I have been disabled for a long time now and have been trying to make my life a little better by going back to school. Two months ago my primary care doctor sent me to a pain management doctor so he could help me control the pain a little bit better. Instead he started talking surgery and shots in my neck and back.  I didn't want either one and he got upset with me so i went back to my PC doctor and talked to him and we decided that a weight loss surgery would be better in the long run. I had my first meeting last night and learned a lot about what is offered and got my paper work to get started. I am praying it all goes smoothly and by next year it will be done and I will be losing the weight. this is a pic of me and my best friend.. i felt sick when I seen how big I look in it. Something has to be done I am sick of this.

New GPA

I have goose bumps! My GPA in Hobe Sound was 2.08 at the highest! My GPA at Ohio Christin University so far is a 3.30. I am doing so much better! I am proud of the changes in my life and what God is doing for me. WOOHOO

The Epidemic of Child Abuse

This I Believe

Brenda Fite

Ohio Christian University

            I believe child abuse passes from victim to victim. Many have agreed and many have not on this subject. One thing that is known is that many times the person or persons doing the abusing was also abused when he or she was young and may still be living with abuse. We know that people normally do what he or she has taught as they are growing up. Does this mean that he or she cannot change their way of thinking? No it does not. It does however make it very hard to change and many times people don’t have a clue how to even start the process of change.

            A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds and more that 5 children die every day from some form of abuse. The number of deaths due to abuse in children has risen from 3.13 in 1989 to 5+ in 2010 when the research was written ( childhelp.org). Many of these children are very well known to the legal systems in their counties and towns. A lot of these children have been ignored by the legal system or replaced with the person or persons that did the abusing with the abuse being repeated and in many cases the child being murdered.

            How can we as a nation stop this terrible epidemic from taking over our land and destroying us? We as a people in whole must stand up and fight to pass laws to protect our children. These children are the future of America and we need to find a way to get help for the ones that are abused to help them heal and mend and be healthy productive members of society. We also need to have harsher penalties for the ones doing the abuse. If there are harsher penalties then maybe people with think twice about harming a child. If we as a whole could stop the cycle of child abuse then we could stop the senseless death of many of our children and the scares left in the minds, heart, and souls of the child abuse survivors. Stop the abuse to one child and help that child heal and you have stopped the abuse of their children, and their children’s children, and the list goes on. The countless children that will be saved just by saving one child are endless.

first day of third class for this year

I am not sure how this class is going to go. I left two messages yesterday and today with the instructor of this class but have gotten no response. How do you get help if they wont answer you? feeling a little stressed out right now and I hate being stressed!

college at 40

Going back to college has been not only rewarding but also very frustrating for me. I know I am not the best student in the class and some times I am so over whelmed that I want to stop. Thankfully I have a praying mother and friends that I can email my work to and let them read it and give me feed back. I also have had a wonderful Professor that has bent over back words to help me get my papers right. Going back to college is not easy at all. It is very hard but it is also very rewording. I can be proud of the hard work that pays off when I see a good grade or get a good report from the teacher. I also found that I am not the only one that feels this way. here is what one person wrote,"Do you think 40 years old is to old to go back to college to get your degree? I enrolled in online college last year to get my degree as a Certified Public Accountant so I can get a better job. As time has passed, I have found that a degree is so important for better income and benefits but sometimes wonder if this is the right decision. It used to be that you could get a good paying job with a High School Diploma but now I am noticing to advance I need a degree. I am a determined person and work hard to do my best but am wondering if I waited to long to go back to college. Between work, college, kids and everything else I just sometimes feel so overwhelmed. I'm not being a baby, just want an opinion on this.

I encourage anybody who is young to get your degree early. Before you start a family and your brain is fresh out of school for classes like College Math.... Your degree is so important for a better paying job with benefits. I am stressing this also to my children who are watching me go through all of it now at 40. Good Luck to all of you"(college.net)

It is hard to go back to college after 20 years of living life and not really thinking much about school. Things change and you have to learn how to catch up. No mater what age you are, if you decide to go back to college it is not only going to be hard work but the rewords are so worth every efort you have made. Good luck all my fellow class mates and God be with you.
Brenda

getting started

Going back to school later in life can be a great experience. The older people get, the more likely they are to have reached a decision about exactly what they want to do in life. When and where to go to school and juggling schoolwork with work and family responsibilities are some things to consider when you're thinking of going back to school.
Although it can sometimes be a little daunting to be nearly twice as old as the majority of students on college campuses, older students are more common these days than they once were. College was once thought of as only something for young adults, but that has changed as an appreciation of lifelong learning has become more of a part of our culture. If you still find yourself worried about your age difference, speak to advisors at your school or think of ways to meet other older students, such as starting a special study group.
You may also want to consider distance education. Many top universities have programs that allow students to take classes online, and if you can find a program in your field, it may be an excellent alternative to attending in person. Some distance education programs may require you to complete the exams in person, but usually only once per course. Taking these classes also saves on transportation costs and is more environmentally friendly.
 Before taking any classes get a sense of what you want to do. Going back to school late in life provides a special opportunity to reflect and pay attention to what you’ve learned about yourself so far. Do you want a career change? Do you want to improve on the career you already have?