Berkeley blogging: more than just telling your story....

So I've been blogging for Berkeley since the beginning of my college career here, and I've really come to enjoy sharing my experiences--as well as my not-so-good moments--with you all. Well, Berkeley is searching out more students to share their classroom and other experiences, as per Mike on Twitter. And let me tell you, it is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. It's not just typing out your thoughts on a computer for the whole word to enjoy; it's communicating with your fellow students as well as faculty members and student alumni. You also get paid to talk about the school and the different activities that go on, as well as what's going on with your classes and concepts and ideas that you found interesting that week.

If you're somewhat hesitant, think of it this way: you're already advertising Berkeley when you're wearing the jerseys or you have the Berkeley Blue Card (which, by the way, saves you lots of time with regard to refunds) and use it in stores. It could get someone to asking about Berkeley College, and you're more likely to share this information with others. The field of study you're participating in is also likely to come up, and before you know it, you'll be talking about other fields of study and majors that people are interested in that may be offered at Berkeley. So in a sense, you're already advertising Berkeley. All you would have to do in this instance is get a blog account set up and start typing. One important thing: you MUST confine your blog entries to what's going on in Berkeley College (either on your campus or other Berkeley campuses). This is your personal blog, but it must always represent Berkeley College (and in a positive light). I hope others of you will join us who are already blogging.

For online students....

Actually, this could apply to all Berkeley students, but it applies in particular to online students: ALWAYS make sure you check Blackboard at least twice a week to get information on assignments, deadlines, changes in deadlines, and course information. If you haven't noticed, this is the last week of our winter break, and come Monday, January 4, we'll not only be in a new year; we'll also be beginning our winter quarter. This means that your courses and any assignments related to them more than likely are posted to Blackboard. I just checked mine, and I'm glad I did; it cleared up a misunderstanding I had about one of my classes. So now I can breathe a little easier.

This is also important with regard to your assignments and keeping up with discussion board requirements. You don't want to fall behind unnecessarily, particularly when you'll have the syllabus posted as a guideline. The syllabus is actually very effective in helping you to keep track of your assignments on a weekly basis. The readings for the week are not always posted in the announcements section of Blackboard, so this is where your syllabus comes in handy. However, there are notes than can help you along with your readings in the event that you're still waiting for a textbook for a particular course; this way you don't fall so far behind in classes. And if you're having trouble in that regard (procuring a textbook in a timely fashion, that is), it is always good to let your professor(s) know. This way, the two of you can work something out in the meantime and your grade doesn't suffer terribly. The last thing you want is to fall behind in class because of a misunderstanding (the professor thinks you're just not doing the work, when in reality you don't have the book and are unable to do the assignments). Remember these few facts for online/distance learning and you'll have successful quarters at Berkeley College. Happy learning.

Microsoft Office software...at a "Steal"!!!!

So for those of you participating in Online/Distance Learning, you're aware that you'll spend most or all of your time on the computer. And with the Distance Learning comes some requirements, particularly with regard to the type of software you'll need for certain courses. Well, if you've been in the market for a computer lately, you're well aware that Microsoft Office software is very expensive...and even then you may not get all of the programs you'll need for certain classes. So you'll want to take advantage of the deal that Microsoft Corporation is offering to students with a valid .edu email address.

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 Edition is being offered by Microsoft for an amazingly low price of $59.95. And you get every single program that you need for current and/or future classes. You would simply have to make sure that the software would be compatible with your computer; for instance, older computers may not be able to process newer software. The website you'll want to go to for more information would be http://www.theultimatesteal.com. It really is a great program and will save you a lot of money and disappointment should you purchase an Office program that doesn't include all of the software you need. Most computers come with a 60-day trial period to use the software, but then you'll have to purchase the software. Well, you can get all of the programs you need at one low price. Take it from someone who's talking from experience (having purchased Microsoft Office software at a computer store, only to discover that I didn't have all the programs I needed). I wish you happy learning in this and successive quarters.

