First Semester DONE

Well, I have lived through my first semester as a working adult and it was just as fun as I expected it to be. I really loved the college experience- class discussions and writing assignments and meeting new people. I actually felt a touch of sadness on the last day of classes- that was it, I wouldn't be seeing those people again! I got my first newspaper article published after submitting an essay I wrote in English, that felt good, and I got a 4.0 GPA which also feels good! It was less exhausting than I expected, I often found that at the end of a work day I'd feel drained, but going to class energized me ( a relief from the boredom of work I guess!)

The only downside I can think of is how much time it takes up. It is a relief to have my evenings back for winter break! I almost don't know what to do with all the spare time!

This upcoming semester I'm going to increase my credit load to 9 credits (from the 6 I did for my first one) and see how it feels. I'm being cautious, I don't want to over commit and then be stressed out by too much work and school and hate college! The extra class I'm taking I decided to take online though, I think it is the smartest decision. That way I will have more flexibility and not feel like ALL my evenings are taken up with school. Maybe I can even do some homework at work, during my downtime.

I will let you know what online classes are like. I didn't choose to do them ALL online, as I like the interaction in class. I am also a bit worried about how much more boring it could be online....anyway....wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

What its like..........

Well, with a few weeks of college under my belt let me share my experiances......

1. As an adult going straight from work to school, you can feel a leeeeetle overdressed in class in a suit lol...

not your average college outfit lol...

2. Sometimes you will revert to your high school habit of doodling to pass the time in a boring lecture as they are tailored to 18 year olds with little life experiance.... and you probably will know about most of what the professor going on about....but often its just the first half where the professor is stating the obvious preliminaries and then it gets interesting with interactive discussions etc.

And no matter what- class is more interesting than work....

3. Writing essays/speeches really does help get your brain going again and you will suprise yourself with your own knowledge of interesting topics that even professors only know a little bit about and they will often ask you questions.....I found myself explaing the 'Blue Zones' to the professor yesterday as she brought it up in class but couldnt elaborate on it, and I was the only one who raised my hand when she asked ' has anyone heard of this?' That is what being bored at work and going on wikipedia/msn/NY Times does for you....

4. You will also be more up to date on news and current affairs than anyone else in your class beside your professor, thanks to water cooler gossip at work which does come in handy in several classes

5. If you time things well, you can polish off your essays etc at work and free up your weekends

Just DO it

I prepared, I studied (with a bit less time than I planned as college registration dates snuck up on me!) and I PASSED the entry test into my college- I'm IN, enrolled and going to school this Fall. I can't believe it, finally, as an adult I will be able to fulfill my dreams of earning a degree!

I was very worried that I would fail the math portion and have to enroll in expensvie prep courses, but this website along with the aforementioned khan academy website helped me a lot

https://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/test_prep.html

The basic math review is very helpful- work through the problems, it will prepare you thoroughly!

I passed my math so well they wanted me to 'challenge' my score and try get 8 more answers right to be placed into an even higher level math class (ummmm...no thanks, quite comfortable with starting with the first class!)

Well, I will keep you updated as my adventures into the college world begin :)

Update!

Things are coming together- I've sent in all my admission info to the college I would like to attend, recieved my financial aide report. At the moment I'm studying to pass the entrance exam- its not the hardest thing in the world and the English etc will be a breeze- but the math is what I'm reviewing!

I've found that it comes back to me very quickly- but funnily enough its little things like long division with decimals that I find myself looking up! I've forgotten how to do things that I've been doing on a calculator for years! Once again - simply reading over how to do it brings it right back,which is great!! Nothing like the strain of learning it when 10 years old and called up to the board by a glowering teacher ;)

The book I'm working through is 'Algebra- Structure and Method- Book 1 by McDougal,Littell' As I work through the problems I also watch the videos on THE BEST TUTORING WEBSITE EVER

http://www.khanacademy.org/

I cant believe it is free!!! Seriously, he has such a way of explaining things, it makes it sooo simple- and it isnt going to cost you $20 an hour!

I have a tight deadline of June, July to get this done though- I need to do the CPT test by August to enroll for Fall!!! I would say wish me luck- but its not luck I need as much as self discipline! Starting today I'm going to write down my goals health and education wise and read them out to myself daily to keep me on task! No more procrastination or time wasting (ok, maybe just a leetle bit of time wasting on facebook but not hours and hours...)

I'm excited! Can't wait to be a college student- I'm visualizing myself there already!

A gold mine of info and tips and quotes on managing time!

I came across this great website

http://www.back2college.com/library/gettingstarted.htm

It is a veritable GOLDMINE of links and resources! Take the time to explore the site- it will have something useful to you! Maybe even something motivational, enlightening or inspirational!

This website also has a really wonderful math prep for the college entry exam at the bottom of the page, for free-

http://www.teachingcenter.ufl.edu/test_prep.html

I'm going to print the first few pages tonight and get started on it! Which brings me to....

