My Education, Past & Present

I know there have been a few people interested in finding out more about me. The following is my educational journey since high school.

I originally had intentions of going to college out in New Hampshire. I had been accepted to Hesser College, in Manchester, for computer science. I never went through with it. I don’t really remember why. It doesn’t really matter any more.

In late 1991, I finally decided to go to our local college, Adirondack Community College. I wanted to go for Computer Science, which is two years + two more somewhere’s else, but we were on public assistance then. They didn’t want me to go for that degree. Their rationalization was that I’d be better off getting my degree in Data Processing, which is a two year degree. So, I listened to them. My first mistake. In the Spring 1992 semester, I attempted 14 credit hours. I don’t really remember why, but somehow I bombed out. The only class that I got credit for was my Freshman Seminar, only 1 credit. The next semester that I attempted was Spring 1993. I signed up for 5 classes for a total of 16 credit hours. I didn’t even receive any credits that time.

By then, I was a little tired of Data Processing. I decided to try my hand at Travel & Tourism. Change of major time. Don’t you just love it? I decided on that degree because, at the time, I was involved with local tourism. I figured, why not. Surprise, another mistake. I signed up for 5 classes for a total of 11 credit hours. The only thing I got out of that semester was 3 credits. I managed to get a B in Conversational French I.

I decided to take a break after that. I ended getting a decent job that September. I worked there until June 1998, when I changed jobs. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time. The stress of the new job was too much. I ended up with stomach problems because of that. By May of 1999, I knew that I had to leave, I just didn’t know how. I registered for Fall 1999 classes. In July 1999, they let me go. I overdid their excused absences policy. You were only allowed 3 excused absences a year. They fought me on unemployment. They lost. It was their medical clinic that diagnosed my stomach problems.

The Fall 1999 semester was an awesome semester. I was finally going for my Computer Science degree. I registered for 5 classes for a total of 13 credit hours.  I ended up with 3 As, 1 A- and 1 B. It was great. I even ended up on the Dean’s List. What a major boost to my self-esteem. The next semester, Spring 2000, I decided to take Electronic Publishing for a class. I have always had an interest in it. I still do, in a way. A month and a half into the semester, I was able to help the teacher with the class. I had never touched the program before. I ended up finishing 4 out of 5 classes, with and A in the publishing class and an A in Math. I made another course adjustment in the middle of the semester. I changed my major to Communication & Media Arts, specifically to do graphic design. Unfortunately, it also appeared that I was loosing some momentum.

In the Fall of 2000, I took another 5 classes: design, photography, drawing, mass com. and Small Business Management. I ended up with 1 A, 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 D+ and 1 D. Ouch! That didn’t turn out so well. Spring 2001, I ended up finishing 3 out of 4 classes. The Fall 2001 semester, I ended up getting an A, a C+ and an F. I needed a break. Things were getting just a little crazy.

Fast forward to Fall 2007. I’ve finally decided to go towards something I’ve always dreamed that I’d do. I want to be a Wildlife Biologist. I always have. I’ve always been interested in watching wildlife and learning what I can about them. Now I’m working on getting my Associates in Liberal Arts -  Math & Science. When that is done (I currently have 61 credits), then my plan is to go to the SUNY-ESF college in Syracuse and get my Bachelors degree in Wildlife Science. That’s the plan, anyway. First I have to finish my associates. That’s going to be hard enough. Right now, I’m in my 11th semester at Adirondack Community College. My last 2 semesters didn’t turn out so well. Out of the 2 semesters, I passed only 1 out of 6 classes. That’s only because I was holding an A average in Biology before that semester went down hill. That was the Fall 2007 semester. Spring 2008 was a complete mess. With all the teenage drama going on at home, bill collectors calling all day on my cell phone, getting behind with school work, and dealing with stress at my job, everything exploded. At the end of March 2008, I had a nervous breakdown. It wasn’t fun. I ended up losing my job because of the breakdown and the owner not wanting to deal with me and my ADHD anymore. “We don’t have any hours for you.” Bull sh**! What a way to treat someone who just had a breakdown just days earlier. No worries now. All for the better. The job I have now, they treat me with a lot of respect. It’s the way everyone should be treated. Onward and upward.

Currently, I’m taking US History and (WARNING: scary word ahead) Calculus. This is my last chance. If I mess up this time, I won’t be able to get anymore financial aid. Then I won’t be able to finish my degree. It’s now or never again!! With Calculus, it’s so far, so good. I just had my first test this morning. I felt pretty confident about the test when I left the class this morning. I’ll find out Monday how well I did. Now I just need to get caught up on my reading for my History class. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

Too Many Distractions!

Since I’ve been back to college, I’ve realized that I have too many distractions going on at once. Almost any time that I sit in front of the computer, I end up finding something else to do other than what I’m suppose to do. Yesterday is a good example. I got home around 5 PM from my day of going to class in the morning and going to work after that. I sat down at my desk to start on my Calculus homework and noticed that my desk was a mess. My desk is usually messy, that is why it happens to be one of those permanent items on my to do list. Anyway, I decided to straighten it up a little, just enough to give me room. My desk did get straightened up, the problem is that I didn’t stop at just a little! I ended up cleaning up the floor in the corner near my desk, reorganizing my book shelf where I keep my school books and paper, and reorganizing the workspace at my desk. By the time that I was done, it was late and I didn’t get to even touch my Calculus.

