Commencement Speaker!

No that's not me pictured in the video but guess what, I am in the video! I was honored to speak at my commencement ceremony. It took place in September 2014. Yes I know, I'm a little late blogging about it. I had all the good intentions in the world to keep up my blog but as usual life got in the way. Anyways I am here now chatting about it. I guess it is better late than never. It was an amazing experience to finally take the walk and speaking was the icing on the cake. It you want to watch my speech it takes place from 47:26 to 52:45. I hope if you watch my speech you are encouraged and motivated. My degree did change my life and I am grateful!

 There I am speaking! 

Yes that is my husband with me! 

Tears, smiles and laughter!

Wow, I'm still in awe when I think about it but I did it! The picture you see above is my diploma! On February 18, 2014 I officially graduated from WGU Indiana and earned my bachelors degree! I can tell you when I received my diploma it was a day filled with tears, giant smiles and laughter.

Since I received my diploma in the mail it was a bit different then receiving my diploma at an official commencement ceremony. (In September I will take the walk at an official ceremony, but I will share more information about that in another blog post.) I will never forget when I walked to the mailbox and seen an over-sized letter with my name on it! I immediately ran to the house and ironically enough I couldn't bring myself to open it right away. I had to take a minute, breath and gather my thoughts. When I finally peeled away the envelope and my diploma emerged I immediately began to cry. The tears were a result of so many different emotions. I was relieved that it was finally finished, I was thrilled that I did it and I was sad that my mother wasn't physically here with me to see.

After I was able to wipe the tears away along came the giant smiles, not only from me but from my 3 youngest children and my sister. After they all took turns looking at my diploma, they decided that some sort of little ceremony should be performed and that is when the laughter began.

Abigail stationed herself at one end of the kitchen and I still dressed in my pj's stood at the other end. (Yes I check my mail in pj's if you are wondering.) After my name was announced the crowd in the living room comprised of my sister, Daniel and Molly began to sing Pomp and Circumstance as I walked toward Miss Abigail. Miss Abigail with outstretched arms handed me my diploma and my little crowd began to cheer. I tell you that had to be one of the proudest moments of my life, pj's and all, no official ceremony can top that! After I took my diploma and waved it in the air for all to see the laughter began to ring out. It was tremendous and a day I will never forget! The giggles, laughter and the cheers of "way to go mom" will forever echo in my heart.

My Mentor

I wanted to take the time today to talk a little bit about my student mentor. Her name is Melissa W. and she is absolutely amazing. I don't think she exactly realizes the impact she has had on me over the last several years. Mere words can't begin to explain all that she has done, but I'm going to try and use them to convey at least a little bit of what she has meant to me throughout the years.

I have faced many challenges during my time at WGU Indiana. Just some of them entailed extremely painful health issues, surgeries, caring for a loved one, dealing with deaths and some more personal issues, but through it all I always knew that there was one thing that was constant, my mentor. I knew that no matter what was going on in my life, there would be a phone call during the week from someone who was going ask me how I was doing, did I need anything, offer me words of encouragement and listen to what I had to say. That was monumental for me. You see, I didn't always have a lot of people who encouraged me during the rough spots on my journey. I'm not even sure people realized just how many struggles I was facing at times, but Melissa did. She knew it all and supported me every step of the way. She listened to me laugh, cry and totally go off the wall sometimes. :) I am sure there were moments where she questioned my sanity, but as kindhearted as she is, she stuck by me. I always said, that I offer my apologies if she needs therapy after dealing with me for all these years :). But in all seriousness, she kept me grounded. She never showed a sign of doubting me and that in itself was empowering. It felt good to know that someone believed in me and knew I could do it, even when I wasn't sure myself.

I still find it amazing that she could make me feel as if I was the only student she mentored. That says a lot about her and the specialized attention she gives to each and every student she mentors. She listens, she cares, she offers advice and encouragement. What more could anyone want from a mentor. She even sends little sayings and words of encouragement through email during the week and yes I did read everyone of them! I even shared a few on facebook :), which I might add always got a lot of likes :).

