As most of you already know, I went back to school in August. It's been a long time since I was in college....about 10 years....wow has it been an experience. First of all, who in their right mind builds a university in the side of a mountain?? Second of all....how did I not notice that when I was driving past it once a week for the last...oh.....15 years!! Even if I didn't notice it, their mascot should have given it away.....the MOUNTIES!!!! Oh dear...I can't even tell you how exhausting the first few weeks were! And just my luck, one of my classes was at the very top of the mountain. In the future, I will be choosing my courses based on location. If there is one I need to take that is only in that building....I will be scheduling it so I have enough time to walk to my car and DRIVE up!!
I'm at a school with a lot of non-traditional students which is nice. And I actually graduated from high school with a lot of them. But out of all the time I spent at Virginia Tech only 16 credits transferred. What does that mean? I'm taking freshman courses...So my classes were surrounded by peppy, perky little things bopping around asking me which dorm I was in....too excited about being away from their parents for the first time to contain themselves. While I appreciate not looking as old as I am, and being mistaken for a traditional student, it got to be quite irritating. We don't need to be friends.... really...
I was initially concerned with a few of my classes because it was a 'canned' schedule and most of the classes were full by the time I decided to go back to school and register. So instead of the usual English course....I got Shakespeare. Yep....2019 pages of it. All of the basic history and geography classes full? How about a cultural geography.... Need a refresher in math? Here's one that covers four years of it in one semester! Wow...So much for easing back into things!!
But, this time around I have a different mindset.... I've had the wonderful experience of actually having to pay back those student loans and it's worth the extra effort. So, I spent all of my free time not only reading, studying and doing the homework for the courses but spending a lot of time in the library relearning the basics. How to write a paper, how to construct a speech, how to put together a presentation, how to cite and how to do everything else I used to know like the back of my hand. My brain is fried and I'm completely exhausted!
And it has paid off. I was excused from taking my math final because I had to get a negative score on it to get lower than an A in the class, I scored a perfect 150 out of 150 on another final, A on my third final but am unsure of the actual score, and a102% on my fourth final. The only final I don't know about yet is Shakespeare which I took yesterday. I ran out of time, which will hurt my grade but I consider it to be a good thing. It's the first time in my life that I have actually had TOO MUCH to say about Shakespeare! lol
I checked my grades online and have a 4.0 without that added in. I am guessing I will have a B in that class so it will drop my GPA a little but overall....I did pretty freaking well! So that is what I have been during my extended absence from SC.... what have I missed in your lives? Feel free to post links or point me in the direction of the highlights....there's no possible way for me to read EVERYTHING I've missed...:)
momsrock posted on Dec 15, 2007
| views: 661
Comments
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evil_twin said on Dec 15, 2007....
I'm so glad you're doing well in school! That's awesome. I actually had no idea where you went off to, but I missed seeing you around :-) So have you decided to start posting with this screen name again permanently? It's good to have you back!
-evil_twin LA
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silverwhisper said on Dec 15, 2007....
MR, congratulations--what a semester! jeez...i'm really impressed!
i just happened to look through my users just now and i couldn't resist dropping by to say hi--i haven't been around for a few days, long story.
when will you know about your shakespeare class? and what plays did you study? :>
ed -
skald said on Dec 15, 2007....
Congratulations and good to have you back -
momsrock said on Dec 15, 2007....
ET: I didn't mean to, but when I was having a hard time with SC freezing, I thought it was just mirrorimage...so I tried this one and tried to post. By the time I had it all written out...and it still froze...I didn't want to change back...so I guess I'll stick with this one. Now that the issue has been resolved...I don't want to move stuff. Oh well...
It's been a long few months...but now I have 30 days of nothing but soulcast!! looking forward to catching up!! I've missed you! :)
Ed: All from the girl that didn't know groundhog's day was 6 weeks either way! My grades have shocked a few people! LOL I think I will have my grade for that early next week and know what my final gpa is for the semester. We did Henry V, Richard III, a midsummer nights dream (which I really liked), othello, Timon, as you like it, two gentleman, a few sonnets and Hamlet. Almost everyone was doing the fault/fate aspect of hamlet or the psychological issues involved for their papers...but I was more interested in the fact that he was referred to as the head and the state was referred to as the body. So I followed it through the whole play and wrote my paper about how the head/mind takes in stimuli/symbols from the outside world and deciphers/translates into something meaningful and then sends signals to the rest of the body. Hamlet's major soliloquies were perfect examples of that that process and other characters (the body) acted on the signals he was sending out (fake or true madness). But there was one part where it said something like hell sends out contagion into the world...so i went into how the mind/body don't act as they should when infected (infection: evil/ spying/ backstabbing/ murder) and another definition of head is the head of a boil where contagions are expelled from the body so I ended the paper with the fact that hamlet was the head, so all the evil would be expelled through him- and he was the common thread in the deaths of characters causing problems....etc.
It wasn't anything we spoke about in class, so I asked him ahead of time if it worked and if I could use it and he was a little impressed. ..which gave me a little more confidence...lol...it ended up being my favorite class. And I'm actually keeping the book instead of selling it back.
skald: Thank you!! I have missed everyone so much and feel so out of the circle...I need to catch myself up!
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evil_twin said on Dec 15, 2007....
You know, I keep seeing this car around town and I always think about you when I see it. The license plate says, Momsrox! I just saw it yesterday in fact. I'm glad you'll be around for 30 days :-D
-evil_twin LA
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momsrock said on Dec 15, 2007....
