Posted by Martino Britt

My first year back to school ended on a positive note. Being in school presented me with new challenges. Not only did it help me academically, but it helped me professionally and socially as well. I really enjoyed my first year, and I actually surprised myself. Because of some of the classes that I took, I now take a closer look at things that I’m writing, when in the past I wouldn’t have paid any attention to details.

I gained a wealth of knowledge on things that interested me and also on things that did not. I cannot say that this first year was a cakewalk, but I can say that it was very rewarding and fulfilling. Because of things I was exposed to this year, I am excited to return to school in August for my sophomore year.

One of the best things I picked up from this first year is how important GOOD study habits are. For any student, time management is very important. However, when you add in full-time jobs, spouses, children, and other activities, time management is even more important. I learned to make the best use of my time and to schedule time specifically for studying and school-related projects. This kept me organized and well-rounded. I was able to manage my time and not neglect my children, my school work, or my job. I started by taking those times when I would have been watching a little TV or just sitting around and made those times where I would do something relevant to myself or my family. It was not easy, but I did begin to get fulfillment from my days.

Another good habit I learned was taking good notes that are relevant to what I need to know. I learned to listen and watch for key phrases or words that instructor(s) would write down or repeat more than once. This was invaluable because there was no way I could write everything down, but I did really well by watching for those key things and paying attention to the amount of time spent on a subject or topic. These are just a couple of the things I know that helped me to succeed in my first year.

There is one thing I found surprising. I was surprised that not every single one of my classmates was utilizing the Saint Louis University (SLU) Writing Center. This Center is an invaluable tool that was essential to my sanity and success throughout this year. I plan to continue to make regular use of this resource throughout my time at SLU. I submitted some of my papers at least 5-6 times before turning them in, and each time I took what the Writing Consultant had to say and made adjustments. Using the center helped me to reinforce some of the rules I learned in class. I recommend the Writing Center to every student, especially those who have a hard time narrowing or focusing their topics when writing.

These are just some of the things that I feel added to my academic success this year, and I am pretty sure that if I continue to do these simple things in the fall and the future I will continue to enjoy the same successes throughout my time at SLU.

Photo Credit: http://www.123rf.com

Posted by Melanie Perry

I always thought that I hated school. But, in later high school I was able to schedule some specialized classes and really enjoyed them. When I started college, I felt the same way. The general education courses were ‘boring’ and ‘hard’ and ‘pointless’, since they weren’t what I was going to school to learn, but the specialized classes were fascinating because they appealed to me.

I drudged through and completed my Associate’s Degree with that viewpoint firmly intact.

As I mentioned in a previous post, BJC started a ‘bridges to bachelor’s’ program that would allow mid-career professionals to take all of their core classes to get them well on the road to completing their degrees. Even though I thought those core classes were a burden, I signed up because I realized what a great opportunity BJC was offering.

Our first class was ‘Learning Strategies and Processes’ (PST 100). We re-learned how to do all of those things we’d been used to years ago as students. We analyzed our own learning styles, practiced writing and speaking, and basically got back into an academic mindset while learning to cope as ‘non-traditional’ students.

As I moved into ‘Approaching the Arts‘ and ‘Origins of the Modern World‘, I wasn’t all that thrilled about getting started, as I’d taken art history and world history in high school and college. I thought they’d be boring. Okay, I confess, I was wrong. There!

Sure, there was a lot to cover, and we had a ton of work to do, but, we debated, we discussed, we compared. The classes, helped by the professors and the other students, were INTERESTING.

By the time I’d moved into ‘Introduction to Philosophy‘ and ‘Theological Foundations‘, I’d noticed a certain continuity. I felt that each class really prepared me for the one after it, and with each successive course, I was able to learn more and more because I had a better base to draw from.

That brought me through a full year of schooling, and I decided to increase my courseload.

My summer classes last year were really the tipping point where I made the full conversion from someone who disliked school to someone who absolutely LOVED IT.

I took American Politics, which I was certainly never interested in before. There was SO much material to cover with regard to the many layers of society and government. I was a little embarrassed that most of the other students seemed to know so much about the subject already, so I did every suggested reading from the teacher as well as those mentioned by the other students.

