools, especially highly respectable brick and mortar establishments, are offering more degrees through distance learning. In the past, it seemed all you could major in online was Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. Now, the possibilities and choice of majors are becoming endless. Also, the world of scholarship and grant opportunities has widened compared to just a few years ago when us non-traditional students didn't really have many avenues out there for financial support. All in all, a good thing.

So, after looking into six colleges that either offered my degree, or something similar, I chipped away and narrowed them down to three.

The number one choice has firmly become my dream school. To my surprise, I just only recently, accidentally, discovered the existence of their online program. A top 100 university, solid New England institution, with some serious name recognition. More importantly, an excellent choice of courses. It has everything going for it. What's the catch? The price tag (ouch!). But I have a feeling that this is the "one". Another positive thing to consider is this school has a lot of its own scholarship and grant opportunities available to returning students.

The number two choice is the first (I think) serious brick and mortar university to offer my major online. For this reason alone, there will always be a place in my heart for the school. That it had an excellent selection of courses to choose from also made it appealing. The only problem is the rigorous acceptance policy and that they allow only a few students into the program each year. A little too confidence crushing for me. Plus, the deadline to apply now is tight. Another thing that worries me is the semester structure. The winter and summer sessions are seriously lacking and not conducive to finishing my degree quicker. That alone is a very important thing to consider.

The number three choice is a really great Midwestern school. The college offers an excellent choice of courses and a nice semester structure. It also has an easy acceptance policy. Sort of a safety school.

I seriously hope I can concentrate, ask a lot of pertinent questions, and get all the information needed without resorting to rash and impulsive decisions; of which I am well known for. There are a handful of schools to choose from, but I know that the final say will happen during the admissions process, when for once, in my academic journey, someone else will have the final say.

I realize I'm up against some challenges here completing the last half of my degree online. The school's appellation is going to have to work extra hard because of this. The name of a school can sometimes raise eyebrows, which is one of the reasons I chose to avoid the "big three" that are heavily advertised. In my experience, I've been cognisant of people's views of online education, so my choices are based on a set criteria, which contributed to the difficultly of making it to this point. First, I refused to bend and insisted on a certain major, and never budged. It was never an option to settle on the limited majors that until recently, most online school programs offered. Last, an important factor was to have the degree attached to an esteemed brick & mortar institution (which all three of my choices are). This proved to be a difficult task in the beginning, but things are now definitely shaping up in both these departments.

Good things happen to those who wait, right? We'll see.

A For Effort

The past few weeks I had been getting frustrated that I hadn't received my grade for my class yet. It's interesting to remember how confident I was about the class I took last semester. How I simply waited for the transcript to arrive in the mail, confirming what I had already suspected, the wonderful A we all cherish so greatly. ESC's website has an odd and maze-like interface. In order to get from point A to point B, one has to log in and out of several different screens. So, after much searching around, I accidentally stumbled upon the final letter grade for the Native American history class that recently came to a close.

I got an A.

I should be happy, and on a lot of levels, I am. However, as I discussed previously, I'm not 100 percent certain I feel I earned it. In the professor's eyes, I did work hard. I confess that I turned in a mean paper, which the professor stated was "a very creative, well-written and timely research paper". He also pointed out that my sources were "very interesting". True. It's not everyday one finds such publications titled "Counselling the Inupiat". Not to mention, even though I missed a few class discussions, the majority of the ones I contributed to I gave well thought out responses. I feel anyway.

Nevertheless, I should look at this as a learning experience and respect the academic slump I was in the last few months and stop being so hard on myself. If I were such a piss poor student, like I was convinced I was, I wouldn't have got the grade I did.

Now I can order my transcript in confidence, have it sent off to my future Alma mater, and hopefully, get the credit towards my intended degree. At this point, I just want it over with.

Pick & Choose

It's been tough playing seesaw over which classes I want to take this upcoming semester. Since I will have time to manage only one course, the process of elimination is making me go absolutely batty. Choosing courses is fun, but going about picking the one that will fit into your major before you've even been accepted to a college for the second half of your degree, is truly proving to be quite difficult.

I could go conservative and take the Historiography class that is required for my major. Or, I could take the Food and Drink in a Cultural Context class, which looks like lots of fun, and can go towards my possible minor (anthropology). This might all be scrapped so I can try and gain admittance into the Introduction to Canada class that will be available online through SUNY-Plattsburgh. Not only would this satisfy a requirement for my major, but it will prove to be very helpful to me. A happy medium(?).

Presently, I am taking classes at Empire State College (ESC) until a laboratory science class becomes available at my future Alma mater. Then, finally, I can graduate with my A.A. degree in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. I'm at a bit of a crossroads in that I'm still not sure whether I want to go on to complete my BA at ESC, or apply to the distance learning program at UIS. So far, I've done two courses at ESC, and have been very comfortable with the flow of things.