Update on my Back to School progress-

 I have not made the time to sit down and study ONE page of math yet! And I need to do it on my own as all Prep classes offered nearby are during work hours (wow- isn't THAT conveniant for us workers??)

I feel like I havent really had ANY time to just sit still for an hour- my days are a blur

... minimal sleep, work and upheaval at work, cooking, rushing out the door to the gym, leisure classes, walking the dog, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, de-stressing in the bathtub or squeezing in an hour here and there with my man when HE isnt at school! Most days it is hard to just find the time to get THAT done what to speak of algebra...So for the benefit of me (and maybe you too!) here is a helpful list of ways to find more time in the day! Ideally I'd be rich enough to cut back on work hours but this will have to do for now...!

1. Manage Yourself


Manage yourself by changing your perception. It is less about managing time and more about managing yourself - a far more empowering proposition. Everyday at any given moment you have a choice to make. Things you can exercise control over include interruptions, time wasters,(for me-this would be relaxing by watching TV/going online- less 'relax' time and more study is needed!!) procrastination, and perfectionism. (for me- I need to realize that I dont need to alot whole hour long chunks of time to study- 15 minutes here or there will do if that is really all the time I have!!) More on these below. Manage your choices well and you will have more time.



2. Prioritize

This cannot be emphasized enough. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People," Stephen Covey makes the distinction between what is important and urgent versus what is important and not urgent. "Important and Urgent" specifies what you have to do today. Immediately. "Important and Not Urgent" falls into the category of longer term planning. In a third category he describes what is "Urgent and Not Important." It is here where some of your biggest time wasters hang out. A ringing phone is typically urgent and important only if you are a receptionist or switchboard operator. This leads us to the next tip.



3. Make Friends with Your Phone and Email

Manage interruptions. Do not answer the phone. Really, unless answering the phone is in your job description. Pinpoint several times during the day when you will check voice mail and email. Inform colleagues, friends, and family about your new system. Establish a plan for urgent or time sensitive communications.



4. Develop a Tracking System - And Use It

Don't carry your "to do" list around in your head. Write it down and carry over what you did not get done to the next day. Use a calendar or other type of tracking system. I like electronic systems that allow you to transfer information easily. Pen and paper work too.



5. Keep a Strategic To-Do List

Become a strategic planner and establish your "Important and Not Urgent" to do's. These are the plans that usually fall prey to those loud and pesky "Urgent and Not Important" distractions. Break down these future-driven intentions into short-term and "mini" short-term plans. Schedule those milestones as well. A spreadsheet is an excellent tool for this.



6. Lose the Perfectionism

One of the biggest time eaters, perfectionism can cause you to stay too long on a project that does not really warrant that kind of attention. Or maybe it causes you to do everything yourself rather than delegate or ask for help. Concerns of something not being done perfectly can also lead to another time waster -- procrastination. While a job well done is very satisfying, if you find yourself burning the midnight oil, having no life, or ignoring certain projects, ask yourself this: "Considering the criteria of this project, is this good enough, could I delegate this, am I avoiding something?"



7. Ask for Input

Sometimes you simply need help prioritizing. Too many projects, too little time? Ask your supervisor or a colleague for assistance here. Do not carry the burden of this one alone.



8. Say "No" - Politely

Still overwhelmed? Have way too much to do? Learn to say no -- politely. Or if your schedule permits, offer alternatives. "I would like to help you and this is what I am currently working on for this week. I will be in a better place to help you next week -- will that work?" -- for example. Gain respect from colleagues and friends by appropriately communicating your limits.



9. Leave Early

Leave ten minutes early for appointments. This means resisting making that last minute phone call or sending that non-time sensitive email that inevitably takes more time than you think. When you give yourself this wiggle room, you eliminate rushing and arrive with time to orient yourself to the task at hand.



10. Play the Waiting Game

Waiting in the reception room? Standing in line? Use this time to your advantage. Make a phone call, read the newspaper or even take a few moments to breathe and reflect upon your day.


In summary-
Time management can be accomplished by planning, prioritizing, and organizing your activities.

I will commit to actually carrying out the above! I still dont feel like there are enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to be done but hopefully by consciously paying attention to my time management I get more out of my day!

What are my priorites?

Health (working out and cooking light!), my man and puppy (spending time with them both), my future (Education- starting with my math book to get past the college admission test!)

Plan- fit as much of these three things into each evening as possible!

For a start- tonight's plan- ( I know, I know..not exactly interesting reading but its going to help me out)

WAS going to go see John Legend give a talk- buuut I dont have time- so -

5-6- Commute home from work - perhaps manage to stop and grab some much needed groceries?

6-7:30 - Cook dinner, lunch for tomorrow and clean

7:30-8- Get to the gym

8:00-9:00 Work out

9:30-10:0- Actually crack open a text book on Math, have a look, maybe even solve a problem :)

10:00 - My man gets home from his exam! Spend time with him and get ready for bed by 11 so I can get up at 6:30am...

