The semester is almost over and I am very thankful! Presently, I am enrolled in two classes, one core curriculum course and one upper level course. The core course requires me to submit one written assignment weekly and respond to three peer discussion postings. The upper level course requires three written assignments and respond to one peer discussion posting. So, overall I have to complete four written assignments and respond to four peer discussion postings weekly. This doesn’t sound too bad, but each written assignment must be 300 words and consist of 2-3 references (APA Style). Lastly, the upper level course requires the completion of a group assignment every three weeks. To complete group assignments, each member must communicate through the phone, e-mail or Skype to make suggestions and share information. This is truly challenging, considering everyone’s busy work schedules and family lives.

Although the written assignments, discussion responses and group activities are difficult, I am enjoying completing every assignment. I believe that part of the enjoyment stems from participating in a major that I love. The other part comes from being part of a program that has thought about balancing work, student and family life.

In addition to learning more about public health, I also learned a great deal about course selection and workload. I learned that I must ask questions about the courses before selecting them. If I know that my life will be busier during a period of time, it may be better to carry a lighter load. In contrast, maybe I can take a heavier load when life is calmer. Regardless of the situation, I certainly feel more prepared to be successful during the semester.

Again, the semester is almost over and I can’t believe I did it!

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Hi Everyone! I am excited about blogging and joining this great community.

This semester I am taking Social and Behavioral Research Methods and Public Health Leadership. And to be quite honest, I feel tired and swamped. Originally, I thought this semester would be easier because I previously took Biostatistics, which was incredibly difficult. I have a background in statistics, but I was introduced to the new SPSS software. So why was this semester so difficult?

As a Ph.D. student, I am on a rigorous schedule to complete my course work and dissertation by 2012. This means that I must take full-time courses (2) a semester, while working full-time and raising five boys. My wife is just as tired and we have a wonderful time catering to our children's never ending needs. As a PhD student I must take classes throughout the summer. Of course, I have the option of taking two semesters off, but this would only delay my graduation. This semester is also difficult because I wasn't able to take a break from last semester. Additionally, I had to submit two research study proposals, which were both 25 pages long. I was hoping to include these papers in my dissertation, but it doesn't look like I can.

Lastly, as part of the PhD requirement, I have to complete four academic residencies. Academic Residencies are face-to-face sessions that provide students with opportunities to interact and develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills. They are held throughout the year at various locations in the United States and internationally. I was supposed to complete a residency three months ago, but I had a family emergency. Well, I now must complete one in the next several months and I would love to travel internationally. Chile, Spain or the UK really sparks my interest!

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