In conclusion, I just wanted to share publicly all that she has done for me and to personally thank her for all she has done. I want her to know that a part of my success is owed to her and her kindness. Thank you Melissa W., in words that my kids would use, "you rock".

Smile

Yup, that is me, smile and all. Why you ask am I smiling? Well, let me just tell you. Since my last post two very monumental things have happened! First off, I started and completed my demonstration teaching. Boy was that an experience all in itself. I swear I could probably write a book about it all, but I will keep it short and say, I learned a lot. There is nothing like real time, hands on experiences to open your eyes to all that teaching involves. I always admired teachers, but let me tell you I have a whole new found respect for them. I also learned how students somehow become like part of your family. They make you laugh, cry and most of all show you love, which amazed me the most. There were many days I came home with pockets full of pictures and little notes "my students" had created for me. I think that was the most encouraging thing. It literally warmed my heart and caused it to break when I had to leave. I will never forget my first class of students!

Secondly, December 11, 2013, a day I will never forget, I finished all of my courses! You would not believe how happy I was when I seen that final class clear and nothing was left in my course of study to complete. I quite literally laughed out loud, cried hysterically, danced the happy dance and then dang near passed out. Yes, I'm sure it would have been quite the sight to see. I'm just glad no one was around to witness it. I might just have been committed to an institution on grounds of insanity.

So folks, the end of my WGU Indiana Journey is coming to an end, but the next journey in my life is just beginning. I wonder where this next journey will take me. I have faith that it will be filled with wonderful things. Fear not though, I still have more blog posts yet to come. I will soon be beginning the process of applying for graduation and my license. You can bet that the day I receive my diploma it will be plastered all over my blog! The day I get to take the walk, likewise will be all over this place like the front page of a newspaper!

In closing, I will be back and keep things updated. Hey I have no school work to complete, so I just might have a little more time on my hands to write a bit more ;). Until the next time, remember, dreams can become reality with a little bit of hard work and faith.

Where does the time go?

Where does the time go? When I started this blog I had every intention of keeping it continually updated and share all my experiences during my journey through school. Unfortunately life, school and everything else hindered my great blogging intentions. I have hit a few of the highlights and thoughts I've had during the last couple of years. Yes, amazingly it has been a couple of years since I started WGU Indiana. But I don't think I can ever put into words what going WGU Indiana has meant to me and taught me. I have struggled, worked harder than I ever thought possible and accomplished things I never believed I could ever accomplish. I have learned so many things and the things that I learned that I most treasure, are the things that I learned about myself. 

I have learned that I am stronger than I ever thought. I have learned to turn struggle into a challenge. I have learned to never give up and to keep striving and pursuing your dreams. I have learned that I can change my life and my circumstances. It might seem that I am being a bit dramatic about what earning a degree can do for a person, but for me it is dramatic. It literally has been a life changing experience. The best part is that this is just the beginning. I will earn my degree and I will use that degree to change my life, and even more, hopefully I will change the lives of others. 

My best advice for those who think they are too old to go to school, or think that they could never do it, is to think twice. I believe we are all stronger than we think. We are all capable of doing things we never thought possible. The catch is you have to take the first step. You have to accept the challenge knowing that if you put forth your best efforts you will never fail. It all goes back to the old adage, "If there is a will, there is a way." Trust me on this one, if I can do it, so can you! 

My Biggest Littlest Motivator

Imagine my surprise Easter morning when my little girl didn't run to her basket, but instead ducked behind a chair and pulled out a surprise for me! She couldn't wait to give me the special basket she had made. It was her princess purse with a handmade note taped to it that read, " Good Job, Go Farther in WGU".  She filled the purse with pens, pencils and highlighters she had gathered. She told me that she was proud of me and wanted to give me something I could use for school.  I was surprised, proud, honored and brought to tears.

My sweet little 6 year old is my biggest littlest motivator!

