Welcome to my Blue Pond!!.  I am a non-traditional student at Middle Tennessee State University.  I have returned after a 24 year sabbatical.  I have never blogged before and have never followed any blogs until I took an intro to Philosophy course where the instructor  utilized his blog for class instruction.  It got me to thinking, maybe using a blog can help me adjust back to the scholastic life and also to help my with my personal stress and anxiety. 
   
      I am not going to get into all the details of my past life but basically I was one of those students that got away from mommy and daddy and attended a University that was well known as a party school.  Did very well my first couple of semesters but then the partying seemed to take priority.  The drinking age was 19 so the majority of students could drink legally.  Fraternities and Sororities both held huge parties, advertising them all over the campus and I went to all of them.  It was a lot of fun but ruined not only my academic career but my future.  When I finally woke up to reality, my parents had cut off my funding for school and I was on my own.  I made an attempt in 1994 to return but I had to pay for it and work a full time job that was pretty much 24/7 work week.  Made 3 c's and a D and being on probation this wasn't enough to stay in school. Over the next 24 years I worked a very stressful job and had several tragic events happen that led me to have a form of PTSD so I quit working and returned to MTSU.  My goal is finish my degree (bucket list thing) even though I will probably never use it.  I look at returning to school like waldons pond.  A place I can go to get away from all the things that have stressed me out. I can use this time to clear my head and get back on track.  I find it very relaxing being on a set schedule and spending my time reading and thinking about things other than my past. 

     If you choose to follow this blog, my intent is to post about all the changes I have seen at MTSU and also to update about my progress.  My first semester back got off to a very bad start.  Every time I walked into a class room my heart rate would jump and I  couldn't focus my attention on anything but my thoughts.  I was afraid to speak up, I just tried to find my quiet place in the class room and hope nobody noticed me.  Most of that has subsided now, so my plan seems to be working.  I am speaking up, talking to students and professors, and my concentration has gotten a lot better.  I truly feel I am on the right track.

     Well thats it for now, I have to do my math homework and study for the exam.  Next time I think I will look at how studying and lectures have changed since my last semester in 1994.