16 posts tagged “school”

Finito!

Mar 17, 2009
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My big news? I have completed the coursework for my degree! Still waiting on a grade for my final project, but it's over. I have such a feeling of relief. I started college in 1980 and should have finished 25 years ago... whoa. That's a long time. I am really proud of myself that I finally did it. I am not upset that it took me so long, just proud and grateful to finish.

Still contemplating grad school. I'm going to give myself a few months to decide that. If I don't get a job soon, I'll go right away I think.

Work news: I took a part-time job at the hospital that laid me off. This enabled me to keep my benefits. I like it! I'm working in registration. I come in, register people and go home. Everyday is a mystery. I am also in the final stages of interviewing for a job in marketing. If that works out it should be cool. Room for advancement. It is in healthcare, and I will be able to use my education and knowledge.

I haven't been feeling very well, very fatigued and now I have developed a cough. Not sure what's up with that. I'm gonna call the doc tomorrow.

Heading out to an interview

I've been quiet lately...

Feb 5, 2009
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Not a lot to say. Fighting feeling down. Family and friends help. When life sucks, that's when you find out who you can count on. I hope that I am as good of a friend to others as they are to me. I have a feeling I'm not, but I'll keep working on it.

I have some leads on a couple of positions thanks to some friends. Hopefully one of them works out. I am feeling pretty optimistic today.

Five weeks of school left and I will be finished!!!

One day at a time.

V

The Penultimate Semester Ends

Dec 16, 2008
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Grades are in! An "A" in my business class. This professor gave us excellent written feedback. Here is feedback on one of our presentations;

Excellent presentation skills were very much in evidence throughout your effort. Perhaps the single most impressive feature of your talk was the absolute and utter mastery your team showed over the details of this industry. The discussion of the role of elasticity was right on target. It seems a good guess this service would display an elastic relationship with price given the numerous substitutes you mentioned. The same insightful treatment was given to income elasticity. Clearly this is a market that owes its growth prospects to rising affluence and the high income elasticity it likely has. I fully appreciate your decision to not enter. Very insightful was your characterization of this industry as corporate rather than entrepreneurial. A very good classroom discussion was generated by your presentation. In summary, this was an excellent job.

GRADE: 100%; A+

I obtained a "B" in Buddhism, which is, I suppose, fitting. I was so burned out by the time I completed the take-home final that I was surprised I finished it at all.

Now comes three weeks of break time. I am at that stage of vacation where you can't really relax, where you haven't made the break. In my experience, this ends just in time to go back to work.

Sunday, Sunday

Dec 8, 2008
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Last week was pretty good. Presentations for both classes went well. This is the last week for both classes, and then a three week vacation from school! I am quite excited about that. I accomplished a lot this week and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope its not a train!

My last elective next semester is called American Ethnic Diversity - This course is designed to provide a general overview of the field of the sociology of race and ethnic relations, with a particular emphasis on the historical situations and experiences of various immigrant and minority groups in American society. We will first examine the socio-political and economic history of a variety of minority and immigrant groups. A substantial amount of course material will then focus on analyzing the varying structural conditions and institutional barriers that affect the different strategies by which various minority and immigrant groups have sought entry and success in dominant society. Finally, throughout the course material, discussions will be devoted to examining specific institutions and the various ways in which constructions of racial and ethnic categories and hierarchies are produced and reproduced in the United States.

I hear good things about this class. The subject interests me. I will be finished with all classes needed for my degree on March 13, a mere 39 years after graduating high school. This chapter will soon end. I am very caught up in deciding my next step. Certification, Master's Degree, sloth? Not sure. I am leaning towards a Master's Degree, but that will probably take me 3 years to complete. It dawned on me that I will be almost 50 when I finish. 50! A sobering thought. Of course, its probably better to be 50 with a Master's than 50 without one.

I have aspirations that I would like to achieve, and I think the furthering my education will help me achieve my goals. I have a few months to make up my mind of course. My supportive hubby wants me to take a break. Working full time and going to school full time is no joke. If I could travel back in time I would tell 18 year old me with a full scholarship to the University of Delaware to stay in school!

Stress

Dec 1, 2008
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Suddenly, this evening out of almost nowhere, I feel stress descend. School projects are due, stressful day at work, lack of sleep... OK, now that I think about it, it's not out of nowhere. I'm going to try breathing.

Conference call in 45 minutes with team mates and I am totally kerfuzzled.

Sigh. Tomorrow will be better, and today could be worse.