I just got my grade back from my Finance 410 class...

I also got an A in this course. As I said previously, I was a little nervous, because I'd messed up a couple of assignments that I thought would affect me adversely. But I did it; I got an A in every single course. So now all I have to do is my internship and take Finance 315 again, and then I graduate in May 2010, which is when commencement is. I feel so good about what I've accomplished, and I feel blessed and grateful--lack of outside activities aside (but I may still be able to get some fun in with my fellow students; I'd just have to check Blackboard every other day).

But reflecting on the current classes that I've just taken, I feel more confident now than I have about my career in Finance. The only thing is, though, I won't take what I've learned for granted. Just because I've passed the courses doesn't mean I'm "done" with them. It just means that I passed the courses for school, but learning is ongoing. I have to continue to apply what I've learned in my everyday life and in my professional life; this will assure that I will have success, not just "passing" the course.

But deviating from the subject: did you students know that Berkeley College offers a tuition freeze for students continuing full-time education and not taking a break between semesters? You might want to check out the details with Financial Aid, or even go to www.twitter.com/Berkeley College and get more information from Mike, Berkeley College's Twitter liaison. I wouldn't be able to benefit from it now, as this will be my last quarter and I'm less than full-time at this point; however, this doesn't mean that other students shouldn't benefit. Look into it; you'll be glad you did.

Two grades down, one to go....

I just got my grades for two of my classes, Finance 405 and Drama. And I really tried hard, what with work and family responsibilities competing for my limited time resources. And, well....I PASSED THEM BOTH!!!!! I got A's in both classes. I will admit; the finance class had me pretty nervous. I thought I would get a C+, although I'd done well on the previous assignments and pretty well on the discussion boards (minus two). It was my own miscalculation and my own misjudgment of my performance in class that caused me stress over the past few days. So this is a lesson to me (and to those of you who may be thinking like me): never second-guess yourself. Think positively and reap positive results.

So now I'm just waiting for my results for Finance 410; I'm pretty sure I passed, but I'm not sure exactly what my grade is. I hope to find out later tonight or by the end of this weekend. So now I can start to calm down and plan for next quarter, with a clearer, less stressed mind. This is why I say that if I'm able to do and complete an online course successfully, anybody can. My life is pretty more hectic than I'd imagine it would be at this stage in my life; yet I'm able to devote myself to my courses and striving for my goals. And this was a change from only a few years ago, when I found it very difficult to focus on one thing at a time. But this is important to me, which is why I've seen it through this time. I like the feeling that I'm at the finish line, even if I don't come in first. I made it across this time; I finished the race.

My final assignment for Drama....

So I just posted my final assignment to Blackboard for my Drama class. It was a pretty easy assignment, too; we had to discuss, in two paragraphs, the themes of love and essence vs. appearance for two different stories. I chose "Miss Julie" by August Strindberg for the theme of love and "Tartuffe" by Moliere for the theme of essence vs. appearance. And I just went back and re-read the stories and commented on what I felt represented the theme of each story. Hopefully I did well on the final assignment; I really want to maintain the "A" average I acquired at the beginning of the quarter.

In Finance 410 (Estate Planning) this week, we're discussing the concept of insurance. As we know, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a loss. In other words, should something happen to you, you'll be protected financially. One of the types of insurance that an individual could find him or herself in need of is disability insurance, particularly during his or her primary earning years. That way, if something were to happen to him or her on the job, he or she could replace income that would otherwise be lost because of not having the ability to work to earn a living. This becomes even more important when we factor in retirement planning.

In Finance 405, we discussed the concept of risk management with regard to retirement assets. Simply put, there are many who do not maximize investments and savings during their working years and find themselves at a financial shortfall when retirement rolls around. An individual should plan ahead for every possible occurrence that he or she doesn't even know will occur and that will not leave him or her financially struggling and having to take on part-time work in order to make ends meet in the future.

Finals are right around the corner....

