University Life

I don’t know where to begin! This first quarter at Western Washington University has been a whirlwind and it’s just about over already.

My classes started off pretty interesting. Cognition is all about how people think, and I’ve learned a lot about the specifics of the human mind. Pretty interesting stuff!

Abnormal Psychology has been a lot of repeat information since I already took Abnormal Psychology in 2009 at Las Positas Community College. I am not sure why Western would not accept it as a transfer. I am still working on that… The professor has never taught a class of this size (85 students), so the class seems incredibly disorganized. I went to speak with him and I’ve decided to take a class with him over the summer. It seems he would be a great teacher in a smaller classroom when students could participate in discussions. I am looking forward to it!

The most interesting class is my Environmental Science class. It has over 400 students!! I heard it’s the biggest class on campus. I figured it would be a typical general class, but I have learned a lot and have come to respect the Earth a lot more. I’ve learned about Climate Change, and Genetically modified food, watersheds, and human population. I feel I can have more intriguing discussions about these things. Yay! School is doing its job. hahahah

After a few weeks of getting through my classes and not meeting many people my age, I thought I would go out on a limb and post on the schools forum. I posted that I was looking for other folks who were 25 and older, and return students. It’s amazing! There were many folks who responded and I’ve meet some great people for coffee a few times and a few of us went bowling. It’s been a fun experience so far and I am so happy that there are people at this University that are in my age range. We talk about some interesting and different things that would be hard to discuss with traditional students. I am thrilled that I went against my character and looked for similar students. I think I could have gone the entire year here and not met these new friends I now have.

Another great outcome from my forum posting was being interviewed by Western Washington Universities magazine. A writer was doing a study on returning students and how times change the experiences at a University. The article ended up not being published because the University was not able to provide her with enrollment details for non-traditional students.

So far, it’s been a fun ride and I have many more quarters to go. I am looking forward to my upcoming time at Western Washington University.

Walking in the snow at Western Washington University:

Harry Potter Room in the Library at Western Washington University:

Snow on the campus of Western Washington University:

Thanksgiving 2011

Grandma and Don came to visit over Thanksgiving and it sure was fun. Big 22 pound turkey and all sorts of new recipes. Mom always said to not try new recipes for guests and she confirmed why. Sweet potatoes in the Crockpot were boring. Pumpkin Chiffon pie was a disaster, even with help from Don, the baker. Brie with figs and brown sugar was to die for. Thanks to Nicole for this idea. Oh wait, that’s me! =)

I had to work on Thanksgiving at MIDNIGHT, crazy shoppers. So I went to sleep after we ate around 7pm, and slept until 9:30pm. Then off to work. At least it wasn’t snowing! HUGE morning huddle with over 30 people, every cash register filled, line around the building. Crazy shoppers! Fun morning, but around 8am I started to feel those sleepy eyes. I went home and low and behold, my grandmother wants to drive to Bellingham to visit my new school. Ahhhh…I do it, and it sure is worth it. I fell asleep on the drive home. Here are some pictures of Western Washington University in Winter 2011.

The future is waiting

I submitted my personal statement and application to both University of Washington and Western Washington University. After a few weeks of debate I realized that WWU would be the better choice for me. I knew I would fit in there better with a few thousand students versus 41,000! Psychology is at my core, yet either school would help me earn a great education. Also at the heart was that I would be able to move out and live independently with other College students, and that is looking perfect right now.

After about a week I started checking the mail every day for a letter or package. Nothing… day after day. I knew it had only been about 2 weeks since I submitted my paperwork to WWU and 1 month and 2 weeks since I submitted to UW, but I had to know. It was driving me mad! One day I received it. It was a big envelope so I knew it had to be good…or was it? YES! I got accepted to Western Washington University! I ran down the steep driveway and held out the letter in front of my mom’s face and she gave me a big hug. Yeah!!! A new path is life has been opened to me. I can’t wait to get started.

Hard work pays off!

It’s the week of finals, and some may say that it’s normally really stressful and full of ups and downs. Well it has been that plus more. It’s been a really great week and it’s only Thursday!

Tuesday was the Spanish final and, to say the least, learning a foreign language is NOT my strong suit. Let’s just leave it as me passing the class. I am happy to have done that and still be able to use it towards my degree. I often think I need to move back to Arizona in order to surround myself in the language. That would sure help.