As for the computer itself, It’s probably one of the worst and best things for someone with ADD. With all the tools available today, it helps us to stay organized at home and on the go. Unfortunately, some of those same tools can make things difficult to get things done. And then there’s the little games that you can play on your computer and online. Sometimes the little games can distract you from your work for hours. Solitaire, Minesweeper, Hearts, they can be the bane of ADDers everywhere. Then there’s the dreaded instant messaging and social sites. And it only gets worse the more friends you get. They do serve a purpose though. It does allow you to keep in touch with people that you normally wouldn’t otherwise. And if you get in with a particular group on a social site, you may realize just how supportive like-minded people can be. If you want a good example, check out the ADDer World — Anything and Everything ADHD site if you haven’t already. The experience has been amazing. I really feel privileged to be a member of that site.

Some of the other distractions aren’t as easy as turning off the computer to deal with. As I think I’ve said before, we live with my wife’s grandmother. The arrangement isn’t totally bad. We don’t have to pay for utilities, rent, or taxes. One of the problems with living here, though, is we do most of our living in our bedroom. Both computers, my nature, computer, and photography books, my scanners and printers, our clothes, our entertainment system and, oh yes, our queen size bed are all in the bedroom. It’s not as bad as it sounds, but it’s bad enough. Earlier today, I was working on my homework at my desk, listening to an Internet radio station, my wife was watching a DVD. It was OK, she had headphones on. Then my son decided to come in to our room and go on the other computer. It would have been OK, but he wanted to look for videos on YouTube, with the volume up a little too much. I had to put on headphones myself. Later on, he was downstairs playing a video game. Ah, peace and quiet. Yea, right. He got upset with something involving his game and he decided to slam the door at the bottom of the stairs and stomp up the stairs into our room. I still had the headphones on and not only could I hear it, but I felt it, too. Then he decided to yell at the cat on our bed.

I’m beginning to think that I might be better off going to the college, without my laptop, and find a nice quiet corner in the library to do my work. Unfortunately, knowing my luck, I’ll run into someone I know and end up talking to them for a while.

Oh well. Now what was I trying to do again? 

ADHD and Achievements

It’s so interesting trying to get things accomplished when life gets in your way. I’m beginning to think that I collect unfinished tasks like others collect useless knick knacks. I don’t know. Maybe that isn’t the right analogy. When you have your own agenda and you set your own goals, not everyone in the household is going to be there to help you achieve what you need to. Their priorities don’t exactly mesh with your own. Sometimes, it feels like a battle to achieve anything. It’s amazing that I haven’t given up entirely on my goals. When you have ADHD, it’s difficult enough as it is, not to come up with excuses to procrastinate. When you have your own family telling you to put things off, it’s even worse. I’ve been trying to take tai chi at our local YMCA for 6 months now. I have yet to take a single class. My wife always seems to come up with an excuse why I can’t take it. It’s always next time. I would take it at the local tai chi center, but it costs a lot more. With my hours being what they are right now, there’s no way.

This week, I’ll make another attempt at one of my unfinished tasks. I go back to college. I’m only taking 2 classes this time. My last attempt ended with a nervous breakdown and a lost job. The stress of everything going on at once AND my doctor’s idea of putting me on Cymbalta kind of worked together to make things blow up in my face. Right now, I’m kind of scared. I’m going to be 40 this year. Am I going to be able to finish and get my Associates degree? Am I going to be able to get my Bachelors degree? Is my family going to support my choices? Are they going to fight me every step of the way? I guess only time will tell.

Personal Boundaries

Everybody has their own comfort zones. Not everyone agrees on the distance, but that’s OK. Most people’s comfort zones require at least a foot or more for a radius. Then there are people who have no concept of personal space. Unfortunately, my son is one of those people. He feels as if he needs to be within inches of people. We have to constantly remind him. Sometimes he even gets upset with us over it! It’s amazing that he has lived to see the age of 16!

What’s even worse about it is that he won’t give our cat her personal space either. We tell him to leave her alone and get out of her face. Does he listen? NO! He ends up getting scratched. He ends up complaining about it, then my wife’s grandmother complains about him pestering the cat, and threatens to get rid of the cat. It’s amazing that I have any hair left.

Anyone else have similar issues? Please let me know.

(Also posted on ADDer World)

The Positive Ways to Describe a Wonderful Thing

Well, I know that quite a few of you have been waiting for the positive list, so here it is. I’m going to start it off with some words that some of my readers have already given. The rest is up to you. Remember, the words or phrases don’t have to be something that you have heard. If you have to, come up with something on your own. You can do it! I have faith in you all.

creative

entertaining

multi-tasker

Gadget Review #1

Do you love bubble wrap? I know I do. That’s why I chose Bandai’s Mugen Pop Pop for my first gadget review. It’s suppose to simulate popping bubble wrap. Like bubble wrap, it can be addictive. It’s a simple fidget toy. It has 8 little buttons on the front surface of it, arranged like it is on bubble wrap. Being a Chinese product, it’s dimensions are metric: 4cm x 4cm x 1.5cm. It’s basically keychain size. Small enough to fit in your hand. Unfortunately, it’s not a fidget toy you should use in a quiet setting. You might get some dirty looks at church services if you tried using it, especially since every 100 ‘pops’, it makes 1 of 7 possible sound effects. In the US, there are 4 different colors to choose from: Blueberry, Ice, Lime, and Raspberry. It usually runs for about $6 US and I have found it in Toys ‘R’ Us and Wal-Mart. You can also find it on-line. You wouldn’t want to jump on it like real bubble wrap, but it’s definitely a neat little gadget. On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being best, I would give it a 4, on account of the sound factor. Just like real bubble wrap, the sound can be annoying to others.

Media Surprise, part 2

I’m back!! Now for the second part of this media ‘blitz’. Here is the link to the newspaper article that I mentioned before. The article showed up on the front page of the Arts/Life section of the paper and covers almost two full pages! I will try to update the link as it changes. If you follow the link and can’t find it, the title of the article is ‘Like father, like son.’

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/12/07/ae/today/14170103.txt