This is one of those catch-all, update, not doin' much o' nuthen posts. It's been an exciting week.
First of all, I can finally put a shoe on the broken foot. It's not 100% yet - probably more like 85%. Still, it's getting there. I was on the treadmill at the gym this morning for the first time in over a month! I know I won't be able to run for at least another 6 weeks.
I have been in contact with several people regarding my German POW camps in Tennessee project. I received an email from a lady whose father served in the army at Camp Forrest (Tullahoma, TN) as a supply officer. She had many wonderful experiences to share with me. She will be a good source of information for any future presentations on the subject. I also emailed a history teacher in Tullahoma who had contacted me last winter about my research. She wants me to come speak to her class about the POWs at Camp Forrest.
I am excited my research is coming together and I will have an outlet for it other than writing a paper. The University of Tennessee has a Center for the Study of War and Society. The Center awards fellowships to graduate students who are studying some aspect of war. One of the fellowships is given to a graduate student who is studying an aspect of WWII. That's me! The presentation, the opportunity to share with others what I know and the fellowships all serve to increase my motivation to dig into my research and do a good job with it.
School is right around the corner and I will able to present to my thesis prof and class what I have discovered through my research. I am excited about that! My new advisor is also the prof who is mentoring my thesis. He is a WWII historian. Very cool! The pieces seem to be falling into place for my thesis - not sure exactly what the topic will be yet, but I know it will be about the POW camps.
I realize it is a bit nerdy to be excited about research. Fine. Just call me the "Histonerd". Stay tuned . . .
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Finish What You Started
I am a charter member of the Procrastinator's Anonymous Club. I keep saying I am going to clean out my garage, organize my room, etc. I always find excuses to put those things off - tomorrow. One thing I can't put off, though, is my getting my degree.
I was talking recently to a lady who is in her early 50's who went back to school a few years ago to get her doctorate. It took her six years, but she did it. Deb is an English prof here at UT. She told me 80% of all folks who start out in the PhD marathon never complete it. She said she wanted to be in the 20% who finished that race.
I was looking for something else recently and came across this listing at a university back east:
http://admission.hartford.edu/parttime/BUS.php. It is for a Bachelor's of University Studies. The program sounds really great! I thought, "Now there's something I can major in!" I love being a student. Why not get a Bachelor's in it? Cool!
The program sounds like it's geared toward folks who aren't quite sure what they want to do, but know they need to get a degree. How marketable is a degree in University Studies? It can be a springboard for other things. I wish other universities would come up with a program like the University of Hartford. Perhaps it would be motivation for more people to return to school and finish what they started.
The new job is going well. I love being on campus. Stay tuned . . . .
I was talking recently to a lady who is in her early 50's who went back to school a few years ago to get her doctorate. It took her six years, but she did it. Deb is an English prof here at UT. She told me 80% of all folks who start out in the PhD marathon never complete it. She said she wanted to be in the 20% who finished that race.
I was looking for something else recently and came across this listing at a university back east:
http://admission.hartford.edu/parttime/BUS.php. It is for a Bachelor's of University Studies. The program sounds really great! I thought, "Now there's something I can major in!" I love being a student. Why not get a Bachelor's in it? Cool!
The program sounds like it's geared toward folks who aren't quite sure what they want to do, but know they need to get a degree. How marketable is a degree in University Studies? It can be a springboard for other things. I wish other universities would come up with a program like the University of Hartford. Perhaps it would be motivation for more people to return to school and finish what they started.
The new job is going well. I love being on campus. Stay tuned . . . .
Monday, June 8, 2009
New Adventures
Ah, the end of the first day of the new job. It went well. My boss said she is very glad to have me there. Two of us occupy the position - I am the morning "girl" and Felicia is the afternoon "girl". I may stick around one day this week to meet her.
Julia, my new boss, was telling me horror stories about the most recent girls who occupied the position Felicia and I are in now. I know I will be able to get in there and make a good impression and do a good job in that position. Julia told me that the way I will know if I have been accepted by the faculty is if they stop by my desk and ask me to do something for them - mail something, type something, etc. She said it took her a good 6 months before that happened to her. I hope it doesn't take me that long.
I got to work early this morning - 7:45am (I take the bus in and it drops me off in front of the building at that time). Julia was so impressed that when she introduced me around, she said, "And she was here early!" What a hoot!
It was nice to get off work in the middle of the day, to actually take a lunch and to get stuff done in the afternoon at home (grocery shopping, mow the lawn, etc). I know I need to use this time wisely because before long, I will be back in school and will need to use it as study time.
