Over spring break I was so happy when I finally got to go home for a weekend. I hadn't been home since the semester began, so it was really nice spending time with my family. The weather was fantastic; I am from New Bern so going home to the water was all that I could ask for on such a beautiful weekend.
On a different note, I am especially overwhelmed with my general work load, as usual. It still baffles me that in order to graduate from Meredith with a licensure in K-6 you absolutely must take 18 hours a semester, beginning your freshman year, and on top of that do summer school. I have friends at other colleges who aren't finishing in 4 years--but this is because they have either taken close to the minimum of 12 hours a semester since freshman year, they have failed some of their classes, and/or they have not ever taken summer school to make up for their lack of hours in the regular semester. Unlike at Meredith, it is actually very simple for these people to graduate with a teaching degree in 4 years.
Furthermore, I'm so excited to graduate in a year! I can't wait to have the freedom of choosing a new place to live and explore and to find a job.
I hope everyone had a great spring break! Can't wait for it to get warm :)
Well said Emily. I have exactly the same feelings about Meredith's Curriculum! I always thought the first two years of college were to decide what you wanted to do! But I know now that if I had waited those two years to decided then I would have to spend at least another two years working on my major! Meredith's curriculum is ridiculous. I do not understand why we have so many gen. ed. requirements and on top of that why the licensure program decides which gen. ed. classes we need to take. Why do I need college level Biology and Geology to teach first grade? Or two history classes? I also agree that it is crazy that we have to take 18 hours every semester in order to graduate on time. I can not afford summer school or any extra time past 4 years because Meredith is so ridiculously expensive! I wish the people who make the gen. ed. requirements would take all these silly classes and see how stressed out they get! I am so ready to be done that it is not even funny! I do nothing but school work 24/7 and it is driving me crazy! Anyways I really like the way you said anything and I think you should copy and past it and mail it to Dr. Hartford! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie for your input! I'm glad to know that I am not the only person that feels overwhelmed :)
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI think many students share your feelings of being overwhelmed by the workload. I work a full-time job and attend college part-time. Last semester, I took 12 credit hours. I must have been insane. It was just too much toward the last month. With that being said, my plan for Spring was to take 9 hours. Due to scheduling problems, I am down to six hours this semester. Meredith really encourages non-traditional student to seek a degree, but Meredith does not always accomodate late afternoon and evening schedules for classes. I can take classes anytime after three o'clock, and I have difficulty finding the ones I need. I know students who can only take evening classes, and they are faced with even more difficult scheduling problems.
I have spoken up on this issue, and I will continue to speak up on this issue. You have some very important thoughts and concerns. Make sure you pass them along.
Glad you had some time with your family over break.
Elizabeth
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI completely understand how you feel with school, it's definitely crazy to me that we're pretty much double majoring and I think that other people have a hard time understanding that. I do think it's great though that you got to spend some time with your family over break, even though I do live 10 minutes away from home, I don't see them nearly as much as I would like and I think that going home takes the stress from school away for just a bit!