College Update!

int main ()

{

cout << “LOL, look I am a geek!” << endl;

return 0;

}

Hahahaha! Yeah…so I have accepted the fact that I am a giant nerd. I always suspected I was, but seeing how much I am enjoying school I now know it to be completely true. I  don’t wake up in the moring with the “Ugh, I have to go to work” feeling, but with a “W00t! I have school today!!!!” feeling.  It’s great! Here’s an update on my classes and what we are learning. …if you even care, LOL!

Computer Science,  by far my favorite class. We are learning C++ and it is insanely hard to wrap my head around it. We are working on structs, and boy, I thought I would never get the hang of it.  Then I was sitting in class just working on some homework, trying to make a struct for ‘car’ with the variables ‘milesPerGallon’ and ‘yearManufactured.’ I was having a hell of a time just trying understand what the heck I was doing. Then it just it clicked. It all just came together! I don’t even know how, I was looking at it, then I just started typing the code, I complied it and ran it and BAM it worked! I wanted to get up in class and dance! I know I had a stupid goofy grin on my face!

I have created about 7 different structs. They are no big deal now! I want to learn more and I want to learn it NOW! I am loving computer programming. Even though I get lost or confused I want to figure it out, and when I do it is awesome! I never thought I would ever describe a class as addicting, but it really is!

Networking Principles & Applications, now this class is not bad…just a bit overwhelming. Right now we are learning about Networks (WAN, LAN, DAN, etc) and Topologies. (Star, Mesh, Bus,  Hybrids like Tree, etc) This class is not a difficult class, it is just very hard to keep everything straight. It seems like too many terms are getting thrown at us. Routers, modems, switches, fiber optics, bridges, token rings, transceivers, repeaters, hubs, CSU/DSU, ACL, BDC, DAP, DN, ITU, LDAP, NDS, NOS, OU, P2P, PCD, SAM, GAH! I can’t keep everything straight. I have read thru the chapter multiple times, but holy crap it is a lot to take in all at once.

Computer Architecture, I love this class too! Last week we completely took apart computers, then we had to put them back together…and they had to work! Mine did! It was awesome! I was always hesitant even look at the inside of a computer, but not anymore! Not only that, I now know what everything is! You can be told what a mother board is, but until you are holding in your hand after removing 567,890 wires from it, you really have no idea!

We are also being introduced to Binary. We were shown the basics of numbers and the Base 2 system. I really like it! I have always enjoyed math, so binary is coming pretty naturally to me. Looking forward to learning the more advanced stuff!

Introduction to Computers, this class is a giant waste of time and annoys the hell out of me. Next week we are learning how to open a word processor….really. We have done NOTHING in this class  so far.  The professor just stands in front of the class and spews off random statistics. She said 97% of the Internet is porn. I find that very hard to believe. I even asked where she got that statistic and she just said she read it some where. I guess it just annoys me going from Computer Science to Intro to Computers…there  is just something wrong with that, lol. You have to take the class for the degree though.  So I’ll just suck it up and try to enjoy this easy A.

Small Business Management, wow, just wow. This is another ‘Why am I taking this class? Oh yeah, I have to for the degree…’ type of class. I am not interested in Small Business Management at all. I will never own my own business. I give props to people who do (Hi Katie!) cause that is a ton of responsibility, but it’s just not for me.  The class is online. We have 3 days to read a chapter, then we have a quiz on that chapter. Holidays, weekends, etc, do not matter. So every 4 days I take a quiz. We cannot work ahead, the quizzes are locked until the class gets to that chapter. That is kind of annoying. The quizzes are 10 multiple choice questions, we have twenty minutes to completely a quiz. Where is the challenge in that? If you don’t have the answer just grab your book, you have 2o freaking minutes! If you can’t find it in the book then ask trusty google…

 We also have to post on the forums and have discussions on the chapter we are currently on. My problem is I am not interested in the class at all, therefore it is extrmemly difficult for me to be disiplined enough to get home and read the book especially when it is so tempting to just not read the book and wing it on the quizzes.

One thing I do like about this class is it is easy to track our grades.  I am getting a 195% LOL! 39 points out of 20! I do all the extra credit as it becomes available. I know I will need it once we get to the later chapters as I am not really applying myself. Maybe it will get more interesting. Maybe because the class is not challenging at all is why I do not enjoy it.

