...I have a lot of things that have changed my life. There are some that are good and there are some that are bad. I would not change any of them because they are the reason that I am who I am today. They are also the reasons that I decided to get back in school. The reasons are to make a better life for myself and my loved ones; to set an example that it is never too late to go back to school, and to meet new types of people. I decided to go back to school to make a better life for myself and my loved ones. To get a decent paying job now days, you must have some form of higher education. I have done some shady things in my past and now I am trying to do it the right way for my loved ones. Without my help, my loved ones would struggle to make ends meet and I do not want them to struggle. This way they do not struggle as bad and once I get my degree they will not struggle at all. Another reason I decided to go back to school is to set an example that it is never too late to go back to school. The younger generations think that once you reach a certain age that it is too late to do anything productive with your life. They are asking me why I went back to school and I tell them to better myself. I am proving to them and setting an example at the same time that it is never too late. I am proud to show them that if I can do it that they can do it also. The last reason I decided to go back to school is to meet new types of people. Like I said before I have done some shady things...
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...Changing my life by furthering my education was a major decision in my life, do to retirement, from the U.S. Army. After I retired from the Army in January of 2011, I sat back and relaxed and I did not accomplish pretty much anything. During the first two months of retirement I began to grow weary and bored of doing absolutely nothing. Even though a little relaxation and not having to worry about getting up early and going to my place of employment was nice for awhile. I was at that point in my life that I decided to begin my search for employment. I then began to search on the internet and to look around on official government websites. The harder I looked the more frustrating the search became, jobs are definitely scarce in today’s society. As I researched jobs, I began to notice that every employer that would pay ten dollars an hour or more required a degree, in which I currently do not have. Even with over 15 years of military service and 7 of which was basically management positions, no one even gave my resume a second look. Difficult choices had to be made whether to focus on school or a job. As I began to explore different opportunities for college, I also started to think heavily about what I might pursue. As a child I have always had a dream of opening and running my own business. So I pondered on that awhile, and eventually contacted Strayer University. Through much investigating of many online colleges Strayer University seemed to have the best program and...
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...July I found out that I was pregnant. I decided that I was going to wait until my child got older than I was going to go back to school. I really thought that was a good idea. But when I look around, all I see are women who had children at a young age and dint finish school and are not doing nothing with themselves. They stay at home with no job, no money and depends on public assistance to take care of them and that is not how I want to live the rest of my life. I want to finish my education, get a good job and take care of my daughter. I do not want to depend on anybody to take care of me. I want to go out and get it myself. Half of the people I know did not finish school and I want to be nothing like them. I want my daughter to look up to me and never to be ashamed of where she came from. One day my next door neighbor came over and asked why I wanst taking online classes. I looked at alot of different schools but none of them had what I wanted. I gave up on school for a while. Then one day i received a letter form Strayer University. I went to the website and submitted my information and the next day they called me. I felt that this was the right choice for me at this time in my life. I was about to make some changes and my old habits, I had to get rid of if I wanted to make this work. Now I am moving toward a life of success for me and my...
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...Virginia College Department of Criminal Justice Student Expectations Students: Read the below information. Then sign at the bottom and upload the document to the Week 1 dropbox. 1. All students will read and understand the Student Code of Conduct which includes the Policy on Plagiarism, Excessive Use of outside Material, Collaboration, and Duplicity. 2. All students will follow the instructional sequence in their courses. This means that all students will read all emails, course announcements, assigned chapter(s), and view the lectures before entering the discussion board or quizzes. 3. All students will compose a substantive Main Post, free from spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammatical errors. 4. All students will respond to at least two student colleagues with a substantive response post which will follow the same path as the Main Post 5. No student will use direct outside material in excess of 25% whether it is cited and referenced or not. Students should read the material in question and paraphrase that material and then use the paraphrase citation method (last name, year). 6. All student papers will be in APA 6th Edition format. If you need assistance with APA formatting, please contact your student advisor and ask about weekly APA tutoring sessions. 7. Students will make certain that they read and understand all comments, e-mails, and grade comments offered by the instructor. These comments are for you benefit to improve...
