seattlejo.com

This might seem obvious, but I never followed the normal path to college. My senior year I spent more time trying to work two jobs and “keep it together” then I did pouring over college brochures. I won’t say I didn’t dream a little. I had information from Seattle Pacific University sent to me  and considered, but never applied.

A few years after my graduation I considered it again. I was looking into further information on colleges and was considering  institutions  where out of state  tuition was as cheap as  Illinois’s instate  tuition.  This included Arkansas  and Alaska. (I worked at Kinkos at the time and even considered transfering for work while I was at it. ) College waited a few more years though.

Now I’ve worked long and hard to get where I am. I’ve made some personal changes and am working to immerse myself in my student education. I work part time at a student job. I pay attention to the events on campus, and have adjusted my schedule next quarter so I can participate. I am taking a class next quarter that allows me to direct and improve the program I am in. I am connecting to my classmates more and engaging in my classes more. I’m taking the time to be a student.
Even in High school, from the time I started working, I didn’t take that time.

I’m not going to to go live in the dorms. I won’t be dashing off to some frat party. I wont pick up a drinking habit, indulge in irresponsible relationships until I spiral out of control and have to drop all my classes for the quarter. I suppose I could, but that’s not my goal.

i want to explore my education in a hands on manner. I want to be part of real experiences that change my world view and increase my knowledge.
So now I want to go study abroad. I want to spend a few weeks studying in a remote location. I like the idea of an experiential process where I am immersed in what I am learning.  If the situation allows I want to take the chance and do it. I want to take a chance and explore a culture outside my own and have a hands on experience towards my education. I plan on taking advantage of the Capstone Project opportunity next year. I’m investigating the possibility of doing an internship over the summer. And I’m looking into going study abroad.

I’m looking at a short course at Schumacher College. (They dont have summer class listed yet, but I’m sure they’ll have something interesting. I would be on my own financially to arrange this one. i’m also looking at official UW Exploration Seminars. Perhaps business and information technology in Germany? Coffee study  in Costa Rica?  Food and Fuel in Brazil? Sustainable/intentional living in India?  I’m going to apply to a couple of them and see what I can get into and what I can do about financial aid.  The opportunities are rich and I hope to be able to  take one.

I think Jeff is the one who taught me the word unrecovery. You see recovery is what happens when you come to your senses and leave your job in tech support . Unrecovery? when you slip slide back into that role again, clearly having forgoten the frustration and how good freedom tasted when you left.

You see my friends, I have entered into a state of unrecovery. Four plus years ago I quit my job in tech support at Major Seattle ISP to return to school and focus on academics.  And  through  the hard work of those four years I have made my way back right where I started. Though this time its tech support for the University itself, in a student role.

Walking into training last monday I was once again reminded of the typical make up of this profession. As I smiled happily at my fellow student workers, all male and few of them even of the age to drink, I knew what they were thinking “WTF is this old woman doing in our training class?”

Yet the lead who was doing the training knew. He had done my technical interview. He knew that my experience runs deep and that I dont go running from a terminal like much of todays youth. At one point he opened up the main UW website in Lynx and smirked  at the bewildered students. Looking at me he nodded “You’ve used this before havent you?”

I’m excited by the new job to be honest. The hours are flexible, the office respects student schedules and the people I work with seem nice and knowledgeable. The tech support angle is good too, feeling like I’m scratching a part of my brain that I didn’t know itched.

Welcome to Unrecovery.

Hows school going you ask?

Well I’m still thrilled with the campus, the bus ride is ok, though I’m not as productive during that time as I could be. My Environmental Issues class is a bit of a review so its not ground shattering for me. I’m enjoying the professor though and like the class.

During my interdisciplinary inquiry class we’re doing an assignment that as far as I can tell is the equivalent of academic masturbation. You know, getting all worked up  for  no point. We’ve developed our research question and have spent a lot of time in pursuit of this research. We are writing two  proposals on it, 3 essays  and  giving a presentation.

For research we arent going to be doing.

