Well, I graduated with high honors from Delaware County Community College,
officially on August 31, 2013. Since then, I've been applying to four year
schools. I did not get into the University of Pennsylvania despite my 3.79
GPA. That was a huge disappointment to me. I got into Drexel, but even if I
borrowed $9,500 a year I would still be about $10,000 a year short of their
tuition. So, I can't go there. I applied to Bryn Mawr College for their spring
semester, but because of my age, I am only allowed to apply for a fall
admission. So they're rolling over my application for the fall. I applied and
got into West Chester University. Their tuition is so inexpensive that it will
be covered by federal and state grants. I will have to borrow $500 for books,
though. So, my plan is to go to West Chester this spring, and then hopefully
transfer to Bryn Mawr in the fall. But if I don't get into Bryn Mawr, then I'll
have already started at West Chester. West Chester is not my favorite choice.
You only need a 2.0 GPA to get in and while the low tuition is good for me, it
also means they aren't hiring the best teachers, and they have larger
classrooms.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Two Semesters
Sorry it’s been so long since I last blogged. I had some medical problems over winter break
and had to go to the hospital for a couple of weeks for a medication
readjustment.
Quick recap of my fall semester—I got A’s in everything
except for Calculus. I got a C in
Calculus. It was a terrible class. My teacher didn’t actually teach anything, he
just read from the book. The book, of
course, was totally incomprehensible to me.
If it hadn’t been for what my dad could teach me in Calculus, I would
have gotten an F. I am so glad I am
through with Calculus. I just hope it
transfers to whatever four year school I end up going to so I don’t have to
take it again.
This past semester has been better to me. I ended up only taking three classes. At first I was signed up for five—Intro to
Chemistry, General Botany, Western Civilization II, Microsoft Word and
Microsoft Excel. At first I dropped the
Intro to Chemistry class. I decided that
that would just be too much for me. My
Western Civ. II class was a mid-semester accelerated course. So I had the first half of the semester to
think about it. Botany was an extremely
difficult and time consuming class. Word
and Excel—both online classes—while not as difficult were extremely time
consuming. I realized mid-semester that taking
on an accelerated class at that point would be too overwhelming for me, and
would probably affect my grades. So I
dropped Western Civ. II and just stuck with my three classes. I was convinced that the best I could do in
Botany was a B. But I must have done
better on the final than I thought, and I got an A. I got A’s in Word and Excel as well. So I’m much happier about this semester than
last semester.
Because I dropped two classes, I have to take two classes
over the summer to graduate with a summer graduation. I’m taking Intro to Chemistry for the first
summer session, and Western Civ. II for the second summer session. Wish me luck.
So now I have to worry about applying to four year
schools. I’m going to apply (reapply) to
the University of Pennsylvania and to Drexel University. If I don’t get in to the University of
Pennsylvania, then I’m going to go to Drexel.
If I don’t get into either of them, then I’m going to go to West Chester
University. West Chester University
requires that you have at least a 2.0 GPA, so it’s not the best of schools, but
a bachelor’s degree from somewhere is better than nothing. Wish me luck on getting into a good school.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Dropped Classes and Scholarships
During my last summer session, I had been taking an SAT math prep course and Western Civilization I in the morning, and College Algebra and Trigonometry at night. I soon realized that taking classes in the morning and at night was too much for me. I dropped the SAT prep course and Western Civilization class. I also had a morning/night schedule for the fall. I dropped my fall nighttime class of Physics. It will now take me a little bit longer to graduate, but I have to know my limits. Too bad the classes weren't just scheduled back to back. Then I think I could have done it. I got an A in my math class. If I had stuck with my original schedule, I don't think I could have done it. So now I have a 3.91 GPA. Never again a 4.0 thanks to that rotten math teacher that I had for my first summer session.
Well, I won a scholarship through the school, and I'm kind of disappointed. Last year I won a total of $560 worth of scholarships which was just credited to my account. This year I won a $250 book voucher. I had thought for sure with a whole year of nearly straight A's I would have won more this year. There were a lot of good scholarships available--up to $5,000. I guess I should be grateful that I won anything at all. It could have been worse. The real disappointment was that I thought of this scholarship competition as a precursor to the big scholarship competition the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship competition. The essay that I submitted was one that I specifically had written with the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship in mind. If my essay wasn't good enough to garner a larger scholarship, then would it be good enough for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship? Maybe I have to go back to the drawing board and come up with something new entirely. Students cannot apply directly for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, you have to be nominated by your school. So the first order of business is convincing the school to nominate me. Wish me luck.
Well, I won a scholarship through the school, and I'm kind of disappointed. Last year I won a total of $560 worth of scholarships which was just credited to my account. This year I won a $250 book voucher. I had thought for sure with a whole year of nearly straight A's I would have won more this year. There were a lot of good scholarships available--up to $5,000. I guess I should be grateful that I won anything at all. It could have been worse. The real disappointment was that I thought of this scholarship competition as a precursor to the big scholarship competition the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship competition. The essay that I submitted was one that I specifically had written with the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship in mind. If my essay wasn't good enough to garner a larger scholarship, then would it be good enough for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship? Maybe I have to go back to the drawing board and come up with something new entirely. Students cannot apply directly for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, you have to be nominated by your school. So the first order of business is convincing the school to nominate me. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
First the Bad News
I had the teacher from hell. It was my summer I math class. This teacher didn't give partial credit for partially correct answers. She also marked it half off if you didn't format the answers the way she wanted. She also was lousy at teaching. She tested on things that she hadn't taught you. And one day... after our tests were returned, some of the students were very angry about their test results, and said so. The teacher became angry in return. Then, unbelievably, she refused to teach the class! She said we weren't in a "learning mood," and told us some pages in the book that we could read to teach ourselves. I was so upset, I actually complained to the dean. I wondered about how many other complaints he got. Something must have happened, because the next day she was willing to look again at our tests for possible regrading. My test was not regraded unfortunately. I struggled with all of her special rules and regulations for formating the answers and got some bad test grades. I ended up with a B. That might not sound so bad, but I had a 4.0 average prior to that. She destroyed my GPA. If I had had any other teacher, I feel confident I would have gotten an A. I'm so depressed about it. About half the class dropped the class because they couldn't get a decent grade with her. Doesn't the school notice things like this?
Now for the good news. I'm starting another summer semester, this time taking math, Western Civilization and an SAT prep math course. My teachers seem decent and reasonable, and this math teacher is willing to give partial credit for partially correct answers. I'm taking the SAT math prep course because I've never actually taken the SATs. I'm having a lot of trouble with the math section in the practice tests. I'm hoping that this course will help me get a decent score, otherwise I just won't take the SATs. The University of Pennsylvania doesn't require SAT scores for their school of Liberal and Professional Studies. Yale has a special program for nontraditional students. They strongly encourage you to have SAT scores, but it isn't absolutely required for admission. I figure if my SAT math score would be low, I'm better off just not having an SAT score.
