Next Semester

I feel like such a bum dropping my gerontology minor.  I already dropped my psych minor.  But hey, the point of the gerontology minor was because I wanted to work specifically with the older adult population.  I'm not so sure I want to do that anymore AND even if I did, I don't need the minor to do that, I've already taken all but one of the classes for the minor.  I still need to an internship which I won't have the time to complete before April graduation.  I could extend graduation to August but if Brenden will be graduating in April then I'd prefer to be done as well so we can move wherever we'll be moving to, get settled, find jobs, etc.  Eep.  That's an interesting idea.

Also, by dropping my gerontology minor I will be able to work on more research next semester- an option I am very interested in.  This research will be with one of the professors I TA for right now.  I will also be taking one of his courses next semester.  Plus, I'll still be working as his TA.  I will really get to know Dr. Dyer.  All I'll need to do is meet his family and maybe babysit his kids and we've got all bases covered.

Next semester shouldn't be too difficult.  *crosses fingers*  I saved a few of my GEs for the very end and I don't anticipate them being too bad.  I won't even be working as many hours (which is actually really unfortunate since I'll probably really need the money).

Here's my tentative schedule with commentary:

EXSC 136: Beginning Gymnastics  (0.5)
In third grade, I wrote a paper on how I was going to be on the USA Olympic Gymnastics team by the time I was 15.  I didn't realize that was ridiculous.  I thought 15 was SO OLD and I'd have enough time to learn everything.  Also, I didn't realize I sucked at gymnastics.  Obviously that dream never came true.  However, I figure I owe it to myself to learn how to do that back handspring that has been so elusive to me for so many years.  Plus, the balance beam is one of my most favorite things ever.  I'm a little wary of the vault (running full speed at stationary objects is something I've avoided doing most of my life) but think it will be really cool if I could do anything on it.  And the uneven bars, oh uneven bars- just let me not fall off and die and we'll be good friends.

ENGL 315: Writing in the Social Sciences (3.0)
I can't put this class off any longer.  I'm sure it's going to be one of those classes where I'm like, "This would've been so helpful had I taken it sooner."  Will I regret not having taken it sooner?  Probably not.  Since high school, I've doubted in my abilities to write well (THANK YOU MR. CROCKER) and though this doubt hasn't been reinforced in college I still do not look forward to having to take a writing class.  Yes, yes, good writing is necessary for success in college, graduate school, life, eternity, whatever.  This knowledge doesn't make me any more excited to take this class.

HUM 202: Western Humanities 2 (3.0)
I've avoided this class for many of the same reasons I avoided ENGL 315- I figured it would be much like an English class where I would need to write and then have my writing abilities graded.  I'm currently taking HUM 201 from the same professor I'll be taking this from next semester and I've found I really enjoy the subject matter.  I am glad I'm taking it now rather than earlier though because it's one of those classes I don't really need to stress about.  Easy peasy. 

RELA 212: New Testament (2.0)
I needed more credit hours.  I figured a good way to fulfill this requirement would be through studying the scriptures.  Hey, I'll be doing it anyway, right?  Also, I miss taking BYU religion classes.  I haven't taken any since last fall.  Some people complain about them but I really, really enjoy them.  (I think it's dumb when people complain about religion classes being too difficult, not because they aren't difficult but because people assume they should be easy.  Come on people- you're studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I think you can afford to put some effort into it.)

ANTHR 108R: Anthro Films (1.0)
Originally I added this class because I needed more credit hours.  Since I've added the research class, I don't actually need this credit hour.  However, I'm still planning on taking the class because it sounds like it will be very interesting.  It's just once a week and all we do is watch ethnographic films to study different cultures and ethnographic filmmaking.  I'm really curious as to what the coursework actually entails.    

SFL 460: Advanced Family Processes (3.0)
I will be taking this class with Dr. Dyer.  I took the introductory family processes course last summer (2009) from a graduate student and feel like I missed a lot by doing that.  Right now, I'm a TA for the introductory course and I've really enjoyed going to the classes and studying the material (in order to present it to students).  While I hate grading, it's reinforced my knowledge of the material.  Hopefully, I'll do okay in this class.  I was going to take it this semester but dropped it the second week of classes because it looked like way more work than I wanted to put into it this semester.

SFL 403R: Research/Creative Works Practicum (3.0)
This class is for the research I'll be doing with Dr. Dyer next semester.  We'll be studying incarcerated fathers and their family relationships.  I didn't realize how interesting this subject matter was to me until recently while working on a research paper for another class about African-American mother-headed households.  Did you know that 10% of African-American children have at least one incarcerated parent, usually the father?  Anyway, I'm excited for this.  A lot.

Well, I've reached the end of my blog post.  I can no longer procrastinate my homework for the evening.  Especially if I want enough time to make pancakes.  Oh man, I want some pancakes.  Go go motivation!