It’s weird, in high school I loved the easy slacker classes, now they annoy me.

I want to learn.

Braining

Monday

Computer Science (8:00a- 10:00a)

Computer Architecture  (10:10a- 11:05a)

Tuesday

Networking Principles & Applications (8:00a- 10:00a)

Computer Architecture  (10:10a- 11:05a)

Introduction to Computers (11:10a- 12:35a)

Wednesday

Computer Science (8:00a- 10:00a)

Computer Architecture  (10:10a- 11:05a)

Thursday

Networking Principles & Applications (8:00a- 10:00a)

Computer Architecture  (10:10a- 11:05a)

Introduction to Computers (11:10a- 12:35a)

Friday

Computer Science (9:05a- 10:00a)

I am also taking Small Business Management online.

Total Credits:  17

 

That is my school schedule for this semester! Today was my first day. I was extremely nervous this morning. Therefore I got up way too early. I was ready and out the door with about 30 mins to spare. When I got to school there was not a single place to park. I was behind another car that was driving around the parking lot, when it broke down. Damn. I got stuck in a car sandwich cause the car in front of me could not go and the car behind me had no idea what was going on.

Once everything got settled and I was able to back out and continue to search for a spot…I realized I only had 10 minutes to spare. That 10 mins turned into 5, then into 3, then into none. There where just no spots at all, so I parked in the teachers parking lot. I figured I could play dumb if anyone noticed it being the first day and all.

I was the last one into class. That was embarrassing. The professor was already talking. I sat at the only free computer in the class. Right between Chuck and my brother-in-law. (Man, I really did not want to sit by my brother-in-law.) Chuck, he is a cool guy. Probably about 60 years old and has quiet a few tattoos. He also has a mullet, plus, his name is Chuck so that is just awesome, LOL!

Once we were seated and we did our introductions we were told to get to work. We had to hook up our PCs (mouse, keyboard, etc), install and format our hard drives, install Windows, and my favorite, we had to make our own Ethernet cables. It was awesome! We had to cut the length of the CAT5 cables, strip them, then attach the RJ-45 ends. Putting the wires in order was a pain in the ass! So was Cutting the outside of the CAT5 cable off to expose the wires without nicking the wires! We test out our cables tomorrow. I am pretty sure I did it right…except now that I think about it, when I connected the wires to the RJ-45 I think the clip was down when it was suppose to be up…so it won’t work and I’ll have to redo it…maybe..

…I would normally be embarrassed or pissed about that. However, I am not! I have never done or even attempted anything like that before and it was just cool, lol. If it doesn’t work  I will just try again tomorrow. I can go to the lab at anytime time of day. Only the Computer Science students have access to this lab and we each have our own stations. Only I know the password to my computer so that is pretty neat. My hard drive is now mine, I can take it with me if I like. If I need to go and work on my Ethernet cable, I can go anytime I want and now that I have the hang of it it will take no time at all.

I am really enjoying it. More so then I thought I would. I thought I would be a nervous wreck but once I got there and saw how nervous everyone else was that kinda calmed me down a bit. It also helps that a ton of people had no idea how to hook up their keyboards or mice, some haven’t even started on their Ethernet cables, so I don’t feel like I am behind in the class, just right where I should be.

BTW, I just got back from Anime Iowa, I want to write a blog about that. Plus I still have my BIG GREEN BOX blog…lol, I am never going to get caught up!

 

Long Blog is LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG! :D

Wow, lots of stuff going on lately.

Last week out of no where my mother stopped drinking.

I went to eat lunch with her when she said “I quit drinking.”

I did not know how to reply to that. I never expected to hear anything like that from my mother before in my entire life. I had completely given up on her.

 My response was a simple, “Oh yeah?”

I didn’t know what else to say. I haven’t asked her what exactly made her quit, anytime it gets brought up she just says “It was just stupid.”

She has been an alcoholic for about 13 years. Every single day she would drink herself to sleep. (AKA drinking until you pass out.) It started with a ‘few’ beers a night. At first it was no big deal, but a few beers became more and more. She would blame her drinking on everything from my siblings to having nothing better to do. She has been drunk for all but 2 years of Scout’s life and my little brother, Gage, has never known my mom sober.

I hate my mother when she is drunk. I have hated my mother for 13 years.

