Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Although this is officially the third week of classes, I am still trying to get into the swing of things. I practically hate cracking open my calculus book (which is probably attributed to the fact that the professor taught all the way until 9pm making me miss my bus!), however, this is a necessary evil because I need this class to graduate with my M.A. in Economics. Afterward, I take calculus II and online statistics then rest for the remainder of the summer to avoid burnout.

During my hour plus ride on the yellow line (which was due to construction), I reevaluated attending doctoral school. I weighed the options of enrolling the economics program or receiving my DBA (though it would be easier since I already had an MBA and wouldn't taking prerequisite courses or require as much math). Even though it is January, already I need a vacation!

Extraordinary

Extraordinary (adj.)-1) not ordinary; out of the usual order. 2) going far beyond the ordinary degree, measure, limit, etc.; very unusual; remarkable. 3) outside of the regular staff; sent on a special errand.

I possess extraordinary talent and coupled with numerous opportunities yields innumerable prospects for me to soar higher beyond the stratosphere. After eight months as an economist, I am looking for a new challenge which is to earn SAS base certification. My next class is this Monday and I know that I have what it takes to pass the test. Furthermore, after one year here, I will seek SAS advanced certification to bolster my professional position. As this section’s residential programmer and data maintenance specialist (a new distinction that I won by aggressively seeking out the most challenging opportunities!), it is important to equip myself with the knowledge to better serve my constituents.

However, I want to venture even further by learning how to program in a foreign language. The remarks made by Bill Taggart from last year’s NBMBAA annual conference left an indelible imprint upon my psyche. He advocated that instead of traveling to Miami with my friends to spend some money going to emerging markets to build professional relationships. Since my birthday is in August, I chose Brazil because its population is nearly 300 million people and has a lot of foreign direct investment pouring into the county. The software company has a country-specific Portuguese site and come spring quarter I will take beginning Portuguese to prepare for this trip. This endeavor conjured up memories about wanting to learn the four major Western Hemisphere languages. I already know English and Spanish. Preparing for Brazil will have me learning Portuguese. Leaving French which I will learn after achieving state residency. Dare to be extraordinary!

Emblematic

Emblematic (adj.)- of containing or serving as an emblem; symbolic.

I am emblematic of diligence, foresight, hard work, faith and perseverance and everyday I commit myself towards building my Fortune 500 empire with good credit and a diverse portfolio.

From Bummer to Blessing

Yesterday's clobbering of my Ohio State Buckeyes at the hands (and feet) of the Florida Gators for the 2007 BCS Championship threw me in a funk! It was surreal. I knew that they had a 51 day layoff and Ted Ginn, Jr. sprang his ankle, but still OSU looked lethargic. However, the succeeding events throughout today have more than compensated for it.

Financial empowerment: Four months after getting out of ChexSystems, I opened an online savings account which gives me a 5.25% APY. My goal is to save $1000 to convert into the bank's 6-9 month CD which requires a $1000 minimum deposit. By this December, I will have saved the $3,000 to open my Vanguard account.

Tavis Smiley's commentary has struck a positive chord with me: We’re all gifted. And when Gods gives you a gift, He gives us a corresponding need to use our gift. This year discover your purpose. Walk in your vocation.

This year I will make a concerted effort to live out my purpose and zone out the noise, negativity and the clutter. Since education is important to me, I will become an advocate to ensure that everyone receive an affordable, high quality education. By age 40, I will saved the money to found my own book scholarship to benefit poor people. Lifting as I climb by helping others is an important character trait and I wish to work hard at it every day.

Furthermore, I have read many higher educational articles from NACAC to MSN Encarta about adult learners returning to college. Reading their testmonies has made me feel blessed that I have earned my graduate and undergraduate degrees by age twenty-five. However, I have learned a thing or two about exhibiting a positive mental attitude. One lady asserts that instead of thinking that when she completes her degree that she will be 52 years old the she will envision herself as a 52 year old with a degree. Even though sometimes graduate stuides can be tedious when I finish my graduate degree, it will all be worth it!

2007 New Year Revolution: Overcoming Fear

Since last year’s resolution proclaiming that there are no quick fixes has come true, this year’s revolution is overcoming fear to become smart and wealthy. I fear losing money and risk, therefore, it is my responsibility to become better educated to eliminate that feeling. By December 31st, I will be debt free, maximized my 401 (k) contributions, opened a mutual fund account, achieved SAS base and advanced certifications, earned ZP-III Economist position, be accepted into the Aspiring Leaders program, and expanded my professional network.

