Been a while

I’m very happy to report that everything is going well for me. I attained a 3.75 for this semester (missing the 4.0 with Engineering Theories, but oh well). I was fairly well encouraged with my goals by a professor at my university of choice. My hiatus from school due to finances has actually come at a good time. I will use the down time to study for the GREs and to beef up my knowledge on areas of my schooling that I feel are weak.

My job continues to be fulfilling, despite the stress that the flu season is bringing my small office. I’m still going to apply for other positions elsewhere, but I love what I’m doing now. That in and of itself may just make this whole killing myself worth it.

2.5 in English to a 3.75 in Engineering. Proof positive it can be done.

Taking a hiatus from school

Well, it’s down to the last year and a half of classes. I’ve started following the advice of a financial planner (my retirement’s looking good now, even though it’s about 40 years away). They advice, of course, that you pay with cash and do not go into debt. I had started dabbling in this when I was still employed with the collections agency, however, I got serious about it in July. Altogether I’ve liquidated about 1400 dollars in debt (credit cards, all of it). There’s really no reason that I should be taking out a student loan again. I’m going to take time off from October 25th till March 1st. In this time I will be able to work enough to save plenty of money to continue on for a year of classes (I’ll also have plenty of time to work on scholarships, playing piano, myself…).

I’ve realized that I’m 27 years old and I’m not going to be finishing school anytime soon. I’m young, in great health and I feel better about myself than I have in years. So what’s another year or two, really?

Sitting in Physics…

…and all I can worry about is money. I’m going to have to see if the grandparents will cosign a loan for me at this rate. Amazing how someone with no credit card debt, a housepayment that is never late and a carpayment that is never late is refused because of “lack of credit”.

You know, since I can pay you.

Back to scholarship searches for the time being. I have another grad school interview on the 8th. For those of you that are reading, it’s been roughly a year, I’d say, from my last one. This time my GPA is much higher and my courses are harder. I think I may be able to transition to graduate school in the winter. If I cannot, I will see if the grandparents will cosign a student loan for me. I’m hoping they will. If not, I think I may just sell my car, get a cheap beater and use my car payments instead… maybe. There are always options at least.

Okay, physics time.

Still Trucking

Well, I am still trucking. I’m actually sitting very pretty with grades AND money right now. The key words in that, however, are “right now”. The problem that I am looking at, however, is that this is taking a great deal of my time and energy. I worked 56 hours last week and I’m going to be seeing probably 44 this week. (of course that’s about 20 hours of OT, so I’m not complaining there). There is talk of the scheduling changing and discussions include stopping us from having as much OT. This means that my OT money is going to be spent properly, to get out of my debt, despite my wishes to buy myself an eee or an external monitor.

I have a deal to work out with my mortgage (on the 11th) meeting with a financial planner (also on the 11th) and a doctor’s appointment (On you guessed it, the 11th). I’ve also filled out hardship apps for school. I need to drop off another paycheck stub for them, but things are moving along properly. I have a lot of balls in play right now and I know ONE of them will hit the mark and I’ll be able to keep this going. I’m so elated to report that I got 100% on my midterm and sofar all of the labs have come back error free. I can do this.

I’m just horribly tired. It’ll be worth it one day.

Oh the funding

It’s really quite annoying when one sees the end of the tunnel, looks it in the face and says “You’re mine” only to have that moment be shaken because of finances. I’m hardly wealthy. I took quite the cut to even DO this with myself. Affording school has become a hassle and something I may not be able to do next semester. This means I’ll have to save for it. It means I’ll be long and LONGER to graduate.

But I’m going to do it. Come hell or high water, I will see grad school.

They call me crazy…

and it’s quite possibly true. Another collections agency was contacting me for the past month and a half or so. I cut their wooing short today. Their offer was very attractive and when I waffled it got better. I never made OMG MONIES, but the base rate was a good 12k more a year than I made at my previous job. I’m possibly posting this out of some twisted need for validation, as it’s not monetarily the smartest thing that I have ever done in my short life.

So why did I do it, do you ask?