ET: lol...someone stole my identity!!! I wish I would have thought of that....instead of the plain jane plate...:) -
quietone said on Dec 15, 2007....
wow 4.0 can't get much better than that! I am so glad for you...and of course it always nice to see you back. Good for you is all I can say. You have not missed much in my life for sure.... LOL -
Battycat said on Dec 15, 2007....
Congratulations, all I can say is WOW :-) -
CreativeWoman said on Dec 15, 2007....
Awesome grades! I'm really impressed. :-) Welcome back!CW -
wakingharmony said on Dec 15, 2007....
WOW you go... I have problems with freezing up lost post and 1/2 post a lot lately ... so you were mirrorimmage? You know you got it when you come back and make it big the 2nd time around hehe.... Great going with School. I think I'd have to start over in Kindergarden..haha wait .... I didn't do Kindergarden.... well like I said "K" -
wombat said on Dec 15, 2007....
Ahh...now I know where you have been. I am very, very impressed! You go, girl! -
momsrock said on Dec 15, 2007....
thank you guys!!
wakingharmony: I was moms then mirror and back to moms... i didn't necessarily mean to come back as moms but I don't want to keep changing! lol
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secretlife said on Dec 15, 2007....
hey moms - congratulations on those great grades.it sounds like you're really enjoying school this go around even though i know you've got your hands FULL.ps - one of the few books i still own from my college days is the shakespeare hardcover...BIG beautiful book which never fails to bring back really good memories. -
momsrock said on Dec 15, 2007....
Thank you SL! It's been a little trying at times figuring out how to make all of this work but I'm so glad I did this. It just feels right...
I had big plans for selling that baby back...but I just don't think I can part with it now that I enjoyed the class so much. Yours doesn't happen to be called the riverside does it....everything all in one hardcover book?
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D6fer said on Dec 15, 2007....
moms.....wow! great job! how are the kids doing? how's home life? -
soleme said on Dec 15, 2007....
Great Job! Congratulations! -
Actorguy said on Dec 16, 2007....
Congratulations moms. We don't really know each other, but I have read a lot of your "mirror" stuff....not sure if I commented though....sorry about that.I'm glad that you have discovered Shakespeare! Don't sell that Riverside edition, it's a great one and I think you will get years of enjoyment out of it. I am a bit of a Shakespeare Geek myself, and have just come from holding auditions for The Merchant of Venice, which I am directing. Ten hours of listening to prepared monologues has left me exhausted but excited about starting rehearsals. At the moment I should be choosing scenes to read for call-backs but I'm Shakespeare'd out for the day!Once again, congrats on your awesome achievement. This mom definitely rocks! -
gingersoul said on Dec 16, 2007....
Moms....hello....glad to read all is good for you...i missed you a lot..{{{hugs}}}
That interpretation of Hamlet has been the central point of my own Shakespeare class in college...absolutely more interesting than the usual ill fated-loser-sad-mom hater Hamlet....but i still liked Ophelia the most....lol....
Well, now relax and have a good Sc time......just in time for Xmas... ..unfortunately you will not see me around that much....bad timing you and i, isn'it?
But anytime i will see you i try to drop for a hug..:-)
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momsrock said on Dec 16, 2007....
D6: they are doing quite well....I had a two hour break between classes to do a lot of my work and I get home earlier than I ever did when I was working so even though I have a lot more work to do, I have more time with them than I ever did. I'm really proud of how well they have adjusted...and how well they behave when they know I am doing homework. Home life is better than it ever was before too...maybe it's because I am happier. I'll post about the changes in that area...:)
thank you soleme!
actorguy: Well, we didn't get to read all of the plays, so there are a few I'm looking forward to reading... I don't think I can part with it! A few months ago I was grumbling about having to lug that enormous book up and down the hills and it was the first one i wanted to sell back...lol funny how things change. That's so neat...one of the things we talked about quite a bit was how many different directions directors could take with Shakespeare's plays depending on how they interpret what is being said and the things between the lines and how directors can make so many different versions of the same play... That's really neat that you are directing one! lol...I can see how it would exhausting though...not sure if I could handle 10 hours of prepared monologue...but have you noticed different actors putting different spins on them? Different emotions or reactions or anything? Or are they specified how they are supposed to act? We only talked about the directors...didn't get into the auditions...just seems like everyone that reads it would have different reactions. Thank you actorguy! : )
GS: I think my professor was happy that he didn't have to sit through another paper on the same topic!! :) I did like Ophelia....hated the queen....had a very hard time identifying with her as a mother. I am glad to be back...put my feet up and stay awhile...right? lol...I've been catching myself up on a few of your posts... Are you still at the new job? How is all of that going?
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gingersoul said on Dec 16, 2007....
Moms....yes, i am still there..hey, its only one month and you are questioning if they are still keeping me?....LOL....i give them 3 months though....
I am more interested to know about your love life, girl.....what about your man? And your precious beautiful kids? No pics to share?
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Actorguy said on Dec 16, 2007....
That's cool how you talked about director's interpretation. For the auditions, I just ask actors to let me know beforehand which piece they are doing. They are free to do whatever they want with it. After hearing it I would make comments or suggestions. One woman, for instance, did a speach of Hermione's from Winter's Tale. She was beaten and almost in tears and the piece was very good, but I reminded her that Hermione is a queen, and asked her to add a little regal, righteous indignation. She did it beautifully, and the piece really came to life. We were both pleased. Another talented actor tackled Hamlet's "To be or not to be", a very brave choice. He looked exhausted and tormented, and did the whole thing very quietly, almost under his breath. It was surprising and worked beautifully. -
crybabylu said on Dec 18, 2007....
that is really cool.
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