Inspirational Time Quotes-

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.


William Penn

Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.




Alan Lakein

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much can be done if we are always doing.


Thomas Jefferson
 
Make use of time, let not advantage slip.


William Shakespeare
 
Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!


Anthony Robbins
 
Check your priorities




If you want to make good use of your time, you’ve got to know what’s most important and then give it all you’ve got.

Lee Iacocca



It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?

Henry David Thoreau



Small things matter



Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves.

Lord Chesterfield



You’re writing the story of your life one moment at a time.

Doc Childre and Howard Martin



Do only a few things



To do two things at once is to do neither.

Publius Syrus



One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.

Chinese Proverb

The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.


Carl Sandburg
 
Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.


Thomas Edison
 
One worthwhile task carried to a successful conclusion is worth half-a-hundred half-finished tasks.


Malcolm S. Forbes
 
Don’t excuse, you are in control




You will never “find” time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.

Charles Bruxton



Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. (WOW- good point!!)

H. Jackson Brown



The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.

Michael Altshuler



Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.

Carl Sandburg



I am definitely going to take a course on time management… just as soon as I can work it into my schedule.

Louis E. Boone



In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking.

Sir John Lubbock



Those who make the worse use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.

Jean De La Bruyere



The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: “I did not have time.”

Franklin Field

Some days my mind is so numb with lack of sleep that I find it hard to learn anything new during my down time at work. If I read anything about algerbra during this time my mind wanders and I dont remember a thing! At times like this, instead of wasting time on facebook, I find it great to read the thousands of books that are availible online! Reading is one of the best ways to educate yourself, no matter what you read (as long as it isn't one of those terrible romance novels with the swooning ladies on the front cover)

I found this resource here - original list

50 Places for Free Books Online




2020k

Large collection, divided into categories and sub-categories for download in a variety of formats.



Alive and Free -

Links to free ebooks of living authors



AllBooksFree

A small, but unique, listing of free fiction ebooks, available for download, mostly in pdf.



American Mathematical Society

has a pretty complete listing of books involving mathematics.



Arthur's Classic Novels -

Over 4000 novels covering a great variety of topics, nicely separated into categories and "best" lists. Some very interesting entries here. Available for online viewing.



Ask Sam -

A small collection of classics, including Shakespeare, and legal, resource and government texts.



AstrologyWeekly

10 books for online reading and about 30 for download. All on astrology.



Authorama

offers a few hundred books, searchable by author, for online viewing.



Baen Free Library -

A small library of downloadable science fiction novels in a variety of formats.



BaenCD -

A small collection of science fiction books from Baen's promotional CDs. They are downloadable in a variety of formats as well as viewable online.



Baldwin Online Children's Projects

520 classic children's books in a variety of genres for online viewing



Bartelby -

Harvard classics and encyclopedias. HTML only.



BBC (Dr. Who) for those who like Dr. Who,

this is a collection of 8 books for online reading or download in a choice of 3 formats



Berkely SunSite Classics -

A small collection of classics. HTML only.



Bibliomania -

Over 2,000 classic novels, study guides, biographies and more. HTML only.



Book-bot

14,571 books available for online viewing in their easy to view reader. Very nice find by fellow editor Rhiannon.



Book Glutton

is a collection of 1200+ books for online reading with the added feature of groups available for discussion of the readings. Nice combination of reading and socializing. Suggested by an anonymous poster.



BookRags -

Small collection of free with many paid. Hard to find the free ones. Available in Word or PDF.



Bookstacks

is a small collection (100+) of classic works available for online viewing, with many also available in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Reader versions. Nicely set up.



BookYards -

16,000+ books, videos, educational material.



Bored.com

has over 15,000 books available for online viewing. Nicely divided into a good variety of categories.



Chessville

40+ ebooks on Chess available for download (mostly in PDF)



ChestofBooks

Large collection, divided into categories, for online viewing. Nice collection.



Children's Books Online

is an excellent collection (600+) of illustrated antique children's books for viewing online. They are also available for download at a fee. This little gem was suggested by an anonymous poster.



Classic Authors.net

contains the works of over a hundred authors (and short biography for each), with a varying number of works per author. Online viewing only.



Classic Book Library

is a small collection (100+) of classic works arranged by genre. Online viewing only.



Classic Book Shelf Electronic Library

offers the works of 50+ authors in varying amounts. Online viewing only.



Classic Literature Library

Decent size collection that has complete works of a small variety of authors and works of others and a nice children's section available for online viewing.



Classic Reader

offers thousands of free classic books for online viewing.



ComputerBooks.us

larger collection, subcategorized and available for download in pdf



CrankyLibrarian

3011 books by 752 authors available for online viewing. Complete works of several authors and some interesting categories.



DailyLit -

Read books online by daily email or RSS feed. Over 700 titles.