Well, off to study in this terrible heat.
Have a good holiday.
Now for the good news. I'm starting another summer semester, this time taking math, Western Civilization and an SAT prep math course. My teachers seem decent and reasonable, and this math teacher is willing to give partial credit for partially correct answers. I'm taking the SAT math prep course because I've never actually taken the SATs. I'm having a lot of trouble with the math section in the practice tests. I'm hoping that this course will help me get a decent score, otherwise I just won't take the SATs. The University of Pennsylvania doesn't require SAT scores for their school of Liberal and Professional Studies. Yale has a special program for nontraditional students. They strongly encourage you to have SAT scores, but it isn't absolutely required for admission. I figure if my SAT math score would be low, I'm better off just not having an SAT score.
Well, off to study in this terrible heat.
Have a good holiday.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Busy Busy Busy
Hi all. Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. I've been super busy with school. My Spanish class is taking up most of my time. It's incredibly hard this semester. And right now I'm only getting a B in the class. I'm hoping to bring it up to an A by the end of the semester so it won't screw up my 4.0 average. In fact, I am going to read a poem in Spanish in the school's talent show next week just so I can knock off two of my bad quiz grades in Spanish class. That was the deal that the teacher offered, and I'm desperate. The rest of my classes are going well. Math is very easy, fortunately. English is time consuming, but doable. And American National Government is boring, but I'm getting an A.
Well, I applied to the University of Pennsylvania, and I didn't get in. The good news is that I can try again next year, and I won't have to submit my high school grades. They must have given too much weight to my high school grades which were really bad. I was pretty bummed about it for a while, but now I'm looking toward the future. I am also thinking about applying to Yale and Columbia next spring. They both have special programs for adult students. And both of them basically require SATs. I'll definitely be the oldest student in the classroom for that, but hopefully it will be worth it.
Here's a sample of my work from English class. It's an analysis of a song.
Well, I applied to the University of Pennsylvania, and I didn't get in. The good news is that I can try again next year, and I won't have to submit my high school grades. They must have given too much weight to my high school grades which were really bad. I was pretty bummed about it for a while, but now I'm looking toward the future. I am also thinking about applying to Yale and Columbia next spring. They both have special programs for adult students. And both of them basically require SATs. I'll definitely be the oldest student in the classroom for that, but hopefully it will be worth it.
Here's a sample of my work from English class. It's an analysis of a song.
Personal Jesus
Depeche Mode is a synth-pop band from the 80s. Although they continue to make music today, they really peaked in the late 80s and early 90s. Martin Gore, the writer for the band, has taken on many heavy subjects ranging from relationships to religion. Depeche Mode’s song “Personal Jesus” is both a mockery of fundamentalist faith, and an expression of deep faith. The song came out at a time when Depeche Mode was a very popular and influential band. The song made them even more popular, and brought a lot of fans who really did not understand Depeche Mode, and so misinterpreted the song from a more evangelical point of view. This song is, in fact, an attempt to free people from certain religious extremists. Fundamentalists, for instance, who believe they have a personal relationship with Jesus, can be very aggressive with their faith. They believe they have certainty of moral knowledge, and so cannot be reasoned with. They can lack humility, quite unlike Jesus. This song attempts to offer another point of view.
Gore has confessed that he finds religion very confusing. Many of his songs speak about Christianity and religion in a very suspicious manner such as “Blasphemous Rumors.” “Personal Jesus” was not intended to be a literal praise song. This can be gleaned from the fact of some irreverent language in the song such as “Lift up the receiver; I’ll make you a believer; I will deliver; you know I’m a forgiver” (lines 22-25). In these lines, Depeche Mode mocks the sales pitch of fundamentalists. The sales pitch usually goes something like this: If you say the “sinner’s prayers” and accept Jesus Christ into your heart, then your sins will be forgiven and you will be given a whole new and wonderful life. You will believe more and more as you get closer to Jesus. If you have a strong faith, you will be rewarded with an unbelievably great life. But if you have problems, it is because you do not have enough faith in Jesus. The fundamentalists push their faith because they believe the more souls they “lead to Christ,” the greater will be their reward in heaven, so they are very motivated, “I’ll make you a believer” (line 23).
Some people, when knowing that the song is, in part at least, a mockery, might take the whole song to be blasphemous. I do not take this view as I do not see it as an attack on Christian faith, but a particular type of faith. It is an attack on a certain type of narcissistic faith—the kind that believes that Christianity exists to serve the whims and preferences of the believer, a personal Jesus who does not ask anything of the faithful. He is merely “Someone to hear your prayers; Someone who’s there” (lines 6-7). It is a vision of a Jesus who has been dehumanized and acts as a servant in the worst, most demeaning sense—an image of God made by man.
Marilyn Manson covered “Personal Jesus” and, being that he is a known Satanist, it is fair to assume that he did not have good intentions in recording the song. In that sense, the song can be viewed as purely blasphemous and an attack on Christianity itself. Many “believers” speak of having a “personal relationship with Jesus.” Even Pope John Paul II said that believers have or should develop a “personal relation with Jesus.” So “Personal Jesus” can certainly be seen as an attack on that type of Christian faith, or that aspect of Christian faith. The song does mock the notion of having a personal relationship with someone who you can neither see nor hear, someone about whom there is no historical agreement. I believe, though, that Depeche Mode’s version of the song offers more nuance that Marilyn Manson’s version of it. Their intentions were better.
“Personal Jesus,” while no book of Job, is an expression of frustration with religion, and hence, an expression of deep faith. “Someone who cares,” (line 4) “Someone who’s there” (line 7). These are words of bitterness to anyone whose prayers have never been answered. They are also words of longing. Would it not be nice if there was a personal Jesus “someone who cares” (line 4). The song is intentionally vague so that people may interpret it however they like—if as a praise song, then as a praise song, if as a mockery, then as a mockery. This probably has something to do with the song’s success. If its meaning was clearer, it probably would not have appealed to such a wide group of people. I believe that the song would have been a more controversial song had it not been so subtle, and had it not been for the fact that so many received it as strictly a praise song.
“Personal Jesus” also criticizes cheap grace. “I will deliver; you know I’m a forgiver” (lines 16,17). These lines, if taken literally, lead one to believe that no matter what you do, it will not harm your personal relationship with Jesus. We know that in real life our actions and words have repercussions. It would be nice if the world as a whole was more forgiving, but it is not. So what, then, is the point of a Jesus who “forgives” people? Wouldn’t a more loving Jesus advise people not to do things that will make them an object of contempt to begin with? So, cheap grace is not, then, a very Christian way to live. This is how the song is very critical of a certain type of faith, namely, one that promotes cheap grace, rather than being critical of Christianity in itself.
