Life Long Learning

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each another." -John F. Kennedy

As my time as a student draws to a close, I've been thinking a lot about the concept of lifelong learning. In fact, today, it was brought up during teacher-training. "As educators," the assistant headmaster explained, "we have a responsibility to our students to keep learning and continuing our personal development and growth." Since graduating, I have wholeheartedly missed the structure for learning that the academic setting provided me; now I must create my own structure.

The question is: how? Thus far, I've dabbled in several different things--cooking with new techniques and recipes, reading design articles that Hack Design emails me, listening to CoffeeBreak French Podcasts (These are my favorite!), and of course trying my hand at a little bit of computer coding too. The only thing my list lacks is reading.

Lately, I've been really convicted about my (lack of) reading habits. Even though I majored in English literature, I do not have the best reading habits. Shocking, I know, but true. I do read occasionally, but not quite with the same enthusiasm that I did when I was younger. However, as a leader, and now an educator(!!!), this area of my life is becoming increasingly more and more critical to cultivate and maintain; I have no excuse not to.

I've definitely found the lack of structure and accountability post-education to be challenging to work around, but through trial and error, I am figuring out tips and tricks that work best for me--like borrowing books so that I have to return them (finished and with interesting comments) within a decent time frame. Or posting my current book on Friday stats, or convincing my friends to read the same book(s) with me, or even roping Jake in for those loving reminders and encouragement that he is so good at giving. Continuing education is not easy, but with discipline and a lot of help, it can be done. And you don't even need to go to class!

Img. Credit: Death to Stock Photo Photography

It's Official!

This is to certify that Misha Raine Tyler has completed all of the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree with an area of study in English. This degree was certified on 7/15/2014 and is scheduled to be conferred upon Misha Raine Tyler by the Board of Trustees of Thomas A. Edison State College on September 12, 2014.

It is with greatest pride that I am pleased to announce my official graduation from TESC! It was around this time, about three years ago that I enrolled with CollegePlus and this journey began. It has been long and hard, filled with many challenges and setbacks as well as many triumphs. I cannot thank enough all the friends and family, coaches and mentors, professors and peers who have encouraged me along the way. I couldn’t have done it without those kind words and I am overjoyed to be able to share this accomplishment with you all.

Even more official announcement with updated senior picture to follow via post!

Your (finally!) College Grad,

Misha

Some Soccer Stats

Stats:

final score from last game: 3-3 (tie)
goals by me: 0
assists: 1!
new best time (running): 20 minutes
photos taken: 82
projects planned: 3
time spent outside: a lot.
mood: encouraged!
learning: to stop wallowing in self-inflicted depression


Weekly Update:

I think the theme of this week has definitely been encouragement. As I started talking to people about finishing school, the word "depressed" creeped into my vocabulary, but I think just using that word was making me feel more depressed than I actually had license to be because everyone I talked to was sooo encouraging about the next steps moving forward and how daunting the future can be. This week, I felt really affirmed in my character as a person through Bethany's gift and the blessings we bestowed on one another on the last night of youth group. Others, like Jake and Josh and Miss Colleen and my coworkers encouraged me not to feel down about the future. I'm trying to stay engaged and involved in life, participating in the things that excite me and make me happy (like soccer!), connecting with people, and pursuing personal growth. Some days are definitely harder than others. Sometimes, I feel so...bored. But I am trying to embrace this time of rest for what it is before life returns once more to a constant state of busyness.

The End of a Journey

To be honest, I expected to feel victorious when I finished taking my last exam this week. In my head, I expected it to feel like crossing the finish line of a marathon, collapsing on the ground with joy and tears and the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that you did it. I didn't know if I would laugh or cry (or both), but I expected more than anything to feel a deep sense of triumph, walking out of that testing center, driving home, celebrating the rest of the evening afterward...

If anything, I felt relief. Relief that the essay prompts were easy. Relief knowing that countless people were praying for me. Relief that I wouldn't have to do any more studying. But it was short-lived.

Because then, I felt depressed.

There was triumph, yes. A burden had lifted, yes. But at the same time, it didn't feel real. Perhaps because it was just an ordinary Tuesday. There were still errands to run and chores to be done and so on and so forth. The world, like usual, did not stop for me and my victory. I wanted to laugh and I wanted to cry. I wanted to go out, but I wanted to stay home. I wanted to hang out with a bunch of people but I wanted to be alone. I wanted to celebrate, but I didn't know how. There was nothing that appealed to my senses.

I don't know why exactly I felt depressed, but I learned that it's not uncommon to feel this way. For in the victory, there is also a loss; and in reaching the destination, a journey has ended. Here, my academic journey gently winds to a close and while I celebrate my achievements, and can finally shirk the burden of stress I've carried throughout college, at the same time I also mourn the loss of what I've devoted my entire life to for the past 15 years. The transition is much more difficult than I anticipated, but I remain hopeful that something better awaits.

Ups and Downs

Stats:

assignments left: 0
times cried: 1
close calls: 3
coffees: 4
free time: lots
mood: up and down
reading: Tuesdays with Morrie
highlights: working on the porch, soccer invite, Passion CD

Weekly Update:

I won't lie; it's been a really tough week. It started strong, with me pepping myself until I finished all three of my last assignments for my degree. I turned them in Monday afternoon, totally psyched to send for my transcripts immediately and apply for graduation upon their arrival at TESC....

