By Guest Blogger

Rana Lee Berman
EdD Teaching & Learning Student at Argosy University, Online Programs

I am a 75-year old doctorate student, a mother of three, a grandmother of nine and a great-grandmother of two. Reading that, it might sound like I have had a great life but I have faced and overcome my share of difficulty. I am a survivor of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and I also struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. I have now been in recovery for 25 years.

In 2001, at the age of 64, I decided to go to college after being a drug and alcohol counselor for 15 years. At this point, I had been out of school 43 years! It was terrifying, but with the help of a great history teacher, I began to learn how to study and write. I had no idea what a thesis statement was, let alone how to write an essay. In the summer of 2003, I transferred from the local community college to San Francisco State University where I earned two degrees (Jewish Studies and Black Studies) with a 3.8 GPA. I then entered the MA program in Adult Education with a concentration on Social Justice and Equity, and I graduated in May 2012.

I am now in the Argosy University, Online Programs’ doctorate program in Teaching and Learning with a concentration on teaching older students and helping colleges and universities retain these important students. My research will involve looking at community colleges in California and the types of programs they have, or do not have, for adult students over the age of 35 who are coming to college for the first time. My field study in my master’s program was developing an orientation for these students, which I have been given the go-ahead to implement this spring. I am now teaching and tutoring at the very college where I started many years ago.

This has been an amazing journey for me. I want my doctorate by the time I am 80, and I know I will have it.

--

At Argosy University, Online Programs, our students are passionate about their studies and many students, such as Rana, have inspiring stories to share with our community. If you are a current student or alumnus who would like your story to be heard, head over to the Campus Common (http://thecampuscommon.com/auo/student-submissions/) and submit it for us to review!

While many of us look forward to the holidays as soon as the weather turns colder, it can also be a stressful time, particularly for the online student.

Randy Goble, a student in the BA in Psychology program at Argosy University Online Programs, shared the following tips:

• Try to avoid the crowds by going to the store early. Some stores have extended hours during the season; take advantage of it.
• Stay away from the “impulse” items at the front of the store. Get in line and get out. This is also for security as well. Thieves hang out at the front just to see what you have and will follow you to the car.
• When friends and family come over, just stick to finger foods. People feel more at home when they can move around and talk to others.
• Put others first and you will not go wrong.

As it applies to online learning, make sure that while you’re participating in these activities that you also stay mindful of your schoolwork. Deadlines and class participation are just as important as they ever were.

Argosy University Online Programs student Carol Mooney from the BA in Psychology program offered her advice in the form of a poem:

What a busy time for all,
As we’re shopping at the mall,
Carrying presents by the dozens,
For Brothers, Sisters, & our Cousins.
Baking cookies, pies, & cakes
While running just on energy shakes.
Wrapping paper strewn everywhere
For presents to give and presents to share.
The visitors come and the visitors go,
The day speeds by as time does flow.
A weary person remembers then
A paper that’s due, oh my! But when?
No problem, it’s only 10 o’clock
I can study now; was that a knock?
More family, I’m sorry I can’t remain,
My paper is due, others will entertain.
Off I go into my own little space,
On my keyboard my fingers I place.
I must remember my studies to do
Time set aside, no matter who
Shows up to visit and share with us
The cheer of the Holidays as well as the fuss.

From all of us at Argosy University Online Programs, we hope you enjoyed the holiday season.

By Guest Blogger

Jessica Lopez
BS Criminal Justice Student at Argosy University Online Programs

Have you ever had a dream where you were someone else? A dream so real that when you woke up you had to look in the mirror and touch your face to make sure you were awake? I had a dream like that once upon time. Many years ago I used to feel like I was destined to be someone important. I was going to be a famous author, a big shot lawyer or President. I was going to be somebody and everyone was going to know my name. I was going to have my name in flashing lights. I was going to showcase my talents to the world! But then, the alarm clock rang and with one eye open I realized that the flashing lights were just dream.

Slowly, sitting on the edge of my bed staring in the mirror, I began to wonder how I let myself get so far off the path, the trajectory of my life. I sat listening to my husband snore and the kitten meowing loudly for his breakfast, and thought “what happened to me; who is this girl I see in the mirror?” After contemplating whether or not aliens snatched my body and I was just a programmed clone to do their bidding, I snapped back to reality and went on my morning routine stumbling across the room, tripping on the husband’s shoes (he swears he never leaves in the middle of the walkway). Cursing under my breath while racing the kitten to his food dish (at least he thinks we are racing to the food dish, I am racing to the coffee pot and happen to drop food in his dish so he will stop meowing) I wake my daughter up and tell her to get her dog outside and feed her. I hit the shower and finally wake up. Once I have had my shower and coffee, I proceed to make breakfast and then run out the door to work. This was my life. Isn’t life supposed to be fun? What happened to fun? My life sure felt like work.