The point is to teach us all about  the process so we don’t get lost in the details, but is still feels like we’re working ourselves up for nothing. Well almost all of us. My friend Debbie is going to be working with our prof next quarter and actually working on her research.

Speaking of masturbation, my topic is Being who you aren’t : How do anonymous online communities encourage the assumption of roles different from real life roles  and roles assumed in  non anonymous online communities?

This is of course sparked by my recent foray into Second Life I’m terribly intriqued by the landscape provided and the activities that are gravitated towards. As I told my classmates I visit the NOAA Science Island : empty, the Vassar campus : empty, Spanky’s Sex Club? full.

As if you were surprised. I just think there is some good research that could be done with these kind of communities. (Second Life is not unique, I know of other communities that have the same issue, its something about electronic anonymity)

=

This looks like a tranquil scene doesnt it? So why does this place make me turn into Mr Furious?

(This being one of the tranquil fountains at North Seattle Community College)

The fight for services as an evening student is never ending. Last week it was a forwarded flyer about the wonderful Student Success Fair they were having from 10-1
The flyer read

Stressed over finals?
Need help paying tuition
Hear about the new programs?
Ready to transfer or graduate?

Come to the Student Success Fair!
Thursday February 21st
10-1pm

I emailed about it, and basically asked, why arent these sorts of events accessible for evening students? Is there really no interest in retaining us?
This week is Transfer Activities week. Guess how many events are available past 5pm?
None
Of course. Why would evening students be planning to transfer to a 4 year University.Registration problems

The final straw came yesterday. I was preparing to register for my spring classes and found there was a hold on my account. The generic message told me I was blocked from registering because of a hold. A call to the registrar’s office came first. “Does it say why you have a hold?” “Nope” “Are you sure?”
Why would I lie about it?
The registrar person came back after a few minutes. “It’s advising let me transfer you”

Advising asks “Why do you have a hold on your account?”
“I Don’t know it just says I cant register”
“Are you sure? ”
“Yes”
“Please hold”

She placed me on hold for 30 minutes. Well not really. more like 5 minutes but there is always a perception that you are on hold longer.

“What was your problem again?”
“I have a hold on my account placed by advising. Can I get it removed?”
“Oh, let me put you to Judy. ”
At this point I’ve had no confirmation of what the problem might be or how Judy is going to fix it.
“Ok, and she’ll help me remove the hold?”
“I think she’s in her office and will be able to help”

I was immediately transfered to voice mail.

“rage building, blood pressure climbing…”

I called back a couple of times to Judys voice mail and ultimately ended up emailing her.
Evidently I’d been placed on hold because I had over 45 credits and I needed to work with her to make a plan to finish my degree to be ready for my transfer.

Could I come in and meet ?

“rage building, blood pressure climbing…”

I love having to take time off of work to go to school. I love having a hold on my account when I try to apply for the last required class I have.

This is particularly frustrating because I’m busy working on my application for transfer for a university. This is due on Friday. What could she possibly encourage me to do for my last 2 quarters that would change my direction? I’ve gone into advising multiple times before and asked for assistance in planning. They usually shrug their shoulders tell me i’m doing fine and to just be careful of taking too many classes. Now that I’m almost done, 24 credits left, 1 actual requirement left I’m boggled. Shouldnt they have been more concerned Fall term when I met with them? Isn’t it too late now?

Thankfully Judy was able to work with me over email and the issue was resolved. I’m registered for the Communications class I needed and will be able to continue on with my plan for world domination.

The quarter ended last week, and I waited on pins and needles. Would I pass? Had I done well enough to finish or would I have to repeat it? It was a rough quarter, and I really didnt put enough effort into it in the beginning. In the end it came back to bite me as I really didnt have enough time at the end of the quarter to give the material proper attention. I ended up binging and purging on my math, I’d suck in as much information as possible then I’d go in on saturday morning and purge the information out as accuratly as possible.

The score came in Tuesday. 2.3. This meant that the books were now obselete, and that burning could commence.

A was more then happy to include a couple of text books of his own. See?