Jake’s Life

This is one of those post-graduation conundrums. As a part of self-reflecting, one must think about the time they’ve invested in something and the return they have gotten–or likely will get–from it. Do miss school? Oh, hell no. Am I glad I did it? I am, but it wasn’t solidified until about ten minutes ago when I received a fairly nondescript package by UPS.

Having just left college about a month ago I seem to now be fining several blogs and sites focused on student productivity. While I still enjoy reading them, I wanted to publish them in hopes some of my readers ca benefit from them.

• Taking notes that work at Lifehack.org
• 4 Ways to use Wikipedia (without citing it) at Gearfire
• Don’t you dare…in a formal paper by That College Kid
• The burnt toast method (for helping hangovers) at Hack College
• Possibly the Best Way to Increase your Idea Output by Gearfire

Okay, I am being a bit premature. I don’t technically graduate for another week, but I’m working on my very last assignment right now. I have to say, it’s pretty effin’ dumb. It’s for Introduction to Intercultural Communications and is a short script for a television series which I write, then dissect, and use reference sources to explain why the characters interacted the way that they did.

Ass!

I don’t think I can explain exactly how furious I am right now. I know that I have not felt like this for quite a long time though.

I called school today to tie up loose ends for graduation, turn in my application, etc. In speaking with an academic advisor they told me that I would not be graduating because two years ago I took a two-credit Communications course when the minimum requirement is five credits.

Wow.

So let’s review:

In November 2005 I took Non-Verbal Communications as suggested to fulfill my Communications requirement. My student home page reported that requirement taken care of. August 2007 I apply to graduate and am told that I need to take a five-credit course because there is no three-credit course to fulfill the basic requirements. The only course that is available has a seminar on a night when I am working, which means that I have to complete an additional assignment (usually a three to five page essay) to make up for it.

It gets better.

This means I have to apply for a separate student loan for over $1600. And while to some it may mean nothing to add such a small amount, due to the fact that I will only be taking five credits I don’t qualify for an in-school deferment (meaning full time or more-than-part-time): The six month repayment grace period has still officially started as of yesterday and will only end up being a few months from the time I actually graduate. I will also be paying almost $1000 for credits I ideally shouldn’t have needed.

My academic advisor told me that she understands my frustration. I told her that I doubt that she did. I felt like telling her to just forget the whole thing and I would apply for a job working at the university, because you obviously don’t have to be a genius to do that, but my self control is what separates me from the rest of the animal (and even human) kingdom.

Yeah, I’m pissed. This pushes back my application dates by at least a few months. Those short term goals I had are pushed back with them, including how soon I would be able to find a place with Sandro and how much I could afford to budget for it in the long run.

While I am sure that a few of you who are reading this–and don’t think I don’t know who you are piss ant–are undoubtedly happy at this situation. I don’t mind, mainly because I know that I have come farther than you ever will even go in your life (which you wanted to end but even failed at that! Loser!).

Well, I’m done. I don’t have my piece of paper yet, but I’m still done. Two and a half years, $26,000~ in loans, one do-over, one almost do-over, and countless hours of sleep lost later, and I’m done.

The last few days have been hectic, to say the least. I also have one more project for each class due, then I’m done. Absolutely, positively, fuckin’ done.

To clue you in on what all the fuss was about, I posted my latest paper on proactive solutions to gang youth membership at my Scribd account here.

…my final project for Juvenile Delinquency. By the by, KnowGangs is an awesome resource for gang information. When I’m done with this final I’ll post more!

Well, I am almost done with college. For the last few years I have worked full time and done college coursework full time. In between assignments and shifts I try to sleep, but it doesn’t always work that way. I will finally be able to free up almost my entire weekends (I usually save my projects for my weekend and spend two of my three days doing that). Having this sort of time free and fitness goals, one could only surmise that I need to get my fat ass going.

Pushups, sit-ups, crunches, weight training, stretching are all no problem. I have a full weight set (adjustable incline bench with pulldown) sitting in the garage collecting dust that I bought last Summer and have touched twice since then–once to actually move the bench itself while I was cleaning. Anyway, it’s the cardio. Running is obviously the best choice for me, but I have a few concerns.

First, I would have to actually drive somewhere to do it. My neighborhood isn’t very well suited for running. Second, cardio to me (well, most working out, really) is not something I want to be observed doing. It would be as if someone were in the bathroom with me watching me punch a grumpy…it just feels icky, I’m a mess afterwards, and I want to be alone while doing it. Third, my firearm isn’t well suited to be carried while running recreationally. It’s a duty model .45 ACP (Springfield XD to be exact), and not concealable while in workout attire. It holds 14 rounds (13+1), which is awesome when I’m at work, but not when I’m not. Being probable that I will be running at night a firearm isn’t something I really want to be without. Personal preference I guess.

Well, I felt bad for not starting on this essay sooner. It’s for my Criminal Justice Capstone class and is about paramilitary structure used by modern police agencies and how it contributes to community oriented policing. Yeah, yeah…I know.

Anyway, here is a draft in Word format. You can disregard the reference notes, those are so I remember which text or web site I found the information.

Draft

I was going through a few of my endless CD’s which I’ve used to back up my data–none of then labeled properly of course–and found some more essays from my first year in school. I’ve uploaded them to my Scribd page.