Week 4: About School... Sort of

My intention was to go back to school, at least part-time, this semester. That lasted for all of two weeks.

As it turns out, the folks in the transcript office just got around to looking at the transcript that I had sent in from MSU. I had been under the impression from the conversation that I had had with a counselor previously that none of my classes would ultimately transfer back. Apparently, this was a false impression.

The lady from the transcript office called me the day before the refund date to let me know that the Intro to Journalism class I had enrolled in for the semester correlated with a class that I took at State. She had just noted on my WCC transcript that I had already taken and passed the class.

At that point I had two options. The first of my options was to drop the class that day and get my full refund. The second option was to retake the class and have her wipe the record of having already completing the credit from my transcript.

Having no desire to retake or repay for a class that I had apparently already taken, I dropped the class. There was a moment in which I contemplated finding a class to fill that gap so that I might remain a part-time student, but that was going to be trickier said than done nearly three weeks into the semester.

At any rate, one other class transferred in as well, so now I am only six classes away from FINALLY having a degree. Of course I am still enrolled in my ridiculous computer class... but thankfully I should be finished with that in the next few weeks. Really, it is most certainly the most ridiculous class that I have ever had to take. I guess it'll be worth it in the end though... maybe.

I will commit to nothing.

A Change in Plans

The plans that God has for us don’t always match up with those that we had for ourselves. Had you asked me a year ago where I expected to be today, that answer would be quite different from my present reality. This time a year ago I had just gotten into Michigan State University. I had transferred there from Washtenaw Community College with the intent to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

I wanted to be a writer. It was a plan that made a lot of sense. After all, MSU has a wonderful J-school. But the more I consider that career choice, the more I feel that it was solely my plan and not necessarily God’s plan. Yes, I was pursuing Journalism with the intention to help people, but how far can words go in helping people?

I have always believed that words carry a lot of power, and I continue to believe that. But I don’t feel that my true passions lie in putting words down on paper like I may have once thought. While I enjoy writing, and I could probably be suitably happy writing for the rest of my life, I don’t think that it would ultimately satisfy my passion for helping people.

I feel that being an EMT allows me to be instrumental in helping those that are in crisis.

I realize that writer and EMT are drastically different career paths, but… it’s where I feel like I need to be. It’s where I feel called to be. I have a broad idea of what my future has in store for me, but I think that’s all we can have. A broad idea.

It’s best to live in the present, be cognizant of the role the past has played and to be open to what the future has in store. At the present this is where I am. I am grateful for the experiences that now reside in my past, and I am remaining open to what each new day has to offer me.

Facing Frustration

Yesterday was a rough day, and though I would like to say I'm over it I'm afraid that isn't going to be true for a few years now. At any rate, things seem to be coming together, and hopefully that is a trend that continues.

The bulk of my problem at this point, is that I am very independent. It's difficult for me to bring myself to ask others for help, because that seems to hint at some measure of weakness and I can't abide being perceived as weak. When my ability to rely on myself comes into question, I grow frustrated.

I've worked hard to build my reputation over the course of my life. I worked hard to do well in high school, and later at WCC. I earned those grades, and I worked my ass off to pay my way through those two years of school. It frustrates me that all of that doesn't seem to mean anything when it comes to funding further education. I feel like I've more than earned my place, and yet at times it's as though it is thoroughly unreachable.

I've been assured that everything will work out. I've said myself that failure is not an option here; yet these affirmations to nothing to assuage the doubt that continues to linger in the back of my mind...

My New Hero

I had to drive to WCC today in order to have a final transcript sent to MSU. It would have been a nicer drive had the sun come out, but Sarah agreed to ride along so it was a fun trip. Once we had stopped at a Coney Island for lunch, we headed back towards home.

Funnily enough, as we were headed out of Saline this car stated tailgating me, and once we got to section of twelve that included a passing lane the woman passed me. Mind you, the driver was a little old lady and I was speeding as it was. It was hilarious, and that woman is my new hero. I want to drive like her when I’m older.

