“School’s Out!”

by Terrence Cain

Indeed it is. For some of you it’s over for good. That’s not my case, however. I am very happy to be moving on to my fourth semester. 2012 will hopefully be my final year, provided I pass all my classes in the next two semesters. It doesn’t feel like it’s been a year to me since I first started at Howard College in the fall of 2010. It’s definitely been one wild ride and I never thought I’d make it this far. I used to doubt my intelligence and thought that college was out of reach for me. For years I had heard horror stories from people I knew who talk to me about how hard college was. It’s most definitely a lot easier that I thought it would be, or am I a lot smarter than I realized? Well, either way, I’m happy I took that big leap forward. I have three successful semesters behind me; and two left to get my associates. I’m very much looking forward to getting into a university so that I can get my bachelors in print journalism. So what was the craziest thing that happened the week of finals? I got sick. How do you like that? I guess I was being tested to see if I could handle the week. Well despite being ill I did pass all my classes, so take that germs. Okay, enough funny business. I hope everyone has a great vacation and warm and happy holidays with their loved ones. Until next semester, this is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

“Three Down, Two To Go!”

By Terrence Cain

Thank God this semester is almost done! Next week are finals and then no more school until January 17^th! I know what I just said sounds bad to some people. It almost sounds like I was forced to be here, and in a way I kind of was, but I am happy I am in college too, and I am very happy that it was at Howard College. And no, I am not just saying that to save myself. I am genuinely happy to be at Howard College. Like I have said in the past, I wanted to go to college back in 2001 when I finished high school but I couldn’t because my parents were told that my father made too much money for any financial assistance to a legitimate college. How ridiculous is that? My father worked very hard for the majority of his adult life and barely made enough money to support his family. He never made enough money to save any so that he could send his children to college. I really don’t know how they could say to my father that he made too much money in 2001 to get financial assistance to send his only son to college, which just boggles my mind. Funny though they gave me financial aid for a horrible trade school that is now being questioned on ethics by the federal government? Yeah, it’s a crazy world we live in, that’s for sure.

Now the reason I say I was kind of forced is because I lost my job in 2009 with oil and gas production company and couldn’t find work for over a year, so it was either go back to college or go home to live with my parents. As much as I love my parents, I knew I couldn’t go home without a fight. So here I am, completing my third of hopefully only five semesters.

The reason I am happy this semester is pretty much completed, with the exception of finals taking place next week, is because it means I am that much closer to getting my associates and then moving on to a university to get my bachelors in print journalism and hopefully back into the working world as a journalist at magazine or newspaper writing about music, my one true passion. Even if I don’t get started writing about music, that’s okay with me. As long as I can write that’s really all that matters to me in the beginning.

So was college as hard or harder than you thought it would be? Honestly, at least from my perspective and maybe because I am older than the majority of you, I’ve found it to be a lot easier than I ever thought it would be. I’m not saying I’m making straight A’s, I’m not, but it definitely isn’t crushing me and making me regret I ever attended either. So hopefully you all are realizing college isn’t that hard either. You just have to take things one day at a time and stay on top of your subjects. I find that four classes a week is very manageable and virtually stress free. That’s my recommendation to any of you who are reading this blog and have not signed up for next semester yet. Well, that’s all I have to say for this week. Next week will be my last post until the new semester, so be safe going back home for the semester break, good luck on your finals, and have a great weekend everyone! This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

“The End Is Near”

By Terrence Cain

So how was your Thanksgiving? Did you overstuff yourself with Turkey and all the other little delicacies that come with a traditional Thanksgiving feast? I know I did. Did your favorite football team win? Did they even play at all on Thanksgiving Day? Me personally, I haven’t watched a football game since that infamous Super Bowl scandal involving Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Football just doesn’t thrill me the way that it did in the early nineties when I was a kid growing up. I personally prefer Europe’s Rugby now over any American sport. And yes I know that the Janet Jackson debacle was in 2004, but by that time I had not watched an America football game since 1997. I only watched that Super Bowl game because of who was performing that night. The game was just boring to me.

