TJSloan's Journal, 16 September 2013

Before you quit! Try to sort out what about the classes seems to stress you out the most. Do you have a difficult assignment to do? Do you have a test? ect. If you can find the stressor then you can try to change it. What is your ultimate goal from going to school? If it is a dream, are you willing to give up a dream because of a few classes? Food for thought! Whatever you decide, I am here for you. 

Honestly, I decided to go back to school for a couple of reasons. The first of which is because I was bored. The second of which was because I was/am at a point in my job where upward mobility is not an option for me, with my current education level. I never really wanted to be a manager, but I did want more options. Currently, I am capped out at what I make, with no options of a pay increase as long as I stay in my current position, or at my current employer. What is stressing me out the most right now, with this class, is that it's English Comp 2. This is my 4th attempt at this class, and each time in the past I have either failed or dropped out due to having to write an argumentative term paper...or writing in general. Even in high school writing an argumentative term paper was impossible for me to do. 20 yrs have passed since I've taken an English Class and the fact that I have run into a stone wall on writing my first Essay, and I have 2 more essays, plus an agumentative term paper looming, makes me want to go toss my cookies as I'm sitting here typing this. If I don't pass this class with at least a C, I can go no further in my degree. But once again, at 43 yrs old, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I was looking for a Bachelor Degree in Healthcare Management...just so I would have options, not because I want to be a manager. And once again..I was bored with my life. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. And like I've said, Intermediate Algebra had me in tears, telling my husband I couldn't do it. Statistics had me in tears, telling my husband I couldn't do it. Nutrition and Classical Mythology, yeah I stayed nervous about those classes, but at least I wans't in tears. English Comp II not only has me in tears, but also in the bathroom on my knees tossing my cookies. Was it a dream? No. But I also don't feel like finding a way to fight boredom is worth all this. 

One final question. Do you need to continue to get raises to retire? How does your husband feel. If you are happy where you are at your job and boredom is your problem, try finding a hobby. May take a while, but you will have something to do. 

I can understand your fear of writing papers, I can't say I'm any good at that either but if you need the course then you will have to push thru. If you know the papers are coming up start writing a little each day. You can keep separate document files going and add/delete as you review what you have previously done. It helped me to peck away on it a little at a time and by the time they were finished and submitted i felt really good about the work i had done - vs waiting to the last minute to turbo blast thru the night and create something to get a passing grade. slow down, breathe, and plan for the future assignments not drag butt until the panic sets in. any get a good protein bar that you like to curb the heaves. 

Well, honestly, my husband is all excited and helping me with my papers. We have a rough draft due for a research paper due while we're on vacation, and as far as discussion boards go, I'm ahead by about two weeks. The problem with planning ahead for the papers, is that I don't/won't know what the subject for the paper is, until he posts it on the boards a week or so before it's due. Right now, we've got the term paper, and we're supposed to be reading Hamlet, so I'm going to get started on that. The week we get back from vacation I have an essay due, and I'm guessing that it's going to be on Hamlet. The final copy of my term paper will be due the week following that and my third essay will be due just before final exam. Rob's all excited that he can help me with English and writing the papers and now I understand that during my math classes, he was just as frustrated as I was because he knew there was no way he could help me with it. Kathy, in answer to your question, yes, I need to continue to get raises as much as possible. I could not survive on my own based on what I make with the bills I have. Work has started to turn around, I have a new manager who seems to actually understand me and it's like having a breath of fresh air in here. I'm actually getting up in the morning and actually putting on make-up to go to work. We're talking, more than just a powder foundation and blush. I'm back to including eye shadow, mascara and lipstick/gloss as well as trying to match my outfits with my jewelry. And speaking of Jewelry, if anyone is interested, I'm a LiaSophia Advisor and with Christmas right around the corner, we're offering a buy two items, get four items at half price. The two items you purchase can be your least expensive items, while your half price items can be your most expensive items. LiaSophia comes with a 100% lifetime guarantee as long as you hold on to your invoice which comes with your jewelry. If the pieces ever break, or if you just change your mind about liking the piece, you can send it back with $5 and they will fix it or exchange it for something else of equal value and send you a certificate reimbursing you the $5. You can visit my webpage at www.liasophia.com/teresasloan 

Well, it sounds like you will just have to kick this classes butt. If your husband is willing to help you, let him. I don't like writing papers either so I would write something and my sister who is great at writing would read it and critic it and help me. If it helps, you can always post your papers here too. I love a good argumentative paper. I am good at giving my opinions on this. Do you know the topic yet? 

The term paper is on Women in US Military Combat, and I'm for it. I think we may have it roughly done....maybe