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Cerina goes to college...again


Cerina
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By some of you no less!!

But I believe that I've definitely decided to go back to school...again. I was doing rather well before Luke was born, but then I decided to take a break because newborn, but I never went back. That kid just turned 4. :unimpressed:

 

So I looked into it. I'm actually only 6 classes away from wrapping up an Associate of Arts. I need:

a 1 hour phys ed class

Texas Government

a speech/communication class

a creative arts class (art history, art/music/dance/theater appreciation)

a language/philosophy/culture class (mostly lit, philosophy, and humanities classes)

and another science

I could reasonably accomplish all of this by the end of summer, but realistically, it'll likely be by the end of the fall. Then I just need to figure out how to make the rest of a BA work out, financially and schedule-wise.

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Are you eligible for grants? There are colleges in Ohio that offer cheap online classes, and it sounds like your family income might be enough to qualify for Pell grants that could cover all/most of your education.

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Are you eligible for grants? There are colleges in Ohio that offer cheap online classes, and it sounds like your family income might be enough to qualify for Pell grants that could cover all/most of your education.

No. Not yet. Income-wise, probably. But most financial aid requires that you meet certain academic progress criteria, and thanks to all the classes I dropped, stopped attending, or simply just decided to fail in my teens and early 20s, I definitely don't meet those. It'll be another year or so of actually completing classes for those ratios to even out.

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By some of you no less!!

 

But I believe that I've definitely decided to go back to school...again. I was doing rather well before Luke was born, but then I decided to take a break because newborn, but I never went back. That kid just turned 4. :unimpressed:

 

So I looked into it. I'm actually only 6 classes away from wrapping up an Associate of Arts. I need:

 

a 1 hour phys ed class

Texas Government

a speech/communication class

a creative arts class (art history, art/music/dance/theater appreciation)

a language/philosophy/culture class (mostly lit, philosophy, and humanities classes)

and another science

 

I could reasonably accomplish all of this by the end of summer, but realistically, it'll likely be by the end of the fall. Then I just need to figure out how to make the rest of a BA work out, financially and schedule-wise.

AWESOME!!

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Are you eligible for grants? There are colleges in Ohio that offer cheap online classes, and it sounds like your family income might be enough to qualify for Pell grants that could cover all/most of your education.

No. Not yet. Income-wise, probably. But most financial aid requires that you meet certain academic progress criteria, and thanks to all the classes I dropped, stopped attending, or simply just decided to fail in my teens and early 20s, I definitely don't meet those. It'll be another year or so of actually completing classes for those ratios to even out.

 

If you want to go into education (I believe you would be incredible...I think your experiences as both a parent and a student are invaluable) in a high need field, such as special education, you might qualify for the TEACH grant.

 

I know it says it only pays for up to $4000 a year, but the TEACH grant actually opened up other grants to me and all combined paid for my masters in exceptional student education. This degree included endorsements in gifted, special education, and reading so I had a lot of options to how to fulfill the grant requirements. I ended up teaching at a international private school for exceptional students. We had a lot of multi-exceptional students (ie gifted and ASD) so I taught AP classes (physics and Environmental Science) to gifted students who qualify IEPs that required supports that many teachers struggled to successfully provide. The experience really instilled in me the belief that all student can learn at a high level when provided the proper scaffolding to be successful. If you hate it, it's cool. Former teachers have a lot of career options.

 

Anyhow...you should totally do it and move to Denver. I would totally hire you as a learning specialist/ case manager!

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...I have never in my life considered teaching an option. Like, as a career field it was always close to the bottom of my list. Just really not my thing. It was a shock enough when we decided to homeschool. And now like...I have 2 paid part-time jobs essentially teaching grammar and writing (writing being the ONE thing I CONSISTENTLY failed in school). This is surreal to even think about. It's weird how life turns out.

I would, btw tho, probably LOVE to teach gifted students with IEPs. Man, talk about a group of kiddos that nobody understands...

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...I have never in my life considered teaching an option. Like, as a career field it was always close to the bottom of my list. Just really not my thing. It was a shock enough when we decided to homeschool. And now like...I have 2 paid part-time jobs essentially teaching grammar and writing (writing being the ONE thing I CONSISTENTLY failed in school). This is surreal to even think about. It's weird how life turns out.

 

I would, btw tho, probably LOVE to teach gifted students with IEPs. Man, talk about a group of kiddos that nobody understands...

Yes! I was the same way. I either loved of hated school depending on the teacher...the subject didn't matter.

