Work Study Is Killing Me...

Ok, not really killing me - but I don't want to be there. Yes I understand this position on campus is a part of my financial aid package. And yes, I allocated all of the monies towards my bill. But today I worked 3 hours in the office while I could have been starting on my paper which was assigned today or completing my algebra homework or attempting how to write this looping program in C++. (yes I'm whining)

I have to be extremely proactive for next semester to find funds, because I really do not have the time for work study. Maybe I shouldn't be blogging (and doing homework instead). But at least I'm not on myspace! (that can really suck you in).

I updated my profile on fastweb, we also recv'd our annual listing of monies avail to us from our financial aid office. If anyone reading this post knows of any good money sources - please leave me a comment. I've done the whole office environment thing so me filing and stuffing envelopes isn't working for me.

I know it can be worse - I just needed to share my thoughts...It's now 12:31am and I must go and complete my algebra homework!

Good Night :)

The College Experience

If you have been following my blog, you will know that I'm a late return-er to the college scene. I feel like a have a second chance at life...hence the name of the blog. Why am I repeating this?

If given this chance, wouldn't you appreciate it and give it your maximum potential. So why is it Tuesday night, week three or four of school and students are getting drunk? Not doing homework! Now I want to make this blog about my experiences and hopefully show that anyone can do this - there's nothing super special about me....but when I hear this certain student complain about too much homework and not enough hours in the day...it concerns me to see her stumbling down the hall because she's on vodka drink #3.

Am I not being realistic? Putting to much pressure on myself? Possibly having too much expectations for others, which is none of my business anyway?

She's a single mom like me with a 2nd chance that she would not normally have - but somehow she's falling into the "I can do whatever I want mode." I want her to snap out of it, she has so much potential but if she screw this up - then it's over.

This posting might not really make much sense, but this is what's going throughout my mind right now?

I just feel that there are people out there that would walk, run and do whatever they needed to do to be able to have the opportunity that we have, and this woman has it and isn't appreciating it at the moment.

Another week down

This week was a pretty good week. Now we are in full school mode. I have gotten the routine down pact. I know where I'm going and what's expected of me. I know I've said this like a million times but I'm so happy to be here. This is such an opportunity - I'm sit in classes next to eighteen year olds holding my own. It's been awhile since in school, so I'm feeling a little "happy."

Programming C++, we had a test in this class this past week, I recv an 83 yup that's a B.....I was pleasantly surprised since I was expecting something closer to an c-....I was staring at some questions for awhile. I was also a bit doubtful since the professor has not collected one homework assignment, so it wasn't like I was in know that I was on the right track.

French, we had a test this week as well, I recv'd an 94.5, yup that's an A.....now this one really shocked me, since my french isn't that fly. You should hear my answers in class...not cute...but according to my test, I know what I'm doing....yeah boyeeee

Algebra, we had a test here also....in this class I recv a 90...a bit disappointed...2 wrong that should have been right...this is my major and I know this stuff...just dumb errors....I'll have to do better next time.

Writing, this was the surprise of the week....I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but I am not a fan of english or writing...just not my thing...So we have a paper due this coming Monday. We all had to meet individually with the professor and review what we currently had written. He made some grammatically corrections to my paper......but here's the kicker......here it comes...."You're a pretty good writer." .......yup, the smile appeared on my face...here I am sitting across a man who holds a Ph.D. in english is telling me that I'm a good writer...before that comment, I thought I sucked, but now you all should now that my head a little big...Yes, I'm smelling myself, myself the writer.....no grade yet, but I will keep you posted.

Dance Technique, um this class is not at all what I expected. You I know I can hold it down at the club and stuff....but damn, our professor has us breaking sweats but just standing up. The strecthes we have to are so intense....I know they are to build core muscle - but I'm a little too old for all that...so far so good...I do what is asked of me...not to mention, we had to create our own little sections of a routine and yes, I was called to the front to show mine to the class.....I'm telling ya, it's amazing I can fit my head through the door.

School is good right now..

Blah Blah


So I’m sitting in class, its draft day and we are supposed to be writing part two of our papers that were handed in last week. I clearly don’t have a clue as to what I should write, so I decided to do a quick blog entry. I’ve changed my office assistant in Microsoft about five times now. I’ve gone online to get statistics to open up with some facts relating to my topic (blogging by the way)... Still nothing – I have about 5 more minutes left in class and my paper isn’t looking to good. I need to be ready to write my paper – even though it’s a great idea for us to have time set aside in class to write, it just doesn’t work for me. I’m more of an inspired writer, when it hits me – it will hit me. Time has never moved so slow in this class. This is probably why writing or English isn’t my major or one of my favorite classes. In about three minutes, I will go to the library and check out the papers done from last year. The ones the professor thinks were really well and see if I get anything from their experiences. Me sitting here, trying to put this together isn’t working.... nope. I know I’m going in circles, but I need to get out of this classroom. Oh, now I have two minutes left. I mean its college – should I just get up and leave…nope…can’t be rude to professor. He’s sitting about 2.5 feet away from me, if I didn’t feel that he could read my screen – I would be checking my email or reading up on other blogs. I just looked over and he’s staring into his screen – but I’m sure he can see me. Yeah, it’s 10:50 and the class is over – he just made the announcement and we are free to leave…phew. Thanks for reading my blah blah blah

~update~ I decided to make an appointment for the writing lab tomorrow for brainstorming. So all isn't lost.

