The End is Near!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I applied for graduation this week and I only have two classes left this semester. I can't believe after all this time I will finally accomplish what I set out to do in the fall of 1980. Of course, there has been a lot of living done along the way. I wouldn't give up the years of raising children and the blessing of being a "stay at home" mom for anything. All my experiences have made me appreciate this even more. I will be interning with the Clay County Department of Juvenile Justice and I am so excited. I have been looking forward to this for over a year. The icing on the cake will be spending time with two of my favorite people; Rick and Joy Curtis. My other class is a hybrid class on Homelessness. We will only actually have class seven times during the semester. I will have the opportunity to work in shelters and participate in the Homeless census again. After going to campus five days a week this semester I will really enjoy not having to make the drive every day.

Fall Reading List...

Four A's

The Summer grades were posted today and I finally did it! For the first time in my life I got straight A's! (Actually one of the A's is an A- but it is still an A) I was never concerned about grades in high school, much to my parent's dismay. I now realize if I had cracked a book once in a while, I could have done much better. I was fortunate that my test scores were high enough that Valdosta State was willing to take me, in spite of my less than stellar performance. Its funny how differently I feel now. Part of the issue is that now I am really interested in learning and that does have an impact on your grades.
This next semester should be challenging. My schedule includes: Into the Asylum, Sociological Theory, Sociology of Women and Sociology of Human Interaction. I will only have two classes in the Spring. One will be a sociology elective and the other is my practicum (internship). I plan on interning at the Juvenile Justice Department in Green Cove Springs. Ultimately, I would like to work in a program that services foster children who have aged out of the program. My ultimate dream is to do a study and collect data on the number of children who were foster children, currently in the Juvenile Justice System. With this information I would like to write a grant request to fund a resource center to help the kids with their educational, housing, vocational and psychological needs. Basically, to fill in all the gaps they may have so they will be equipped to be successful in life. It won't be residential, just a drop in place. If it all works out I will name it Jeremiah's Place, based on Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". I know these are big dreams but I will keep doing what I need to do on my end and see what happens.

I love UNF!

I wasn't sure about summer classes but I have come to the conclusion they are OK! It is hard to sit for 3 1/2 hours but six weeks and full credit is really nice. Social Work as a profession has been great and I have actually enjoyed the People and Cultures class. The social welfare minor contains a small close-knit group of students so I rarely have a class that I don't know almost everyone in it. Makes me wonder how many of us will run into each other out in the "real world" when we are working in the field.

We had a guest speaker today form the Women's Center of Jacksonville. It was the director of the Rape Crisis Response Team. She shared with us about the opportunity to be advocates for victims of sexual assault. Every time someone comes to talk about their job I want to join their team. When they ask if there is anyone who is interested in working in their field I realize I am. Gerontology, Child Welfare, Adoption, Foster Kids, Juvenile Justice, I should have started a lot sooner if I am going to do all the different things that have peaked my interest. At least I have time before I have to make a decision.