Rover Rhymes with Clover

One of my pre-clinical task required me to teach a lesson with a puppet. Now I have four kids so of course I have at one time or another put on a hand puppet, made the funny voice and played with everyone of my kids. But, somehow the thought of a hand puppet, a group of 1st graders staring me down and a teacher watching every step I make, put me into extreme anxiety attack. I mean think about, all the things that run through your mind. Are they going laugh? Are they going to take me serious? Oh my gosh, do I have to make the funny voice? I decided I would just suck it up, put on the puppy hand puppet, pray for the best and hope I don't pass out from fright! 

I decided to name my puppet Rover, after all he was a dog and Rover is a good dog name, right? Since I was teaching about rhyming words I used cardboard dog bones with words, which of course a dog would like to eat and have the kids find the rhyming words for Rover to consume. It sounded like a perfect plan. On top of that I gave each kid a clover to remember how rhymes sound. You know Rover likes to eat a clover for breakfast. Get it, I thought it was pretty witty at the time :). Hey it was one of the first lessons I have ever taught and I was just doing my best to find something fun, educational and non-threatening for me :). A dog with bones couldn't be too bad and terrifying for me to present. 

The day came for me to present my puppet, gather the kids around and begin the lesson. Much to my surprise the kids were excited! They couldn't wait to work with Rover and me. I was amazed and how well it went. After I introduced them to Rover and passed out their clovers the rest was a piece of cake. I loved it! I even forgot that the teacher was watching and was able to just concentrate on the lesson and the kids. They were awesome, giggled a little, had fun and learned something too! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Now looking back I can't believe that a poor little innocent dog puppet could create so much panic for me. I learned a lot about kids, me and how a lesson can be fun, informative and educational. I will never again panic over a puppy puppet :). I will just remember Rover and have a barking good time the next time a hand puppet comes along. 

The Count Down Continues

Just a quick update on my count down status. At this point I have 33 task left to complete. Sixteen of those are in the classroom and seventeen are out of the classroom. I have taken one of my test, now I just have my last Praxis (Content Knowledge) and another for school. I'm getting there slowly but surely. My first audit is April 1st. I have to have no more than 30 left to complete.

PCE and the Count Down Begins

My pre-clinical experience will soon be starting and I will finally get to be in a classroom. I have to admit I am nervous, excited, scared and happy all at the same time! I was fortunate enough to be able to do my PCE in the school I had hoped. My two youngest children attended school there and many of the same teachers are still there. In fact one of the teachers I will be working with is a teacher who encouraged me 7 years ago to go to school for teaching. Back then I never thought it would be possible. What a difference a few years make :). 

Now that I am starting PCE the countdown to fall demonstrative teaching begins. The countdown of tasks (assignments) starts too! At this time I officially have 41 to complete before summer's end. I'm hoping to complete them as soon as possible. I have come to realize that something always seems to arise and I want to be prepared just in case :). In addition to the task I have another Praxis and two more tests to take. I can see that this time is shaping up to be a busy one. 

A Scholarship For Me!

WGU Awards First Scholarship in Daniels' Name

      Yes that is a picture of me, Chancellor Barber and Governor Daniels! Much to my surprise I was awarded The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. Go Further Scholarship on January 11, 2013. A day that I will never forget! I am honored, grateful, amazed and thrilled! It is all so exciting and overwhelming! 

     This scholarship means a great deal to me and will assist me in so many ways. I am fast approaching my demonstrative teaching this fall and I do have some financial concerns. Since I have two younger children I will need to enroll them in after school care and that combined with the fact I still need to find reliable transportation, is of great financial concern. By receiving this scholarship that will fund my school expenses, it will free up some much needed funds for a transportation and childcare. It has quite literally relieved some anxieties and allowed to be more able to concentrate on my studies. 

