Besides the almost month long break between semesters, Which I might add I am extremely pleased about, I am looking forward to a possible change in majors. I am looking at going for an LPN. The classes seem to be a little less rigorous, but what makes me the most happy is I can complete the traing in about a year and get into the workforce a whole lot quicker. After that my options are open. I can work and try to get my RN or I can do other things (like maybe because I have a job get a home equity loan and start a business). I dont know if I'm so much looking forword to next semester or if i'm really looking forword to seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Hope springs eternal as they say.
For Freshmen coming in, my biggest piece of advice is to keep up with your classes. STUDY. The sciences arent like Political Science or History, in those areas you have plenty of grey area to work in, you can express opinion and it not affect your grade, The sciences on the other hand are exact and you better know it. Another thing I might advise would be to think carefully before registering for Chemistry, Algebra and Anatomy all in the same semester, Especially if your not a whiz in math. Chemistry, Anatomy and Algebra chew up a LOT of time. I took all 3 and this was by far my hardest semester ever. (I transfered with 22 credits). Either way you go just devote yourself to the classes and keep on keepin on.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Stressed Out!
I'm not really stressed about school(except for maybe all the hoops they make you jump through when you dont go with the flow like a dead fish, like the measle shot policy, registration, yada, yada, yada).
My financial situation is probably my most stressing thing right now. Not having a job and having a family that looks to you as the breadwinner is tough. Having to say no no no to your wife and children all the time because you barely have enough to pay the bills gets old really fast.
I've notoced through my life that when I get stressed I tend to break out with rashes. I've always had sensative skin, and it intermittedly will flair up with rashes just because sometimes, but it seems to always flair up when I'm stressed out.
I have a few things I do for stress relief. I find that some manual labor helps me to clear the head and feel productive. I'll go out and split wood, or I'll clean the chicken coop, or do yard work. I need brainless things to do that will tire me a little bit I guess.
I usually turn to 2 people when I'm stressed out also, My God and my wife. I vent to both of them, sometimes quite rudely. Sometimes I will tell God of my general dissasisfaction with how He runs things, and offer Him a few points of improvement (He never takes my advice though). Sometimes I just rail at Him. He knows its in my heart anyways right? Why not just be honest and say it?
My long suffering wife has also had to endure some diatribes. I guess you could say that stress makes me grumpy. The both of them seem to know me pretty well though and take my railings and diatribes with a grain of salt. They both listen really well too.
I dont usually feel better after a diatribe, but I do feel better after some fervent prayer and sometimes He gives me a little sign that He knows where I'm at, like an unexpected check in the mailbox or a friend from florida to call and say that I or we were on their heart. It just brings a little relief.
My financial situation is probably my most stressing thing right now. Not having a job and having a family that looks to you as the breadwinner is tough. Having to say no no no to your wife and children all the time because you barely have enough to pay the bills gets old really fast.
I've notoced through my life that when I get stressed I tend to break out with rashes. I've always had sensative skin, and it intermittedly will flair up with rashes just because sometimes, but it seems to always flair up when I'm stressed out.
I have a few things I do for stress relief. I find that some manual labor helps me to clear the head and feel productive. I'll go out and split wood, or I'll clean the chicken coop, or do yard work. I need brainless things to do that will tire me a little bit I guess.
I usually turn to 2 people when I'm stressed out also, My God and my wife. I vent to both of them, sometimes quite rudely. Sometimes I will tell God of my general dissasisfaction with how He runs things, and offer Him a few points of improvement (He never takes my advice though). Sometimes I just rail at Him. He knows its in my heart anyways right? Why not just be honest and say it?
My long suffering wife has also had to endure some diatribes. I guess you could say that stress makes me grumpy. The both of them seem to know me pretty well though and take my railings and diatribes with a grain of salt. They both listen really well too.
I dont usually feel better after a diatribe, but I do feel better after some fervent prayer and sometimes He gives me a little sign that He knows where I'm at, like an unexpected check in the mailbox or a friend from florida to call and say that I or we were on their heart. It just brings a little relief.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
I believe that Josh and I do have a few things in common.
