Yeah, it’s been a while since I elucidated about my ongoing education. I have a critique paper due tonight for my Family Social Science class. I selected my study and read through it last night. Now I just have to write the essay itself. I also had a chapter to read in the text for the class. And a study on ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences). I have gotten through both of them and did my discussion and response post. Writing the paper will be no problem.
I’m taking a break from reading the first chapter of one of my textbooks. Since I’m between jobs I can focus on my classwork today. My goal is to have the first week of both classes done before the end of the day.
Of course, we’ll see just how I do on that goal by the end of the day.
And yes, I know. I need to tell you about being between jobs. That’s for another post.
I’m slowly getting the laundry done. The towels are taking a particularly long time to dry. It’s quite frustrating, actually. However, I did get my office swept, and the speakers for my computer switched out. I am now using a Bluetooth set with sub-woofer. The volume goes higher and gives good low end. And I cleaned my desktop off. Not the computer desktop, the actual top of my desk. It was cluttered and dusty. And there were too many wires all bunched up. So I did some reconfiguring. Now I’ve got me a nice, clean desktop. I’m ready for classes to start.
And thus does another semester come to a conclusion. The results? One B+ and one A. Surprisingly, the A is in a subject I historically sucked at: English. However, the focus of the class was Science Fiction and Fantasy, which I have loved since I first started reading. And my confidence in writing has grown exponentially since high school. Hence my A.
The B+ was in Abnormal Psychology. And no, it was not a self-awareness class, smart asses. I see you all snickering in the back row. Behave yourselves or you’ll show you the airlock.
Anyway, it was a class focused on reading chapters and taking quizzes. Where I struggled is with the exams. I always struggle with exams.
Actually, I probably did better on the exams than I normally would have because of the benefits of the online text. Quizzes were easy because of the nature of the online book. It had a great review chapter with flashcards, plus it’s own quizzes that were a great practice. Hence all my quizzes for the class were 7 or more points. And if you got 6 or more on the quiz, it was automatically adjusted to 10 points.
My grade was hurt by my second exam. I didn’t take advantage of the review chapters and flashcards. But the last two I did, with which I had better results. To be honest, the improvement was significant enough that I raised my grade from a C-.
Also, I was able to save the online lectures until just days before the exam. That way the information from them was fresh. I was also able to speed the videos up so that the 1 hour+ videos took about 50 minutes. That meant about two lectures each day, with about 4 or 5 lectures per exam. Thankfully there was no big “FINAL” exam. Instead, just four ‘midterm’ exams which really were quarterly exams.
All in all this last semester was one of my best. And that was with a bout of stomach flu that put me behind on writing for the English class. Thankfully I had an understanding professor who allowed me to get caught up without any lost points.
One last point: I managed to write my first college essay. I created a thesis, present my arguments with proofs, and finish off with a summary conclusion that resulted in an A. And all without the benefit of having ever taken any classes for essay writing.
I know.
I was surprised myself.
I took my 4th and final exam for Abnormal Psychology today. I also did the post-class surveys. Now I just need to focus on my English Class. In another few days I’ll be ready for Summer Break.
However, I am eligible to register for fall classes. That means having to look up my Liberal Arts requirements – plus see about doing an online biology class. I guess I can now get a kit and do the labs at home. It’s the one class I am dreading.
I’ll also need to schedule to see my adviser so he can unblock me so I can register. I haven’t yet crafted my degree proposal.
Oh. And I think I have an A in Abnormal Psychology.
So, yeah, I know. It’s been a while. The viral infection has been kicking my ass for the past 3 to 4 weeks. I am finally getting close to feeling 100%. And on top of that I tweaked my left calf muscle just above the Achilles tendon. So I’ve been limping for the last 4 or 5 days.
Yes, it’s all rather pathetic.
That being said, I’ve been doing all I can to catch up on my school work. I was a couple weeks behind in one class and barely managing to keep up with the other. Hence the dearth of posts.
However! Today I awoke to my calf muscle not bitching, my gut finally starting to feel less volatile, and my body not quite aching above and beyond old age. Also, I’ve gotten caught up on all but a few discussion posts – which will be finished tonight.
The sun is starting to come out from behind the clouds.
Now that I’ve finally gotten past the viral infection that knocked my out for the last 4 weeks I’ve been able to concentrate on my school work. Thankfully I was able to keep up with my Introduction to Abnormal Psychology class. I even managed to do well on my last exam. However, I did miss a quiz for one of my chapters.
Where I really struggled was in my Science Fiction and Fantasy class. Where the Psychology class was just reading and test taking, the SciFi/Fantasy class is writing intensive. And I was sleeping 10 to 12 hour days and still feeling exhausted and drained. And because writing is much more demanding than reading and test taking for me, I put that class off.
Thankfully I have an understanding instructor who was willing to give me more time for my late assignments. I have finished two of them, and have just one more to go. My plan is to be caught up before the weekend is done.
However, it turns out I’m still pressed for time as my Psychology class has two chapters due next week!
Sigh.
I did some reading. I did some listening/watching. I even submitted some writings. That’s enough schooling for today. Good night all. Do try and be on your best behavior. I’d say behave…… but yeah – right. That ain’t going to happen.
I have been running. I just have not taken the time to upload the stats from Runtastic. And now that my classes have started, I will not be doing so anytime soon. I will keep running, but my time otherwise will be spent doing some very writing and reading intensive classes. One is Abnormal Psychology. The other is Science Fiction & Fantasy. This semester is going to be very trying for me.
Yes, I was cray cray and went for a run this morning. Stats will be posted later.
The other update is about college. I saw my academic advisor today. He gave me the proposal guideline I’ll need to write for my bachelors. I’m blending my addiction studies with psychology. So I’m actually going to be attending two colleges. Well, sorta.
I’m supposed to write about where I came from, where I’m at, and where I want to go. That way the two colleges can suggest classes for my bachelors and any further academic courses afterwards.
I’m excited. I’m getting closer to my goal.
All in all a good day.