Diesel eBooks -

Offers 750+ ebooks formatted for Microsoft Reader and MobiPocket



DivineLifeSociety

over 200 books on Yoga, religion and philosophy available in pdf or HTML



DragonBytes

Nice collection of horror novels available for online viewing. Separate section for Vampire novels.



Earthbound

The 5 book science fiction series of Earthbound available for download in lit .pdb .pdf .txt .rtf.



E-Books Directory

944 books in 344 categories available for download in varying formats.



eBooksJustPublished

Interesting collection of DRM free eBooks listed daily. Most are free.



eBooksRead

Over 41,000 books available for download in pdf or text. Search by author or title



eLibrary -

Thousand of free eBooks



encyclopedia of the self

has a nice children's section, divided into nursery through eight grade as well as a nice classics section. Available for online viewing.



eReader.com

has a small collection of free ebooks for download, but a couple interesting entries. Registration required.



eServer -

Over 30,000 works covering a variety of interests



eText.lib

The University of Virginia online library has a large collection of works available for online viewing (some are available in Microsoft Reader). Even though a good number are limited to UVA students and staff, there is still a good amount of interesting material available to the general public. Suggested by poster mikedutch.



Federal Citizen Information Center

offers informational booklets on a great variety of subjects. Many are free and most of the paid ones are available for a free download. Suggested by an anonymous poster



FeedBooks -

Thousand of eBooks downloadable in a variety of formats



FindingFreeeBooks

Links to author sites with free eBooks and promotional giveaways. Nice way to find eBooks that would not be listed at the larger sites.



Fiction

eBooks is a interesting small collection of works of fiction (including some Beatrix Potter illustrated childrens books) as well as some books for writers and works philosphy and sociology. Online viewing only.



FictionWise

has 35 books available for free download in a great variety of formats. Most are the usual classics avialble elsewhere, but there are a couple of unusual ones and a few reference books that might be interesting.



Franklin -

Thousands of free titles available in text and HTML format



FreeBookCentre

links to thousands of computer ebooks divided into many sub-categories



FreeBookSpot -

5,000 free eBooks downloadable in 96 categories available for download in a number of different formats. Suggested by devinathann.



FreeBooksClub

1500+ books, in a wide variety of non-fiction categories, available for download. Registration required.



FreeBooks4Doctors

Over 650 works (in varying languages) dealing with medical matters. Available in pdf download.



FreeBooksforAll

A fairly large collection of non-fiction books availabe for download (mostly in pdf)



FreeComputer Books -

Free computer, math, technical books and lecture notes



Free eBooks -

Smaller collection divided into categories



Free eBooks Net -

Free books and resources for authors. Also magazines



FreeOnlineBooks

Interesting collection on individualist feminism and libertarianism available for online viewing.



Free Online Novels

Interesting collection for online viewing. Several hundred novels separated into categories.



FreeRead

a bibliography of Australian writers who died before 1955, with links to a good number of them for download or viewing.



FreeSFReader

Collection of links for mostly science fiction, fantasy and horror novels and short stories, but also some other genres



FreeTechBooks -

Computer science and programming books, textbooks and lecture notes.



FullBooks -

Thousand of free full text books.



GetFreeEbooks -

Smaller collection of all free ebooks.



Globusz -

A place for new authors to post their work and for readers to check them out for free.



Google Book Search -

Good selection of free ebooks available in a variety of categories.



GrtBooks -

A large collection of great books and classics.



Gutenberg -

Over 25,000 books for download there and over 100,000 available through their affiliates.



Heygidday

Thousands of works in a great variety of categories available for download in pdf (zipped).



HorrorMasters

2100 classic horror novels available for download in pdf, plus links to horror novels at other sites.



Infomotions -

14,000 listings from full classic novels to Western philosophy. HTML only.



InternetArchive -

Over 500,000 texts available for download



Internet Sacred Text Archive

very interesting and large collection of books on religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric available for online viewing.



Islaam Pure & Clear

around 50 Islamic books for reading or download



Kellscraft Studio

Around 250 books available for online viewing. Kellscraft lists out of print, public domain novels, most published prior to 1923. Searchable by title, author and topic.



Kidspace

A small collection of childrens books, available for online viewing, from the Internet Public Library.



LearningIsland

Nice collection of children's books available for online viewing.



Librivox

Although mostly know for its excellent collection of audio books. A poster named Les has pointed out that they also have links to online viewing sites for all of its large collection of audio books and also download links.



LilFingers Storybooks

Small collection of books for very young children for reading and being read to.



Linux Online

Around 25 linux, open source and programing, books for download or reading



Literature.org

has a collection of classics, arranged by author, for online viewing.



LiteratureNetwork

has over 1900 full books and over 3000 short stories and poems by over 250 authors available for online reading. Searchable by author and they have a few unusual ones.



LiteraturePost

825 works from 71 authors available for online viewing.



LookyBook

has a large and very nice collection of children's books for online viewing.



ManyBooks -

22,000 books available for download in a variety of formats



Mary Jo's E Texts -

Small collection has not been updated in a while, but links still work. Palm.



