Long Distance Relationships and Boredom

Hey guys, so I know I haven't been very personal on these blogs and I never really talked much about my personal life. Well, awhile ago I started dating a guy younger than me named... Well, his name isn't important. Just know, that he's a great guy and I think that if I believed in love then this would be it. Don't mistake me for a hopeless romantic, he's not my first 'love', and I'm not changing my subscription that 'love' is something Hollywood created.

But I digress, I haven't seen this lovely guy in about 3 weeks because he has moved to Ohio. I don't believe long distance relationships can work, and even though we have been dating 3 months prior to him moving I feel as if distance and time will be the end of this connection. He'll be going to school in New York which is good, but I can't help but feel when Winter break comes not seeing him for 2 months will be the end of this.

I know I'm probably being overdramatic, and I know people have definitely made worse situations work... but I don't like it. His mother loves me though. That's a major benefit from the last relationships. She's threatened me that if I don't come visit her she'll drag my sorry butt to Ohio and never let me leave. But, I have a job and school at no point can I just take off and visit Ohio. Although I do believe my schedule permits for me to go galavanting.

After all, I only have classes on tuesday and thursday meaning I have a 4 day weekend every week. Pretty spectacular no? So I'll try my best to make all of this work but, with the summer boredom kicking in I just feel extremely bitter for him being in Ohio.

Words of the wise: Everyone is childish, so don't bother fighting against it-- because that would be childish.

Driving

Hello everyone out in internet land! So I don't believe I ever touched on one of my biggest fears-driving. Living in New York I always found everything pretty accessible through public transportations, but when I started meeting up with my friend Mathew constantly and the lovely mugging happened in BROAD DAYLIGHT, I found myself taking cabs. Now, each cab cost $16 going to his house and another $16 coming back. Such a large portion of my paycheck became cab fairs that I started thinking its about time I get over my fear.

So about a week ago I signed up for driving lessons... I was petrified. I never drove a car before, my parents didn't drive nor did my brother so this experience was a very new one for me. Sitting in the car I felt my heart beat pounding against my ribcage. "Signal left and turn out" the instructor said. I laughed dryly, I didn't even know which was the break let alone WHERE the signal was. As time ticked by I learned what little I could and soon I was rolling down the street in a whopping 10 MPH. The gas pedal scares me. So today is my third lesson, and hopefully my right and left turns wont suck. I don't know how many times I've felt like crying but waaay to constant that's for sure.

Wish me luck guys and for todays words know: Bravery is not having no fear, bravery is accepting you have fear and overcoming it.

Online course

So, as I told you last week I decided that I would be taking an online course so I can have a total of 16 credits. Well, I have chosen my online course to be- Statistics! I guess a little background information is needed in order to convey my opinions on Mathematics. I haven't taken a math course since Junior year of high school, and that math course was Pre-calculous which I barely attended. I have always leaned more towards english then Math because I find math to be too finite. I mean, I can manipulate a mathematical answer. The answer is either right of wrong no real partial credit there.

My brother, however, is an electrical engineer and a genius in mathematics! He has always used me to check his english papers and reports, and the boasted on solving a mathematical problem that take on average 3 sheets of paper. "You derive the from and " is all I ever really hear when he goes on his "I'm a mathematical genius" rants. HOWEVER, I admit my mathematical skills are...Lacking, and since it will be an online course perhaps I can do the work while my brother is there so he can explain everything in-depth. After all he took statistics and such in High School... I chose AP English and AP history instead.

Todays words of the wise: Play nice with smart folk, they're an amazing asset.

Online courses- "Road to success"

So, as I posted in my last blog I decided that since I have a 3 hour break in between my classes I would take an online course so I would have a total of 16 credits instead of just 12. However, before I can take an online course I had to pass the non-credit class 'Road to Success'. When I found this out I quickly decided to have administration register me for the class so I can take it now.

When I started the course work I noticed that their are only four assignments I must complete in order to be able to take the class. Two writing assignments, one discussion board post, and a 50 question test. So last night I decided I could most definitely dissolve this course-load and began at my work.

The firs assignment asked what I thought the benefits of Online classes were. For that I wrote the following:

Online learning has become progressively more popular as the years go by because students recognize the major benefits of utilizing online courses. Instead of spending an extra $4.50 in traveling expenses, and even more on wasted time many students are choosing to simply log on to their computers when it’s convenient for them.

The flexibility of when and where you must be, allows the student to be free from the normal constraints of schooling. With online courses you are able to access your course work from any location with an Internet connection. So if you’re an intense traveler you don’t need to sacrifice your education. Furthermore it forces you, the student, to accept responsibility. As an online student it is up to you to make the time to and schedule in order to do your work in a timely manner.

Another benefit towards online education is the convenient time schedules you can set up for yourself. The fact that your class is not set at any specific time and you can gain access to course material whenever you so choose is a great benefit towards the student. I myself find myself leaning towards Online Education because I have a 3-hour time slot in my current schedule, which I could fill with online course work.

Although there are many benefits to online education I find that Flexibility and Convenience are the most important. I find this to be true because they are the reason I have decided to so avidly undertake this very course, they are in turn the reason I am typing these words, which you are reading. The ability to choose when and where I can do my work seems, to me, to be a very valuable asset.

The other assignment was about using the library tab which was a short and sweet essay comparing it to google. The 50 questioned test was VERY simple because the answer was true for everything except on question. Lastly I had to post on the discussion board why I think online courses are best for me.

