School is kicking my ass. It's my last semester -- it's not supposed to be easy.

When I registered for classes last March, I thought two long days (Tuesday/Thursday) and a one-hour business lab on Wednesday would give me ample study time, even with a full time job. What I didn't realize is that most of my classes are capstone courses, meaning very little new knowledge is acquired. A large majority of the work is quantifying numbers and developing promotional plans.

Case-in-point: I've been attending classes over two months and have taken one test, and that particular test was the only exam in the course.

I'm certainly not complaining, especially when I'm so close to the end, and luckily I am much more comfortable with numbers than I was six weeks ago.

December 16th -- I need to keep that date in mind. After that, all the work will be worth it.

Labels: Lamar University

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

There's a decision to be made in my house that I didn't expect to cause an uproar.

It has.

December 16th is commencement, and from that day forward, the degree will be mine. I, however, seem to have a chosen a different path than those close to me.

I have absolutely no desire to walk at graduation. Being completely honest, I see no reason why I need to attend, at all. Rebecca, on the other hand, feels differently.

When I originally told her my feelings, she argued, calling me selfish and inconsiderate. She said that for all the hard work, I should walk across the stage. My parents agreed with Rebecca, but mentioned they would support whatever decision I made. My grandmother, on the other hand, is the only reason I'm reconsidering.

Personally, I don't need to sit in the Montagne Center at 9:30 AM and listen to an executive of a major corporation tell me, in general terms, what's ahead of me in life, or how to unlock my potential. This isn't high school; I haven't been with my fellow graduates for most of my life. As a matter of fact, I've been a Business major for two years; I barely know these people!

The downside (and what actually makes me feel selfish) is that my cousin is graduating with me. On that particular side of the family, he and I will be the first to graduate college, and it happens on the same day. My family will be there anyway, and my grandmother smiles with pride.

Maybe I could talk my cousin out of walking? Not a chance -- his parents have threatened his life. He's walking across the stage.

I don't need to hear my name called in front of 6,000 people to know I've earned my diploma. There's no need for my family to be up early on a Saturday morning to sit through an hour of bullshit hurrah and mindless ceremony. That's not saying it's not worthwhile for some people, because some enjoy the pomp and circumstance, but not me. Let's go to dinner instead, or have family and friends meet to celebrate.

I don't need the ego boost.

Labels: Family, Lamar University, Rebecca

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today was my last first day of class.

Exciting, nerve-racking, intimidating -- a little bit of everything.  Why is it that change brings so much discontent to a person's life?

It's probably a dumb question.  Personally, I'm preparing for a wedding, graduation, and a move 1200 miles away from the only home I've known for most of my life.  I'd say I've got good reason to be concerned.

It's fairly safe to say that other people have similar worries in regard to major changes in their lifestyles.  To think -- or even act -- like I'm the only person who's ever had to go through this type of change, would be quite arrogant.

Luckily for me, though, I've got a wonderful fiancé to go through this with.  It can't be any easier for her, but more importantly, this will be her third major relocation in three years (from Cheyenne to Orlando, to Texas, and now to Denver).  Just when she gets settled, she picks up to leave.

Maybe nervous isn't the right emotion.  'Anxious' might be a bit more fitting.  Being the first day of classes, the professors explained what we should expect for the coming semester, which includes many group projects, and lots of research. 

Honestly, I look forward to it.  I'm a nerd, I know, but like any other college senior nearing graduation, I can't wait to get into the real world.  I'm ready to sit at my desk, compile market research, and chose the best avenue for my company to take. 

But will there be a job waiting for me when I get there?  Will Denver offer more possibilities than Texas? 

I guess there's only one way to find out, and that's to try.  I've made a deal with myself not to be like the people who live in southeast Texas and despise every second of it. 

Rebecca and I have found an opportunity, and we've got to take advantage.  It does, however, make me understand why people are so scared to make such a distant move.  It can wear on you.

But we've got to do it.  We can't be weak

Labels: Denver, Lamar University

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today, Summer II starts.  Actually, it started last Friday (four days ago), but since I've been in South Dakota, today is my first day. 

I'm taking two classes, and in each one, I've got a PC in front of me.  Nice.  If the professor is dull, I've got an escape. 

Speaking of an escape, I'm not a fan of reality television -- except for one show:  Rock Star.

Last year, VH1 hosted Rock Star: INXS where the band searched for a new lead singer.  Basically, it was the rock version of American Idol, without all the stupid celebrities. 

This year, the band is Supernova.  It's Tommy Lee from Motley Crue, Jason Newsted from Metallica, and Gilby Clarke from Guns 'N Roses forming a supergroup and looking for a lead singer.

It's moved to CBS.  I'm excited.

Labels: Lamar University, Rock Star, Television, VH1

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments

Two random thoughts:

• As long as Barry Bonds is in the lineup in Colorado against the Rockies, he'll get his first home run of the season at Coors Field.
  