Academically, I will overcome my fear of failure and proceed into the spring semester with an open mind and optimism. Also I have the public economics book and study guide so by classtime, I will be prepared. By December 31st, I will have retained my honor society membership, magna cum laude status, have written my master thesis, taught as an online instructor, and have completed one year of calculus and mathematics for economists. I can accomplish my academic and financial objectives by eradicating the fear that gets in my way of becoming success!

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm (n.)- intense or eager interest; zeal; fervor.

I am enthusiastic about my life and career trajectories because I can only go up from here and I am not even at rock bottom! 2007 will bring me career advancement, financial prosperity, traveling for conferences and my 30th birthday, completing my graduate degree, and expanding my professional network by joining and contributing to social organizations that I am devoted to.

Positive Feedback

Black Enterprise published my emailed response regarding the September 2006 publisher's page remarks about the importance of education. When I wrote that in August and I just started American. If I could whether relocation, getting flooded, moving again, dual enrollment at two colleges and having to take the bus then the train to work, then I can survive anything! I am currently enrolled at both AU and NOVA and look forward towards graduating December 2007. This more than makes my day and rekindles my personal flame to become a writer. Now even when the macro verdict comes down, I will remain on solid ground! All of the hard work is done. Now all I have to do is continue pushing myself to become a better person everyday and I will be okay!

On the Fast Track

Horoscope: People will be coming to you for advice and assistance - and who can blame them? You are the one who has all the answers. You might as well put up a sign and start charging. People will be lined up out the door to see you. Make time for others.


Yippee! My boss has come to me and offered me my dream job: to become a programmer, take SAS/AF II and manage the AF database that my former coworker once had! Hot dog! I am on the fast track! Tuesday I will start preparing for my SAS III class this upcoming January. My boss’ proclamation came right out of my success journal. This is unbelievable. It is one more confirmation that I will be successful on this job!

Goodwill and Good Cheer

Yesterday my mother and the non-profit money management organization whom I sent Christmas cards to called to thank me. I appreciated that my card touch them so; and, unbeknownst to them their phone calls gave me Christmas cheer. Spreading goodwill to all men is the what Christmas is all about. Their positive feedback motivated me to write another batch of Christmas and even to thank some more people who helped me on my journey from Cleveland to Arlington.

Opportunity Journal Entry #2

Yesterday I enrolled in my first healthcare program. Obtaining health insurance is the cornerstone to wealth building. Speaking of which American has received my check and has released its hold allowing me to register for spring.

Since I am enrolled at NOVA, even if the university tells me that it won't accept analytical calculus, I will simply test and keep my math credits. Doctoral programs require analytical calculus plus the math lab tutors and some applied calculus students have made disparaging remarks about the lack of theory. If applied calculus cannot teach me how to solve calculus problems then I will not take it even if if causes some scheduling problems!

Although Marymount offers only daytime classes, I have switched my focus to another Virginia in-state university which collaborates with my community college. This means that I can take online courses at NOVA and simultaneously earn both community college and my BA in Math! There are a few kinks that need to be sorted out like the majority of the math courses are offered during the mornings (the employee informed me that attending every session is at the teacher's discretion). However, if that is the case then I would just take online courses.

This whole manuevering thing has made me reconsider UDC although it is located in Washington, DC and I will not receive the in-state rate. My goal is take as many math classes as possible during the three years between my masters and doctoral degrees to skip the math requirement.

Opportunity Journal

Opportunity: a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose; good chance.

The idea of keeping an opportunity journal came from last Thursday’s life coach meeting. Lynda remarked about my taking advantage of all of the opportunities afforded. She mentioned that very few people who relocate and transfer to another school simultaneously. Yet I had the drive to do so. She was right but I had never considered quitting!

Having just arrived in Virginia less than four months ago, I have left an indelible mark here. I am excelling at the local community college and look forward towards taking calculus next spring. Transferring to a four-year college and receiving my B.S. in Math en route to attending a top tier Ph.D. business and economics program, is my long-term goal, which I will achieve but capitalizing on all available opportunities afforded me.

Life after CLEP II

My community college online representative has just called to inform me that the online credit information is incorrect and that the online and offline tuition will be the same. This means that I might enroll in the offline class presuming that I do not have the professor who will do all of his lectures via calculator instead on the board. If so, then I will take the online class.