I have my running shoes, my hiking boots, my backpack, my walking stick, my water bottle - anything else? Oh, yes - a good attitude and an eagerness for new adventures! Stay tuned . . .
Julia, my new boss, was telling me horror stories about the most recent girls who occupied the position Felicia and I are in now. I know I will be able to get in there and make a good impression and do a good job in that position. Julia told me that the way I will know if I have been accepted by the faculty is if they stop by my desk and ask me to do something for them - mail something, type something, etc. She said it took her a good 6 months before that happened to her. I hope it doesn't take me that long.
I got to work early this morning - 7:45am (I take the bus in and it drops me off in front of the building at that time). Julia was so impressed that when she introduced me around, she said, "And she was here early!" What a hoot!
It was nice to get off work in the middle of the day, to actually take a lunch and to get stuff done in the afternoon at home (grocery shopping, mow the lawn, etc). I know I need to use this time wisely because before long, I will be back in school and will need to use it as study time.
I have my running shoes, my hiking boots, my backpack, my walking stick, my water bottle - anything else? Oh, yes - a good attitude and an eagerness for new adventures! Stay tuned . . .
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Unbelievable!
This Sunday, May 24, 2009, my oldest son, Aaron, will graduate with honors from Berea College in Berea, KY with a double major in Communications and German. He will be doing his Master's work at the University of Tennessee in the fall. I am so proud of him, I could bust!
However, I find it just a tad unbelievable that I have a child that old! It seems like just yesterday (pardon my stroll down memory lane) -
1. That I was enduring 12 hours of natural childbirth to get this child into this world.
2. That he took his first steps at the ripe old age of 9 months.
3. That he was in Mrs. Foxhall's preschool class at Covenant Christian School in Mustang, OK and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at a school assembly at the tender age of four.
4. That he graduated kindergarten early so we could move to Tennessee.
5. That he scored off the charts in all his achievement tests in grade school.
6. That he got angry with me because I told him high school Biology would be fun and it wasn't.
7. That I taught him how to drive a stick shift.
8. That he worked at Pratt's Country Store.
9. That he started high school.
10. That he was inducted into NHS.
11. That he graduated high school.
12. That he was accepted at Berea College.
13. That he went to Germany - several times.
14. That he grew to love Berea College and the people in the community of Berea.
15. That he grew to love Ashley.
16. That he got accepted to UT for his grad work.
Wow. What a life! And he's just beginning! I hope and pray nothing but the best for my son as he takes this next big step in his life. I know I will cry when he graduates - the tears only another mother can understand - pride, joy, and a little sorrow that the little boy who stood on the stage in Oklahoma and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" now exists only in my memory. But that's a good thing. There are many good Aaron memories in the treasure box of my heart and many more to be put in there.
As he goes forth from this place, may he look back with fondness and forward with confidence. Now is the time to see if those wings work! I love you, Aaron!
Stay tuned . . .
However, I find it just a tad unbelievable that I have a child that old! It seems like just yesterday (pardon my stroll down memory lane) -
1. That I was enduring 12 hours of natural childbirth to get this child into this world.
2. That he took his first steps at the ripe old age of 9 months.
3. That he was in Mrs. Foxhall's preschool class at Covenant Christian School in Mustang, OK and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at a school assembly at the tender age of four.
4. That he graduated kindergarten early so we could move to Tennessee.
5. That he scored off the charts in all his achievement tests in grade school.
6. That he got angry with me because I told him high school Biology would be fun and it wasn't.
7. That I taught him how to drive a stick shift.
8. That he worked at Pratt's Country Store.
9. That he started high school.
10. That he was inducted into NHS.
11. That he graduated high school.
12. That he was accepted at Berea College.
13. That he went to Germany - several times.
14. That he grew to love Berea College and the people in the community of Berea.
15. That he grew to love Ashley.
16. That he got accepted to UT for his grad work.
Wow. What a life! And he's just beginning! I hope and pray nothing but the best for my son as he takes this next big step in his life. I know I will cry when he graduates - the tears only another mother can understand - pride, joy, and a little sorrow that the little boy who stood on the stage in Oklahoma and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" now exists only in my memory. But that's a good thing. There are many good Aaron memories in the treasure box of my heart and many more to be put in there.
As he goes forth from this place, may he look back with fondness and forward with confidence. Now is the time to see if those wings work! I love you, Aaron!
Stay tuned . . .
Monday, May 18, 2009
Now What do I do?