“Personal Jesus” has many different meanings to many different people. To a fundamentalist, it is a praise song. To a Satanist, it is a song that mocks the Christian faith. To a moderate Christian, it is a little bit of both. It is a brilliant song in that sense. It is very difficult to write anything of substance that is yet so open to interpretation. The song will undoubtedly remain one of their best songs for years to come.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Second Full Semester
Hi everyone. Sorry it's been so long since I last blogged. A lot has been going on these past few weeks. I took a job at school as a Supplemental Instruction Leader. It's for a developmental English class. We're supposed to help facilitate learning, but we aren't allowed to call ourselves teachers or tutors, but really, that is what we're expected to do. I'm supposed to give an hour of supplemental instruction before the three hour class starts. It only meets once a week in the evening which is why it's 3 hours long. I am to take the class with the students and act as the model student. My first session did not go well at all. I was ready to quit after it. The teacher who teaches the class, after I give an hour of supplemental instruction, encouraged me. I felt like a total failure. And I was given next to no training for this job. What exactly am I supposed to do for an hour with students? Fortunately, some people have helped to give me ideas about what I can do to help teach writing and grammar to these students. If any of you have any good ideas, I'm open to hear them.
Other than that, a new semester has started for me. I feel now as I did at the beginning of last semester--overwhelmed and stressed. I'm hoping that feeling will calm down as I get more accustomed to this new routine. I'm taking American National Government, Intermediate Algebra, Elementary Spanish II, and English Composition 100. I'll probably post final drafts of my English 100 papers as I finish them. Spanish is going to be hard this semester. My Spanish teacher does not allow students to make up missed tests. He seems really harsh.
Well, I've finally applied to the University of Pennsylvania. It will be several weeks until I find out a decision. I've put everything I have into it. I sincerely hope I am accepted. I would be pretty devastated if I wasn't. It's especially important that I be accepted now so that when I apply for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I can tell them that I definitely have an educational home to go to should they give me the scholarship. This is what my life is now--working toward winning this scholarship. It's so important, though, as it will allow me to get a bachelor's degree.
Other than that, a new semester has started for me. I feel now as I did at the beginning of last semester--overwhelmed and stressed. I'm hoping that feeling will calm down as I get more accustomed to this new routine. I'm taking American National Government, Intermediate Algebra, Elementary Spanish II, and English Composition 100. I'll probably post final drafts of my English 100 papers as I finish them. Spanish is going to be hard this semester. My Spanish teacher does not allow students to make up missed tests. He seems really harsh.
Well, I've finally applied to the University of Pennsylvania. It will be several weeks until I find out a decision. I've put everything I have into it. I sincerely hope I am accepted. I would be pretty devastated if I wasn't. It's especially important that I be accepted now so that when I apply for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I can tell them that I definitely have an educational home to go to should they give me the scholarship. This is what my life is now--working toward winning this scholarship. It's so important, though, as it will allow me to get a bachelor's degree.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Decisions Decisions
Now that the semester is nearing an end, I'm thinking about applying to the University of Pennsylvania. I'm hoping to get all As in all of my classes, so that should boost my chances of being accepted. But if I am accepted, I'm not sure that I will start right away. The thing is: money. If I were to enter right away I wouldn't have any scholarships and would have to take out huge loans. At my age, I don't really have time to pay off huge loans and then start a life. I'm going to check in with the University to see if they offer any internal scholarships for full-time students. I know they offer scholarships for part-time students, but I really want to get this over with as fast as possible at my age. If I am not accepted at the University of Pennsylvania, I only have to wait a year to try again during which time I would get my associate degree. I hate the idea of waiting, though.
The University of Pennsylvania's College of Liberal and Professional studies, to which I would be applying, is geared towards adult students. I think I would feel more comfortable with people around my same age. On the other hand, everything I've been reading says it's better to get your associate degree first, and then transfer. It's only an extra year, but time is precious at my age. Also, I already know ahead of time that I won't be able to transfer a lot of my classes. I'll probably have to go at least 3 years to the University of Pennsylvania, despite having an associate degree. I'm going to be old by the time I graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. Better late than never though? Right?
If I stay at the community college through completion, I'll be eligible to try for two big scholarships--the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship which is up to $30,000 per year for up to three years, and the Hites scholarship which is about $8,000. If I won that Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I'd be set. All I have to do is continue to get a 4.0 average through the time when I would apply for it, engage in community activities on the campus, and be an overall fabulous student. That's a lot of stress for me, but it has to be done. So, yeah, I think I'll end up staying at community college through my associate degree, but I'm still going to apply to the University of Pennsylvania after this semester's grades come in.
The University of Pennsylvania's College of Liberal and Professional studies, to which I would be applying, is geared towards adult students. I think I would feel more comfortable with people around my same age. On the other hand, everything I've been reading says it's better to get your associate degree first, and then transfer. It's only an extra year, but time is precious at my age. Also, I already know ahead of time that I won't be able to transfer a lot of my classes. I'll probably have to go at least 3 years to the University of Pennsylvania, despite having an associate degree. I'm going to be old by the time I graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. Better late than never though? Right?
If I stay at the community college through completion, I'll be eligible to try for two big scholarships--the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship which is up to $30,000 per year for up to three years, and the Hites scholarship which is about $8,000. If I won that Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, I'd be set. All I have to do is continue to get a 4.0 average through the time when I would apply for it, engage in community activities on the campus, and be an overall fabulous student. That's a lot of stress for me, but it has to be done. So, yeah, I think I'll end up staying at community college through my associate degree, but I'm still going to apply to the University of Pennsylvania after this semester's grades come in.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well, Turkey Day is coming up. I don't have anything fancy planned, just a turkey dinner with my parents. I do get some extra time off of school, however, so that's a good thing.
I just had another round of tests, can you believe it? The math test included extra credit questions, so I got 124%. I barely squeaked by on the Spanish test with 92%. I consider myself lucky to have gotten 92% as there was a lot of material covered, and it's getting more complicated. I do hope to actually learn Spanish too, which is why I'll be studying over the holiday weekend. I took my Interpersonal Communication test last Monday. It was an essay test and the teacher still didn't have them graded by Monday. That's so frustrating. I hate waiting. I took a Science test yesterday. It was hard. After the test I checked my notes. I know I got 1 question wrong, but I got the bonus question right. The bonus question corresponded with a regular test question which was this: You accidentally knock over a tomato plant on its side. After about a week or two, what will it look like (draw a picture)? The bonus question was, "What is the exact term for this?" The answer is "Negative Gravitropism." Gee, everybody knows that. ;) Like I said, it was a hard test.