Then the Research Psychology final on Wednesday, scared to death, I have to get an A in this class! It can’t be that bad, can it? An hour and a half of fill in the blank, describe, and try to read the teachers mind. He offered to grade our tests after completing the 6 page test so I decide to stay after, as most students do. I am the second to last one done so I decide to stay and we discuss answers and I was able to debate a few of my answers and why I thought that way. On the last part of the test after he grades it he says, you are the first one to get this one right. Awesome! Discussing the test helps and I get an 81% on the test. Eh, not a good score in my eyes, but he said I was the second highest score so far, so I am happy! Later that afternoon, he told us the average for the final was 71%. Eek! Not sure how to express my feelings on this one, but I don’t think it’s good when most students barely pass. I often think it’s a reflection of the teacher, but I learned in this class that it’s the material. It’s confusing and complex and needs further discussion in order to understand. Anyway…We also learn that the class average is 81%, so he grades on a curve and bumps our grades up and mine shoots to a 94%. Shit, I’ll take that! I’ve never worked my ass off so hard for a class and it paid off, finally. AND, I really enjoyed the material too. It’s great to finally get to upper level courses that are actually interesting versus mandatory.

Today (Thursday) rolls around and it’s the math final. A few of us decide to meet at Denny’s to work on the test together at 10am, as the test is being posted at 8am. 8am comes and goes and no final is posted. 9am nothing. After calls and emails to the professor, nothing! Start freaking out! I text a few other students, and they don’t have it either. We decide to meet at Denny’s and wait for the test. Over an hour later, and nothing, finally at around 11:30 she posts it so we all complete it and get 100%. Well this finals week is the best finals week ever and I’ve taking part of a lot of finals weeks.

I reach out to my Psych professor to thank him for allowing me to take the class without the math prerequisite, and tell him the number of credits I am taking for my self-study in the Fall quarter. He reply’s back with a few good details about the self-study and then reports that I did well this quarter, and said “Your effort and the quality of your work was exceptional-- at the top of the class.”

Now, I am NOT one to brag, I actually HATE drawing attention to myself, but I had to write about it because it made me feel accomplished. I have not felt this good since I got good feedback from my old job at DDI. It’s really good to feel intelligent when you try your hardest! Hard work does pay off! Hopefully, I can get a professor recommendation letter for my application to UW. CROSS YOUR FINGERS!

Doubt

I’ve been feeling pretty discouraged lately. I keep questioning my intentions and motivations and evaluating all my past mistakes. I know I should look towards the future and learn from my mistakes, but it just all feels hard right now. I keep wondering if it’s the weather getting to me, or the missing sun part, but it’s just been depressing up here. I wonder why I keep moving from place to place and lose friends only to gain new ones eventually. I miss all my old friends. Like Julie said one day, I have good friends, I don’t want new ones. That is how I feel, but I force myself to get out there and try to enjoy my free time, if I ever get some!

I feel completely discouraged about my path in life right now, but trying to keep telling myself it will end great! BUT, what if I don’t get into that college? What if I don’t make good friends to support my life up here? What if the sun doesn’t come back? Ha-Kidding about that last one.

My biggest fear right now is whether or not I can get into the University of Washington. Do I have the right grades, or will my lack of extracurricular activities keep me in the deny pile, will my personal letter be good enough. The best thing to come out of this is to have a father figure in my life again. He keeps remind me that my experience with life experience, happiness, sorrows and life experience that they should be begging me to attend. I don’t know if he is just trying to instill confidence in me or convince me that I am good enough. But I guess I am second guessing myself and don’t give myself enough credit. Well, that is a no brainer.

There are other personal things going on in life, but I don’t feel comfortable writing about them on my blog as they are too personal.

I just feel like I am not connected with any friends anymore and I often wonder, “If I stopped texting, or calling, would they even contact me?”

Get off my toes!

I was sitting in math class today and the teacher was walking around the class and she stopped at me and asked if I was coming to the study session today after class. I told her that I would not make it. I was a little behind in the math homework at this point. She then preceded to berate me, or lecture and bitch to everyone about slacker students who don't belong in college and that half of students in college should just be flunked. Speechless... Little does she know, that I may be one of the hardest workers in her class.

I also got in an argument this weekend with a co-worker because I didn't give her an additional 15% off without her coupon. What she should know, is that I could get fired if management were to see me giving that discount. Sorry, I am not going to get fired for saving you $5.00. A manager came by me later that evening and we got to talking about coupons and I brought the situation up. She was not surprised that this coworker tried to pull something like that and would “remind” her of the rules.

Looking towards the future

As I start off another post this week to my blog I decide I need a lesson in Blog/Post naming. It was going to be “The Future” but come on, no A for originality here.

Anyway, today was a good day. I got off school at 11am and drove across town to the University of Washington in Seattle. I got there around 11:30 and decided to get a bite to eat at a local place. So naturally, I pick Jimmy John's subs, but only since it's familiar restaurant in this strange place. I picked a great seat next to the window and for the next 45 minutes, while nibbling on my sandwich, people watched. Everyone seemed more serious here. Not a bunch of smiles and chatter as that of any of the 4 4 community colleges I have gone to. People look serious here, like there are actually here for an education. BINGO! I found a real school environment! I fount it!

