Education

Fall Semester 2022 is Done!

~ Guy Hall

I took my last exam. I barely managed to pass the exam. However, I did pull a C+ in the class. It was Introduction to Psychological Measurements. The instructor was terrific; the topic was excruciating. And as I posted earlier, I managed a B for Introduction to Biology. Again, the instructor was excellent; but unlike the other class, the subject was enjoyable.

They are not my best grades, but all things considered, I’m glad to have passed the classes. With all that has gone on during the last five months, I am surprised I finished the semester.

Almost Done!

~ Guy Hall

I finished Biology 1001. I took my last exam this morning and managed 87%. I’m happy with that. I also turned in my last assignments for PSY 3801. It was a statistical course, Introduction to Psychological Measurement and Data Analysis. I still have one exam, and then I am completely, utterly, fantastically done with the Fall Semester.

For the record, worse semester ever. Not the classes but what life threw at me the last six months. How I managed to get passing grades is beyond me. I look to be getting a B in Biology, which I am overjoyed about. I look to be holding onto a C in the Psychology class, with which I am content. Considering that I was switching jobs, making multiple trips to Green Bay while Tina dealt with the passing of her mother, including handling the estate, and then Tina having emergency surgery to remove her rupturing aneurysm, I’m grateful I finished my classes.

An Eclectic Post

Eclectic
~ Guy Hall ~ 1 Comment

So, I decided to attempt one today because it has been such an incredibly long time since my last post. However, my mind is blank. Nothing is pressing upon which I wish to write. I have no struggles needing to talk out to get a different perspective. Hell, I can’t even come up with a title for this post at the moment. No doubt, one will bubble up from this low expectation stream of conscious chatter.

Sigh. I guess I can recap.

Obviously, I’ve not written about any exercise. A while back, I switched from running to using Nordic Walking Sticks. However, my back continues to be bothersome. I decided to take a break. My last activity was on September 20th. I managed a long walk, but it paid hell on my back. Hence the break. However, I plan to attempt a walk or run today. I haven’t yet decided which.

Another area of my life upon which I have not written is education. I ended up dropping out of two semesters in a row. I just didn’t have the mental capacity to stay focused. I was quickly overwhelmed and found myself unable to muster the motivation to work on assignments. Well, that seems to have changed. I once again signed up for classes. Two, as usual, for the six-credit minimum to qualify for loans and scholarships. I find I can muster up the motivation to get my work completed on time. I also find I can get through assignments with relative ease. The prior semesters saw me struggling to comprehend class expectations.

Meanwhile, I have been moving through three different jobs over the past two years. The one job I lost due to, well, being fed up with the incompetent leadership. I finally decided to stand up to the mistreatment and was fired for “insubordination.” That’s corporate-speak for not being willing to put up with being mentally and emotionally abused. The following job found me working for a company that had no leadership at all. The owner, who titled themself as “Program Director,” showed up for all of three or four hours a week. And when they did show up, it was to proclaim edicts that would leave us unsupported. When the mandates didn’t deal with our situation, they would apologize and state they should have probably gone with what we wanted. When another problem arose, they would repeat the cycle. I have now found a new job. Suffice it to say; I don’t usually post about current employment. However, I will make a small exception and say I am happy with my job. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Wait. Was that a feather that just floated past?

Okay, let me backtrack a bit. I forgot to mention during my expounding on education that I received high praise from one of my instructors. They informed me I was a “powerful writer.” I would pat myself on the back, but my stiff and sore body does not allow for such actions. Oh, and I figured out a title for this post.

I Hate Drawing

~ Guy Hall

I cannot draw. I’ve known this for all of my life. And no, I don’t buy the “anyone can draw” bullshit. So, when I signed up for a psychology class, the last thing I expected was an art component. But that’s what I have to do. Now, I’ll draw, but it does not do anything for my learning experience. Just the opposite, it bogs me down. I do not get the thought behind making me do art. It seems to be an unsound theory not supported by any real-world situations.

Now, I get the concept of critical thinking. I believe it is a crucial aspect of being able to succeed in the world. However, I’m not convinced that it is a process that can be taught equally to everyone with the expectation of a universal time-frame. People learn at different paces and in different ways. I am a word thinker. My thoughts are dialogue. I cannot visualize anything. Nor do I hear music. Or have music in my mind. Just words. Just dialogue. So, I am a simple man who likes to receive information through words. I will go through life using what I was taught, gaining mastery at my pace.