I just had another round of tests, can you believe it? The math test included extra credit questions, so I got 124%. I barely squeaked by on the Spanish test with 92%. I consider myself lucky to have gotten 92% as there was a lot of material covered, and it's getting more complicated. I do hope to actually learn Spanish too, which is why I'll be studying over the holiday weekend. I took my Interpersonal Communication test last Monday. It was an essay test and the teacher still didn't have them graded by Monday. That's so frustrating. I hate waiting. I took a Science test yesterday. It was hard. After the test I checked my notes. I know I got 1 question wrong, but I got the bonus question right. The bonus question corresponded with a regular test question which was this: You accidentally knock over a tomato plant on its side. After about a week or two, what will it look like (draw a picture)? The bonus question was, "What is the exact term for this?" The answer is "Negative Gravitropism." Gee, everybody knows that. ;) Like I said, it was a hard test.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
More Tests, and God Bless You
Gee, it seems like just yesterday that I had a bunch of tests, and now again. Fortunately I got As on my Spanish test and Science test. The class as a whole didn't do too well on the Science test. 2 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 7-9 Ds, and 13 Fs. I actually thought this one was much easier than the first one. And I did really study for it. The other person who got an A was also an older person. I think when you go to school as an older person, you're more serious about your grades. I just took a math test, though, and I'd consider myself lucky to get a B. I don't know what happened. The material was hard for me, and my brain froze during the test.
I've changed my mind about the difficulty of my classes. Spanish is definitely the most difficult for me now. Learning a new language is tough. Science is the next most difficult. Math is... well I hope it gets easier after that test, but I fear that it will get even more difficult. I still don't know what to think about Interpersonal Communication. We don't have any homework now, but we have a test next week. It will be an essay format, just to see if we've been paying attention in class. I do have my notes.
Sneezing. "God bless you." Is that what you say? There seems to be a certain protocol when saying something after someone sneezes in class. Personally, I usually only say "bless you" to someone who sneezes when they are right near me. It seems awkward across the room. Most people seem to follow this rule. But some do occasionally shout across the room. I dunno, I think that's kind of awkward, as if you're drawing attention to a person's loud sneeze. But I guess if no one nearby says, "God bless you," then somebody's got to do it. And do you say, "God bless you, "Bless you," or "Gezuntite" (I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but you know what I mean.). I say "Bless you." "God bless you" seems a little too wordy for me. and the other word, well I think it's German, but since I can't even spell it, I probably shouldn't say it.
I believe this tradition started long ago with the mythical belief that when you sneezed, demons were coming out of you. I guess you would want to bless such a person. But on the whole, it seems like a nice little polite tradition, and one that college students practice studiously. Somehow the classroom allows for it. I'm not sure that I would say "Bless you" to a complete stranger on a train, but maybe at college I will learn that kind of courage.
I've changed my mind about the difficulty of my classes. Spanish is definitely the most difficult for me now. Learning a new language is tough. Science is the next most difficult. Math is... well I hope it gets easier after that test, but I fear that it will get even more difficult. I still don't know what to think about Interpersonal Communication. We don't have any homework now, but we have a test next week. It will be an essay format, just to see if we've been paying attention in class. I do have my notes.
Sneezing. "God bless you." Is that what you say? There seems to be a certain protocol when saying something after someone sneezes in class. Personally, I usually only say "bless you" to someone who sneezes when they are right near me. It seems awkward across the room. Most people seem to follow this rule. But some do occasionally shout across the room. I dunno, I think that's kind of awkward, as if you're drawing attention to a person's loud sneeze. But I guess if no one nearby says, "God bless you," then somebody's got to do it. And do you say, "God bless you, "Bless you," or "Gezuntite" (I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but you know what I mean.). I say "Bless you." "God bless you" seems a little too wordy for me. and the other word, well I think it's German, but since I can't even spell it, I probably shouldn't say it.
I believe this tradition started long ago with the mythical belief that when you sneezed, demons were coming out of you. I guess you would want to bless such a person. But on the whole, it seems like a nice little polite tradition, and one that college students practice studiously. Somehow the classroom allows for it. I'm not sure that I would say "Bless you" to a complete stranger on a train, but maybe at college I will learn that kind of courage.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Test Results
Well, I finally got my test scores back. I say finally because it took my Interpersonal Communication teacher 1 1/2 weeks too finish grading the tests! Okay, so, here it is: On my Spanish test I got 96%, on my Interpersonal Communication test I got 93%, and on my Science test I got......... 100%! Yay! The Science teacher laid it out for us again about who got what. 5 As, 4 Bs, 7 Cs, 5 Ds, and 7 Fs. And only one person got 100%. I felt a little bit honored, but it did make me a bit of a target. News got around about who it was who got 100%. One of them asked me, "What's your secret?" I explained my studying techniques and the girl next to her gasped and said something to the effect that, "So you have to do flashcards all weekend instead of going out." Gee, I don't study THAT much. But I guess I let them down. There is no easy secret. It just comes from studying, and that's how you do it.
In my Interpersonal Communication class we watched a film called The Station Agent. It's about a dwarf and his life experiences and how he befriends some people. Well after the movie, and in conjunction with an article we had to read, we came to a discussion of hurtful words, and how some commonly used words can be very hurtful to some people. Among them were retarded and midget. The word midget has a history in sideshows, which is why it is so hurtful, the correct terms being dwarf or little people. I included the word ma'am. I hate that word. I don't think anyone should ever use it. It's very hurtful. But the teacher insisted that some people like to be called ma'am. She didn't say who, though. I've never met anyone who likes to be called ma'am. What do you think? Is there anyone who likes to be called ma'am? Anyhoo, at least I tried, and got it out there.
We also talked about "totalizing" others. This is where you attribute a whole host of characteristics to someone based on only one piece of information about that person, and it's usually negative. I mentioned that homeless people are "totalized." As I volunteered at a soup kitchen for four years, I can definitely say that homeless people have to take it from everyone. People just don't have nice things to say or think about homeless people. Just because they're homeless doesn't mean they're worthless. They don't deserve to be treated worse than anyone else. There are certainly people with homes who present well who are rotten to the core--not only homeless people, and not always homeless people. Some of them have just had hard lives--lives that most people wouldn't deal well with. Where's the compassion? Homeless people are just as dynamic, intelligent, and worthwhile as anyone, just less fortunate. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. Just had to get that out of my system.
In my Interpersonal Communication class we watched a film called The Station Agent. It's about a dwarf and his life experiences and how he befriends some people. Well after the movie, and in conjunction with an article we had to read, we came to a discussion of hurtful words, and how some commonly used words can be very hurtful to some people. Among them were retarded and midget. The word midget has a history in sideshows, which is why it is so hurtful, the correct terms being dwarf or little people. I included the word ma'am. I hate that word. I don't think anyone should ever use it. It's very hurtful. But the teacher insisted that some people like to be called ma'am. She didn't say who, though. I've never met anyone who likes to be called ma'am. What do you think? Is there anyone who likes to be called ma'am? Anyhoo, at least I tried, and got it out there.
