Labrador Reflection 2

     I have always thought that I would never go back to school to finish off my master's program.  I was worried that I would not get back into my "college" mode, that is, the mindset of cramming last minute studies for a final exam or turning in assignments and projects on specific dates.  I became too complacent as a educator.  Rather than becoming the student, I would be the one giving the assignments, projects, and exams.  All the hurdles that hindered my progress in the past made me believe that I will never complete my master's program ever. That I should just spend the rest of my years not improving myself and just continue working until I reach my retirement.  I have lost the motivation to progress as an individual.  

     But, because of my supportive colleagues at JFK High, I was able to motivate myself in completing the entry and registration process at Triton University. I felt reinvigorated and eager to begin my master's program once again. 

     The start of the class was shaky.  I didn't know exactly what "Moodle" was or how to even tackle an online course.  When I was in college in the early 2000s, we didn't have this type of technology and I'm not even that old.  I started the class late, once I officially registered and opened an account in "Moodle" on Christmas Eve.  When I logged on, I realized that I was behind and had to start immediately.

     Everyday, including Christmas Day, I would get on the computer and spend many hours completing and catching up to any assignments posted in "Moodle," despite all the other things I have to do at end of the day.  Then, it hit me. I can actually pull it off. I can still climb the threshold of a graduate student and handle this high-level academia. I am slowly, starting to realize that the tainted thought I brought to myself in never completing my masters program was just an illusion of defeat.  As Rocky Balboa stated, "the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!"

     I just want to let you all know that, each time I am working on my assignments or projects in the class, I am learning more about myself. I learn that I can actually perform high-level tasks once I put my mind into it. That I am able to break through my wall of fear in time management.  Believe it or not, but my classmates, who are working so hard on their assignments and projects, are motivating me to do better and allowing me to provide high quality work to our professor, Dr. Rivera.  Thank you, everyone! My experiences,thus far, has been fulfilling!