Going back to school.

[SD_Eagle5]

Random musings, yeah, whatever.

For the few of you who care, I'm going back to school and finishing. I decided I am going to major in Behavioral Sciences. Anyone else here major in that?

Anyone else farg around when/if they went to college, stop, then go back 10 years later?

What did you major/trade school in?

I did, back in school at age 32 (Penn State Abington), only 3 full time semesters from graduating. I took the general 'business' major because despite my age I still don't know what the farg I want to do. Thankfully I have a shteinload of connections so getting employment at a decent starting salary won't be a problem. Didn't read every post but what school are you attending?

[hbionic]

The local University....

Cal-Poly Pomona (Gocong went to the other Cal-Poly).

But I first have to finish up some classes at the J.C. 

[Philly Crew]

Good luck HB.  I did full-time college and enjoyed it.  I have been trying to earn designations ever since that time.  It is much harder when you are working full time and have a family.  I agree with Zanshin that it is nice to have an employer pay for the classes and books.

Anyway, I can't quite figure out what you are hoping to do.  A guidance counselor or a career counselor?

[Phanatic]

I've been going on and off for a while. Unfortunatly all my credits from military get me close to a degree in an aircraft related field and I work in IT. It doesn't seem to matter what your degree is in around here though so I figure I'll sporadically finish it off over the next bunch of years. I have to convince my company to pay for it which has been difficult because I don't work on aircraft anymore.

I don't want to start over with IT when I'm closer on the other. I'd like to say the degree you have matters but I have a boss with a degree in chem and another with a degree in finance stock broker stuff. They have Mizzou on their resume which seems to matter more around here then what the degree is actually in.

[Sgt PSN]

I've been going on and off for a while. Unfortunatly all my credits from military get me close to a degree in an aircraft related field and I work in IT. It doesn't seem to matter what your degree is in around here though so I figure I'll sporadically finish it off over the next bunch of years. I have to convince my company to pay for it which has been difficult because I don't work on aircraft anymore.

I don't want to start over with IT when I'm closer on the other. I'd like to say the degree you have matters but I have a boss with a degree in chem and another with a degree in finance stock broker stuff. They have Mizzou on their resume which seems to matter more around here then what the degree is actually in.

Not that I have a lot of experience in the civilian sector, but everything I've ever been told (by civilian friends and family) is that unless you're talking about highly technical job fields, the type of degree doesn't always matter, just the fact that you've got one is what employers are mostly concerned with. 

My sister graduated college with a degree in elementary ed and planned on being a teacher.  She then spent the next 10 years working in IT and had nothing more than basic user knowledge of computers when she started.  I think that would affect salary, at least starting out though.  Perhaps if my sister had formal computer/network training under her belt she would have made more money.  Not that it matters now since she finally got into teaching. 

[hbionic]

Anyway, I can't quite figure out what you are hoping to do.  A guidance counselor or a career counselor?

Actually, it would probably be a separate corporation, or something like that, that would be there for the public. I'm sure that there are things similar to that out there...but it just hits on deficiencies of the  school system at the same time helping people understand the system here in the U. S.

When it comes to the lower class, there are certain consistencies that perpetuate that cycle. It feeds upon itself. I feel we are under-informed when it comes to basics.

1. Reading comprehension- the main reason kids perform so badly is their reading comprehension is low. This is life's basic rule, the more you read, the quicker and easier you understand what is going on in the world. For students, school becomes that much easier.

2. Planning- The school system does not teach people how to 'plan'. Whether its writing a business plan, or s simple plan on how to reach your goals. Yet, if they even spent one month teaching this to people, I feel society improves as a whole. Immediately.

3. Goal setting- Seems like this is shtein for those motivational speakers, or some bullshtein real estate coaching seminar. 'How can you ever get anywhere if you don't know where you are going?' So god damn true!

4. Life is out to farg you! There's a reason why the wealthy stay wealthy. If you compare perspectives from a kid coming from a lower class family and someone coming from a wealthy family, usually you'll find the bar set much higher i the kid from the wealthy family. A rich kid can expect his first car to be a BMW, Mercedez, Lexus....a kid from a lower class family may be hoping one day he can save a thousand bucks to buy a used car. I'm using this as an example of the difference between raising the bar as a whole. The responsibility falls on parents and care givers. Not saying that lower class parents aren't hard working or great role models...but when you're at the bottom, it's hard to get out of it when there is a foot pressing against your throat holding you down. That foot is the sheep mentality, people just 'go with the flow'...parents rely on the school system to get their kids into a better position, but the school system is not set up for that. You have to know how to take advantage of it and rise up.


I think, from my own experience that we feel we have time to waste. There's always tomorrow. Sadly, tomorrow's doors are shutting permanently for those that haven't found their path yet. Maybe I'm just a pessimist in this view, but there are just too many people in zesty situations for not knowing any better or for not being taught better.

You can tell this is a work in progress...but...something to that effect. What's cool about the Behavioral Sciences major is that its a split between Psychology and Sociology. Not only can that be applied towards this particular project I have in mind...but I can apply this to sales as well. 

I'm still in the 'outline' stage of all of this.

[Philly Crew]

Sounds noble but it sounds like the people who will need it most won't have the money to pay you/the corporation.  Give it a shot since entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy.

[hbionic]

It will be no charge to begin with...I got to figure out the money thing...but since this would be a personal project for me. Maybe there are grants or funding or philantropists or foundations and what not. I haven't looked into that yet.

[Phanatic]

Advertising. When they turn their lives around and have money they'll be loyal to your endorsements...

Half kidding... but half not bad...

[hbionic]

1st day of school yesterday.

Walked in and say the old class set up.....6 rows of about 7 desk/chair combos......whiteboard in front of the class room, over head projector, feminist teacher at her desk.

farg, I can't believe I'm actually doing this.

Thursday class is English, Composition and Critical Thinking.

There's a wide variety of people. A couple of cute blonde 20 year olds...some old fargs, some douche bags and a nun that looks like a guy...I swear she had a mustache...farging ugly!

Seems like there will be alot of writing...and reading...and analyzing...and writing. Seems ok though. Once a week for 3 hours a night. Not bad.

[Father Demon]

WTF kind of school are you going to that requires lots of reading, writing, analyzing, and reading?

And they want you to do all of that in ENGLISH??

farging liberals.....

[Diomedes]

SRSYL

[phattymatty]

i'm taking a creative writing class at night we all had to write these short 2 page plays that other people would act out in front of class.  this middle eastern dude picks me as one of his actors and we couldn't read these before we read them aloud.  well, apparently my role was a homophobic, gay-slur throwing, old guy from the south.  it was very uncomfortable.  and now this gay woman in my class hates both him and me. like i had any idea i was about to offend anyone when i got up there.  i guess that's kind of funny.

[SunMo]

actually, that's kind of awesome...

and who gives a farg about some slit lover who you'll never see again, farg her

[hbionic]

phatty, you taking that class just for kicks or are you plan on doing something with that?