So, You Want to be a Writer!
Confession… I haven’t yet accomplished this goal, so I’m not entirely speaking from experience. But I’m working on it. Four years ago...
When too busy is TOO BUSY
...the worst part about the whole thing was that I barely noticed the holiday season had passed. I was just too busy.
Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/johnhain-352999/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2268884">John Hain</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2268884">Pixabay</a>
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Growth Requires Change Requires Growth Requires Change
...but it was not because he didn’t care about those people. He was weary of hearing complaints from friends who never tried to do anything to change their circumstances.
Theresa Patterson's Lemons
Lemonade cake was one of Theresa Patterson’s favorite recipes to make as a Chef before she lost her vision seven years ago. It’s made with “lots of lemons” and has a light whipped cream topping, but don’t ask her for the recipe. Not that she wouldn’t oblige your request...
One Day at a Time
I’ve been through a lot in my lifetime thus far, or so I’ve been told. To me it’s just life. I don’t recognize what others term as “a lot” until or unless I’m told by an outside observer that what I’ve experienced is more than the usual lot – sometimes not even then.
Could it really be worth it?
Now I would like to share this idea with those who’ve either never finished a desired degree program, or those who never had the opportunity or means to even consider attending college. But this is also for those who feel stuck in a job or career that is not fulfilling. No matter what stage of life you are in, you are more than just-a….!
Never Stop Learning
“No matter how much you think you know about (you fill in the blank) there’s always something more you can learn.”
Photo by mohamed hassan form PxHere
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Hindsight is 20/20
I often referred to this decision as the need to have that special piece of paper to conclusively prove to all employers that I knew what I said I knew, those words often filled with indignation. I felt I had no choice but to change the trajectory I was on.
Or Am I Dreaming
Numb. Maybe stunned. Perhaps my emotions are still processing, but I thought I’d feel more cathartic turning in my final paper at 8:23 p.m. this evening.
Distracted
I’ve been trying to work on a paper due this Friday for my Medieval literature class. Trying to convince myself not to worry about writing for my 500 Words Blog right now. Trying to not think about the dishes that I haven’t done yet or the laundry that’s piling up, or the various other chores awaiting my undivided attention.
Doors Opened
My ultimate desire was to become an Editor and work in some form of publishing after graduation. Early in my education, however, I was unsure if my plan was really obtainable.
Never Stop Learning
The “English at Work” class didn’t seem all that important for me – a non-traditional student who’s been through many interviews that resulted in jobs, and who formerly worked for a Career Services department assisting other students with resume creation and job search. It’s a one-credit-hour, one-hour-per-week, required-by-all-English-majors kind of class designed to help students find jobs and careers geared toward their major.
Line-Editing Life, Post-Quarantine
We are closing in on approximately two-months of the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States, give or take a week or so depending on what part of the country you live in. Thinking about all of the quarantine-induced changes that have taken place in daily life, I find myself wondering what of those changes will bleed into post-quarantine living. It seems a likely possibility that some changes could stay in place.
What's today, again?
I assured myself that I had plenty of time. After all, it was only Friday night, right?
¿Por qué?
Why am I, as an English and Creative Writing major, required to take Español in order to attain my bachelor’s degree? Foreign language is not my major. It is not even my minor. It’s not an interest. Yet, if I don’t both take and pass an upper level foreign language, I cannot receive my otherwise hard-earned degree.
Teacher Feature
When I started college approximately ten years ago, I didn’t have to worry about what it would be like to sit in a classroom because my classes were all online. Though I did eventually take some in-person classes at Black Hawk College, like my Spanish and journalism classes, they didn’t seem to impact me the same way that my first on-campus class at the University of Iowa.
Reflections
Today marks one month before the last scheduled day of classes that will complete the requirements for my bachelor’s degree. Reflection, I suppose, is a part of the process in preparation for the next steps toward my future. It feels weird to say that at this stage in my life. I’m almost 50 years old.
En Español Solamente - Not so fast Google!
I made an interesting observation today. In my Intermediate Spanish 2 class we have to pair up with another student to complete un actividad comunicativa.
Virtual Takeaway
It’s the end of the first week of virtual learning for the University of Iowa and the big take-away for me is this: Always stay current with technology! I say this because I see the challenge that even basic technology presents for one of my instructors who has chosen, prior to forced virtual instruction, not to use any online component for teaching.
Adjusting to Virtual Learning - What I Didn't Expect
Today was the first day back to (virtual) classes at the University of Iowa after an extended Spring Break. I’ve been pretty confident that I was prepared for doing all of the class work in its new virtual format. Afterall, this type of education is not new to me. Still, I found myself feeling just a little bit overwhelmed at the end of the day.
For the First-time Virtual Learner
Online learning for the University of Iowa begins on Monday, March 30, 2020. Many fellow students who have never taken an online class are concerned about their ability to grasp the material they are expected to learn. While this is an understandable concern, I think a lot of the uncertainty comes from the actuality of being faced with a form of education that they’ve never done before, and quite possibly something they’ve intentionally avoided during their years in college.
