Tag Archives: school

To write or not to write?

Posted on by tosenkarski

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So this website is being a royal pain in my ass. I’m pretty tech savvy, but the scope of this project is pretty daunting.

The layout, the design, the theme. The only thing I am really sure about is the content for my pages. Doh, I’m a writer. 

Widgets, plugins, and customization are enough to drive anyone to drink. 

I’m pretty sure I would have it completed by now, but I live in Illinois. My friends who are all union workers are now laid off. There is probably 14 inches of snow on the ground, and as I type this up, it is again snowing.

Most of my time has been spent shoveling and riding on my snowmobile. Finally a year I can use it more than 7 times. 

The only downfall to all of this, I have not spent much time on the computer or prospecting for clients. 

The time away from the computer does not bother me in the slightest. Not prospecting is killing me though. I am not far enough along in my career to be able to take the time off I have. 

However, I am a firm believer in taking sanity over money any day. Yes, it is nice to have money, but if you are constantly working and not enjoying it, are you really living?

NO!!!!

My days seem so much different from where they were a week ago. I still do my exercise routine, write in my journal, and do my school work, but it seems so much richer now.

Thank you friends.

I am not saying we don’t deserve time off, but I have a nagging sense I am not accomplishing anything. 

I know this in not true, as my journal is filled with ideas I want to try to gather clients. Maybe I have been looking at the situation to long, and this time off is actually recharging my batteries. 

I have mentioned before, since my block, I haven’t felt like writing much. I have, I just don’t put the kind of energy in it I once did. Now its more to refine my craft. 

I know it is working, because classmates have mentioned it in our discussion threads. They are also enjoying the ideas and tips I give. I am in an English class, and being a writer, I have a keener eye than most.

Even the teacher enjoys my suggestions. She will elaborate on something I mentioned to a classmate. Always pointing me out. 

This time around, I don’t think my classmates are upset with me, like in previous classes. I have always encouraged and given tips in my class discussions, but some people in prior terms did not appreciate the help. 

Personally, I love being ripped apart about my writing. If its all praise, I can never expect to improve. But when the red is there, its time to learn. 

I have decided to take a Marketing class. I have gotten advice from A LOT of different people. Now its time to take a class and see where it leads. 

I hope there is some internet marketing involved. The class had better be up to date. Computers and freelance work is the way of the future. 

Happy writing everyone.

To write or not to write?

Posted on by tosenkarski

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Wow, its been awhile since I’ve blogged. I have been really busy lately.

My research papers for school, getting the portfolio ready for the website, and working on the website. http://www.taowriting.com. It is FAR from being ready yet.

I have also had to shovel yet again, and again, and again. We have had some cold windy weather in my area. Just like the rest of the U.S.

I have to laugh at people. A lot of people I know are complaining about winter. They are all complaining they want spring and summer. They are saying how over winter they are. Well guess what? We’re only about half way thru it. Time to strap on the snowsuit and deal with it.

Even with the subzero weather, it still hasn’t stopped me from going about my daily routine. Well not all of it. I haven’t been able to walk or run.

I like the cold, but I am not stupid. -5 with wind chills of -20. Yeah, I’m gonna stay in the house.

There are benefits of being inside more. I get to write more. Get ahead on my homework. And I actually turned on the T.V. and got caught up on some shows in my DVR.

Lately, I have been working on my bait pieces. I never realized how hard it is to lure people in. When I go out, I usually just have to say hello to someone, and a conversation will start.

Now, I have to take in to consideration, I am asking people to hire me.

No one said this was going to be easy. Actually everyone has told me quite the opposite.

Spend hours doing everything. Research, writing, reading, marketing, updating, conversing, and promoting myself.

I am up for the challenge though. I thrive in a chaotic scenario. It gets my blood and creativity flowing. More so than my running.

I have been thinking about my blog lately, even though I have kind of avoided it.

I am using Word Press for my website, as well as my blog. For this blog, I think I am still going to focus on free writing. For the website blog, I think it will be more work focused. I will actually write it up a few days in advance and edit it.

I am still getting resistance from family and friends about my decision to become a writer. It is because lately, I have had to tell them no to extra activities. I am still an apprentice with my career. I am not a professional yet. It still does not stop me from trying though.

I have to watch the amount of money I spend. I have my bills paid until July, but I like to have some reserve just incase something happens. Everyone acts as if its the end of the world.

I shouldn’t be too bad off come the beginning of June. I will receive the first of my payments for the grants I have written which have been approved.

Well, I have 2 research papers, a website, and bait pieces to work on.

Happy writing everyone.

The School Dilemma

Posted on by tosenkarski

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School is back in session.

I know I should feel excited, but I am not. You see, this is the last class I have to take before I earn my Bachelor’s degree. This has been an 18 year adventure in the making, let me tell you.

I am not excited about this, because I don’t really care. “What? 18 years of school, your almost finished and not excited. What’s wrong with you?”

Nothing is wrong with me. Over the years, I have learned school is a hoax.

Now, before I go any further, let me just say, I am talking about college education, not elementary education.

Our children do need the assistance to learn to read, write, and reason. Those I have to admit were the only things during my educational career I believe I actually needed a teacher for.

And yes, having the degree and that little piece of paper saying I completed it will be nice, but school is not where I got my true education.

My natural curiosity for learning led me down many different avenues for my education. Some of the learning I did, got me into trouble in some classes, because I asked questions that went against “standard” teachings.

Hell, to be honest with you, I didn’t learn anything from school I didn’t already know.

School is just like any other commodity.

Someone tries to tell you, that you need it to achieve greatness.

BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!

It’s true, education is a good thing, but you don’t need to pay $30,000 to $40,000 a year for it. Especially when you can get the same knowledge the teachers preach from a book.

I have done both in class and online classes. And, there are merits to both, but I preferred the online classes.

If I didn’t want to deal with someone’s stupid comments, I didn’t have to. I would read their drivel, and if I didn’t want to comment, I wouldn’t. Where as in a classroom setting, I would have to listen to this idiot constantly.

I am not saying, you shouldn’t go to school. I am saying though, you are paying A LOT of money for an experience. Because that is what college is these days. An experience.

You see the joys of having your degree is, most employers won’t look to see what your GPA is. Just that you have the degree. You could coast through with all C’s and no one is going to care.

Which means little time studying and more time partying. Experiencing. Not learning. You learn on your own time at your own pace.

These last 2 statements are why I am calling bullshit on the whole college institution.

Over the last 18 years, I have spent a fraction of the price I know many have for a 4 year degree. And I can also tell you, I had a lot more fun and learned a hell of a whole lot more too.

So the decision is yours, put yourself into massive debt for an experience, or live life and educate yourself.