Ready, set, learn!

I've received my books in the mail.

I've set up my desk at home.

I've got 5 days until classes officially begin.

And I am about half way into full fledged 'OMG I'm actually going back to school, what if I don't remember how to study, or do homework, or..or..or!' panic mode.

It almost seems surreal. It's taken me ten years to finally get to where I feel ready to go back to college. I'm really excited, but at the same time I'm also really very nervous.

What if I don't have the capacity for memory recall that I did when I was younger, what if I really need the stimulus of actual in class discussion, what if, what if, what if.

I guess it's normal to be a little anxious. I mean even when we were kids, the first day of a new year held the stigma of the unexpected. What teachers will I have, will I like my classes, will I meet and make new friends, will the cafeteria finally serve decent food for lunch?

I think even more awe inspiring than the actual going back to school part is the idea that in a little less than 4 years I will have a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. I will be a college graduate. The first in my immediate family.


If you've thought about going back to school and don't think you have the time for traditional classes, I really encourage you to check into online learning. There are many accredited online colleges to choose from. I chose Virginia College because they also have a local campus here in Mobile, so if I decided I really want and can make time for the classroom experience I can make an easy transition.

I know not every program of study can be done online, but you'd be surprised at how many actually can. Heck you can become an ultrasound technician online, or a teacher, or a master of graphic design. The possibilities are endless!

Knowledge IS Power. Educate Yourself!!

Getting Me an Edjumukashun

My name is Mollie and I am a college graduate.

Ok so I will be, in about 3 and a half years.

It's taken ten (10) years but I'm finally going back to school to finish up my degree. I really should probably say start my degree rather than finish it. I mean I did go to college before, but I only took 4 classes and had no idea what I wanted to major in at the time.

I'm still not 100% sure that I know what I want to be when I grow up, but whatever it is, I'll be doing it with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Where am I going? Virginia College. Online.

I applied at the University of Mobile a few months ago and was accepted but then I started a part time job, on top of my full time job and realized that there was just really no way that I could work two jobs and go to school full time if I had to physically walk onto a campus and sit in a classroom for 2-4 hours each class.

Taking online courses is much more flexible and yes you receive an actual valid accredited degree. No cracker jack diploma for me.

I'd tell you all about how it worked but I haven't actually started classes yet. I am registered though and should be receiving my books in a couple of weeks. Classes start October 6th.

From what I can gather though, you sign on to each class a minimum of twice a week. You check in, get your assignment, check the forum and discussion boards and you're done. With the class part anyway. Then you have to do the actual assignment (yay homework!) and e-mail it to your professor.

For my first semester I'm taking Learning Framework (have no idea what it is, but it's a required 1st semester course), Intro to Business and Intro to Spanish I.

I'm also re-acquiring a new butt load of student loan debt, after taking only about 8 years to pay off the student loan from my previous college classes. My first go around with school I didn't look into or apply for any scholarships though, but I've learned my lesson about that and am going to be an essay writing fool for the next few weeks applying for any and every scholarship I can qualify for.

I'll be updating as classes progress, probably complaining about homework, and the general uselessness of some of the stuff I'll be learning. Sounds like high school

t I'm really excited. I've been wanting to go back to school for several years now and am super stoked that I'm finally able to.

Wish me luck!!

A new idea, a new dream, a new world

Just a few of the things you can find in a book.

April 13th through April 19th is National Library Week! This year's theme is "Join the circle of knowledge @ your library®."

Why am I blogging about National Library Week? Several reasons really.

1. Aahz from Morgan Hill Review posted an article about library funding or lack thereof and one of the reasons people thought libraries should be funded was a bit ridiculous to me. He's asked for some response to his review. I'm responding.

2. I LOVE to read. I always have. My mom said I started reading at around 3yrs of age and I've loved books ever since. I remember when I was six, I lived in Oklahoma and in my room was a book case that was about 6 foot tall and 4 foot wide. One of those big ones that cover half a wall. It was crammed full of books. I had every Dr. Seuss book there was. The shelves were also filled with the Barenstain Bears, the Little House on the Prairie collection, Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Mother Goose and a collection of nearly every Disney story that had been written at that time. I still have several of those books. 26 years later.

