I think there's less competition

Lately I've noticed something about my accounting class that seems a little different from last semester. The really smart kids aren't quite as smug. Can't put my finger on it, and maybe its just me and a shift in MY attitude, but I do hear the smart kids haggling more with the prof over a point here and there on a quiz or exam as though they think they're going to need that point when the final tally is made. They're still smart, just not so cocky now. Don't know if they're finding the material more challenging... I'm actually finding it just a sliver easier - maybe due to an adjustment downward in my expectations! Anyway, it's a refreshing change.

By throwing caution to the winds and allowing the department to place me in a random Business Communications class this semester, I ended up in a 3:30 pm class with the "PM Cohort" and learned something that seems so obvious now. I've always been a "morning person" - more energy and/or active brain cells happening before 10:00 am than anytime after. So my assumption was to select the "AM Cohort" preference on my Eller entrance paperwork. Turns out I'm SO MUCH happier to have mornings to STUDY and prepare for an afternoon classtime. Huh! Better late than never, I guess!

My summer classes are in place now. Macroeconomics in the super-condensed Pre-session (so I guess I'll learn a LOT about very LARGE economic theories in a very SHORT time period! Ack!). Then Summer One is my next accounting class - an elective: Intro to Federal Taxation. (Hoping this one will be a bit easier due to my H&R Block experience... hoping!) Then Summer Two is Quantitative Financial Management. I'll be available to analyze your portfolio in August... NOT!

Constant measuring is tedious

My second accounting exam is behind me and coming up next is the Business Communications writing assessment. Won't know until Monday how I did on accounting - she never releases the grades early; we have to suffer in a classroom of our peers as we are handed back our exams and peek nervously at the score hidden on page 8!

In the writing assessment, we are expected to study a business case this weekend and know enough about the basic elements of a local business to write a moderately complex business letter to match a specific issue we won't know until we walk into the classroom. Then we have an hour to analyze and craft our message.

Like Gilda Radner used to say, it's always something! The perpetual nature of learning - testing - learning - testing gets really old about this time of the semester. The end is in sight, but so much more to get through.

There is such a stark contrast between the cloud that hovers while studying for exams - especially the accounting ones - and the sunshine that appears when you leave the classroom after turning in your test. It doesn't really matter how well or poorly you've done on the exam, the sun is always shining at that moment because you have three or four days' rest before picking up the textbook to start the next chapter. And there's a renewal of hope as you determine to really study this time and do so much better on the next exam!