The following term I took Survey of Economics and Ethics. I had felt the same way about others knowing more than me, so I kept Wikipedia open almost all day long. Every topic, every historical reference, every law, every CEO opened up a whole new world of understanding.

Suddenly, I was understanding topical references in watercooler conversations that had flown over my head before.

Now that I’m into my Organizational Studies and Information Systems classes, I’m constantly being reminded of things I learned in those core classes. I’ve been able to speak up in Organizational Foundations about things I learned in Ethics and Economics and that feels really good. I know that I’m contributing to my classes the way I’ve seen other students contribute… and it’s starting to be reflected in my office as well.

I also had to thank my instructor because I was recently chatting with some of my peers (although they were a step or two up the ladder from me in organizational structure), and someone brought up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs… which we’d JUST studied in class. I was able to fully participate in a higher-level conversation with some really brilliant people as a direct result of my horizons being broadened by the curriculum that I thought I didn’t even ‘need’.

It really hit me after that point that I wasn’t just here at SLU to learn a trade. I wasn’t just here to improve my career prospects or make myself more marketable.
I’m here becoming a more well-rounded person who is better able to connect with even more people in the world around me.

I guess core studies aren’t a waste of time after all!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/2442045767/

Posted by Jennifer Werner

Dobre den! That’s Slovakian for “good day,” and since I have just returned from a month-long trip visiting my brother and his family in Slovakia, it seems appropriate. I also discovered one of the great things about being an SPS student at SLU – flexibility. With the shorter 9-week courses, there isn’t any problem if an opportunity presents itself and you have to withdraw for a term. So when my brothers put their heads together and cooked up this trip for me, I couldn’t say “no” even though I had already registered for Spring I and Spring II classes. I simply contacted my counselor, Kelle, and she reassured me that I could withdraw from the Spring II term and start right back up in the summer.

I flew out of St. Louis on March 25th and changed planes in Newark, New Jersey, and Dusseldorf, Germany. I arrived in Budapest, Hungary, about 10:00 a.m. where my brother, David, and his wife, Bibiana, picked me up for the 4-hour drive to Presov, Slovakia. Presov is the third largest city in Slovakia, so there is plenty of things to see and lots of places to shop! I arrived on a Friday, so I had the whole weekend to recuperate from my trip before the Easter holidays began. About 70% of the people in Slovakia are Roman Catholic. As you can imagine, Easter is a big holiday there. They start celebrating on the Thursday before Easter and don’t stop until the Tuesday after.

Two of the traditions really stood out from the others. The first one was the Blessing of the Baskets on Easter Sunday. On Easter afternoon, we walked to the town square and, as you can see by the picture, lined up around the church along with a large majority of the townspeople to await the priests. We placed our basket of ham, boiled eggs, sausage, and bread on the ground and removed the white embroidered scarf which had been covering it. The priest and his procession came by, prayed and sprinkled holy water over all the baskets. We then walked to Bibiana’s mother’s house to join her for lunch and eat all the blessed food. This tradition is to ensure that there will be plenty of food for everyone in the year ahead.

The second tradition was less religious and a lot more fun. It involved water and small woven willow whips. The Monday after Easter is call “Great Night Monday” and I was awaken that morning by my nephew dumping ice water on me while my brother “whipped” me with a willow whip; for this, I had to “thank” them by giving them chocolate treats. This tradition is to assure that the women stay beautiful, healthy, and full of life throughout the year. I thought it was kind of fun; however my poor sister-in-law received soakings and whippings throughout the day as she was visited by her Godson, her brother, a couple of neighbors, and various other male relatives. And, of course, we had to take my nephew around to collect his own treats from friends and relatives. It was fun, but I could see why Bibiana said some of her friends choose to be out-of-town on Great Night Monday!

All in all, it was a great trip! I didn’t realize how much running around I do and how stressful life can sometimes be until I had absolutely nothing to do! I was amazed to find myself so relaxed and the one thing I learned from this is that I need to slow down and take some time for myself, even if it’s only an hour a week. That’s it for now, Do videnia!

Posted by Francesca Zanti

When returning to the academic environment, I questioned whether or not I would fit in with the other Professional Studies students. I knew that there would be a diverse group of students in the classroom, but I wondered if I would be able to blend in and make some new friends along the way.