     Receiving the scholarship has also effected me in another way, an emotional way. I am encouraged and humbled. I cannot begin to describe how it feels to have someone believe in you, to notice you, to care about you. Someone noticed my struggles and acknowledge my fight to continue and persevere. That means more to me than words can begin to describe. My biggest challenge now is not to let anyone  down and to succeed. I want to walk across that stage and receive my diploma. I want to go on to do great things and hopefully change young lives for the better. I want to show and set an example for all those adults out there who think they can't, because they can! If I can do it, so can they, so can you! Life isn't always easy but no one ever said it would be. It is up to us to change our destiny, to commit to changing that destiny and following through. 

Thank You WGU Indiana for helping me Go Further!

     

     

The Clouds

I felt this picture of the clouds helps to represent where I have been and what has been going on since my last posting. For me the clouds represent a great many things, reaching for the stars, Heaven, the Divine, and peace. All of these things I have experienced over the last several months.

To answer the big question, YES I am still attending WGU Indiana in my pursuit of becoming a teacher. I haven't given up. I am still reaching for the stars, even though I have had a few bumps in the road on my journey. From my previous post it is noted that I have been dealing with some health issues. Everything finally came tumbling down and I did end up in the hospital where emergency surgery was performed. I believe it was only by Divine intervention that a kind surgeon listened to me, believed me and fought hard with other doctors to recognize there was a problem that needed to be addressed. He quite literally saved my life.

I ended up having three major surgeries in one. I had a very large ventral hernia repaired, my entire left colon removed and major adhesions removed from my umbilical area. I still am having a couple of issues, but I'm doing much better than I was previously. I have a few more test scheduled in the near future and I'm praying everything will come out fine. I desperately want to move on and pray they can eliminate the pain that I still experience from time to time.

Shortly before my surgery, I had another life changing experience. My beautiful, loving, kind mother passed away. It was a day I will never forget. It was Mother's Day and I was at church. Service had just ended and my cell phone rang. It was my sister. She wanted me to know that she had checked on our mom, and found that she was no longer with us. She had passed away peacefully in her sleep. The kids and I were just getting ready to get in the car to pick up a Mother's Day cake and balloons for her. The hardest part was explaining to my little ones that we no longer needed to go to the store, that we needed to go home because Nana had went to Heaven.  I dearly love my mother, but I know that she is at peace now and in the arms of God. She will forever be in my heart, my memories and part of me forever.

As you can see my journey has been long and at times difficult. I have not given up and I believe that life gives us things to make us stronger, to teach us lessons and to mold us into who we are meant to be. How we handle our situations is what defines us. It shows the world who we really are on the inside.

I choose to look at my difficulties as a blessing of sorts. I was honored to take care of my mother the last several years and in her last few months I was given an opportunity to say all the things I wanted to say and to listen and hang on every word she said to me. God blessed us by allowing her to survive a severe heart attack near the end of her life. He saved that time for us to say our goodbyes and to share all that we could with her. I am grateful for that.

My illnesses have taught me so much too. I have learned to appreciate and not take good health and life for granted. I have also learned to accept help from others and most importantly to rely on God for all my needs.

My favorite study buddy !

Yes, I must admit I find it difficult to study without some very good friends! The bad news is my best friends seem to be Caramel  Frappes or on occasion a Caramel Swirl Iced Coffee with extra cream and sugar! Those 45 pounds I lost just might find me if I don't find some new best friends :) !

Updates and Wow did the time fly!

Wow, it is hard to believe it is the end of March already. I do have a couple of updates. I DID finish all my planned courses and manged to add another before the end of my term this month. It was almost by miracle that I felt well enough to finish the last one.

My health has been a big issue this term. I've had several very painful ulcerative colitis attacks that lasted for months on end. I didn't quite make it until my insurance kicked in, and ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. I am feeling better, but I do have my bad days here and there. I am still going through testing to figure out what is causing all the pain and attacks. Not to mention my hernia has once again appeared. This time bigger and well lets just say I don't know what a belly button looks like anymore ;), mine disappeared. A golf ball now sits in its place. Yes,,, gross I know,, but it's life!

I decided not to take a break after all, and I am looking forward to my new term April 1st! I must admit I find it amusing that my term starts on April Fool's Day. It sort of mimics my life most of the time. I suppose it is some sort of cosmic side joke the universe is playing with me.

