I Am a Non-Traditional Student

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All righty, in order to preserve people's flists and not bum everybody out, I'm going to post the majority of this entry behind a cut. I'm in a confessional mood, which is rare, so hold tight.

Everyone else, enjoy this picture of a sunflower I took today:





QuickSlightly lengthy background information that I will try to keep as drama-free as possible: at 18, I started off my academic career at the University of Michigan. I had no idea what to expect, and no idea what I wanted to study; I was the first one in my family to go to college. I spent three years there that were some of the best, and the worst, years of my life. Best because I discovered my independence, met some of the best people I've ever known, and made some incredible memories. Worst, because of Major Depression and a handful of anxiety disorders.

(Here's where I take a little sidebar and say that I'm never quite sure what language to use when talking about my psychiatric illnesses. It's hard to find words to accurately describe the experiences without either inflating or downplaying the severity of them. I also don't know whether to use past or present tense; they're issues I have to this day, but no longer to the life-ruining effect they had then. I never know whether to use clinical terms, colloquial terms...basically, it's all just one hot mess, so I tend to stick to discussing specific symptoms in their appropriate context, such as now...)

I flunked out of school (twice) and took a year off, wherein I lived and worked in the same city with college friends but did not attend classes. I then transferred to Eastern Michigan University, which had the benefit of providing a bachelor's degree in the area I wanted to study (social work). I spent a couple of years there and did most of the work toward my degree. Then I had a RELAPSE (as they call it), wigged out in my last semester, and moved home for awhile to get myself together.

I have done so, and am going back to finish my last semester on September 8th. It's getting close to FREAK-OUT TIME!

So here are the classes I still need to take:

The two main ones that I will physically have to drive to the campus for are:

Sociology 462: Complex Organizations "An examination of several types of large organizations, with emphasis on the nature of bureaucratic organizations. Theoretical and empirical studies of organizational growth, recruitment, control and relations between organizations."
Sociology 304: Methods of Social Research

The other two extra requirements I need are a fine arts credit and a cross-cultural credit. I'm taking both of these courses online. They are:

Art 100: Art Appreciation
DTC 358: Food & Culture

I'm really excited about the food and culture class! I hope it isn't lame.

I REALLY hope I can make it through the Complex Organizations class, as it's a two and a half hour class on Wednesday nights. TWO AND A FRIGGIN' HALF HOURS studying bureaucratic organizations!

I've already started having all the typical back-to-school nightmares: can't find the class, it's finals day for a class I haven't attended, being stalked by a psychotic professor who wants to dissect my head; you know, that classics.

Plus there's all the anxiety stemming from the fact that I haven't been in school for two years. The good thing about my school and my program is that there's a lot of students of all ages from all parts of life (mostly female, though). I will not be the oldest one there. However, I will not fit in with the 22 year-olds anymore. It will be weird. I will be weird. Everyone will notice.

All right, that's it, ranting over; I'm off to go breathe into a paper bag and curse the fact that I quit smoking.