This was my first semester taking five courses (15 credits), and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous at the beginning on how I was going to handle the caseload. In the past, I would normally take four courses, so I guess I was gradually building myself up. Since this was my sixth semester with the World Campus, I thought it would be time to see if I could do it. The one thing that I did not factor in was the fact that I was in training for a new position at my work, but in the end, since the new position had better hours (no more late night shifts!!!), I was able to get through it.
What I was not prepared for was HPA 101 (Introduction to Health Services Organization), which was taught by Dr. Mike. It was a survey course, and I had no clue what a survey course was. I looked through the textbook before the semester started, and since it was a health policy class, a lot of the terminology from the textbook was familiar. I say that because of my background in trying to get the cochlear implants, as I had to deal with health insurances, and things of that nature. However, the course was more than that. It was an eye opening experience for me.
In a survey course, you are required to do a lot of research, reading, and writing. Dr. Mike wanted us to use sources that had great reputations, and he introduced me to one of the greatest things that we as World Campus students have at our disposal…The online library (AKA…THE CAT).
In the beginning, I was worried that I was not going to be successful in this course, as I do struggle with writing papers “the college way.” Through constant communication with Dr. Mike, I was able to build up my confidence, and in the end, one of my papers got selected for what Dr. Mike calls the “HPA Hall of Fame.” From that point on, I knew I could succeed in the course.
Dr. Mike gave me confidence in my writing (even though I have four books published, my writing confidence still wavers). He gave me the tools to be able to look ahead to my PSYCH 400-level courses, and the confidence to say, “I can do it.” Dr. Mike instilled in me the skills that I needed to become a critical thinker, and perhaps a much better “college-style” paper writer.
My horizons expanded this spring semester also with my EGEE (Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering) course. This class probably opened up my eyes a little bit more to the environmental aspects of what goes on when we use electricity, energy, and how much we could really save, money-wise, and environmentally. Some of the statistics that I have read in this course really made me think. I was kind of wondering when I was reading the textbook, “How does this apply to my psychology major?” That was easy to determine after I took the final: “I was becoming a more rounded person, and not just being limited to studying psychology.”
That was what I got out of my spring 2012 semester. Penn State World Campus offers so much more than just what your major or degree is. It opens up more doors to your education by offering courses such as EGEE and HPA 101. I did think, back in the summer of 2010, that when I started I was going to have to take nothing but psychology classes, but as the semesters flew by, I know now that is not the case. Penn State wants you to become a well-rounded individual, and equip you with the tools and skills needed to succeed in all your courses.
I just want to say thanks to Dr. Mike for opening me up a little bit more and installing more confidence in my education. Now I know that I’m better prepared for the “back-stretch” of my journey to achieve my B.S. in Psychology, and that is what I learned from this semester. That is why I love Penn State World Campus.
WE ARE…