Reason # 5: Perceptions

Today I learned a lot about perceptions. We all make them, but do we really know what we are doing. Words like First Impressions and Stereotypes were used and my teacher decided to test our ability to percieve by asking the class to openly discuss what seeing a confederate flag meant. This activity did not go as bad as I initally thought it would, but the diversity in the class made for a lot of various opinions. Of course, there was a redneck who said it meant southern pride and an african american who said it symbolized racism. Although, my teacher did a good job of filling in the gray area by reminding us of the historical background of the flag.

No, I am not trying to say that the confederate flag causes for college drop-outs. However, what I am trying to say is that the every day perceptions we have toward ourselves and other people often make it difficult for some to face the world. For instance, when I am getting ready for class [or anything] I am constantly thinking about what the other people I encounter that day will say or think about my outfit, my aroma, my apperance, etc. If I am having a bad hair day, I do not want to leave the house. If my achne is bad, I do not want to leave the house. I am sure that everyone has something they are self concious about.

Which brings me to my story for the day. A young man was asked by the teacher on the first day of class to reach into his bag and pull out one item that could tell the class a little about who he was. Two other classmates participated in this activity prior to the young man, but still the young man was very shy and seemed speechless. Atleast I percieved him as shy. Well, I think my perception was correct because the man stumbled through the activity with very little to say. The item was his keys and the teacher tried to show him how a house key tells the class the young man has a house and then he could tell us who he lives with, a car key tells us he can drive and then he could tell us what kind of car he drives, etc. After what I assume was a nightmare for the young man, he sat through class shaking with his head always facing down toward his desk. The class has met four additional times since that first session and I have yet to see the young man return to class. I wonder, did he drop the class because he was afraid of what others first impressions were of him?

Reason #5 for College Drop-Outs: Fear of other's opinions of ourselves.

Reason #4: Lack of Social Life

I have not posted in a week or so because I am already (after only 2 weeks) loaded with homework. Trying to take a "slow drizzle approach" I am beginning now to study for my first test in each class and completing a project that involves me talking about myself. I am not the kind of person that finds it easy to praise myself so the project is not coming along well. Also, my science class is way more difficult than expected. I'm glad the lab was a group assingment because I would have been lost without my lab partners, although now I am curious if I could complete the lab assingments on my own if similar questions appear on the test. All together, the loads of "busy work" and endless amounts of reading have left me at home dating my textbooks for the weekend...

Reason #4 For College Drop-Outs: Students miss their social life.

More of Reason #3

TODAY IS NOT A GOOD DAY:

So I find out today that one of the classes I am registered for is not consider a "transferable elective" and therefore does not count toward my two year degree. Basically, there is no point in even taking the class. So I dropped the class. CPCC has a [DUMB] rule about not being able to register for a class once it starts [Even after the class has only met just one time], so I then had to register for classes on T/TH after 11am (because it was about 10:30am when I realized this issue. Luckily, I found a communication class that had opened which works as a transferable elective. Lucky... i thought. I attempted to register for Public Speaking (the communication class) and I got a response "You can not register for a /1 time period". WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I call my Academic Advisor to find out that she has never heard of this "hold" before, either. She then tries to register me for the class but has no luck. Currently, I am waiting on her to call me back as she is trying to contact the communication's department and the registrar office for guidance with this issue. I love my advisor for trying to help, but right now I am not a big fan of CPCC or the My College registration system!

Once Again, A Reason for College Drop-Outs: Technical Difficulties :/

First Day of Classes...

This semester is not starting off good. I signed in to Blackboard, which is the website in which instructors post all online class assignments, and I was greeted by a message saying, "You are not currently registered for any classes". Seeing how I have three online classes this semester you can only imagine how quickly I began to freak out and worry. I quickly emailed my instructors and the Information Technology (IT) department to try and see if someone could help me. Luckily, I was still registered for classes and IT was able to get all of my classes into my Blackboard account. Now, the reality of another semester sets in and I must begin my assignments. Hopefully the rest of the semester goes more smoothly and without complications I can't take care of on my own!

Reason #3 for College Drop-Outs: Technical Difficulties

Day 2...

Hello,

Today was extremely interesting. I spent about 6hours helping my boyfriend's father apply, register and find the location of his classes for his upcoming first semester back in college in 35 years. No worries, he is signed up for a computer class so he can learn how to use the machine that controls the college world these days! Also, I met with a guy who had posted on Craigslist and bought a Literature book from him for a class I added to my schedule.

Seeing how nervous my boyfriend's dad was to attend school again after so many years made me both glad that I would hopefully get done with school in the next few years and scared for him and all the adults back in school. I often find myself dreading going back to school after a short winter or summer break. I can not imagine a 35 year gap between semesters.

Hoping for a good weekend before classes start on Monday!

Reason #2 for College Drop-Outs: Student too nervous to continue their education. Will I ever be DONE with school? What if the teacher requires me to do or use something I do not know how to do or use, already? How does one learn all of the functions of a computer fast enough to be successful in Today's college life?

My First Blog Entry

HELLO :)

Well to explain the title and my idea for the blog, I will begin by explaining why I am blogging in the first place. First off, I love to write and often find myself writing unnecessary things all for the sake of writing! Secondly, I am a college student and often find myself motivated to do my best at the beginning of a new semester but then quickly unmotivated to do my assignments when I realize how time consuming and uninteresting the assignments are. THEREFORE, I have decided THIS SEMESTER I will blog about my struggles, success and overall challenges that a college student faces in today's world, all in hopes that my blogging will be a stress reliever and a motivator!

I give you: "The Reasons For College Drop-outs".

Thursday Jan. 7th, 2010 @ 9:30pm

My classes begin January 11th... 4 days from now. I spent the whole week trying to decide how to pay for classes and books. I know it seems last minute, but I pushed off the obstacle during the Holidays in order to enjoy the Holidays. After dropping and adding back the same classes every Monday for two Months in order to keep the schedule I wanted but wait to pay for the classes AND after searching numerous websites, like Craigslist and Half.com, for lower prices on books I still ended up spending.... $907 for 6 classes at a community college and $400 for books. THEREFORE...

Reason #1 for College Drop-Outs: College is too expensive!

P.S. I love that this website offers SPELL CHECK because I can not spell!