Well, this was a day.
May. 2nd, 2011 11:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
carmenbeaudryThe good: I picked up and filled out my application for graduation, and the form for my announcements, etc. And, while it is possible that I could fail every assignment and test in all my classes from now out, it's not likely, and so I really am going to graduate.
The first time I tried to go to college, I was 15. I was starting my junior year of high school, and I had enough credits to graduate. Unfortunately, there was a pesky rule about having to attend for so many semesters, and of course, I hadn't. If there had been Running Start at that time, I would have done that in a heartbeat. I could have taken college classes if I could have gotten my principle's signature, but he didn't believe in people my age "missing out on their high school experience" so no college classes for me. By the time I graduated I was so sick of school that I didn't want to go. So, I went to France instead. It was a wonderful trip, and I got to audit music classes and decided that I really did want to go to music school in Paris. I lined up a job, auditioned and was on the waiting list for the Sorbonne, had the visa--everything was set. And, then I got homesick and moved back, something I've been kicking myself for ever since.
The second try was for nursing school. My dad and I had a huge fight about that, which ended up with me stomping out, declaring I wouldn't ask him for a dime for school, and, after taking some of the pre-nursing classes, ending up in a fashion merchandising certificate program in Seattle. I ended up working full time, going to school full time, and having a full time social life, thanks to judicious use of the proper pharmasuticals. It all caught up to me before I could finish school, and I ended up dropping out and being out of work for 3 months while I battled mononucleosis and hepetitis B at the same time.
I met my ex about the time I recovered. Right after we were married, we both started taking electronics classes. He had some trouble with it due to being slightly color blind, but I had a lot of fun, and it was easy. It was also a natural extension of the work we were both doing with the various bands--lights and sound, as well as me playing. However, halfway through the second quarter, I found out I was pregnant and soon had to drop out again
2 kids, a home based business and 2 jobs later, I tried again. This time I was working for Boeing, and they paid tuition, so I was taking one class at a time. I took blueprint reading, drafting, a couple of art classes, and then Bob and I started having problems and I stopped.
In 1990 my divorce was final, I moved and had shared custody of the girls. One fateful morning in May, I was hit by someone who ran a red light, on my way to work, and that was the end of my working life. When I applied for and finally was awarded disability payments, I was told that I needed to try and retrain, since I could no longer do the things I had always done. So, in 1992 I enrolled at Tacoma Community College with the idea to get my AA.
The next two years were a disaster. I did well in music, art, history and english. I bombed in math. I took one math class 5 times and each time dropped it because I was flunking. Worse, even though I did well in my writing classes, I couldn't remember things, and I struggled with some of the readings. Finally, one day my english class had a project that triggered my ptsd badly, and I ended up having a lovely stay for a week in the psych ward at St. Joe's. That was the end of that attempt; unfortunately I neglected to actually withdraw from my classes, which means that the GPA I have right now has a flunked class from 1993 on it. I made the other two up, but they don't even offer this one any more, and challenging it is more trouble than I can handle right now.
So, this time. Katy graduated from WSU 2 years ago. That summer, on a whim, I went to see how many of my old credits were still good. The answer was, all of them. So, I enrolled. I found out I still had some of the same problems I did in 1993, so off to the Dr. I went. Several specialists later, I found out I have TBI, which manifests as a couple of learning and memory disabilities, and so I've been developing ways to cope with those. I made it through math because a very good professor said, "I don't care what we have to do to get you to pass this class, but whatever it is, we'll do it." I got an A in his class, and actually understood the material well enough to do well in the other two math classes that were required. This year's obstacle has been three quarters of lab science, but I've got 6 weeks of the last science class I ever have to take, and I'm passing it.
I am more than ready to be done, and I'm taking at least two quarters off, but I actually am going to graduate.
The bad: I grabbed the wrong pair of shoes and had wet feet all day as a result. I also forgot little, essential things for both of my sculpture projects, so I couldn't work on anything.
The really bad: I lost my camera at school today, and so far no one's turned it in. Not only am I out $$$ for the camera, but I had pictures for three different projects for two different classes on it, and I can't replace the pictures.
Here's hoping tomorrow is better.
