Ahead or Behind?

A relaxing Monday night – after an afternoon of Social Psychology. I'm trying to rationalize why it's taking me two to two and a half hours a day (weekdays) to attempt to keep up with a class that was touted as taking 3-6 hours a week. And keeping up isn't really accurate – for one thing, our class lectures and readings are being released to us a week early. So from that standpoint, I'm ahead. But, Week 4 has already been released and I still have three Week 3 bonus readings that I haven't looked at yet. So from that standpoint, I'm behind. You see why I'm so confused!

The additional good news is that I have until September 23 to finish the course. The additional bad news is that I'm two weeks behind transcribing my lecture notes into a printable, readable format so I can reasonably study for the class final. Hmmm. Further confusion.

I can't claim to being a stellar student, ever. My kids think I was, but that was because I convinced them of that while THEY were in school! Never admit that you were less than perfect when it comes to guiding your offspring in the direction you SHOULD have gone!!! Don't get me wrong – I studied. But did I study as much as I should have? Oh, no way! I would have made better grades if I had.

I remember my junior year as my favorite, in so many ways. Not the least of those fond memories is having a homeroom seat at the back of the study hall. I was just across the aisle from my cousin Ken and sat just in front of one of my favorite friends, Cindy. Many was the time our principal tapped on the window that sat between her office and the back of study hall, letting us know she saw us talking and it was time to quit! Ken and Cindy were both seniors. I missed them when they graduated.

I had probably my heaviest load of courses that junior year. I don't necessarily remember each and every course – but I remember many a night carrying home every book from my desk in order to get my homework done. I know I had Algebra 2, Bookkeeping, American Lit/Grammar, Band, Chorus, PE, a history course (probably American History, but I can't remember for sure). Okay, that train of thought just took me to a box with all my grade cards in it – a box I never, ever showed my kids!! Yes, I had American History that year, and I also had a class where we published the school paper. Between Algebra 2 and Bookkeeping, there was a lot of paperwork to go through every night. Then there was the reading of American Lit and American History, plus the bookwork of daily vocabulary and grammar.

I didn't ever really “not” study in high school, but I could have spent more time studying. In college, though, it was a different situation. And that situation – being away from home for the first time and not having anyone watching over me. I was desperately trying to make up for time in high school when I was not allowed to go out on the weekends. Having been a parent-imposed wallflower during high school, I was determined to be part of everything going on once I flew the coop. I could have stayed in my room and read Civics.......but the activities going on in the Student Union Snack Bar were so much more interesting. Often, it involved a deck of cards. But it was more exciting than pre-World War II Germany.

I still have time to get my notes typed up and finish my reading. And luckily this is only a six-week course. I'm at that point now I'm not sure how I ever had time to work – I seem to be busy from one end of the day to the other! But I guard the early afternoon as my time to listen to lectures and do my work for class. I supposed you never get too old to transform into a better student!

On a personal note – a very Happy 15^th Birthday to our grandson Collin!