13 years ago my mom was an awesome mom. She had a job, she took care of herself, she took care of her family. We could all talk to her about anything. She had a very bright personality. Then it just changed.  All of that was gone. I know she will not go back to being the person she was, but maybe just a sliver of that person remains so that Scout and Gage will have a chance to get to know her. That is my hope.

Of course hope is the one thing I am trying not to have right now. I do not want to get my hopes up thinking she is finally over it. Then have them crashing down if she slips.  It has only been a week. The first week in 13 years. That is an awesome week. I am proud of my mother for her first week. Will I be proud of her second week? We’ll see…

——-

College orientation was last week Friday! WOO HOO! It was awesome! I got to meet my Instructors, fellow students, and got a tour of the school! For the first time in my life I felt ‘old.’ It was a very strange feeling.

When I got there, my pants covered in coffee, 40 mins early, and a nervous wreck, I had to go get my name tag.

Jenna- Computer Science and Networking Technology, I like the sound of that!

It was the orientation for students accepted in:

• General Machining
• Engineering Drafting/CAD
• Industrial Instrumentation & Control
• Industrial & Commercial Wiring
• Computerized Manufacturing Technology
• Carpentry/Construction Technology
• Computer Science and Networking Technology (CSNT)
• Powerline
• Powerline Technology
• Biotechnology Lab Tech

So yeah, so far I was the only girl. Oh great. I went to take my student ID picture, I of course kept BEEFY on in the pic. YAY! (That is going to be awesome, LOL!) Then I wandered around looking for other CSNT students. None. Damn.

I did notice that about 90% of the students there were Powerline students. I have no idea what that is. I mean I know what  a powerline is, but are that many people interested in them..?

We were all gathered into a room and got the run down of the school, everything from the rules to how to buy books with your financial aid was covered. Then we got a tour and I got to feel old.

I was the only girl in a group of 21. I was the only CSNT student in the group too, LOL! Everyone else was Powerline. I was also probably the oldest. I was the only one who did not have their parents with.  During the tour I asked about 56,783,948,765 questions. Every room we went into I had a question. I was starting to annoy myself, but I really needed to know the answers.  I heard a few of the guys say “That lady keeps asking questions, we should be done by now!” They called me ‘THAT LADY’  wow. I have never been called that before. I wanted to say that I would not be able to just ask my mommy and daddy later, I had to find out now…but no, I said nothing. I continued asking questions though!

After the tour we broke up into our areas of study. I finally got to see who my fellow CSNT students would be! A whopping total of 8 students! My brother-in-law Sean being one of them! LOL! Man, Iowa schools are awesome.

We met our Instructor. He is just awesome. I thought I would be extremely intimidated by him, but no.  He gave us some of his back story, completely lost his train of thought, told about how he used to work in corrections, the navy, was certified in Cisco, and a ton of other stuff. He went on and on til we were all comfortable. He said some of his students went on and worked at DDC after college! I have been working there for 3 1/2 years! That made me laugh. Whoopie DDC, lol, I am going to college so that I can move on from there.  Small classes, awesome Instructor! w00t! Why was I so afraid of college before? It is going to be great!

If I haven’t said it already (5,463,784,576 times, hahaha!)  will be studying Computer Science and Networking Technology!

My first classes are:

• Computer Science
• Networking Principles & Applications
• Computer Architecture
• Small Business Management
• Introduction to Computers

For a total of  16 credits!

‘Holy balls Jenna! How are you going to go to school FULL TIME and work FULL TIME!?’ Is pretty much what I thought to myself…

I got the class schedule…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! All of the classes are in the morning except Small Business Management and Intro to Computers! I work in the morning! I cannot go to school unless I am working full time. Crap. I had planned to only go to school part-time. Crap. Then I talked to my Instructor, and he said I needed to register for any class I was interested in so that I would have a spot saved. I could come back and adjust my classes as needed, but in order to be in the CSNT program I have to take Computer Science, Networking Principles & Applications, and Computer Architecture. All the morning ones.

I also found out I tested out of Intro to Computers. NICE! So I didn’t have to worry about that one.

After orientation I went to work and set up a meeting request with my boss.  *Gulp*

—-

Today was the big day! I had my meeting with my boss. It was at 11am,  it lasted until 12:30pm. That is a long ass meeting.