As I arrived to my first class in Professional Studies, I felt like I was going back to the first day of my freshman year of high school. In my usual fashion, I put on a brave face and was ready for this new experience. Eventually, I got to know the other students and realized that we were all in the same boat. Eventually, we all seemed to find a common ground and enjoyed our time together. We also found support in our studies from one another.

Via posts on BlackBoard, we are able to have out-of-class discussions regarding classroom topics. I personally enjoy these because we can share insight about the topics with each other. Sometimes, these lead to lengthier discussions in class. I look forward to going on BlackBoard and taking a peek to see what others are thinking.

At the end of the eight weeks, I found that I came out of the class with more than I ever thought I would have. Not only did I gain new knowledge, but I have remained friends with many of the other students. It is exciting when I start a new term and I see someone I made friends with from a previous class.

Image Credit: www.best-friends-forever.com

Posted by Alyssa Owens

As I’m sitting here writing this blog, it is a beautiful, yet windy Friday afternoon. I would normally be at work right now, but I took the day off. Today was a great day to take off for a 3-day weekend because finals week begins next week. I have a paper, a presentation, and a blog due for my two classes – one is online, the other is on ground.

I find that taking a complete day off gives me a bonus day – a day to achieve those things that I normally wouldn’t have time for. This includes more time to study! However, because I have two children, my kids are excited that I’m home an extra day. We have to play trucks, watch a movie, lie down for rest time, and make several trips to the kitchen for popcorn, cheese, crackers, or whatever else strikes their fancy at the moment.

So while I’m trying to study and spend time with my children, I have to remember that all of these constant interruptions are normal for being an adult student. All the hours of sleep I miss are because I try to spend time with my children. So I study after they go to sleep. Their bedtime is between 8 and 8:30. Most nights one of them goes to sleep at bedtime, but the other one is wide awake and full of energy. Therefore, I don’t study or can’t concentrate completely on studying until nearly 10:00, which just happens to be my preferred time for bed.

I was speaking with a few of my fellow criminal justice students who also work full time and have a family. We were talking about how this job of being a student would be much easier if we had more time to study and fewer responsibilities. Yet, most of my fellow students and I enjoy the challenge.

SPS gives us a sense of belonging and a feeling of being someone other than mom or dad, wife or husband, and whatever titles we hold at our workplaces. We are excited at the prospect of becoming what we have finally decided is what we want to be “when we grow up” (if we have figured that out yet).

The challenges we face will definitely be worth all the hard work, missed hours of sleep, and studying during lunch hours. It’s worth it for so many reasons, including getting the education that we so desperately want to possess, getting a better-paying job to accommodate the ever-growing needs of our families, and most importantly to me, setting a good example for my children, gaining self-respect and confidence, and having that sense of doing what I was meant to do.

Even though I would love to take a break after this term is over to catch up on sleep, play with my children more, and possibly even read a book for fun, I have decided to take two classes during the summer. Am I crazy?! Some would think so. However, I have gotten used to my hectic schedule, and I quite enjoy it. I guess there will come a time when I will not have to study anymore, and I guess that means that I will have to find a hobby! Then again, my children will be old enough to be playing soccer and tee-ball, so I will be the mom organizing snacks for the teams or being the taxi for friends’ birthday parties.

So, as I sit here writing this blog and thinking about what I need to accomplish a couple of days before finals week actually begins, I take a moment here and there to roll the truck around with my son, tickle my daughter, retrieve yet more snacks, and push both of them on the tire swing, all the while catching a short chat with my husband. Then, I’m back to the world of Deviance and Social Control or Criminal Investigations. Quite possibly, a pair of ear plugs might be helpful!

Photo Credit: http://silenthills.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tire20swing.jpg

Posted by Martino Britt

I am taking my first online course this term. I am a person who learns a lot from the in-class discussions – the main reason I thought I would never take an online course. There are other reasons I was apprehensive about taking an online course. The discussions weighed heavily on me because an online discussion is not the same as a face-to-face discussion. There are definite pros and cons to taking an online class.

