For a bit less than 2 years, I have been a student at Mississippi State University. At age 53, I am taking the meteorology courses I should have finished years ago. I am doing it more for the certification than to learn new concepts.
It’s fun to tell people I go to Mississippi State. They always ask how – whether it’s online? The explanation is little more complex.
Courses are presented on DVD and videocassette. I contact teaching assistants and take my tests on the Internet. Some tests are timed, some are not. Sure, they’re open book – but it would be awfully tough to try and do this without doing the coursework… or at least most of it.
It’s been a really long time since I went to school and it didn’t take long to remember what made me such a bad student the first time around. I am disorganized. I am a procrastinator. On the other hand, I am 35 years older than when I first went to school and so I force myself to complete the assigned tasks.
I have been successful as a student, so far, with A’s in all my courses. Still, each time I face a quiz or test I sweat just a little.
Tonight, I was messaging with a friend who is a year behind me at MSU.
(20:21:23) Geoff : They graded it before it was due?
(20:21:38) jeff: yeah sometimes this chick will do that — but you gotta e mail her for it
(20:21:47) Geoff: It is due tomorrow, right?
(20:21:54) Geoff: **** – I’m panicking
(20:21:55) jeff: yeah — well tomorrow at noon
(20:22:01) Geoff: ok
(20:22:08) Geoff: my heart was beating fast
(20:22:11) Geoff: Mazel tov
(20:22:37) Geoff: But you scared the living **** out of me
In many ways, I’m glad we didn’t have Instant Messenger in he 60s.
Ah yes, procrastination is what I’m far too good at these days. If it makes you feel any better, almost everyone I know is a procrastinator as well – it must be a teenage trend. Hopefully I’ll be more motivated with my online meteorology course this Summer, but that could be asking a bit much, considering that it will be Summer.
Great post Geoff!! I took my Thermo exam on Friday morning. I just wanted to be rid of that class! No more school for me until next summer (2005) when I take Weather Prediction II. Enjoy!