time sure flies these days

It seems like just yesterday, I was starting a new semester without an advisor but it has been five weeks already. Classes are in full swing and I am already starting to feel the crunch as midterms (if there are going to be some) are only a short three weeks away. I wanted to stay ahead of the reading this semester, but that has not worked out so far. I can easily get swept away if I am not careful. Life as a grad student is not easy - not that I expected it to be but man, it is hard work keeping up with every professors requirements. I don't think I will be taking three classes next semester. This is just too much work and not enough time to devote to each class. I feel like I am cheating myself out of valuable knowledge by not having adequate time to study and absorb the materials. I am not sorry I took three classes this semester; I just now know that I am not going to do it again next semester. I am challenging myself in many areas this semester and that is good, but taxing on the nerves and confidence. I will survive - as I am not a quitter. I just need to regroup and go at it from another direction.

OMG - Computer Forensics

This class is going to be great. Professor Liles drove home many of the requirements that appeared in the text chapters but somehow lost because they were just words on the page. Hearing him repeat the requirements and then back them up with real life experiences and examples made them sink into this thick skull of mine. Some days I wonder if I will truly get this information. I sit in class and my mind wanders to "how much more effective would this class be if I was like most of the other students in the class" They are underclassmen who are in their senior year of school - about to get their Bachelors degree.

These students have the luxury of just having some classes that I have not had ever but have learned most on my own through the life of a working LAN Administrator yet, I question my abilities. I know that I know this stuff, I just feel like I might have known more if I was in there shoes. Having being in their shoes over 15 years ago - I could not wait to get out of the classroom and into the work force. I was not thinking about a Masters degree. Then again, had I wanted a Master's degree immediately after my Bachelors - I would have had to obtain it from Purdue Lafayette and it still would not have included the classes I am currently taking.

Technology has changed so much and continues to change. I now have to figure out three topics in which I have to produce a research paper on by the end of the semester. One topic has to be in the Command Central arena for my Database Modeling class, One on Computer Forensic topic, and I believe the other has to be something to do with Quality Control and Productivity in Industry. I am not sure on the last one. Guess it is a good time to re-read my syllabus - Yes?

Don't work harder, work smarter.

The goal of this semester is to work smarter so that I don't have to work harder. I have so much I want to accomplish this semester that I don't have time to waste working harder when all I have to do is work smarter. Organizing my study time against classroom time will enable me to begin to work smarter. Optimizing my study time will allow me the luxury to work around others schedules as some classroom work will require collaboration with fellow students. I have to believe in this method in order for it to be successful.. Demanding excellence from myself is what I do. I hate to fail and rarely do. However, when I do, I try to identify all the obstacles that I threw up that prevented me from succeeding. My failure is never any one's fault but my own and it is not an option.

Semester starts on Monday. I feel a little overwhelmed as I am scheduled for three classes that are extremely different. One in computer forensics, a database management class and the other has to do with quality control - i think. During this semester I will be blogging mostly on the progress I am making in these classes and updating my skill sets. It it going to be an intense semester but I am up for it.
Professor Liles, I hope you are up for this semester as well. Teaching and therapy will be a challenge for you as well. Best of luck to both of us.

Hello World

Well, I have taken the first step in blogging. I created this site after much contemplation, not knowing where to begin, how to pick a name for my blog, and yet which layout to use. Over the course of the next several months, I will be attempting to refine my blogging and the design so please bare with me while I undergo this process and in discovering topics.