I Am Now A College Graduate. Now On to the Next Goal.

  On May 18, 2012 I have finally reached my first goal of graduating the Community College of Rhode Island. I have received my Associates of Arts Degree in General Studies. Now, my second goal should be looking for a job. But unfortunately in this economy that is barely impossible. So I added an "in between" goal, instead. That goal, too achieve my Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island. I already have been accepted into the Health Studies Degrees Program.  However, due needing time off to recoup I had to withdraw the Fall of 2012 semester. But for me to achieve this goal, I may have to take my Anatomy and Physiology course at my old school, the Community College of Rhode Island. Though I already had taken Anatomy, however, the Health Studies program wants to me to the combination form. But in order to succeed in such a course, the Anatomy/physiology course will be the only course that I will take. You ask, why CCRI when you already got accepted into URI? Well, one I would save a ton of money on both books and educational costs. CCRI it would only cost me only about $700 total (fees, books, tuition), where as URI over $2000 (plus the $300 enrollment fee, paid out-of-pocket). My Timing to start achieving this goal, Spring of 2013. Now that I completed one goal, I am off and ready to complete the next one. Well, after I have a relaxing summer off, of course.
 

How a Health Issue affected my schooling into a Positive Path

  Through this journey of become successful, unfortunately, this year, I have had some major set backs.I was going to the Community College of Rhode Island, www.ccri.edu originally to become a Histology Technician. But, through my clinical, I have struggled with using a microtome (which is used to cut tissues samples) and also grabbing the tissues after it is cut and placing it in the water bath. I also struggled with tons of physical pain from both my muscles and bones. I went to a neurologist during my summer break, who diagnosed the manual dexterity problem as  Dyspraxia, which caused my manual dexterity issues. This was the sad reality  because I was unable to become a Histology technician because being it requires too much fine manual dexterity. My pain was diagnosed as Fibromyalgia and was put on Neurotin. Unfortunately, I was unable to digest the meds and still trying to find a solution. I tried months of physical therapy, especially for the Dyspraxia. Unfortunately it did not work and I had to leave the Histology Technician program. However, though it was a huge disappointment, but here is how it turned out to be a blessing.
 It turned out I had enough credits to get my General Associates degree, due to the fact I had to take a bunch of general education requirements and also with the classes that I had taken back when I originally went to school in 1997 and 1998. I only have 3 more classes I have to take just to get the Associate's in General Studies. Now, I still love the Medical field, so I am transferring to the University of Rhode Island www.uri.edu in the fall of 2012 in their Health Studies program. And the good news is all of the sciences I had to take, plus the general education requirements, I have met my general and additional credits to get into the Health Studies program.
 See it goes to show you, that one can take a negative situation and make it positive. Now, going from only wanting an Associate's to actually having a Bachelor's due to a health issue, now that is the Positive.