I love education. I know that in the past I have complained much of actually having to do things like go to class and do homework, but in all honesty, my heart lies in higher education. Throughout history you can start to see what education can do to bring people out of poverty and empower them to make changes in their lives and in the communities they live in.
Staying away from the classroom is also something I have yet been able to do. When I graduated from Western Washington University in 2004 I swore I would never step back into a classroom.
Humble pie is what I ate when I graduated from Portland State University with a graduate degree in 2009. Friends can attest to the fact that all schooling really cuts into my socializing and television watching time. Living in Bellingham I used to complain that everyone was having fun without me while I toiled away writing papers and other such nonsense. I felt the same way when going back to grad school. Yet I feel compelled to go back. I get excited when learning new ideas and theories. My mind starts to race with possibilities and I feel gratification when I can put into practice book-learning in the real world. Every time I have graduated it is with a sense of euphoria and gladness that I no longer have to spend long hours pouring over research articles and drafting long soliloquies and reflections.
Yet despite all that I made a decision about a week ago to back again. No, not to get a doctorate (that's crazy talk.... but let's shelve that thought and I'm sure it will come back again). When I told one friend about this decision her exact words were "Are you crazy?????? You hate school remember?" Thanks for that vote of confidence. But it's just one class. It can't be that bad...
But I do find myself back in school again. This time to get a graduate certificate in Service-learning and Community-based learning. Quite a mouthful, right? My friend Charisse and I are doing this together. Charisse and I will see much of each other for the term. We are also co-teaching a freshman year experience course together, commuting once a week to Portland and getting into other mischief along the way. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Just remind me of that when I have to stay in and read articles and actually do my homework.