One of the definite pros of taking an online class is that I don’t have to commute to school that extra day out of the week. I am at home with my family a day where I would normally be gone. Even though I am doing homework or posting online for the discussion, being at home is definitely beneficial for my family. We are always happy to see one another. Although I enjoy this aspect of the online course, the discussions are kind of hard for me because they seem so detached and unoriginal because they are being typed and not spoken. There is definitely a lot missing when you remove the face-to-face interaction of a traditional classroom and move it online. However, I do think these classes are necessary and the end sure enough does justify the means.

I feel that the means are justifiable because the same resources available to you in a traditional classroom setting are still available to you in an online course. The Writing Center, the library, the tutoring center, all of these resources are still available to you. The one thing I think you must have if you are taking an online course is self-discipline. Learning in an online or traditional setting is totally up to the individual. What you put into the class you will more than likely get out of it. It is much easier to go to class, listen to a lecture, and take notes than it is to be responsible for putting this information together on your own.

I think determination is the ultimate factor. How determined am I to pass this class? How determined am I to get this degree from SLU? How determined am I to succeed? Everything pretty much boils down to the one person whom it ultimately affects-the student.

Photo Credit: http://www.123rf.com

Posted by Sherry Wright-Gully

One may look at my schedule and ask, “Is she crazy?” I sometimes ask myself the same question. As an SPS student, I am juggling work, home (life with a teenager), and theatre and film projects, which are all very time consuming. Nevertheless, this SPS non-traditional student is pressing her way through. This, of course, may mean late nights at the library, but who cares as long as it gets done?

I was lying in bed last night after successfully getting to bed at midnight – tossing and turning with thoughts racing through my mind about all the things I need to do. I looked at the clock and it was 2:00 am – ugh! So much for getting to bed at a normal time! All of a sudden it hit me! I had an assignment due by 5:00 AM. I jumped up, slipped on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and scurried out of the house rushing over to the library to complete and submit the assignment. Whew! Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me about this assignment!

Upon completion, I signed off the computer, drove back home, and fell into bed around 3:30 AM, only to rise for work at 6:30. Now, I am sitting at a computer with puffy eyes and hoping to get to bed at a normal hour on Wednesday night. Today is Monday, but I am holding auditions tonight for a filmmaker’s challenge, and I have a PTA meeting tomorrow that I cannot miss – because I am the president of the PTA. I do not anticipate getting to bed at a normal hour tonight or tomorrow because I have three more short films to write for the filmmaker’s competition. In fact, I may have to give up rest altogether because we will begin filming after the cast has been selected to meet the June 30th deadline.

The beauty in all of this is that my current class is an online class. What could be better than this? Taking an online class at SPS allows me the opportunity to jump out of bed at 2:00 AM to rush over to the Pius Library when the streets are quiet and free from traffic so that I can complete assignments due at 5:00 AM and then blog about it. Ahh, now that’s “Living Life Like It’s Golden…” SPS rocks!

Image Credit: http://www.123rf.com

Posted by Martino Britt

As my first full year at SPS winds down, I am very excited! I’m excited every time an 8-week term ends, but coming up on the end of a full year is more exciting. It’s definitely a great accomplishment for me because I was very apprehensive about returning to school. When a term ends, I look forward to seeing my grade, quality points, and credits earned.

Small things like these keep me encouraged. They remind me that I can do this! As this school year winds down, I still can’t believe it sometimes. It hasn’t been a cakewalk, but it hasn’t been as difficult as I imagined. It has been an exciting school year for me, one I will remember for years to come.

There were moments I had to reaffirm my belief in myself. I just reminded myself that my reasons for doing this outweigh any reason I could come up with for not doing it. Sometimes, I would look at the syllabus for a class and say to myself, “there is no way I’m going to retain any of this information in just eight weeks.”

I surprised even myself by developing good study habits and learning to make the best use of my time. I take public transportation, so I take advantage of that by reading and studying while on the Metrolink. I take an hour lunch at work, so I spend thirty minutes of that hour studying or reading. Doing small things like this helped to build my self-confidence, and believing in myself has been essential to getting through this first year.

Now that this school year is coming to a close, I have to think about next year. I like to plan ahead and get things out of the way. So I have made an appointment with my Academic Advisor, and I have selected the classes I want to take in 2010-2011.