We both lived in Florida for an extended period of time, and both of us find ourselves now in the glorius Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are both non traditional students. We are both health majors, I think (I emphasise think) we are both right of center politically, and we both have a fundamentalist christian background (i can hear the howls of lefty college professors raging about the damned evangical right as i type this, although damned and christian is kind of an oxymoron isnt it?)
I like Josh. I dont know him that well, but i like him.
I dont know if I learned anything from what he wrote, but maybe i did from how he wrote it. I believe his writing is somewhat more tempered than mine, he is a bit more diplomatic and was definatly articulate. I can use that sometimes when i get carried away or overwhelmed.
We both lived in Florida for an extended period of time, and both of us find ourselves now in the glorius Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are both non traditional students. We are both health majors, I think (I emphasise think) we are both right of center politically, and we both have a fundamentalist christian background (i can hear the howls of lefty college professors raging about the damned evangical right as i type this, although damned and christian is kind of an oxymoron isnt it?)
I like Josh. I dont know him that well, but i like him.
I dont know if I learned anything from what he wrote, but maybe i did from how he wrote it. I believe his writing is somewhat more tempered than mine, he is a bit more diplomatic and was definatly articulate. I can use that sometimes when i get carried away or overwhelmed.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Acedemics "needs"
What do you feel this course (UN100) should focus on? What do you need help in, specifically?
First let me state that I like UN100 and the Professor. I think the course is probably needed by alot of the younger people going to college, and the professor really does care about her charges.
I believe that UN100 should focus more on the networking of students.
There seems to be a lot of students who resent what they consider to be a disproportionate work load for 2 credits in UN100 vs the work loads for a 4 credit chemistry class and a 3 credit anatomy class or even 4 credit math classes. It seems that UN100 takes precious time away from studying anatomy or chemistry or math, so that...... we can learn how to study. I think most would rather have that precious time to focus on the other classes.
UN100 was (I am told) designed to help students acquire skills needed for a successful college career. The student advisers called it a college level study hall ( the advisors were rather disingenuous). I believe making it more like a STRUCTURED study hall would greatly improve it. (i know, college doesn't have study hall right? but then by the same token people should already know how to study by the time they get into college. It isn't rocket science).
What if instead of having a separate course load for UN100, it Incorporated the work loads of the block into its curriculum? I mean why not use the anatomy book or the chemistry book for reading assignments? (just follow the other courses syllabi) What if we got together in UN100 class, in little study groups and studied for or went over the the things that were meaningful to our careers?
I believe this would work. What this would do is add a lot less extra work and still actually help us learn to study, but we would be learning to study (and network) on material that was actually needed for our degrees.
My greatest need is time. I know how to study. I know how to manage my time, I'm pretty good at it, but I hate busy work, or throwing my effort, sweat and precious time into something that I'm not real convinced is going to make a big difference down the road. In other words I would much rather focus my energies in those areas that are absolutely necessary.
First let me state that I like UN100 and the Professor. I think the course is probably needed by alot of the younger people going to college, and the professor really does care about her charges.
I believe that UN100 should focus more on the networking of students.
There seems to be a lot of students who resent what they consider to be a disproportionate work load for 2 credits in UN100 vs the work loads for a 4 credit chemistry class and a 3 credit anatomy class or even 4 credit math classes. It seems that UN100 takes precious time away from studying anatomy or chemistry or math, so that...... we can learn how to study. I think most would rather have that precious time to focus on the other classes.
UN100 was (I am told) designed to help students acquire skills needed for a successful college career. The student advisers called it a college level study hall ( the advisors were rather disingenuous). I believe making it more like a STRUCTURED study hall would greatly improve it. (i know, college doesn't have study hall right? but then by the same token people should already know how to study by the time they get into college. It isn't rocket science).
What if instead of having a separate course load for UN100, it Incorporated the work loads of the block into its curriculum? I mean why not use the anatomy book or the chemistry book for reading assignments? (just follow the other courses syllabi) What if we got together in UN100 class, in little study groups and studied for or went over the the things that were meaningful to our careers?
I believe this would work. What this would do is add a lot less extra work and still actually help us learn to study, but we would be learning to study (and network) on material that was actually needed for our degrees.
