QUESTIONS OF DIVERSITY “
People are an important part of attending school -- a good teacher and helpful classmates can make all the difference.
arships require you to be a full-time student, meaning 12 credit hours for undergraduates (or 9 for graduate stu- dents). I typically take 4 to 7 credit hours (2 or 3 classes), which is manageable with my work schedule, but falls short of this requirement. As all students know, college can be rather expensive, so any- time you can apply for a scholarship it is certainly helpful. When I attended field camp, I took a leave of absence from work and was able to apply for (and fortunately was awarded) a couple of scholarships that helped to offset the cost. I also hope to take advantage of grants and gradu- ate scholarships as often as I can going forward.
Being a part-time student isn’t all bad, however. By taking fewer courses, I can focus on just those one or two classes per semester. I’ve often talked with my classmates who are balancing a full load of courses, labs, and assignments per semester. While my time management is focused on a balance between school and work, I think there may be an advantage to focusing my studies on fewer courses per semester and using that energy to learn only a couple of subjects at once. During midterms and finals I am also glad to have only a couple of exams to study for, rather than trying to review information for several classes at once. Another benefit is that working full-time provides me with a salary, and I am for- tunate to have an employer with tuition assistance that helps to pay tuition and fees each semester.
People are an important part of attend-
ing school -- a good teacher and helpful classmates can make all the difference. One of my undergraduate instructors encouraged me to avoid the frustration of attending school part-time by sharing that it took her several years to earn her master’s degree in the same way. There have been several professors who have taken the time to meet with me outside of their office hours to go over a topic that I had difficulty with; who have been flexible and worked with me to make alternate arrangements for assignments
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Palo Duro Canyon, Canyon, Texas. (Picture taken during road trip to Colorado Springs for AIPG national conference September, 2018.)
or exams if I had a schedule conflict such as a deadline at work; and have helped me to figure out what I’m interested in by being enthusiastic in teaching and shar- ing their passion for geology. Teachers have been motivational, kind, and sup- porting, as well as teaching me important lessons like that it is okay to be humble and ask for help. My fellow students have also been of great help. Hearing about their experiences and challenges, such as advice on attending field camp or taking a difficult course gives important insight. Having good peers to learn from has been an important part of overcom- ing challenges, as well as learning how people approach problems in different ways. My boss and coworkers have also been supportive and flexible. Over the years I’ve had courses in the morning, at midday, in the afternoon and in the evening. My managers have always been flexible in letting me adjust my hours to attend class and still maintain my hours while meeting my work responsibilities. My employer has been supportive of me working on my degree and understand- ing when I’ve had to leave to go to class or go over to campus, and we’ve sup- ported each other during busy times and deadlines.
Being a part-time student has its
share of challenges to overcome, but it has its benefits as well. I’ve become quite good at time management, and planning ahead has allowed me to make sure that I have time to study for tests, meet
work deadlines, and take appropriate courses. I’ve learned to complete assign- ments early, before the day they are due whenever possible. I attend lectures and geology department or student events when I can, though I have learned not to worry about it too much if I can’t make it. Talking to other students, teachers, coworkers and geology professionals to get their perspective has also been help- ful, and resulted in a lot of useful advice or things to consider as I go forward. I often use the weekends as a time to catch up if I get behind during the week, or to try and work ahead if I know I have a busy week coming up. There have also been times where I’ve had to stay up late or decline plans with friends to make sure that I don’t get behind, but knowing that I put in the effort and getting good grades is worth the time.
As I continue my academic journey
and attend graduate school, my love of geology is what continues to drive me. I love looking out of the window on a plane, or taking a road trip and stopping to see somewhere wonderful and interesting. Appreciating what it took to build an extinct volcano, or the layers in a road cut, or a beautiful incised valley, makes nature even more fantastic. The hard work and challenges can be overcome and are all worthwhile. I know it is possible to keep attending school while working full-time, and I am excited to continue my graduate coursework in geology.
Jul.Aug.Sep 2019 • TPG 49
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