Anyway, this is my first of three final posts for this semester. It’s a little sad for me, but it’s okay because I’ll be back full swing in January. I don’t know about you but I have already signed up for next semester and I cannot wait to return on January 17th. This week though, at least for me and maybe you as well, has been super hectic. It’s been one mad dash after another to get everything ready for next week since that will be the last for all projects before the finals after that. I just hope everything goes well and that I pass everything this semester.

And I can’t believe I am almost done with my time at Howard College. Two more semesters and I will have an associates degree. I’ve really enjoyed my time so far at Howard. All the professors are nice and helpful, and yes I am including Prof. Tommy Tune in US History and Government here in Big Spring. People tend to think he’s a real hard nose, but deep down he’s a softy and willing to help you out if you approach him in the right way.

I am so looking forward to graduation day because I will be able to move on to a university and get my bachelors in print journalism, which will make me very happy by 2014. Getting back to work is the whole point of being in college at 28, so I hope this all pays off in the end. Picking a university is not easy though. I’ve been looking at three so far. One is in Seattle, one in Boston, and the other in Austin. They’re all great universities, but what I have to look for is what they’re offering because journalism carries many facets and I don’t want to be trained for the wrong area of journalism. Well off to work on my plant and landscaping projects in my Horticulture class. Until next week, this Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

“Where Did The Semester Go?”

By Terrence

This week, heck this entire semester has gone by fast! Seriously, where did the time go? I swear this semester just started last month. Ah how time flies. This week was ridiculously busy for me, and next week seems to be even more ridiculous. I had two tests this week, Monday’s was Criminology and Thursday’s was U.S. Government. I also had to finish up an essay for my U.S. Government class that I had to turn in as well. Now I have to finish up my Horticulture plant project and get started on my landscape drawing that is due on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and a three-page biography for my Criminology class. Life just doesn’t seem to be slowing down for me at all this semester. That’s okay though. I’m not complaining. I like to keep busy. Well I hope everyone has a great and safe Thanksgiving. I’ll post a new one after next week’s holiday festivities are over with. This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

I want to apologize for the long delay. There were some technical difficulties in trying to get things posted. Here is the post you were all to see last Friday. Hopefully things will be fine for this week's post.

“Nothing To Say”

By Terrence Cain

As the title says above I really don't have anything to say. I've been very busy this week getting the few final projects done for three of my four classes; which are all coming along nicely by the way. Next week I have two exams and a five page essay review on a book for my U.S. Government class to turn in by next Thursday. That project coupled with my other project in Horticulture and then studying for my Criminology exam on Monday will be all that I do these next three days so this is where I will end this week's blog. Sorry to be so short but there just isn't much to say this week. This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Clocks, They Are A Changing”

By Terrence Cain

The seasons and the clocks are changing once again. It is November and the semester is almost over. It seems like this semester only started yesterday. How time flies when you're moving forward with your life! I don't have much to say. Been busy getting things tidied up for my three most demanding classes. I've got a five page essay in my U.S. Government class, a three page cause and effect bio for my Criminology class, and then a booklet to put together with three other classmates about fifty different types of plants for my Horticulture class. Thankfully the last one is split between us to make the load lighter. Now for the record I am not complaining. I am just simply telling you all how busy my classes are. Funny thing is that this semester my Algebra class is actually the simplest one I have, but don't tell Prof. Buske I said that. She might think I've lost my marbles as much as I complain about my frustrations with math. Well I want you all to have a great, safe, and warm weekend. Don't forget to change your clocks back one hour this Sunday. This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

Happy New Year!”

By Terrence Cain

If you're a Pagan you know October 31^st as a day of celebration of a bountiful harvest of the crops and a celebration of a new year beginning. This day for us is called Samhain, pronounced Sau-in. It's a Gaelic-Celtic holiday that has been celebrated for centuries. Many believe October 31^st to be the true end of summer and November 1^st to be the start of a new year. If you're not a Pagan then you only know October 31^st as Halloween, a holiday for dressing up in scary costumes, or some ridiculous non-threatening outfit, that you will undoubtedly parade around in either at a party or with friends or family to go trick-or-treating door to door in while yelling; “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to it! If you do, I'll be good to you, but if you don't I'll come back and play a trick on you!” Yes, I was bad kid growing up. I used to smash pumpkins, teepee houses, and egg cars if I wasn't given candy on Halloween night, but enough about my criminal past. Happy Halloween to all. Be safe, don't be indulging in any criminal mischief, and have a good time. Now on to more pressing matters.

