Finals are behind me. I wonder how many times I have said that? After all, I realize I am now in my ninth year of college. Hmmm.
This time, though, all that looms before me is an eight-hour comprehensive exam in May. Once I pass that, I begin the dissertation process.
I remember thinking a couple of different times during this program that I just wouldn’t make it. Sometimes I would sit down to write a 20+-page paper and contemplate becoming a drop out. (Just being honest.) Always, I continued on. My grades proved me wrong; I am capable.
For quite some time, a list of homework loomed before me. I completed project after project. I wrote paper after paper. Suddenly, I won’t have to think about homework.
I’ll miss parts of it. Not the tedious papers. But when you spend two and a half years with the same people, you begin to become close to them. Friends join in misery, after all.
My friend Mike agreed. In his most recent blog he noted, “While some assignments were daunting, some classes a waste of time, and some administrative changes a violation of rights; I know that all those experiences will soon be forgotten. Thoughts of the challenges associated with coursework will be replaced with the memories of evenings talking, laughing, giving and receiving encouragement, and celebrating with other members of the cohort. You’d be hard-pressed to find a member of the class who will not admit to learning more from the ‘students’ than the course itself.” (I use his comment without asking for his permission and after taking a law course that focused greatly on copyrights. Hmmm. Guess I’ll just use those press rights of saying that I quoted him and it will all be okay.)
I, too, will enjoy more time with my family, more opportunities to expend effort on less mind-straining activities. I guess I can go back to quilting, or fiddling, or possibly even spend more time with my ATV in the mud. Those new wheels and tires shouldn’t just be on there for the pretty factor. They need to be challenged. I think the boys will choose the last option, although they may find humor in my fiddling capabilities or lack thereof.
Yet, to think the work is done would be a moment of insanity. An eight-hour essay exam is something that will require much effort in the months preceding it. I must study as I never have before. The research that follows will be enjoyable, though the writing of a dissertation will be yet another challenge. I actually look forward to that part. (Remind me of this when I complain about it a year from now.)
In the meantime, I will celebrate this holiday season thrilled that I don’t have homework waiting to be done, and glad that I have made so many wonderful friends in the last two and a half years. They will be a blessing to me for many years to come.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Value of Giving
Creed asked for money the other day to buy some Christmas gifts at the elementary school’s holiday store. So, I gave him some. On the list, I marked a few names of people for whom he should buy gifts. Most importantly, his younger brother.
I also wrote a limit on the note as to how much he could spend on himself. The reason was simple: the idea is to buy gifts for other people and to experience the joy of giving, not to just buy for oneself. Even the note from the school mentioned the value of learning to give to others.
He came home that night with a trash bag of presents. Sure a few were for him, but that isn’t what excited him. He made fine purchases for his little brother, including a Batman figurine, balls, etc.
Creed far exceeded his list of people. His bag of presents included some for his cousins Stacey, Matthew, Jeremy and Aaron; his Aunt Kim and Uncle Bob; and several grandparents.
What impressed me most is the amount of effort he put into picking out presents. For Kim, as an example, Creed chose a Spiderman punching bag. After all, Kim spends a lot of time working out and walking these days. Creed thought she’d find this useful and fun. He choose a big, orange puffer worm for Uncle Bob since he believed that his great uncle liked orange.
He bought a new oven mitt and some dish towels for Mamaw Bobby. She definitely needed some. On the night that we stopped by her house, she pulled cookies out of the oven by grabbing the rack with a wooden ruler and using a dish rag. Probably not the safest choice. Creed smiled as his grandmother opened her gift and even used it a few moments later.
I don’t know all of the gifts he chose. Several went to his dad’s house. Others remain unopened as we haven’t seen those folks yet. What I do know is the value of the lesson. “This made my Christmas,” his Aunt Kim told him.
Why did he decide to buy them a gift? Because he saw something that made him think about them. It didn’t have to be an expensive purchase, it just required special attention.
A few days later, Creed asked for money to buy himself another pack of marbles at the holiday store. He said they only cost $1.00. So, I gave him $1.00. He looked quite distraught. After a few minutes, I asked him why he wasn’t happy since he would be able to get the marbles he wanted. His response? “Because I’ll only be able to buy something for myself and I can’t get Heath anything.”
That was enough for me. Sure, he was given more money to buy some extra gifts. He again made wonderful purchases showing much thought. Heath didn’t mind as he definitely benefitted from the experience.
While Creed did gain a bit of material items, he also learned the value of giving.
I also wrote a limit on the note as to how much he could spend on himself. The reason was simple: the idea is to buy gifts for other people and to experience the joy of giving, not to just buy for oneself. Even the note from the school mentioned the value of learning to give to others.
He came home that night with a trash bag of presents. Sure a few were for him, but that isn’t what excited him. He made fine purchases for his little brother, including a Batman figurine, balls, etc.
Creed far exceeded his list of people. His bag of presents included some for his cousins Stacey, Matthew, Jeremy and Aaron; his Aunt Kim and Uncle Bob; and several grandparents.
What impressed me most is the amount of effort he put into picking out presents. For Kim, as an example, Creed chose a Spiderman punching bag. After all, Kim spends a lot of time working out and walking these days. Creed thought she’d find this useful and fun. He choose a big, orange puffer worm for Uncle Bob since he believed that his great uncle liked orange.
He bought a new oven mitt and some dish towels for Mamaw Bobby. She definitely needed some. On the night that we stopped by her house, she pulled cookies out of the oven by grabbing the rack with a wooden ruler and using a dish rag. Probably not the safest choice. Creed smiled as his grandmother opened her gift and even used it a few moments later.
I don’t know all of the gifts he chose. Several went to his dad’s house. Others remain unopened as we haven’t seen those folks yet. What I do know is the value of the lesson. “This made my Christmas,” his Aunt Kim told him.
Why did he decide to buy them a gift? Because he saw something that made him think about them. It didn’t have to be an expensive purchase, it just required special attention.
A few days later, Creed asked for money to buy himself another pack of marbles at the holiday store. He said they only cost $1.00. So, I gave him $1.00. He looked quite distraught. After a few minutes, I asked him why he wasn’t happy since he would be able to get the marbles he wanted. His response? “Because I’ll only be able to buy something for myself and I can’t get Heath anything.”
That was enough for me. Sure, he was given more money to buy some extra gifts. He again made wonderful purchases showing much thought. Heath didn’t mind as he definitely benefitted from the experience.
While Creed did gain a bit of material items, he also learned the value of giving.
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