Education Discussion

[Proud]

doesn't seem like a bad life at all, strat. also sounds like you found something that combines the things you've worked on. gotta be happy about that, eh?

i plan to visit rowan tomorrow. i don't want to go to the camden campus... for several reasons (i'm sure you can figure out why, ms. punk).

[PC]

Have fun Proud. Let me know what you think! ;D

[slick7]

I sure don't have much in the way of higher education.

i think whats important is that you're happy at what you're doing. you're doing a very important job that a lot of people wouldn't be able to do. you should feel proud of yourself and all that you've achieved. i can't imagine the kinds of sticky situations you've gotten yourself in with being a fireman. i have a lot of respect for anybody that puts their life at risk in order to save others.

i have my BSN (bachelors of science in nursing). i am a registered nurse on a psychiatric floor.

[ueb]

Let's see...I got my Bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. I majored in English and minored in History. At one point, I was a double major but I got thoroughly disgusted with the history department so my major became a minor.

I then took 2.5 years off to work in "real world." I temped in a bank for the first 5 months after I graduated and during that time I realized that I needed to go back to school. I then spent the next two years working as a secretary on a major construction project and figured out where I wanted to go next.

I ended up getting my Master's degree in English at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte by randomly picking a state. Now, I will be starting work on my PhD at the University of South Carolina in August.

As for specialization, all I know for sure is that I will be focusing on some period of British literature. And when I grow up I want to teach at the college level (ideally, in Chicago). That's it.

[Proud]

thanks the support, ms. chick! i really appreciate it. that really boosts my confidence.

[stratman19]

Thank you slick7 (and strat-0) for your words. I am happy with my station in life. It's been very rewarding. I only mean't to say that since I've been posting on these boards (and the RS.com boards) that I've become aqquainted with some very educated folks, college educated, genuinely intelligent people. I'm all the richer for it, btw.

I do rely on my "school of life" knowledge, as well as the fact that I'm a voracious reader. I try to learn all I can. It can be honestly said though, that at times I feel woefully inadequate in discussing or debating issues (I also said this very thing at RS, so please forgive the repetition). This isn't a "woe is me" post. I'm proud of the life I've carved out. There's just times when I wish I had a more formal knowledge of things.

My high school education consisted of skipping class, partying, and generally having a good time. I was fortunate to be one of those people that never had to take a book home (save for biology) and always got good grades. There just wasn't much in the "white collar" world that interested me. My curriculum consisted heavily of the industrial "arts". I had 4 yrs. of auto mechanics, 2 yrs. of drafting (mechanical drawing, now it's all CAD), a year of small engines, and wood shop. I was always better able to work with my hands, to understand how things work, to strike an arc...k, I'm done apologizing for my dumbness...it's late, and I'm under the influence (hey, I'm on vacation!)

(slick7, incidentally, my mom was an RN. She's been enjoying retirement for a few years now. )

[Thorngrub]

I'm withya stratman on the "school of life", always something new to learn each and every day... I s'pose I get my education "in between the cracks", but as for the cracks themselves, I first attended UALR (University of Arkansas in Little Rock) for my Freshman year (precisely 20 years ago), then bored of that I skipped on over to ATU (Arkansas Tech University) for my Sophomore year (as they offered a creative writing degree). 1 semester of that was all I needed to get up off my ass and realize my initial dream of attending Emerson College in Boston, which I proceeded to accomplish. So I began the 2nd semester of my Sophomore year in Boston, at Emerson -- wherein my education would proceed largely behind the scenes under the tutelage & then friendship of Franz Wright and Ray Ronci, both excellent poets in their own right. I also studied under Bill Knott - an eccentric genius/poet whose following in Europe eclipsed his popularity in his homeland. I graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Creative Writing in 1987. I've been an underground countercultural revolutionary word terrorist ever since.

[ueb]

Personally, I think people who have learned through life experiences are just as smart (and sometimes even smarter) than people with a lot of education. It has been my experience that many of your "academically" smart people have absolute shit social skills and knowledge about real life. What's the point of being able to have a bunch of book knowledge, if you don't have any common sense?

I would like to think that I have a fairly solid balance between the two, and I try not to be one of those people who think I'm the shit because I'm in grad school. Not that I can't be elitist when I need to be, but I think there are different kinds of knowledge and one is not necessarily any better than the other. So, basically, if you like learning (regardless of the method), more power to you.

God, I hope that all makes sense....

[samplestiltskin]

I didn't make any effort at all in college and got straight A's for the most part -- a 3.8. But when it came to dealing with real life, day to day, I hadn't the first fucking clue how to cope. I'm socially retarded.. too empathetic and very, very lost. I wish I had "street-smarts" instead of book-smarts, which got me through college fine and dandy but left me helpless when I graduated.

It's all about balance. So sayeth the Libra.

[Meursault]

I like to learn things the autodidactic way, I understand what university can be valuable for, and i still haven't counted out attending one day. I like to hear what other people think of things, and I ask a shit load of questions, "dad, what's the biggest bomb in the world?"

I dont' know what i'm most gifted at, i have an odd memory good long term, short term not so good, if i'm interested in something i can soak it up like a sponge, for instance music. I feel confident enough that i could do anything, i'm just not confident in time, to much to be missed out on. I think I can be empathetic, and can listen and talk to people about their problems, and try to inspire others and leave a good impression that i'm a genuinely nice guy, who doesn't take life seriously, but when it comes to the margin and it's time to be serious, snap into the rarely seen "reasonable, sober unsilly Shane."

The most intelligent thing someone can do, is to live with grace.

[strat-0]

Anybody seen this guy, Ken, on Jeopardy? He's been the champ for like a month - he's up around 700K last I saw. He's something to see, too. Obvioiusly has a photographic memory. After watching, you may have to tune into Wheel of Fortune to make you feel better and not so ignorant.

[Proud]

just got back from rowan. seemed okay, but the hall for my major (psychology) looked a little like a mediocre high school. i know they're building on to the campus (lots of construction going on), but overall the place looks alright. it's cheap and an okay commute, so i guess i'll go for it.

[slick7]

It has been my experience that many of your "academically" smart people have absolute shit social skills and knowledge about real life.

there's so much truth in that statement. or there are people that did really well academically because they memorized everything, but then they don't know how to apply it.

i've found that i've learned so much from my patients. they are all 55 and older, and i've learned so many awesome things..i love sitting down and talking to them..they are so intriguing and wise.

strato, my patients were watching jeopardy tonight and i saw that guy. i bet that jeopardy is miffed that they no longer have the 5 day rule he's absolutely brilliant. won $40k just today.

proud, that's awesome that you found a college that you thinks gonna work out for ya ;D

[Proud]

my only concern is that i'm not sure the school has enough psychology classes... it kind of shocked me that the psychology hall looked like a high school in a city, compared to how professional the "hard" science hall looked. i heard that the school was good for that major, so it came as a bit of a disappointment.

i, in no way, consider this my last stop, as far as education goes. it's just another move before i go on to a bigtime school. i was a horrible high school student, so it's a bit harder to get anywhere. once i have a bachelor's and some cash on my hands, i want to go to a place with some history...

also considering looking into: the college of new jersey and rutgers.

[ueb]

Proud - Your comment about the hallway looking like it belongs in a high school is sort of funny to me because the building I basically lived in while working on my MA used bells. I kid you not, there were fucking bells ringing to mark the beginning and end of classes. It was so incredibly wrong.

Anyway, I am certainly not a person to talk to about checking schools ahead of time because I tend to base my decisions on geography. Regardless, I suggest going with your gut and what feels right. Good luck.