Wow

These 10 weeks really went by quickly! I am so glad I didn't put off taking this class until later in my journey as now I feel comfortable about the APA format and what is expected. That really caused me considerable stress!

I am also glad that I am now familiar with the writing resources available to Kaplan students. I plan to utilize these tools in the future.

Great getting to know everyone through this blog and I wish everyone the best of luck!!

Dian

The paper is almost done....

and I'm pretty relieved. I have a couple of minor things my brother found and it will be ready to submit. I will be totally relieved once I know the grade; until then I'll be on pins and needles!

I have enjoyed this class and feel I've learned a lot that will help me throughout my college career. I hope it has made me a better writer and will make the next research paper I do easier.

Will I or won't I?

I don't know if I will continue to post to this blog after the term is over. While I see the benefit to this style of writing and it is therapeutic in a way; who the heck is going to read it? It has been fun, but if no one sees it, then I can do the same thing in a journal or Word document. I also recently realized that I've set myself up to take 14 hours next term. If I do blog, it will probably be by pure chance as I get the feeling those 10 weeks will be the hardest yet!

Definitely Off Topic

Wow, what a week it has been! This week I welcomed my newest nephew, Erik Donovan (Beebop) to the family. Not having children myself, I try to be the most awesome auntie in the world. I now have 4 nephews and 1 niece. I get to spend a lot of time with Beebop's 3 y/o brother Tristan and now his little brother. I love those boys!

"Beebop" came into the world Monday, June 21st at 0807 weighing 7lbs 5oz and was 20.5 inches long. He is absolutely perfect! My sis in law is so awesome and she is recovering from the c-section nicely. I've been at their house all week to lend a hand and kinda started to feel like a mother hen. Trying to get her to take it easy is about as fruitless as telling the sun not to rise, lol.
I've been able to meet my school obligations as my bro and sis in law are VERY supportive of my going back to school. Having family support is so wonderful!

Honest Admission of Shortcomings

Okay, now that I have completed the rough draft of my research paper I feel better. Here is my therapeutic admission to my classmates. I am in Comp II because I took Comp I....22 freakin' years ago!!! I didn't think about this until I was in week 4 of struggling with just getting my draft started. All the sudden it dawned on me, I haven't done this type of writing in quite awhile! When I was talking to Kaplan about transfer credits, I probably could have gotten credits for my experience and training as a Navy hospital corpsman. I said no, I need the refresher on my medical knowledge. If I survive this class without a refresher on english composition I will be a happy girl. I am still sticking with my goal of maintaining at least a 93% average for all my classes, but I'm a little worried about achieving that in here. Oh well, life will go on and hopefully I will retain the valuable lessons I am learning. After all, isn't that what education is all about?

The image is "The Scream" by Norwegian artist Edward Munch, first rendered in 1893.

Being a student again

When I read the suggested topics for this week's post it really made me think about how amazing it is that I'm here. Last February, after being unemployed for 6 months and getting little to no response from employers I'd sent my resume to, I tried to think of ways I could improve my chances of getting a job. Then I thought, "I don't want another job; I want a career, a profession, something that gives me a 'home'." So I was thinking and surfing the net when I thought about going back to school and finally getting at least an associates degree. I sent off a couple of inquiry forms and next thing I know my phone is ringing. This wonderful, persistent and positive person was on the other end telling me about Kaplan. Two weeks later I started my first term. I am happy that I am on this journey, but it is scary at times. My self-confidence has never been very good and I have significant periods when I don't believe in myself. I am 47 years old and am pretty lucky to have made it this far. I have had several suicide attempts over the years with the first being when I was about 14 or 15 and my last in 2001. I came within a few minutes of being successful with that one. I had a great career, but I was far away from my family and hadn't made any real friends. And I had, once again, stopped taking my antidepressants because I didn't think I needed them any longer. By the time I went back to a doctor, the slide downward had gained so much momentum that nothing was going to stop it, short of death. At least that is what I thought, but anyone who has this disease knows that you can never really trust what you think when the depression is controlling things.

Anyhow, I rambled. I still have doubts. Going back to school is tough and I often question whether or not I should just give this up and go work a couple of meaningless jobs. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE school. I feel more alive than I have in a long time. Part of me is impatient, wanting to work in HIM right now. The other part questions my ability to contribute something of significance to the field. And then there is always the upcoming job hunt. But I'll save my thoughts about that for another time.........

Thoughts on Plagiarism

I had to think about this a bit before posting. Plagiarism doesn't make me mad or upset. It simply makes me a little sad and, depending on the situation, even makes me laugh. It makes me think, "So, you are seriously that lazy and unimaginative?" If someone stole my thoughts I'd probably feel the same way. Obviously, there has to be some price to pay for stealing another's words and ideas. If the plagiarist is a "professional", the fact that no one will ever give any weight to future writings may be price enough. If the plagiarist is a student, the failing grade is a pretty fair price to pay. I'm not sure someone who intentionally plagiarizes would fit the definition of a "student". If all you are going to school for is a passing grade and a piece of paper, why not just create your own school and dummy up a diploma? I realize there are people in this world who thrive on cheating. I just don't happen to understand them and try to expend as little of my limited brain power thinking about them. I've heard the breed can be found in abundance in D.C. and many courtrooms across the land....;o)