I have avoided writing for a couple of weeks because I have wanted my post about Michael Burr to be what people saw when they came to my blog.  As is always the case, time marches on and people move forward.  I, too, must move forward but I will not forget to mention him (in case you have made it here looking for a way to help).  You can get to the donation page from here.  Also, there is a benefit concert happening on Michael’s behalf August 27 from 7:30-9:30pm in the Reynold’s building recital hall on the campus of Harding University.  I am happy to announce that the paypal account has received $3250!!  There have been other donations, too, that have not gone through the paypal account.  On behalf of the Burr family I wish to extend my deepest gratitude for your generosity.  It has been truly inspiring and it has saved this family.

So I begin school tomorrow!!  My first online classes ever.  Let me just say that the world of higher education has changed dramatically since last I was a card-carrying member!!  I applied online, I was accepted online, I conversed with my advisor the first several times online, I registered for my classes online, and was sent my bill online.  No more waiting in a giant queue in the gymnasium to find out if the person in front of you took the last seat in the class you really needed.  It’s a little awe-inspiring, actually.  I will be receiving and submitting assignments online, participating in class discussions online (my final grade rubric includes this aspect, actually) and taking exams online.  One of my textbooks is even in digital format and only cost $23 as a result.  I am pretty excited about this new adventure!!

I made my way to Jonesboro, AR, a drive of about 90 miles, on Friday for a program orientation.  All students were asked to attend, both traditional and the online group.  I am referred to as a “transitional” student because I already hold an A.A.S. in the discipline and am going to be working online toward my B.S.  I have to share what happened to me first thing: 

The first 30 minutes of our half-day meeting was a coffee and donut time (and, yes, I managed to control myself and NOT eat a donut).  I showed up about 10 minutes early and was surprised to find that I was among the last arrive.  As such, there were no completely empty bistro tables, only vacant chairs at tables where conversations were already taking place.  I procured some liquid energy and then approached a random table, asking permission to join the two women seated there.  I quickly learned that one was not a student, but rather a friend who had driven the other woman to campus.  I shifted my attention to the second lady, who would be my classmate, and discovered her name (Denise) and that she, too, is a transitional student taking one of the two courses that I’m taking.  Yay!  I’ve already met someone with whom I will be communicating during the semester.

My next inquiry had a pleasantly surprising answer.  I asked her where she lives and her reply?  Horn Lake!!  She and I live a mere couple of miles from each other!  And we’re taking the same class.  I was floored.  Out of all the people in that room it just so happens that I picked the one person most likely to help me be successful.  She, too, seemed excited by the coincidence (if that’s what you want to call it…).  Before the orientation was over we’d exchanged phone numbers and promised that we’d study together.

I am taking two courses:  Hematology II and Clinical Laboratory Educational Roles.  Hematology (or “heme” for short) competes with urinalysis as my least favorite department of the lab.  I’m really not sure why that is, either, because it’s a fascinating discipline.  Coagulation (the department of the lab which studies blood clotting) falls under the umbrella of heme and is often situated together with the heme department within the lab.  Coag is a very difficult subject, and I don’t much care for it. 

Hematology, though, is the study of the solid portion of the blood.  Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  Our analyzers count those different types of cells and spit out a report that is very useful to physicians.  When someone’s report doesn’t look too good it is the responsibility of the med tech to make a blood smear on a slide to be viewed with a microscope.  I am required to know what normal, healthy red and white cells look like.  I am expected to report when I see cells that are abnormal and I am also frequently tasked with counting 100 white cells to determine their ratio in the patient’s blood (there are 5 different kinds of white blood cells, which I must know how differentiate).

The other class is a one-hour course that deals with continuing education and, I presume, certification maintenance.  Not a very interesting topic to me either.  I usually enjoy CE’s, as we call them, for the fascinating little tidbits of knowledge that I always acquire, but it is still just one of those chores that no one likes to do.  I’m sure the class will offer some interesting insight into laboratory education and will make me a better teacher when my job calls for that skill.  I do know that I will have a project due that amounts to a continuing ed module that could be presented to a group (though as an online student I will not have to do a presentation.  Yay!).

So, as you can see, I am pretty eager to get started, and now I can only hope that my coworker who promised to let me borrow her textbook will remember to bring it to work today…

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