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...MY LIFE CHANGING DECISION ROSS BROWN ENGL 1301-270 SUSAN ROBBINS 4/2/2013 It was the beginning of spring about two years ago- a wet and gloomy day. I was thirty two years old, strung out on meth and homeless. Headed back to prison for the third time, I was faced with a life changing decision, “do I turn myself in” or “do I keep running and take my chances”. It was a decision that would affect the ones I love the most, my children. As I sat in the woods behind a run down, drug infested motel, I closed my eyes and all I could see were the tears in my kids eyes every time they came to see me in prison. The ones that depended on me for love and security, were now sad and scared of me. They were as lost as I was. Thoughts began to run through my head, “have I failed my children as a father”, “do I want them to go down the same path I went down” or “do I want to give them a future and a father to be proud of”. Living the life style I lived for ten years, taught me not to trust people. Especially authority figures. So the thought of turning myself in didn’t sound like a good idea to me at the time. It left me puzzled and scared. I could keep running, but the past ten years had been nothing but a continoues cycle that always landed me back in prison and left my children without a father. I’ve always been known for taking chances. Turning myself in would require taking the biggest chance of my life, trusting an authority...
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...place to call home? Luckily my sisters and I were born in the matanuska valley and raised in the mountains of Talkeetna, Alaska. We were always adventuring among the steep mountains, tredging through powdered snow and spending weekends at the cabin with my family. The cabin was our safe haven. We enjoyed listening to the birds sing through the snowy trees while keeping cozy and warm around the woodstove. Despite our warm memories and happy emotions; The cabin and the Talkeetna mountains fosters memories of a life changing catastrophe, that altered my perspective of life forever. It all began on the day of March 5, 2010, I was eleven...
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...September 9, 2014 Life Lessons Life is full of obstacles that you have to figure out how to maneuver around. It is full of challenges that you have to overcome. When you lose a loved one, you feel like it’s the end for you as well. Hopefully you can overcome the sadness and learn how to deal with not only the pain but also putting your life in order as well. I grew up with an older sister and a younger brother. Our parents were constantly gone. Busy working or out with friends. That left my siblings and I alone a lot. We taught ourselves to take care of each other. Mentally, physically and emotionally we were all each other had. That made the relationship we had with each other stronger than it could ever be. A promise was made between the three of us that we would always be there for one another. We would always help each other no matter what the circumstances were, and we would always protect each other. On January 7, 2009 my world changed forever. My brother was in a severe single vehicle accident that killed him. Alcohol and speed were both factors in the accident. Neither my brother nor his passenger was wearing their seat belts. Both were ejected from the vehicle. My brother lived long enough for me and my sister to get to the hospital and say our final goodbyes. His passenger lived, but sustained a broken neck that has healed. My brother left behind a one year old daughter and a daughter on the way. He had life insurance but did not have a...
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...Greetings from the past! If you are reading my letter then that means you have found the time capsule that we have left for you. I am hopeful that you will enjoy the new information you learn from me. My name is Brandy Taylor, I am writing this to give you my perspective and my knowledge of my present life and the society that I currently live in here in 2013. My hope is that with the information I tell you, you will gain a better understanding of how life is for me and my family during this time. A brief description of me is that I am a single mother of three amazing children that are currently ages 20, 15 & 13. I am in my late 30’s and live a very healthy lifestyle that does not make me look my age. My children and I currently reside in Dallas, Texas, where the summers are hot and the winters are mild. I am currently employed for an audio/visual, lighting company called LMG, Inc. as an Administrative Assistant this is at least until I finish college. My current work schedule is Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm, with weekends and major holidays off. Also, I am currently enrolled in college at Kaplan University with one term left till I earn my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a career focus of Human Resource Management. Although I am satisfied with my current job it is my goal to obtain a position in my dream career of Human Resources; this is a passion for me. My current week consists of working till 5:00pm, dinner with the kids, doing some class...