Master Texts

is a collection of 30+ authors for online viewing.



MedLine Plus

is a great, trustworthy site for general health information, including tutorials, clinical trial updates and the latest news in medicine. You can also find plenty of books, including some intended for children.



MemoWare -

Free books for PDA



Mises Institute

Several hundred books, mostly on economics (and from a libertarian point of view) available for download as pdf. Some unique entries here. Suggested by poster, Bill Starr.



MIT Internet Classics Archive -

Over 400 works of clasical literature available for download.



MobileRead -

Forum listing thousands of free ebooks.



MobiPocket

over 10,000 works, in a variety of categories, available for download in MOBI.



Molwick

Small collection of scientific and educational books available for download in pdf



Munsey's -

Over 18,000 ebooks available in a variety of formats



NetLibrary -

Small selection of free. But annual membership is only $8.95 for over 500,000 works.



OnlineBooks4free

large collection of links to other sites for online viewing or download. Nicely categorized.



Online Books Page from the University of Pennsylvania

is a listing of over 30,000 free books on the web. Mostly this references to other sites, but they do have the Gutenberg listings available for download as well as some interesting special exhibits.



OnlineComputerBooks -

Good selection of free computer books.



OnlineFreeeBooks -

links to various ebooks (mostly pdf) in 9 categories



Online Library of Liberty

hosts over an interesting collection of over 1,100 books available for online viewing and also for download.



OnlineSapiens

has a small collection for online viewing, but a few unique entries worth a look.



OxfordTextArchive -

Over 2,000 classical texts downloadable as ASCII or DOC



PagebyPage

a few hundred works available for online viewing.



PDFBooks -

4,700 pdf ebooks



PDFFreeBooks

Small collection of children's books and two rare books on Syriac grammar and Arabic-Enclish lexicon. Available for download in PDF or DJVU.



PerseusDigitalLibrary -

A large collection of classical texts broken down to time period written.



PlaneteBook -

Free classical literature



PlanetPDFeBooks -

Small collection of classical works.



Project Gutenberg Australia

over 1600 novels and an assortment of other works available in varying ways, including test, pdf and online viewing



PublicBookShelf

around 150 books in varying categories for online viewing.



Publi****erature

Has some unique public domain novels among its classic collection of around 100 books. Also has a large selection of writings submitted by authors which are free and legal to download, but not to distribute. All are available for online viewing and download in several formats.



PubMed Bookshelf

is an engine which lets you search for books containing keywords of your choice and then browse them.



PubMed Central

This search engine covers all the open-access articles [rather than books] available on PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's main scientific portal (where you can also find abstracts from many restricted-access articles).



Questia Online Library

offers over 5,000 classic and rare works for free online viewing



Qvadis

hosts over 6,000 free titles available in Palm Database (.pdb) format.



ReadBookOnline

has a nice collection of classics available for online viewing.



ReadEasily -

Small collection of works that has option for larger print. HTML only.



ReadPrint -

Thousands of books, poems and short stories.



ReadTheseLips

short fiction, poetry and other writings especially for and about lesbians.



RealTime -

Free media for IT professionals



Scholastic

Small collection of children's books available for online viewing (or read to you). Featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog.



SnipFiles -

Small collection of free ebooks and software.



Starry FreeOnlineNovels

small collection, but some interesting entries, available for online viewing.



TechToolBlog

Links to 345 online programing books



TopMystery

A good amount of each of the few mystery authors listed are available for online viewing or download



Webooks

is a small (150) collection of "How To" books on unusual topics available for online viewing or download as pdf. Suggested by an anonymous poster.



Web Literature

has 6500+ works of over 350 authors available for online viewing. A nice feature is that they try to display the full works of the listed authors



WitGuides -

Small collection of free ebooks in a variety of categories.



WordIQ

Nice collection of over 10,000 books available for online viewing. There are some unusual entries here, but hard to find unless looking for specific title or author.



Wowio

- Good size collection of novels and also comic books.

Leisure Course- Update

So you will remember that I signed up for two leisure classes at the University of Florida. Last night I went to my first class, Home Bartending. It was quite the experiance!

I arrived at the Reitz Union with plenty of time to spare before class- thank God - because the area I thought I would be parking in was FULL so I had to drive around campus and find a spot! (welcome to campus life!!)

As I walked back to the Reitz, I was suprised by the butterflies I had in my stomach and thought 'at leat this isnt a 'credit' class, or I would probably be even more nervous!' I found my classroom and took a seat, while our instructor ate sushi. It was a very informal class and I met new people and had a lot of fun that night tasting about 50 different types of beer!

I also felt inspired being surrounded by college students- if they could pass the CPT and get in so can I! It helped put me more in the mindset of actually believing I can go to college =)

Inspirational quote

Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer.



