15 Years In the Making . . .

I am excited.
I am nervous.
I am anxious.
I am graduating.

I think I must have the world record for longest time taken to get a bachelor's degree.
15 years.
Actually, I think now we're officially up to 16.
I started in 1995. It is now 2011.
You do the math.

I know, I know I've said it before "It's near! I'm getting closer!!"
But this time, I really REALLY am.
2 classes left.
This semester.
C or better.

As excited as I am, I just don't think I'll know what to DO with myself when it's all over!!
I'm scared I won't find a job.
Or worse, that I WILL find a job, and hate it.

Of course . . . There's always Graduate School . . .
Of course that might take me another 20 years.
I am sick, aren't I?

End of the Semester - YEA!!

Yesterday I finished my last final
FINALLY
This semester has been BRUTAL
Not only have I had two history classes - both with a ton of reading and papers
But this semester:

I've had to make two 100 mile trips to a gastroenterologist for my daughter
We've had five trips to our primary doctor
We've moved, having to clean TWO houses top to bottom (still working on unpacking)
We've had school troubles with two of the kids
I've had food poisoning
We've had tire problems

Now if I can do ALL that AND still pull a B in both classes this semester then I'll be a happy girl!!

I am glad it's over though, but looking forward to next semester. Next semester will (prayerfully) be my FINAL semester - I hope to be graduating in May!

I learned a lot this semester.
One of my classes was on the Renaissance and European Reformation.
Did you know that Galileo and Michelangelo wrote?
I had no idea!
Did you know that Martin Luther wasn't the only religious leader to preach against the catholic church?
I didn't know that either!!
I also learned a lot about other denominations - specifically the Mennonites and the Catholics.

The other class was Texas History.
Interesting - most of what I learned either a) contradicts some of what is taught in Texas primary and secondary schools and/or b) is NEVER taught in Texas primary and secondary schools!

It has been an eventful - and exhausting - semester, but it's been one of my best in a very, VERY long time!

AND THE GRADES ARE IN . . .

Weeell . . . lets just say I didn't do as well this semester as I'd hoped. I actually did BETTER than I thought I would, but not what I had hoped.

See, last semester, I had the bright idea to try to have computer science as one of my concentrations.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Yeah, that was pretty dumb on my part.

So now, I have two "D's" and an "F" on my record. YIKES.

That's okay, really I was expecting to fail everything, so I was actually pretty stoked about the "D's".

So where do I go from here? Where I should have been all along.

History.

Medieval British and European History to be exact.

Why you may ask?
Simple -

I am an English major. I have over 60 hours of literature under my belt. Over half of those hours are in British or European literature. And what goes hand in hand with Literature? History! Why? Because every writer in history has written about the society at that time. Weather they meant to or not, every piece of the written word is steeped in historical context and meaning. Therefore, I already have a head start.

Plus, c'm on . . . I'm a RENNIE!! Medieval history is my thing, man! :-)

The End Is Near! (Not a Religious Statement)

I went to TWU yesterday to see about changing majors. Well, needless to say, if I had stayed on my current track, I would have finished in May 2010, with the way TWU's scheduling system goes. But, after talking to a wonderful advisor, filing some paperwork at the registrar's office, and going over schedules, it is done!! I am no longer an English major, I am now a General Studies major. I am no longer graduating in 2010, but now, ladies and gentlemen, I am graduating in MAY!!!! W00T!! That's right. 18 hours. That's it. I have three classes this semester, and three next semester. I am going to FINALLY do this!!

This brings me to a preachy moment. I have heard women saying, "Oh, i can't go back to college, I can't afford it/I'm a SAHM/I don't have the time/yadda-yadda-yadda" Okay, all those excuses are BS!!!! It took me 14 - YES, 14 years (by the time I walk across the stage)!!! I started in 1995. But I did it! Sometimes I could only take one class at a time. I had to take a few semesters off due to moving to Austin, legal troubles, pregnancy, wedding, pregnancy, baby, etc. It was slow going. But I did it.

So if you think it's not possible, think again!!

So, just FYI, the next person that comes up to me and says "Oh I just can't . . ." I will tell you to your face that that's a cop-out. Just be warned . . .

On a side note, after a week of feaver, night wakings, screaming, crying, rashes, diarrhea, swollen gums . . . we now have FOUR teeth instead of TWO!

4 nights of screaming $0, but really annoying
3 days of high (101) feaver $0, but a little scary
2 bottles of feaver reducer $8
1 case of roseola $0 - but unnerving for mom

Finally getting it all done and over with . . . until the next tooth, anyway?


. . . Priceless