Unit 7

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate! Well I have to say that it has been a busy week. Thanksgiving was nice but I am glad it has passed. I cooked the traditional meal and it turned out great. Work was a bit hectic trying to get all of my clients in before the holiday but I got it done. I took Friday off to recoup and that was a good thing:) School is just flying by and I am enjoying working on my project about nutrition. This is one of my favorite topics. I really believe in the power of food. I just have to learn to love food a little less:) Sometimes during researching my paper I have come across some tidbits of information that I may not have been aware of. But all in all I know what I am writing about pretty well and so much of the info is familiar. Since being at Kaplan I have had peer reviews in other classes and I do like them. I always have my husband read my work but it is nice to have my fellow peers look over my work and give me their thoughts and feedback. More times than not I get what they are saying in the feedback. Occasionally I will get some feedback that may frustrate me slightly but I know it will only help me in the end because it does give me another "view" of my work. I am anticipating completing my project and have really appreciated my 2 current classes. After this I must try to get my little one in the bed and do my big boys laundry in addition to finishing some school work.

I read somewhere that the holiday season is one of the most stressful seasons of the year. So be easy and remember to take care of yourself.The holidays are a time that people are often a bit nicer and want to give but only give what you can afford to give. Remember that love don't cost a thing.

Sending love to all! Good night
*Nychelle*

Unit 6

Well here we are, more than half way through the term. I really can't say enough, how much I enjoy school. Over the last 6 weeks my life has been fairly uneventful. My family is good and getting into the approaching holiday spirit. As I get deeper into my education, I am wondering where I will end up in my future career. I know I want to teach but in addition to what? I am looking forward to changing careers. I really enjoy doing hair but after almost 16 years (been cutting my dad's hair since I was 10, so really like 26 years) I am ready to help people in a different way. I always talk to my clients about healthy choices and smart ideas about wellness. I think the one thing that I would like my clients see before I leave the world of hair is me losing weight and getting fit. I have always wanted to teach yoga, so maybe I will do the training and show my clients HOW to get on the path of wellness. I have a serious love for yoga even though I am not currently practicing. I feel that there are so many different ways to wellness and that people have to find their own special path! Sometimes it ain't easy but it is attainable. I want people to not only look good but to also feel good (good health).

You know I have to say that that is the one thing that I truly want to do is shed some weight. I really want to maintain my good health and I know that having this extra cushion is doing me no good. What's worse is that I love to exercise but don't do it. The problem is getting started and making the time within my day! But that is most people's issue. I really want to do this. I love being me but as I get older I feel more aches and pains. Those aches are totally unnecessary and reversible. I am like a fine wine or brandy: I get better with age! So I better get on it!

Wishing the everyone a healthy body, a content mind and a fun spirit! Until we meet again.....

*Nychelle*

Unit 5

Hello hello! Well on this fine evening I am pondering on how school is influencing my life. I think back to the beginning of the year when I decided to go back to school. I have always had a strong interest in health. I am always reading about the newest finds in the world of health and wellness. I love it. I love talking to my clients about ways to get healthy or stay healthy. School has been wonderful. I truly enjoy it. I have the support of my husband and family and that makes me feel really good about embarking on this academic journey. Of course, having kids, working and going to school can be challenging at times, it always works its self out. What I love is that my oldest son sees his mom doing homework and attending seminars. It shows him that his mom is serious about improving our lives with a better career. I love what I currently do (hairstylist) but I don't want to do it forever! I tell him that I want him to go to college sooner than later. I love my parents and think that they did a great job of raising me but they did not encourage me to attend college or even talk to me about my future (that I can recall). I believe that had they done so, I may have made efforts to go to college sooner. However, I do whole heartedly believe that everything happens for a reason and to everything there is a season. Now is my time to shine as a student and gosh darn it, I am! I think differently now, being a student. I think about how I can help to improve my life and my family's lives, in addition to helping others. Showing people how to improve the quality of their lives is an awesome thing and I can't wait to help people do that. Kaplan is giving me the foundation and knowledge to do this. I feel better about myself now because I am improving myself and I think about how me and my family's lifestyle will improve with a change in careers. Not working on the weekends, paid vacations, sick days....... These are all the things I know will come to me, when the time is right!

