School Daze

After a long absence, I have decided to continue my education and complete the courses for a Bachelors Degree. I should have done this twenty years ago, but I was a sap. I completed the course work for an Associate in Applied Science degree in the Fall of 1987. Ronald Reagan was still president. George Bush the Elder was ratcheting up his campaign for the presidency. Gary Hart was still viable. Bill Clinton? Still needed to make the keynote at the 1988 Democratic Convention. I did a stint of jury duty, and began working in February 1988 for an Electrical Instrument manufacturer in Rockville Centre, NY. The game plan was I was going to go to engineering school at night. I was running late in my education, I had already changed majors three times and took a two year break between two of those majors. I wanted to work, I wanted to get married.

I started looking to school in '90, but I did not do anything about it. Then in 1994, I took a leap. I registered for Fall '94 to take Computer Science Courses. I had to do that at night. I went until Fall of '97. In between those points, my marriage collapsed and I was a basket case. I didn't manage to screw up all my courses, but I did have some unproductive time. I was forced by circumstance to withdraw from my courses in the Fall of '97. I also got my current position in that fall, and time marched on. Fall 2000 arrived. My son was entering High School. I thought it would be cute if the two of us would both be going to school at the same time, and we could have study time together on weekends. That was good for a few chuckles. Workload and responsibilities and the coursework, first math course in 14 years...
Totally frazzled, I threw my hands in the air and surrendered.

In the summer of 2007, I began feeling like I wanted to go back and finish what I started. I would need to prep myself. I still had a shit load of math to look forward to and I needed to learn a new programming language. I decided, January 2008 was when I was going to return. Finances forbade that at that moment. OK, we will prep and go fall '08. I slacked off. Sometime this spring I decided I wanted to get serious. I started prepping. OK, I tell myself, January '09.

Procrastination and self defeat building up.

Thursday, I am speaking with my gal. We I mention my plans for January, and she tells me that I am foolish. I should just shit or get off the pot. Don't wait if I am going to do it. See if I can get in for the fall and if not, just get the ball started. The fire is lit under my ass.
I make a call to admissions...
"Come in, but move fast. Classes start in two weeks."
Friday I am off from work. I go and apply for readmission.
Saturday, I get general academic advisement. There are issues with my computer account at the school with regards to online registration. The college help desk assures me that Monday morning, the problems will be solved. Monday morning comes, problems solved. I am going to start off by taking one course in the humanities towards my core requirements. Any course that would satisfy the requirements are filled.
Call to the registrar office redirects me to the English department. Over tally granted and I am registered for my preferred course. Go to online billing. Pay bill after reassuring discussion with my girlfriend to overcome my nerves (I am sacrificing money that is scarce, and time that is also scarce, the nerves kick in).

I am now going to Queens College starting August 28. I have a hard road ahead of me, besides the work, but conquering my self doubt.

But I'm there. And I am upbeat about doing this. I have shame for not doing it when I should have, but I have to keep that buried so it does not throw me off.

And I need to think of this as fun.