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First and foremost, my confidence about health was slashed when a student accidentally came down with a cold and unknowingly passed it to my little immune system.   No hard feelings, I now have what I would in a way consider a vacation for about 2 weeks here at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

If you are curious about what it is exactly that landed me here, it is that joyous Cystic Fibrosis.  If I didn’t have it, I would still be fascinated by it due to such extreme symptoms.  Www.cff.Org  There you will discover what exactly it is, but you are all welcome to email me as well.  It is truly a fascinating example of the human body and genetics.

Now, the question I first had was…How will my instructors deal with this?  Can I make up 2 weeks worth of homework, tests, & quizzes?  What will happen to such great academic success I recently bragged about?  When this happened when I attended Des Moines Area Community College, one teacher was literally so impossible to work with, that she DEMANDED records and that I file for disability because in her words, “Cystic Fibrosis was made up.”  So, how would this new college and teachers deal with it if I only knew them since August? 

 IOWA WESTERN IS A CAMPUS THAT WANTS US TO SUCCEED!  All of my teachers were very understanding, including one who even VOLUNTEERED to send the lectures I would miss to my email account!  Another one, genuinely interested in my condition, asked to learn more about it! One more seemed to understand (although I did not believe he/she would) and was willing to work with me!  I have been in touch with yet another one, and although have no heard back yet, they are especially busy, I have no doubt that they will be able to help me! 

Even my blogger boss, said I could take a break off if I needed to in order to make sure I was able to become healthier!  How THOUGHTFUL!

Seriously kids, live from Iowa City with Iv’s and Medication is LIVE PROOF YET AGAIN- that I PICKED THE GREATEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE!

How did everybody like their break?
All 4 days! I spent my time down in Kansas City with the in-laws. So much fun.

Priority registration is coming up and I am not at all excited about registering for a wii, but rather getting the classes I want in the exact time slot I want.

There are 3 steps to help get you registered which I found on SAIL. Here they are- so best of luck to you all.

1. Build your preferred sections in SOS.
2. Meet with your assigned program advisor.
3. Check your priority registration time in SAIL.

It’s actually pretty cool that we get such an advantage over new students for registration! (Sorry new kids!) At least I think it’s sweet. I plan on taking about 19 credits this next semester and every little time slot needs to be open in order for things to run very smoothly.

Best of luck to you all as well!
And go get that Wii!

Hey!

So the big question is… HOW ARE YOUR MIDTERM GRADES? First off let me say, that after they were posted, I noticed a lot less kids in all of my classes. They either dropped or somehow about 30 kids were sick this week. Hopefully you were one of the kids still in class and not dropping the course, however, if not, this blog is all about study tips.

I highly believe that no teacher here is intentially trying to fail anybody at all. With that in mind, check out the next 10 tips… maybe take some of them to heart, maybe forget others. If your wondering if I am even a credible source to give study tips, let me tell you one small statistic. My midterm grades ranged from 95%-114%. I am taking 5 classes, and I have 2 part-time jobs. I also do not live on campus. That being said, no matter what your schedule, by following a couple tips- maybe even you can raise your grade a percentage or two!