3. Kids don't read these days and that makes me sad. Parents spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on video games for their kids to plop down in front of for hours at a time then wonder why their 8th grader has a 3rd grade reading level. So few parents these days choose to spend good quality time with their child reading. They'd rather shell out the bucks and viola, electronic baby sitter. Psh. That's the nice way to say what I think about that. If you are a parent who reads to their child then good for you, I applaud you. Honestly.

Before I go on a rant about video games, electronic baby sitters and then allow you to bask in the glow of all I love about reading here's a bit of information about National Library Week.

History
In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA (American Library Association) and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious. They ranged from "encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing strong and happy family life."

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!"

National Library Week was observed again in 1959, and the ALA Council voted to continue the annual celebration. When the National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, ALA assumed full sponsorship.

Dates
National Library Week is observed each year in April, generally the second full week.

My niece Marley loves books. LOVES them. She just turned two and while she can't read yet, she can count to ten, is learning her colors and shapes, and can say her ABC's. If you point to words on a book, or writing on someones shirt and ask her what it is. She'll tell you "That's ABC's". So she's not just regurgitating something she's memorized but doesn't know. She knows what letters and numbers are.

She also has a book case in her room slam full of books. My sister (her mom) reads to her, my brother in law reads to her, my mom (her gramsy) reads to her, her papa & grandma, her aunts and uncles, all read to her. Every time I visit I read to her. She'll sit in your lap and look at the pictures and ask "What is that" and she actually says "what is that", no baby talk or toddler jargon with this one. She has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is always wanting to know what things are and usually remembers after the first time you tell her. One of my most favorite pictures is of her dad reading to her around Christmas time.

One of the things that really bothered me in the Morgan Hill review article is a part that said something along the lines of "If I saved the $195 the government taxes me to pay for libraries I could buy all the books I wanted". I don't know where this guy is shopping for books but $195 a year isn't going to buy much. At anywhere from $7 to $35 a book (and up!) at Barns & Noble or BooksAMillion, that's what, 10-15 books? I usually read between 1 to 4 books a week. Not little 130 page paper backs either. I do read those but it's usually in one 2 or 3 hour sitting. Even in I averaged only 2 books a week that is 104 books in a year. If I didn't have the library I'd easily spend $1,500 or more to buy books. Actually.. I take that back. I wouldn't spend that much money because I don't have that much extra money for buying books. Without the library I wouldn't be able to read as much as I like.

When I go to the library, which is pretty often, I'll check out 5 or 6 books at a time. I mean you get to keep them for a month. And it's FREE. Libraries have study programs, after school homework assistance programs, book clubs, classes on how to do genealogy research, basic Microsoft word, excel and other computer programs. Heck the libraries in Mobile even have a movie night. They show family friendly kid movies, old classics and current releases.

Thanks to having a love of books instilled in me at an early age I've always excelled in school, can write one hell of a term paper, present myself articulately and intelligently in interviews, and well a plethora of other little things that serve me well in every day life. I'm a great speller, pretty darn good at proper grammar and speak in full coherent (usually slang free) sentences. I also never use "big words" in the wrong context. A personal pet peeve of mine is people who use "big words" to try and sound smart but don't know the meaning of the word and use it in completely the wrong way. FYI to those who do this.. it makes you look stupid. Sorry but it's true.

I was a very active child, always participating in sports and other extra-curricular activities but my love for books and reading was always present. In a book you can find a new world, explore new possibilities, dreams, hopes and fantasies beyond your wildest imagination. You can escape in the story, get lost in a romance, sucked into an adventure, or become glued to the edge of your seat in a thriller. There's really not one part of a person that reading isn't good for. It soothes the soul, expands the mind and touches the heart. Without libraries where would everyone who couldn't afford to go buy a $10 book get stuff to read? Most libraries now offer free Internet and computer use. You can search for a job, look for a house, write a paper, do research for a report and most libraries these days even have video rental! I mean hello.. for those that would rather sit in front of the TV than read a book you can go rent the entire season collection of Lost, Greys Anatomy or almost any other TV series or movie you can think of and it's usually free!

In the words of one of my favorite childhood show theme songs....

Take a look....

It's in a book.......

a

Free Rice - Enhance your vocabulary & feed the hungry!!

About FreeRice

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.
FreeRice has two goals:

• Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
• Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
  

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.

How to Play

Click on the answer that best defines the word. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word. For each word you get right, we donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance... (more)

Click the banner to play!!