Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

I had my first cognition test today. Our entire grade rests upon three test grades, and today was the first. I studied hard, felt comfortable that I knew what I knew, and went to sleep last night. During the night, I dreamed that I went to the test, fell asleep early in the hour, and woke up with the teacher saying, "You have five minutes left." I looked down at my paper and it was completely blank.

I freaked.

This morning, I skipped the Bishop's storehouse and stayed home to study more. This teacher is absolutely brilliant, but he's about as easy to follow as a firefly on meth, and I just knew his test was going to be hard.  I recalled his conversation last week with the class, in which he stated that you could fail the first test and walk away from the class with a B or a C (if you mended your ways and scored A's on the last two tests). I don't want a B or a C, I want an A.

He gave no study guide. He rarely if ever follows the book (which, by the way, is very good).  I kept great notes during class...or did I? Panic began to set in.

The kids were home today from school, so my morning was frequented by interruptions and demands. Just before I left, Kelly was very upset and insisted that she was going with her friend to the mall whether I wanted her to or not, and I threatened to ground her until she was 18 if she did so. Needless to say, I was in a very unstable frame of mind, and I left late. I arrived in my class ten minutes early, but  someone had taken "my" seat. (I always sit in the front so I'm not distracted by others, among other reasons.) I had to sit near the back of the room.

The test was precisely as hard as I predicted it would be. I went slowly and carefully analyzed out my answers. I marked all the questions I felt I got correct, as well as those I had no idea about. In the end, if I missed all the questions I thought I might be wrong on, and didn't miss any of the ones I thought I got right, then I might get a B on the test. He grades on a curve, but all it takes is one person to blow that curve. (sigh) I know I did my best...I just hope it's good enough!

The New Semester

It's going to be a busy semester! I have four classes on campus and two online courses. My two online courses are taught by the same instructor, and both classes promise to be difficult. One of the courses is the Psychology of Aging, and the other is multi-cultural aging (one of the required core classes for my minor). I have to write a big paper for the second class, but both classes are mostly studying the textbooks and web pages, as well as watching videos.

I have Social Psychology on M/W/F. My professor in this class seems like a great lady, who livens up her lectures with lots of YouTube videos and supplemental information. So far we are examining a lot of different studies about how people interact with and affect one another. I feel like I've learned a lot, but it's overwhelming trying to keep all the different studies straight in my head.

Also on M/W, I have Developmental Psychology. As the course name implies, the area of study is how people grow and age over time. This course is fascinating, but really hard. The instructor is a grad student, which isn't what I signed up for. However, the professor is apparently dealing with some health challenges and was unable to teach this semester. The current instructor is interesting and engaging, though, so that helps. I'm not too crazy with the way she has formatted the course, but I'm sure I'll adjust.

My first class on T/Th is Cognition. In this class, we look at what happens in our brains when we think and experience the world. I love the material so far. The professor is very strict. Our whole grade rests on three tests, so that makes me nervous. The professor is very entertaining, but a bit hard to follow because he jumps around so much and is easily distracted by environmental sounds and his own thoughts. I'm learning to follow him a bit better and I think I'll really like the class.

My second class on T/Th is Applied Behavior Analysis. This class looks at methods for changing behavior. I like the instructor very much. She has a wonderful Scottish accent that's fun to listen to, and she's a great lecturer. Half of the class is group discussion and interaction, which I really like since it helps cement the ideas into our brains. Since I've covered much of the first six chapters in Learning and Memory and my Psychological Research Methods class, I'm not expecting to have too much trouble with this course.

That's my update for this semester! I am thankful that I only have one more semester after this to complete my bachelors. Phew! I'm trying hard to maintain a 4.0 GPA to make it easier to get into grad school, get grants and other financial aid.

Whew!

Whew! Managed to complete this semester with all A's. I wish I could take all the credit, but I know I couldn't have done it without divine intervention from time to time. (Like the day when I got really sick and had to go home, missing a critical class...turned out that the class was CANCELED!)

I'm looking forward to a few weeks off before the next semester. My classes coming up are Cognitive Psychology, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, the Psychology of Aging, and Multicultural Aging. Five days of classes each week, plus two online courses. I truly hope I'm able to keep the pace up next semester. I have the feeling that grad school will be even more challenging. Only two more semesters until my bachelors is complete.

