Well I've been into the thick of my Anatomy class now for a few weeks. I am really surprised--I mean REALLY surprised --that my brain can hold all this new info. Thankfully we take exams along the way --every week or every other week ---and we won't have a comprehensive exam at the end. So new info really only has to remain in my brain for 2 weeks at most.
Right now I think I must be in the toughest chapter. The Skeletal System. 206 bones. Thankfully man of those are in our hands and feet...but the crainial and facial bones are going to kill me I think. So it seems I'll be memorizing diagrams and visualizing bones until bones actually pop out of my eyes...and don't get me started on eye socket. yeeesh.
Aside from the death by head bones, I'm really enjoying this class. I was pretty nervous about taking an online course. And I was pretty nervous about taking anatomy & physiology. So it's been a real delight to discover I can still learn and take exams, For someone who LOVES going to webMD for every little ailment to see what might be wrong with her (right now it's my sacroilliac bones/muscles!)--this class is fun on sooo many levels. No cadaver (bummer) but we do have an interactive CD with pics of cadavers and you can peel off layers (skin, muscles, organs, tissues...down to the skeleton. Pretty cool. But there's no zoom which I think is stupid.
I scored a 100 % on my first exam and another A on my 2nd exam. It's really a HUGE relief to know that I still know how to study to get A's. I'm not sure I would've done as well if I had taken this course in college. The reality is that I work full-time and spend another 20+ hours a week studying for this ONE class. Talk about no social life and no clue about current events!
OH! and I quit my job and started a new job! But actually it's not really 'new' seeing as I'm back in the same position that I was working in at the church--BEFORE I left for Africa! LOL.
So the last few weeks have been a bit nutty. This past week was my first week back at the church--and the gal (who had the job for the past two years) walked me through everything again. I only "worked" 25 hours or so--so I could spend the remaining hours catching up (and getting ahead) on anatomy. Came at a perfect time for the Skeletal System!
But I'm extremely proud of my diligence to the matter at hand (anatomy!). I think as long as I stay focused and study hard, I feel I can definitely get a solid A in this class. Perhaps I should wait until after my next two exams (on skin and skeletal systems).
There are only 8 exams, so by the end of next week I hope to have completed Exams #3 and #4--which means I'll be halfway through. Whew. Although there's a chance I'll have to wait until the following week to take the exams b/c the proctor/testing center at PVCC is closed Friday-Sunday every week....so if I'm not ready by Wednesday night...then it has to wait until the following Monday. (But I'd still have to continue with the next chapters...)
Well, I'm off to a neighborhood picnic where I don't know a soul. A little social adventure. I expect there to be lots of folks my parents age and dozens of families...but I'm hoping there might be a few other single people there. And perhaps I'll actually get to know the names of the folks I pass on the roads every morning while I'm walking and reviewing my A&P notecards.
Oh, but first I must find the mosquito spray!
Cheers.