On one hand, UIS is probably the better choice, because not only does the degree focus more on European history (which is a preference of mine), but it's a more solid institution. On the other hand, ESC is attractive because it falls under the SUNY umbrella, and the degree plan is much more flexible than at UIS.

Still, lots of decisions to make for my future, and I can't even make a final choice on one class. I've got a long way to go here!.

Type A Negative

I’m sick and tired of being a little miss goody-two shoes.

I’ve just passed in my research paper for class. I know that deep in my heart of hearts that I haven’t really truly given my all to this class. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the class, nor the material. In fact, I have been dying to take a Native American history class for ages. I mean, since my dream is to turn in my senior dissertation on Native Americans who have emigrated to Europe, you would think this would be such a great starting point, a veritable springboard, right?

So, after much soul searching, I think I’ve figured it all out. I finally realized what has been gnawing inside of me for some time. Are you ready? I am simply sick of going to school. There, I said it. I have reached a breaking point where it’s all coming down to the fact that I just want to get it over with. Another factor is that since I am only half way through, I have been approaching it with difficulty all this time. I’m trying so hard to be good. Well, I’m sick of being good.

I had tried college right after high school and failed miserably. At the time, I just wasn’t cut out for it. I needed time -- me time. However, deep down inside, there was that gnawing little feeling. I knew that sometime in my life I had to get my bachelor's degree. Even if some view it as only a piece of paper, and many don’t work in the field they studied for, it’s still an accomplishment. Later on in my life, I decided it was time to go back. As a barometer, I took one class, to see if I was cut out for the responsibility. I got an A. Let me tell you, it was so damn exhilarating, and a sign that, yes, I can do it after all. That A eventually did me in. Afterwards, I couldn’t turn back. What happened afterwards was a lesson in “type A” studentry (is that even a word?). I strived for the highest grade possible in each and every class. That was my supreme goal, and in the end, it became the only means necessary for my education.

Lately, I find myself just wanting to piss around and do nothing. Or, do other things that require my full attention. Last year, I took a wonderful sewing class. It was nice to start that hobby back up, since I so love to sew. But, there was that educational "do it!" cloud that always seemed to hang over my head, proving it to be so difficult to relax and go with the flow without thinking of how many more discussions I had to contribute to on our forum. Or how I had to head back to the library, yet again to pick something up for my research paper.

These past few months, I found myself doing it again. I admit that it took me much later this time to put a flame under my ass and get going on my paper. I had the subject matter all figured out. That wasn’t the problem. I culled my research. Again, no problem. I admit, I do write a mean research paper. It was the sitting down and actually typing my paper out that put me in a mental quandary.

So, I sabotaged myself by turning in my paper (days) late and at the same time realized that I hadn’t turned in the second assignment, which was simply to outline exactly what my paper was about. A stupid move, since I will be penalized; and even more stupid is that I had the information all this time. And all this time I’m fighting the feeling that I’m not getting an A. I’m trying to fight the fact that I do not deserve an A, and it happens to be in one of the most important classes of my college career. This class is part of my major. This class will eventually be the catalyst for my senior dissertation.

Is it the end of the world? No, certainly not. Is it time to re-think my approach towards my educational goals and get out of this slump? Yes, most certainly.

Topic for Research Paper

I've pretty much decided that the topic of my research paper will be about the Alaskan Inupiat and the Canadian Iqaluit and the problems each tribe is facing due to global warming. The Inupiat and the Iqaluit comprise the indigenous peoples we refer to as the Inuit, or "Eskimo" as they are often better known.

That's going to be a lot for me to chew on! I'll need all the luck in the world to pull this off. I originally thought of researching the history of the Hawaiian monarchy, but we are focusing more on the continental US and Canada. Not so much on the Pacific Islands.

You didn't know that Hawaii was once a kingdom? When someone tells you that the US never had a monarchy of its own, you can with confidence declare, "No my friend, we had one until 1887".

A very interesting history indeed.

Back In The Learning Groove

I am attempting my second on-line course this semester. “First Peoples of North America” starts today and will focus on Native American history. I’m all excited about this course for obvious personal reasons, but I feel that I’m going to be able to handle the material and flow of the course much better than the last on-line class I took; which was last semester. I’m a bit more seasoned this time around. On-line courses are actually quite difficult. To make up for lost physical time in the classroom, students are required to contribute to several discussions, which can be hard because there are certain criteria to meet. There’s no one liners allowed on these boards. That can be a pain in the ass when you have to reply to several classmates about one topic and you end up feeling like a myna bird.