10. SHOW UP! It is alarming how many people skip or are not in class at all. Each day the teachers in all my classes give out the answers in subtle hints to all the tests. Just show up more.
9. Take 10 minutes each day and instead of playing on the internet-actually do the homework. Maybe it is only worth 2-3 points, but ya wanna know something? Those 2-3 occassional points can be the difference between failing and passing. In one course, those 2-3 points add up to 50! That alone can knock a grade down by a full letter!
8. If you show up, pay attention. Yes, have some willpower to put your cell phone away, take your ipod off, and listen. Heck, take the occassional note. If the teacher says, ” Now this next part is important,” it is practically code for “this is on the next test!”
7. Find that you talk too much to your friends in a certain class? Move. Big deal, you will be picked on for about 5 minutes. If you are paying $300 to go to a class, and not get the content area, but you leave college with great friendships- did you really get your money’s worth? No. And neither did they, so those friendships won’t necessarily help you move ahead in life.
6. Quit making excuses. “That teacher doesn’t like me,” or “that test wasn’t even fair,” or “I don’t have time to study because I was….” are not effective. It takes less time to study than it does to make excuses and complain about them.
5. Do the extra-credit. Treat extra-credit as an actual homework assignment. Not just as extra-credit. In one course, I did not properly study for a test. I got a 46% on it. However, I did do about 20 points of extra credit. My grade in that class is now at a 99.8%. It adds up. The only key is you have to trick yourself into believing it is actually an assignment.
4. Have more time this week than you will next week? There is no rule that says you can’t work ahead. Really far ahead. It is all about time management. I took a break to give you this tips because my assigment due November 20th was getting a bit tiring. You know what? I bet I’ll get a good grade on that one too!
3. Be nice to your teachers. They are human. You will not be a suck-up but you will be respected. Maybe once a mutual respect is established, you will be able to understand their lessons better.
2. Know what your teachers expect. Hint: They tell you clearly in your syllabus. It isn’t a trick.
1. Know when to admit you need extra help. It’s okay to not understand something. It’s okay to admit you are human. For example, I can never quite figure out what an exponent is. I read the examples, and still when I double check my homework get them wrong. My teacher has an open door policy. Numerous times she has been there for those silly little questions and self-doubt I get. By admitting that certain things are difficult, I have a 98% in that class. It pays to be dumb sometimes.

Now…log out of myspace or facebook and go study.

Now my message here is very clear… I chose the right college. If you are considering it, quit over analyzing every campus, quit being a sucker for the advertising in flashy newsletters and online promising you the greatest college experience. Say yes. Come to Iowa Western.

Why you ask?

I put off writing my blog this week because I assumed naturally that as the week went on I would have something interestingly enough to write. I had no idea how much of an impact this week would have on my personal life.

Any other campus I could of selected, I would wake up go to class- meet a few friends- and eventually get a degree in hopes that my dream career would be attainable.

2 Things Happened to Me this week that are personal and I run the risk of a reader insulting it. But when it happens to them, they will understand that Iowa Western isn’t just a college to them anymore- it is a place that truly can impact their lives.

1. I started off the week very sick. I have a little something called Cystic Fibrosis. Www.cff.org. I was not feeling well at all, in fact, I was considering going into the hospital to get what they call a “tune up”. It basically means being plugged up to machines for a few weeks in attempt to cough out the phlegm that kills most patients. Monday came along, and I was not feeling well at all. In fact, walking from my car to class was enough of a strenous task that I went to the side of the building and coughed for about 4 minutes- making me late to class. By my last class, I confided in a teacher that I would have to leave early and go home. No big deal.

True…It’s college. Teachers can’t always hold your hand and tell you to attend. But this one teacher, has a strict policy on homework. It can not be turned in unless I myself am present. I got full credit. Come to Iowa Western because you will never be a number in a lecture hall of 300- but a STUDENT who WILL be cared for.

2. Now, I would not have mentioned Cystic if this 2nd incident did not occur. I had a class this week, that honestly moved me. Enough to change my major. To find out that deep inside I really could be whatever I wanted to be and to seize that opportunity.

The lesson for the day was not about motivation or about classes or about anything you would expect that could change your outlook on your entire life. It was about Maslow. That psych guy and his hierarchy of needs. The teacher showed a clip on what it means to be at the top of his famous pyramid. The part of “Self Actualization.” At the end of this 10 minute clip, I had tears in my eyes.

Something changed that day. I went home to my fiance. I looked at the life I am preparing for- a great career, a lovely house, an impressive investment portfolio and to be surrounded by loved ones- then I realized…If Cystic kills me before that, what happens? What happens to that dream?

I made a dedication to myself and to my fiance and to my life…that I would not be a statistic. No more. I would not let the symptoms of Cystic choke me to death the way it has for hundreds and thousands of other people before their 20th birthday.

I just signed up to run a half marathon. I have never run a day in my life. But, that video changed me. That CLASS changed me. It made me excited to push myself and LIVE. It made me EXCITED for the daily humdrum of college life.

Now…if you are considering Iowa Western…Let me ask you…

WHAT OTHER COLLEGE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SAME IMPACT???
Don’t look at a pretty advertising campaign…look at the real story. You won’t regret your decision.

Thank you.