Good Customer Service...

I'm writing this post in response to Singlema's post on the subject.

Neiman Marcus - Here's the situation. I purchased a pant suit one year and a half earlier (than date in question). I never wore it, the tags were still in tact. So one day I was "spring" cleaning and I came across this outfit taking up space in the closet. It no longer had an appeal to me, so I was actually questioning myself as to why I purchased it. So I decided I was going to return it. Of course the receipt was gone. So I had to brain Strom, "how am I going to pull this off?" Now I knew I could return and recv store credit, but from previous experience - I know that store credit will only give me the final price of the item. So if this was on sale ever, I would be potentially receiving $20.00 instead of the $175.00 that I should be receiving..that was not going to fly....So I sat down at my computer and started scanning my bank account online. Good thing I paid with my debit card. So there I was guessing and entering dates....trying to remember when I bought it....I also had to go in archives since it was so far back....so about 15/20 minutes later...I found it. woo hoo! So I took a post it note and wrote all the pertinent information. trans #, amount, date and etc.
So little babes and I get in the car and head to the mall. I was ready for opposition -just ready for it. I walked in there with all my answers to questions I thought they would ask me.
Straight to customer service I go, I figured that no plain teller would be able to help me - I have a special case, right?
I take the suit lay it on the table and begin my story..I'm stopped...I'm thinking, ghees - I still have my post it in my pocket....is she going to shut me down? The woman behind the counter, takes the tag, turns it over.....looks at me and says, this sticker right here serves as your receipt...and very pleasantly, please take this to the department for a full refund....what!?!? You mean I didn't have to get crazy, annoyed or even roll my eyes once....darn, i was ready to
I go to the department, they pull up my transaction using the sticker on the back of the tag, call me by my name (yes, they have all that info). ask me if I want cash or credit to the card I used? Of course, I said cash....

Babes and I walked out happy - well maybe I more than her, but eighter way....that was a good day :)

They exceeded my expectations and when I graduate and get a real job again, I will visit them....

Traditions.....

Tonight we were kidnapped and brought to main campus for a long standing ritual, The assignment of our colors. Evens get blue and green & Odds get red and Black.

So here's how it goes, they are supposed to run through our dormitory and get us - being that I and other first years students with children - live with the kids - they cannot go running and screaming down our halls. So we had to meet them out there (at least they included us). So we go out on main campus and the Juniors (class) of have "evens" written out with candles on the grass - it's really pretty. We proceed with our introductions to the circle. So now we are officially capped. Capped with the hats that we are to wear to all official ceremonies.

As I stand there with my blue and green dingy turned to the left - we all look on with our big sisters (juniors) to the words of our alma mata songs and sayings. So we recite them and learn the traditions of years to come.

Then we are dismissed by our "sisters" but not before being told - that tomorrow we must match our sisters and be twins for the next day. My sister picked a black shirt and blue jeans. That's easy enough.

It was very nice to be included into the college traditions (ran by the students), I know we are students here, but sometimes being a "mom" seems to stand out more. For tonight, it was like being young again. an opportunity to run wild and have fun on campus.

P.S. - They assigned students to babysit...

My thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends to whom which lost people on September 11, 2001.

Babes Day....

No homework, no reading, no chilling with resident hall buddies. The school sponsored a trip to Hershey Park today. For a whopping price of $15.00 (regular price $41.95) and they packed lunches for us. I tell ya, it doesn't get any better than that. Oh yeah, they also chartered a bus for us so I didn't even have to drive.

It was completely her day, whatever ride she wanted, or didn't want is what we did. It was nice, just her and I; so she had all the attention she wanted. So many smiles today, so many laughs. My day was enjoyable because her day was enjoyable.

"Today was the day I have been waiting for. I had a great time, Mommy" babes said.


I do have homework to complete, but I'm tired and currently have my feet soaking in my pedicure tub (lots of walking). So it's bedtime now, and a early rise tomorrow, to do some homework before classes. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Discipline

**Disclaimer: I have only mothered one child and she is now four - so please read this post and understand where I am coming from. I'm not telling anyone how to raise or discipline their kid, but I do have comments.

With that being said...uurrrggghh. Now as you all know I live on a college campus with my 4 year old daughter. Not your typical everyday situation, but I have to make it work to achieve the goals I want in life. The dining hall is a place where meals are eaten and students gather and mix minds. I have trained my daughter to understand that the dining hall is a place to eat and not play. Unfortunately some other mothers feel like this is a time for them to eat and let the kids run loose.

When/Where do you draw the line? I was having a conversation with another mother just yesterday, interestingly enough..the dining hall was the topic of discussion. She mentioned that some of the "traditional" students sometime stare at her when her child is running around the dining hall....yeah ..da..I would look at you too..

Her defense is/was, they are children and they are going to run. You just have to teach them when enough is too much ( in the dining hall).