The remainder of the drive was uneventful, aside from the ridiculous police debacle once we’d reached Adrian. We were driving along and I looked in my rearview mirror only to be greeted with the flashing lights on top of a police car. In general it doesn’t bother me to be pulled over as long as I know that I’m doing something that makes me worthy of being pulled over.

I was doing nothing wrong in this instance, but I pulled over nonetheless. I proceeded to watch as he drove on by. Of course I was relieved, but confused. The police officer didn’t pull over the person in front of me either, in fact at the first opportunity he pulled onto a side street and turned off his lights as he continued to drive along. Talk about annoying.

Looking Forward

I ended up working later than I anticipated tonight, so if this post seems rushed that’s because it is. The deadline for its needing to be posted is quickly approaching and the content is quite frankly unwritten.

It was a slow night tonight. In fact, it didn’t seem all that busy until after we closed. I spent well over an hour in another department picking up and just generally getting it ready for tomorrow. Fun times.

I got my letter from WCC in the mail today. Apparently I’m one credit away a “Liberal Arts Transfer” Associates, but I am choosing not to care all that much about it. I got in to MSU, that’s where I’m going in the fall; it’s time to look forward.

Waiting and Reading

Today was rather uneventful as those things go. I spent a good deal of the morning watching for the mail to arrive, and was sorely disappointed when neither a response from MSU or WCC arrived. I know that WCC will let me know through the mail, but MSU is another story. They might e-mail me, or they might send it by way of snail-mail.

Not knowing is driving me crazy. I really want to know.

I finished reading the first half of the first omnibus in L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries series. I love it! It’s amazing. The thing that I love about her stories is that the female protagonists aren’t damsels in distress. They are strong members of society, and though they may not always realize their own strength they come to realize it. She does not write whiney characters, and I love that because I can’t stand reading a whiney character.

Her characters aren’t always the obvious hero, but in those moments that count they find the strength to be leaders even if they don’t want to assume that responsibility. The other thing that I really enjoy about her stories is that she is able to maintain a balance. Just because her female leads are strong, her male leads aren’t portrayed as weak. The characters are all one equal footing, which is important for realistic plotting. If you haven’t previously checked out anything by her I highly recommend that you do. She’s wonderful.

Covered in Frosting

I went to my cousin Wyatt’s birthday party. He just turned five, and therefore he is adorable. This is the same cousin that asked me several weeks ago when I was going to grow up. Little kids, you’ve got to love them!

The majority of my time at the party was devoted to keeping an eye on his little sister, who turned one in January. Peyton, much like her brother, is adorable. Once the food was finally ready she sat in my lap and I fed her bit of hot dog and macaroni and cheese. While I managed not to wear any of that portion of the meal, I ended up covered in a fair amount of frosting once the cake was served up…

It was a nice evening, though I’m glad to be back home and well away from the noise that is a room full of children five years and younger. As cute as they may all be, it’s nice to be able to have them around for a while and then send them back with their parents.

I finished my paper well after midnight last night and sent it off. I’m excited, as this means that I know am one math test away from being finished with this semester, and potentially having my associates degree!

I’m still waiting for the confirmation to come from WCC. This week marked six weeks since I applied for graduation, so I’ll give them another couple weeks before I start sending out the e-mails. That being said, I hate playing the waiting game…

Enough With The Neurons Already

I still haven’t heard anything from MSU. Still. Yes it’s driving me crazy, no I don’t really want to talk about it, let alone think about it.

On the WCC front my unofficial transcript currently indicates that my associate degree is pending. I want to take this as a good sign. I’ll give them a couple more weeks to get back with me on that front, after all this week is only week six.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate waiting? I’m sure I have, but it bears repeating. I. Hate. Waiting.

Aside from the whole waiting game aspect, today was actually a really productive day. We finished covering our last chapter in algebra, and I think I have a pretty good handle on things there. Today was also the last lecture in Abnormal Psychology; I get to take that final on Wednesday. Yay! Last night I finished and sent off my Philosophy exam. That was an AWESOME feeling; I’m so relieved to be done with that class. Earlier I managed to finish a massive outline for my Shakespeare paper, which is all that remains to be done for that class.