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...Narrowing down to on person who had had an impact on my life is a difficult task, and one that requires a lot of thought. There have been many, but as I travel back through my memories, one person stands out above the rest, my mother. Whether in the classroom or at home, that one individual continuously shines. She knows how to help me when a problem arises, she is there to pick me up when I fall, and she is there as my biggest supporter when all is going well. She always seems to know when to push me or when to just step back and allow me to learn life lessons. One example of her driving me to do my best is a time that I had an extremely tough exam in Chemistry. This was a must pass test and to make it worse, it was over a chapter where I struggled. I came close to giving up and failing the test, but somehow my mom knew I was fighting this battle. She came to me and explained how giving up would interfere with my dream of going to college. It might not keep me out of college, but it would set my standards lower than they needed to be. My mom did not force me to study, but instead, she allowed me to make a decision that would effect me right then and possibly in the future. My mom has made a huge impact in my life in such a positive way. She has pushed me to where I am now. Through her example and our many talks, I have learned that hard work and perserverance can and will take you a long way in this world. I did pass that...
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...sleeping the whole day and I got so many thoughts playing on my mind so I choose to rise get the laptop and type. 1. Second to my final destination ( … Well this is not a horror film; this destination I’m talking about is the force or factor that makes me go and face every life’s circumstances I am facing. My ultimate dream is to become a flight attendant, cabin crew, flight crew or whatever they call this. Yes, I’ve been dreaming to become one someday and I am trying to give my very best for this not to become an unclear vision. I want this to manifest, I want this to happen in my life in every good ways or means I can. As I’ve said on my recent posts, I love to go somewhere, I love to experience different culture, and I want to meet new and different people. There are some times in my life when I face mirror, stand classically and gracefully and try to imitate flight attendants posture and speaking. I used to act like there are passengers and I am orienting them with safety procedures inside the plane. To train to become a flight attendant costs so much, that’s why my parents wasn’t able to send me to those schools practicing this course. But I’ve got this what they called life’s principle. I believe with all my heart that nothing is definitely impossible that my future has been planned and decided. I just love the thought that God is faithful, with His words, His promises and plans. I trust Him with this. This is my heart’s very secret petition to heaven and to Jesus. His...
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...English essay A teenage-life isne Isaksen like an adventure. Each day brings something new and you never know what to expect. For me, a teenager-life is hard to live. I can feel how the body changes. Many thoughts go into my mind. Many problems accurse; problems I did not have to deal with when I was 13 years old. Problems with my boyfriend and at home; that is a new task for me. It is hard to focus when these problems are in my head. To pretend to be happy at all times is difficult in the age of 13-17. All kinds of problems pop into my head and I have no idea how to handle them. For me the exams are just around the corner and it is not exactly easy to cope with the pressure when I don’t feel ready. Perhaps I grew up to fast; I did not focus on my schooling – it was much more fun to smoke and drink with my friends weekend after weekend. I am paying for it now. I really want to make an effort when it comes to my schooling. My parents are divorced and it is not easy to be a child and listen to what they have to say to each other. My parents’ divorce was stressful to me and I never wanted them to separate. My mother moves to Dubai for five years – I will see my mother ten times during ten years. I wish I could see her more. Love is difficult. It has been a struggle for me to find a boyfriend but I have been very lucky to meet a young man who loves me. He treats me like a princess and I feel happy and safe with him. I have made a lot of mistakes the last two years and...
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...girl I always thought it was a treat to visit McDonalds. This magical place had a giant play-place, ice cream, French fries and of course that special surprise toy contained inside the happy meal. What else could I have wanted? This world lost all of its glamour however, when I became a teen who experienced the inner workings of this land from the side of employment. I will never forget the place that was to be my first experience of the working world. My Fifteenth birthday had just passed and this meant I was finally old enough to enter the work force. So I went to the only place in the area that would hire a kid without experience or a driver’s license, McDonalds. Now, I wasn't entirely thrilled about the idea of working in this environment but if I wanted to get a car in the next year it was off to work for me. Somewhat sullenly, I donned my uniformed baseball cap and made my way behind the service counter. Feeling a little nervous, I fumbled as I attempted to tie my apron behind my back. I began to wonder what I might be assigned to do first. "Well, as long as I can work behind the scenes and avoid talking to people I should be okay." I thought. Standing motionless, I observed the fast-food frenzied scene. Employees were running here and there yelling to one another, order screens were flashing, various machines were buzzing incessantly and a mass of customers waited to be attended...