Marcia Wieder

Leisure Courses

Today I signed up for two leisure courses at the University of Florida. Leisure courses are a great way to familiarize yourself with your local college/university and start stretching your mind again! The idea of ‘going to college’ as an overall goal will be less intimidating once you have wandered the campus a bit, figured out parking and enjoyed yourself in some non-credit, no pressure or exams type classes.


Make sure to search your college’s website for these courses- some of them are tucked away under titles such as ‘Continuing Education’ or ‘Community Enrichment’ etc and may not be easy to spot straight away! My courses were on the student resource building- the Reitz Union – website and advertised in the campus newspaper. I’m excited- twice a week I will have something fun that I enjoy doing to look forward to after work. I will be devoting time to my neglected creative side. I’m taking ‘Drawing: Experimental’ Description as follows-

‘Are you interested in learning to draw or in improving your drawing skills? This class will make drawing seem less intimidating, teaching you tricks and easy short-cuts to get your drawings to look as good as they can! You will experiment with a variety of materials, including pencil, ink, washes, conte, charcoal, and much more to learn which material suits you the best! You will learn to draw from photos, draw from memory, and to draw objects of your own choosing.'

I’m not sure how much extra free time I will have to devote to drawing outside of class but even if my drawings aren’t the best in the class at least I will get to learn some new techniques! I will keep you updated on my progress.

As well drawing, Im taking Home Bartending where I will learn to mix different drinks. It should be a lot of fun and I hope to develope a new hobby- mixology ;) It is an impressive practical skill to know as well!

The drawing class is small- 7 people in total, whereas the bartending class is massive- 30 people! Its a great opportunity to meet new people :)


“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”
Albert Einstein


“It is better to create than to be learned, creating is the true essence of life”
Barthold Georg Niebuhr

Inspirational Quote

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Financial Aid

I filed for Financial Aid on Jan 2nd as the earlier you do this the better! First come first served they say. I have notifications in my inbox that they now need my tax returns and Federal Verification Worksheet- little bit confusing as I cant do my tax returns quite yet but I'm impatient to see just how much money I could be getting! Hopefully the can still send me that info NOW even though they are waiting on my tax return! As an independant adult doing 12 credit hours in 2010-2011 hopefully I get a nice sum of moolah!

 The actual FAFSA form is nice and simplified these days, but there is a lot of other paperwork and it can be a bit mind boggling! I've posted below a month by month guide to Financial Aide that I found on this website

January:




File your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. (Estimate the required tax information if your tax forms are still incomplete.) Pay attention to the deadline, since some states require you to submit the FAFSA by mid-February or early March. Keep a photocopy for your records.



If your school has a separate application for financial aid or requires you to submit the CSS Financial Aid PROFILE, be sure to submit it by the deadline.



February:



Four to six weeks after you file the FAFSA (two to four weeks if you filed electronically), you should receive a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR summarizes the information you submitted on the FAFSA and presents the all-important Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which tells you the amount your family is expected to contribute towards your education. If you do not receive the SAR within a reasonable amount of time, call the federal processor at 1-319-337-5665. Review the SAR carefully for errors. If necessary, make any corrections on Part 2 of the SAR and return it promptly to the address listed on the SAR. You will then receive a new SAR.



March/April:



Admissions letters should start arriving, followed by financial aid award letters. The award letter describes the types and amounts of financial aid for which you qualify, the cost of attendance and your expected family contribution. Wait until you have heard from all the schools before making a decision.



If your family's financial circumstances have changed significantly since you submitted the FAFSA, send a letter to the financial aid administrator at the school, requesting a professional judgment review of your case. Describe the change in circumstances, and include documentation if possible.



If your financial aid application is selected for verification, the school will require you to submit additional documentation, such as signed copies of your tax returns, W-2 and 1099 forms. The federal government selects 30% of the FAFSAs for verification. Some schools, to be fair, require all students to complete verification.



Compare the financial aid packages from each school. Do not look just at the total amount of aid, but conduct a bottom-line analysis of the net out-of-pocket cost of attending each school. Different schools, for example, may have different costs for room and board.



By the end of May:



Decide which school you want to attend and accept their offer. Also, accept the financial aid award package by signing it and sending it in with a copy of your SAR. Keep a photocopy for your records. The school may also require a nonrefundable deposit to confirm that you will attend.



If you previously attended any institution of higher education, you must request that each institution send a Financial Aid Transcript (FAT) to the school you will attend, even if you did not apply for or receive any financial aid from the institution.



Apply for education loans (Student Loans and Parent Loans). If you don't receive enough aid from the school's aid package and government loans, investigate Private Loans.



June/July/August:



You will probably receive your first bill for tuition, fees, room and board during the summer. Ask the school about interest-free or low-cost tuition payment plans that let you pay your tuition in monthly installments, instead of a lump sum up front.



Start of School:



If you applied for education loans, the financial aid office will provide you with information about the disbursement of the loan proceeds.



You may be required to visit the financial aid office to complete entrance counseling and to cosign the disbursement check.



If you were awarded a work-study job, visit the student employment office to find an on-campus job.



