It's Over!

Well, another term down, several more to go! One step closer to graduation. I decided to write about the advice I would give to someone writing a scientific paper. Research is definitely something you can not do enough of! Don't be afraid to go back and research more as you are developing your paper. I ended up going back during my rough draft stage to find more information for one area, and ended up finding an abundance of information that I incorporated into my paper that gave me the research I needed to back up my paper. I found one article that had about ten articles included in it. I ended up citing about six of the articles I found in one source! I found freewriting to be the most effective for me during the pre-writing stage. I develop my thesis statement around the questions I have regarding my topic. So when you are writing your paper, think about the questions someone else would have when reading about the topic and make sure to address those questions. Also, the writing center is truly a great source of information! I found the paper review service to be an invaluable tool. Also, take any feedback you receive and think about it carefully when revising/editing your draft. Hope everyone enjoyed this term!

Farewell

I can't believe this term is almost over with! I thought the first term of college comp improved my writing abilities, but I had no idea how much the second term would improve them even more.  I like taking these classes with my other class that I have to write a research paper in as well.  I am looking forward to an easier term next, with a typing class, computer class and one other one.  I am in need of a break! I am that much closer to graduating and can't wait until that comes! Almost half way and it seems like I just started school. I am enjoying the ease of online classes, and will more than likely continue at Kaplan to get my bachelor degree.  I hope everyone did well in this class, and you continue to do well in your future classes!  Good luck all.

Commenting

Hey All.  I can not believe that it is almost the end of the term!  I have not been posting a lot on my blog, just what is required.  I haven't received too many comments on my blogs, but I think if I posted more often I would receive more.  I have noticed that I have received comments when it comes to my personal life, rather than stuff that has to do with school!  I love the comments that I have gotten when it comes to my personal life.  It's nice to hear opinions and advice from someone that can be objective.  It makes me feel better to know that other people are going through or have gone through the same things.  I hope everyone is doing well in this term, and hope to see more of you in our next classes!  I am glad I am doing as well as I have in this term, and hope I can continue it going forward!

Getting Ahead

I fell behind a couple weeks ago, and am finally almost all caught up! I am waiting for my professor in my A&P course to let me know she got my doctor's note so I can make up my work for that class. I am finally starting to get a better balance in my life to where I am not falling behind in any one area. Bonus is that I finally am able to start doing a different position for work and stop cleaning! I have been waiting to take my training class that is offered once a month. I am going to be leasing now, which means that I get commission on every rental :-) I helped out in the office today just by chance, and got two rentals my first day! I know that won't happen often, but at least I started with a bang! Everything is starting to fall into place for me, which takes some pressure and anxiety off. I can't wait for this term to end so I can start fresh next term! One more year and I will be done...can't come soon enough! Hope everyone has a good weekend :-)

One Day at a Time

Hey All!
 Well, the past couple weeks have been pretty difficult for me. I talked about some of that on my last post, so I will keep the gory details to myself for now. I feel completely behind with everything in my life and ended up in the hospital and doctor's office a lot the past week. I feel like I am getting everything under control, and now just have to play catch up for what I fell behind on.  I didn't sleep for five days, which ended up really screwing me up! You would be surprised at what happens to your body on every level when you can't sleep. I am now finally just starting to get back on track.  What sucks is I am now behind with school work, my job and my home.  My house is a mess, I am responsible for cleaning at my apartment building which has been neglected the past week, and I didn't finish a lot of my work for unit 5.  Luckily, everyone has been pretty flexible and understanding with me.  I think all of the stresses in my life finally took a toll.  I am learning that I am not superwoman and can't do it all!  My professors are awesome and are willing to work with me to get my work done.  It really irritates me that I fell behind because I am a perfectionist and not getting work done adds to my stress and anxiety levels!  So for now, I am trying to take everything one day at a time and get as much help as I can.  Thanks for reading, but I have to get back to my work that never ends!

When does this end?!

Man, I have had one of the worst months mood wise ever! Long story short, my doctor says I am suffering from severe depression and anxiety.  I started some medication that stopped working and switched to another.  Since I started the second one, I have had a bad reaction.  I have terrible nightmares that keep me awake, that is after I manage to fall asleep.  I get maybe two hours of sleep a night!  Then I am tired all day and don't want to do a damn thing.  I just want to sleep!  Needless to say, this has affected every aspect of my life.  I don't get to do as much as I want to with my daughter.  That is the worst thing I would have to say when she has to suffer because of me.  I can't help but feel like a terrible mother.  That of course adds to the depression part, and it is all a terrible never ending circle.  I finally got a hold of my doctor who said I am having a  bad reaction to the medicine.  I have tried taking any medication to help me sleep, and changing my habits and schedule to help me sleep.  I am waiting for when this all stops and I can go back to "normal".  Not only is my personal life suffering, but my school work too.  I finally just emailed one professor to tell them what is going on.  I don't like to admit that I am not doing okay and something is wrong with me, so that was difficult.  Is anyone else having the same problems??? Thanks for reading I needed to just get that out! Its midnight now and I am going to attempt to go to sleep...we'll see how this goes :(

Getting Through School

Hey Everyone! I decided to write about how school has influenced me.  I always thought that I would go to college and graduate on time right after high school.  I have always been a really good student, so I figured I would follow in the studious path. Well, I made it through a year and a half before taking a seven year hiatus! I wasn't ready to be a serious student and needed/wanted a break from school.  I took a much longer break then anticipated, but here I am again!  I have no plans on any breaks before I get my associates degree.  I have my daughter to thank for the motivation to go back to school.  I am a single mom supporting the both of us, and I knew I had to do something to enter a career and be able to give her the things she needs and wants to get through life.  I also want to be the best role model for her that I can be, and now days you can't get anywhere without and education.  I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so doing online classes was the only thing that was going to work for me.  Luckily, I found Kaplan and a degree that I could obtain all online!  I am going for medical transcription.  I want to eventually be able to work from home, so that way I can still be a stay-at-home mom who is independent enough to work too!  I guess school has influenced the type of life that I am choosing now to lead.  It has influenced every aspect of my life, from my potential career to the family dynamic that I will be able to have once I graduate.  I hope that answered the topic question!  Have a good week everyone!

