Summer School - Argh!Last Saturday I went to the first class meeting of the summer session. Everything went all right on the way up. I got there in just barely enough time and was able to find the classroom with a minimum of trouble. The campus was pretty much deserted, and it looked so different from the previous times I was there. Still beautiful though.Some of my classmates from previous semesters were there, but I decided to make a fresh start and sit next to someone new. The woman who I referred to as "the Complainer" from the tech workshop the previous Saturday was sitting by an empty seat so I sat next to her. I was determined not to prejudge her too much, and even though she seemed really negative at the workshop, she seemed friendlier this time and returned my smile.The teacher told us to speak with another classmate and then introduce each other, and I asked this woman if she would like us to introduce each other, and she said yes. We had to ask each other a few "getting to know you" type of questions including what we are doing for employment now. When I told this woman what I did for a living ("I'm an insurance underwriter"), her response, was "Oh that sounds awful!" Now I'm the first person to admit that my job is boring and uninspiring, but man, I thought that was a really insulting and inappropriate thing to say. I was so offended all I could say was "gee, thanks" sarcastically, and I guess she could tell I was offended because she started trying to back pedal saying how she never understood her insurance statements and all. And I said I dealt with a different kind of insurance and got to learn about a lot of different nonprofit organizations, even various library associations. It was just weird to feel as if I had to defend what I do. I don't feel it's anyone else's place to insult me about how I make my living, especially within the first few minutes of meeting me.At lunch I ended up tagging along with people that I knew from previous semesters. One of them asked me what I had done with my break, and I said it didn't seem like much of a break having to work full time. I guess that wasn't a very good answer; it was kind of a conversation ender. I mean, in one sense it was an understandable answer, but in another, it is a different thing to not to have to worry about schoolwork when you come home from work. A number of classmates seem a lot closer to one another because they have taken several classes together, and some even see each other outside of school. I don't feel part of the crowd.The class itself went pretty well. It did seem a bit rushed and disorganized - remember we were originally supposed to start on June 23, but the teacher had to go to a conference and the start date got postponed to the 30th. The teacher is a good speaker. However, the class content (research types and methods and studies and the publishing of the results) was all very new to me, and somewhat intimidating. We had to pair up in discussion groups at one point, the other people in my group seemed so much more knowledgeable and confident than me.Anyway, I got through the first class. It was a long freakin' day - from 8:30 to 4:30. There was no "it's summer let's finish up early" mentality at all. Not that I expected it. In fact, nothing I have mentioned about the class or my fellow students was unexpected, but some time during the day on Monday, I started to panic. My mom was having her second cancer surgery on Tuesday, and I had volunteered to go up and keep her company this time. (My sister had been with her for the first one.)I planned to read while in the waiting room and study at night, but there was so much more to the class than just that. There are actually three written assignments and an oral presentation. And since the class is about research, the assignments involve reading and analyzing research. I started to feel that I was locked into a prison of my own making. I was worried about my mom and worried about schoolwork, and I started to feel overwhelmed, that I was in over my head. It suddenly occurred to me that I could try to drop the class. At first it sounded like a crazy idea, and then it started to sound like a great idea.I decided to call the registrar's office and find out if I could drop the class and still get at least some of my money back. I made a deal with myself that if I could get at least 75% back, I'd go through with the drop. There were numerous calls to the registrar's office and the financial services offices and it was determined that if I dropped the class that day (Monday), I could 70% of my tuition back. The relief I felt on hearing this was immense and I decided that 70% was enough for me. Really. I mean it is $800 worth of relief. A few more phone calls and one fax later, and I was assured the drop would go through on time. And I want to say that the people I talked to were all unfailingly polite and kind.That night I went home, still feeling immensely relieved, packed up my car, took Blue and headed up to Rockport. I made the trip in 2 hours and 11 minutes, a new record. When I arrived I went inside the condo and said, "I just have to do something" and I laid down on the floor and said, "I dropped my class" and both mom and Andrea exclaimed, "Good!!!"Labels: family, school posted by Miss Rachel 7/06/2007 07:23:00 PM . . .
Labels: family, school
Subscribe toPosts [Atom]