We also talked about "totalizing" others. This is where you attribute a whole host of characteristics to someone based on only one piece of information about that person, and it's usually negative. I mentioned that homeless people are "totalized." As I volunteered at a soup kitchen for four years, I can definitely say that homeless people have to take it from everyone. People just don't have nice things to say or think about homeless people. Just because they're homeless doesn't mean they're worthless. They don't deserve to be treated worse than anyone else. There are certainly people with homes who present well who are rotten to the core--not only homeless people, and not always homeless people. Some of them have just had hard lives--lives that most people wouldn't deal well with. Where's the compassion? Homeless people are just as dynamic, intelligent, and worthwhile as anyone, just less fortunate. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. Just had to get that out of my system.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Test Week
This past week was test week. Not formally, but it sure seemed like it. I had 3 tests out of my four classes. Spanish, Science, and Interpersonal Communications. I feel pretty confident about my Spanish And Science tests. On my last Spanish test I got an A, and on my last Science test I got a B. I'm hoping for two As this time. And as for my Interpersonal Communications class, I'm not sure what to expect. This is the first Interpersonal Communications test that I've taken, and it was all essays. I'm not sure how the teacher will grade. But I do hope I get an A, as tests are 50% of the grade.
In my last Science test, the teacher laid it out for us how the students did. 3 As, 5 Bs, 4 Cs, 6 Ds, and 10 Fs. So while it was possible to get an A on the test, it was very difficult. The guy next to me got an F. He told me that if he got another F, he was going to drop the class. I hope he doesn't get another F. If he decides to stay, I was going to suggest to him that we study together after class and see if he can bring his grade up. Who knows, it might help me too. Science is a tough class. It's practically like learning a new language as so many of the words and terms are new to me. There's a lot to understand. Our last test was on mitosis and meiosis and the male and female reproductive systems, as well as hormonal controls. Through all this, though, I know I have my readers, and that means a lot to me. Thank you for reading and for your support. :)
In my last Science test, the teacher laid it out for us how the students did. 3 As, 5 Bs, 4 Cs, 6 Ds, and 10 Fs. So while it was possible to get an A on the test, it was very difficult. The guy next to me got an F. He told me that if he got another F, he was going to drop the class. I hope he doesn't get another F. If he decides to stay, I was going to suggest to him that we study together after class and see if he can bring his grade up. Who knows, it might help me too. Science is a tough class. It's practically like learning a new language as so many of the words and terms are new to me. There's a lot to understand. Our last test was on mitosis and meiosis and the male and female reproductive systems, as well as hormonal controls. Through all this, though, I know I have my readers, and that means a lot to me. Thank you for reading and for your support. :)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Recently
I've been quite busy with school work lately. In fact, it's practically all I've been thinking about. Sometimes I feel like I just need a break. Fortunately, I went out last night, so that helps to break things up a little.
Well, I've taken a couple of tests in a couple of classes--Spanish and math, and so far I've gotten As and A-s. I just took a big test in science and I won't know, at least until tomorrow, how I did. I'm hoping for an A, of course, but I think it might have been a B. I've been reading up on scholarships and so I've put myself under a lot of pressure. It seems like the better grades I have, the better chance I'll have at scholarships. Some of them are really big scholarships. The Jack Kent Cooke scholarship pays up to $30,000 per year for transfer students, that is for students who get their Associates degrees at community colleges and go on to 4 year schools. THAT'S one that I could really use. I'm thinking a 4.0 would give me my best shot.
I've decided that I'm going to pursue my Associates degree before trying for the University of Pennsylvania. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, a lot of the big scholarships are only for people who have taken a certain number of courses with the intention of getting an Associates degree. Also, just in case I flake out of school at some point, an Associates degree would be better than nothing. Another reason, if you have 16 units of Liberal Arts coursework (almost an Associates degree) when applying for Penn, then they don't need your GED score and high school records. My GED score and high school records aren't the best. I'd rather apply with a clean slate. Another reason, in all my years away form school, I'd forgotten the math that I learned in high school. So I have to do a lot of catching up on math before I go to Penn. So, those are the main reasons.
Most of my classes are pretty well-behaved, but my Spanish class--oy vey! There are a handful of students in the back of the class who are really rude. They're loud and obnoxious and are always making rude comments about other people, including the professor. And a bunch of the other students seem like they just don't want to learn. The professor calls on random people throughout the class, and some just aren't prepared at all. The bad students were also, not surprisingly,complaining about their test scores. I feel bad for the teacher. She tries really hard and she gets frazzled by those few obnoxious idiots. She warned me and one of the other good students not to become a teacher. Poor thing. I said to her, "You're a good teacher." And a few other students agreed, and that made her feel better.
Well, I've taken a couple of tests in a couple of classes--Spanish and math, and so far I've gotten As and A-s. I just took a big test in science and I won't know, at least until tomorrow, how I did. I'm hoping for an A, of course, but I think it might have been a B. I've been reading up on scholarships and so I've put myself under a lot of pressure. It seems like the better grades I have, the better chance I'll have at scholarships. Some of them are really big scholarships. The Jack Kent Cooke scholarship pays up to $30,000 per year for transfer students, that is for students who get their Associates degrees at community colleges and go on to 4 year schools. THAT'S one that I could really use. I'm thinking a 4.0 would give me my best shot.
I've decided that I'm going to pursue my Associates degree before trying for the University of Pennsylvania. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, a lot of the big scholarships are only for people who have taken a certain number of courses with the intention of getting an Associates degree. Also, just in case I flake out of school at some point, an Associates degree would be better than nothing. Another reason, if you have 16 units of Liberal Arts coursework (almost an Associates degree) when applying for Penn, then they don't need your GED score and high school records. My GED score and high school records aren't the best. I'd rather apply with a clean slate. Another reason, in all my years away form school, I'd forgotten the math that I learned in high school. So I have to do a lot of catching up on math before I go to Penn. So, those are the main reasons.
Most of my classes are pretty well-behaved, but my Spanish class--oy vey! There are a handful of students in the back of the class who are really rude. They're loud and obnoxious and are always making rude comments about other people, including the professor. And a bunch of the other students seem like they just don't want to learn. The professor calls on random people throughout the class, and some just aren't prepared at all. The bad students were also, not surprisingly,complaining about their test scores. I feel bad for the teacher. She tries really hard and she gets frazzled by those few obnoxious idiots. She warned me and one of the other good students not to become a teacher. Poor thing. I said to her, "You're a good teacher." And a few other students agreed, and that made her feel better.
