Life's more painless for the brainless

I'm currently in my second block of school. At Utah Valley University they give you the choice to attend a semester of 13 weeks or two summer blocks that are 7 1/2 weeks long. Right now I'm in my second block and it's getting busy. Due to bookstore inventory, our class is a bit behind schedule because we couldn't buy our books so that pushed our first test behind. My instructor is really cool and he is definitely helping us catch up. I just can't wait to be done with this block. My brain and spirit are both exhausted. The day I started the second block was the second day of class. I missed the first day because I just felt like I couldn't take it anymore and after a lot of thinking and planning I knew it would've hurt later on. Luckily I didn't miss anything. I was very thankful for that.

The title of my blog is from a song I like a lot. It's "Dancing through Life" from the musical Wicked. I hope none of you think I live by that statement. I like this song because it tells us about the character Fiyero; who later on becomes the scarecrow who we all know is missing a BRAIN. I love that book! Any who I like this line because it's the total opposite of how I feel. There have been many nights when I'm sitting next to a computer or a book trying to finish a paper or submit an assignment online and my face is drenched with tears. School has been really hard. I'm supposed to be graduating this spring 2010 but I lost a lot of my credits transferring out here and this has delayed graduation. I guess it frustrates me that I'm still in school and still in Utah instead of being settled in a home in Chicago. I've been so close to giving up but then I meet all these moms who are going back to school to finish up and it seems harder than what I’m doing. I don't devalue these women but I know it’s hard to find a daycare for children and then when the children get sick you have to miss class because they can't go to childcare sick. So yeah, I need to finish now.

My parents are another reason why I haven't left school. They immigrated to the U.S. so that we, their children, can get an education and live a comfortable life. I know that education opens many doors, even during this recession. I know that life is harder for those who refuse the opportunity to learn. I know school is expensive but it’s worth it. It's the best thing to spend your money on. You can spend your money on clothes, furniture, cars, and electronics but nothing will last you for a lifetime like education. I treasure it so I'm sticking through it.

My last reason for staying in school is the thought of my unborn children. I know this may sound cheesy but I want my kids to appreciate education and I need to set the example so that they may understand its importance. I also want them to look up to me and respect me which I'm sure they would do even if I didn't, but I want them to know that I'm educated and that I can counsel them about school. I know I won't be able to MAKE my children love school and MAKE them have a desire to learn BUT you can direct them. I've made a lot of mistakes in school and I regret them all the time. I didn't take school seriously when I was younger and IT'S not my parents fault. Don't even think it! My parents always pushed us to work hard but like they say you can walk the horse to the water but you can't make it DRINK. I feel like I learned what school is when I was a teenager and I noticed how hardworking my parents were. They didn't have office jobs with an oak wood desk, but what ever job they had they'd give it 100%. Their example inspired to be a hard worker. There were many times when I saw my father's hands bruised and bleeding from manual labor and I knew that he was doing what he had to and I had my part to fulfill. I want my children to be inspired to learn and to work hard so this is my time to work hard and it requires many hours of school work but I have my inspiration and it will not fail me. I promised my daddy at my beloved sister's graduation that he would also see me walk across the stage even if took me five years to complete my degree, and I'm going to do it.

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

-Lance Armstrong