On May 9, 2006, I re-enter the classroom — this time, completely online. Hopefully, for the last go-around as an undergrad.

I read this post and all I can do is muster a bitter laugh. Sometimes I overestimate myself. To think that I would be motivated enough to make time to do self-study to take CLEP/DANTES exams was obviously a little too optimistic. A nice thought, but difficult to put into action. It takes time, energy, and more importantly, discipline: something I am sorely lacking these days.

I can blame work and all the stressful goodness that goes along with it, but that only goes so far. To be perfectly honest with myself, I must admit that I’m just too darned lazy to do certain things. Mind you, I’m not a lazy person by nature — but rather, I am selectively motivated.

Well, as a result of being determinedly unmotivated to take my CLEPs, I enrolled myself back in school to finish off the last of my required courses. Evidently, I’ve forgotten all about the pain and suffering that one often has to endure in school, when I could have easily avoided the classroom simply by hunkering down and taking those darned exams.

5 more classes. Electives and general education courses… You know, practical classes that teach you life application skills like “Underwater Basket Weaving.” Since I’m taking online courses, I suppose that one would be a little hard to imagine.

To be 15 credits away from my degree and never obtain it would be a sad, sad thing. I must remember that as I’m hitting my head against a wall because of uncooperative learning team members.

Back on track with the 15-year plan…

As I write this, I exhale a long sigh of relief. One that is 12 years in the making.

Last night was my final “final” of my undergraduate degree program.

While I am still 15 credits short of my required 120, I can satisfy them by taking CLEP and DANTES exams. If I take (and pass) 1 exam per month, I can have all of my necessary credits for graduation by May 2006. Just in time for the July 2006 graduation ceremony.

Last night, as I drove out of the campus parking lot, it felt somewhat anticlimactic. I mean, I don’t know what I was expecting. Fanfare and an orchestra performing “Pomp and Circumstance” as I left the building? Certainly, I am ecstatic about not having to attend any more classes, but the knowledge that I was still lacking in credits gave me a feeling of incompleteness. I will not have closure until I have my degree in my hot little hands.

I suppose it’s another step toward the goal and that, indeed, is a good thing. I still can’t believe I won’t have to attend another study group meeting again. That in itself is more than enough reason to celebrate.

I met with my academic counselor this afternoon. She gave me the best news I’ve heard in a long time: my remaining credits (15 — and counting!) can be accomplished by CLEP or DANTES exams. What does that mean for me? It means that my current course will be the last one I will take for my undergraduate degree! HOORAY! Continue Reading »

I will mark this day on my calendar. Today I experienced perhaps one of the most humiliating moments of my life — and I did so before an audience of my peers.

However, in every experience, whether good or bad, there are lessons to be learned. I learned more than my share tonight. Continue Reading »

“When birds fly in the right formation, they need only exert half the effort.
Even in nature, teamwork results in collective laziness.” — Despair.com

Teamwork can be a double-edged sword. When you are fortunate enough to be placed in a group of cooperative, communicative and like-minded individuals, study groups can be a truly wonderful thing. However, the flip side to that is when you find yourself hopelessly stuck with apathetic and unresponsive duds. All it takes is one or two of these freeloaders to completely ruin your college experience, especially when your college puts so much emphasis on the work produced by the “learning team.” Continue Reading »

Last night, I attended my first class since April when I went on a self-imposed hiatus to allow myself some time to deal with other more pressing issues in my life such as welcoming Hubby home after 1 year in Iraq, purchasing a home, moving, and dealing with my Mother’s illness.

A recap of the past 5 months:

Hubby is back, safe and of sound mind, heart and spirit. He re-acclimated himself into island life without missing a beat and transitioned from soldier to civilian literally overnight.

The home purchase was truly a test of faith and a showing of God’s grace and provision in our lives.

The subsequent move was not without its travails, but we survived relatively unscathed.

Mom is doing well. I do believe that she is a walking miracle. No pain from the 2 surgeries (mastectomy and inplantation of a mediport) and she is tolerating the chemotherapy amazingly well.

With all of these issues resolved, I figured that it was time to get myself back in class. Yesterday was the beginning of the last 7 months of my college career (hopefully) and I hope they go by quickly. Continue Reading »

Next Tuesday marks my first day back in school after a heavenly 3-month hiatus. I am SO not looking forward to it.

Gone is my zeal for school. Suffering from a major case of Senioritis, I just want to get it over with. 6 more classes on my schedule. None of them pertain to my area of study since I’ve already finished my coursework. Now I’m just resigned to taking those bogus classes needed to complete the required number of credits to obtain my degree.

Perhaps I’m suffering from a cumulative fatigue, amassed from years of going 120 mph in a 55 mph zone. Maybe it’s just laziness. I just don’t feel motivated to spend 4 hours in a classroom after a 8-hour work day, reading material I am not even remotely interested in, studying, writing papers, meeting with a study group, preparing projects and making presentations. Even more distressing than all of that is having to be the “new kid” in class after class, waiting to see whether a kind-hearted study group will adopt me. It’s like grade school and being the last kid to be picked for the dodge ball teams.

This weekend, I will focus on realigning my negative attitude toward school. I’d like to start this endeavor on the right foot and it won’t happen with a negative outlook. Any thoughts on how to help me “get happy” about going back to school?