This revelation also forces me to put off taking statistics next semester yet affords me another opportunity to test out of statistics via DANTES. I am still buying the Statistics for Dummies workbook to prepare for it.

Life after CLEP

Yesterday I decided not to take the CLEP calculus exam and instead focusing on preparing for my transcript evaluation meeting. This proved to be a wise move because I received 35 credits towards my A.S. in Science/Mathematics degree. Earlier this morning, I faxed a copy of my data mining syllabus to audit a computer science course. This move would give me 3 credits plus an additional 3 from a lower-level computer science course; thereby, granting me a new total of 41 credits. Now my focus would be strictly math classes. No CLEP. No PLACE.

I was glad that I had the face-to-face meeting because of the counselor's ineptitude. She could not locate my degree conferred and major on the top of the transcript. Then upon informing her that I earned 24 credit hours in economics, she responded, "Are you an economics major? Well, Duh?" She was unbelievable!

At the conclusion of this meeting, I asked about receiving honors status. She gave me the contact person and walked to the office, completed an application and upon returning to campus for my math class later that evening submitted two official transcripts. I also emailed a cover letter and my resume detailing my accomplishments to the contact who approved me! :) However, now I would have to take an honors seminar which might interrupt my plan of enrolling in a Virginia public university next fall 2007. However, even though I would graduate next December 2007, I could still continue taking classes.

Upon exiting the Honors program division, I returned to the counseling center where I retrieved three out of the four articulation agreements. One, in particular, caught my eye though I was skeptical about enrolling at a Catholic university (I am Protestant as have all of my schooling) so I will see what materializes.

Honestly, I am contemplating whether or not I should apply for transfer status next year of wait until 2008 when I have exhausted all of my community college course options because I do not want to be charged a higher tuition rate.

Countdown to CLEP

Today is one week to the day I take the CLEP calculus test! Even though I left my graphing calculator and precalculus notebook at home during the Thanksgiving break (never again, will I mix work with vacation), my father has mailed them yesterday; and, I had completed reading up to chapter 8 in the Calculus for Dummies book.

Later this evening, I will review my precalculus homework and test questions (the professor stopped the test because the majority of the students struggled to answer most of the questions though I had only one remaining. However, I, too, benefited from reviewing some of my answers. Honestly, I do not feel compelled to review every test answers in light of the professor okaying my answers to the most challenging homework problems. But, at least there is an opportunity to score higher than last week so I might as well review them.). After arriving on campus, I will continue to review my test questions, then submit my homework.

Unknown to me upon reading the text, I have covered a lot of the subjects in my precalculus class such as vertical and horizontal asymptotes and difference equations. Later tonight I will search my noted for corresponding homework problems and earlier assignments to refresh my knowledge.

The Week in Review

It has been over one week since I blogged and a lot of good stuff have transpired since last Tuesday. Yesterday I attended to MLK Memorial groundbreaking event, had an epiphany that I could complete my A.S. in Science/Mathematics degree by next December by taking CLEP, DANTES, portfolio assessment and waiving classes (and do not need to take the CLEP calculus exam to do so), completed reading part I in Trigonometry for Dummies ( I will finish reading part II today), and located some very good scholarships via VirginiaMentor and the Foundation Center. So much has gone right for me that I need to share it with the blogosphere:

Yesterday, Monday, November 13, 2006:
I awoke at 7:20am, caught the 7:31am 7C bus, forgot to grab my id card while awaiting the blue line metro to GWU, and spent nearly two hours trying to find the MLK Memorial groundbreaking event because of faulty directions. Though I made it and snapped pictures of Oprah, Senator Barack Obama and Tavis Smiley, I was glad to be in great shape for a very physical undertaking. I literally had to walk across Memorial Bridge! And it cost me $11 in Smartcard benefits! However, it was well worth it because I was a part of history and within two years the Memorial will be complete. Also all four of Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Kings' children attended the event. Seeing Yolanda jogged my memory that I would be seeing her at another event this Saturday. Having heard her speak before, she was extremely gracious and informative.

Also yesterday I located some great scholarship sources at the NOVA and Arlington libraries. During lunch I will go to the Foundation Center to complete outlining Don't Miss Out then travel to NOVA where I will pick up 501 Ways Adult Learner can finance college! There are still five more scholarship deadlines before the New Year, and I am intent upon capitalizing on every single one of them!