This week was pretty interesting. I had an exam in my Criminology class, passed it just as I did the last time. In my U.S. Government Class we're getting heavily into the many facets of the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s; showing how the black's civil rights led to the women's, the Indian's, the disabled, and now homosexual civil rights. In my Horticulture class we planted seeds and talked about the various ways farmers speed up the process for bountiful harvests. Horticulture has become one of my favorite classes and I really enjoy Prof. Berry's class. Well that's pretty much it for now. Hopefully the Rangers will win the final game since they fudged their chances last night. Have a great weekend and a very happy Halloween! This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Mid-Terms”

By Terrence Cain

It doesn’t feel like it, but yes, we are in mid-terms right now. It feels like it was only yesterday when the fall semester started. It seems like this year is going by fast for some reason, and I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ve heard others on campus expressing this feeling, including the professors.  And it begs the question; where did the time go? I guess that’s a question for the ages, now isn’t it?

In Monday’s Criminology class we finished up with the statistical discussions on crime and how some of it is most likely inaccurate do to the fact that not all crimes are reported. In my Horticulture class on Tuesday when we went to lab we used the green house to start an experiment of sorts. We all had to find two different plants, cut stems at forty-five degree angles and repot them using a root hormone with fungicide in it called Rootone-F. This particular chemical will cause stems to sprout roots. It’s amazing what chemicals can do, especially to plant life. We learned about plant grafting and how scientists have been able to take plants of different kinds, but from the same family, and make them grow multiple fruits. One tree we talked about was one that could grow several different kinds of citrus fruits. It boggles my mind how they’ve been able to get lemons and oranges to grow from one tree.

Now in my U.S. Government class we finished up with the bill of rights on Tuesday before we took our test on Thursday. My heart tells me I pass all but maybe one question because my mind went blank on it as usual. In Algebra I’m working on graphs, so I won’t bore you with all of that. It is going to be a busy weekend again for me because I will be studying for my Criminology test on Monday. I’m just glad the temperatures are going to be really nice this weekend. Until next week; this is the Howard College blogging machine, over and out!

“The Beat Of My Drum”

By Terrence Cain

There has been so much going on in the world lately that it makes what I’m doing look like a minuscule drop in the ocean. Even if what I’m doing is just a tiny speck in the universe’s vast ocean I will just keep pressing on anyway because I’m not giving up for any person or thing. Even when I get frustrated and end up hating one of my subjects, let’s say Algebra for instance, I still know that I’m never giving up on finishing college. I can’t give up, I just can’t. “Terrence Cain admits defeat?” No, you’re never going to hear that headline or read that anywhere at any time or place. Maybe it’s the Irish blood in me. Maybe it’s the fact my parents raised me to never give up, to never accept “loser” as a title for myself. Or maybe it’s because I’ve gone through way too much in my life to get to this point and say that others have won in their fight to keep me down.

I don’t mean to get on my soap box and start preaching; but this week has been a long and rough one for me. I hope that this week’s post will inspire others to do as I am doing and fight to keep banging that drum for personal success and happiness. Life is never easy, but you as a person can do so by just keeping your head up and your thoughts focused and sharp.

I had tests in both Horticulture and Algebra this week and I’ve never been very good at tests. On test days I feel like Adam West in the 1966 Batman movie where Batman is running all over the pier trying to get rid of a bomb with that feeling inside me always saying; “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!” I know that sounds a bit exaggerated, and maybe so, but that’s just how I feel on test days when I know I’ve done everything I can to study and yet my brain goes blank the very minute I read the first question presented to me on the test.

This seems to mostly happen with Algebra. I was told earlier this week by someone, and I’ve heard this before, that numbers and letters are virtually the same. I disagree. They’re total opposites. With words you can somewhat mess with them and come up with new words and meanings for them. Numbers are straight forward; sometimes even complex or confusing, and no matter what they will never allow you to do anything outside the rules. And for most people that’s why they have a much easier time with numbers than they do with letters. For me, however, it’s in complete reverse.