I’ll probably write the majority of the paper on my breaks at work tomorrow. I am so psyched to nearly be done with this semester! It is most definitely time for a break.

Earlier I was sitting in my psych class, and we started watching this movie. I kid you not the entire first half of the movie described in depth the appearance and function of a neuron. Now, in general relearning information doesn’t tend to frazzle me. I am used to this part of the education process. I get it, we need to keep going over the same information, it’s important, I will play your little games.

However, I must draw the line at this continual studying of neurons. Really, the concept is not so very hard to grasp. I understood it in all of my high school Biology classes and in the Intro to Psychology class I tool in the fall of 2007, and the Child psychology class in the following winter, and even the Human Biology course I took this last fall. By the time we went over it this semester in Abnormal, I was fully tired of the subject.

Neurons as important as they are, are not so very complex that they warrant this much attention. Or at the very least, they are not so important that they warrant this much of my attention.

A Good Day

Today has been a good day. There was nothing particularly spectacular about it, but I feel good about it and that is half the battle, right?

I had to work, and it wasn’t really busy which was boring but not awful. I spent the evening putting stickers on fudge boxes. But before I went to work I watched Hank Green’s new video, and it is made of AWESOME! You must watch it, and I’ll make it easy, I’ll include it here!



So Maureen Johnson has issued a bet, which will expire in less than an hour. Essentially she said that if her book Suite Scarlet, which just came out in paperback, made Amazon’s top 1000 then she would go to Trapeze School. She does not want to go, so naturally I contributed by purchasing two copies. I personally already own and love the book, but I think my nieces each need a copy….

…especially if it means Maureen gets to go to Trapeze School.

While I was browsing Amazon I also came across “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”. I knew this book existed I just hadn’t gotten around to purchasing it yet. I now own a copy, and just have to wait for it arrive in the mail. Really, I mean, is there anything better? Pride and Prejudice with zombies inserted?

I’m sure it’s as every bit entertaining as it sounds, I can’t wait!

So yeah, today was good day. I mean, yeah okay I didn’t hear back from MSU or WCC yet, and it’s still driving me bonkers… but whatever. I guess. Ugh, waiting is awful but at least today wasn’t I suppose.

A Taunting Mailman

I think the mailman is taunting me. He must know what I am waiting for several letters to arrive and therefore finds it fun to fake me out.

This morning I walked into the kitchen and when I looked out the window, there was the mailman’s car stopped in front of our mailbox. Generally one is led believe that this means that the mail has arrived, or at least that your residence has received some piece of mail.

You would assume.

When I finally made my way to the mailbox, despite the obnoxious rain/hail that was going on at the time, I opened it up only to find empty space. Apparently we didn’t get any mail today, not even junk mail.

Since when do we not at least get some junk mail? Or you know, at least some mail for my sister who has never lived at this address but still manages to receive mail here.

It was crazy. It is crazy. I am going crazy!

I’m sitting her waiting, continually waiting to hear back from people. I’m waiting for the verdict from WCC as to my associate degree, and the verdict from MSU as to my acceptance (Or… non acceptance?). Oh, well, I’ll hear back sooner or later I suppose, though sooner would be preferred.

The Shakespeare Problem

I only have to read one last play for my Shakespeare class, and I’m having trouble convincing myself to sit down and read it. We’re reading “The Tempest” and I’m not impressed with what I’ve read so far. It may just be me, but I’m not a big fan. Egh, Shakespeare!

At the moment I feel like all of my motivation has been sapped away. I am in a perpetual state of waiting. I’m waiting to hear back from Michigan State and I’m waiting to hear back from WCC. Really, to be frank, I’m tired of all the waiting.

I want to know, I want to have some concrete idea of where I’m headed. But then of course, there is this equal proportion of dread. Sometimes I’m not sure I want to know. I’m not sure if I want these answers that I’m waiting for because there is no guarantee that they will be the answers I want to hear.

And yet… I really, really want to know!

At any rate, I suppose I won’t find anything out until I do so it’s not worth worrying over. At least the Shakespeare problem can be solved in the next few days. I have to go to work and I’ll need something to do during my breaks.

Great, Shakespeare. Eh.