This morning in my Brit Lit class I had an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness for the privilege of a good education. Perhaps its because we're reading Frankenstein right now, or because the semester has just begun, or because this is my last semester (besides student teaching) of college.
I wonder what percentage of the world population receives the opportunity to read, write, and discuss ideas for their job? Right now my work consists of reading novels and poetry by great authors, texts on how the brain develops, and articles on social issues, and then discussing these texts with other people who have read them while being guided by professors who have studied and thought about the texts in greater depth. And all within a Christian perspective, which, of course, leads to even more discussion because there are so many perspectives within the Christian perspective.
Perhaps my study of romantic works is influencing my attitude. I know I haven't always been this excited or appreciative of this privilege to study, and maybe I'll be posting about how stressed out I am in about a month from now when I'm busy trying to write five different papers at one time while studying for a midterm. But for now I'm just going to appreciate this :).
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Plant Physiology is Amazing
Yup, that sums up my life right now. Plant physiology, I am auditing at Dordt and had my first 3 hour lab this afternoon. It feels so good to get back into some intense study within set-up class and lab time. Granted, I could have the self discipline to study this on my own, but I wouldn't have the advantage of an expert teacher, fellow class mates, a lab facility.
Today we basically did a semester of review botany in one afternoon. Slide after slide of plant parts and cells under the microscope as review! It has been 6 years since I took botany so I have some catching up to do, but I guess I am not dumb as I think I am because I actually began to recall a lot of the terms. Oh, the great wonders of vascular cambiums, bundles, xylem, phloem, and parenchyma cells. My whole life I had this pre set mind that I wasn't a science person and didn't have the brain power to take in all the data.(could be the fact that I have two genius brothers and never thought I could live up Well, I have decided that I was wrong and that because of this mindset I have hampered my ability to learn and excel. Life is 90% attitude right! Cheesy I know, but so true. Well off to fargo for the weekend. Ya ice fishing!
Dan P
Today we basically did a semester of review botany in one afternoon. Slide after slide of plant parts and cells under the microscope as review! It has been 6 years since I took botany so I have some catching up to do, but I guess I am not dumb as I think I am because I actually began to recall a lot of the terms. Oh, the great wonders of vascular cambiums, bundles, xylem, phloem, and parenchyma cells. My whole life I had this pre set mind that I wasn't a science person and didn't have the brain power to take in all the data.(could be the fact that I have two genius brothers and never thought I could live up Well, I have decided that I was wrong and that because of this mindset I have hampered my ability to learn and excel. Life is 90% attitude right! Cheesy I know, but so true. Well off to fargo for the weekend. Ya ice fishing!
Dan P
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Julie's Perspective
A new semester started for me yesterday, and I am excited to be back at Dordt and taking classes. It's hard to believe that this will be my LAST semester on Dordt's campus as an undergraduate student, leaving me with one semester of student teaching next fall. I still remember that day three and a half years ago that my parents dropped me off at my apartment in building D in east campus apartments . . . how things have changed!
As for our decision to go to Taylor University next fall, I am very excited! I never thought I'd be moving back to my home state, but then I never thought I'd marry a farmer either, so I guess that goes to show that things don't always go the way I think they will :). I'm excited for Dan to get back into the academic world while still being able to do lots of hands-on work through the program, and I'm excited to be closer to my family (2 hours from my brother and 3 hours from my parents and grandparents). We'll also be only 9 hours from Bear, Lynn, and our two nephews in Atlanta, so they should be easier to visit too!
As for the present, I have a good line-up of classes this semester, and, although I've only gone to each class once, I think my favorites are going to be the History of the English Language and Reading and Writing Poetry. Now I'm off to do some homework . . .
As for our decision to go to Taylor University next fall, I am very excited! I never thought I'd be moving back to my home state, but then I never thought I'd marry a farmer either, so I guess that goes to show that things don't always go the way I think they will :). I'm excited for Dan to get back into the academic world while still being able to do lots of hands-on work through the program, and I'm excited to be closer to my family (2 hours from my brother and 3 hours from my parents and grandparents). We'll also be only 9 hours from Bear, Lynn, and our two nephews in Atlanta, so they should be easier to visit too!
As for the present, I have a good line-up of classes this semester, and, although I've only gone to each class once, I think my favorites are going to be the History of the English Language and Reading and Writing Poetry. Now I'm off to do some homework . . .
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Christmas Break in Indiana
Hello all,
Sorry about the delay in making weekly posts. I can't believe I haven't posted for almost a month! That is what happens when you get out of a routine.
Julie and I spent the last 2.5 weeks at her house in Indiana and it was great. Hanging out with her family,opening Gifts, sleeping in, playing Civilization III, board games, card games, and going out to eat. It was a great time of relaxation and rejuvenation.
I go back to work tomorrow and julie has been in CA/RA training this weekend and will start classes Tuesday. I am also auditing plant physiology because I will be working a lot less and can leave during the middle of the work day. It's great the Pella lets me do this! Anyways, I am sure JUlie will post soon, so you can just read my post below to find out more about my recent life.
Dan P
Sorry about the delay in making weekly posts. I can't believe I haven't posted for almost a month! That is what happens when you get out of a routine.