Subsequent Years:



You will need to reapply for financial aid each year you are in school. Even if you did not qualify this year, you should reapply next year, since financial circumstances can change. The number of family members in college, for example, can have a big impact on your eligibility for financial aid.



If you submitted a FAFSA during the previous year, you may be able to complete the shorter Renewal FAFSA form instead. The Renewal FAFSA will be mailed to your home. The Renewal FAFSA preprints most of your answers from the previous year's FAFSA. Verify that the old responses are still accurate and supply corrections or new answers where appropriate. If you don't receive a Renewal FAFSA by February 15, fill out a new FAFSA form.



Continue to apply for Scholarships as your qualifications change and as new scholarships get added to the on-line databases.



Don't Think You're Eligible for Aid?



Don't assume that you don't qualify for financial aid. Nearly all US citizens or eligible non-citizens enrolled at least half-time are now eligible for some form of financial aid, including Student Loans and Parent Loans. Even if you don't qualify for a grant, you may still be eligible for other forms of financial assistance.



Many families don't apply for financial aid because they believe that they earn too much money. However, you don't need to be poor to get financial aid. Some loans and scholarships are available regardless of need, and the number of family members in college can significantly affect your eligibility for aid. Many factors are used to determine your eligibility for financial aid, and there is no simple cut-off based on income. Talk to the school's financial aid administrators if you have any questions.



You can't get aid if you don't apply. So you should definitely fill out the FAFSA and apply for financial aid if you feel you may need assistance.

Collection of tips on balancing school, career and life

I came across these great tips on Ehow. I've highlighted tips that I find useful/inspirational!

You've found the money--now you need to find the time. Balancing school demands with the rest of your adult responsibilities will be challenging, though not impossible. Here are some tips:

•Map out your life goals (again) to confirm that returning to school will help you achieve them.

•Establish a family/friend support network before classes start, and make sure your family supports your decision to return to school.

•If you have older children, explain your new routine and how they can help out. If you have younger children, arrange day care if necessary--check to see if your school offers it.

•Look for programs designed for adult students (e.g., support groups, tutoring programs, specially trained academic advisors and counselors). (note- my area has a few but they are a bit expensive!! I sure hope Obama makes tutoring etc cheaper for adults trying to return to school! They are also at weird times- mornings- how do they expect you to work and do that??)

•Consider going to school part-time, taking night classes, or signing up for online classes.(this one is definite for me- as a full time worker who only gets off work at 5!) Each option can save you time and money.

•Always keep in mind the financial and personal rewards that will come after your education is complete. (for sure!)

And these tips on Wikihow

Keep work and school separate. Don't worry about work while you're at school, and vice versa. Keep them separate, and focus on one thing at a time.


Find online tools that are useful for time management, such as calendars, reminders, (couldnt live without them!!) etc. Use portal pages to arrange easy access to both work and school related websites.

Plan your academic path. Figure out what steps you need to make it to where you want to go and set goals for yourself. Do you need 5 courses to finish a program? Find out when they're offered and create a multi-year schedule.

Guilty pleasures. Everybody has them, whether it's MTV or getting lost in idle chit-chat with your neighbor. If there's an activity that you tend to get caught up with, but that doesn't further your goals in life, avoid it like the plague. (hard one! You mean DON'T waste time on Facebook at home? Noooooo.....!!)

Work smarter, not harder.

Get buy-in from friends and family. School will limit the amount of social time you have. It's important to keep these relationships healthy while you have limited time for them. Communicate via e-mail on a regular basis.

Create some sort of progress measurement. Cross completed classes off of a list or use a countdown clock to measure time to completion. This will help keep your eyes on the prize


Be organized. Keep your school materials organized and in one place. Mark upcoming deadlines on your calendar and start school projects early to allow sufficient time to complete them in case other things come up in the meantime. If you're taking several courses at once, don't spend all of your time on one course while other deadlines begin to loom on the horizon.2

Create a flexible schedule. Some parts of your schedule are going to be inflexible, such as class times and work days. Fit homework and studying in when you're either not in class or not at the office. Build a routine that you can stick to, but are able to adjust if other important things come up. As a working student, you have to be ready to adapt to new assignments, unexpected errands, and sudden work crises that need to be addressed immediately. Make enough studying time in your schedule so that if something comes up, you can shift it into another slot during the week

 Communicate your schedule to your employers, friends, clients and family. Make sure the people around you know where you'll be and when. Sign up for an online calendar and send the URL to the people who depend on knowing where you are and when. Not everyone you work with will understand the demands of being a student and, similarly, not all of your classmates will understand the additional responsibilities of working while in school.

Manage stress. Stress is an inevitable part of being a student and a worker--combine both together and you can expect to be stressed out. As much as you may try to prevent stress, you're going to have to learn how to relieve it as well.