Ultimately I think school has positively flipped my life upside down and I love it. A year ago I wouldn't have believed you if you told me that I would almost be done with my first year towards obtaining my BA, but I am. School keeps me on my toes and shows my family that anything is possible if you believe in yourself!

Wishing everyone the best =)

Unit 4

Greetings all! So today my thoughts are on plagiarism and people stealing your ideas and thoughts. I personally have not had to deal with someone stealing my work like in a paper or something like that but, I have had some of my ideas stolen before. In one of my previous jobs, the owner of the salon I was working at said that an idea that I had told to him was his wife's and that it was a great idea and he was glad that she had come up with that thought. You know, I never corrected him and I think that I should have. Even if it was for my own piece of mind. I tend to be a real gentle, everything happens for a reason, what goes around comes around type person and because of that mentality, I may put myself in situations where I get walked on a lot. I can't help it. My philosophy is TREAT PEOPLE HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED and when people I come in contact with don't treat me very well, I believe that what goes around comes around. Anyways back to the issue of plagiarism and stealing work that is not yours. I do my very best to avoid plagiarism issues. I think that if someone else created it, then who am I to take their glory. That's not very nice, is it? Yes, it can be a real pain in the butt doing all the citation stuff we have to do in school but it is very important and for that reason, I really work on doing it the right way. I don't just do it because I don't want to get in trouble, I do it because it is the right thing to do! It feels good to do the right thing. When you do good and others see it, then they will be moved to do good things too! I know in the future, if I deal with a situation where someone has taken credit for something I did, I will confront the individual and get help, if need be. It is one thing to be a gentle person, it is a whole other thing to be mistreated. Also, dealing with the ramifications of plagiarism is very serious. No thanks!
The other day, I was doing a clients hair (she is a college student) and she spoke of how this older student who was helping a younger student stole the younger students work and ultimately ended up being kicked out of school. That is terrible. Can you imagine how each of those students felt in that situation? The victim was probably scared and then mad. I really wonder what would posses that student to steal? What was he thinking? What was going on in his mind? I don't know but I don't think it was worth it. Do you?

Until we meet again! *Nychelle*

Unit 3

What are my thoughts on being an online student?
Well, I have to say that being an online student is a really good thing for me. I enjoy it very much! I had a concept of what online learning might be like because my sister had taken some classes, but to actually do it is a whole other world. The online experience is not for everyone. You have to be self driven or you will fall behind. You also have to be OK with learning by yourself. Yes, we have seminar but it is different than your traditional class setting where you are there in person. I appreciate the flexibility of online learning. It allows those who wouldn't ordinarily be able to continue their education to do so. I also feel like a campus environment is a bit intimidating. Online education gives you the opportunity to be as private or as well known as you would like. There are pros and cons to this though. There may be opportunities where you and some class mates have things in common and could really help one another but if you don't put yourself out there a little bit, then you can miss that opportunity. I truly believes that everything happens for a reason and it is with that thought that I am here at Kaplan and have become a blogger! If you had told me last year at this time I would be a college student, on top of the other things going on in my life, I would have said "Really"? I wouldn't totally doubted it but I wouldn't have seen it like it is actually being played out now.

One idea to create a closer class community is to give students a class roster with email address before class begins to allow students to get in touch with other students and get to know them better, without having to worry about the school work that is currently due.

Ya know I can't say enough good things about Kaplan. I have had and am continuing to have a wonderful experience there. Ultimately I would like to teach for Kaplan. I have had some great professors and genuinely appreciate what they do.  It's great when you get instructors who you can feel their love of their job. Their are great at what they do. They are helping to create a better Nychelle and that's is an awesome thing!

*May your day be like that of a small child-Full of energy, giggles and lots of love!* Until we meet again.......