Don’t Drop Me Now: Snow, Winter, End of Term?

School can become a real habit. If you read my post at the beginning of term, I didn’t sound hooked on it, but now I am. It may take a week or so, but we get right into the groove of studying. The last three months have been intense, busy and focussed…all around school. Now, what are they telling us? That we have a HOLIDAY coming up? Some of us may have forgotten the meaning of the word.
Some of us, me included, may have forgotten what life is like without dear old SW courses. I mean, what will we DO after our courses wrap up? Where’s the next Learning Assignment, the next essay? Where are the course notes and the text books?
That’s right. It’s nearly time to close the (school) books and pull out some pleasure reading. We’re being told to go and enjoy our winter holidays and we’re tempted to email our instructors and ask, “What do you mean? What am I supposed to DO? It’s hard to give up the habit of following a course timeline.
Seriously, this term is pulling to a close. I at first found myself bewildered at the decreased workload and now, well, I’m kind of getting used to the idea: there’s time to pick up a few hobbies again or just spend more time with family, friends and ourselves. I’ve become reacquainted with my yoga mat and have some new books on order from the public library. I’ve gone Christmas shopping and even had a leisurely lunch with my Dad. I’ve been going outside more and doing things-other-than-school. I have some sewing projects planned for my kids for Christmas. (I like sewing in straight lines, so nothing elaborate).
However you celebrate or honour winter, with whatever traditions special to you, a happy and enjoyable winter break to you. Keep those text books closed for awhile – no peaking till January!

Swingtime

What do you call it when you are really into something? Being engaged? Swept along in a whirlpool, in the eye of the storm? I’m not really sure what swingtime is, but it makes me think of dancing, or being right in the middle of a dance.
If we students are dancers, our partner is school. Right now, it’s swingtime. That’s right, we’re being swung around by dare I say, a pretty swift and surefooted partner. Assignments and due dates left and right. If you’re like me, you’re stepping pretty quickly to meet them all.
Remember to take a breather when the music slows. Sit and rest for a bit. Kick off your dance shoes. Find a glass of water.
One of the joys of being a distance student is that while one might expect that a distance student works in isolation, the opposite is also true. Some of us DE students have formed a pretty tight but by no means exclusive group.
There are those of us who met up at our 312 on-campus session, those of us who “friended” each other on Facebook, those of us who have been previous (if virtual) classmates and have reconnected in subsequent courses to work together. Then, there’s the small group work we’re seemingly constantly engaged in this semester.
We may work in isolation physically, but on-line on Blackboard, it’s hard to get away from each other, in a good way. We can share concerns and helpful tips. We can answer each others questions. We can stay connected.
The distance students have a community. Though we can’t see each other, as you would see one another in a classroom, we’re still a pretty close knit bunch, only an instant message or Blackboard email away.
So, as Week 4 sweeps in, we are almost a third of a way through this semester. Not to hurry things along. Thanks to the swift pace of the academic dance, things are hurried enough.

~ CMHA, the Canadian Mental Health Association promotes taking time for Mental Health. UVic also has a healthy campus program. If you’re feeling like you can’t possibly dance any faster, take a deep breath, connect with your instructor, and look into options that allow you to have a break when you need it most. ~

In friendship, your fellow DE student, Tammy

Swingtime

Surrounded by books, this kitty can still rest.

These beauties are dropping petals as Fall swings in.