I have decided to strive and keep reaching toward my goal. It seems like it is just right around the corner, and yet so far away. I suppose when I finally graduate I will look back and think, wow, I lived through it all and laugh. No on second thought not laugh, but sigh rather loudly with the breath of relief.

School and My Health

I was off to an awesome start for my new term, but once again my health seems to have reared it's ugly head and knocked me a bit off track. I haven't been able to complete any more courses due to being ill. I have taken the month of December off to deal many of my health issues. I will not have health insurance until February 1st, and I am just praying I can make it until then. Prayers would be appreciated.

Where have I been?

It's true, I haven't been around on my blog much lately but there is a good reason. I have been writing, taking test and studying. My goal was to knock out as many courses as I could this term, and I have been working really hard to reach that goal. So far in just under 2 months I have managed to complete 4 courses and I have my test scheduled for my 5th! I am so thrilled, and I'm hoping I can keep up this pace and knock several more out before the end of my term in March. I finally grabbed one of my teaching courses and I'm finding it all very exciting. I have one more general course and then from here on out it's all teaching courses.

One Year Reflection

Wow, it has been just over a year ago that I started my journey at WGU Indiana. Looking back I know I made the right choice, and I am thrilled to be continuing my journey to teaching.

I have learned a great number of things while attending WGU, but I believe the greatest thing of all is what I learned about myself. I have discovered my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, hopes and dreams. WGU has been the proverbial light bulb moment for me. It has been the light of my ah ha moment. So many things have become clear in the light of education. I now know I want more, but most importantly I have learned that more is possible. I have come to realize that dreams are what you make of them. They can be thoughts of things you wish for, or things you reach for and attain.

My dreams encompass a great number of things. Above all is the dream of a better future. So that is what I am doing, I am creating a better future for myself and my family. WGU Indiana has given me the opportunity to no longer wish for it, but to achieve it. I have worked hard, and every step I have taken has been done with determination and with a goal insight. Someday I will reach that goal and take that walk for a diploma I have yearned for, for so long. I think the most amazing thing is once I have reach that goal, I will be able to help build a foundation for children to grow their educational goals. I believe if I can help build a strong enough foundation for my future students, someday they will take that same walk I will to receive their college diploma, and in turn they will be creating a better future for themselves and quite possibly the world we live in as a whole.

WGU Indiana Mixer

I attended the WGU Indiana mixer tonight, and as always it was a pleasure! I love meeting the other students and of course meeting all the WGU staff and also Chancellor Barber. I truly believe that WGU cares about its students, and I am proud to be attending such a wonderful University!

My Children

I figured it was about time to introduce my children. My husband and I have been married 22 years and are the proud parents of 4 beautiful, amazing children. My children are my motivation and the driving force that keeps me going.

My youngest is a rambunctiousness, energetic son who will soon be 4 years old. His whole world revolves around Thomas the Train and Lighting McQueen. 

My eldest daughter is 18 and is an aspiring actress who some day hopes to work on stage. Currently she is attending college in New York. 

Next in age is my 13 year old who loves cheer-leading and dreams of becoming a supreme court justice someday, that or a congresswoman or senator. She loves politics as you can see by her choices :). 

Last but not least is my 5 year old daughter. She dreams of becoming a princess who lives in fairy castle. Her interest include tinker bell, flying ponies and rainbows.

College in The Big Apple

My daughter is going to college! Wow, where does the time go. It seems like in only a blink of an eye she went from being a new born to a beautiful young lady.

I must admit I have been pretty much checked out when it comes to my school work. I haven't completed much, and I am trying to get back on track. It's pretty hard to see and write when your eyes are all puffy from crying. Yes I am one of those criers, happy, sad, excited, scared, you name it and I will cry if I experience it. I have experienced so many emotions these last couple of weeks, to the point I didn't even know it was possible to experience them all at once.

