frustrated.

You wanna know something frustrating? You don't? Tough. I'm going to tell you anyways.

Frustrating is .... finding out a  week before classes start that your financial aid has been cut off.
Frustrating is ... finding out you have 97 attempted credit hours, and OH YEAH that automatically disqualifies you from receiving more financial aid; and no we don't warn students when they are getting close to that mark, or surpass it, until they attempt MORE.

Oh! You didn't know I was going back to school?
Well maybe not after all..

College 2012

I'll admit I was sort of bummed, when I saw this pop up on my Facebook Timeline the other day. If life was going according to *my* plan, my graduation from PSTCC indeed be an event I'd be looking forward too this year. 


When I first arrived in Knoxville, I was thrilled to find out that there was a college that offered a degree in photography, something I'd loved for a long time. As soon as I was able too, I signed up for classes intent on finally getting to go to school for something I loved. 


Most Every.single. semesters has been fraught with problems. 


Semester #1: Starts of with a "bang" to the tune of $4,000+. I wound up paying over $700 that time (which thankfully I had) and waiting about six months for Financial Aid to "semi" pay me back. I got maybe $400 back from that. 
Semester #2: Was better. 
Semester #3: You have _____ holds on your account. I wasn't planning on going to school, life was stressful, I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, and kind of wanted to "wait and see". My parents however, had other thoughts and talked me into, and somehow God worked it out, and I started classes a week late. It.was.STRESSFUL. Stressful enough to land me with an F in one class, and withdrawing from another. 
Semester #4: Once again the money monster rears its head. 


As I've heard down through the years, "If God is in something, it will work". I think even the most pagan person can see.. this ain't working. So now what?

Summers End

Hi.
My name is Erin for those of you who may have forgotten me or what have you..
Can I possibly back out of this whole going to school thing?
I know it starts in two days..yes two days; on a SATURDAY...but surely skipping one semester will be ok?

I kid.

I'm ready to have that diploma in my hand, and do something else with my life.
Like go to this lovely university I work for.
Did I tell you guys I've already received my certificate in Basic Photography?
It wasn't great for my motivation.
Honestly, I wanted to grab that thing, and high tail it out of school, not looking back.
I have since, come to my senses and realize that I need to finish what I've started.

Cause I don't not finish what I start. Unless its absolutely necessary.

That's another thing I'm going to write in my "Erin's Attributes column".

Speaking of "attributes", my friend Rebekah, and I were musing on here we are, two amazingly quirky, crazy, fun, single ladies and "no one" knows much about us. I suggested we started just letting people know what our shining attributes are. I mean, otherwise they'll come up with their own opinions, which might be the wrong ones.. so why not give 'them' the facts straight up.

You know? So "they" know what they are getting into. #smirks 

For instance..."people" pretty much think I'm only concerned about my dogs..admittedly I am quite passionate about dogs and training, which is to say that I do talk about my dogs/post stuff about training quite a bit. 

Ok. A lot. 

The alternative would be to complain about people, actions, relationship failures, etc..etc.. 

However, I'm think I need to spread a little bit more about myself out there as well... 

Of course the idea is to get it out there as subtly as possible, because honestly we're not really...um... "looking" shall we say. Life is complicated enough already.

• Randomly announce what you are good at on Facebook. 
• Create/Buy T-Shirts proclaiming your attributes 

• Push come to shove, just take out a wanted ad. But good luck.  You never know what you might get!

These are just ideas of course. 
If you try them (and they work) let me know! 

However, now I've digressed so much that I have completely forgotten the point behind this post. So in conclusion, school starts in a couple of days and right now I am hoping that I'll be on that train. 

Cause once again Financial Aid has failed me. Not really a surprise, but I was hoping I'd get through this semester drama free. 

Alas it is not to be. 

For once I'm not stressed about it, what's meant to be will be. 

So I'll leave you, to get back to your weekend..heading over the mountain tomorrow to visit old friends and their dogs.. .:) 

TATA! 

Erin 

P.S. ( Blogger now has predictive text? Can you say annoying?)