Reflecting on my short, but sweet, journey at Berkeley College....

It's already the Fall quarter of 2009 at Berkeley College, and I remember starting classes like it was just yesterday (actually, it was just yesterday that THIS quarter started). I remember getting in touch with Anthony Villani about what I wanted to do as far as my education, and I remember that while he didn't pressure me to start school right away (which is what I faced at other institutions), he did imply that there was no time like the present. And he worked with me to get me into school by the fall quarter.

I also remember Jenny White, who was assigned to me as someone to help me navigate the waters of Berkeley College. I also remember us having class together and her assistance in making sure I didn't fall behind in class assignments whenever my computer was down and I didn't get the assignment right away. I remember reading the Blackboard polls and participating in them (and I still do), as well as joining the Finance and Accounting Club and the Healthy Cafe Online Club.

I also remember reading the "bloggers wanted" advertisement and getting to know Carol Covino--not just as my supervisor, but also a fellow student. She and I took a computer class together, and we both learned a lot and helped each other out to the degree possible (except for reinforcements; those were actually exams, and you couldn't expect your teachers or fellow students to help you out then).

It's really hard to believe that two years have passed since I enrolled in Berkeley College, and I can hardly believe that it's almost over. I would certainly recommend this institution to anyone. I remember someone in a public library trying hard to discourage me from continuing my education here and encourage me to withdraw my enrollment. Thank goodness I didn't listen to her or any other dissenting voice--including my own.

So, no syllabus yet for Retirement Planning...

However, I do have the chapters that I'm supposed to read, so I'll get started on reading them once I get my book. This will make it easier to do the assignments in a timely fashion so that I don't fall behind. The professor for Estate Planning has posted right up front that he expects almost daily attendance in class, and that late homework assignments will NOT be accepted. So anything short of death will not be considered a valid excuse for not having done the work for the week (okay, I exaggerate, but this is a real incentive to stay on top of the schedule set out in the syllabus).

When you think about estate planning, though, it makes sense to stay on top of things. Estate planning has to occur LONG before a person dies or is near death; it can't just be assumed that whoever is in charge of your finances (or you if you don't have a financial advisor) will acquiesce to your wishes with regard to how you want your assets split up and/or donated. This should all be done in writing and should be legally binding. For instance, if you are a single person and want to leave your family members money and/or other property upon your death, then you need to make that unmistakably clear. This will help you and your family members to avoid the disastrous consequences that often come with not drawing up a will and testament or some other document that names specific parties as heirs to certain properties and assets that you currently hold.

I haven't yet read the Drama book, but I plan to browse through it this evening when I get home. I have a feeling that this will be like the Fiction course; I'll quite possibly discover some wonderful stories that I've never read before. I wish all of the incoming students and graduating students much success this coming quarter.

This Sunday is the official start of classes for me....

I've already started reading the course material for one of my classes, as previously mentioned. Oddly enough, my professor for Finance 405 hasn't posted his syllabus to Blackboard, which makes it a little difficult to follow along and prepare for class for the first week. It's just as well; I haven't received the book for this course yet, either. I'm hoping to get it at least over the weekend or Monday, when classes actually start. In the meantime, I'll just print the notes for the lecture and the readings off of the computer; this way, I'll at least be familiar with the chapter information when I actually get the book.

Yesterday, if you tried to log on to view class information, you may have noticed that Blackboard was down (no, it wasn't your computer). This happens periodically when Blackboard is due for a system upgrade. It may cause you some inconvenience for a while, but it really is to update and refresh information that is posted to Blackboard (the same way the systems analyst updates information at my job for upcoming registration). And if you haven't registered yet, please get on it. I'm very serious here; the only thing worse than registering late for classes is to not register at all. Even if you have to make payment arrangements with Student Accounts, don't let funding prevent you from going to school this quarter.

Less than a week away!!!