I'm using the break to prep for the GRE and the CBEST, as well as to start my reading for the spring semester. I'm also hoping to qualify for financial aid for the next academic year. Borrowing money feels so foreign to me.

Space: The Final Frontier

Everyday after school as we're waiting for Laine to get out of class, I ask Johnny how his day was. There's usually one of two responses..."okay" or "good." I always ask him if anything exciting happened at school today and here again, he has a standard response..."no."

Today as he was getting in the car, I asked him how his day was, and he said, "Good." Then before I could ask him the next question, he said, "Actually it was awesome!"

I asked what was awesome about it, and he said they had science lab today. I thought, wow, they must have done a really cool experiment or something. "No, actually all we did was write on a paper."

"Well, what was so awesome then?"

Words poured out of his mouth...did you know the sun can't blow up? It can only keep expanding until it reaches it's limit, then it will collapse in on itself and become a dwarf. (insert digression about how dwarfs are awesome) First it will be a white dwarf then a black dwarf. But before the sun expands and completely burns up the inner four planets (Earth included) all the water will be evaporated off of Earth because it will get so hot. Then he told me not to worry because it's going to happen "way far" in the future.

And so on. And so on. And so on. He told me how anyone who hates scientists is stupid because scientists are the ones who are going to figure out how to colonize other planets and how to save us. He says he wants to be a scientist who studies space as well as be an explorer/adventurer. I asked if he wanted to be an astronaut, and he gives me his "duh, mom" look and asks me, "Don't you think it's a bit risky to be an astronaut?"

Hahahaha! Clearly his pre-teenage hormones haven't kicked in yet if he's evaluating the risk level of an occupation rationally. And clearly he views being an explorer/adventurer as a perfectly safe occupation.

He says space is his favorite area of science. Funny, that was mine when I was young, too. Except I WANTED to be an astronaut. I might have done it, too, if it weren't for discovering I needed glasses because one eye was (is) legally blind without corrective lenses. I followed shuttle launches and homecomings avidly...still do, truth be told. It never gets old to me. I jokingly say that when I was young, getting as far away from the insanity of my life on planet earth was what appealed to me. However, what really hooked me was the thought of being able to look at the earth from space and seeing it's beauty from afar. When I read what the astronauts said about the experience, I could easily envision myself having those experiences, too. I still can!

I'm reeling from all the spontaneous communication that took place today. Usually trying to get Johnny to engage in conversation about school can be tricky. It was so much fun to see him so animated and full of trivia!

Another Year of Fun Ahead!

This school year began with a bang! Kelly began 11th grade, and has decided all on her own to focus on her schoolwork because she wants to get her learner's permit (yikes!) and I told her she had to have a B average at the end of the first semester in order to do so, then maintain a B average to keep it. She's still learning piano, attending seminary, and participating in the Young Women's program at church.

Joe just began 9th grade at Bullard High this year. He really wants to graduate from high school a year early so he's hit the ground running and is working hard to keep his grades at straight "A" levels. His STAR test last year showed that he scored advanced in everything, and he earned a perfect score in science. That's not too surprising given how much he loves science.

Laine is in 7th grade this year, still at Bullard Talent. She tried out for the improv team again this year, and easily made it. She also tried out for the middle school play again, and she has been accepted into the play (Seusical Jr.) but we don't know which part she'll get yet.  She had a lot of anxiety about this year, but I think she'll do great! She's excited to be taking stagecraft this year (prepping for the play) and jazz dance at her school in place of PE. She also scored advanced in everything on her STAR test.

Johnny is at Manchester GATE, and he's loving it. He was assigned to a teacher that we had heard some negative things about, but it seems like he really likes her. He's going to try beginning band this year, playing clarinet. He'll be taking some private lessons for a while until he feels comfortable. He's also considering cross country, which I think would be very good for him.

It's going to be a busy year!! We're looking forward to lots of good things!

