This hasn't been easy

With everything going on in my life right now, journaling is a welcomed release. It is almost the end of this term at Kaplan, and I have a B in both classes. As stressful as school is, I am glad to be doing it because I enjoy the sense of pride it gives me. I am thankful I was diligent enough to get back into school and hold a B avaerage after being gone for 10 years. I am growing comfortable with discipline, maybe I even like it! When I spend time with my daughter, I feel good knowing that in just a couple years the two of us won't have to do without.. I will be able to support her and I, and therefore be a step closer to my dreams. I know I will not stop there. I am going to continue my education even I after this degree. I enjoy school, and there are so many more things I wish to learn in my life. Overall, I am glad I choose Kaplan to re-start my education. This is a group of students and faculty that are a true pleasure to work with. I have had some truly enlightening experiences during my time here. I wish everyone at Kaplan success in everything they do. So, here's to one week left!

Week 7 out of 10

I'm in a bit of an angry mood today. I am tired of so many things that have become customary to my life. I am tired of my mother being in pain ALL the time. I know life is not fair, someone let me in on that little secret a long time ago. I also remember someone once telling me you get what you deserve, but I know that is not always the case. My mother has worked all her life. She doesn't have a degree, but she has always been employed. Her health over the years has deteriorated and she has undergone surgeries. She remains in chronic pain. Obviously, she is no longer able to work. However she has applied for disability three times and they have denied her everytime. One of the surgeries included cutting her from hip to hip, and her body rejected the sutures. Many doctors she has seen agree that is it not possible to work in the condition she is in. She would have to undergo more surgery if that was ever to ever be an option again. It makes me mad to know that our country, the best country in the world, cannot do better than that. Our entire healthcare and social service needs reform!

Today was a good day:)

The sun was shining bright all day, even though the heat seemed unbearable, I faced it and I am so glad I did. My family hardly ever the chance to spend time as a family. We are all on such different schedules and it seems that when one has time off, the others are working. Someone always gets left out of anythig we try all together. Today was one of the rare times we all the chance to relax and get away. Me, my daughter, mom, dad, sister and nephew all went to a favorite water hole that we used to frequent when I was younger. I always had such good memories at this place. It was good to have the chance to be around the people I live with in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Our family has been going through such rough times, it was a joy to see that we can enjoy one anothers company. Family is so important to me and there are times when I don't feel we are close at all. Especially my sister. She is battling an addiction and most times she just isn't herself. Today she laughed and we talked like we used to. We all went swimming and got lots of sun and had BBQ sanwiches for lunch! Even my daughter and nephew played nice without fighting! I need days like this!

School, and life for that matter, are difficult

A wise man once told me "nothing worth having ever comes easy". I am really feeling that statement today. I am 28 years old. My 10 year high school reunion is this year. I have not been to ANY school since I graduated high school, and I find myself in my third term at Kaplan. I know it is normal to feel discouraged now and then, so I try to keep the anxious feelings to a bare minimum. I have so many responsibilities other than school. I am a single mother, which is lovely. My mother is not in great health and needs my help daily. My sister, who is battling drug addiction, has moved herself and her son in with me. I also work full time. Sometimes I wish I would have begun school going part time instead of full time. I jumped in head first without realizing what the workload would be. I am stoked at the idea of having my degree in only three years, but right now it feels like a mistake, taking on such a big task. One of my first classes was Academic Strategies, and I learned about stress management and how it pertains to time management. I feel like so many people depend on me for so many different things. It is impossible for me to say no sometimes because I know they need me. I don't have enough help, and I can't give up any of these responsibilities. All I know is that I want to be able to do it all. But how is it possible? I know it is, I just can’t seem to figure out how to do it!

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is not something to be taken lightly. It is stealing. After reading about plagiarism in the KU Handbook, I realized there are many instances that you could plagiarize someone without intention. The consequences a student must face make plagiarism very unappealing to me. You run the risk of being thrown out of school. Citing your sources is helpful because if someone that reads your essay wants further information on the topic, they use your references to find more information. It is simply rude to pass the ideas of others off as your own. No one would like this kind of action to be taken against them. I find it best to generate your own thoughts and ideas. Isn’t that what we are all in school for? I think it is awful, but plagiarism actually happens often in the workplace. One of my favorite series on TV was “The Riches”. It was about family gypsies (travelers) that assume the role of a wealthy family. The father has a new job as a lawyer, which he knows nothing about. Instead of coming clean, he tricks the paralegal into doing his work, by asking her questions about cases and she thinks he is testing her for some kind of promotion. Although it was very entertaining, I assume this has happened to someone at work, and it is not funny in that case. Bottom line is that everyone should be given credit for their own ideas or expertise.

Am I a writer? Could I be a writer?

My older sister, now there is a girl that can write! She can mesmerize and tantalize you with beautifully sculpted lines and leave you eager to read more. I have always envied that about her. I only recently became interested in writing and reading for recreation, as we will call it. I do believe that merely wanting to excel in writing is enough to actually do it. You have to find a place inside yourself. A place where a voice waits to be heard. You find your feelings and you take the time to become familiar with them. Practice putting those feelings on paper. I find reading helps a lot with vocalizing your own thoughts.

I am thinking about this scientific research paper for college comp2, and I have decided to write about the environment, global warming, to be exact. I can't say I am not nervous about this project. However I feel strongly about humans being aware of the damage we cause to our planet. I know there will be plenty of information available on the topic, so I am confident about researching. I really strive to improve my writing skills with this class. I think it is important to know the mechanics of our language, so that we can write effectively in our careers.

I enjoy the idea of writing for pleasure, as a sort of release. I know I will never write as good as Maya Angelou, but I'm hoping with some practice, and a little expertise from my composition teacher, I will soon be writing page after page of my poems, or short stories. It would be a great way to get things off my chest and who knows, one day I might be as eloquent as my darling sister! :)