Work, now there is a concept to think about. When I was younger I thought working was awesome. It was MONEY! What is better than MONEY? Once I moved out on my own, MONEY was taken by BILLS and work was no longer cool. Over the years I haven’t minded my jobs, but I felt like a brain dead clone. I became a lifeless robot stuck on repeat. Maybe at this point, I was wishing for an alien abduction just to have a funny story to tell at dinner. But reality sunk in and I realized I wanted more out of life.

One day searching on the internet, I saw some ads for online schools. I thought about requesting information just for the fun of it. One of my dreams did involve having a degree. So I got a little excited and went to request information, but guess what they asked for, “What career field are you interested in?” I looked at the screen like a lost puppy. I honestly had no idea what I really wanted to do with my life. It was like a wakeup call, something to think about.

I contacted Argosy admissions office and spoke to one of their admissions representatives. I felt kind of bad because I think I overwhelmed her with questions. She bent over backwards to help me make up my mind to enroll. She spent hours talking to me and I finally decided to enroll in the Psychology program because I was extremely interested in Psychology.

I started working on my general education credits and had a few psychology classes, and started doubting my interest in the psychology major. It was not a lack of interest in the program that made me change my mind, it was the in depth program that helped me realize who I am. I was amazed at how the classes brought about self-reflection. The discussion topics and reflection papers helped me define myself to myself. Right before the end of my freshman year I received a change in my academic and student finance counselors. I took this opportunity to get to know my new academic counselor and just started asking questions.

My academic counselor is the most amazing person. She is always there for me. She always listens to me, questions me about what I want out of life and what my true interests are. She has reassured me that I have not been abducted by aliens and this is NOT a dream. She helps me constantly on my journey of self-discovery and I am blessed to say that with her help I am now a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice with a concentration on Forensic Psychology. It is with her guidance and the programs that Argosy has put together for their online students that have made me learn to smile again.

Today I woke up and looked in the mirror. I still tripped over my husband’s shoes and raced the kitten down the hall, but I was smiling while I did it. I have not felt so alive and in control of my life in a long time. I am proud to be an Argosy University Online Programs student. With their help, all my dreams are starting to feel possible.

Are you an Argosy University Online Programs student interested in writing for this blog? Check the Welcome Center in the Campus Common to find out how!

By Guest Blogger

Billie Jo Lister
BA Psychology Student at Argosy University Online Programs

The alarm clock on my cell rings, and I reluctantly rouse from my slumber. I have much to do today. I sit up and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror over the dresser. Holy cow! My curls are sticking out in every direction, giving their own personal salute to Pippi Longstocking. I groan and roll myself out of bed.

As I am preparing for the shower that will make me feel alive, the phone rings. I trip over the blanket trying to reach the phone and I bang my knee badly. My friend is calling to find out if I have time to run an errand for her. “Sure,” I say, “I have no life (eyes rolling).” She misses the sarcasm completely. I jump in the shower and mentally add her errand to my ever increasing to-do list. I jump out and grab the laundry. I start a load and grab an apple. I hit the door at a run so I won’t be late for my doctor’s appointment.

I pay bills online as I wait in his office. After the very frustrating wait, I leave with a new headache and another bill. I stop by the post office and then Staples to get more copy paper and ink. I run the errand for my friend and go shopping. I accidentally leave the store discount card in the car, so I broadcast my plight and borrow the lady’s card two aisles down from me. Thankfully, I am not easily embarrassed because as I am drawing all this attention to myself, and I realize I have left the house in bedroom slippers, over-sized, fuzzy-headed, lion slippers.

I come home and throw the clothes in the dryer. I replace the burnt out light bulb in the hall, the ink cartridges in the printer, and stick the beef stew I just bought in the crock pot. I sit down and boot up the old computer. I laugh as the pictures of my grandchild picking his nose dance across the screen. I log into my class and check out the new posts and the weekly assignments. I copy and paste them, as well as the lectures onto a desk top Word document for easier access as I work on them. I close out the program for now because I have lots to do. I fix a sandwich and vacuum the floor. I turn on the radio for some motivation. I know that I have to finish quickly. Somehow, dancing like a crazed lunatic makes the work go faster. I should conduct a correlation study to prove this.