Stuff happens - the economic downturn has forced you to forgo summer school, cut back on the number of classes you want to take in the fall, look for alternatives for schoolbooks and minimize supplies. Now what do you do? First of all, step back, take a deep breath and reassess.
1. Summer School: In the grand scheme of things, summer school is not a must (unless you have to make up a class or have a deadline for graduation due to scholarship requirements). Summer school is a luxury. Not attending summer school will only delay your education, not make it totally go away.
2. Cut Back on Classes: As with not attending summer school, your education will only be delayed. However, if you find yourself in the situation of not being able to attend school at all due to financial constraints, I would advise at least taking one class at the local community college to keep your study and writing skills sharp. Most colleges have a deferred payment plan. Don't drop out altogether as it will be more difficult to get back into the swing of things.
Another alternative to college courses are non-credit or professional development classes. These classes are often offered by the community college or university and cost considerably less than a college course. They can still be used to keep your study skills sharp and keep you in the habit of learning.
You also might want to look into scholarship resources. Elizabeth Shepherd has a great list of scholarship resources at her site: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/. Check with your advisor and at the local library (or online) for groups in your community that may give scholarships for certain portions of the learning community (working moms, descendants of Civil War veterans, etc.). You never know what categoty you may fall into!
3. Alternatives for schoolbooks: Look online at eBay, used book stores, friends of friends, etc. The only things you have to watch for are: the edition number and the excessive wear (was it really necessary for the last owner to underline or highlight the entire text??). What edition is the class using as opposed to the $2.50 edition you found on eBay? There can be some big changes from one edition to another in some textbooks. One summer, I even checked the textbook out of the library for the class I had (and had to renew it once).
4. Minimize supplies: Sales and coupons. Back to School sales on supplies are great. Also watch for coupons or specials at local office and school supply stores. Remember that if you have half-used notebooks and other supplies from previous classes to make use of those as well. "Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, do without."
Above all, DON'T PANIC! The worst that can happen is that you will have to delay your education. Unless you are under a scholarship deadline, a delay is not that bad. It may even work to your benefit.
So, now what do you do? Step back, relax, take a deep breath, and formulate Plan B. Stay tuned . . .
1. Summer School: In the grand scheme of things, summer school is not a must (unless you have to make up a class or have a deadline for graduation due to scholarship requirements). Summer school is a luxury. Not attending summer school will only delay your education, not make it totally go away.
2. Cut Back on Classes: As with not attending summer school, your education will only be delayed. However, if you find yourself in the situation of not being able to attend school at all due to financial constraints, I would advise at least taking one class at the local community college to keep your study and writing skills sharp. Most colleges have a deferred payment plan. Don't drop out altogether as it will be more difficult to get back into the swing of things.
Another alternative to college courses are non-credit or professional development classes. These classes are often offered by the community college or university and cost considerably less than a college course. They can still be used to keep your study skills sharp and keep you in the habit of learning.
You also might want to look into scholarship resources. Elizabeth Shepherd has a great list of scholarship resources at her site: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/. Check with your advisor and at the local library (or online) for groups in your community that may give scholarships for certain portions of the learning community (working moms, descendants of Civil War veterans, etc.). You never know what categoty you may fall into!
3. Alternatives for schoolbooks: Look online at eBay, used book stores, friends of friends, etc. The only things you have to watch for are: the edition number and the excessive wear (was it really necessary for the last owner to underline or highlight the entire text??). What edition is the class using as opposed to the $2.50 edition you found on eBay? There can be some big changes from one edition to another in some textbooks. One summer, I even checked the textbook out of the library for the class I had (and had to renew it once).
4. Minimize supplies: Sales and coupons. Back to School sales on supplies are great. Also watch for coupons or specials at local office and school supply stores. Remember that if you have half-used notebooks and other supplies from previous classes to make use of those as well. "Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, do without."
Above all, DON'T PANIC! The worst that can happen is that you will have to delay your education. Unless you are under a scholarship deadline, a delay is not that bad. It may even work to your benefit.
So, now what do you do? Step back, relax, take a deep breath, and formulate Plan B. Stay tuned . . .
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Evaluations
Every semester, we (the students in my classes and me) fill out teacher evaluations. They are the bubble fill-in type sheets. There is also an additional "yellow sheet" we can use to make further comments. I asked one of my teachers if he actually saw the information from the evaluations and he said he did and that it was quite helpful.
Perhaps we as nontrads need to fill out an evaluation on ourselves at the end of each semester. We should ask questions like:
1. How did I do with managing my time this semester? Did I feel rushed to get all the class assignments completed or did I feel I had ample time to the get the class assignments completed?