  
• I just realized I've been walking around all day with my zipper open. I had three classes today, and a trip to the bookstore.
  
  

Somedays you're the squirrel...

Labels: Barry Bonds, Colorado Rockies, Coors Field, Lamar University, Sports

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

Ah, another semester of classes.  Here we go again. 

And by again, I mean I'm sitting in my e-Marketing class, listening to my middle eastern friend attemp to teach me business in his broken English.  My attention is floating.

Does anyone else feel like they're never going to graduate?  I've been in school a long time, and finally feel like I'm getting closer to accomplishing something. 

If I stick to my track, I'll be able to graduate in December -- that's less than a year away.  There's no better feeling than seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Don't make the mistakes I did (notice mistakes was plural).  If I could do it all over again, I'd make a plan, stick to it, and take summer classes and mini sessions.  Mini's are the greatest invention in college.  Think about it: nine days of classes and 'poof', you're done!  An easy three hours!

Some random thoughts:

Rebecca and I went to the new dining hall yesterday for lunch.  I have to say, Lamar made a slam dunk on that bad boy!  It's new, spacious, and state-of-the-art.  Also, it's cheap!  It was under $10 for the two of us to have lunch, and it was all we could eat!  Pizza, burgers, Asian (I believe Chinese), desserts, breakfast, and more!  I'm thoroughly impressed!

Do students that drag suitcases around bother anyone else?  For some damn reason, it pisses me off!  Not really in a mad way, it just seems lazy.  It's always the older fat women.  Apparently, they realize they're fat and lazy, and have given up on doing anything about it.

After another couple of weeks, parking will get back to normal.  It's always packed to start the semester, but as soon as kids start ditching class, it'll lighten up.

Speaking of parking, my bike easily fits around the barricades that block restricted parking lots, and since Lamar doesn't require parking tags for motorcycles, I'll be parking in the faculty parking lot, ten feet from the Business building, all semester.  Jealous?

So good luck to everyone!  If you're going to play hard, you gotta work hard!  I'm so close to graduating, and excited as hell about it, so I won't be going out as much, but I've got other priorities.

Labels: Lamar University

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, this is the second class day for e-Marketing.  Doesn't seem like it's going to be a bad class, simply easily distracting.  There's about 20 kids in the class, each of which seem to be doing something different on their computer terminal while Dr. Bandy lectures. 

No one is paying attention.

Looking around, I see several MySpace terminals, shopping on American Eagle, AIM, Facebook, ESPN.com, and several forum sites. 

Plus, it's warm in here. 

And the scroll bar on my mouse doesn't work.

I think I'm going to enjoy this class, but with open note/open book tests, I don't expect I'll learn a too much. 

I've been wrong before. 

Labels: Lamar University

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

When is it okay to ask too many questions, or ask the same person for help over and over again? Recently, I've began to consider if I'm a pain in the ass, or if it's someone's job.

Dr. Babin, bless his heart, has been wonderful. He's the Chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where I was once a major, but am now a minor. This is where it all began.

It seemed like I was going to him for everything. Within the last several weeks, he's helped me with a substitution in my curriculum, a letter for the substitution, he's signed off on my change of major to Marketing, and then back to him to sign off on the change of major to Marketing with a minor in Music. He's asked me in to discuss a class he's giving over the summer, and now, in order to take that class, my new advisor is asking for a letter in writing to take this class, because I'm taking 9 credit hours instead of the allowed 8. I can't go back to him and ask for a letter! He's done enough... especially since I don't HAVE to take one of the classes... but if I don't, it screws up EVERYTHING!! I have a couple prerequisits that I planned on taking over the summer, but if not, my entire schedule until graduation has to change.

For someone as organized as I am, that's a catastrophe!

And then there's the dentist.

My wisdom tooth removal was a cakewalk. Nothing to it. I was fine when I got home... as a matter of fact, I drove myself home. Other than a fat lip, no problems. But because of my heart condition (mitrovalve prolapse), we played 20 questions before, after, and even during the operation. "When do I take my medicine?" "How long will I need to rest?" "Can I go back to work soon?" ... yadi yadi yada. And to top it off, the gas they give you to relax, also gives you the same effect as if you were drunk. Anyone that knows me when I get drunk, I get loud and start making jokes (and not even funny ones!). It's not easy trying to be funny when you've got a set of pliers in your mouth yanking on a tooth. For some reason, that didn't stop me. Let's put it this way: after he loosened the tooth enough to remove it, I began cheering while he was pulling.

So, over the past few days, I've felt like a true pain in the ass. Let's hope Dr. Babin doesn't feel that way. As for the dentist, I can easily find someone else to see if I'm too worried about someone seeing my face in that office again. Too bad, cause I really feel comfortable with him sticking a drill in my mouth.

Labels: Lamar University

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments