I'm getting ready for class, loading up my wife's old messenger bag with all my books and folders, pens and highlighters. In some ways, I feel like I'm 10 years old again. One look in the mirror savagely reminds me that I'm not.
It's interesting how some things about school just never change. I have to think about things now that I haven't thought about seriously in over 20 years. Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a list...
- Homework – The staff at Fountainhead are quite good at trying not to overload their students. They understand everyone has lives outside the classroom. But if you're a night student, like I am, you're going to have some homework on the weekends. Of course, the amount of homework you'll have depends on how much you can complete in class. Make no mistake, though: it will happen. Do you think you can make room in your life for your new friend, Homework?
- GPA – Ah, the good old Grade Point Average. I haven't thought about that since high school. Even then, I didn't think about it much. But I find now that I am choosing to go to school, my GPA is taking on more importance. I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck that I can get. I'm gunning for a 4.0. Whether I'll hit that or not remains to be seen, but it's my goal.
- Vocabulary – I'm not a math guy, but I would estimate I am learning somewhere around 80- 90 new words and terms every week. That's a lot of information for anybody. We have quizzes over medical terminology every night. There are also key terms from every chapter we read that must be defined and memorized. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. It's hard work. It's also fun, because some words just sound silly, regardless of how serious they actually are.
- Flash cards – Flash cards are a great help when it comes to learning your vocabulary words. I hadn't even thought about flash cards for years. I've already used more of them in my classes at Fountainhead than I did when I was learning my multiplication tables. My wife quizzes me with the flash cards every night when I get home from school. It's become a routine for us and it helps me greatly.
- Blephar – No, it's not an alien planet. Nor is it the Queen of the Orcs. It is a medical term referring to issues involving the eyelid. You know what? That silly sounding word is yours. That's a gift. You're welcome. Use it conversationally today. "I've noticed that your blephar is twitching, Sally."
These are things I didn't think about when I decided to go back to school. I had some shiny, idealized vision of school and those things on my list were nowhere in the picture. I'm three weeks in now. The rubber has met the road. Nitty and gritty have joined forces and are getting along just fine. It's harder than I thought it would be. I'm doing it anyway. Take that, Blephar.
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