The entire course work took me an hour to complete so I suggest everyone take the "Road to Success" course. After all, if you ever want to set your schedule up so you only have to go to class two days a week its very beneficial.

Today's words of the wise: Everyone is a little neurotic sometimes, as long as you can recognize your neuroticism you can overcome your doubts.

Registration for the Fall

So, I went down to the registration office today to create my fall schedule. Prior to this I have heard horror stories of registration offices and always did my course selection online. However, with bravery I entered the office thingy and had them set me up with the papers I needed to fill out. The process took me about an hour to do, but that's because I'm very persnickety with my course selection, they actually called me 3 or 4 times to see if I was done yet. Low and behold I eventually finish with a schedule that has me going to class on two days a week!

My schedule for the next semester is:

Principals of Finance at 8:00AM-9:45AM

Principals of Management at 12:35PM-2:20PM

Ethics 2:25PM-4:10PM

The schedule so far is a total of 12 credits with a THREE HOUR BREAK . So I decided to try taking on online course as well, sadly that means I have to take a prerequisite online tutorial which I'll be starting tomorrow. Wish me luck guys, and if you're gonna be in the NYC campus feel free to come find me ^.^

Today's words of the ever so wise 19 year old: Love is being able to wake up with that same person and feel in love all over again.

Financial Aid

So, today I am proud to say my Fafsa is done! I know I haven't kept you guys updated on the process but I must say the FAFSA thing is hell no matter what school you're in. For the last month I've been attempting to fax it in but every time I did they would tell me the number got cut off or a form was missing. So I decided today was the day I get off my lazy butt and hand in the papers in person.

Anyone who's ever been in a Financial Aid office knows the long waits, crowded areas, and headaches associated with it. This is why I dread actually going to the place, and tried ever so desperately to avoid it.

I entered the 43 street building around 1:00 and made my way up to the second floor where I would subject myself to the wait of hell. All I needed to do was drop off a few papers and be done, but I knew that with the Financial Aid office nothing was ever so simple. I saw a group of 20 or so students scattered about the room, and another 3 standing on a line in order to sign in.

With a heavy sigh I made my way to the line and waited to put my name down. When I got to the front I asked the lady how long the wait was. "About an hour" a pleasant voice replied. 'An hour to drop off papers' my mind instinctively scoured as I scribbled my name and ID number.

"Miss I just need to drop off papers is there any way I can avoid the wait process" I asked attempting to avoid purgatory.

"If you come back tomorrow I can see you instantly, or on friday?" She replied looking at the people who eyed me as I attempted to avoid the crowds

"I have work, any chance I can come back in an hour?" I inquired fully knowing that I'd be eaten by the crowd if I did just get to drop them off.

"Sure" She replied.

WIN! I avoid the horrendous wait que and instead gabbed on my cell phone for an hour as I grabbed food. In truth the Financial Aid office is so much better than any other I know of. Normally they would just shush me and I'd be grumbling angrily as I sit in purgatory.

Todays advice: Always inquire, you never know when it may really help.

A horrible Vacation

My mother always used to tell me that I walked around as if I was invincible, as if nothing could ever hurt me. She said one day, if I wasn't careful, I might just learn how fragile I am. Well, I was mugged today and I must say I sure as hell don't feel invincible anymore.

It was my friends birthday and I was on my way to meet him in Sheepshead bay (Brooklyn). I got of the b82 at Nostrand and kings highway around 12:30 PM and crossed the street to catch the b44. As I saw the bus pull up it stopped shorter than where it normally would due to a van. As I began walking towards it I felt a sudden tug on my bag and the next thing I know I feel someone punch the side of my head causing me to fall.

"Let go of the ****ing bag" one of the girls screamed at me. Instinctively I wrapped my wrist around the bag. Another girl began grabbing at my wristlet which she broke off of the strap. Both of them began punching me repeatedly in the back and side of my head, and all the while I was screaming "HELP, I'm being mugged, call 911!"

20 or so people were watching me get mugged by these two rather large girls but no one helped and jumped in. I started punching back while I hung onto my laptop bag the entire act went on for about 2-3 minutes and by the end of it a rather large crowd had formed. I never let go of my laptop- I'm typing on it right now actually- but I did lose a total of $51. I would have lost more if it wasn't for one person who stood out from the crowd.

The two girls finally ran away when a man got out of his car and came running to the scene. Something apparently told him one tiny little white girl being punched repeatedly by two fat girls in their mid to late twenties was probably a bad thing. He caught one of the girls, the one who was grabbing my bag, and wouldn't let her leave the scene. After he stepped up everyone else grabbed their phones and began calling 911.

Soon the cops came and both girls were arrested I got my wallet back with everything in it- minus $51. So now I'm covered in bruises and cuts and extraordinarily sore. Come friday I have to go to court to make sure they actually get some time in jail, but I'm just amazed at how no one would help me. How I was mugged in broad day light and no one would help me when I was screaming help, when I was being pummeled.

Its funny, because I remember in my psychology class we learned that if many people are present people are less likely to act because they'll just assume someone else can do it. Well, don't just assume someone else can do it because you actually can do something. I know some people may say I should have just given them my stuff and not fault back, but I would be damned if I didn't fight back. Don't let people just push you around, and more importantly don't let others be pushed around.

Todays words are simple: Evil wins when good does nothing...