so, i tell people that school is "fantastically kicking my butt" because i am just loving it. i don't have "friends" on campus (not counting the two professors i go to church with) so i spend a lot of time in the freezing cold library getting my readings done and other school work. you would think that i would bring a jacket or dress better knowing i would be in the library turning into a popsicle, but it's hot enough during the day that walking across campus produces a sweat... not so sweet.
so my communications class is great. we had to do an impromptu speech on friday, which was oh so fun. my reaction to the list of topics when it was my turn was "really, you should keep the 32 year old mother of three in mind when you make the list next time". almost every topic was geared for the young college people that basically live on campus. well, the speech being impromptu meant there was no time limit.... mine was 2 min 48 sec (the average time was a LOT less). what can i say, i'm a talker. our next assignment is a 90 second speech, hardest! thing! ever!!! i am practicing so i don't go over.
my writing class is a little better. the professor brought chocolate one day just cause it was a rainy day (it was dove dark!). we have been working on our first paper, a rhetorical piece, for the past two weeks... or, at least i have. i was under the impression for a week that the first draft was due on the 18th, it wasn't due until the 25th. so i got my paper done by this past friday and properly stressed over my citations and making sure i was not plagiarizing (so many rules!). i had a writing conference with my professor today and she said that it was very well written but i needed a little more "meat" in my thesis. she pointed me in the right direction and now i am properly procrastinating to write this blog update.
had my midterm for my psych class.... i won't go into details, but i didn't do so hot. i went in with the attitude of "i'm living this and it's mostly common sense". yeah, my c+ in the class says otherwise. only a few more classes and i'm done with it. it's a fantastic class, but i won't miss it. too many insights into my life that i wasn't really ready to face.
history! oh my goodness, do i love this class! and that says a lot since i never liked any of my history classes before. my professor is freakin awesome and loves to have fun in class. lots of notes to take and everyone is freaking out over our first test next week, but that's expected. i rocked the 'map of the u.s.' quiz two weeks ago (mucho bonus points for naming the canadian provinces). today, though, we had a map quiz again (apparently we'll keep having them until everyone gets a 100), but this time it included mexico.... 30 states in mexico and i couldn't name one. time to get another atlas...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
a week to NOT remember
i say NOT to remember... cause i don't want to. i didn't have a bad week or a crazy one. it was just full. i had volunteered to be the first discussion leader for my history class (bonus points and kudos will be given) and it was on the salem witch trials. i did all of the assigned reading and then some just to be extra prepared, my partner... not so much. when we got together he hadn't read a thing. can we say miffed?! i really don't know how prepared he was cause as it turns out, though we were the discussion leaders we hardly spoke, the professor did most of the talking. and he has issues when you talk while he is, so we let him.
my communications class is about the same. i give lots of 2-cents worth of stuff to give a new spin on things. the professor smiles a lot at what i have to say.... i'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not.
ugh! my writing class... so not a big fan. we have had two difficult/boring/loooooong readings that we had to 'blog' about (it's on tumblr, click here to see it). the professor insured us that she is putting the hard stuff first and it will get easier. but now we have to start worrying about a 'rhetorical situation' paper. crim-a-nitly, i have no clue what to write about. we do have the option of picking a historical event or something current.... yeah, that helps narrow it down.
my psych class is fantastic as usual. i'm getting some really good insights to myself and my relationship issues (yes, i do have them). the professor loves to catch me off guard to get my stories and examples to enlighten the rest of the class. though this last time was a bit funny, he asked "are you one of those practicing mormons (first class he found out i was mormon when he said he taught a byu) who drink wine?" where did that come from?! i told him that i don't drink or even like the taste of alcohol. then he asked what was my 'romantic drink' (is there such a thing in mormon culture) and i said i don't have one.... but my drink of choice in mt dew. he was 'shocked' because of all the caffeine. i said "uncle (we are told to call him that) i have three kids, i need all the caffeine i can get". the class laughed and i was then left alone for the remainder of class.
so, not too shabby. with little to do next week, other than readings and more readings, i know i will have an easier time of it. on the upside of things, i lost some weight with all that walking up hills and those 60 steps i go up and down four times a day. i have two pairs of pants that were my sister-in-laws. a few months ago i cried cause they didn't fit.... they do now!!! love it!
my communications class is about the same. i give lots of 2-cents worth of stuff to give a new spin on things. the professor smiles a lot at what i have to say.... i'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not.
