Saturday, August 15th: The iStartSmart orientation is a new requirement for first year community college students in Maricopa County. The program is designed to prepare new students for school and equip them with organizational methods needed to stay on track in order to graduate. You start out with an online orientation, which I finished weeks ago. The next step is the in person orientation with a group of new students, a director and a few campus ambassadors. At this meeting, we learned about tutoring, academic advisement, clubs/organizations, etc. Nothing I didn't already read about online, still it was nice to meet some people I'd be attending school with. Starting in September I will be attending the third and final step of this program, in the form of a required college success course. The class is five weeks, once a week and one credit. The course description makes me angry. I am 25 years old and have a lot of real work experience. I believe I've mentioned this before, but I got my first job at 13 and have taken care of myself for a long time. In the twelve years I've been employed, I've worked in several different industries, gathering new lessons and talents along the way and leaving each job with a higher knowledge and self expectation than when I started. I see going to school as another new experience and will face it with the same openness that I have stared each new chapter in my life with. However, this required class will cover things I have already acquired, such as time management, organization skills and note taking tips. While I am infuriated by the apparent waste of time and money, I am hopeful that I will leave that room at the end of the five weeks with at least one bit of new information. With a graduation rate of only 14%, the school certainly needs to take some steps in helping students reach their goals.
Sunday I cleaned and re-organizing my apartment (specifically mine and my son's rooms). I'm overwhelmed and this, in addition to making lists, helps me stay focused on what I am working towards.
Monday the 17th, marked my third attempt to get Bray officially enrolled in preschool. The woman I'd been speaking to had given me a whole list of wrong information and was the cause of my having to come down to the school two too many times to do something that should have been done long ago. This time, I called ahead of time to make sure that the director of the preschool was there. I was told by the "other woman" that I couldn't pay the registration fee and receive the forms unless she was present. I was told this in person, when I came to the school to do it, under the advisement of said woman. When I called, the director, a very nice and professional woman, informed me that I do not pay her. Instead I go to the business center and make the payment; something I could have done the last time I was there. Angry and overwhelmed I came in that afternoon and got everything taken care of. I decided to just let it go. What was done, was done and no amount of complaining would change that. Although, I did very nicely let the director know that I was given wrong information on several occasions and that I think perhaps the woman I spoke to was unsure of what needed to be said to the parents. I felt bad, but I had to say something in order to allow myslef to just get over the frustration. It worked.
Tuesday I filled out forms and spent some good quality time playing with my son. There will be so little of it starting tomorrow.
Wednesday I had a parents orientation for the preschool at 2pm. I was told not to bring my son unless absolutely necessary, so I arranged for my sister to watch him for a bit. She lives in an apartment complex in the heart of the ASU area in Tempe. This was the day, apparently, that all the out-of-state freshmen were arriving with there parents and suitcases, and all the on campus residents were moving into their dorms. If you have ever lived or been in a college town on a day like this, you know that the streets and sidewalks are flooded with people. It took me 15 whole minutes to drive one mile. I was glad I was going to a community college near my home and not here. Anywhere, but here. I finally dropped my son off at 5 minutes to 2pm. I was 20 minutes away from where I needed to be. After I made my way out of the sea of college students and just accepted the fact that I was going to be late, I started wondering how vastly different my life would be if I'd gone to a university right out of high school instead of waiting so long. For a brief moment I thought I'd be better off now, but I'd never have met Braydon's father - that I am certain of. Which means I wouldn't be Braydon's mother and no amount of success would be worth that. Changing one step on your life's path can alter the future in a huge way. I couldn't give this thought of "what if" another second of my precious time.
Thursday I got my books! Friday I took my sister to get her books. All weekend I've been cleaning and preparing for what tomorrow morning will bring. I am nervous, excited, scared and happy all at the same time, and I'm loving every second of it.
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