I'M GRADUATING THIS APRIL!!!
Why
is this bigger news than usual? Well, let me tell you. I first came to
SUU in Fall of 2011 as a Chemistry major. I soon developed a math minor
and wasn't doing too great in Chemistry. This made me have to make the
decision of what I should really major in. Long story short, I ended up
in Mathematics with an emphasis in Education. So, here I am for the next
three years going along as usual. Then, long story short again, I
didn't have time to study enough for the test I needed to pass in order
to student teach this month. My plan B failed as well so I was a wreck.
Not passing this test meant that I would not be able to graduate in
April, 2016 as planned. I would have to try to take the test again and
pass it before Fall of 2016, when I would then student teach. This
wasn't working for me. I was so close to finishing and I wasn't going to
just sit around doing nothing for a semester. So, I decided to change
my emphasis to Pure Mathematics. This meant that I could fit all
of my remaining classes into one semester and finish! But wait, that's
not the end of the story. The remaining classes I needed were as
follows: Intro to Computer Science, Physics & Physics lab, Numerical
Analysis, Complex Analysis, Actuarial Sciences. Have you ever tried to
take that load on before? I wasn't about to try. So I decided that I
would take everything except Physics & Physics lab this semester and
plan on going as a part time student in the Fall. I was okay with this
decision.
*For
the record, I feel absolutely wonderful about changing my emphasis and
not teaching anymore. I don't feel regret or sadness. I was really
nervous about teaching, and going to the high school every week last
semester gave me anxiety. While I loved being in the classroom once I
showed up, I never felt confident.*
Now,
here I am with two classes left to graduate and I get the idea of
walking in April but technically not graduating until December after I
finish those remaining classes. So I made an appointment with my advisor
to see if this was possible. She is new to SUU so she was messaging
some other advisors to try to answer my questions. It wasn't looking
good. They were all saying that I could walk but technically would not
be put on the program or anything until the following academic year.
Then, my old advisor of four years walks in and says something like,
"let's try all these different things and get you to graduate." We
looked at all of the following things: taking the class in the summer so
it would be this years academic year, changing my catalog year, and
switching around some courses/switching out some courses for similar
ones. We found out that the Physics classes are no longer required in
the new catalogs; so we decided to ask the head of the Math department
if he would waive that class completely or switch it out for another
physical science class that I have already taken. He agreed!!!
Therefore, the only classes I need to graduate now are the current ones
I'm taking! (side note, the head of the Math department also switched
out Complex for another class so I wouldn't have to wait another entire
year to graduate) So, if I pass my classes this semester, I will be
officially, real life, for reals, one hundred percent graduating this
Spring, April of 2016!!!
Southern
Utah University is super awesome and I would in no way be graduating
right now if I was not currently attending this amazing university. The
advisors, professors and staff do everything they can to get you what is
best for you.
Here
is another quick side story: I decided to take another art class
(because I'm a Graphic Design minor) in order to build my portfolio but,
the only class that would fit into my schedule was Special Problems.
The requirement to take this class was that you were in the BFA program.
Since I am only a minor, I never had to apply and be accepted into the
program. So, I emailed the professor and told him I simply wanted more
pieces for my portfolio and asked to be signed into the class. He had
never met me before and had no idea who I was. Other professors were
even willing to give recommendations to him for me! He quickly emailed
me back and said he would sign me in! When I went to his office to get
the paper signed, we talked for a good half hour about future careers
for Graphic Designers and Mathematicians combined. It blew my mind how
easy it was to get into the class and how nice all the professors were
about it.
Yes,
it has taken my five years to graduate and I never thought I actually
would. Do I wish I could have graduated last year? No. Do I feel like a
loser being a fifth year? Sometimes, to be honest. Would I change
anything? Absolutely not. Here is a list of things that have changed my
life every year while being here at SUU that I wouldn't have had at any
other university.
1. Have the best year of college by far and make my first ever life long close friendships with handfuls of individuals.
2. Grow immensely as a person through trials, examples of friends, finding myself and pushing through the hard times. [Growing Up]
3. Join the Presidential Ambassador organization and gain three years worth of friends and family for a lifetime.
4.
Fulfill my life dream of going to Africa and taking pictures of lions +
meet five people that have absolutely made a difference in my life.
5.
Learning to care about myself more and what I need as well as what
makes me feel happy. Discovered that serving others is an important part
of life and makes me feel good. Spontaneously signed up to volunteer in
Costa Rica to make other people feel good. And who knows what is in
store for the next three months!
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