I actually have one final exam that's due by 10:00 Sunday morning, and that's my Drama exam. I have to re-read two of the stories that we've read so far this term and answer the questions related to them in essay form (two paragraph minimum for each story). This should be pretty simple, seeing as I've had time to read and ponder over the stories and the characters that made them come alive. I'm going again with "Tartuffe", particularly because of the research that I uncovered for my paper regarding how Tartuffe wasn't the only person of deception (though the other characters were not deceptive in the same way).

I also have my last two Finance finals to study for. My final cumulative exam for Finance 405 covers Weeks 7 through 11, so I'm going to have to study, study, study on Saturday. I plan to re-read each chapter and let the information sink into my brain; eat, sleep, and breathe it, as one of my old teachers used to say. I wanna know this information so well that I could take the test with my eyes closed (which I wouldn't really recommend, just in case something goes wrong with the computer).

Speaking of which, I had to contact Berkeley Help Desk yesterday; an error occurred as I was attempting to take my test, and then I was locked out as a result. Long story short, I was able to get the help I needed, but it took some doing. It paid off, though; I got a little extra study time in, and I got all the answers. :)

My completed research paper....

So as you all may know, I talked a great deal about doing my research paper on Moliere's "Tartuffe". I thought about how cut-and-dry it would be; I'd make my points and that would be that. However, what I ended up submitting got me to consider the story anew and from a different perspective. According to writer Liz Brent, Tartuffe was deceptive; however, the art of deception and deceptive appearances was a recurring motif throughout the story--not just with Tartuffe, but with some of the other characters, such as Elmire, Valere, Dorine, and Mariane.

She discussed the deceptive appearance of submission that the women in the household held, all the way scheming to get Orgon to see things their way and to expose Tartuffe for the liar and master manipulator that he is. She also discussed the deceptive appearances of Valere and Mariane with regard to each other; they wish to get married, but as Orgon has promised Mariane's hand in marriage to Tartuffe, they must publicly show each other indifference. So Tartuffe is not the only one who has pulled the wool over Orgon's eyes; his family has done so, as well. The only person not involved in any deception of any sort would be Cleante, who chooses to be truthful and always present an honest face. Getting this perspective really helped me to round out my term paper more.

I'm almost done with my application to be a peer to online students; I just have to figure out what I want to say about my experiences as an online student. There's so much I want to get across to the students who will be coming in and wanting help to navigate the sometimes tricky world of online learning. Perhaps in the morning, I'll be more refreshed and able to think better. But I definitely hope to be among one of the chosen.

It's drawing ever closer....

"What's that?" you may ask. Why, my commencement, of course!! I'm very excited that after this quarter, I only have one more quarter to complete. I have to finish filling out the application for my upcoming internship with my current employer; I just received an email from the Career Services department, so I plan to tend to that immediately. I also got an email from the media department, asking me if I wanted to share my experiences as an online student. ABSOLUTELY!!! I would love to share my experiences with incoming students, as well as current new students who are just wrapping up their first quarter here. I also plan to respond quickly to this email, as well. I think it would be really helpful to those students to hear another student's perspective about learning online vs. learning on campus; after all, the students are the ones who are taking the classes and getting the hands-on experience, and are in the best position to talk about the school. I would also tell them how I came to choose Berkeley College over other colleges in New Jersey. So I'd be a student liaison of sorts (kinda like with this blog, where I update students and faculty alike on what's been going on with me and my classes). I would like to, in the future, be a part of any open houses that Berkeley College may have.

This week in Finance 4o5, we're discussing the concept of wealth management and how it relates to planning for retirement. With wealth management, you are involving financial and tax planning, as well as asset and debt management (how to increase assets and cash flow while reducing debt so as to not skimp on the future). This is a very important topic, as many people only focus on the monetary aspect of retirement and wealth management. This is erroneous and dangerous thinking that could leave one severely hindered at the retirement age. So we do well to consider the various ways in which to accumulate wealth and plan for our retirement.