I went to my boss’ office. Luckily for me, my boss and I are buddies.  So I wasn’t too nervous but I was still wondering how she would respond to my school schedule. In the meeting request I had told her that if I could not adjust my hours and continue to work full time, with my school schedule, I would be forced to choose one or the other. I did NOT tell her I would have to chose work over school, because I still have bills and they still need to be paid.

I sat in her office and went over a mock schedule she had built for me. It was based off me coming into work right after school, unfortunately we could only get it to 35 hours. I need 40 hours to keep my benefits.

We messed around with the schedule a bunch and I was getting rather bummed out. Well there goes school…

Then she told me that Data Entry would be getting a new client. She went on and on about how we would have to start a night shift as we do not have enough computers or people to get all the work we would have done. I wasn’t following her, I mean sure I work in Data Entry sometimes but my main departments are Scanning and Clerical. I do not type fast enough to really be much help in Data Entry, but I do what I can. Then just out of no where she offered me a STAFF POSITION as SUPERVISOR of the night shift! Holy freaking balls awesome!!! I said. “Well, that sounds like it would work.” (I was crapping my pants at the time.)

I will be a supervisor when we get our new client in…that’s the problem though. We can build mock schedules, I can fill my office with action figures,  and we can talk about it all we want, but I will not 100% know my hours until we start getting in the work. That could be a month from now, it could be tomorrow, it all depends on the client. However, I do know she will keep me at 40 hours (YES!!) and it will not interfere with my school schedule. School comes first, my boss even said so. (I had her write it down and sign it so the first day she wants me to come in and I have school I can show her what she said…LOL!) Today has been pretty awesome!

We are going to start the hiring process asap. Before the week is out. I have never hired, interviewed, or anything, anyone ever before so I am pretty nervous, but I like that I get to be a part of the hiring process. It will help me get to know the employees that I will BE THE BOSS OF! Hehehehe! Freaking awesome!

I have a meeting at the school tomorrow to finalize everything and talk about just how many credits I am taking.  LOL! I should probably find out if I am full or part-time, hahaha!

Good day today. I should probably go and clean now…but why ruin it? I am going to get sit on my butt and play some FFXII! w00t!

When I Grow Up…?

I have been going around reading blogs today. Decided I would write one.  Not sure what it will be about, we’ll see.  I am in a weird mood lately. I had been stressing about taking my college placement test. I haven’t been in school for about, hmmm, I graduated in 2003 then took a year of online college courses, which I was to lazy to complete so I wouldn’t really count…so it’s been about 5-6 years. A long enough time to get out of the studying habit.

To be honest I never really studied. Sure if I had a history test I would memorize everything the day before, but is that really studying? When it came to school either I understood what I was learning and just knew it…or I didn’t.  If I didn’t understand something, I would just memorize it, keep it in my head for as long as I needed it, then it was just gone.  I never asked questions or even talked in high school.

Not sure where I was going with that. I took my COMPASS test yesterday and got the following scores out of 100:

Algebra: 94

Pre-algebra: 92

Writing: 84

Reading: 99

Damn, I want to be a writer and that was my lowest score. I tested out of over a year of classes! (W00t!) I will be able to start at the intermediate level with all courses if I chose to do so and I could even skip to the advanced in some. AWESOME! Ok ok, I am kinda bragging, heh.

I do not think of myself as ’smart’ at all. I read so much stuff I do not understand. I talk to people I don’t understand. I read blogs I don’t understand. It seems like everyone else understands,  just not me. So getting high scores really did surprise me. I was proud of myself, I do not think I have ever been proud of myself before. It is a weird feeling.

You know when you are young and you think, “I want to be a _____ when I grow up.”  You have so many possibilities, then somehow time goes by and  all those possibilities just disappear and you are working at some job just to pay the bills. It’s not what you wanted to do but it is not a bad job really.  You start to talk yourself out of reaching your dreams…”Sure I am not an astronaut, but that was never realistic to begin with.” … and then you just accept what you have. You’re comfortable, you may even be happy, but every now and then you still wonder “What if…” I know first hand what it is like to live like that. The days just go by one after another, not really changing much. Weeks, months, and before you know it is years…

Now that I know I am going back to college I am back to that “I want to be a ____ when I grow up” stage. I have so many possibilities, a ton of “What ifs?”. With my test scores I can take any class I want to. What I learn now  is what I will be doing for the rest of my life….I just hope I make the right choice.

What did you want to be when you grew up? …is that what you are doing now?