2. How did I do in staying current with the reading? With my note taking? Did I procrastinate and have to stay up the night before an exam reading?
3. How did I do with my papers? Did I wait until the last minute to start them or did I start to at least think about a topic as soon as I knew about the assignment?
4. How well prepared was I for class? Did I read the syllabus and know what to expect or was each class a surprise?
5. Was I on time for class or did I walk in late and disrupt the class?
6. How organized was I for class? Did I keep all my assignments for each class separated? Was I constantly fumbling for the right notebook before I left the house or when I got to school?
It helps to stop and take about 30 minutes to look back through the last semester and do a self evaluation. What did you do that worked? What changes do you need to make? What can you do better? Staying organized and being efficient with our time will make it easier for us to study and complete our assignments on time.
Looking back over this semester, there were some things that happened that I had no control over. However, some things, I did have control over. Those are things I need to change so I can become a better student and do better next semester. Returning to school is my dream and it is my goal to graduate with honors. What do I need to do to achieve that goal? I need to evaluate and then take the steps to make it happen. Stay tuned. . .
Perhaps we as nontrads need to fill out an evaluation on ourselves at the end of each semester. We should ask questions like:
1. How did I do with managing my time this semester? Did I feel rushed to get all the class assignments completed or did I feel I had ample time to the get the class assignments completed?
2. How did I do in staying current with the reading? With my note taking? Did I procrastinate and have to stay up the night before an exam reading?
3. How did I do with my papers? Did I wait until the last minute to start them or did I start to at least think about a topic as soon as I knew about the assignment?
4. How well prepared was I for class? Did I read the syllabus and know what to expect or was each class a surprise?
5. Was I on time for class or did I walk in late and disrupt the class?
6. How organized was I for class? Did I keep all my assignments for each class separated? Was I constantly fumbling for the right notebook before I left the house or when I got to school?
It helps to stop and take about 30 minutes to look back through the last semester and do a self evaluation. What did you do that worked? What changes do you need to make? What can you do better? Staying organized and being efficient with our time will make it easier for us to study and complete our assignments on time.
Looking back over this semester, there were some things that happened that I had no control over. However, some things, I did have control over. Those are things I need to change so I can become a better student and do better next semester. Returning to school is my dream and it is my goal to graduate with honors. What do I need to do to achieve that goal? I need to evaluate and then take the steps to make it happen. Stay tuned. . .
Friday, January 9, 2009
The First Day
Yesterday was the first day of the new semester for me. I also had the interview with the Woman's Basketball Hall of Fame for the Archive Intern position.
School went well. I am looking forward to the new semester. My classes will be challenging, but I like that. I've already pegged a couple of over achievers in my Econ class that I can go head to head with. Don't underestimate this old lady. I can be as competitive as the next guy. Did I mention I'm a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the History honorary society at UT, as well as a member of Phi Kappa Theta (the honorary society for 2-year institutions of higher learning)? I belong to three professional history organizations as well. But, I digress.
The WBHOF position looks interesting and it would be good experience. However, during this economic downturn, I'm not so sure that quitting my job is the best thing to do. Will an opportunity like this come along again? Probably not. I already have a great deal going on this semester and I don't need the added stress of worrying about finances. Even though working full time and going to school full time will be stressful, I think having to worry about keeping my house would be even more stressful. I am building some good relationships with the folks at the East Tennessee Historical Society. Perhaps that will lead to something when I am ready.
In the meantime, I will continue to keep plugging along and enjoy another semester of being a student, employee and Mom. Stay tuned . . . .
School went well. I am looking forward to the new semester. My classes will be challenging, but I like that. I've already pegged a couple of over achievers in my Econ class that I can go head to head with. Don't underestimate this old lady. I can be as competitive as the next guy. Did I mention I'm a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the History honorary society at UT, as well as a member of Phi Kappa Theta (the honorary society for 2-year institutions of higher learning)? I belong to three professional history organizations as well. But, I digress.
The WBHOF position looks interesting and it would be good experience. However, during this economic downturn, I'm not so sure that quitting my job is the best thing to do. Will an opportunity like this come along again? Probably not. I already have a great deal going on this semester and I don't need the added stress of worrying about finances. Even though working full time and going to school full time will be stressful, I think having to worry about keeping my house would be even more stressful. I am building some good relationships with the folks at the East Tennessee Historical Society. Perhaps that will lead to something when I am ready.
In the meantime, I will continue to keep plugging along and enjoy another semester of being a student, employee and Mom. Stay tuned . . . .
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