Straightening Up

For the first in what seems like forever, I feel like I actually have my shit in order.

For most of my adult life, I haven't been quite sure where I'm headed and how I'll do it. Nowadays, in academia, it's stressed to begin getting professional experience and knowing exactly what you're going to do after college and when you'll get it before you graduate. For me, I've always known my major, and have known what I need to graduate, but I had no idea what my plan of study would include, or when I'd actually get my degree. I was a headache for advisors.

But today, I was looking at my credits, and I realized that I had entire plan of action for the rest of my college career. I knew exactly what classes I need to take, and finally, it hit me - I knew when I was going to graduate.

Of course, my advisor set an arranged date for me last semster - December of 2011. I was ok with that, until I saw that the last semester consisted of six hours. That's it. Six hours. Two classes.

I was really going to wait around an entire Fall semester JUST to take SIX hours?

That's when I realized that it wasn't worth the money to take more classes and be stuck in school. Now at year four, I want to get out of here. It's been fun, and has been quite an experience, but it's time to get on with life. That Fall, I could be working full-time and doing my own thing (finally!)

And that's when I decided to stay in Athens for the summer...and take classes!

Come May, I won't be sitting around the house like I used to when I attend Gainesville College. I'm taking full initiative and requesting a POD (Permission of Department) to take my News Editing class - A graduation requirement. There's one of those classes out of the way.

When June rolls around, I'm doing my country proud, and taking History of Canada. Since I've never really taken the time to learn the history of my birth nation, I see this as an interesting opportunity to identify more with where I come from. And I get upper-division elective credit. Huzzah!

That also brings me to the fact that I ditched my certificate in New Media and picked up a minor in History. That also speeds up the graduation process.

With both of those classes out of the way, There's less classes I need to take in order to graduate, and if all goes well with scheduling, I'll be out here May of next year. Exactly five years of college. Could be worse.

Chances are I won't be able to do an internship before I'm done, which I realize is not wise, but I like to see my year and a half with The Times as an internship in itself. I'm not too worried. I'm well aware that I know how to write, and I already have one publication that backs me on that statement.

Of course, my advisor could totally butcher this plan when I get advised in a little over two weeks. But I'll work with her. She's a nice lady.

Also, if I make all A's this semester, my GPA is back over the 3.0 hump, which means I don't pay a dime for college (for you out-of-staters, Georgia's HOPE scholarship covers 100% of a student's tuition at any in-state institution, as long as they have a GPA over 3.0). Incentive to do well.

As for outside the classroom, I hit a bump in the road that I was afraid would change all of my academic plans. Because I dropped my New Media class, I'm only taking 10 hours this semester - part-time status. As a result, I fell off my father's health insurance plan he had for the family. So right now I don't have health insurance.

Worried that I wouldn't be able to attend school without a health plan, I consulted my parents, who have agreed to help me find a new plan I can afford, and will cover me if I have another bout of testicular torsion (you think I'm kidding). I also got a little bit from my Grandmother, who sent me some money that will help me pay for this until I get a job.

Which brings me to the next issue. I'm still unemployed, and struggling to find work. It's hard to find a job in Athens nowadays, with the economy still a little rusty and 35,000 students in this town also looking for work. I've applied to a few places but haven't heard back. It's getting a little frustrating, but I know there are jobs out there. I'm keeping my eyes open.

The plan is to look for work now to cover my insurance and help with rent, then work as much as I can while I take my classes during the summer. With so many students heading home for the summer and not needing to work because Daddy has them covered, hours will be plentiful, and I will benefit greatly.

So that's pretty much the whole plan. I know what I need to do, and intend on doing whatever it takes to work it out.

And so you ask, what is the reward for getting all of this done?

Well, once again thanking my Grandmother, I can afford to send myself and The Lady on a Western Caribbean cruise in July. Barring denial from her father, we're setting sail for what appears to be the best vacation I've ever had. More about that in later posts (I hope).

So here's a flowchart of my upcoming life:

Find health insurance --> Get job --> Make all A's and get a B average back --> Take two summer classes --> Stay in Athens in May and June, take those classes, work and make serious money --> Live in the lap of luxury for a week on a huge boat --> Full 15-hour load in Fall semester --> Wrap up loose ends in Spring '11 semester --> Graduate --> Get the hell out of here --> Begin life. Real life (Unless I go to grad school, which is a whole different story).

There it is. This sloppily-written blog will be reference if I stray from this plan.

And off we go.

Mitch