Friday, July 18, 2008

i'm no rocket scientist


It's another Aloha Friday and here's my question for this week. Actually, it's two questions. I can never quite leave it at one.

Did you go to college?
If so, what was your major?

I ask this question today because the whole college process is on my mind at the moment. I took Jake up to the school he'll be attending for a meeting with the department head of Aerospace Engineering. That is what Jake is interested at the moment. He will be attending the Engineering School of a highly regarded college about an hour away from our home. It hit me as I was sitting in this meeting that I could have a son who ends up being a rocket scientist. Where did this kid get his brains?

After the meeting, we walked through some of the beautiful campus just to look around and take note of where Jake's and his friends dorm halls were in comparison to each other. Even though it's the middle of summer, there was a lot of activity and people around the campus.

I love the beauty and atmosphere of college/university campuses. I have only experienced this through my children's visits and attendance at schools because I personally did not go to college. Actually, I went one year to a community college but then dropped out with the intention of going back at a later date. That date never came.

Every time I'm on a college campus, I have this yearning to be a part of the whole experience. I want to be a student, or maybe have a job somewhere within the system. I can't help but feel a little sad because I think I really would have enjoyed being a student in a college or university environment. I feel like I missed out on a wonderful opportunity. But I also know my life would have taken a different turn had I gone on to school. I may not be where I am today, and I wouldn't want that to change. So I guess things happen for a reason and I'm where I'm supposed to be... and I can be happy with that.

Visit Kailani and all the Aloha Friday participants here.

22 comments:

Alexis Jacobs said...

I went to Ohio State and majored in Agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural business.

Momma Roar said...

Health and Physical Education - or nowadays its called Kinesiology!

There are times I wish I would have gone to an arts school for photography rather than a teaching degree. I was having problems with my ankle my senior year of high school and thought maybe I should not go for H&PE. I'm glad I went - as I feel I'm really putting the pedagogy (learning how to teach) to work with homeschooling.

Photography is something I love...and maybe I can pursue it more at another time.

Don't regret not going - just enjoy college through your children!

I must admit, I still get a sense of excitement and adventure when I step onto a college campus!

Have a great weekend!

Dana a/k/a Sunshine said...

I went to college in Oklahoma and I majored in Marketing!

I think your son comes by his intelligent honestly! Keeping it in the family.

I love the campus environment too...I guess it is because it reminds me of a wonderful time in my life!

Just Mom said...

I majored in English, w/an emphasis on writing.

I've missed my college campus, located in the Pacific Northwest, ever since graduating. It was always green and nicely landscaped, the faculty were/still are wonderful and that library is fantastic.

btw ... it's never too late to get that degree if it's still calling you. I know many people who went back for their degree when they were in their late 40s -- and even older.

Cathi said...

I've gone to college but have not earned my degree. I'm still working away at it. My major has always been between, History and Political Science.

Jamey said...

I bet you could be a rocket scientist if you wanted:) Jake had to get his brains from somewhere!!

I went to the University of South Dakota and got my nursing degree. It was a great experience that I wouldn't give up for anything. I hope that my kids can go just to experience the atmosphere...oh yeah...and to get an education!

Unknown said...

nope I'm lucky i made it out of highschool

Anonymous said...

I did go to college, graduated in with a degree in English: Writing & Communications - which means pretty much nothing now, but I loved it. I wish I could go back sometimes and do it all over again just for fun.

Susan said...

I never went to college either, Diana. My son, David, calls me a flustrated intellectural!!

In the 1990's I finally did make it to take a few courses, Accounting I & II and Handwriting Analysis. I loved it.

I had actually been earning my living in the accounting field for years but took the courses just to back up my experience with the credits on my resume. Needless to say I breezed through it.
Susan

Qtpies7 said...

We all knew my brother was smart, but none of us expected him to be a nuclear scientist, but he is. What does he want to do when he is done with the military? Be a golf instructer.

I did online college, but didn't finish to get a degree. I was just going for my associates degree.

Dee said...

I never finished, I wavered on degrees, and then got married and started having children. I went to school in Hawaii.

Anonymous said...

I took night classes at a local college for a certificate. It was a Church Music Institute and took 2 years.

What you wrote in your last paragraph is exactly how I feel! I'm planning on taking some classes in the future...maybe. I don't think there's an age limit. :)

happyathome said...

Oh this is a good one! I went to college, Biology major, studied Ornithology, birds! And my last job was.....drum role please.....designing bathrooms!!!! What a difference. Anyway, stop on over and check out my Aloha Friday, a question you probably have never thought of!
http://www.lifeislikechampagneblog.com/

Anonymous said...

Nope, there's no age limit and more and more adults are going back to college to start or finish. It's never too late. The oldest graduate at our university this last year was in his 70s! Go for it, sis!

Kelley said...

Good one! I went to Eastern Illios University... Major in Zoology and minor in Psychology....can you say Dr. Doolittle anyone.

( and no...not a vet...WHAT was I thinking back then??)

Maisie said...

In 1988, I went for 2 years and majored in "This and That". I'm going back in Spring 2009 and will study Nursing. I wish that I had just done it in 1988. It will be so much harder to do now while taking care of a family. I'll continue to homeschool the 5 kids. But I'm determined, so it will work out.

MightyMom said...

gee darling, you write as if you're on death's door with no chance of ever going to college.....


HELLOOOOOO!!

pick you a school and fill out the application!!

me? well I went to Baylor University in Waco (Wacko) Texas, then went to Baylor School of Nursing in Dallas (ie home). I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I will probably go back for a Master's in something or other (is that a degree?) sooner or later...probably later. As that's the career track for nurses. :-) I loved my time in Waco. Learned more about myself than the topics I studied.

Beth @ TheAngelForever said...

Yes, I went to college. I started for 2 1/2 years at pharmacy school and then went to follow my dream of teaching. I have my BA in Elementary Education PreK-6 with a science concentration along with my Middle Level Biology 7-9. My MS is in REading K-12.

Sorry for being late on this, I was away visiting my outlaws for a long weekend. Playing catch up now.

Short Stop said...

You are exactly where you are supposed to be!

I majored in Political Science. I loved it...everything about it.

And, I loved my college experience. The campus, the friends I made, the late night pizza, all-nighters, sleeping in on the weekends...it was an awesome time of life. SO exciting for Jake.

Unknown said...

I think you already know this about me...

I went to a small Christian college and received a Bachelor of Music. Then on to seminary and received a Master of Divinity. If I were to ever go back for another degree, it would be a Master of Theology, which is actually a doctoral level program, but it's still called a masters degree.

threesidesofcrazy said...

I went to CSUN and majored in Health Education with a minors in Women's History and Sex Education. I loved college!

Anonymous said...

I received my Bachelors in Human Resources Management and am about 3 credits short of my Masters.