Monday, September 5, 2011
First Week of New Semester
I had a brief two weeks off in between my last summer class and this new fall semester. I have a full course load this semester. I'm taking four classes--Math, Spanish, Biological Science, and Interpersonal Communication. I have been doing homework ALL weekend! Math is easy, Spanish is fun, mostly because I hope to learn to actually speak/read Spanish fluently. Science is hard, and Interpersonal Communication is weird.
I gave a girl in my Interpersonal Communication class my blog address, so I guess I'll have to be extra careful about what I write (hope I don't get too boring). I thought it would be an easy class given that it's pretty much a soft science, but there's actually a LOT of homework (in Spanish, tarea).
I already speak/read a bit of Spanish, so that class has so far been fairly easy for me. There is a fair bit of homework, but it's been homework that I don't really mind, because I actually do want to become fluent in Spanish. It should help me to be able to communicate with 1/4 of the US population for one thing. Plus, if I ever take a vacation in Mexico, South America, or any other Spanish speaking place, I'll be able to function properly.
In other GOOD news, over my two week vacation I found out that I won two small scholarships! This happened after I got my second A from my summer classes. It isn't that much money, but every little bit helps. Mostly, it just feels nice to be appreciated. I'll have to go to a scholarship dinner called "Dollars for Scholars" to show my appreciation to the donors. I also had to sign a release so that the school could publicize my name in newspapers. These weren't even scholarships for older women. I actually beat out regular college kids for these scholarships.
Overall, my classes seem okay, most of the students seem like decent people, and most of the professors seem okay.
I gave a girl in my Interpersonal Communication class my blog address, so I guess I'll have to be extra careful about what I write (hope I don't get too boring). I thought it would be an easy class given that it's pretty much a soft science, but there's actually a LOT of homework (in Spanish, tarea).
I already speak/read a bit of Spanish, so that class has so far been fairly easy for me. There is a fair bit of homework, but it's been homework that I don't really mind, because I actually do want to become fluent in Spanish. It should help me to be able to communicate with 1/4 of the US population for one thing. Plus, if I ever take a vacation in Mexico, South America, or any other Spanish speaking place, I'll be able to function properly.
In other GOOD news, over my two week vacation I found out that I won two small scholarships! This happened after I got my second A from my summer classes. It isn't that much money, but every little bit helps. Mostly, it just feels nice to be appreciated. I'll have to go to a scholarship dinner called "Dollars for Scholars" to show my appreciation to the donors. I also had to sign a release so that the school could publicize my name in newspapers. These weren't even scholarships for older women. I actually beat out regular college kids for these scholarships.
Overall, my classes seem okay, most of the students seem like decent people, and most of the professors seem okay.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Hello! Sorry I've been gone for so long. Aside from the fact that I've been busy with schoolwork, my computer died, so I've been without a computer for about a week.
It's been an exciting few weeks. I got my test back (the atomic one) and I got a B. Phew. And the professor actually graded on a curve, so I ended up getting an A. After this, we got the teacher evaluation forms. I decided to go easy on my teacher since he did give me 100% for class participation. So I was able to overlook the fact that he laughed at me.
I have a question for you... who has a better military, the US or China? The question came up in class and I said that the US has a better military. The kids kept laughing at me for saying that. They insisted that since China is a bigger country, it therefor has a better military. It was as if they thought that I didn't know that China was a bigger country than the US. It obviously is bigger, but does that necessarily mean that it has a better military? I don't think so. But I suppose I could be wrong.
So, anyway, I had a TON of studying to do for the final. I was all nerves going into it. But my studying paid off, and I got an A in the class.
In a couple weeks I'll be starting the fall semester. Four classes at a time. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it all. I hope that taking these summer classes has given me a bit of a feel for it.
It's been an exciting few weeks. I got my test back (the atomic one) and I got a B. Phew. And the professor actually graded on a curve, so I ended up getting an A. After this, we got the teacher evaluation forms. I decided to go easy on my teacher since he did give me 100% for class participation. So I was able to overlook the fact that he laughed at me.
I have a question for you... who has a better military, the US or China? The question came up in class and I said that the US has a better military. The kids kept laughing at me for saying that. They insisted that since China is a bigger country, it therefor has a better military. It was as if they thought that I didn't know that China was a bigger country than the US. It obviously is bigger, but does that necessarily mean that it has a better military? I don't think so. But I suppose I could be wrong.
So, anyway, I had a TON of studying to do for the final. I was all nerves going into it. But my studying paid off, and I got an A in the class.
In a couple weeks I'll be starting the fall semester. Four classes at a time. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it all. I hope that taking these summer classes has given me a bit of a feel for it.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Atomic Test: A Story of Academic Survival
This American History test that I just took yesterday was so hard that two students dropped the class. The first one, that guy I had mentioned earlier who never took notes, looked at the test, decided it was too hard (I guess) and walked out. The other one, a girl who seemed to take notes, took the test, left for break, and never came back. It was an incredibly hard test. Even with notes (it was open notebook). I still think I may have even gotten a C.
This test was also inordinately stressful for me for another reason. Part of the test was to write two essays. And it was open notebook. So I wrote two essays ahead of time, and wrote them in my notebook. BUT this was a big academic sin in this teacher's eyes. I didn't know that beforehand, but I was afraid of getting caught for having intended to copy.
The teacher walked up and down the aisles and checked everybody's notes and study guides. He didn't notice my little problem. I thought about just telling him, but it was too late. I didn't use my pre-written essays, but trying to convince him of that if he knew would probably have been impossible. Throughout the test, he would take strolls up and down the aisles... flipping through people's notes, reading what you were writing and what you were reading. I was in sheer terror. Even after the test was done, I was afraid that he might take a last peek at our notebooks, just to be sure. I threw out my essays as soon as I got home, so if he EVER checks, he'll never know.
This test was also inordinately stressful for me for another reason. Part of the test was to write two essays. And it was open notebook. So I wrote two essays ahead of time, and wrote them in my notebook. BUT this was a big academic sin in this teacher's eyes. I didn't know that beforehand, but I was afraid of getting caught for having intended to copy.
The teacher walked up and down the aisles and checked everybody's notes and study guides. He didn't notice my little problem. I thought about just telling him, but it was too late. I didn't use my pre-written essays, but trying to convince him of that if he knew would probably have been impossible. Throughout the test, he would take strolls up and down the aisles... flipping through people's notes, reading what you were writing and what you were reading. I was in sheer terror. Even after the test was done, I was afraid that he might take a last peek at our notebooks, just to be sure. I threw out my essays as soon as I got home, so if he EVER checks, he'll never know.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Latest
I've been studying a lot recently, and have much studying to do this weekend, so sorry I haven't blogged recently. As for class this week--my teacher laughed at me when I tried to answer one of his questions. From praise to ridicule. I just hope it doesn't affect my grade.