The biggest major emotion I have right now is the feeling of being proud! I am so proud of my daughter. She has a dream and has taken flight to catch it. I wish, pray and hope with all my heart that she hunts down that dream, grabs it, holds it and makes it come true. Not many people at the young age of 18 would attempt to do the things that she has done. She signed up for school, booked a flight and left with just the money she had in her pocket. We are hoping soon she will be able to find a permanent place to live, so any and all prayers sent her way for finding some housing, would be very much appreciated by me and my family.

My daughter has always been been a go getter, and no one has ever been able to tell her that something isn't possible. She always jumps in with both feet first and figures everything will work out some how. I admire her courage, and as her mother of course I always worry, but I know in the end it will all work out.

The picture above is her is in New York City! I can't help but notice the smile on her face, and her arms open wide to all the possibilities that life has to offer.I do believe she will take NY and the world by storm. God Bless my girl, and may all her dreams come true!

One More Step Closer

I did it! I passed my course on the U.S. Constitution and I am one happy camper. Now I’m preparing to start my next term on October 1^st! Wow, I cannot believe it’s been almost a year since I started WGU. Looking back I am still confident that I made the right decision. WGU is helping me make my dream come true! You can’t get any better than that!

I'm Still Chugging Alone

I'm still chugging along! My hope of adding another course this term is becoming a reality. I take my test on the U.S. Constitution next week. Wish me luck!

I have to say that I've enjoyed this course, and learned a lot too. It is incredible when you think how our founding fathers created and established our country. Many years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Washington D.C. and it was truly a dream come true for me. I did the whole tourist thing and strolled through the White House, sat on the front porch of General Washington's home, viewed the Declaration of Independence and was humbled by rows and rows of stone in Arlington National Cemetery. It was all so amazing to me, and someday I hope to take my children there.

I was raised by the God, Country and Apple Pie mentality. My father fought with the 1st Calvary in Korea at Pork Chop Hill and my brother served in the Navy and in the National Guard in Iraq. In addition, my other brother served in the army and my own husband served in the Marine Corps for 10 years. Coming from a family with such a military history has always taught me to respect and appreciate the men and women who keep us free. Studying how our country came to be was more of a pleasure than a homework assignment for me. I thought I knew a lot already, but I learned so much more this term.

Open up and say Ahhhh

Wow, I knew school would be a challenge but I never thought my health would be one of the foremost ones that I would have to face while juggling school. So far I have managed a surgery last term, and one this term with several bouts of colitis during both terms.

I am recovering well from hernia surgery. Unfortunately a couple of days post op I suffered a severe colitis attack, that sent me crawling to the emergency room. Now bear in mind I have had 4 children. Three of those children were regular births without a drop of pain medicine. But this colitis attack was worse than any labor pains I have ever experienced. It was for lack of a better word, awful. I hope to never experience that much pain in my life again.

I guess in a way all my health issues have taught me a valuable lesson. I need to take care of myself first if I want to finish school. I need to keep myself healthy, take time out for me, and not stress the small stuff.

All Stitched UP

Well its finished. The surgery on my umbilical hernia is complete, ouch btw, and I stitched up the loose ends on my final task in speech, and hence completed all my open courses! I raced the clock this morning before surgery to complete everything and I won! When I arrived home this afternoon I managed to sit upright long enough to see "task complete". It made my post surgical nap on the couch that much more pleasurable. I might be down for the moment, but I'm not out for the count.

Surgery Scheduled

All I could think was omg, not another surgery. Last term in October I had to have my gallbladder removed. Now this term I have to have an umbilical hernia repair. I am scheduled for surgery this coming Tuesday and not really looking forward to it. I hate having surgery! Hopefully recovery will be quick and I can get back on track with my studies.