On we go.

Sunday Download

Oct 26, 2008
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Life- I always feel reflective on Sundays. Usually in the evening is when I review the past week and think of the upcoming week.

I had a good week last week. Things seem to be going better at work. Most importantly, I have finally, at the age of 46 been able to let something go. I had an incident where I felt I was treated unfairly. Usually, I would harbor bad thoughts for the perpetrators, or be angry at myself, but I was able to examine the situation, see where I had made errors, accept responsibility for that and - let it go. Move forward. Lay my burdens down. I am not sure I have ever been able to achieve that.

School- Coincidentally, I started a class this week on Buddhism. I am finding it very interesting. Some of its tenets seem to align with my thinking like honoring other religions and the spirit of tolerance and understanding. I am looking forward to learning more. Interestingly, our text asks the question is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy. They say it doesn't matter. Fascinating. I spent some time in the campus bookstore looking at diploma frames ~squee~ I finish the program in March, and I have one additional class to take after this semester, if I can squeeze it in during Spring Semester, I should receive my diploma in May :D

Unfortunately, they only hold graduation for my school once a year in October or November, so I will have to wait a while for that, but who cares? It just extends the party! I have completed 17 of the 22 months of the program. I can't believe how quickly it has flown by. My only regret is that it has taken me so long to finish, but I suspect the experience may be sweeter for its delay.

An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Introduction to Religion)

Peter Harvey

What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

Walpola Rahula

The Election - does anyone else feel like this is the longest election in history? I can't wait for it to be over. I am shocked at how uninformed people are, but we all have our blind spots. I truly think Senator Obama is the best man for the job, but I don't think he will wave a magic wand that will improve my life instantly. It's a shame that he and Senator Clinton had such a contentious primary. That hurt him a lot when he was selected as the Democratic Nominee. It is looking likely that our nation may elect him as our President. If he is elected, I will be thrilled. Here is one reason why. I truly think he embodies the American Dream, raised by a single mother and his grandparents with very little money, through hard-work (and lots of student loans), he was able to obtain an Ivy League Education and run for President. Only in America. How many people would look at his background and write him off? A lot I would wager. How many kids are out there just like him? What makes the difference?

One of things that I most admired about Bill Clinton was his similar family history, though instead of an absentee father, his father died. And he had some abuse in his family from a Stepfather. Once again, many people would write off a kid like that. But he triumphed.

We live in a great country. I feel we have lost our way. We worship at the altar of ego, consumerism and greed and that has brought us low. But I believe that we, as a country, like Obama and Clinton can overcome our past, can llet it go, and move on.

Hot and steamy Sunday

Jul 15, 2008
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It is hot and humid out there. I have to go out for a bit and was very happy to get back home and in the air conditioning. Not much going on. FInishing up my final presentation for this weeks class (Regulatory Compliance and Accreditation). We are presenting on Healthcare Transparency, which is actually kind of interesting.

Next module is marketing, and then fall semester starts. In addition to my classes in the accelerated program, I am taking a class on Buddhism to fulfill the Religion requirement of the program. It is on a saturday and only for 8 weeks, so I should be able to just take a deep breath and flow... or so I hope.

I did not get in line to get a new iPhone this week :( Funds are tight, what can I say. Maybe in a little bit. I will get one though. I really like the iPod touch and I know I would like it. I just have to sell my Treo 680 on eBay. With any luck, that should cover a big chunk of the expense.

Update

Apr 10, 2008
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Life has been good. Work is going well. School is excellent 3.96 GPA. Though my friend Denny says that I have room for improvement!

Other issues are presenting some challenge but we will prevail.

I have one more week left of this module. We are finally into the health care portion of the program and I am loving it. I can't wait to use the knowledge in my job.

Beautiful day today!!!! Feels like Spring has sprung.

Peace out.

Not feeling well today

Dec 1, 2007
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I never got our of bed today. I feel ehh. My head hurts, my throat is scratchy. Not sick, just tired. I didn't even go to my team meeting today, and I never miss those.

I hope tomorrow is better.

I really should work on my homework...

I did do a few things for work today, but I still have some things to do.

Ok, I feel stressed now, and scattered.

Deep breath in and out.

I think I am going to start Yoga again.

Peace out.

My grade is in!

Jul 25, 2007
2 comments

Another "A", hurray!

This new module is already requiring a lot more homework. We'll have to see how long that 4.0 holds up.

16 15 modules to go!