My professor discusses a lot of things besides history. He has been going on and on recently about how bad the K-12 schools have gotten and how kids who "can't" learn should simply be expelled. I tried to make an argument in favor of the kids who aren't natural students, that "you don't know what they're going through," and he said sarcastically, "You're makin' me cry." I also said that it is the teacher's responsibility to sort of police the kids and create a good environment. And also that kids of a certain age are simply wild and teachers have to be able to overlook that. I don't think my arguments got me very far, but I hope they don't affect my grade.
We also talked a lot about religion. I happen to know a fair bit about Catholicism/Christianity, so I'm able to hold my own in a discussion about such things. In fact, I taught my teacher. Since that time, he's been quizzing me about my religious knowledge, and I've been able to answer most of the questions. I hope he doesn't hold it against me if I just so happen to know more about religion that he does.
After class, a girl came up to me and started discussion how arrogant and mean the teacher is and I agreed, but I said I hadn't noticed it until that day. She said she noticed it the first day. I guess I hadn't noticed it until he burst out laughing at me when I was making an attempt to participate. He has his good points, but he does have an obnoxious side. I just hope it doesn't affect my grade. Are you starting to notice a theme here? I don't much care what goes on so long as I can still get a good grade.
My professor discusses a lot of things besides history. He has been going on and on recently about how bad the K-12 schools have gotten and how kids who "can't" learn should simply be expelled. I tried to make an argument in favor of the kids who aren't natural students, that "you don't know what they're going through," and he said sarcastically, "You're makin' me cry." I also said that it is the teacher's responsibility to sort of police the kids and create a good environment. And also that kids of a certain age are simply wild and teachers have to be able to overlook that. I don't think my arguments got me very far, but I hope they don't affect my grade.
We also talked a lot about religion. I happen to know a fair bit about Catholicism/Christianity, so I'm able to hold my own in a discussion about such things. In fact, I taught my teacher. Since that time, he's been quizzing me about my religious knowledge, and I've been able to answer most of the questions. I hope he doesn't hold it against me if I just so happen to know more about religion that he does.
After class, a girl came up to me and started discussion how arrogant and mean the teacher is and I agreed, but I said I hadn't noticed it until that day. She said she noticed it the first day. I guess I hadn't noticed it until he burst out laughing at me when I was making an attempt to participate. He has his good points, but he does have an obnoxious side. I just hope it doesn't affect my grade. Are you starting to notice a theme here? I don't much care what goes on so long as I can still get a good grade.
Friday, July 8, 2011
New Class
This was the first week of my new class. I didn't have quite as many nerves this time. I think I am the oldest person in the classroom, but at least the teacher is older than me this time. The work seems fairly interesting--it's an American History class from Columbus through the civil war.
Most of the students seem nice except for one really obnoxious, arrogant student. He has salt n' pepper hair and has to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He didn't have anything intelligent to say, but he kept talking anyway. He said things like that Columbus had an affair with Queen Isabel, and that's why she supported him. And upon hearing that Columbus was destitute and ruined by the end of his life, he said, "He must have been married." He said many other stupid and obnoxious things. He didn't take notes in class, and kept badgering the teacher for an A. I don't even know why he's there. The only reason that I can think of is that his parole officer made him do it.
But the teacher seems nice. He's pretty funny too. He seems to want to really engage the students. 27% of the grade is class participation. There is a lot of reading to do, and that is mostly to participate in class discussions intelligently.
We watched a movie about Columbus. One of the things that was mentioned in the movie was how the Indians were so gracious to Columbus and his crew. They gave them food, and whatever else they liked. But then they wanted their things back, so this is where the term "Indian giver" comes from. If you consider the larger picture, that really isn't so awful. If they were Americans, they would have given the people the things that they wanted, and charged usurious interest rates, thus enslaving them for life. Of course, Columbus did end up enslaving the Indians. He might as well have been a Wall Street broker. He was an adventurer, but also a supreme jerk.
Most of the students seem nice except for one really obnoxious, arrogant student. He has salt n' pepper hair and has to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He didn't have anything intelligent to say, but he kept talking anyway. He said things like that Columbus had an affair with Queen Isabel, and that's why she supported him. And upon hearing that Columbus was destitute and ruined by the end of his life, he said, "He must have been married." He said many other stupid and obnoxious things. He didn't take notes in class, and kept badgering the teacher for an A. I don't even know why he's there. The only reason that I can think of is that his parole officer made him do it.
But the teacher seems nice. He's pretty funny too. He seems to want to really engage the students. 27% of the grade is class participation. There is a lot of reading to do, and that is mostly to participate in class discussions intelligently.
We watched a movie about Columbus. One of the things that was mentioned in the movie was how the Indians were so gracious to Columbus and his crew. They gave them food, and whatever else they liked. But then they wanted their things back, so this is where the term "Indian giver" comes from. If you consider the larger picture, that really isn't so awful. If they were Americans, they would have given the people the things that they wanted, and charged usurious interest rates, thus enslaving them for life. Of course, Columbus did end up enslaving the Indians. He might as well have been a Wall Street broker. He was an adventurer, but also a supreme jerk.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Final and the Museum Paper
Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. I've been busy with school work, specifically with studying for the final. The final was today, and I think (hope) I did all right on it. It was in the same manner as all of the other tests which I got 100% on. I also got back my museum paper which I got an A+ on. Does it seem like I'm bragging? Well... maybe. I wouldn't have to brag if anything else in my life was going well. As it is, my good grades are what I have. I won't find out for a few days yet what my final grade for the class will be, but I think (hope) it will be an A.
Here is my museum paper for anyone who wishes to read it:
Here is my museum paper for anyone who wishes to read it:
Two Greek Statuettes
In this essay, I will compare and contrast two Greek statuettes. One, the Limestone Male Statuette from the Archaic period, and the other, a Marble Draped Female Statuette from the Hellenistic period. These artworks show how art developed over time. The male statuette is much less developed. The face is crude and the body is flat and boxy. The female statuette, on the other hand, is graceful and an archetype of female perfection. Both small in size, the Archaic piece is about 10” tall, while the Hellenistic piece is about 1 ½” tall. Though they are from the same general area—Greece
Both statuettes are attempts at representing the human form. And they both intend to convey a sense of divinity. The male statuette was made as a dedication to Apollo. The female statuette was perhaps a goddess or symbolic of an ideal woman.
I was drawn to these pieces because I like Greek art. The Greeks were really masters of humanism in art. These particular works really exemplify a Greek sense of beauty and authenticity, especially the female statuette. It’s interesting to me also that art progressed as much as it did in this timeframe. It took the Greeks time to really master the artistic styles that they would become famous for.
