Adios, Fall Semester!
Okay, technically the semester isn’t yet over; this week is the last week of classes! I have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then I’m home free! Well, for a couple of weeks, anyway, until Winterim kicks off. That won’t be so bad, though: I’m teaching and not taking any courses, plus there’s a week in Hawaii scheduled during that time. So, come on, semester… let’s move it along!
This entry is what I’ll use to keep myself accountable over the next five days. I’m making a list of everything that needs to be done before I can truly say “buh-bye!” to the fall and allow myself to take some seriously deep breaths. I’m sorry if this seems boring, but I like to think you can use it as a pros/cons list for yourself if you are thinking about going back to school for any type of degree. Allow my jam-packed schedule to either be your catalyst to take the plunge or the reason you to say, “uh, no thanks!” I won’t be offended either way!
Sunday: I’m currently writing this as I take a break from my Sunday homework. I forgot to turn in my CV, cover letter, and professional development plan for my GRAD 801 course (it was due on Friday — don’t talk about it). It’s my only online class, and it’s really hard to remember what’s due and when. Luckily, the TA is extremely accommodating.
Monday: Nate is out of town for work Monday through Wednesday, so it’s just Baer and me. I have to work on my group poster project for Athletic Training, but we thankfully have time to do it in class. Our final assignment isn’t due until next Monday, so there’s some breathing room there. We’re making a targeted poster: one specific topic for one specific audience. In our case, we’re doing Seasonal Affective Disorder for undergraduate students at a midwestern/northern college. Specificity helps! It’s allowed us to really narrow down our research, and it makes the graphic design easier. I will have to head over to the occupational therapy floor later in the afternoon to practice making a resting hand splint before my Phys Rehab class on Tuesday. We’re teaching the students how to make them in the lab, and I haven’t made one in about, oh, six years! I don’t want to look like a novice! So, I will be spending more time making one than I’d like to admit before going to Orangetheory and getting Baer.
Tuesday: I have Microbiology first thing in the morning, so Baer will have to be woken up extra early so I can get there on time. I have that class from 8:30-10:30, then I run over to the OT floor to teach at 10:30 (it works, I promise). At 3:30, I’m done teaching, but I have a final project due on Wednesday for Death and Dying, so I will be working hard on that until it’s time to pick up Baer.
Wednesday: More time to spend on Death and Dying! It’s a final project on what I want during my final days and what kind of funeral I’d like. Let it be known that I want to be buried in an ecofriendly casket that disintegrates into the earth and feeds the flora. I’ve wanted this for years — it’s nice to be able to talk about it in class because sometimes people get uncomfortable with discussions of death, especially when someone my age brings it up. I highly recommend this type of class, especially for healthcare workers.
And that’s it! No more classes for the semester! I just sit around and wait for my teacher performance reviews to come in… argh!