 

I think it is at the bottom of your list because of your shitty experiences . Use that as motivation to make a change to make students love learning. I have awesome teachers and I have teachers that do not belong in the profession and it pains me everyday that I know some teachers can kill a student's passion.

 

You love learning. You are passionate about students...especially students whom are more challenging to serve. We NEED educators like you. Be the teacher you NEEDED as a child.

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Literally my entire life's motto is "be who you needed when you were younger". That's my entire parenting and dealing with children on any level philosophy.

Also, I really prefer the tweens and teens age groups. The subjects are more fun and the kids like my sarcastic and irreverent nature.

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  • 5 months later...

Well, it took over 6 months, but I finally took the first step! I signed up for 2 classes for the upcoming semester.

Turns out my academic probation hold (which is pretty permanent thing on my record thanks to my fun-loving 20s) was lifted automatically by the college for COVID reasons. They granted an automatic lift to everyone on probation with a GPA over 2.0. Mine is apparently a 2.01. So go me! I'm opting to retake 2 classes that I'd signed up for in like 2003 but then stopped going to, earning an F. That way the new grades will replace the old grades bumping my GPA hopefully into non-probation range.

At the very least, I think this is providing quite a lesson for Noah.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Question for all of you. So I've decided to just go ahead and get an AA (no specialization or anything). Just a transfer degree. But I'm starting to think about what I'd like to ultimately major in. For the most part, I'm not looking at anything specific. The likelihood of me starting a career career before the kids are all grown is pretty slim, but if I do start to work again, I'd like at least the option of doing more for better pay than what I currently qualify to do. To that end really any 4 year degree is beneficial. I'm not looking to have any job that requires a specific degree. That said, I'm leaning toward something along the lines of Business or Management or maybe like Finance or Communication. Something that translates well into pretty much anything.

Now that said, I cannot express enough how much more fascinating I find the classes in Criminal Justice. I really cannot think of a single career in CJ that I'd actually want, but as far as obtaining the B.S. goes, OMG would it be more interesting to take these classes. There was a time in my life when I really wanted to go into criminal law. I love procedural cop shows and documentaries and things like Forensic Files. I've read all of John Douglas's novels and quite a few true crime novels as well. I have a lifelong interest in crime and criminal justice. I just really don't like people. So I'm never really going to be interested in working in a field that requires much face-to-face time with people.

 

Should I do it? Should I do the pragmatic, responsible thing? Or follow my interests? Or does it really matter since I'm not gunning for a "career" anyway?

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My eldest son and his fiancé are both working towards being social workers. My eldest son went from pre-med to law to now working to this, while his fiancé was going the psychology route to this. With your intelligence, empathy, background, and education you might also be able to fold into something like that... if given a call for it, of course. I dunno if that is helpful, just a thought I had reading your thought and then considering you as a person. Whatever you do though, I believe you have the ability to do it.

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One other thing to keep in mind is that, while every school has different policies, it may not need to be an either/or situation for you. First, many schools either require or allow for a minor. Some of these schools may restrict your minor to be in one of a few specific areas, but those areas could include your interests. Also, if they are not restrictive of your minor field of study, then you could definitely include your criminology interest as your minor with whatever other area you study or vice versa. Secondly, schools in Houston that you could transfer to could have lesser known degree programs that may combine various aspects of your interests in a single major.

 

Third, some/many schools have options where you can work with an advisor to almost create your own degree program. One of my roommates did this because he was interested in digital music and art. His major ended up with roughly equal amounts of courses in art and music. These types of programs are often not advertised as much as they could be, but if an option like that exists where you end up going, it could be a great opportunity.

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In hindsight I wish I had majored in something computer/technology related (as in, something practical) instead of ~*chasing my dream*~ but I don't know if I would recommend that for everyone.

Keep chasing that goddamn dragon I mean dream man

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I chased my dream job. It just also happened to be incredibly practical. My dad picked practical, and hated it, so he always encouraged me to chase the dream. But you should probably want to do a job associated with it. Honestly, I think you would be good at several jobs in that field. What don't you like about the jobs? My Alma mater has a Forensic Science program, pretty sure my old college roommate actually works for the CIA now but she's pretty secretive about it.

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One other thing to keep in mind is that, while every school has different policies, it may not need to be an either/or situation for you. First, many schools either require or allow for a minor. Some of these schools may restrict your minor to be in one of a few specific areas, but those areas could include your interests. Also, if they are not restrictive of your minor field of study, then you could definitely include your criminology interest as your minor with whatever other area you study or vice versa. Secondly, schools in Houston that you could transfer to could have lesser known degree programs that may combine various aspects of your interests in a single major.