Both the Hellenistic and the Archaic periods were times of change in Greece Greece
The male and female statuettes express different influences in their compositions. The male statuette is very rigid and blocky, almost like a soldier preparing to do battle. It is reminiscent of the stiff Egyptian statues intended to convey eternal stillness. Its arms are held close to the body and both legs are attached, creating the effect of solidity. With the female statuette, the legs are not even visible under the long flowing robe. Her right hand appears to be on her hip in a very human gesture of the body. Her face is very beautiful leaving no doubt that this was either a goddess of some sort, or an emblem of female perfection.
While both pieces express a new naturalism, the female statuette excels at expressing realism. The composition of the later statuette—the female—indicates a growth in Greek art. It is far more human and realistic than the male. The Hellenistic statuette is not only more human, but more three dimensional. It fully expresses the figure from all sides. The Archaic figure seems to want to express divinity as something that lacks ordinary human qualities, whereas the Hellenistic figure embraces and perfects human qualities. It is much more sophisticated that the Archaic statuette. Rather than removing the human qualities, the female figure brings what is human to a divine level.
The styles of the two are radically different, the male statuette is flat and almost two dimensional. The back is literally flat and hasn’t been developed at all. Perhaps in its time it was placed against a wall. In contrast to that, the female statuette is gracefully developed all the way around, including a bun in the back of her head. The female makes wonderful use of lines with her long flowing robe. The folds of the robe were crafted with great skill. The male holds his right arm over his chest almost as a kind of salute, or expression of reverence, whereas the female statuette is more open—simply standing. She may have been a kind of stock statuette representing many goddesses at different times for different reasons. Although rough and chipped from wear, you can imagine that both these statuettes were at one time perfectly smooth in texture.
In conclusion, both these statuettes are an expression of Greek humanism. The Limestone Male Statuette is a precursor to the more elaborate and realistic Marble Draped Female Statuette. And from the two different eras it is easy to see how Greek art evolved and became more refined over time, owing much of the new expressions to outside influences, and Greek innovation.
Works Cited
Hemingway, Colette, and Sean Hemingway. “Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition.” http://www.metmuseum.org/. June 12, 2011 .
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages. Vol. 1. Western Version. 100. 2008.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Kids are All Right
Another week of school, and I'm feeling like less and less of an outcast. We needed something called a blue book in order to take our mid-terms on Monday. Pretty much no one brought one. One of the students went to the book store and got a whole bunch of them (at 35 cents a piece), and offered them to the other students, including me. I happened to complete the mid-term at the same time as another student, so we left class at the same time. On the way out we chit chatted a little about class, the test, etc. And on Wednesday, I happened to enter the school at the same time as another student, and we chit chatted on our way in to the classroom. Those things are very nice to me. I feel as if I am not being ostracized because of my age. It really makes a difference in terms of my comfort level with the class. We're all just students there to learn. The kids don't seem to feel as awkward about my age as I do. So it's been a good week.
In terms of the actual schoolwork--we were all required to go to a museum, find two objects to compare and contrast and write a paper about it. I think we all did our best, but it was hard. On Wednesday we exchanged papers and did a bit of a peer review. After that we turned our papers in for corrections and comments, but not for a grade just yet. We also had a mid-term on Monday. It was the same format as the quiz, but bigger. Unfortunately the professor didn't finish grading them all, so we won't know how we did until Monday. We also had a couple more lectures.
As for homework this weekend--it's mostly reading. We are going to have another quiz on Wednesday. The lower grade of the two quizzes will be dropped. As I already got 100% on the first quiz, I don't really need to do too well on this one. But I will study anyway.
In terms of the actual schoolwork--we were all required to go to a museum, find two objects to compare and contrast and write a paper about it. I think we all did our best, but it was hard. On Wednesday we exchanged papers and did a bit of a peer review. After that we turned our papers in for corrections and comments, but not for a grade just yet. We also had a mid-term on Monday. It was the same format as the quiz, but bigger. Unfortunately the professor didn't finish grading them all, so we won't know how we did until Monday. We also had a couple more lectures.
As for homework this weekend--it's mostly reading. We are going to have another quiz on Wednesday. The lower grade of the two quizzes will be dropped. As I already got 100% on the first quiz, I don't really need to do too well on this one. But I will study anyway.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Studying and the Quiz
Well, the bad news is I got 2 B pluses on my written assignments. The good news is I got 100% on the quiz. I couldn't have done it without youse guys. Moral support definitely helps.
I think I study more than some of the other students. The girl next to me doesn't even have a book. She called me crazy for actually doing the readings. Some of the students are only hoping to get an Associates Degree which basically only requires that you pass your class. You can graduate with a C average. Some of them are hoping to go on to 4 year schools that have approximately the same standards. But I won't consider this a worthwhile endeavor unless I get into the University of Pennsylvania. That school requires at least a B average to get in, but the higher your grades are the better chance you have of getting in.
There are at least a few others in the class who are also reading their book. I think the other woman in her thirties is studying hard. I guess no one in their thirties goes to school unless they're serious about it. There's one other woman there who I think must be in her thirties. She brought her daughter to class on Monday. Her daughter was so sweet and so well-behaved, so it wasn't a problem at all.
The professor mentioned before handing back the quizzes that it was very easy for her to tell who was actually reading the book, and who was just going from notes taken in class. She grades pretty easily, though, and I think some people take advantage.
It's still hard for me being so old and going to school. I do feel a little out of place. I guess I just have to keep my eye on the prize of the University of Pennsylvania where there will be many other adult students. And until that time, just focus on getting the best grades that I can.
I think I study more than some of the other students. The girl next to me doesn't even have a book. She called me crazy for actually doing the readings. Some of the students are only hoping to get an Associates Degree which basically only requires that you pass your class. You can graduate with a C average. Some of them are hoping to go on to 4 year schools that have approximately the same standards. But I won't consider this a worthwhile endeavor unless I get into the University of Pennsylvania. That school requires at least a B average to get in, but the higher your grades are the better chance you have of getting in.
There are at least a few others in the class who are also reading their book. I think the other woman in her thirties is studying hard. I guess no one in their thirties goes to school unless they're serious about it. There's one other woman there who I think must be in her thirties. She brought her daughter to class on Monday. Her daughter was so sweet and so well-behaved, so it wasn't a problem at all.
The professor mentioned before handing back the quizzes that it was very easy for her to tell who was actually reading the book, and who was just going from notes taken in class. She grades pretty easily, though, and I think some people take advantage.
It's still hard for me being so old and going to school. I do feel a little out of place. I guess I just have to keep my eye on the prize of the University of Pennsylvania where there will be many other adult students. And until that time, just focus on getting the best grades that I can.
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