Don't Steal My Work!

  What would you do if someone used something you created without giving you credit? 

I decided to write about this topic today.  In my first course at Kaplan, I ran into this myself.  I did not copy someone!  A fellow classmate copied my work, and I was not happy about it.  I was doing well in the course and she was struggling, so I offered to help her out.  I had already turned in my assignment, and forwarded it to her so she could get an idea of what my responses were.  Well she sent me her assignment, and it was the same as mine, just minus some words.  I wasn't sure if I was over reacting, so I had my dad look at the two assignments side by side.  He told me this is absolutely copying your work, you need to tell your professor.  So I emailed my professor, and have to say I was disappointed in her response.  She said since it was not an exact copy of what I wrote, it would not be considered plagiarism!  I did what I should have and did the right thing, but felt that I should have gotten a different outcome.  I learned my lesson and did not help her again in the class.  It makes me leery about working with any other fellow classmates too.  I am hoping this was just a one time experience, and I don't have to deal with it again!  Anyone else have the same problems?

Blog-o-sphere

Hi Everyone!
 I have decided to blog about being a part of the larger community know as bloggers!  I really did not know what I was getting into when I had to set up a blog.  I have found that I look forward to logging in and reading other posts.  What I like the most is being able to remain somewhat anonymous with classmates but having a re pore at the same time.  I have felt free to write details about my life that I do not feel comfortable talking about to the people closest to me.  I can get a completely objective opinion from someone who does not know all the gory details too.  I love to write to get my feelings out.  I am one of those people who keep everything inside until I blow up and have no idea what is making me feel that way.  I am too busy helping my friend's and family with their problems to bother anyone with my own.  I have found that when I have opened up to anyone I know, they are not truly listening to me and offer no good advice.  I have one friend that I am very close to who I would trust to tell my darkest secrets, but that is about it!  I really love blogging and will probably continue to do so once this course is over.  I am hoping that all of you will remain followers and we keep in touch as well!

One Amazing Year!

Well, I didn't get the job I was going for.  I think it will turn out for the better though.  It would have been a huge headache for daycare, and the job I have now allows me to still be a stay-at-home mom while working, which is what I wanted the whole time!  My daughter just turned one year old on October 3rd.  I had a birthday party for her which was a blast!  Kids got to decorate cupcakes, make their own food and break open a pinata.  We had a lot of really good food.  She got to dig into a cake that I baked and decorated for her.  It was the best first birthday!  I can't believe my baby is one though.  This past year was filled with plenty of memories.  For the first half of the year, I thought I would never be back to my normal self again.  I had a c-section, ended up having cellulitis, had a homecare nurse over every day for like two months to help me take care of my incision that opened and needed to be packed, I had surgery to remove a lump in my neck a month after she was born, my dog had a litter of puppies the same day as my neck surgery (I had to take care of all of them), I broke up with Madison's dad, man the list goes on and on and on.  But things finally settled down this summer, and I am so happy to be where I am at now!  I wouldn't change any of it, well maybe the part about all the trouble I had after she was born.  I would definitely change that!

A Year of My Amazing Life

A year ago tomorrow, I went into labor at 6:00 am. My daughter, Madison, will be one on Sunday! I am excited for her birthday to come, and also a little stressed out about the party planning.  This might sound weird, but I am a little depressed that I am not having another baby right now!  I am single, and not even dating anyone so it would make it pretty difficult anyways!  The past year has flown by so quickly!  I love seeing new things Madison does everyday, and miss having a little baby :(  I hope eventually one day to have more kids, but know it isn't in the cards for me now!  I am a single mommy doing it all on my own.  I have to say, I would not change a thing!  I am a much more stronger, independent, responsible person now that I have Madison.  I left her dad when she was about a month old, and should have done it a lot sooner.  He calls me about once every four months or so to pretend that he wants to see her and asks why I won't let him.  It is a very long story, so maybe on another blog I will share more.  Anyways, it is really difficult to be the mom and the dad.  I wish she had a dad that was responsible enough to be in her life.  For now, I am doing it on my own.  We have so much fun, and are getting along just fine without him!  I have to say that I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.  She is just so funny, and smart, and cute, and so much more.  She amazes me on a daily basis and is the most wonderful thing to wake up to everyday.  I think I would be so depressed if I had to share her with anyone anyways!  Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Decisions Decisions

I had a job interview today for a new job! It was a group interview, which was kind of weird at first sitting next to the people you are competing against for the same position.  I was hoping that I made an impression.  I don't have to wait long to hear an answer since they are making call backs tomorrow.  This job will give me the health care experience that I am looking for to benefit me for when I graduate in a year.  I am just moving into a new position where I work now, so it is going to be a tough decision! There are a lot of things I would have to figure out to make the  new job work, like daycare and arranging someone to pick my daughter up since I would be working till after her daycare closes.  I live where I work now, which makes it even more complicated.  I work in property management, and hold two positions with the company currently.  I was hoping they would let me keep my second job that I get a rent credit for so I could keep my apartment rent free, and have a new job making cash.  It is a lot to think about in a small time frame, but I don't know why I am stressing about it now!! I have not gotten the job offer (yet).  Any advice?