ugh! my writing class... so not a big fan. we have had two difficult/boring/loooooong readings that we had to 'blog' about (it's on tumblr, click here to see it). the professor insured us that she is putting the hard stuff first and it will get easier. but now we have to start worrying about a 'rhetorical situation' paper. crim-a-nitly, i have no clue what to write about. we do have the option of picking a historical event or something current.... yeah, that helps narrow it down.
my psych class is fantastic as usual. i'm getting some really good insights to myself and my relationship issues (yes, i do have them). the professor loves to catch me off guard to get my stories and examples to enlighten the rest of the class. though this last time was a bit funny, he asked "are you one of those practicing mormons (first class he found out i was mormon when he said he taught a byu) who drink wine?" where did that come from?! i told him that i don't drink or even like the taste of alcohol. then he asked what was my 'romantic drink' (is there such a thing in mormon culture) and i said i don't have one.... but my drink of choice in mt dew. he was 'shocked' because of all the caffeine. i said "uncle (we are told to call him that) i have three kids, i need all the caffeine i can get". the class laughed and i was then left alone for the remainder of class.
so, not too shabby. with little to do next week, other than readings and more readings, i know i will have an easier time of it. on the upside of things, i lost some weight with all that walking up hills and those 60 steps i go up and down four times a day. i have two pairs of pants that were my sister-in-laws. a few months ago i cried cause they didn't fit.... they do now!!! love it!
Friday, September 2, 2011
First Week Done
ok, so this is my first non-picture post.... this a new thing for me. but so many people have asked me how school is going i figured that i'll just add that info in with the kid's stuff.
my first week went great!!! though that first day was hard on my legs and butt. i have never been on a campus where you go uphill to just about everything. on the upside, great workout; on the downside, i'm all sweaty and gross when i get to class. so i am wishing for an early fall.
i am taking four classes, which makes me a full time student, and i love all but one. they are gen.ed. communications (mostly freshman), gen.ed. writing (again, mostly freshman), us history and (you'll love this) psychology of human intimacy.
the class i don't love, just like, is my writing class... the professor isn't as lively as the others. but her expectations are not insanely high and she is wanting quality over quantity, i think i can do that. my communications class is great, despite my age difference with everyone in it. we're a quiet class, but i help break the ice most days. the prof loves my different perspective. my psychology class is the one i have been looking forward to the most. the title is what got my attention, then i read the course description and said "i have got to take this!!!" a few emails to the prof and i got in with no problems. he wants me in the class for my experience and i told him that i have no issues with being the class guinea pig.
so i thought i would hate my history class, since i am not very good at it. but i changed my mind as soon as the professor walked in. he was wearing a coat and tie, jeans, flip-flops and carrying a skateboard. can we say unconventional?! the man has no issues with cursing in front of students and letting us know his exact opinion of anything. he is intense and expects a great deal out of us, but he also wants us to have fun. i only have his class twice a week, but he requires us to go to a discussion class and he just happens to be the leader for my time. i'm way excited.
so all in all... a good first week. i got my assignments done this week early and have already finished another that's not due until thursday of next week. i think that means i have grown up a bit. what do you think?
my first week went great!!! though that first day was hard on my legs and butt. i have never been on a campus where you go uphill to just about everything. on the upside, great workout; on the downside, i'm all sweaty and gross when i get to class. so i am wishing for an early fall.
i am taking four classes, which makes me a full time student, and i love all but one. they are gen.ed. communications (mostly freshman), gen.ed. writing (again, mostly freshman), us history and (you'll love this) psychology of human intimacy.
the class i don't love, just like, is my writing class... the professor isn't as lively as the others. but her expectations are not insanely high and she is wanting quality over quantity, i think i can do that. my communications class is great, despite my age difference with everyone in it. we're a quiet class, but i help break the ice most days. the prof loves my different perspective. my psychology class is the one i have been looking forward to the most. the title is what got my attention, then i read the course description and said "i have got to take this!!!" a few emails to the prof and i got in with no problems. he wants me in the class for my experience and i told him that i have no issues with being the class guinea pig.
so i thought i would hate my history class, since i am not very good at it. but i changed my mind as soon as the professor walked in. he was wearing a coat and tie, jeans, flip-flops and carrying a skateboard. can we say unconventional?! the man has no issues with cursing in front of students and letting us know his exact opinion of anything. he is intense and expects a great deal out of us, but he also wants us to have fun. i only have his class twice a week, but he requires us to go to a discussion class and he just happens to be the leader for my time. i'm way excited.
so all in all... a good first week. i got my assignments done this week early and have already finished another that's not due until thursday of next week. i think that means i have grown up a bit. what do you think?
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