I walk around campus for a while and get lost and have to look at the map. Good thing I had a big bag so I could pretend I was looking in my bag. Yes, I care what people think, and don't want them to know I am not part of their group! But I hope to be by the end of the year. I finally find the right classroom and sit around for 30 minutes waiting for “Transfer Thursdays” to begin. They go over the normal transfer information I have read about, however it seemed like everyone in the class had not. Out of the 20 questions they asked the admissions advisor, I could have answered 15 of them. Oh well, shows I research before I attend a important even. I know it!

I now have an hour to kill before my Psychology drop-in advising, so I go to the Library. More specifically the Suzzallo Library. It's been there since 1926. There is a Reading room in this building that houses the most room I've ever seen. I would say it might be a good place to study, however I think I would stare at the windows and ceiling all day... I would say it's reminiscent of Great Hall from Harry Potter. I fill out my Psychology Transfer form to count all my credits. As I fill it out, it makes me feel like I have a relative small amount of accomplishment under my belt with all these classes. I have done it!

During the awesome advising session I learn everything I need to know about getting into the Psychology Major. The senior advisor seemed like the most knowledgeable college advisor I have EVER been to, and that is saying a lot since I have been to 4 community colleges and 1 university! However, after our discussion, it was confirmed that I need a minimum of 2 math classes before getting into UW. Plus 1 if I wanted to be prepared for the Psych major. So, we now have 3 maths, anthropology, philosophy, writing course, foreign language, a diversity course, and 1 credit of English. (1 class is usually 5 credits). I can do it!

Overall I felt very accomplished today and really look forward to my future education! I am so excited!!

Roller coaster of a ride

I've been meaning to write a blog for a while now, but life has been so emotional with it's ups and downs lately, I didn't know what to write. It would have been: “I'm so happy! I miss my friends. I hate my family. I am depressed. I am now THRILLED! I would like to run my car into a tree. I can't wait for this and that. Now, I'm sad.” Yeah, ups and downs for sure.

It's now February and after much discussion I will most likely be applying to University of Washington to attend in Winter 2012. I am 1 math class short of being accepted so I decided to get it done along with my last language credit and then head to the University. That being said, I have time to increase my GPA even more! Maybe I should start volunteering so I can add that to my application. LOL- I must admit I have not been one to ever volunteer. I'm lazy. I just need to find one that I could really love like in an Animal Shelter.

Over the past few months I learned two of my favorite friends, Julie and Leslie are PREGNANT!! BOTH are due in May 2011 so this is really exciting. I found out that Leslie was pregnant on the weekend we were taking a trip to Stinson Beach. She walked into the kitchen where I was packing the cooler and said in a serious tone, “there is something we have to tell you, because you might wonder why I am not drinking.” I jumped up and down and was like “Your Pregnant!!!!” I was so excited! I've been secretly creating a very person gift for Julie so she HAS to keep me updated on her fun pregnancy stories and keep posting pictures. Yea! I can't wait. It only took me a few weeks to go out and buy both baby girls little outfits and cute little things that their moms will like!

I keep thinking that I was married 9 years ago and it could have been me. Not that I would have been ready to have kids by now, but I guess it's now the time! However, I do often think that if I would have stayed married I most likely would not have moved to Arizona, then I would have not followed my mom to Florida and would not have met Julie. Then I would have actually loved Florida and stayed there, but I didn't so I moved to California and met Leslie!! Now I have two wonderful friends and I am so happy to be sharing this special time with them in their lives.

My life now consists of school, homework, library, and a few days of the week I work at Kohl's. It's such brainless work that it's perfect. I can concentrate on my school work, and then go in a few hours a week and make some money. The strangest part is being able to support myself for over 10 years and then BAM, Nicole is now dependent on a parent again to be able to eat! It's pretty demotivating, but I try to keep reminding myself that this is all for the best. Sacrifices must be made for happiness down the road. “Nothing worth having in this life comes easy.”

Nicole just likes to do things backwards in her life, except for the kids part. I get married at 20, divorced by 23, move across the country not once, but twice. (One time its from the Northern most Western state to the Southern most Eastern state. How many people can say they have done that? NOW, it's time for me to meet the guy who loves me for me and wants to be in my life, because as I said during my divorce “I don't want to be in your life, if you don’t want me in yours.”

No joining dating sites, it's just time to get out there and be confident and meet that perfect guy. I will meet him when he walkes into my life.

Here is a toast to a fabulous new year!

Julie and Leslie