 

Third, some/many schools have options where you can work with an advisor to almost create your own degree program. One of my roommates did this because he was interested in digital music and art. His major ended up with roughly equal amounts of courses in art and music. These types of programs are often not advertised as much as they could be, but if an option like that exists where you end up going, it could be a great opportunity.

So the #1 school I'm looking at right now based on cost and convenience, University of Houston Downtown (not actually downtown), does have a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies where I could pick and choose. I'll have to look at that more closely.

 

I chased my dream job. It just also happened to be incredibly practical. My dad picked practical, and hated it, so he always encouraged me to chase the dream. But you should probably want to do a job associated with it. Honestly, I think you would be good at several jobs in that field. What don't you like about the jobs? My Alma mater has a Forensic Science program, pretty sure my old college roommate actually works for the CIA now but she's pretty secretive about it.

I do like the idea of forensics, tbh. I'm not interested in law enforcement or corrections really. I'd be ok with most other law-related jobs though.

 

ATM, I'm wondering if I'm too old to get into local politics. Or maybe I could find a good community program to work at. Maybe I'm just pissed off at all the idiots on my FB bitching about the Astros walking off the field today, and I feel fired up to actually effect some change. Maybe it'll fade by morning...or next month. I just hate people.

 

To be honest though, in my efforts to avoid the discussion forums for my classes (THEY'RE FULL OF KIDS!!!!! JUST BABIES!! I feel so old), I was reading the course descriptions in the course catalog, and a lot of SJW-esque classes sound kinda fun as well.

 

 

 

COMM 3313 Race, Ethnicity and Communication (3-3-0) Prerequisite: 3 hours of COMM and junior standing. This course explores the inextricable and multidimensional relationship between race and communication. Students will understand how to transcend race using communication capital as a means of developing effective interactions. Specific attention to the construction of one’s own racial/ethnic identity as well as those of other groups. Part I of the course will cover various foundations of interracial communication including topics such as language, identity, history, cultural influences, and theories. Part II will draw from this foundation and discuss interracial communication in a number of contexts such as in relationships, organizations, and the mass media.

 

 

 

ENG 3353 Social Class and Literature (3-3-0) Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 1302 and the Language, Philosophy Culture Core Component. A study of the role of social class in literary representation, production, and consumption.

 

 

 

HIST 4321 The Rise of Modern Women (3-3-0) Prerequisite: Students must have satisfied the History Core requirement, have junior standing, or consent of the instructor. This course explores the dramatic changes and continuities in the lives of women between The Ragtime Era (19IOs) and the Depression. Through a close analysis of key social issues, this class will describe and explain the birth of the modem woman in the early twentieth century. Examples of critical themes relevant to the transformation of western Women's identity include the feminist movement, consumerism, waged labor, popular culture, the post-war sexual revolution, gender relationships, and reproductive Issues.

 

 

 

PHIL 3306 Power and Political Philosophy (3-3-0) Prerequisite: ENG 1302. Examination of key texts and figures in the history of political philosophy with emphasis on the concept of power. The content of the course includes material ranging from Ancient Philosophy (Plato and Aristotle), Modern Philosophy (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, etc.), and key figures from the 19th century (Kant, Hegel, Marx, etc.) and 20th century (Foucault, Frankfurt School, Rawls, etc.). The course analyses issues such as the role of power in forms of government, socio-economic relations, educational systems, culture, media, and language.

 

 

 

PSY 4313 Psychology of Prejudice (3-3-0) Prerequisite: PSY 1303, 6 additional hours in PSY, and junior standing. This course draws on theory and research from social and cognitive psychology to explore stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Issues include the formation and maintenance of stereotypes, functions and costs of stereotyping, and stereotype change. Specific topics include privilege, oppression, racism, sexism, heterosexism and homophobia, classism, and discrimination on the basis of physical or cognitive ability. Both “old fashioned’ and modern, subtle forms of prejudice are investigated. Research on strategies for reducing intergroup conflict, violence, and discrimination will be explored.

 

 

I think I would enjoy those. At least until I had to converse with a bunch of 20 year-olds about any of it.

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Damn, y'all are ambitious. The thought of going to college would fill me with anxiety. I sucked at school as a kid, and simply don't have the drive or study habits/discipline to do schoolwork. Plus, I never had any idea what I wanted to do with my life....so I basically did nothing. :( Good luck with your classes, Cerina. Sounds like you have this all under control. <3

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