The new quarter's starting, and I feel like a little kid on her way to Disneyland. But that's how learning should be; you should always be excited to learn something new. This quarter, I'll be learning about drama and estate planning, among other things. I've actually already started reading ahead in my textbook for estate planning, and it's very interesting and detailed; you have to be VERY particular about how you want your assets divided up when you die. If not, it can be disastrous for all involved, including family members. I haven't yet received the textbook for retirement planning, but it should be here shortly.

Speaking of textbooks, this drama book is a lot bigger and heavier than I thought it would be. I thought it would be about the size of the fiction textbook that I needed for summer quarter. It's about the size of a phone book!!! I can only gather that we'll be doing plenty of reading of various plays and/or short stories. I may even see some old favorites in this book. I plan to get started a week early on this reading assignment, too. I don't want to take the chance of falling behind with my busy schedule. Without going into too much detail, I've accepted another responsibility, so I have to be extremely careful about how I use my study time. That means no languishing, no matter how tired I am. I'm going to make myself do the assignments, thoroughly and on time. Now that I'm pinpointed my problem from the past few quarters, this quarter will be even more different.

A new quarter awaits...

This quarter, I'll be taking Finance 405--Retirement Planning; Finance 41o--Estate Planning; and Humanities 310--Drama. I already ordered my books for the upcoming quarter, as well, so that I don't have to try and play catch-up with the work the first and second weeks. My thought is this: if you fall behind even one iota, you'll miss something substantial and have to work that much harder to play catch up. So ordering the books ahead of time so that they'll be ready when class starts is a smart idea.

And if you want to know exactly which books you'll be needing for classes, you can always go to the online bookstore at my.berkeleycollege.edu, click the link for the online bookstore, click the arrow for "buy textbooks"; then, in the pull-down menu, click the campus you'll be attending (if online, simply click online), the course and sections you'll be taking, and it will give you the title of the book you'll be needing for that class in that particular term, and on that particular campus. This method is not one hundred percent accurate, though, so you may want to check back when your newer classes are posted to Blackboard and verify that you are purchasing the correct textbooks. There is nothing worse than having to re0rder a book and waste precious time.

And speaking of which, do not waste any more time registering for classes if you haven't done so already (although I can't imagine why you haven't; life gets in the way, sure, but take it from me and don't let it get in the way of your education). Financial assistance is certainly available if you need it; all you need do is get in contact with Advisement and let them know which courses you're interested in. They'll help you from there. And I must mention the late fee that you're going to incur, but take it as a lesson learned for next time; and also, think of it as a small investment in your future.

One-week break before the fall quarter....

I'm just going to take this time to reflect on what I've accomplished thus far on my educational journey. I'm a senior, and I'll be graduating after two more quarters--this upcoming fall quarter and the winter quarter. To think two years ago, I was just applying to Berkeley College as an adult transfer student. How time flies when you're having fun and keeping really busy. My family, co-workers, friends, and my Berkeley College family have all been there to support me; without support and continued encouragement, I don't think I would've made it this far. I think about my niece and the example that I set for her when I do my homework and not let unimportant things get in my way.

I also am reflecting on the Business Placement Seminar that I took this summer, and I got an A. So that means that I'm really ready to market myself with regard to the workplace. In the current economy, however, does that mean I'll have to look for opportunities within the organization that I'm currently with? Not that I'm saying that this is a bad thing; in this day and age, one is lucky to have a job. I'm just wondering if I'll be able to apply what I've learned and push for more responsibilities within the organization. I guess that remains to be seen after I've completed my internship during the winter quarter.

Crunch time!!!!

So this week is the final week for all assignments, and I've just handed in two of the major assignments for two of my classes. I think my overall performance this quarter was good, considering the summer quarters aren't usually the best for me; I'm usually wanting to relax and take it easy, due to the nice weather and various outdoor activities to partake in. But I really pushed through this quarter, determined to step it up if I did start to fall behind in some of my assignments (which, embarrassingly enough, I did, because I didn't consult the syllabus each week like I have in the past; but we'll work on that so that it doesn't happen again). I have to keep reminding myself that I chose to re-enroll in school and that I had a purpose for doing so and to not slack off. Yes, sometimes it can get to you; you feel like a petulant child in elementary school, whining, "I don't WANNA do homework!!!" But again, you remind yourself of why you ARE doing the work, give yourself a mental slap, get it together, and forge ahead. It'll all be worth it in the end.

