Truth/The School Experience

My truth from last weeks’ blog is that I have O+ blood. #4

This current semester at Oxnard has by far, been the hardest and most challenging yet. It will be my last full-time semester before I transfer. Some of the challenges that I faced were very tough at times. The most challenging aspect has been doing the majority of my schooling while raising my daughter alone, while her mother served over-seas. I was in the military for nearly nine years and I never truly appreciated the stay-at-home parent or single parents in general. After this experience, my appreciation and opinion of those who raise children alone, has been changed drastically. I only had to deal with this challenge for nine months when others deal with it their whole life. Doing school and raising my 3 year old daughter has by far, been more challenging than any of the years that I served in the military.

Overall, the school experience has been a great one. I do enjoy the challenge of academics and the new things that I learn from those challenges. I also have been able to meet some very interesting people, both students and faculty. Going back to school has been an experience that I will always remember because I did it later than most do. It makes me appreciate the experience all the more.

However, I do have some things that I do not enjoy about my return to school. One is that some of the instructors are full-time high school teachers. This, in of itself, is not bad. When these instructors decide to treat their college level students like their high school counterparts, is where I have the problem. I just feel that when one enters college, the hand holding is over and accountability must be first and foremost. The micro-management by some instructors is counter-productive.

Another aspect of school this semester has been the workload that I have. I have noticed a trend with some instructors that they seem to think that their class is the ONLY one you are taking that semester. This is obvious by the workload handed out by some of these instructors. I know multitasking, time management and a “get er’ done” attitude is needed to meet these obligations and that expectations are raised when we transition to the next level. However, some instructors pile on the work that at times, serving no purpose to educate, but to simply apply the teaching technique that some of my friends call, “BS busy work.” I agree.

My motivation through all of this is my 3 year old I mentioned earlier. She is why I get up, go to school and work my butt of to be someone she can be proud of and look up to. I want to set certain goals for her, that will eventually, exceed mine. If you cannot get motivated by your children, then nothing ever will. School has been something that I am very pleased to have stepped up and accepted the challenge that it gave. In the end, it can only make me a more grounded and enlightened person.