Sunday, November 12, 2006:
I figured out by taking the CLEP and DANTES exams, waiving college courses and PLACE allowed me to complete my A.S. in Science/Mathematics by next December. In addition, I did not have to take the CLEP calculus to accelerate the process meaning that I
could relocate to Rossyln, Virginia, which is closer to work after August 1st, and attain VA residency while taking the remaining classes at Arlington Center. Yippee!

Celebrating Ten Years' of Active Franchise

Today marks my tenth voting anniversary. Not even I could had imagined when I cast my first ballot in 1996 all of the changes that would shape my life:

• Interning in Washington, DC in 1998
• Receiving my BA in International Economics in 1999
• Traveling to London in 2002
• Graduating with my MBA on my 25th birthday in 2002
• Returning to Cleveland State University as an MA in Economics student
• Winning the BEA Economist job
• Transferring to American University and the Northern Virginia Community College
  
  While boarding the late 22A bus I started thinking about how I would commemorate this event. Now, I understand that this is a milestone and here is where I will be come my twentieth voting anniversary:
  
• Graduating cum laude from American University in 2007
• Possessing three years’ mathematical knowledge to be accepted into a top 25 doctoral economics program
• Being debt free
• Owning my own home and business
• Graduating summa cum laude with my Ph.D.
• Fully fund my college book scholarship
• Have a $1 million net worth

Becoming a Mentor

Last week my mother sent me an email regarding her colleague's cousin seeking career advice. The woman,a sophomore, attended an HBCU and majored in International Business. Having obtained an International Economics, Mom deemed me qualified to give her advice (either that or she just liked to brag that her daughter worked in DC!). Immediately I visited the school's website and located student club resources and referred her to the nearest Urban League and Black MBA Association. After relaying her this information, I conducted my own search and to my surprise, located a Northern Virginia Young Professional chapter with a cheaper membership than the DC chapter!

Being propelled into this role felt easy because as I enter my fourth decade on this Earth, my horizons are expanding. During my thirties I want to fully fund my book scholarship to aid low-income students with college costs especially since financial need aid is disappearing. Therefore, becoming a mentor seems like a natural progression in this direction.

A New Attitude and a New Outlook

Last night, I thought of a new synonym for Ph.D. pressure hones diamonds in response to the debate that Reverend Al Sharpton and Jay had regarding voting yesterday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. This is motivational because I want to obtain my Ph.D. plus franchise is extremely important to me.

Yesterday the math tutor told me that I needed some work on my algebraic concepts, that precalculus is the kind of math that I had to constantly work 100 problems, and upon the conclusion of my math session said until next time then proclaimed that “there is always a new time because you never stop learning!” How right he is. I have solved over twenty word problems in sections 4.7 and 4.8 alone and will incorporate them in my regimen because force me to think outside of the box. At the beginning of class, I feared word problems but after having enormous success, solving them seems like second nature.

In addition, yesterday I also decided that I would take total control over my life, career and education by requesting information from all of the Virginia educational organizations and going to the Foundation Center during lunch to research.

I have just finished emailing Virginian educational organizations for material requests and will know focus on my upcoming meeting with the career counselor. Having finished my Individualized Development Plan and registered for the SGE Conference, I feel that my career is full stem ahead! Today’s meeting will cover the IDP and how to market myself at the conference and tips regarding the ASSA event this January. Also I will tell her about my latest NUL and NAACP discoveries.

Discussing my IDP with her helped me immensely because she gave me more ideas regarding attaining my short-term and long-term goals. First, she talked about adding the ASSA Convention and NABE Policymaking conference to my IDP. Second, regarding Toastmasters she gave me the idea to create an icebreaker for the SGE conference (how ingenious!). I can practice my public speaking skills here at the conference. Why wait until November 8th? Third, she asked (well, actually prodded me) to seek out a mentor (I really do not know anyone so how could I?). Her remarks forced me out of my comfort zone. Immediately after the meeting I emailed my boss about my IDP so that he could review it.

Working Woman's Credo

I represent
This I can’t deny
As the Chinese proverb proclaims
“Women hold up half the sky”
I work so let’s myself perfectly clear
I embody Esther and Ruth
Biblical feminism for 5000 years

Manifest

I have the recipe
To manifest my own destiny
Every morning I awake
Every second that I breathe
I believe that I can achieve
All of my dreams
Though sometimes it seems
That life unravels at the seams
My radiance beams
Shine bright
Illuminate the daylight
Possessing insight
Examining hindsight
Incorporating foresight
To do what’s right
Add vigilance with due diligence
And the sum is intelligence
Multiply times experience
And the product is magnificence
This is what I manifest