To incoming students, I say welcome aboard--whether you're a freshman or a transfer student. Berkeley offers a wide range of studies and courses to choose from. And the professors will challenge you, but in a way that will help you to develop thinking ability and independence that will help you in the job market. To returning students, I say welcome back and good luck in your studies. And to those graduating and leaving us, I bid you a fond farewell and wish you nothing but the best in future endeavors. You've proven what you're made, and Berkeley College has helped you in this regard. Your friends and professors will miss you, but they are definitely proud of you and the work that you've done, and your family and friends are proud of you--including your extended Berkeley College family.

The new quarter is almost here!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and at the same time getting ready for school. Have you gotten your schedules, books, room assignments, and all that? And for seniors, do you know where you'll be doing your internships (if you plan on doing them this quarter)? And to our new students, I welcome you with open arms--virtually, anyway, since I'm an online student--to Berkeley College. You will be challenged in ways that will enhance your learning experience and prepare you for the real world when you graduate. And if you're a returning student, stick with it and stay with it. There will be times when you're ready to throw in the towel or second guess your decision and ask yourself, "Is any of this worth it?" Believe me, it is definitely worth it to plan for your future and those of your loved ones.

Speaking of sticking with it and staying with it, I must confess it hasn't been easy for me this summer. There's just been a lot that I've been dealing with on the home and work fronts, and sometimes school has fallen by the wayside. But then I remember why I got back into school in the first place, and that strengthens my resolve to stick with it and to challenge myself for the next quarter. So I'm saying that while it may not always be easy to do, you have to focus and do your absolute best. Now having pinpointed a few of the issues that have distracted me from time to time in my scholastic endeavors, I'm just going to work harder to get through school and my studies successfully.

I love the Berkeley Blue Card!!!

This is a great way to get your refund without worrying about a check getting lost in the mail; the money is right there in your HigherOne OneAccount, and you can use it for school-related expenses, like schoolbooks and/or technical equipment needed for online or other courses. For instance, you can use Berkeley Blue card the same way you use a regular MasterCard for online purchases; you would be able to just purchase your schoolbooks from the Online Book Store, as well as other education essentials. So if you've been sent a Berkeley Blue card, I urge you to consider having your refund sent directly to your card; the money's right there when you need it.

However, having touted the benefits of having everything done electronically, my next persuasive speech for Oral Communication will deal with how to curtail excessive use of the Internet and other electronic gadgets. As a society, we've come far in the advancements we've made, but somewhere along the line, we've gotten away from personal human contact. So my speech will deal with ways to help us to get back to personal human contact while still utilitizing these items--but not becoming slaves to these gadgets.

Again, I just want to say, if you haven't registered, GET ON IT!!! Some of you may have to pay the late registration fee, but do it and get registered and take it as a lesson learned (believe me, I speak from experience with regard to late registration). Don't miss out on registering for classes and lose your motivation and excitement for school.

Recommendation letters....

So this week in Business, we're discussing how to write letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are very useful when an individual is searching for a job; they tell of that individual's work ethic and overall character when it comes to working for an employer. An excellent letter of recommendation can make a difference as to whether a person gets a job. The tricky part this week is that we have to write our OWN letters of recommendation. That means I have to use some serious marketing skills and recall all of the tasks and duties performed at each job as it pertains to the position I'm seeking. It's not extremely difficult, but it will be an interesting undertaking.

So how would you market yourself, Berkeley students (particularly those interested in a career in Marketing)? What strengths would you play up? What skills could you take into the workplace? It may seem a bit early to be thinking of these things right now, but time moves fast, and graduation will be upon you before you know it. So take everything seriously and start thinking ahead; don't be caught unprepared in the current marketplace.