Take those much-needed breaks. Give yourself time to collect yourself when you need it the most, so you can re-approach things with a clear head.Be active. Stretch. Swim. Run. Lift. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps relieve stress and you'll find if the more you get out and exercise, the easier work and school will seem.(and I won't get the dreaded Freshman 15!!) Exercising is commonly known to reduce stress. Live.

Don't forget to enjoy life. Don't get bogged down by nuisances of the demands of your academic and professional life. Take time to experience the world around you and appreciate your relationships in life. See movies, read books, watch sports. Don't forget to squeeze in the things that make life worth living into your schedule

Be realistic. There may not be enough time for everything, so get your priorities straight and don't beat yourself up if you don't accomplish every single task you've set out to do on a given day. Stay positive and be thankful that you have the opportunity to make a living and get an education--two things many people in the world go without

Remember why you're doing it. By taking on work and studies at the same time, you're accepting a challenge that most people don't dare to attempt. But, you wouldn't be doing it if you didn't have strong reasons and motivation. Whether it's the desire to pay your way through school and remain debt-free, or because you want to get ahead in your career (or switch to your dream career), or simply because you know that life is short and you want to make the most of it--keep your goals in mind whenever it starts to feel like too much

Know that it can be done! It may seem overwhelming at times, but remember that other people have gone through the same thing you are, and they have succeeded! You can too

Can my old brain learn new tricks?

I came across an inspiring article written by Barbara Strauch for The New York Times entitled, "How to Train the Aging Brain." 

Barbara gives me hope that I some of the algebra I learnt in school will come back to me as she says 'Many longheld views, including the one that 40 percent of brain cells are lost, have been overturned. What is stuffed into your head may not have vanished but has simply been squirreled away in the folds of your neurons.

The brain, as it traverses middle age, gets better at recognizing the central idea, the big picture. If kept in good shape, the brain can continue to build pathways that help its owner recognize patterns and, as a consequence, see significance and even solutions much faster than a young person can.
The trick is finding ways to keep brain connections in good condition and to grow more of them.

“The brain is plastic and continues to change, not in getting bigger but allowing for greater complexity and deeper understanding,” says Kathleen Taylor, a professor at St. Mary’s College of California, who has studied ways to teach adults effectively. “As adults we may not always learn quite as fast, but we are set up for this next developmental step.”

Educators say that, for adults, one way to nudge neurons in the right direction is to challenge the very assumptions they have worked so hard to accumulate while young. With a brain already full of well-connected pathways, adult learners should “jiggle their synapses a bit” by confronting thoughts that are contrary to their own, says Dr. Taylor, who is 66.

Such stretching is exactly what scientists say best keeps a brain in tune: get out of the comfort zone to push and nourish your brain. Do anything from learning a foreign language to taking a different route to work.


“As adults we have these well-trodden paths in our synapses,” Dr. Taylor says. “We have to crack the cognitive egg and scramble it up. And if you learn something this way, when you think of it again you’ll have an overlay of complexity you didn’t have before — and help your brain keep developing as well.”

brain stretching website

Oh God I dont want to do high school Algebra AGAIN!

Is college necessary? Google that, and you will read some interesting debates for and against the value of a four year degree. My own conclusion- as a human being, you must never stop learning. Especially in today's world. Formal institutions and learning are not mutually exclusive. I read about new things every day, I love gaining knowledge. However, the world does usually require you to have little pieces of fancy paper - certificates, diplomas, degrees- to prove that you do know what you say you know. And I need a piece of paper, the time has come! After years out of school, this girl needs to dust off her backpack and pull out the old textbooks!

Why now you ask? Well, in a starting position office job with five years of work retail/admin experience behind me, I have come to a realization. That is- Promotion through work experience alone is going to take YEARS and YEARs and YEARS. Sure, after twenty years here I may have my very own office and be an office manager- but a degree could definitely expedite the process. In fact, a degree, combined with work experience, could mean that in another five years I will have double the salary potential that five years of hard work alone could entitle me to. A four year degree is  the new high school degree - and a Graduate School degree is now necessary to get the higher end jobs that a 4 year degree once got you.So it is back to school for me.



I've never been to college. Despite fantastic high school results, a lack of finances has meant I've been working ever since I was 18. Five years later, here I am, finally in a position where it is a possibility for me to go to college in the USA.



It is going to be challenging. More so than it would have been five years ago. You see- I don’t have a drop of high school math’s left in my head. I barely remember a thing. Really. I read over the math elements that would be tested in Arithmetic and Algebra for the College Placement Test (the CPT is necessary to even register for classes) and it sounded like complete jargon to me. Integers and rational numbers and exponential something or the other... Algebra rules...so fuzzy and vague.

Thinking about math just brings back memories of chalk boards and moustachey teachers and painful hours spent dispassionately calculating answers to questions that other people have already figured out the answers to.

 I will also be juggling a full time 40 hour a week job, a live in partner, a dog, meeting my fitness goals and cooking healthy!

So this blog is to track my journey through the wonderful land of math, CPT's and eventually COLLEGE :) Wish me luck and willpower!!!