It is important for me to continue to have a comfortable college experience. I don’t want to be taking classes because that is what’s left. I want to make sure I’m taking classes that meet the requirements of my major and classes I feel comfortable taking. I think this has a lot to do with a person’s college experience. If I can get classes I need and classes I enjoy, then I am not only likely to retain more, but I’m more likely to go to class. I know I won’t enjoy each class as much as I do the next, so my overall attitude plays a big role as well.

I came to college to better myself in many ways. So, while I’m in college I have to do my best. I feel like what I put into it is what I will get out of it. I’m excited because I know I will be a different person once I graduate from SLU. That keeps me excited!

Posted by Alyssa Owens

As an avid blog reader, I often wonder who the person is behind the particular blog that I am reading. It’s interesting to me to read the thoughts of other people and their reactions to life’s adventures. Well, this is what I’m going to start with-an introduction of Alyssa Owens, the person behind this blog.

As you can read from my original introduction, I am married with two children. I work full time at Saint Louis University (SLU) and go to school at SLU School for Professional Studies (SPS). But, that’s just the cover to my book, so to speak. Let’s explore more…

I graduated high school in a small Indiana town as Senior Class Vice President in the year 2000. I was accepted to both of my top choice colleges. However, I realized as I attended my first year of college at Indiana University that I was not quite ready to make that big, mature step to being a college student.

To make a long story short, I dropped out of I.U. with a horrific GPA, started working fulltime, and started my own little family. Throughout life’s journey, my husband and I decided to move to the St. Louis area. I started working at SLU and found out that I could attend college. At first I was skeptical that SLU would accept me because of my previous bump in the road at I.U., but SPS made me feel welcome from the get-go.

I enrolled in my first two classes at SLU, which were Public Speaking (yikes!) and Math (double yikes!). I made the Dean’s List my first couple of semesters here at SPS and have felt such a sense of belonging and purpose in my life ever since. In contrast to I.U.’s large lecture classes, I found that SPS classes were small, intimate, and allowed me to connect with my professors and other students.

I chose to major in Criminal Justice and found that to be the right choice for me after taking Introduction to Criminal Justice. One of our projects for that class was to do a field work project; I chose to ride along with a police officer. Let me tell you that I had such a blast and can’t wait to do it for real! Although I know that I still have a year and a half to go to finish my undergraduate degree, and some personal and physical goals to accomplish in that time, without SPS, I would not have these goals or a real thought that I could do anything valuable with my life, aside from being a wife and mother.

So, in a nutshell, this is the first chapter in the book of my story at SPS. I hope to be able to provide some insight into how it is to work full time, go to school full time, and have a family. It can be done. I’m doing it, and I see my fellow student peers doing it too! Until next time…

Photo Credit: http://www.123rf.com

Posted by Jennifer Werner

I’m really excited about 2010 because I turned 50 last December 19th (that’s the first time I’ve seen THAT in writing – it didn’t sting as much as I thought it would), and I’ve decided that this is the year I am going to bloom.

Now, to explain why that’s important to me…when I was in my 30s, my mother was so concerned about me and how my life was going that she talked to my brother, David, who told her, “Don’t worry. Jennie’s got a lot going on right now but when she turns 40, she’s going to bloom!” Well, guess what? I didn’t bloom – I pretty much stayed the same person I was – just older and maybe a bit wiser, but far from blooming.

However, when I was 48 I did START the process of blooming – I enrolled in the School for Professional Studies (SPS) at SLU through the Bridges to Bachelor’s Program at work. I’ve been attending two classes per term for the last two years, and with every class I complete, I can feel myself grow! Not physically, of course, but mentally, emotionally, intellectually, I feel like I’m becoming a better person and learning more and more about myself as I go along.

I’m not saying it’s been easy – the classes are regular college classes taught by college professors, and I know there are people out there who feel they (as adult learners) should be given a break because they work and go to school – but I’ve found all my professors to be very understanding and willing to work with me if something comes up.

So, even though I didn’t plan it, enrolling in the SPS program was one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Anyway, that’s it for now, more to come later, but I do promise to stay off my SPS soapbox next time!

Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.co.uk/