No Foundation

In class this week, I encountered a professor who, in the course of her teaching, asked the class to give examples of areas of science where scientists are working with incomplete evidence. I mentioned evolution as one of these areas, knowing that there are well-documented holes in evolution, and not really meaning it to be an indictment of evolution, but simply a statement of fact. This professor became downright hostile about "believers" who refused to accept evolution. Her tone of voice was not positive as she spoke about this segment of society. Also during her lecture, she had the same demeanor about "conservatives" and fundamentalists who questioned global warming. I actually believe there is merit to both theories. Nothing I have ever learned in a class room or a science lab has ever diminished my faith in God or the sure knowledge I have that 1) this world was created, though the means may yet be uncertain and 2) He is in charge of this world and the events that unfold...all things are part of his plan.

I found myself upset off and on throughout the day as I pondered her words, not so much in my own behalf as in behalf of my those in her class who may not be as strong in their faith. Later while reading my scriptures after praying, I turned to the section of Nephi where he is relating his father's dream about the tree of life, and specifically about the people in the great and spacious building that was filled with people mocking the believers and trying to turn them from their path. The building was floating in the air, and as I read those words, I heard the words: It's floating in the air because it has no foundation. She has no foundation, and has incomplete understanding. Instead of feeling angry, I felt sorry for her. Right away, my anger diminished. I also could see that the burdens she had in her life may have affected her viewpoint, and could be made so much easier to bear if she just understood the gospel and accepted it. I took great comfort in knowing that despite all the mistakes I make, I have a sure foundation in the gospel of Christ, and I'm really grateful for the knowledge and peace it gives me.

Yay!

I'm so relieved! Just received word that I  aced the mid-term and my critical analysis in one of my classes. Now I can breathe easier, as I'm almost certain I'll get an "A" in this class...just the final to go. Fall semester starts two weeks from tomorrow. I'll be practicing my breathing between now and then. :-)

Hitting the Books

This summer I am taking 6 units at Fresno State. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I don't think I counted on 8 hours a day in class or doing homework. The two classes I'm taking are pretty intensive. One is an anthropology class on South East Asian cultures. It's an online course and there are a ton of books to read, online discussions and quizzes. The other class is a linguistics class, traditional classroom style, but it's combined with history of the world as well as a history of languages. That class requires a lot of work.

Yesterday, I had a quiz in linguistics. The test is online. You can only see one question at a time and you move from question to question without being able to go back to a previous question or skip any questions. It's a 30 minute timed test. The questions are a mixture of short answer, multiple choice, multiple answer and essay. When I came home from class yesterday, I was getting a migraine. I took medicine and hoped that it would improve. Instead it got worse, and I ended up having to go to bed for a bit. I couldn't focus my eyes and I felt like I was going to throw up. I set my alarm for 11 because the test had to be finished by midnight. When the alarm went off, I felt slightly better, but discovered as I was taking the test that I still could not focus well, neither my eyes nor my mind. I don't even know if I was able to pass the test. It's only a small portion of my grade, but I worry because I know that if I want to get into the Masters/Doctorate program, I have to be among the top ten applicants.

If anyone had told me that a headache could incapacitate someone so terribly before I experienced my first migraines, I wouldn't have believed them. I believe them now!

Time to get back to my classes. Have a great day, everyone! Pray that I survive the summer!

Semester Wrap-up!

I finished the last of my classes today. Needless to say, I am breathing a HUGE sigh of relief. Particularly after Wednesday's madness, I thought I would completely lose my mind. In my Geology class, my grade is completely dependent on how I did on the paper since it's 50% of my grade. I think I earned a high B or low A on the paper, so I will likely get either an A or a B in the class. In my Abnormal Psychology class, our whole grade depends on the tests we took throughout the semester. Since I had an A going into the final, and assuming I did as well on the Tuesday night final (8 p.m. Can you believe that? I thought I'd fall asleep!) as I think I did, I most likely earned an A in the class. Psychological Experimental Methods is my 5 unit course. I have been working so hard in that class all year! I had an A before turning in my research report (100 points) and taking my final (50 points). When I did the math, I realized that I only needed to get 113 points combined on these two items in order to get an A, and I'm confident enough to believe I earned an A. Let's hope so, anyway.

