Options...

Well, I have a job interview on Thursday. The optometrist who's looking to train someone as a visual therapist has talked me into going out to talk to her.

The money seems reasonable, the job interesting. I have no doubt I'd be good at it, with all my experience with special needs kids and their families. Part of me likes the idea of working for at least another year; financially, anyway.

I could put more money aside, even take a photography course in the meantime.

My math test results stand for 5 years before I’d be required to write that again. I could probably take the necessary communications courses online as well, so when I did eventually go back for an optician degree I'd have less of a course load and could maybe even continue working part-time as a visual therapist. I don’t think they’re offered as online/distance education by Douglas College at this time, but I believe one can take those kinds of general courses through any college and transfer the credits.

I’d have a year in the field to be sure that I actually do want to become an optician before investing all that time and money, and it would be a definite benefit to have this experience when the time came to take the course.

It all sounds very practical.

However, part of me is extremely fired up about the idea of going back to college. I really love learning, and the whole school experience. I want to walk the campus with my books in hand and feel the energy rush of being surrounded by people who are excited about their future. People who still believe they can achieve their dreams.

In the day to day work grind so many of us lose that enthusiasm and become jaded and lazy. We stop believing in dreams; stop making goals for our selves. Trust me, I see glimmers of it in myself, and that’s how I know my time to move on is long overdue.

I don’t know what the future will hold, and the job interview may prove to be a dead end…but it’s nice to know there are options. I was certainly having my moments of doubt over the last two years.

Stay Tuned!

Take THAT, Math Gods!!

I did it!! I kicked the Math Gods' collective asses!

Now all I have to do is see if there are any other damn hoops to leap through. Hopefully not, and I'll be hearing soon about my application.

Send good college thoughts my way.

PS: Imagining me in a schoolgirl uniform doesn't count but will be forgiven.

Update On The Math Situation

I sure appreciate all the words of support in response to my last entry. You guys are great!

I've talked to my ex-sister-in-law, who once ran a business college in Kelowna. She states that there is always room for the college to make exemptions, especially for mature students. Colleges need to fill seats, and since there has been a dip in college attendance in the last few years chances are good I can plead my case on this.

I was pretty bummed out by my scores on the math test but I've had some time to think about it. Also, according to their rules I have to re-take the whole test again. Not sure why, when I only "failed" one section.

I'm going to be asking the college to accept my score on the test as a pass. At the moment I'm brainstorming my case based on these arguments:

- In total my score on the test was 94/117, or 80%, this is generally accepted as a pretty respectable score.

- I easily passed 2 of the 3 sections on the test.

- The time limit for the computation section of the test, which works out to 45 seconds per question, was the only reason I missed passing Section Two. I missed by 4 points - the exact number of questions I was forced to leave unanswered.

- How necessary is the time limit when in reality such computations are usually done by calculator? Isn't the important thing that the test proved I could do the calculations if necessary?

- Why is it necessary for a re-take to involve all 3 sections of the test?

- I'm a mature student with a full-time job, coming out to retake the test would constitute a hardship as I would be required to take a day's unpaid leave from my job.

I'm still working on my argument and will be getting lots of help from R., and some co-workers who know the inside of the education system.

Wish me luck!!

Damn Math!

I came so damn close to passing the stupid exam. Sadly they only allowed 30 minutes for me to calculate 48 computations.

Long division, multiplication of fractions, conversion of percentages. NO calculator allowed.

Sure, I can understand the need to prove that I know how to do these math basics by hand...but why the hell does anyone in this day and age need to be a speed demon?

I'm caught betwen pissed off and disappointed in myself. I work so hard and I feel that I was set up to fail.

Ugh...

And a New Wardrobe...

So, it's official. After 17 years of working at the school I'm now about to be truly unemployed in less than 4 months.

Well, we knew it was coming, it was unavoidable, and it's all for the best...

So is dental work. Not to mention needles, mammograms, and prostrate tests.

Doesn't mean we enjoy them.

(Of course, some of you sickos out there actually do enjoy those, come to think of it...put down your hands and stop volunteering. Sheesh!)

Registering for college at my age is no harder...and no easier...than registering at 19 years old. The only difference is that you don't see the world with rose-coloured glasses anymore, which means you see the risks and benefits a lot more clearly.

Sometimes blurry is good. Maybe it would be easier if I took off my glasses?

Ah well, just think of the cute little uniforms I'll be able to wear...

Schoolgirl For Real.

So, still working towards being accepted into a full-time program at Dougie College next fall.

This will require that I pass a math assessment in the next 2 months.

The good news is that it only requires the skills equivalent to a passing grade in B.C. High School Math 10 or 11.

The bad news is that high school was 30 years ago. The worse news is I sucked in math then, and I still hate it now.

So last week, R. purchased me a set of math workbooks intended for students in grade 5 and 6, and sat me down at his dining room table to get working. God knows I'd forgotten how to do the simplest tasks. (Damn calculators!)

Like a good girl I worked solidly for over an hour, happy to find that it was coming back to me as I went through the first few pages. When it was over, R. let me have a piece of chocolate as a reward.

As I dashed to the fridge to grab my treat I felt absolutely and completely like an 8 year old again.

Ah, the pleasures of daddy/little girl relationships.

::grin::

I have a long way to go, though, and I'm the first to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew. I guess I don't doubt my ability to accomplish this task, as much as I look at the calendar and wonder if I'm insane for thinking I can accomplish this in time, without hiring an professional tutor.

R. is doing his best to keep my spirits up but there are moments I just feel the whole thing is an exercise in futility.

Somehow I swear I hear my high school math teachers laughing maniacally and muttering we told you so.

When they say your high school foibles will come back to haunt you they aren't kidding. I'm paying now for thinking I was smart enough to go my whole adult life avoiding math.

Well, off to work on fractions and order of operations...Think mathematical thoughts my way...