Spring 2011: the low-down

Fresh out of the tanning bed (it's my vice), tall frappuccino in hand, I now sit in a deserted computer lab in David L. Rice Library. So much homework to do... but blogging calls :)

I have been in SUCH a fantastic mood these past couple of weeks. I'm always a very positive person, for the most part, but lately I've been especially upbeat and smiley. It's incredible. There are several explanations for this increase in happiness levels, but I feel like if I started to outline them all I would be here for hours, so suffice it to say: God is amazing. He has provided so much for me, immensely more than I deserve. Things with school and friends and finances and my personal life and this one very special person... they're all falling right into place, effortlessly. I am so blessed.

Well, we're a solid three weeks into the semester so I feel like I'm sufficiently qualified to give you guys a quick overview of my classes. I originally intended to take 21 credit hours this time around, but classes got moved and I couldn't get into everything I needed. So I'm taking 18, as I have every other semester of college. It's a lot to some people, but I've always handled 18 pretty well.

I love how my schedule worked out this semester. MWF are my heavy days, with either 4 or 5 classes. However, because I start early, I'm always done before 1pm (not counting one night class). I only have one class on TR and it's over at 10:15, so I practically have the entire day open.

Here's a quick overview of my classes, the professors, the workload, etc.-

MATH 226: Geometry for Teachers (MWF, 8-8:50)
This is the third and final class in the math sequence required for all education majors at USI. Up until I started college, I hated math. Though I was always a straight-A student, math came so hard to me and I had to work my butt off to make the grade- something I wasn't too used to. My college math classes changed that, though, mainly due to the teachers I've had. The professor I have for 226 is absolutely wonderful! She's fun and sweet and ridiculously nice. I don't even mind that this class is at 8am, because it's so fun. There is a ton of homework, but I've gotten into the habit of doing the assignments in advance, so it hasn't been a problem yet.

CHEM 103: Molecules, Matter, and Me (MWF, 9-9:50)
Yes, that is the actual title of this course. Cheesy, right? Well, this is your basic intro chem course. I'm only taking it to fufull my core science requirements. There is a three-hour lab that goes along with this course for most students, but because I had a bio lab my freshman year, I just go to the lecture three times a week. My professor is a successful biochemist and the head of USI's science department, so sometimes she'll forget that this is just an intro-level course, but it's not too horrible. The worst part: SO MUCH HOMEWORK. We have online activities due every week that take hours to complete, and there are also 30-40 book exercises for each chapter. It's a struggle, keeping up with everything.

PSY 266: Lifespan Development Psychology (MWF, 11-11:50)
I adore psychology. I think it's one of the most interesting subjects out there and if I didn't have such a passion for teaching and working with young children, I would have changed my major to psych a long time ago. However, because the major is out of the picture, I settled for a minor, which still allows me to take psych courses and have them count for something. Lifespan isn't my favorite topic in psychology, but the professor I have is entertaining and highly enthusiastic about the subject, so it makes for a fun class. It's mostly lecture- and discussion-based, but he incorporates videos and in-class activities, as well. We go through about a chapter a week, with a quiz every Friday. The chapters are about 50-60 pages each, so it's a lot of reading to keep up with.

PSY 322: Abnormal Psychology (MWF, 12-12:50)
In terms of subject matter, this is my favorite of the two psych courses I'm taking right now. It's a bit of a different story when judging based on the professors, however. The professor I have for Abnormal is a very kind older man, and he's definitely experienced and qualified to teach this course, but his voice is so monotone. After a morning full of classes, I sometimes have a hard time staying focused. The class is purely lecture-based and he goes through slides quickly, so I always find myself struggling to keep up with the notes. Thankfully, the textbook we're using is super interesting, so I don't have a problem keeping up with the tons of reading we're assigned. Aside from reading and exams, the only other assignment for the semester is a huge case study report that's due in two months.

SPAN 306: Advanced Spanish I (TR, 9-10:15)
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Spanish is one of my passions in life. I'm fascinated by foreign languages in general, but Spanish will always hold a special place in my heart. I wasn't able to fit a Spanish class into my schedule last semester, so I was eager to get back into the swing of things this time around. I love the professor I have; she is such a sweet lady. I had her husband for a Spanish class I took last year, but I much prefer la señora. She's a native speaker, so her English isn't very good, but I think that's a good thing in the classroom. Knowing that she makes frequent mistakes in our language makes us, as students, less afraid to make mistakes in hers. There is a ton of reading and homework due every class, and we have to prepare a 3-minute culture presentation with Power Point every week, but I love the subject so I don't mind.

EDUC 201: Educational Psychology: Growth & Development (W, 6-8pm)
The official time for this class is 6 to 8:45... but my teacher is awesome and said she'll never make us stay past 8:00. Most of the time we get out early. She's the same teacher I had last semester for EDUC 196, and I absolutely adore this woman. I've been blessed with some incredible teachers in my lifetime, but none of them compare to Mrs. B in terms of how much passion they have for this occupation. Just hearing her talk about how much she cares about her kids and how seriously she takes her responsibility as an educator gives me crazy amounts of inspiration. This is the first time I've ever had a night class that I actually don't mind attending, because the atmosphere is so relaxed and we do tons of fun activities. Homework and reading is kept to a minimum, but we do have several projects. Once tutoring starts next month, we'll have regular reports and journal entries due, as well.

Well, that's all I have for you tonight, folks. Computer lab closes in roughly 8 minutes. Hope you're all doing well. God bless!