My greatest need is time. I know how to study. I know how to manage my time, I'm pretty good at it, but I hate busy work, or throwing my effort, sweat and precious time into something that I'm not real convinced is going to make a big difference down the road. In other words I would much rather focus my energies in those areas that are absolutely necessary.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Back At It
Ø Describe your ideal Instructor/Professor.Ø “I knew it when I studied it, but I forgot it on the test.” How can students study differently to prevent this from happening?Ø How do you study for quizzes/tests?Ø What do you have trouble with on quizzes/tests?
I believe my ideal instructor would
1. Be very knowledgable about the subject matter.
2. Would answer questions with more than just a cursery answer. ( would actually engage in dialog instead of just a monologue)
3. would have a passion for what was taught and for students.
4. would be able to break down subject matter so the average layman could grasp and understand it.
I have found that I will forget alot if I try to cram just before a test or exam. For me nothing beats keeping up and studying some everyday. Then the last minute cram is really just reinforcement of whats already there in your head.
I study for quizes and tests the way I just described above. (for the most part) I also like to rewrite alot of my notes. I find the act of writing helps burn something into my memory.
I,ve got a pretty good memory so I usually dont have trouble with remembering things. What I do seem to have a hard time with are mathmatical formulas. I hate math.
I dont really know about "healthy fast food." I would say the healthiest I could think of might be a chain in the south called Crispers. They specialize in salads and sandwiches. Their veggies are not pre packeaged. Their bread is really good (pumpernickel, marbled rye, wheat) and I think its made on site. Their meats are higher end deli meats, thats gotta be better than a hamburger pattie from micky D,s i'de think, and their food is really good.
I believe my ideal instructor would
1. Be very knowledgable about the subject matter.
2. Would answer questions with more than just a cursery answer. ( would actually engage in dialog instead of just a monologue)
3. would have a passion for what was taught and for students.
4. would be able to break down subject matter so the average layman could grasp and understand it.
I have found that I will forget alot if I try to cram just before a test or exam. For me nothing beats keeping up and studying some everyday. Then the last minute cram is really just reinforcement of whats already there in your head.
I study for quizes and tests the way I just described above. (for the most part) I also like to rewrite alot of my notes. I find the act of writing helps burn something into my memory.
I,ve got a pretty good memory so I usually dont have trouble with remembering things. What I do seem to have a hard time with are mathmatical formulas. I hate math.
I dont really know about "healthy fast food." I would say the healthiest I could think of might be a chain in the south called Crispers. They specialize in salads and sandwiches. Their veggies are not pre packeaged. Their bread is really good (pumpernickel, marbled rye, wheat) and I think its made on site. Their meats are higher end deli meats, thats gotta be better than a hamburger pattie from micky D,s i'de think, and their food is really good.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
UN100
I'm back in the "Rat Race." That thought struck me the other day. I was out feeding my chickens, picking veggies from my garden and splitting some wood for my wood stove. The contrast of my rural existance, with what is expected of me at college was well.. striking. I like the rural way better.
Like every other adult in the U.S. I am driven to provide a good life for my family. This I want to do. But at what cost? My initial obsvervation of college life was, busy, busy, busy, you gotta do this, you gotta do that, deadlines here, and deadlines there. Now dont get me wrong, there are deadlines and busyness with rural life, they are just not man made or artificial, and the pace is slower. I think I know why the bible speaks of mens hearts failing in the latter days, the pace of life is too damned fast. I split wood because winter is coming not because a professor tells me to, and has made an arbitrary time that it must be done by.
My classes are a little harder than I thought they would be. Thats O.K. though. I think that part of it may be that my heart isnt really in what I'm doing. By nature I'm an entreprenuer, not a radiograghic tech. If I had the capital I wouldnt be here I would be opening my restaurant. Thats the business I know and love.
I think alot of the other students here are going to school because that is what is expected. There are some very bright kids in my classes. It saddens me that for alot of them, their parents were trained, as were they to work for somebody else. Thats my one knock against the whole educational system, its goal is to make you marketable to others. To collect a paycheck. Maybe thats just my own bias showing through, I dont know.
My instructors all seem very professional and knowledgable in their fields. A couple of them actually seem to care about their students. I really wasnt expecting that.