School means more to me than the paycheck. I know that I’ll double the rate they give me once I graduate, provided my work (hello, what the job I have now is for) and my grades (Did I mention I got an A in my ECET course? Cause I totally did) are on point. I’m getting by fine with the job I have now. No, it won’t give me the toys and eating out that I am used to, but seriously, how much does that REALLY matter? This is the first time in my life I’ve had the luxury to do this, to take the lower rung because I want it. And it goes against everything that was put into me, but I feel so happy, so much like I did the right thing.

Yeah, I’ll be kicking myself when I’m tired of rice next month, I’ll probably complain. But in the end, I know that it’s all for my goal and it’s worth it. All in all, that makes me feel pretty darn good about myself. Following one’s dreams sometimes means beans and rice and not getting the adorable mini eee or swag at conventions. Maybe this is sort of what zen feels like…

A work update – Because it has to do with school

I work as a biomed technical assistant now. It’s a great resume booster for college applications and that’s what I want it for. It doesn’t pay what my old job does, but I’m doing well with it. And I can take courses when I want to. It’s pretty much a dream come true. It’ll keep everything running till I graduate or find another job that will help with school.  Grad school is not a large worry anymore. My last two exams in my engineering course were 100%s. Nothing like that to make a girl feel like she can take on the world. I’ve started doing things for myself too, cooking, trying (and failing) to sew, and reading.

Here are some fun facts about the BioMedical Field

If you think you don’t want to know what the orange gunk is on the stomach pump, you really don’t want to know.

Don’t ask how the stain got on the bottom of the mattress, just move it

It’s nice to be thankful for having the ability to move on your own accord.

This does not mean that you enjoy running back to your shop when the client accidentally ordered the wrong part for a repair

Yes, in fact “poke it till it works” IS a valid test process

That’s all for now, everyone enjoy your day.

Updates

Well, my student loans are running quite dry. Thankfully I have everything that I need to get into graduate school when that happens. I’m calmer now, more focused than ever. I’ve scored 100% on both of the exams that I took in my latest ECET course. It’s so exhilarating to feel so much control over what I am doing.

To make matters even better, I’ve taken a new job as a biomedical technician. It’s directly in my field and it’s on demand. On demand sounded bad at first, but then I realize I get training in my field, overtime, courses, and well… it’s my field. It is the hands on experience that makes someone valuable in any field of study, and this helps.

Everything feels clear and secure and I’m just working hard. I’m trying to get scholarships because I’d like more undergrad courses before I make the flying leap to graduate school. But if it comes down to it, I can handle the coursework. Me doing well in school has never really been an issue.

Fingers crossed on scholarships. I’ll be spending a great deal of time applying for everything I can think of very shortly… maybe this weekend while I’m helping at the neighborhood yard sale.

THEY RESPONDED

Dear Kas:

If you would like you are more than welcome to come and observe our Pathologists’ Assistants and students and have the opportunity to ask them questions about their education and the career.  At that time you can bring a resume or your transcripts to review and they can make suggestions on courses you may want to take before applying.

Let me know if this is something you would like to pursue and I can assist in setting it up.

I am freeking beyond pumped. This is exactly what I wanted.

The Quest Continues

I got a response from the Pathology Department. It was a basic form, telling me the requirements and dropping me a research link.

My response:

Thank you for your response. I am most assuredly interested in your program and in Pathology. I haven’t been able to do any hands on research, it’s all been online and through libraries. I have a fairly firm understanding of what sort of jobs I could get and what the work will entail.

Would I still be eligible for the program if I were to apply for the Graduate Non Degree program to boost my application? As I am working on my second undergraduate I am worried that I won’t be able to complete the BS in Biomedical before my FAFSA funding weans out. This is a major concern for me as I cannot afford to fund education on my own.

Would it be possible for me to send my current qualifications to someone for feedback? It would be invaluable to me at this juncture and allow me to tailor the time that I have left better to meet the needs of your program.

I am able to present letters of recommendation from both supervisors at my current place of employment and from the professors at DeVry that I’ve worked with along with transcripts and GRE scores.

Considering that I currently work 45 hours a week as a collections unit manager and attend full time school to maintain my GPA of over the required 3.25 I know without a doubt that if I was awarded the chance to donate all of my time to studies that I would excel.

Thank you again in advance for your time and consideration

Here’s to hoping.