Welcome Back Students

It's scary to admit that it is now the middle of July. I have no idea what happened to the first two weeks of July, nor do I know whatever happened to June. I also don't understand how fast May disappeared, wherever it decided to leave me.

Up until this weekend, Downtown Madison created the illusion of being an abandoned, desolate city, with a few souls hanging onto a decaying city. Even on a Saturday night, State streets had been nearly empty, unusually empty. Coffee shops attendees have been scarce (I would know), libraries have become my private, privileged sanctuaries where only I seem to spend time in.

This weekend, Madison seems to be returning back to it's original state of chaotic, busy, partying students that likes to over drink, fight in the middle of the streets, and pretty much party until four in the morning (much to my despise, considering we live in Downtown, next to a known party house, where it drives my life miserable, every weekend night)

The house, turned into apartment building we live next to has three floors and there were parties in its two floors, The building across them had a party in it and it seemed to me, there was a party at least in one unit, in all the apartments in the neighborhood. It's hard to hear one another even in the house, there are people constantly knocking on our doors, windows, trying to get in, or pooping in your front yards, sometimes we've caught them peeing too. Some are passed out in their pukes, where we call the cops so that at least they get some sort of attention in the middle of the night. Some people think it's a neat spot to have public sex. Beer bottles are thrown out of higher floor balconies and people keep screaming various things, I've never been able to understand.

Welcome back, underage drinking Students!

Transfer Admissions

Transfer Admissions wasn't that difficult to find out, considering that I passed by it, nearly on a everyday basis.

Hopeful is all I can search for at this point. Hopeful and looking forward to it. But it's not going to be easy. I definitely have to go back to a smaller school, build up my grades, take the SATs and the ACT again, find out some wonderful people to write me recommendations for. I have to at least spend a year or two at a small college like Madison College, but it will be worth it. Hopefully, that can minimize my credits at UW. Hopefully I can get a scholarship.

The tunnel is long, and even if tiny, barely there, iridescent, there is a light at the end. At the moment, this is all I can hold on to. That tiny light which binds my future and my well being at the moment. So be it. I'll go to mini courses, then take courses at Madison College (formerly known as MATC) and eventually, get into UW, obviously after taking the SATs and the ACT. I am willing to put the work in. It's great to see some enthusiasm within myself.

UW, wait for me!

Continuing Education Department

Well, it's great to have done something, even though it has cost me all day. Finding out where I could get information, finding out Continuing Education Department, where it was, and finally getting there, waiting there, and eventually being able to speak to counselor. Although I am considered a Returning Adult Student who is eligible for special kinds of scholarships and loans (which made my day as you can guess) I still have to apply as a Transfer. I have to go through regular Undergraduate Admissions process. However, it is great to see that I can still be accepted and knowing where to begin is a great relief. Also to know that they will be much laxer with me than with a regular entering Freshman.

So, therefore, I was transferred over to the Transfer Admissions, where I shall try to get an appointment at. Let's see what that holds for me.

School Continues

S and I had a long talk about school. It is a must for us. Future is too uncertain and I need the stability of knowing I am trained for one set of skills which will allow me to apply for a job in a certain field. That would narrow a lot down. We would have to save quite a bit and raise our credit scores before I can actually attend school, however, since he is all the way behind this, 100% I feel like I have a chance. So, I've made an appointment with the Continuing Education department of UW to see where I stand. This will probably end up in a wild goose chase, but no fight, no gain and I have to start somewhere. It's not like people are going to roll out a red, velvet carpet in front of me, leading me to the doors of UW-Madison.

School

I've been thinking about school lately. How far I've come from that goal in the years that has brought me here. It was the second biggest purpose of my moving out here, all alone, without my family. Perhaps, it should have been number one. If I ever end up having children, this is one thing I'll tell them honestly, thoroughly, so they can make a better decision for themselves. Education is so important. I keep coming back to this point, because although school doesn't teach you everything (and it can't. There is a purpose to school and if you're a good student, you can take so much more from the classes you are attending, then what they can solely give you off the books) but it can give you enough information to make informed choices, learn of ways to get to information and can equip you with a resume builder items that will allow you to have a job. Someone like me, has no choice but to work at places like restaurants, coffee shops. If I am lucky, and push hard enough, perhaps a secretary of sorts. But, how long will that last me before I grow bored and want a change of environment, a better paying job with less physical labor? Not very long. How much money can I make off of it that will allow me to take vacations in the summer, attend writing workshops?

I can't do what I want to do with minimum wage jobs (and not because they're demeaning, because they pay too low, much lower then what they should be paying). I want to have a good career where I feel like I am making a change. Where my skills can make a difference. I want to feel actively engaging in a part of world that is getting better. In order to do all of this, I need to get an education. But it's been so long since the last time I attended school that I just don't know how to go back, where to start and how to obtain all of that information. I feel stuck. Because I feel stuck, I won't get that information and because I don't have that information, I can't make changes.

Perhaps starting with UW mini courses, perhaps on fiction. I've got to start somewhere and maybe along the way, I'll obtain the information I desperately need.

Besides, I feel like school is the place where I shine the most. I have learned (through high cost) what it means to be a good student and it has now become a good part of who I am. I can be a great student, if only, given the chance.