First Day of School

I wish it were possible to bottle the excitement of the first day of school.  I would bottle it and save it for the days that I wake up and feel unmotivated.  Regardless, the first day of school went great!  

I felt like a kid walking through Disney World for the first time.  Eyes wide open, mouth dropped, looking every which way, and smiling like a school-girl.  

The campus is in Appleton, about 20 miles away from my house and I had never been there until yesterday.  Everyone is so helpful and the environment is so inspiring.  

My week schedule:

Monday: work 9-4pm, meeting with for test anxiety 5-6pm, class 6:30-9:30pm

Tuesday: work 9-4pm, class 6:30-9:30pm

Wednesday: work 9-4pm

Thursday: work 9-4pm, scholarship application meeting 5:30pm, class 6:30-9:30pm

Friday: work 10-6pm

"I'm so proud of you."

I am one day away.  

One day of the week stands between myself and the journey of dropping back into college.  The nervousness and joy I have are impossible to explain.  Those of you who have supported me by reading my posts, sending encouraging words and keeping me in their prayers and thoughts...I cannot thank you enough.  Hopefully, some day I can show you all how much that means to me.

As I was completing my first assignment for my accelerated Ethnic and Diversity class, it hit me that this is it.  This is round two of my academic career.

I heard words today that almost brought tears to my eyes. Kate said to me, while snuggling on the couch this morning, "I am so proud of you."  I've heard it before, but I believed her this time.  I'm proud of me too gosh darn-nit! I've set myself up to pass and to push through.  I am taking all of the advice I have received over the past five years and actually applying it, as those who have passed it on to me had wished I did before.  

Ready or not....here we go!

As usual, I will keep you posted.

Temporary Failures

In the great words of Abraham Lincoln, “In your temporary failure there is no evidence that you may not yet be a better scholar, and a more successful man in the great struggle of life, than many others, who have entered college more easily.” 

I begin school on Monday, January 14th, 2013!  I am only taking two classes, as I am still working full-time at Staples.  I was very cautious in preparing my college plan this time around, primarily because I want to do things properly this time. 

 As the days are shorter, the nights colder, and the work day dragging on, I need to go to college. 

 I need to feel purpose again.  I need to learn.  

I wish I had this mentally back in 2008 like many of my former classmates did.  

Then again, I am glad I wasn't aimlessly wandering the campus on a predetermined path for a general 4 year degree.  This time, I am going to matter.  The glow that radiates from my pure happiness is evident this time around.  My "temporary failure" of college from 2008-2010 is what made me the "better scholar" I am today.  I have become "a more successful man in the great struggle of life" than those who formally completed college before me. 

This time around, I appreciate the time, money, lessons, assignments, and students that it takes to have a college work successfully for its students.

In all honestly, I feel so happy to have a second chance with my education while I am perfectly able minded and youthful.  Many people in my life have taught me with love and personal experiences that life does not grant second chances very often.  They have taught me that one must keep pushing forth even if it takes you eight years to get a bachelors degree. ;-)  

For those lessons, I am thankful.

Graduation Day

Bachelors of Science in Nursing Graduate of 2012, RN status pending after passing score of the NCLEX Boards Exam in Febuary. 

She did it.  After four and a half long years of determination and passions, she graduated college.  This past weekend I was able to experience my Kate walk across the stage not once, but twice...one of which I was able to do with her, side by side. 

 

Nothing can stop this girl, I swear.  She is the most determined and strong headed human being I have ever met.  Nothing is too hard for her.  Alongside all of her 70 other Nursing Student friends she only has one last step to becoming a BSN-RN.  The NCLEX.  A nursing boards exam that she must pass in order to be a licensed nurse in the state of Wisconsin.  She'll pass, of course.  In preperation, she has to attend multiple study classes, understand nursing material of all categories, and accurately display her knowledge by passing the test on the first try.

Again, she will do it.  It's just a matter of getting to the point that we have to wait for now....

Waiting games are never fun, but after waiting four and half years to get to this pivital point, a couple of months shouldn't be too bad...right?

 

All in all, we cried, laughed, drank, and were merry while celebrating a job well done.  I don't think I'll ever be able to find the words to express how happy and proud I am of Kate but I know that she knows.  Mostly because I tell her, "I am so proud of you" every day since she has graduated.

 

 

Kate's Final Hurrah

A wise woman once said, "We're all in such a hurry to grow up.  We're so busy trying to get out of that nest, we don't think about the fact that it's going to be cold out there.  Really fricken cold."  Only a couple of weeks stands between Kate and her graduation date.

 

The past four and a half years have been so exciting.  Some days more than others, but all exciting.  Whether it was Kate celebrating her acceptance into Nursing School or her difficulties with her freshman biology professor, I am so grateful to have experienced it all with her. 

I admire her passion and determination more than she will ever know.  There was never a time throughout her college career that I didn't think she'd make it.  And the moments that brought her to her knees when she swore she wasn't good enough, those were the moment I knew she was more determined that anyone else to make it through. 

 

On December 15th, 2012, my Kate will graduate with her Bachelors in Science-Nursing (BSN) from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.  Since November 15th, 2012, we have been filling out dozens of applications and tweaking her cover letters and resume.  From working as am EMT to her nursing clinicals, she hasn't had much time for anything more than showering and eating; however, she has never been more happy than she has this past month. 

 

Just recently, she began her clinical in an ER, which is her dream job out of college.  As if I haven't heard enough blood and guts stories from her EMT job, this clinical has provided me an opportunity to strengthen my stomach to blood, NOT!

 

Kate is such an inspirational human being.  I just can't believe that she's let me experience all the moments of triumph with her over the past four and half years.  I will forever be proud of her. 

 

Although she didn't expect it to be so cold in the 'real world', she put on her winter coat, pulled up her snowpants and battled the blizzard of the college of nursing. 

 

Congratulations my dearest Kate.

Passing Score!

One word.  Passed.

That is what is officially next to the spot on my Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) admissions transcript.  THANK GOD!

I cannot thank the people who support me enough.  I had my head held high walking in to the testing center.  Why, you ask, especially after sounding so nervous for the past few months? Love.  So many people love and support my decision to go back to school that I couldn't let them all down.  Talk about inspiration!  I have had over 300 hits on my blog thus far. 

YOU GUYS ROCK!

All I can say is that I am serious this time, and even if I did feel like quitting, even for just a minute...I have you.  All of you.

I keep typing out a way to thank each of you but I just keep deleting it because words just aren't enough.  I love you. All of you.

Thank you.

Accuplacer

TGIF is how I usually start my Friday.  Not this Friday.  No Sir. 

This Friday, I take the Accuplacer (The test that stands between my acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Program).

Nervous?  More now than when I took my ACT.  Why?
Because this time I care.  Because this time, it matters.  Because this time, I want it.

I get unlimited time to take the exam and I need to score 70's in all areas (arithmatic, algebra, reading comprehension, and sentence structure).

I have had an app that I have been using to take practice tests almost every day during my lunch at work that help me increase my knowledge and my ability to answer the accuplacer questions correctly.

Fingers cross, lucky underwear on, I need this.

Thanks for all your support. 
-b-