Real World Mom

It’s Wednesday! Feel free to link up below, and then please be kind enough to leave a comment.

These are a few of my favorite things–in no particular order…

My laptop. All my friends live in it!

 

I love candles in all shapes and sizes! Vanilla is my favorite scent.

 

After coffee, Diet Pepsi is my beverage of choice.

 

Who doesn't love some Hershey's Syrup? Confession: I like to put some in a glass of Diet Pepsi. Love me a chocolate soda!

 

I got an HTC Evo 3D/4G cell phone (in my favorite color: purple) last November, and it is AMAZING! It's a mini-computer that you can also use as a phone!

 

You know I couldn't make a list of my favorite things without mentioning coffee!

 

 What are some of your favorite things?

A couple of weeks ago, I gave in and joined Pinterest. I had resisted for a while because I was afraid it would be more of a distraction than anything else. Katrina from Active Moms sent me the link to her boards, and I was intrigued. Enough to go sign up. I have been spending a lot of time there, but little of it is wasted time. I have met some nice people, been exposed to photos/quotes/information/recipes that I may not have been otherwise. It’s a great place to connect with other people and to have fun! You can find my boards here: RealWorldMom on Pinterest.

A gem I came across on Pinterest!

Another social network that I just became aware of a few, short days ago, is Empire Avenue. Their tagline is “Social media rocket fuel,” and it is! I’ve been a member for just over twenty-four hours, and I’ve already seen an increase in my Facebook page’s likes, my Twitter followers, and in blog traffic.

The basic idea is that you ‘buy stock’ in other people using eaves (Empire Avenue’s ‘currency’), and you earn more eaves through dividends. They also ‘buy stock’ in you, which increases your value. This may sound a bit confusing, but it’s really not.

While all of this buying is going on, you are making connections with other members–the whole idea behind social media, right? Plus, you are able to add links to your other social media sites right on your profile page, so members can very easily follow you, like you, visit your blog, etc. This is why it’s “Social media rocket fuel!”

If you’re interested in taking a look at the site, you can view my profile HERE. Let me know what you think. If you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them or find the answer for you!

1. I graduated with my associate’s degree in human services at the age of 43. If all goes as planned, I will graduate with a bachelor’s degree when I’m 46. (I’m hoping to go for a master’s degree after that.)

2. Even though I was a terrible student in high school, I graduated from college with honors (cum laude).

3. I am a list maker. Not just for groceries, but for pretty much everything. When it’s a list of things to do, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish a task and get to cross it off my list. (Yes, I am anal and like to be organized, and lists help me do that.)

4. I couldn’t live without coffee. Ok, I probably could live without it, but I really don’t want to.

5. I’ve recently become addicted to joined Pinterest. You can find me here.

Feel free to share some random facts about yourself. I’d love to know more about you!

After many months of being unsure whether or not I would be able to continue going to school to earn my bachelor’s degree, I found out recently that it is absolutely possible! I’m going back to school in September! Kean University, here I come!

As if this weren’t enough great news, I will be able to do so on the same college campus where I went for my associate’s degree–close to home, familiar surroundings, and a place I love! Kean offers some baccalaureate and masters programs at this local campus, while their main campus is in Union, New Jersey.

My long-term goal is to earn a Master of Social Work degree (MSW). I had thought I would need a Bachelor of Social Work degree (BSW) in order to apply to a master’s program. Turns out, that’s not the case (at least not with the school I will be attending). While Kean does not offer a BSW program at the location I will be attending, there is an MSW program available. So, I will get a bachelor’s degree (most likely in psychology because I find it so interesting, and have already taken several psych courses), and then (hopefully) move into their master’s program. If you are so busy with work but still want to earn a social work degree, you might want to check out universities or colleges offering online classes about it.

The challenge right now is to be patient as I wait to find out which major might be most appropriate at this juncture, and waiting to register for classes. I’m also trying not to allow myself to start stressing over maintaining my GPA already. For me, these things are easier said than done.

Once again, I owe a huge thanks to Tim for encouraging me to look into what Kean University had to offer, and for reminding me that I can do anything I set my mind to!

I couldn’t have done it alone though. My daughter and Tim were my biggest cheerleaders. They also offered their tutoring services when I needed them (yes, my daughter is one smart cookie!). If it hadn’t been for Tim’s encouragement, I probably never would have even gone to college in the first place. He believed in me when I doubted myself, and that was/is a very precious gift!

There were also several professors, fellow students, and other people I met along the way, who helped to shape my college experience (mostly in positive ways).

Making my way toward the stage to receive my diploma, I caught sight of Tim and my daughter in the audience.

Receiving my diploma. I received an Associate in Science degree in human services.

The courses that I took were only part of my education. Yes, the lectures, homework, and studying were important. What was equally enlightening was how much I learned about myself, and what I am capable of achieving.

The math classes I had been so uneasy about? I earned A’s in every one. This was from the high school student who failed two math courses. Upon earning that first A, I began to realize that maybe I could handle college. Hell, if I could get an A in math, anything was possible!

In November 2009, I was invited to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society. To qualify for induction, and to remain in good standing, a student must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average. I did, throughout all six semesters. So I had the privilege of wearing the Phi Theta Kappa gold stole and tassel at graduation. I graduated Cum Laude, with a 3.74 overall grade point average. Not bad for someone who didn’t think they could handle college, eh?

The graduate!

Thank you to everyone who shared this journey with me. To those who offered encouragement and support, and those who took the time to read about my accomplishments and frustrations along the way. This was a true team effort, and I am eternally grateful to everyone who helped my dream come true!