With Honors

I received a letter from the university today stating that I will graduate

MAGNA CUM LAUDE!!

Trust me, I am anal enough about my grades that I knew this information already, but to actually see it in print, on the university's letterhead totally made it real for me!

On the hunt...

Sorry about the quality of this photo. I took it surreptitiously with my phone during the Teacher Job Fair held at Texas A&M - Commerce. There were about 23 schools represented, but very few of them were actually hiring.

Le sigh.

A Star is Born

On Friday, April 1st, between 7:30am - 7:40am, EVERYONE should tune into Star 95.9/96.9. My sweet - precious - funny - happy - charming - beautiful - adorable - brilliant - amazing

Mallory

is being featured as the STAR STUDENT of the day!!

She is so excited, and we couldn't be more proud!!

Things are NOT always as bad as they seem. Thankfully.

I met with one of my profs this morning, and now life is looking up. It seems that I was needlessly worrying, (which I have a major tendency to do). He has assured me that as long as I keep up with the due dates, post on the discussion board as scheduled, and

R-E-L-A-X,

then things will be fine.

What a lovely Friday it is turning out to be. =)

Frustrations Abound

I will graduate from college with a Bachelors Degree in English in 52 calendar days. 18 class days. Wanna know how many hours, minutes, seconds??? I could totally tell you. Seriously. I have reached the point in my educational career where I practically do not care any more. Learning is for the birds. Ugh.

OK, those of you who actually know me know that is a load of crap. I desperately want make good grades. I have busted my butt for the last four years to get straight A's. The two B's on my transcript make me want to weep whenever I see them. I have resigned myself to making a B in my Spanish class. That won't affect my GPA enough to ruin my chance to graduate with honors.

That being said...

I currently have Bs in three - yes, THREE - of my classes!!

*insert wailing and gnashing of teeth*

In all honesty, these are not really my fault. I am having some serious issues with two of my professors. The problems are nothing I can control, and I need to just let them go and move on, but that's not really how I roll. Unfortunately.

I need to figure out a way to make my head and my heart understand that it is ok if I do not graduate with highest honors.

But it's really not. ='o(

Update...

I guess I should post an update about our situation, rather than just leaving you all hanging. Forgive me for slacking, but I didn't want to jinx anything by speaking too soon. Lone Oak ISD made the decision to promote from within, so it looks like Coach still has a job!! Woo Hoo!!! We love a steady paycheck --- and the Buffaloes!!

This is my handsome Coach,

pumping up the crowd at a pep rally.

Post-Season

Well, the Lone Oak Buffaloes regular season ended with some major shake-ups on the team, and a major loss against our biggest cross-county rivals, the Caddo Mills Foxes. But, despite these disappointments, we are still

PLAY-OFF BOUND!!

We will play Friday, November 13 in Canton against the Corsicana Mildred Eagles. Kick-off will be at 7:30 pm. This is the same team we faced in the first round last year -- and beat! I have faith the we can do it again! Let's go Buffs...show 'em whatcha got!!!

ROLL ON

RED STORM!

Financial Aid Frustrations

I have a 4.0 GPA. I have received numerous creative writing awards through PJC. I was named the Outstanding English Student for 2009.

I don't say all that to brag (well, maybe just a little...) but to help explain why I am so flabbergasted by the situation in which I find myself.

I have enrolled at Texas A&M-Commerce for the fall semester. I am planning on taking 15 hours. I have been denied financial aid.

20 years ago, in order to be exempt from the new TASP test that was required to graduate from college, I signed up for three hours at ETSU. I didn't do so well in that class, but I excelled at college life. I learned all about the Zeppa Center, the MSC, Lil' Bit, The Junction, and of course the KA house, the Sigma Chi house, Hubble Hall, Hidden Lake...well, you get the picture.

Even though academically I was, um...let's just say "struggling", I continued to take classes so that I could hang out with my friends. I ended up with 36 hours attempted on my transcript before I realized that I wasn't cut out to be a student. I dropped out of college and joined the workforce, married the greatest man in the world, gave birth to three amazing children, and finally admitted to myself that I REALLY wanted that college degree I had blown off all those years ago.

When I enrolled at PJC my GPA was so low that I was denied financial aid, so I started out with just a couple of classes, and raised my grades. When I transferred to TAMU-C, in order to keep my 4.0, I decided to sign up for the "Fresh Start" program. This allows you to drop all of your old credits, and well, start fresh. What they don't tell you is that this does not benefit you at all when it comes to financial aid, or your max hours.

So...I have been denied financial aid because I have attempted too many hours and have nothing to show for it. Except for an Associate of Arts degree and a 4.0 GPA. I have filed an appeal, and now must wait, possibly until midway through the fall semester for a decision from the Appeals Committee. This, of course, means that I will have to pay for my tuition out-of-pocket.

Anyone have an extra $3500 just burning a hole in your pocket? LOL

In the mean time, I intend to simply enjoy the summer, enjoy my family, and color my hair frequently, because this stress is gray-ing it by the minute!!

It's over...

*Oops...didn't realize I had saved this as a draft last week. Sorry!

I'm through.

I'm finished.

I'm done.

I have officially completed all of the requirements for my Associate of Arts degree from Paris Junior College!! Woo Hoo!!!!

**Paris Junior College has one graduation ceremony in May of each year. Students who completed degree or certificate requirements in the fall semester and students who anticipate completing requirements in either the spring or a summer semester are encouraged to participate in the ceremony. **

Well...that's what I did. When I finished the spring semester, I still had to take a visual/performing arts class and three hours of electives. It just so happens that during the mini-mester Theatre Appreciation and Music Appreciation were both offered. Let me tell ya, those classes were kinda hard! Not the content so much as the amount of work due. Theatre Appreciation had a chapter due every day, and THREE tests per chapter!! Music was one test per chapter, due every other day.

My poor family hasn't been this neglected since I started school. I feel like I have spent the last 3 weeks glued to the end of the couch, with the laptop as a permanent appendage to my body. I have never been so glad to complete a course in my life.

Now if PJC would just mail my diploma...