The first time I tried to go to college, I was 15. I was starting my junior year of high school, and I had enough credits to graduate. Unfortunately, there was a pesky rule about having to attend for so many semesters, and of course, I hadn't. If there had been Running Start at that time, I would have done that in a heartbeat. I could have taken college classes if I could have gotten my principle's signature, but he didn't believe in people my age "missing out on their high school experience" so no college classes for me. By the time I graduated I was so sick of school that I didn't want to go. So, I went to France instead. It was a wonderful trip, and I got to audit music classes and decided that I really did want to go to music school in Paris. I lined up a job, auditioned and was on the waiting list for the Sorbonne, had the visa--everything was set. And, then I got homesick and moved back, something I've been kicking myself for ever since.
The second try was for nursing school. My dad and I had a huge fight about that, which ended up with me stomping out, declaring I wouldn't ask him for a dime for school, and, after taking some of the pre-nursing classes, ending up in a fashion merchandising certificate program in Seattle. I ended up working full time, going to school full time, and having a full time social life, thanks to judicious use of the proper pharmasuticals. It all caught up to me before I could finish school, and I ended up dropping out and being out of work for 3 months while I battled mononucleosis and hepetitis B at the same time.
I met my ex about the time I recovered. Right after we were married, we both started taking electronics classes. He had some trouble with it due to being slightly color blind, but I had a lot of fun, and it was easy. It was also a natural extension of the work we were both doing with the various bands--lights and sound, as well as me playing. However, halfway through the second quarter, I found out I was pregnant and soon had to drop out again
2 kids, a home based business and 2 jobs later, I tried again. This time I was working for Boeing, and they paid tuition, so I was taking one class at a time. I took blueprint reading, drafting, a couple of art classes, and then Bob and I started having problems and I stopped.
In 1990 my divorce was final, I moved and had shared custody of the girls. One fateful morning in May, I was hit by someone who ran a red light, on my way to work, and that was the end of my working life. When I applied for and finally was awarded disability payments, I was told that I needed to try and retrain, since I could no longer do the things I had always done. So, in 1992 I enrolled at Tacoma Community College with the idea to get my AA.
The next two years were a disaster. I did well in music, art, history and english. I bombed in math. I took one math class 5 times and each time dropped it because I was flunking. Worse, even though I did well in my writing classes, I couldn't remember things, and I struggled with some of the readings. Finally, one day my english class had a project that triggered my ptsd badly, and I ended up having a lovely stay for a week in the psych ward at St. Joe's. That was the end of that attempt; unfortunately I neglected to actually withdraw from my classes, which means that the GPA I have right now has a flunked class from 1993 on it. I made the other two up, but they don't even offer this one any more, and challenging it is more trouble than I can handle right now.
So, this time. Katy graduated from WSU 2 years ago. That summer, on a whim, I went to see how many of my old credits were still good. The answer was, all of them. So, I enrolled. I found out I still had some of the same problems I did in 1993, so off to the Dr. I went. Several specialists later, I found out I have TBI, which manifests as a couple of learning and memory disabilities, and so I've been developing ways to cope with those. I made it through math because a very good professor said, "I don't care what we have to do to get you to pass this class, but whatever it is, we'll do it." I got an A in his class, and actually understood the material well enough to do well in the other two math classes that were required. This year's obstacle has been three quarters of lab science, but I've got 6 weeks of the last science class I ever have to take, and I'm passing it.
I am more than ready to be done, and I'm taking at least two quarters off, but I actually am going to graduate.
The bad: I grabbed the wrong pair of shoes and had wet feet all day as a result. I also forgot little, essential things for both of my sculpture projects, so I couldn't work on anything.
The really bad: I lost my camera at school today, and so far no one's turned it in. Not only am I out $$$ for the camera, but I had pictures for three different projects for two different classes on it, and I can't replace the pictures.
Here's hoping tomorrow is better.
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 07:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 08:12 am (UTC)Sorry for the soggy shoes and lost camera.
I had sent a Facebook message to you a couple of weeks ago about dates you might be available for a Arts and craft day here & my place. Was hoping you had consulted your appointment book for that ;-)
no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 10:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 01:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 02:57 pm (UTC)Congratulations!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 03:10 pm (UTC)Great Job
Date: 2011-05-03 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 04:35 pm (UTC)I'm really sorry to hear about your camera and I hope you find it. If not, I have an old one of Ambroses' that I can probably loan you if need be.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Hugs }}}}}}}}}}}}}
Congratulations on persevering and graduating!!
I really hope today is going better for you!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-03 07:53 pm (UTC)Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-05 01:14 am (UTC)