Um, no...

I said, children will do what you tell/show them. They take their lead from the parents (more often than not)...... I go onto further explain, before I moved here, when my daughter and I sat down to dinner, she wasn't allowed to run around like a fool and chew in between breaks - so why would I allow her to do that here. So apparently she and I disagree on this issue.

When we (my babes & I) walk into the dining hall - we walk in there with the intent to eat, be nourished and get out. So now she notices that "other" kids get to run around and she has to stay in her sit, so yeah I've received a few "your means" here and there, but I accept them. I know and feel I am teaching her the right way (**). We are in a place full of students, faculty and other visiting adults. When you are outside, you can run until you can't run anymore ( or until I tell you to stop). There is a time and place for everything.

Why am I mentioning this? I was extremely bothered by dinner tonight, two little kids running around while their mothers enjoyed conversation and paid them no attention. At anytime someone could get hurt, and then who will these mothers be looking to for explanations?? We need to take responsibility for our actions and be proactive when it comes to our children, not reactive.

Work Study


I was glad for the work study giving to me when I saw it on paper, but now that I have to actually do it. It's a different thing. Don't get me wrong, I work in a great office on campus - but I much rather be sitting in my room checking out blogs or doing more homework. It's still early in the semester, so the workload isn't much. Just odd and ends that the ladies would like for me to complete...aka...the stuff the felt was beneath them.

Oh, did I mention that all my work study goes towards my education - so I will not see any other that money. My student account will. I'm happy that the United States Government offers these types of programs to help those who are willing to help themselves.

2 weeks down, 14 more to go....

Another fabulous week in school. I clearly need to step up my blog game.

Discrete Mathematics- I would love to explain this class to you, but I don't have it down like that yet. Proofs and theorems, somebody a real like time ago - had alot of time on their hands and now we must learn this and master this stuff. Then Dr. Professor had the nerve to want to commit the proofs table to memory. I almost got it.

Intro to French - Ok, so I'm thinking I speak Creole, so French should be real simple. Um, not so much. Apparently hearing and writing really makes a difference. I now know that I need to allocate more time to this class during the week. I have a GPA goal that must be reached.

Computer Programming C++ - Alot of information, but if I keep up wit the reading, I should be fine...once you write a few programs and have a really good foundation in math...your good in this class....well until we get a test right.

College algebra - This is what happens when you take so many years off...when you come back, they make you take a refresher course. We had a test today, so we'll see how refreshed I am. I know I did well.

College Writing - We got our first assignment this week. Write a descriptive narrative on something that you write/read. I pick a blogger favorite of mines . It's still in the works, but I predict good things for it, like an"A."

Dance Technique - This is one class I could take all day everyday just for fun. After finally making it to the dance supplies store...I'm not fit to be a dancer - at least my outfit is..


So far so good on the school front...no complaints here, even though it is a Friday night - and I'm just finishing up my homework with plenty more to go...

Week One Down...15 More to Go!

I know that I completely fell off blogging...but I needed to get into a routine. Thanks for being patient. School is GREAT! Here is a list of the classes that I'm taking this semester:
Computer Programming & Design C++, College Writing(Lord knows I need this class), Elementary French, Discrete Mathematics ( no bathroom breaks in this class) & last but by no ways the least Beginning Dance Technique (this class brings me so much joy).

Ok, so here are some highlights:

Recognition - one of my personal goals in coming here was to make sure, that I'm not just another face in the crowd. I need and want to be someone who stands out. Someone administrators remember when scholarships and special assignments are coming around. Someone that will have absolutely no problems getting excellent recommendations to Graduate Schools (yes that is next, why not?) So I got a work study in the Registration office. Now this is the office that sets the tone for most things in higher education. Most people and forms come through this office. I placed myself right where I belong to gain as most exposure that I can.

Student Government - yes I joined that too. It's already paid off. I have had at least three administrators come up and recognize me for my efforts in our first meeting. They knew my name and now I know theirs. The great thing about this school and I'm sure with others. The Student Government here really has a say on what goes on in the college. They actually get things done. I'm looking forward to the things that are to come with this group.

Academic Advising - I meet with the Director of the Math program (my assigned advisor) and we mapped out my courses for my duration here at this college. It's a great thing I meet with her, we were able to add a course to this semester that only gets offered every other year, Discrete Mathematics. Information is power. We also determined that I will leave school with a Special Degree, A Double Major with Mathematics and Computer Science....It won't have to be a minor. Now, I can minor in something else..maybe Dance, we'll see which way the wind blows.

Women's Program - I have meet some wonderful women who are doing the same things I'm trying to do. Completing their education with kids in tow. All together there are 20 women in the program. My daughter loves the fact that she can see her friends from morning till night. The kids travel from room to room and there is always someone to play with. She has not asked me once to go back home. She has made this her home, and that means alot. No guilt over here for moving her to another state far away from everyone she knows.

Reality - I've waited so long for homework and my professors did not let me down. I have plenty to keep me busy. 6 courses, work study, motherhood and life.

All in all, it was a great week, many more to come. This is only the beginning to a bright ass future.