To thyn own self be true

I agree with Mr. Ma in class Saturday about being true to yourself. I need classes like the hybrid. I work all week and I am taking a chemistry class twice a week. If this type of class didn't exist I would not be able to take two classes this semester. I need to take these classes to get into the RN program and to be honest with everyone, I am not getting any younger!

I do not have the time anymore to make changes to my schedule, nor do I have time to change my major. I have already had a career and this is my second time around. I realize for a lot of young students that going to college is something that your parents want you to do and that they are paying for it. When you get to my age, forty four, there is no parent making the payments! I have to be responsible, I have to be pulling the grade, and I have to show my children that they can do it at any age.

I realize that getting up on a Saturday is tough, but I am there! The instructor is there, even though he has a long drive from San Diego. Still coming in late after he asked us not to is just .................there are so many words, so I will let you fill in the blanks. Maybe if we all just pretended that the class still started at 8:10, we could just start on time.

I am not trying to preach, I am just saying that I truly need this class. A part of growing up is being responsible, and if your not ready to be at that place in your life, please party on!! Have fun, be a kid and enjoy yourself. For me that part of my life is way over. Someday a lot of the people in this class will be where I am today-older. Being older in a class is tough and I can give you so many reasons to get your education now.

Top 10 reasons to get your education now
1.) You will have children who need you, even when you have a paper or upcoming exam due
2.) Your children will become sick, and eventually pass the illness to you
3.) Your bills become higher as you get older- just try making my mortgage payments a few times ( I own 2 homes, so double everything)
4.) Everyone eventually retires, make sure your job has a good retirement
5.) We tend to get sick as we age- make sure there is a good health plan
6.) A retirement check is not enough, make sure you have enough money saved!
7.) You may have a good job, but like me, one day they just may retire you and you will have to get another job, and your mind is not that good at retaining things as you age (trust me)
8.) It pretty cheap right now at $20.00 per unit, I can imagine what it is going to be like in 10 more years. For those transferring to a university- what a raise in prices!
9.) Be a good role model for the community and your children- they really do look up to you
10.) Its your life, please make it worth something - you cannot blame your parents forever

Lets all go to class and be ready, if your taking this class please give it your best, Give it your all! If you cannot give it your best- take the class when you can!

When I first started college in the 80's I signed up for all these classes, I wasn't even sure what I wanted to take, or even what I wanted to be. I took a full load of classes and a full load of partying 101. Let's just say I passed two classes- swimming & Party 101. The end result was a $2000.00 bill and no real plausible job that needed a requirement for the swim class. I also had applied for the nursing program at Northern Michigan University, and there must not have been a big demand back then because I got accepted. I showed up the first day and never showed up again- I was too tired. The real reason, I just wasn't ready for school. When 2004 rolled around I was ready for school. I was more then ready, I was hungry for it. I wanted to complete 60 credits in one year, one month, even one day if I could.

I was lucky to be accepted into the nursing program at RCC, I was luckly to be given a second chance. The real reason I was accepted into the program was I worked my ass off in every class I took. I accepted no lower than I B, and I always strived for an A. Reaching your dreams takes hard work and determination, no more, no less. No one is going to hand you your education- get out there and earn it.

This is my little sister Amanda and she is running a marathon this October 12th for the Chicago Police Department! What a wonderful thing to do for one of the finest agency's in the city. The police are the backbone of the city and I am proud to announce that my sister is there to help raise money for the department and all the fallen heros that have given their lives for the people of the city.

My parents and my Aunt Ilona are also going to be at the race. They will be set up at one of the race check points to help pass out water to the runners. I have never run a 26 mile race in my life before, to be honest I do not think I ever will, but for those who can do it-----I give them credit.

I have posted information for two reasons:
1.) I want her story to be an inspiration to everyone out there that loves to run or just loves to give back to others and be part of the community.

2.) I want people to give her money!!!

DID YOU KNOW.... ?

1.) The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C.

2.) Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died.

3.) The Athens Marathon is recognized as the original marathon course and it's the same course used in the 2004 Olympics held in Athens.

4.) The first modern Olympic games were held in 1896 in Greece.

5.) The legend of Pheidippides was honored by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens.

6.) Athens Stadium, the finish line for the Athens Marathon stands on the site of a stadium used in classical times.

7.) Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker, won the first modern Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds, an average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile.

8.) At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, with the 2.2 miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting "God save the Queen!" (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed.

http://www.active.com/donate/teamcpdmemorial2008/AJurine

Amanda Jurinen's Fundraising Page
Help support the cause and register for Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Marathon Team- TEAM CPD.
Running for the families
Donation Amount: $

Chicago Marathon 2008!
On October 12, 2008 I will be running my 3rd Chicago Marathon and my 6th marathon overall. I have always said that I do not run for charities, but last year the only way into the race was through a charity (it sold out for open entries so early!) Through my running coach I got hooked up with the Chicago Police Department Gold Member Families and was so happy that I did. Not only is the charity fantastic but they offer overwhelming support to the runners. This once non-charity runner is running for TEAM CPD again. Last year the Chicago Marathon 08' was historically one of the most notorious, as the temperatures were in the 90's and only about 22,000 of the 45,000 registered runners started the race and finished. There was one death and hundreds that were hospitalized. I ran it and I finished in the top 10% but I have never struggled like this. I was about ready to give up but around mile 21 I was greeted by all the police officers and families I raised funds for. I cried and pushed on through for a 3:43 time. The photo above is me in my CPD shirt and finishers medal. Personally, I have family members in law enforcement, thus this organization does mean quite a lot to me. I would hate to think of loosing anyone of them while they were doing their job to protect someone. Here is a little bit about the Chicago Police Memorial Fund: The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of our fallen heroes. The Foundation provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago Police Officers who were killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. REASONS FOR THE FOUNDATION Since the murder of Officer Casper Lauer there have been over 525 Chicago Police Officers who have sacrificed their lives for the city. The families of these brave Officers are supported by the Department and other organizations, but as one might imagine, the cost in terms of financial, emotional, and psychological support is overwhelming. Other, perhaps less known, risks associated with being a Police Officer are the stresses of the job. These stresses too often lead to disastrous consequences such as when a Police Officer takes his own life. Finally, as a tribute to the heroic lives that these Officers led, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has built a permanent memorial to these brave men and women. A spectacular site just east of the new Soldier Field has already been donated by the Chicago Park District. WHY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATION By supporting these initiatives, the public-private partnership provides the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation with the means to achieve our goals. It is a sign to all the citizens of Chicago, as well as our nation, that Chicago's corporate family and business leaders care about its Police Officers and their families. Your support is a reminder that when troubled times arise, we come together, as families do, and provide comfort, support, and protection for one another.
NEVER FORGET!!! Please help Team CPD's runners reach their goal donation of $75,000! Any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated.Invite your Friends to Donate!

Frustration

I wish that I could do the blogging assignment with more ease and without feeling so lost. Maybe I need to be in an over forty english class that just writes on paper! I am determined to get this whole blogging concept no matter what. Although I maybe older, I am not beyond the age to stop learning. I will try to impress my children with this page and overcome my fear of technology in the web.
Now I need to learn how to post photos and music. Please enjoy the photo of two of my two granddaughters, Lila and Ariana, at least I was able to get that far.

This is a whole new area for me.........Blogging is not something I have ever done. I do not even ever read blogs for that matter. I feel like I have entered the new era!