It irritates me when education goes beyond educating and forces premature “mastery” of subjects. In other words, they are trying to force comprehension. It is the one thing I have learned in all my years as a counselor – I cannot force my clients to gain comprehension. It is a spontaneous process that occurs at a different pace for each individual. Mastery is gained through repeated effort. And through their respective manner of thinking. Kinetic thinkers, auditory thinkers, visual thinkers, and emotive thinkers all learn in different ways. Unfortunately, teachers are forced to craft a classroom without regard to the various manner of thinking. And that’s a shame.

Oh, and for the first time since I started college, I have an instructor that I am not liking. It’s a first for me.

Educational Update #356*

~ Guy Hall

Okay, okay. I know. It’s been a while since I’ve punched the keys and produced a post for my blog. So, here it is.

I finished the weekly work on one of my courses. Unfortunately, due to being under the weather physically and mentally, I fell behind on a major project due on Monday. It requires creating a question and finding an answer in historical sources. I also have a 10-page case study analysis paper due in my other class on Monday. It requires no research, so I’ll get it done tomorrow.

Thankfully I have an understanding instructor who is going to give me more time to get the project finished. So, I’ll also be working on a question (my biggest struggle) for some historical sources about past plagues or other such microbial-caused illnesses. But, I know I’ll get it done.

I hope you all are doing well and dealing with the current state of affairs that has befallen our world. I know I have good days and bad days. Hell, sometimes I have good hours and bad hours all in the same evening. We are in one unique period in this modern era. I hold you all in the Light.

*I have no idea how many education updates I’ve created.

Stalling

~ Guy Hall

I should be working on assignments. I finished the work for one class already today. I’m now just waiting for my motivation to finish its walk around the neighborhood. So, while that’s happening, I’m posting here on my blog.

Aren’t you happy to know this?

Something’s Wrong

~ Guy Hall

There’s something wrong with me. Seriously. I’m kinda scared. I managed to finish all my school work yesterday, with a simple question and response assignment finished this morning after I ran.

This is not like me. I wait until the last minute. I don’t start on my assignments until I have just a little less time than is necessary to complete them. It’s like I’m suddenly confident in my ability to do my school work.

I’m seriously scared. I need a hug.

Oh, and yes, I’ve been maintaining at least a 2 to 4 day per week exercise routine. And I’m journaling every morning as well.

Wow, I think I’m terminal. That’s it, call it. Pull the plug.

Morning World

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

So, I’m up and at it early on a Sunday morning. I’ve finished my morning routine of mindfully writing a journal entry, read my horoscopes, and made some chess moves at Gameknot. Now I’m going to get ready to put some time on the treadmill. After that, it’s a run to the store to replace the Cream of Chicken soup I accidentally grabbed yesterday with a can of Cream of Mushroom soup that’s needed for the pork steaks. Once I get home with that, I am going to isolate myself into my office and get my school work done. 

The New Year

~ Guy Hall

First, let me say without hesitation – 2019 sucked! Completely and totally.

There, I got that off my chest.

Now, about 2020. I’m open to it being better than 2019 was. However, I am not going to get all demanding and insistent. No need to jinx the New Year.

Instead, I’m going to resume my exercise routine, my meditation routine, and continue on with schooling.

Oh, and speaking of school. Somehow I managed to pull off a grade of B- for a class in which I figured was going to be a C- or a D. It was a BEE class (don’t ask me what BEE stands for I am not going to look it up at this time) and I’ve not had good experiences with them. My other class was an A-. It was an FSOS class (Family Social Sciences). The second one I have taken. I seem to do really good in those classes, despite the extensive writing they entail.

About Education

~ Guy Hall

Yeah, it’s been a while since I elucidated about my ongoing education. I have a critique paper due tonight for my Family Social Science class. I selected my study and read through it last night. Now I just have to write the essay itself. I also had a chapter to read in the text for the class. And a study on ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences). I have gotten through both of them and did my discussion and response post. Writing the paper will be no problem.