In Which Amy Finds her Grades... (Myspace Blog)

It's the end of the semester... and that means its grade time.

I was pretty sure I could guess what I was going to get... A+ in Advanced Comp., B in Chemistry, B in Ed. Psych, and A in Perceptual Motor Development.

BUT... I saw them this morning. Yes. I did. Yes. I'm happy. Yes. I rock.

Here they are... *drumroll please...*

English 311 - Advanced Composition - A+
C EP 210 - Educational Psychology - A
P EP 218 - Perceptual Motor Development - A
Chem 111 - (only the hardest class I have ever taken ever) - B

Yay me! Better than I expected.

In other school related news... I had a stressful week... of being jacked around. The Education Department is re-doing the Early Childhood Degree plan. I knew this. I was fine. Until Thursday, when I went in to visit my advisor, Deborah, to turn in some drop/add slips for 2 classes, that is. Luckily, Deborah likes me and looks out for me.

Her: "Um.... Amy...."

Me: "Hey! How are you!"

Her: "Um... Amy..."

Me: "You don't look too happy..."

Her: "Um... Amy..."

Yeah. Anyway, it turns out that I was going to be forced into the new degree plan. And she could not tell me what that would do to my graduation date. beep! So I waited while she did some figuring. The next day she called me, to tell me that it was going to add 2 semesters onto my graduation date. 2 semesters! No... nonono. I refuse to add another YEAR onto this beep bachelors degree when it is only a means to get me into a Master's programme!

I told her this. And she listened to me cry and whine, and said, "Let me see what I can do. I'll get back to you."

So Monday comes. And she calls.

Her: "Um... Amy..."

Me: (oh, beep... this is how the whole conversation started last time...)

Her: "Can you come in? Right now?"

Me: (panic) "Um... ok."

So I did. And here is what she found.

*Change my degree to Elementary Education.
*Graduate at the originally planned date.
*Do not take any summer classes for the rest of my bachelors programme.
*Have a lighter courseload than I did before.
*Be able to fit classes in that will allow me to graduate with an honours thesis.
*Take Aurthurian Legend as a graduation requirement.
*Figure out that degree actually fits better with my planned Master's Degree and Doctorate.
*Smile and Be Happy.

I so like Deborah... maybe I should make her brownies.

In Which Amy Knows Where She's Going... (Myspace Blog)

There are no Masters Degree programs specifically in the field of Critical Pedagogy and Social Justice.

I knew this, had resigned myself to it. I was not happy, but had accustomed myself to the idea that I would get my Masters Degree is some random thing, with as much emphasis on Critical Pedagogy as I possibly could manage at whatever school I will attend. Yet another 2 years of feeling like I had wasted time jumping through hoops. Then a quick jump into a Doctoral program in order to get what I want, which is a degree in Critical Pedagogy and Social Justice. Another 3 to 4 years... forever and ever away.

Until yesterday.

Browsing, yet again, looking at many different programs in many different places. I must have done something that I had not done before... because I found the St. Martins College Masters Program of Critical Pedagogy and Social Justice. Did you do a double-take? I did. Yes, I did read that right... A Master's Program in exactly what I want it to be in. A dream. A miracle.

And in Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom.

I have mixed feelings... I am excited. I knew I wanted to do some study in the UK. I am scared. Will I be able to afford it? I am optimistic. I will still qualify for financial aid... and they will pay it if I am in the UK.

I am going to do it. It is not any more expensive than if I were to attend an out of state university here in the US. Plus, a Master's Degree takes 1 year in the UK. 1 very intense year, I'm sure... but 1 year none the less. Versus at least 2 here. The biggest difference is in the realm of expectations. Here a Master's Degree is bestowed based upon a Questioning Board. There you are required to write a dissertation. Good thing I like writing, especially in that field.

The big picture shows that, by the time my daughter graduates from high school, I will have a Master's Degree, in a field that I love. Then I can decide what I want to do about the Doctorate. I think I might be excited. And that would be an understatement.