Numbers make me wince and letters make me swoon. That’s why I’m here in college. Journalism has always been an interest of mine and I’ve always done well in school with words, but those pesky numbers get me every time. Maybe it’s because there are almost no rules in language, except for the one that tells you to not sound like a fool of course. The only time you have rules in language is when you have to turn those words and ideas into a printed group of words on paper, then you have all kinds of rules, but even if you throw all those rules out you can still understand what someone is trying to convey because of how easy language is to manipulate and arrange. You really can’t manipulate numbers; and if you don’t pay close enough attention you can really screw things up in a formula. Someone with ADD, such as myself, that makes it even harder because the focus is never one-hundred percent clear.

Still, though, I’m not giving up. College courses are indeed hard, but they should be because it’s the hard things that will make you smarter. It’s the complex ideas and formulations that will show you the pathway to a new idea that was never thought of before. Like me, you’ll get frustrated and angry. You’ll probably even cry and say to yourself; “I quit! I’ve had it! No more, this is too hard!” But hopefully you’ll be too bullheaded like me and fight off those negative feelings and keep pressing on and try to make your frustrations work for you instead of against you.

You all have a whole life ahead of you. Know that college is not forever. From everything I’m doing I should be done by 2014, that’s not that far away. And I know for a lot of you it’s not that far either. It gets easier once you get into your field of study because college prepares you for almost everything you will encounter in your line of work. Just keep on truckin’ because you’ve got nothing to lose by succeeding. Thanks for reading this week’s post. This is the Howard College blogging machine, over and out!

“Beautiful Creator”

By Terrence Cain

On October 5^th co-creator of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs, passed away after an eight year battle with pancreatic cancer. They gave him three to six months to live, but for a time they thought he had won the battle. Sadly his cancer came out of remission and took his life. The Apple Corporation has been an integral part of mine and millions of other’s education for the past twenty-two years or more.

I remember as a child when I was attending Burleson Elementary in my hometown of Odessa, Texas that we had a computer lab that we would visit regularly to learn how to type, spell, and do math on an Apple computer. We would play education games like Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where’s Waldo? A lot of my early introduction to technology was from products built by Steve Jobs, or at best based off ideas he originally came up with.

As an adult I’ve used many of his creations. I’ve used Mac computers and laptops, I’ve used many different iPods, and I know a vast majority of people today use the Apple iPhone. It was indeed a total shock to my system on Wednesday night as I was watching CNN and the Breaking News banner came up to announce his passing. Steve Jobs gave me and so many others so much joy in knowing what technology can do for us and what great things can come from a beautiful creator such as Steve Jobs was. Steve had so much more to do. A life cut too short at fifty-six. I don’t think I’ll ever look at my iPod or laptop in quite the same way ever again.

I don’t mean to get all philosophical on you. I just felt I needed to share that because the truth is that Apple didn’t just touch people at home or at work, but in the educational world as well. Every classroom I see in Howard College’s Big Spring campus has an Apple computer in it. Even my editor, Cindy Smith, uses an Apple computer in her office. The innovations will always be there, but sadly his new ideas and what Steve Jobs would have done in the future will forever be gone. Thank you Steve Jobs, you made my life better with your beautiful and wonderful creations. You made everyone’s life better because of your ideas.

In this week’s classes I had some good and interesting discussions in both my Criminology and U.S. Government classes. In Criminology we talked about what is considered to be illegal in one place may not necessarily be in another; such as indecency laws and traffic laws. In my U.S. Government class we discussed mainly the first amendment, freedom of speech. We talked a lot about it and how it has at times been abused by those in power. We talked about the second, third, fourth, and fifth amendments as well but not to the degree we talked about with the first amendment.

Not much I can really say about my Algebra class. I’m just happy my grade is still up in the As. In my Horticulture class we talked mostly about soil and what is the perfect soil for most plants and crops. We also got to see samples of different soils and talked about them and their textures as well. Well that’s all I have to say for now. I’ve got a busy weekend for myself, so take it easy and have a great weekend. This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!