Once I turn in my speech I will have completed 5 classes. I'm thinking I might be able to squeeze in one more before the end of September. Sometimes I get a little discouraged that I'm not flying through the courses, but I do realize I am doing my best and all I can do is keep chucking along. Every class is one step forward toward my goal, so I will get there, just maybe not as fast as I had hoped.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

Getting through school is not an easy task, and when you add 4 kids, housework, dinner, laundry and everything else it can become a bit tougher. I do believe however in the old adage, "Where there is a will, there is a way". It never has rang so true as the day I started WGU. Achieving your goals I believe aren't always suppose to be easy. It takes work, drive, and a will to want it bad enough. These aren't bad things, in fact they are the motivating source that creates achievers. Sure sometimes no matter how hard we try we still end up landing face down in the dirt once in awhile. But I guarantee you that it is the hard working achiever that stands up, dust themselves off and tackles that mountain once more. Eventually they will reach the top, and their goals will be realized. Everything you go through to reach that zenith are like stepping stones. Stepping stones teach us lessons, humble us and make us real as human beings. The next time you hit that bump in the road or crash to the ground, get up, dust yourself off and climb that mountain again. In the end when you reach the top, you can look down and see the journey you have taken. Be proud and know all those steps are now behind you, and you took each one of them with the will to achieve, and you did it!

'Another One Bites the Dust'

Yes ! Another math course bites the dust. One more step toward earning my degree, and I'm loving it!

Next Semester

I decided to take my math test next semester after all. I figured it would give me a little more time to study, and feel more confident come test time. It was a bit of a disappointment, but life will go on. My new semester starts April 1st. I suppose in some odd way that is fitting. The last semester started the day before my 42nd birthday, and now my new semester is beginning on April Fools Day. I really hope there is no hidden message in that. Hopefully it is not fate telling me how old and crazy I am.

The second time around

My father once told me, "I passed Algebra with straight A's, the second time around." That sentence definitely spoke to me today!

I have been battling my Mathematics course for awhile now. Working through the homework and test sections I have felt a bit out of sync. Now I took a math course last year and breezed right through it, this time though it has felt like running up a hill on a treadmill. Well today that all changed. While I worked through the course for a second time to review, the proverbial light bulb kicked on. Geometry, algebra, functions and more all lit up like a neon sign in Vegas. There was no mistaking the formulas for me today. It all fell into place, and I understood it all. I am so happy, and hoping that tomorrow the light continues to shine bright. I just might make the final test after all this month! Thanks Dad for reminding me that sometimes it takes a second look for things to make sense, and to get it right.

The Beat Goes On

Yes the beat goes on! I was sitting here today thinking about my math course, and this song came to mind. See, I really wanted to add another notch to my "education belt" this month, but I am not sure if that is going to happen. I may be ready to test this semester, and then there is a strong possibility that I will not be able to. While I have met 100% of my goal this term, I wanted that extra boost of one more course down. In a moment I began to realize that "The Beat Goes On." If I finish this course before this term great, if I do not, well then I take it next term. My education beat will keep going, nothing lost. I will just take the test a few days later than I wanted, and I will be a beat ahead next term.

Priority

If I have learned anything about going back to school, it is the meaning of the word priority. Who ever said you can have it all, lied. The truth is you have to give up somethings, add things you don't want to, and figure out what is really important to you.

Housework was a huge priority for me. I ALWAYS keep my house neat, clean and kept. Well guess what, when you have 2 toddlers, 2 older kids, and throw homework into the mess, things change. It came down to, do homework and study, or clean the house spotless. Reluctantly I had to let the house go a little. Things get messy now and stays that way until I can get to it. . So now hit and miss the house is clean. I started thinking about it. What will a clean house give me verses an education. Clean won't pay the bills, and there is no degree for excellent house maid.

Another area had to be prioritized too. Me, what do I want out of my free time. Well to be honest I am a facebook addict. Yes it is true, I want the biggest best farm on farmville, lol . Guess what, that was the next thing that had to be almost cut out of my free time. I found that I don't need fictitious crops to keep me sane. I need me time. Now I take more quiet time for myself. I do things that help me relax and don't require much effort. Since I am always busy with something, and have all kinds of tasks to complete, farming crops were more of a chore. Goodness knows I don't need anymore chores. It is much better to take a long hot bubble bath, or go out to dinner with friends. Those things refresh me and allow me to have more energy to tackle the tough stuff.