This semester was only 12 units, however. This summer I'm taking 6 units, plus challenging the upper division writing requirements. If that works out, that will count as another 3 units, making 9 total for the summer. I'm registered for 12 units in the fall, but will be adding one more class if it becomes available. In 2012, I am planning on taking 41 units total and applying for grad school if I can get all the classes I need over this next year and a half.

An interesting development has occurred over the last few weeks...I realized that although I want to do rehabilitation counseling/crisis intervention, the master's degree in this area would require me to work for others instead of being independent as I want to be. So I'm going to try to get into the MFT (marriage and family therapy) program for my master's, which will allow me to open my own practice or work with others in the area I want to specialize in, and work on other areas if I choose. If I decide to get my doctorate then ultimately it won't matter where my master's is, but I will be able to make more money with the MFT than without, which will be important in supporting my family through the doctorate program.

But first, I am so excited about finally getting my bachelor's degree. I hope the Lord blesses me to be able to keep afloat financially through this time!

Progress - Slow and Sure

Well, today I had my research proposal passed off and I'm ready to collect data for my research class! I'm really looking forward to completing the thing so I can stop stressing over it.

I also received my rough draft of my report for California Earth Systems, and he said it was great so far. I really love technical writing, but I haven't done it in a long time, so I was relieved to hear him say so!

The kids and I are plugging away at school. Joe is doing very well in school, and just loves his physical science class. He's the only boy I know his age who carries around physics books for fun, but since he wants to be a theoretical physicist, it's probably a good practice. He received a special award in his school for outstanding achievement in science. Kelly was invited to participate in a prestigious program back east, but it's doubtful that she'll go since the summer is booked already with water polo, "Especially for Youth," girl's camp, and youth conference. Not to mention the cost of such a program! Johnny is starting a unit about the gold rush, and is VERY excited about it. His class will be going on a field trip and doing another class play. I remember Joe doing this unit when he was in the same class in 6th grade, so it will be fun to see how Johnny's class does in comparison. Laine leaves next week for Washington, DC. She and I are both nervous about it, since she'll be going without me. Her best friend's mom is going to be the chaperone, so I know she will be looked after, but still...yikes! Her choir will do just great, I know.

Leadership Class

A little over a year ago, I decided to take the Leadership Class offered by the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. I thought my skills needed some refining and I have felt a desire to become more active in the community. The class, though small, was excellent. We read and discussed two books: Principle Centered Leadership and the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, both authored by Stephen Covey. At most classes, we either had a field trip or a guest speaker. The speakers were excellent...they discussed their role in the community and what moved them to become leaders. The field trips were also eye-opening...we saw many local businesses, city officials, and places of interest in our community. We had the chance to see leadership in action, and ask questions of people who were very successful in their areas of expertise.

After this classroom experience, each class takes on a project that they agree on and then the challenge is to carry it out, applying the leadership principles that were learned during the previous year. Seeing what some of the classes have tackled has been inspiring. Our class was motivated to look at ways that we could help the Clovis community have more leadership, and decided to work for the year on increasing enrollment in the Leadership Clovis program and setting in place a leadership group that would support the program and the community by fostering leadership.

Ed Flores, our facilitator for the program, was a great teacher. He was very dedicated and ambitious about what could be accomplished by a few determined people. The program is two years long, and my class and I have about 8 more months to work on our project.

Having been involved in this class has made me realize what a gift it is to make connections with people. It has helped me appreciate civic leaders and look at my community beyond my own family and my own business. It has inspired me to be more involved and vocal about what happens here. It has helped me realize that my talents or gifts can be useful in a variety of areas. I've also been re-evaluating how I spend my time and weighing the options for civic involvement more carefully.

Two areas I discovered I have a great interest in is City Planning and Business Development. For some reason, I never really thought much about it before, but since we met with the city of Clovis leadership, and later with the city of Hanford's leaders, I have found that these are almost irresistible subjects for me. If I had all the time in the world, I would love to study the processes in more depth. It's such a fascinating area!

I'm grateful for the opportunities I have been given to develop relationships with people, as well as my own skills. I'm also thankful for the growing understanding I have of how we are all connected. It seems like every day, the Lord helps me comprehend better that our purpose for being here on this earth is not to live solitary lives, but to connect, understand and appreciate others.