Last week and over the past weekend, I did most of my Week 2 assignments because I knew that this week would be really really busy. So, this week I set out to finish my Week 2 assignments and do any of the Week 3 assignments I didn’t have time for earlier. I set out to read what I was told to read and do what I was told to do because it is due at certain time, for a grade (I know how you feel about learning and grades, but at this point, that is the honest truth!).
I thought the MOO thing was pretty neat, and getting to see how it works last week was pretty neat. The article on The WWW was really interesting, because, when you think about it, what is the internet, anyway? It got me thinking about it more, and what we are actually doing when we are surfing the net or looking for legitimate information. The email discussion groups will be very helpful, I think…..if mine works! I thought it was helpful, too, do know how to unsubscribe from a mailing list. With the personal histories and values, I really had to think again about what made me want to be an SLP. It was fun to look back and think about it, and made me excited again for what will come soon! The Essential Question thing kinda stemmed from that, I think, so having the two next to each other helped me.
Processes used this week included just finding the time, energy and discipline to sit down and read all of this stuff hour after hour. I also had to categorize it and organize it into my mind, as to what will help me when and I tried to find ways to memorize the information presented to us. We are kinda overwhelmed by all of the information presented at the library and then everything from this past week. I’m just trying to get it organized up in my head.
I definitely learned new stuff about the internet, as described in assignments 1.2.2 and 1.2.3, and I definitely think it was good to get an “objective” type of view of my own decisions and my own interests. As I said earlier, sometimes I forget why I’m doing what I’m doing, and so to have an assignment like the Personal Values one was great. And to read everyone elses’ ideas was really cool, too. It is just neat to see how we all are passionate about something, but all of the “somethings” are different. I also liked reading others’ responses to the Essential Questions assignment for the same reason. There are some things I have just never thought of before, and my interest was sparked as I read some of them. I hope they find the answers, too!

Holy, moly....what a week! This time last year, I would definitely be flipping out and would most likely be in a bad mood. Stress really had a way of getting a good grip on my sanity. But after this summer and the unbelievable experience I had in Slovakia, my priorities are, not so much different, but more solidified. Whenever I get so wrapped up in meeting deadlines or making grades or keeping people happy, I remember that even the best rewards that this life has to offer for my labors can not hold a candle to what is awating me in the next.

This week, I set out to register for the GRE and had no idea that, in the end, I would be taking it the same week! I finally got that hurdle out of the way yesterday and am so glad to know that I am at least one step closer to being ready for graduate school.

I also wanted to get started on some stuff for Aural Rehab, but that somehow got lost in between writing field notes, babysitting, and reading stuff on the web for this class. I wanted to make sure that I also got in touch with some friends from this summer and had a variety of other random things I needed to accomplish. One other thing I needed to do was to make time for my family and some other friends I hadn't seen since I got back from Europe.

I have only mentioned a fraction of the junk I had to do this past week, and it may sound like a lot, but honestly, my life is so busy that I am used to it and if there are distinct processes involved in doing all of this (my life!), then I am not aware of them. I will say, though, that I repeatedly told myself I was doing ______ and then going straight to bed, recognizing the need for rest if I was going to be productive at all by the end of the week. Of course, a zillion other things caught my attention and demanded my time between finishing _____ and going to bed. So the process of pacing myself was intended, but not possible. I think my body is angry at me for the lack of sleep....I need to learn to tolerate the aftertaste of coffee.

I also meant to mention that, during Tx lab on Friday, we got to watch a session with a HI child. I was excited to finally see an SLP in action with this kind of patient. I have always been drawn to this area for some reason unknown to me. Man, oh, man, when that session got going, I was on the edge of my seat and literally (I know this is going to sound like the corniest line ever), I had chills up and down my arms. I was just touched by this boy's desire to correctly speak these words, and to see him struggle and just shake his head when he didn't remember how to make certain sounds made my heart break. It was the quickest hour of my week, and was one of the highlights. Sorry for the sidetrack...

I guess that, after taking the GRE, I have learned to trust myself a little more and give myself a little more credit for what I have accomplished and can do on a moment's notice. Also, I have learned how to appreciate a good hour or two with a friend or group of friends, having conversations about things that are enduring and will mean something to me after this semester or this year is over. Above all, I have learned that, when push comes to shove, something in me steps up and prevents me from copping out and just giving up. Honestly I cannot explain to anyone how I am sitting here, awake, and am making half-way intelligent comments. My body is so exhausted, and part of it is my fault, but I find comfort in the fact that there hasn't been a time yet when I can't find the strength to make it through the week, or the day....or sometimes the hour! But I think the coffee idea wouldn't hurt....

I find myself here, again, trying to figure out what to write, not wanting to write the wrong thing, but not knowing what the RIGHT thing is. Ah, reflecting and journaling. I'm just going to take a stab at it and see what happens. Here goes:

Since we started this course three days ago, my "online" aims and objectives didn't really materialize until Wednesday evening, as I sat down to this week's assignments. After looking them over, I decided I was going to get the easiest and ones with early due dates done first. I knew that this weekend was going to be a busy one and since I'm just getting the hang of budgeting my time again, I knew planning would be important. Why did I set out to do these? Because they're due....for a grade!

As I said before, planning and budgeting time was one of the processes I had to use to get this stuff done. Since the assignments for this week (except for a few) are mainly administrative in nature, there wasn't a whole lot of thought or creativity on my end, at least, that went in to completing the assignments. I am sure that will change soon, though! One of the things I did find myself doing a lot while completing the assignments was relying on the given instructions to know what the heck I was doing! I don't know if that is a process or not, but I utilized that action in completing my work this week.

Before this week, I remember visiting webpages and websites and blogs and thinking, "I could never do that," or "How in the world do they make it do THAT? I bet it takes a genius to do that!" Now I am slowly seeing that it isn't as hard as it looks, and although I have only just touched the tip of the iceberg, I feel a lot more confident as far as the format stuff goes. It seems like a lot is already set up for you. I'm sure by the end of the semester, with all of the time that has been spent pouring into our weblogs, I will have a new appreciation for online research projects. But at the same time, I will be able to count myself worthy of them instead of simply feeling defeated at the idea of making something so impressive myself.

I have only one technical question at the moment and that is can you get your junk mail sent to a different address and keep getting important mail at your current address? I'm just sick of having to empty out my mailbox twice a day from junk mail being sent to me all the time (probably from signing up to a Bon Jovi fan club :).

My only other wonder is if this online journal posting is "right." :)