Anyway, today I must finish the last chapter of my book so I can submit it by my deadline. I clean the bathroom, consider making the bed (I never really do this, but it is always a good thought), and fold the laundry. I answer the door and here is the grandbaby. Can I babysit? Sure, why not, I have nothing to do, right? Now I am engaged in a hearty game of car crashing fun my grandson calls destruction. We build Lego buildings and crash our cars into them. I take him for a walk and we collect leaves. We glue them on paper as we wait for his mother to return.

When he leaves, I grab my keys and run to the car. I have to meet the kid I tutor, then the one I mentor. I have these back to back. As I get to the school, I realize I still have on those ridiculous lion head slippers. Oh well, it is only elementary students, surely they will appreciate the humor of the absent-minded adult. Next, I run home and prepare supper. The kids come over and I feed them, wash the dishes, and then kick them out. Tough love can be so gratifying. I hurry down the road to give my 1 hour talk to the residents of the housing project. It is yet another volunteer thing I do, but it is a worthwhile project.

I come home and write the last chapter of my book. I hit submit and sigh. I click on the desktop document and figure out what topic to research for class. I open up EBSCOHOST and start my search for academic journals. I fall asleep in the middle of the third article, I can’t lie. I wake up after the crick in my neck starts (probably within 30 to 45 minutes). I stand and stretch. I give my computer some rude gestures and stick my tongue out. I get a cup of coffee and do a few jumping jacks to make my sleeping limbs wake up. I log back in and read the weekly reading in my textbook. I have a pretty good grasp of the information. Tomorrow I will write the discussion assignment. I will have a less busy day, so I can finish the assignment as well as the reading.

I am feeling pretty successful and accomplished. The phone rings and it is my sister-in-law. She wants to know if I would come over and help her do some deep cleaning. Her comments make me laugh; she says “You’re the only one who doesn’t have real work to do. Since you have so much free time now that you go to school online, I knew you’d be willing to help.” “Sure,” I chuckle “I have nothing better to do.” I wonder if anyone besides another online student understands the workload and responsibilities. I just shake my head and decide to give her two or three hours of my day tomorrow. I lie down and take some deep breaths to relax. I use techniques I learned in last semester’s class to help me relieve stress and sleep better. I visualize my life after school and smile as a feeling of true success and pride wash over me. I am really doing it; I am making my dreams come true.

Are you an Argosy University Online Programs student interested in writing for this blog? Check the Welcome Center in the Campus Common to find out how!

By Guest Blogger
Patty A. Mason
Student at Argosy University – Online Programs

Have you ever had that empty pit in your stomach? You know the one that makes your head spin and nerves come alive. After being out of school for 28 years I was excited, nervous, anxious, and in need of a pint of chocolate chocolate chip ice cream before my first day of class began. I had always wanted to earn a degree in psychology, but as most of us know, life happens. I grew up with parents that were from an era where a woman’s ambition should be to be a secretary. So that’s what I became.

After two failed marriages and while still raising a ten-year-old daughter, I decided I wanted to do something for myself. I didn’t want to be stuck in a job that I hated and I realized that it is never too late to learn. I needed a program where I could still work full time to support myself and my daughter. I didn’t want to be away from my daughter, so I needed a program that was flexible and convenient. I wanted a program and a university with a good reputation. I researched, and Argosy University – Online Programs kept coming up as one of the best online universities for psychology.

My admissions representative, academic counselor and student finance counselor made everything so easy. They kept me informed and walked me through everything. They made me feel welcomed and showed that they really cared. My first class was fantastic. The instructor was knowledgeable and encouraging. The discussions within the class gave me a chance to meet new people and learn from others. I soon fell into a learning routine that I enjoyed and found very rewarding.

The time goes quickly, and I find that I’m in my second year of attending Argosy. I still find the classes a wonderful learning experience. There is more to Argosy than just attending classes. Even though you are an online student you feel part of the Argosy family. There are online organizations and clubs you can join. Your counselors are always available and willing to help you.

I’m online taking classes and earning a degree. I’m on track with my education and my goals. I’m moving onward with the help of Argosy University and will finally have a job in a field I enjoy after I have earned my degree. Online, On Track and Onward thanks to Argosy University-Online Programs.