Whew! I’ve survived the first two days of college! I have to admit that Monday morning I was a big ball of nerves. I seriously had to break it down into itty bitty pieces: I’m driving to the university. I’m finding a parking space. I’m walking to the first class. I’m walking to the second class. And so on. Because thinking about going back to school for 4 years to become a nurse is too overwhelming at times and makes me a little panicked. By the way, this “breaking it down into itty bitty pieces” method also works well for raising 5 children.
In case I haven’t mention it before, this semester I’m taking General Psychology (Psych 101, hehe), Introductory Economics, Human Physiology (lecture & lab), and a 1 credit hour course called “Professional Role Socialization” which is basically Intro to Nursing. Psych looks super easy, I’ve already taken vertebrate physiology so human physiology is going to be mostly review, intro to nursing looks like it’s just going to be jumping through hoops (attend lectures, watch a movie, write a few papers), and then there’s economics… One homework assignment in and I can already tell that this class is going to take some work to get my brain wrapped around the concepts.
But I think it’s going to be okay. The initial first step is done (always the hardest part for me) and now I can settle back into college learning. It’s funny how quickly I’ve remembered the little things that work for me, one binder with sections (as opposed to individual binders for each course), loose leaf paper for note taking (instead of spiral notebooks), and making my own master syllabus instead of flipping through 4 individual ones.
The most interesting part so far is they didn’t have teacher email addresses way back when I went the first time around… And professors’ web pages. And online student discussions. I feel at any moment my hair is going to turn gray and I’m going to start saying things like “young whipper snappers and their new fangled things!”
Go Katie!
Marie
August 18th, 2009
Oh! I love your master syllabus idea!
Amanda
August 18th, 2009
You’re nowhere near old yet…I don’t even know what a syllabus is…sigh.
dad burn it…
auntie 502
August 18th, 2009
It must be really interesting going back to a brick and mortar school. When I went back it was online. I do envy that you are doing this. I love school; wish I did when I was in the first time. Anyway, sounds like you are well on your way!
TheBackofMyMind
August 19th, 2009
Master syllabus? Stroke of genius! Man, I wish I’d thought of that.
Tracy (Pleyton)
August 19th, 2009
Do most of the students have a lap top that they take to class with them? I would have thought that nobody takes notes anymore except us old fogies. Please tell me, I need an answer to this question.
Judy Workman
August 19th, 2009
Judy, I haven’t seen a laptop yet! The professors keep telling us it’s okay (school policy) but everyone is using pen/pencil and paper for notes so far. I have a laptop but I don’t want to lug around 7lbs of computer (plus my battery is shot so I have to keep it plugged in).
katiefleck
August 19th, 2009