Little Shop of Horrors

I had the pleasure of hitching a ride out to San Diego with Jake's parents to see him perform in SDCC's spring musical Little Shop of Horrors. It was just a quick trip, but what fun!

Highlights included:

• Our impromptu tour guide Jim (who also hitched a ride with us)
• Lunch at a local Italian restaurant in Gila Bend
• Seeing the show (twice!)
• Catching all the added gags the second time
• Analyzing the hidden meanings of the show
• Leisurely breakfasts
• A mini-piano concert by Jake
• Meeting a CollegePlus student while striking the set!
• Running with Ms. Jessica in the park
• Multiple trips to Starbucks

The entire cast did a phenomenal job, but (not surprisingly) I thought Jake did the best of all! He played both of his roles (the dentist and the voice of the plant) very well and it was a joy to watch him perform, even though both his roles were antagonists. 

The Home Stretch

Stats:

thesis: 100% complete!
pages: 64
words: 15,000
autobiography: 5,500 words
posts on my blog: 100!
mood: elated
reading: fluffy fiction!
highlights: soccer, THESIS, celebratory treats!

Weekly Update:

This morning, I turned in my thesis project that I've been working so hard on all semester!! I am so pleased with the overall result. It feels so good! The triumph is exhilarating. I celebrated with some good ole' Jamba Juice and a bagel. I still have a few assignments to finish in other classes before I can apply for graduation, but I am in the HOME STRETCH!!! I'm starting to feel really really excited, but I'll be so glad when it's all over.
(Coincidentally, this is also my 100th post on this blog! Does the excitement ever end???)

I am a Runner!

After playing soccer in the park last week, I suddenly possessed the urge to run... as in to start running. On a regular basis. Why? Have I ever run in my life? Do I enjoy long-distance running? Do I like torturing myself? Do I like feeling sore? Do I like ripping my lungs out of my chest? No. I want to run because I love soccer and I want to get better at it. Call me crazy; I won't be offended, because I am (crazy, not offended). My first interval run was a little pathetic as far as I was concerned. I did 5 intervals of 1 minute running with 3 minutes walking before I gave up and walked the rest of the way home from the park.

Jake's mom mentioned that they were all running a 5K in May because Joe's girlfriend Kaylee has never run one before (I haven't either, but I didn't mention it.) A 5K, huh? How much is a 5K? 3.1 miles. 3.1 miles? I could do that... So I put the worm in my dad's ear to see if he would do it with me; at first, he said no, but after a couple days of thinking about it, he caved. 

And now, me and my dad are training for a 5K together. Say whattt??? Even I am still pretty stoked about the whole thing. We've been using the Couch to 5K plan and the first week of interval-runs we've done has been great so far! I ain't even tired (yet)! Really though, it feels really great to get active again. I've spent the last couple years locked away in my room, chained to my desk slaving over academic drudgery (speaking of which, big update coming soon!). But I'm getting to a point where I can go out and play hard without feeling too guilty. It's pretty awesome!

My Thesis: Autobiography

In a time when the world is flooded with information, what's the point of adding one more story to the mix? One more story that is not likely to get noticed? Yet the autobiography genre is still thriving with people from all different backgrounds penning their stories. Why?

My project seeks to study this phenomenon asking the question, "How does the process of writing one's autobiography impact the way one views oneself and one's life-story?" My sub-questions will follow the writing process first analyzing what motivates people to write about themselves, studying the steps required to write an autobiography, and finally examining what authors learn about themselves through and after the writing process. The study will culminate in an autobiographical piece written by none other than myself! I have a few hypotheses about the answers I find and I think they will have something to do with identity and self-perception, but we'll see!

Because this is my thesis project (and not a research paper) I will be doing all the primary research, not culling it from other sources. In addition to my own writing project, I plan to send out a questionnaire to a panel of autobiographical authors. I'm hoping to develop a sample group which consists of authors at different stages in the autobiography process (already published, still writing, editing etc.). Then I'll collect the responses, organize them, and incorporate them into my material.

The paper is broken up into five chapters: the introduction, an overview of literature, an explication of methodology, the results of study, and a conclusion discussing the results. The course mentor has also been really helpful so far; she makes the whole project feel a lot more manageable and a lot less daunting! Under her guidance, I feel a lot more equipped moving forward. Being so young and tackling such a large project (my undergrad thesis!) sometimes feelings of inadequacy nag at me. What if my project isn't good enough? significant enough? professional enough? or something else? What if it's already been done? I suppose I question the scholarship of my topic. But I'm holding on to the positive feedback I've gotten on it, both from my course mentor as well as from other students in the class and a variety of other people I know in real life. I try to stay positive because I know I am so close to finishing my degree! The end is closer than it appears!

"Diary" by Barnaby, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Coffee and Fries

                                             

Keepin it classy at the only place where you can have coffee AND french fries! We heard through Spotify that mcDonalds is giving out free coffee...Say what?? Well, it's true. And what college student doesn't like free stuff (especially free coffee)? We are definitely not breaking any stereotypes here!