Make no mistake; there is nothing like face time in a regular classroom. However, when it comes to education, I wouldn’t recommend taking only one route. I’ve done my freshmen and sophomore years physically, in a classroom. Now, due to time constraints, and just plain needing to get my degree done and over with, it looks like I’ll be spending my junior and senior years on a computer.

In the mean time, I keep meaning to schedule an appointment with my other school, the brick and mortar one, to sort out my graduation requirements. I am SO over them right now it exhausts me to think about what’s in store when I have my advisement session. UGH!

*Sigh*

Fitch

I attended a wonderful lecture tonight, which I'll write about soon. However, it looks like I missed this lecture at the Gotham Center.

On the Take: Labor Union Corruption in New York City, Past, Present, Future February 26th, 6:30 - Ninth Floor

Recent scandals are the jumping off point for this forum, in which the new head of the city's Central Labor Council and distinguished scholars ask: How pervasive has labor corruption been in New York City? What has caused it? How does it compare to (or connect with) corruption in business and politics? What has been its impact on Gotham's economy and polity? What to do about it? An important and provocative evening with Ed Ott, Executive Director, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL/CIO; Mike Merrill, Dean, Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies, Empire State College; Robert Fitch, author, Solidarity for Sale; and James Jacobs, Professor of Law and Director, Center for Research in Crime and Justice, New York University School of Law, author, Mobsters, Unions, and Feds: The Mafia and the American Labor Movement.

Not that I was the least bit interested. But, one of the lecturers, Robert Fitch, was my Urban Sociology professor. I remember the first day of class when he told us not to bother getting the required textbook, because we wouldn’t need it. His honesty turned out to be the best policy, and I learned why. Professor Fitch was exasperatingly against corruption of any kind. So against it in fact, that most of the class discussion was centered on how mobsters and the FIRE organizations (Finance – Insurance - Real Estate) have destroyed our cities.

I always got the sense that he knew how to keep his opinions on the down low and without much rabblerousing, or else he would have made the journey from the top of the East River into the New York Harbor a long, long time ago. Swimming with fishes is a great mob pastime here. I have to give him credit though, he required us to bring in the Tuesday Metro edition of the NY Times each week to read and discuss the articles in class. It might sound like a babyish task, but he used the articles in his lectures to give us a better scope of the material as it pertained to our daily lives and the sociology of urban communities. I really did learn a lot from him. Another plus was that he hated exams and only did them out of administrative requisite. So, he gave us all the answers to his tests. Imagine taking your midterm and final exams with the answers right there next to you. Imagine!

The hardest assignment Fitch required was our final paper. We students were to choose four settings in the city and report what we observed. The idea was to get an idea how the rich and poor functioned in cities; urban sociology in action. In order to be varied, this had to be a cross-selection of experiences. I chose to visit the (now half defunct) Plaza Hotel for afternoon tea; a community board hearing, and observed both a Manhattan and a London criminal court case in session. Can you imagine visiting another country for a class assignment? Okay, it was tied it into my vacation, but I can now say I did.

I bump into Professor Fitch from time to time at the supermarket. He lives in my neighborhood. And each time he searches my face for clues as to who I am. Each time I gently remind him I was once a student of his.

Roman Historical Relief

A Slide Lecture Presented By:
Dr. Nancy L. Thompson,
Associate Museum Educator, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mid-Manhattan Library

I attended this lecture tonight at the Mid-Manhattan branch of the NYPL. This branch is diagonally across the street from the head library. The one with the famous lions out front.

I admit I'm not well educated on Roman historical relief, but I'm a firm believer that you don't know unless you give it a try. I knew it was going to be a slide presentation and I have nothing against slides, as I'm a visual person and love looking at historical items. What I didn't expect were the types of people in the crowd that night. There were many there who were, shall we say, the free library lecture types. The thing about culture and the city is that the type of venue sums up the many types of people who will be in attendance. This, I learned tonight. I know that statement reflects on me as well, but, I'm a different kettle of fish all together you know!

Dr. Thompson was incredibly on top of her game while explaining each slide. She was even able to put a certain someone up front in their respective place. This person tried (the operative word here) to dominate the discussion. I got the feeling that Ms. Thompson was either used to this person, or used to this type of person. Kudos to you lecturer, because I despise these kind of people.

Dr. Thompson focused mostly on the following:

Arch of Constantine
Arch of Septimius Severus
Arch of Titus
Trajan's Column
Column of Marcus Aurelius

Although I was tired, the room was a bit on the warm side, and the lecture was longer than expected, I found it educational and enjoyable.

Guilty Pleasure # 53

Given that I'm a history major, this site should appeal to me.

It does.