First Post

Assignment 1

bØ List your own quote, favorite saying, song, or other expression of your feelings today.

Just wrote this one last week, it's called Bumblebees. i'd be happy to perform it:

Six years ago I didn't have a clue in the world
Six years ago I didn't have a clue about the world
I was just a fumblin' bumblebee
Stumblin' blindly around the world

Refrain:
But you've shown me that I have
All of the wherewithal to be a man
So I'm doin' the best I can
Yeah I'm doin' the best I can

Six months ago I didn't have a clue in the world
Six months ago I didn't have a clue about the world
I was just a fumblin' bumblebee
Stumblin' blindly around the world

R

Six minutes ago I didn't have a clue in the world
Six minutes ago I didn't have a clue about the world
I am just a fumblin' bumblebee
Stumblin' blindly around the world

R

Six billion people here don't have a clue in the world
Six billion people here don't have a clue about the world
We're all just fumblin' bumblebees
Stumblin' blindly around the world
We're all just fumblin' bumblebees
Stumblin' blindly around the world

Ø Now that you made it to NMU – why are you here?

To get a degree in pre-radiology and become an X-ray tech, before specializing in (probably) nuclear medicine.

Ø How did you choose this school?

Through Michigan Works' "No Worker Left Behind" program. If I pay for the first year and make the cut, the state pays for the last two years.

Ø List initial observations of your new environment.

It's college - in some ways it's harder than my last attempt but I'm a lot more mature now and I'm not quite as overwhelmed. Plus, Flint's a big scary place and Marquette not so much. ;)

Ø List initial observations of your classes.

Human Anatomy (BI-201) was the only class that really overwhelmed me the first day. Dr. Froiland projects an air of unapproachability about him - the forced distance is intended to make you work harder to earn his favor. He knows that the anatomy class is required and that half of his 150-someodd biology class is gonna peter out and half of the remnants are gonna barely squeak by with a C, and the first week he doesn't know who's gonna pass against who's going to fail. I have made it a point to sit in the second row, and take a ridiculous amount of notes, and study those notes (I've never actually studied-studied in any of my classes before - it's working.) and work my ass off to ace this class. This is the class that's going to make or break my entrance into the final cut.....and it doesn't help that it's at 8:00 AM either, eh?

Anatomy lab will be fun; being on Friday after I've soaked up what I can from the lectures, it also serves as a review of that, which helps a lot.

The chemistry (CH-105) I'm taking is the level below the one I wanted to take, but that's okay. The first week all we learned is stuff I already learned in 10th grade, but that's okay. It's immediately after Anatomy, and my brain's in overdrive from having woken up halfway through Anatomy (LOL!) so it's all coming back to me quickly. Besides, Ms. Li's accent is awesome and although others find her difficult to understand, I comprehend her just fine.

Chem lab will be interesting as well; besides the intrigue of burning metals on Bunsen burners and seeing all the pretty pretty colours ( <3 !!! ) I ran around and helped six people do basic math. It was fun - I'd almost consider tutoring if I didn't have to work full time as well.

Freshman Seminar (UN-100). I'll admit, I took this course begrudgingly, seeing as I'm 25 now and have done the whole freshman thing already, but I figured it's 2 credits and I can sit through some videos and dorm life assignments and activities and stuff. I've been pleasantly surprised - it's involved and I've already had one chance to express myself through music. how many more surprises will there be? I went from mildly dreading to actually looking forward to this class.

Sociology - I love love love love sociology, and have been an amateur sociologist since my high school history teacher introduced me to it (our high school had nothing of that sort - hell, they didn't have AP courses until 2001, about oh, a year too late!). I've heard both good and bad things about Lorentzen, but so far my experience has been positive.

Ø What observations have you made about other students?

In Sociology, they don't seem to hae a sense of humour. :( I made a funny last Thursday; Prof. Lorentzen asked us hypothetically what would have happened if the Confederacy had successfully seceded from the Union, and I replied "We'd never have to listen to country music again!" ...she and one other person found it funny and snickered. The rest of the class? DEAD SILENT. So heh, apparently I'm weird.

Other than that, eh, they're all really young and have a loooot to learn about life. I've learned a lot just in the last week, watching how the other kids behave and interact, about how I was when I was 18-19 years old and why I didn't succeed in school the first time.

Ø About your instructors?

I already mentioned my thoughts on Dr. Froiland. The first couple days I looked upon the distance with disdain; only this week did I realize, after sitting closer to the class and feeling the energy up front, why he conducts the class the way he does. The massive download of information and the way he only glancingly blows the chapter (but tests on all of it) is meant to intimidate the half-assed student taking a med class because he wants to become a doctor in God-knows-what and make lots of money but is really interested in the Sigma Epsilon Xi and the drinking, and the person who has the drive to ace, or at least B+ the course.

Ø What do you think will be your biggest challenge(s) academically this semester?

Anatomy, by a long shot.

Ø Finally, name one goal (personal, academic, etc..) you have for yourself next week.

Next Wednesday I will be meeting with my academic advisor, to get to know him before I actually need his services and show up out of the blue. The social relationship needs to exist in order for us to mutually benefit one another.