Julie and I spent the last 2.5 weeks at her house in Indiana and it was great. Hanging out with her family,opening Gifts, sleeping in, playing Civilization III, board games, card games, and going out to eat. It was a great time of relaxation and rejuvenation.
I go back to work tomorrow and julie has been in CA/RA training this weekend and will start classes Tuesday. I am also auditing plant physiology because I will be working a lot less and can leave during the middle of the work day. It's great the Pella lets me do this! Anyways, I am sure JUlie will post soon, so you can just read my post below to find out more about my recent life.
Dan P
Back after a long journey . . .
Have you ever had a time in your life when time seems to stop because a heavy weight is upon your shoulders? Well, I had to decide on which graduate school to attend over this Christmas break (just last week actually) and the decision was not easy.
I think I might have finally realized what the Bible means by "do not worry." I was worrying about the right choice to the point of anxiety and stress. Here I was faced with two very good programs, Taylor University having accepting me and offering a full ride, and UMaine offering me a research assistantship, but having not formally accepted me yet. The dilema being Taylor needed to know by the end of the week (in order to hold my full ride) and UMaine wouldn't know until the end of the following week. I just wanted a sign from God pointing to which one to pick. Yet, that would be to easy, requiring no wrestling with my desire for specific graduate study area, and ultimately no trust in God with the final decision. I still wanted to make a right choice. Clarity began to reign in when Julie and I began to realize that there wasn't a "right choice" but rather that either Taylor or UMaine would be a good choice. Realizing that the next two years of study, no matter what was studied, wouldn't set the rest of our life work or course. We prayed a lot during that week, made up a pro/con list, and finally drove to Taylor for a campus visit.
I expected two possible results from the visit. A great visit and total affirmation that Taylor was it or that Taylor wasn't it. The latter resulting in banking on UMaine fully accepting me.
The Taylor professors were friendly, down to earth, and had really great advice for my given interests. After spending about 2 hours talking and touring their facilities Julie and I were both equally excitied about the possibilities at Taylor. I will recieve a Masters of Environmental Science which will train me in several key skills; how to research, write, publish, and also very specific skills through heavy course work. Like in GIS, hydrology, toxology EPA Phase I assesments, and several other skills. Making me more marketable to a wide range of environmental field work. You might wonder, " I thought Dan wanted to be a farmer?" Yes, you are correct, but that is more of a long term life goal, and the practical realities of getting land and building up a farm base will require that I make a living in a different way for a while. Plus, many farms exist that are research and educational based, rather than commidty based, and a MA will be very helpful in getting a job on one. The beauty of the Taylor program is that I will still be learning and doing work that I am passionate and interested in. The program will allow me to pursue my agriculture interest because I can either work on a thesis relating to agricultural policy or research topic or do an off-campus internship like working with the EPA, USDA, DNR, NRCS or similiar organizations. All organizations that focus on environmental stewardship in very specific ways. So, moving from Northwest Iowa, to east central Indiana to study is what our future holds for now.
Julie and I plan on posting weekly now that the semester has started again and our lives are back to a routine.
Dan P
I think I might have finally realized what the Bible means by "do not worry." I was worrying about the right choice to the point of anxiety and stress. Here I was faced with two very good programs, Taylor University having accepting me and offering a full ride, and UMaine offering me a research assistantship, but having not formally accepted me yet. The dilema being Taylor needed to know by the end of the week (in order to hold my full ride) and UMaine wouldn't know until the end of the following week. I just wanted a sign from God pointing to which one to pick. Yet, that would be to easy, requiring no wrestling with my desire for specific graduate study area, and ultimately no trust in God with the final decision. I still wanted to make a right choice. Clarity began to reign in when Julie and I began to realize that there wasn't a "right choice" but rather that either Taylor or UMaine would be a good choice. Realizing that the next two years of study, no matter what was studied, wouldn't set the rest of our life work or course. We prayed a lot during that week, made up a pro/con list, and finally drove to Taylor for a campus visit.
I expected two possible results from the visit. A great visit and total affirmation that Taylor was it or that Taylor wasn't it. The latter resulting in banking on UMaine fully accepting me.
The Taylor professors were friendly, down to earth, and had really great advice for my given interests. After spending about 2 hours talking and touring their facilities Julie and I were both equally excitied about the possibilities at Taylor. I will recieve a Masters of Environmental Science which will train me in several key skills; how to research, write, publish, and also very specific skills through heavy course work. Like in GIS, hydrology, toxology EPA Phase I assesments, and several other skills. Making me more marketable to a wide range of environmental field work. You might wonder, " I thought Dan wanted to be a farmer?" Yes, you are correct, but that is more of a long term life goal, and the practical realities of getting land and building up a farm base will require that I make a living in a different way for a while. Plus, many farms exist that are research and educational based, rather than commidty based, and a MA will be very helpful in getting a job on one. The beauty of the Taylor program is that I will still be learning and doing work that I am passionate and interested in. The program will allow me to pursue my agriculture interest because I can either work on a thesis relating to agricultural policy or research topic or do an off-campus internship like working with the EPA, USDA, DNR, NRCS or similiar organizations. All organizations that focus on environmental stewardship in very specific ways. So, moving from Northwest Iowa, to east central Indiana to study is what our future holds for now.
Julie and I plan on posting weekly now that the semester has started again and our lives are back to a routine.
Dan P
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