Home Free! (At Least for Now)</h1> <article> <h1>Home Free! (At Least for Now)</h1> <p>Sat, 03 May 2025 01:02:03 +0000</p> <p> Oh, boy--is there a lot to share with you guys. I'll keep it short, though; I passed 2nd semester! I really had to lock in and focus on improving my test-taking strategies, and I think it finally paid off. I end the course with an 82%, which is all that I need to progress. And now, I look to an entire summer to relax, recuperate and prepare for the next school year. Until then, I'll just hang back and enjoy my newfound free time. </p> <p> This was an incredibly trying time for, not just me but, everybody. I think it brought the worst out of all my classmates, but we all pulled through. I hope to see everyone's faces at the end of it all. </p> </article> <article> <h1>A Step in the Right Direction</h1> <p>Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:59:36 +0000</p> <p> I took my third exam today; an 83.5 isn't too bad. For the rest of the exams, however, I needed an 85 in order to attain the 80% exam average requirement to pass this semester. Still, I am more than OK with this! I'm sure I'll get a bump after the test has been reviewed. My big thing is that I did much better than I thought I would have, and this is the highest I've done all semester. This class is no joke, but I felt a huge sense of relief walking out of the testing room. And with this upcoming lecture, I have high hopes that I'll do even better. </p> <p> I'm finally glad to bring you guys good news; I was getting really frustrated with things here. Nursing school really is bringing the worst out of me, and everyone. It's been...rough. 3 more weeks, and then I'll be home free for the summer. </p> </article> <article> <h1>In the Homestretch</h1> <p>Fri, 11 Apr 2025 01:32:37 +0000</p> <p> I've taken some time this week to mentally reset. I didn't go to lecture this week as I felt like I needed to study the material on my own. There's a whole can of worms regarding school right now, and it's actually gotten pretty toxic for me. So much drama between classmates, a professor resigning (which we had just found out today), another professor giving half-assed lectures who refuses to give exam reviews because last semester didn't show up to lectures so she's basically butthurt about it, so on...and so forth.<br /> <br /> This semester is bringing out the worst in all of us, and I don't want to be surrounded by all the negativities. It's like high school all over again, which is sad--we're all adults here. But before I launch into a long-winded diatribe, I've some good news to share at least.<br /> <br /> Along with taking the week off, I feel less stressed out. I needed time to myself, as I was beginning to get tired from having to get up and go to either school or work. Fortunately for me, lecture isn't mandatory--so no points taken off for attendance. </p> <p> With so many of my other classmates emailing the higher ups in the program, some of them took time to meet with our class to provide some study tips. The fact that they personally touched base and help us out really resonated with me. And now, I am employing some of their study strategies for this upcoming exam. So far, I feel like the information is sticking with me. And just today, another faculty member held a Zoom meeting to answer questions about the upcoming exam and held a study session for those that could attend. I feel more prepared than ever, and touched that they're going to such lengths to get us to succeed.<br /> <br /> As far as the other professor goes...well I was quite disappointed with how she prepared us for the last exam. In silent protest, that's why I didn't attend her lectures this time around. I've never had a professor just half-ass her lectures with rushing through the slides, reading verbatim from them, failing to elaborate on things, and not properly answering questions (as in, if I pose a question, rather than give me an honest answer she would brush it off and say something like "Oh, you don't have to worry about that.") But earlier, she finally sent out the focused review for this upcoming exam...despite her original intentions. I think she had received enough complaints from students to finally change it up. Now I'm not one to judge her; this is her first time teaching the material. Still, I expected better... But an exam review is a step in the right direction, so I feel like I can put some trust into her again.<br /> <br /> So yes, as far as you can see...it's a shitshow right now. But I keep my head up and keep on trucking. At the end of the day, all I want is for myself and my classmates to succeed. And so, we fight on. We're all in the homestretch now. I think with our class (about 50 of us) banding together to make some changes, it is empowering to see it actually take place. I write this in the hopes that I bring even better news in the coming weeks. <br /> <br /> Man, I can't believe it's 3 more weeks until the semester is over. After that, 3 months' worth of summer vacation. It sounds like a dream to me. </p> </article> <article> <h1>A Little Bump in the Road</h1> <p>Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:54:17 +0000</p> <p> As of my writing of this post, it's been a few days since I last logged on here. It's a short amount of time, in the grand scheme of things, but it goes to show just how busy I've been with school. To cut it short: I didn't do so good on my last exam. For my nursing program, to advance, you need to have an 80% exam average for the semester--among other things like clinical performance and skill checkoffs. I'm sitting right at a 76%, and it's just stressing me out so bad. I left the exam room this past Monday with a broken heart, knowing that all the studying I did in preparation for it amounted to virtually nothing. <br /> <br /> And no, before you ask, they don't curve grades or lower the exam average requirement. It's a rigorous program for a <em>reason</em>. Or, so they say. Anyway, it's only 4 weeks left until the summer...and I don't know how I'll get through it. April is our busy month, with exams every Monday. It's going to be intense, and oh-so nerve-wracking. Still, I suppose there's a small comfort in mutual suffering with my other classmates. A majority of my cohort is below the 80% exam average as well, so we're all banding together to do what we can to pass.<br /> <br /> So, 'tis a small bump in the road towards our final destination. I try to look forward with optimism, but it's scary. This isn't my first time with nursing school, and it is bringing up some pretty bad memories that I dare not delve back into (perhaps I will, in due time)... I'm just itching for a break. I'm very fortunate that this program takes summer off, so I can take that time to recharge--maybe pick up a few extra shifts at work--and heal from all the stress.<br /> <br /> Temporary stress for gradual satisfaction... </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </article> </main></body></html>