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...“the day I lost Louise, a day I prayed I would never see,” he continued, “I did my normal morning routine. On my way out, I kissed Louise goodbye. There’s no doubt that I loved her. I had no idea that would be the last time I saw her wonderful smile. Such an amazing woman, inside and out. Sometimes I felt like giving up on her because of the heart trouble, but I quickly fell back under her spell − so kind-hearted and loving. I learned to deal with such…oppression, that is, knowing that it was something she had absolutely no control over. She was genuinely the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. At times, I wish I had been the one to go that day. Then I imagine how she would have felt if I would have been the one to die. She sure wouldn’t have been any better off than I was in that moment. She sure wouldn’t be any more depressed than I am now…sure wouldn’t be any more uncertain about the future than I am,” he explained. “It was such an unfortunate loss, Brent. I just can’t even imagine how you could live and move on from that,” Richards said. “Well, Rich, it’s certainly not as easy as I thought it would be,” Brently explained, “and, not to mention, I still feel somewhat responsible for her death.” Brently felt guilty for sure, but not so much as relieved, after the passing of Louise. It was almost as if he had been suffocating in his marriage, and now that Louise was out of his life, he could finally breathe after so many years of not being able to. Brently had...
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...TO MY FIRST LOVE I can’t say that I loved you from the moment that we met. I can’t say that we were meant to be or that after years of separation we’ll finally break the walls that separate us and be one once more. I can’t say that in the time we’ve been apart I’ve become a better person, better for you….better for us. If I said anything along these lines it would have been a lie. There’s much I want to tell you and a lot that I know I shouldn’t. Let’s start at the beginning: I remember when we met. You were one of the popular people. I was not. Everyday prior to our meeting I was nothing more than a background image on a less-than-boring wall. But for some reason on this day you chose to acknowledge me. On this day you chose to talk to me. I’ll probably never know why, or care why for that matter, but you did and since then my life has never been the same. As if you pulled me into light from the dark, or as though you created something out of nothing I had existence. I had meaning in my life. And that meaning was you. I would wake up every morning just to see you smile. I would miss my bus on purpose just to spend a few extra moments in your presence. I would shed the few nickels and dimes I had to give you whatever happiness money could buy. I would have given you the earth, the moon and even the sun if it so pleased you. I would have done it all. When you’re young everyone tells you to shoot for the stars, but no one tells you how dangerous ambition can be. No one...
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...Kourtney Blickensdorfer Psy-100 June 28, 2015 Amanda Laster-Loftus Psychology for Life In life stress is everywhere, and we face it every day. Stress is handled at work wither it is a co-worker or customer, and we have to handle it appropriately to ensure our stress levels stay neutral. Stress is also encountered at home because of finances, relationships, and family. Most people do not handle stress well, but I think it is important to understand where your stress comes from, so that you can handle it accordingly. When I took my stress test I knew that I would not be happy with my score, so I was not surprised at all. I am a very high strung individual, and I am always in a hurry. I also take things to heart, so at previous jobs when people got upset with me or the company it upset me also. My stress assessment showed me that I am on the verge of major stress problems. It let me know that I need to slow down, and probably could use some quiet time for myself. I could also channel my stress into something productive. Stress impacts our bodies in different ways when we handle stressful situations like work, or good situations like winning an award. Stress effects the body by triggering the fight or flight response which in normal doses can improve performance. (Kotz 2008) When the body becomes stressed the hypothalamus tells the adrenal glands to release adrenaline or cortisol. Once the stress goes away the body releases hormones that tells it to go back to normal...
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