Observations from College 2.0

First off, lo siento on the lack of posts. School is hard. Going to school with kids is harder. Going to school with kids AND working is darn near impossible. On most days, I can't remember if I put on deodorant, changed Oscar's diaper, or took something out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. So, blogging has been a little low on the list! But here we are, almost half way through with my first semester back at college. Whew. It's flying by (thank you Lord) but it's also been a completely unique experience. As I walk to and fro across campus, I continue to make a mental list of new observations from my second time at college. I will delight you with them now.

1) If you are wanting to get a tattoo and be original at the same time, fancy writing on the top of your foot is completely a no go.
2) Pantyhose (please read that again....pan-tee hose) are absolutely an acceptable substitution for pants. Just wear a shirt long enough to cover your butt, but still short enough to see the built-in shorts part.
3) Just because you made all A's without trying/studying the first time in college doesn't necessarily mean you can do that again your second time.
4) Umbros are making a come back. Okay okay, maybe not umbros with their checkerboard shiny-matte squares, but EVERYONE wears running shorts. Running shorts over leggings, running shorts and uggs in 20 degree weather, etc.
5) Your professors enjoy you having intelligent conversation with them outside of class. At least I hope they do....awkward.
6) Dropping an F-Bomb in class is an impactful way of teaching. Coming from a private Christian college, you can imagine my surprise to hear cuss words during class from the professor. But at least I won't ever forget what she said.
7) Having a couple of Starbucks on your campus makes college tolerable.
8) Going to tutoring is not for idiots or people with learning disabilities.
9) Apparently due to budget short falls, students purchase their own scantrons. Each professor also finds it necessary to require a different format of scantrons. Thanks for that.
10) If you are older than most people in your class, say Chem Lab for example, everyone automatically assumes you know what to do. Just because I am a good 10 to 12 years older than you, doesn't mean I know how to light that bunson burner or where to throw out certain waste products.

I could go on and on. Instead, I will do some homework. I will leave you with a brief overview of my progress to date:
- College Algebra - the devil still. I took my first exam and it wasn't pretty. I got a 64. I don't think I ever made a C on a test so this bad boy stung. My entire grade in the class will come down to my grade on the final (just a mid-term and a final). Apparently the professor doesn't allow calculators.....odd. I'm kicking myself for not actually taking this as a real course.
- Intro to Psych - I actually have a 102 in the class. I set the curve on the last exam. This class is ridiculously easy for me and I am bitter that it's a class that doesn't really count when it comes to my science GPA for PA School.
- Intro to Chemistry - I don't know how I feel about this class. I really enjoy it and it's very interesting to me....but I don't do so hot on quizzes. I have a high B in the class now and I've been told an A is very doable so I will hold on to that and step up my game.
- Chemistry Lab - are you kidding me? I can't make an A on anything he assigns....labs or quizzes. He grades on a curve which is awesome, minus the fact that the 2010 PCN valedictorian is in my class. I love that. I will be lucky if I make a B in there.
- Biology For Majors - online class so it's hard to know how I'm doing. I made an 87 on my first exam so I'm thinking I can pull out an A. It's just really hard to know.
- Intro to Physics - This class makes my brain hurt. I have an A but there are several more exams to go. Just the words vector addition, kinematic equations, and Sir Isaac Newton make me break out into hives!

And a funny story:
Everyone has catchy ways of remembering things. My awesome Chem professor told us the way she remembered the diatomic molecules (Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Flourine, Chlorine, Iodine, Bromine) was "Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer". My Chem Lab professor was stopped to help me with a question and I used that mnemonic device outloud. He laughed at me and said, "You could get expelled at your old school (SNU) for that"! I didn't even remember telling him I went to SNU but I didn't care because that was awesome. I asked him how kids at christian schools are supposed to learn diatomic molecules and he said, "Brinclhof". Oh....because that makes tons of sense. Good luck with that....I'll stick with beer.