Priority, the biggest best word that should be part of everyone's vocabulary, especially if you have mounds of things to accomplish.

ARghhhh

My last task needs revised. I made a stupid mistake and I have to fix it, and rewrite a couple parts of it. After crying for awhile, I realize it isn't as bad as I think. Several parts were marked excellent, a few good, and just a couple marked revise, it could have been worse.

Tick Tock

Ugh.. I turned in my ppt presentation and holding my breath that it is accepted. I can hardly wait, because this was my last task for the course. I really really want to be finished with it. I must say I like to read, but I dislike Literature. All the analysis drive me crazy! Waiting for grading is the hardest part.

Quiet PLEASE

Ugh... What I wouldn't do for just a little peace and quiet. I love my family desperately, but boy can they be a noisy bunch! My biggest battle with school is not the work, in reality it is finding a patch of quiet time to do the work. For anyone saying they don't think they can get through school because of kids, work or etc.. trust me, if I can do it, you can too. I sneak a bit of time here and there. Most of the time I write papers in between taking kids to the potty, fixing snacks, mediating arguments and helping take care of my mom. I don't sleep much anymore, which is apparent by the bags under my eyes, and the house is a mess, but it is all worth it. Someday I will look back at all I have accomplished, and I will be proud. Some day I am going to be a teacher!

I passed

I am now officially finished with LCC1. I am happy to have that course behind me. Let me tell you that the test was no easy task to complete. I woke up deathly ill the morning of the test, and only by the grace of God was I able to take and complete it. The last 15 questions I guessed. I hit what ever letter looked good, I didn't read a thing. I figured it was better to hurry and finish than to vomit on the keyboard. Yes... I was that ill, believe me once I got home I vegetated in bed until the next day. I didn't even check to see if I passed until around 1 a.m. the next morning. There was a 4 hour limit for the test, I finished it in a record 72 minutes. I had too... lol.. I thought I was going to die if I took any longer. None the less I am done, finished, it is over !!!

Now on to the next course. I have already started it and hope to complete it in the next couple of weeks, maybe sooner if I can get the kids to sit quiet for just a little while. That is my biggest battle, just the peace and quiet to work and write. I have to either get up very early in the morning, or stay up extremely late.

Test Tomorrow

Tomorrow I take my test for LCC1. Hopefully all goes well and that will be one more class finished. I have studied to the point that my brain feels like mush, and can't possibly absorb another fact.

I completed the first writing task for LCT and much to my surprise and excitement, I passed and now on my way to task 2 :).

Hopefully my next post tomorrow will be " I passed".

My first course finished

After completing EWB I was on my way to my first course. Health was the topic. It was pretty easy for me. Last fall I completed anatomy and physiology at another college and WGU's health course was mostly a repeat of things I covered there, and things I have learned from working in hospitals in previous years. I finished the health course in just a few short weeks.

Now I am studying literature and scheduled to take my test next week. I have found literature to be a bit challenging. The poetry section is something I have difficulty with. Poetry has never been my strong point and that is showing through during this course. Hopefully all will go well with my test next week, and LCC1 will be another notch on my education belt. The next challange will be the 4 writing task for the second part of my literature course. God willing I will find some time today to sit down and get started on my first writing task.

Welcome to my world!

October 1st, 2010, the day before my 42nd birthday, I began my journey to become a teacher.

After exhausting hopes of earning a degree, an answer to a prayer was bestowed upon me. The state of Indiana had a new school for people like me. I couldn't believe it! It all seemed to good to be true. I could work at my own pace, attend online and wouldn't go broke doing it. I had to find out more.

I called the WGU Indiana admitting department, and bombarded them with an exuberant amount of questions. After giving the admission department the third degree, I knew WGU was for me. The next day I registered, and after a whirlwind of transcripts, pre-admission testing, FASFA forms and more it was finished. I was a student on my way to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a teacher.