Member : GuardianAngel > journals > reading "I iz gettin a ejumucashun"
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Soooooooo... I finally decided to enroll in a civilian university recently. I am enrolled for a Bachelor's of Human Resource Management degree. I don't have the time for a full-time class load, so I am only going to take 1 or 2 classes at a time. I am currently in the second week of my first class. I am doing all of my classes online. Our weeks run from Monday through Sunday, and we have at least 1 or 2 written assignments due each week, and a quiz. It kind of sucks having to "do stuff" in my free time, but I guess I had to grow up some time! (DAMN IT!!!!!)
The nice thing is that I have a special transcript from the American Council on Education (ACE). They evaluate certain military courses and jobs, and provide "recommended" college class credits for them. It is up to the individual college, whether or not they want to give you credit for the ACE recommendations. I have been through so many Army schools (including Medic, X-Ray Technologist, Human Resources, several supervisor/management courses, etc.) that the ACE actually says that I have the equivalent of over 140 semester hours, in various courses. Of course, only certain courses will count towards a specific degree, and a college will only allow a certain number of hours to be awarded as "transfer credits", because they are in the business of making money, so you have to take at least SOME classes through them.
The school that I am going through is actually called "American Military University" (AMU). They are part of the "American Public University System" (APUS). Their website is http://www.apus.edu if anyone wants to go check them out. They evaluated my ACE transcript and gave me credit for 54 semester hours, towards my degree. I also took the English test through the "College Level Equivalency Program" (CLEP), so they gave me 6 semester hours for that. I am starting out with 60 semester hours, before even taking my first class, so I am half-way there! WOOHOO!!!! (the degree is a total of 121 hours)
I am at a high enough rank where the promotion boards won't even seriously consider me without some college, even though the only regulatory requirement is a high school diploma. In the last "After Action Review" for the promotion board, the board members actually wrote that with all of the accredited online universities available, there is "no excuse for not being enrolled in some type of continuing education". I am mainly doing it to eventually increase my chances of further promotion. Of course, I know that it will also help me out later on, once I retire from the Army, when I am applying for civilian jobs. Oh well, it is just one of those things that I need to get done and over with, so that I can have a cute little piece of paper that impresses some people. Never mind the fact that many of the Officers in my unit have to keep coming to me, to have me explain to them how they need to do their jobs (sometimes over and over again). Oh well, at least my college classes are paid for by the Army Tuition Assistance program.
So, I am a student again. A 42 year old student. Of course, statistics show that there are a LOT of non-traditional (a.k.a - "OLD") students out there, so I don't really mind at all, especially since I seem to be doing a lot better than most of the other students, after the first few assignments that we have done, so far. I am not too worried about it, because I have always done well academically, all the way through high school and in all of the military schools that I have attended.
My wife had worked for about 15 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She has been doing office work for Verizon for over the past 10 years. She has really missed nursing lately, and things kind of go "back and forth", as far as the stability of Verizon's future, or at least certain areas and offices of Verizon. She has recently started taking college courses (on campus) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Part of the reason that she is doing it is because she just really wants to do it, but she is also doing it as something to "fall back on" if anything happens to her job with Verizon. She has been happy going back to school, because she has really been wanting to do that. One of the nice things is that Verizon pays for their employees to go to college, so they are paying for the school.
I hadn't written a journal for a little while, and college is the only "new" thing really going on right now, so... YUP... there you have it. I hope you enjoyed the post! I never know how to end these things! LOL
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GuardianAngel
Yeah, I probably wouldn't be doing it right now, if they weren't. The college benefits are one of the major reasons that a lot of young people join the military, these days. There are actually a lot of employers out there that pay for a lot, if not all, of your college tuition. Some people start out working for certain companies, just for the college benefits, then move on to something better, after their degree. Even some places like McDonald's and Burger King have college tuition assistance programs. Some people also just wait, because once you reach a certain age (I "think" 23), then you no longer include your parents' income on your federal forms for school, so it is much easier to get grants and other federal aid, if you are working, but not making a lot of money. My 26 year old step-son is working and recently started going to college. The federal Pell Grant is paying for all of his tuition.
There are some options out there to pay for college, or at least part of it. Sometimes it depends on where you are working, and sometimes you have to wait a little while.
XOXOXO
Chris
GuardianAngel
FOLLOW UP MESSAGE - When I posted my first reply to you, I didn't realize that you were in Canada. I have no idea how things work up there. In the United States, there are a lot of options for federal government assistance, employer assistance, etc., for college. I am not sure how your country is, when it comes to getting assistance with going to college.
Alexandra
congratulations! i applaud you. one is never too old to go back to school!
=) <3
GuardianAngel
Thanks! :)
It does feel a bit "strange" to be going back to school, but I am happy that I am doing it!
<3 <3 <3
Anais
i'm really glad you took advantage of that program! so many ppl don't, and i know a few ppl that have been denied it even though they've spent time in iraq and afghanistan. that's awesome that you and yr wife started classes around the same time :) maybe it'll bring back some teen fling happenings. car make outs, sex in fast food bathrooms, smoking pot and listening to music. or maybe that was just my college years....
GuardianAngel
I have had educational benefits available to me for the past 24 years, while I have been in the Army, between active duty and reserves. I have been saying for years that I was going to take advantage of those benefits. It is about time that I finally got off my lazy butt and enrolled. LOL Yeah, I have known plenty of people who did not take advantage of their military benefits, then regretted it later.
My wife lives in our home in West Virginia, because we did not want to mess with her career, when I came back on active duty a few years ago. We get to visit each other on some weekends and holidays. We have been having some of our "teen fling happenings", just because we have a long distance relationship now, so it is kind of like a weekend long "booty call" when we get to visit each other. :)
XOXOXO
Indica
Right on; good for you!
Dude, my dad went back to college when he was 52, and it damn happy he did. I say go for it.
I will console you when the burdens of being a student begin to appear. Promise!
GuardianAngel
Thanks a lot for the support! I have a feeling that I will eventually need some consoling! LOL
Your dad went back to college at 52? That is really cool! My wife is a few years older than I am. She is 49 and just going back to school, as well. It is amazing how many older people are going back to college these days. As we become more and more of a "credential society", I think a lot of older people realize how important college is, if they want to remain competitive in today's employment market.
<3 <3 <3
Chris
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Be nice if some one paid for my schooling