I believe my biggest challenge this semester is going to be an inward struggle to keep plugging away at this when my heart isnt in to it. I'm working my butt off for something that I really dont want to do, and I dont know if I will be financially able to "stay the course" and finish school.
There has been some interesting things learned though. I learned about different planes of view, like the transverse plane, or the sagittal plane. I learned a little medical nomiclature also.
It was a pleasant change of gears to go to my UN100 class and actually spend some time outside in the courtyard. After not having a real summer this year it was a bummer for the weather to finally warm up only to trapped in school.
I am very good at memorization. That is a strong point for me in my chemistry and anatomy classes. I believe that trait will serve me well. Inversely a bad habit I have is putting things off that I dont like doing. I can only hope to rectify that bad habit by hitting things I dont like head on.
When I take notes I write down an awful lot of things. But what I consider really important are the straight up facts, not all the other fluff. So I write an awful lot.
I find for me that active learning sticks with me better. I would consider reading the text of a book passive learning, or listening to a lecture just passive learning, but taking notes I would call active learning. Taking those notes home and using them to search through the text book and then writing down what you find is active learning.
To quotes that speak to me are, Carpe Diem, sieze the day. Ive tried to live that way. Life is short. make the most of it. The other quote is like unto it "grind it out." That is the story of my life... or maybe thats "Gut it out."
My goal for next week is to damn sure carve out some time for my wife and kids. I will not let my family life be pushed aside by my professors demands.
Like every other adult in the U.S. I am driven to provide a good life for my family. This I want to do. But at what cost? My initial obsvervation of college life was, busy, busy, busy, you gotta do this, you gotta do that, deadlines here, and deadlines there. Now dont get me wrong, there are deadlines and busyness with rural life, they are just not man made or artificial, and the pace is slower. I think I know why the bible speaks of mens hearts failing in the latter days, the pace of life is too damned fast. I split wood because winter is coming not because a professor tells me to, and has made an arbitrary time that it must be done by.
My classes are a little harder than I thought they would be. Thats O.K. though. I think that part of it may be that my heart isnt really in what I'm doing. By nature I'm an entreprenuer, not a radiograghic tech. If I had the capital I wouldnt be here I would be opening my restaurant. Thats the business I know and love.
I think alot of the other students here are going to school because that is what is expected. There are some very bright kids in my classes. It saddens me that for alot of them, their parents were trained, as were they to work for somebody else. Thats my one knock against the whole educational system, its goal is to make you marketable to others. To collect a paycheck. Maybe thats just my own bias showing through, I dont know.
My instructors all seem very professional and knowledgable in their fields. A couple of them actually seem to care about their students. I really wasnt expecting that.
I believe my biggest challenge this semester is going to be an inward struggle to keep plugging away at this when my heart isnt in to it. I'm working my butt off for something that I really dont want to do, and I dont know if I will be financially able to "stay the course" and finish school.
There has been some interesting things learned though. I learned about different planes of view, like the transverse plane, or the sagittal plane. I learned a little medical nomiclature also.
It was a pleasant change of gears to go to my UN100 class and actually spend some time outside in the courtyard. After not having a real summer this year it was a bummer for the weather to finally warm up only to trapped in school.
I am very good at memorization. That is a strong point for me in my chemistry and anatomy classes. I believe that trait will serve me well. Inversely a bad habit I have is putting things off that I dont like doing. I can only hope to rectify that bad habit by hitting things I dont like head on.
When I take notes I write down an awful lot of things. But what I consider really important are the straight up facts, not all the other fluff. So I write an awful lot.
I find for me that active learning sticks with me better. I would consider reading the text of a book passive learning, or listening to a lecture just passive learning, but taking notes I would call active learning. Taking those notes home and using them to search through the text book and then writing down what you find is active learning.
To quotes that speak to me are, Carpe Diem, sieze the day. Ive tried to live that way. Life is short. make the most of it. The other quote is like unto it "grind it out." That is the story of my life... or maybe thats "Gut it out."
My goal for next week is to damn sure carve out some time for my wife and kids. I will not let my family life be pushed aside by my professors demands.
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