School, School, School

I've had lots of drama with school the last few days. I am taking one class at NOVA and three classes through Boyce's online degree program. Boyce is my school but I just have to take three classes at NOVA because they don't offer them through online classes at Boyce. I paid for Boyce, which meant they shipped my DVDs and also I have all of my books on the way. That's great! Classes don't officially start there till Monday the 19th. Like I said last time, I'm nervous but excited.
However, NOVA is my source of stress. I'm sorry to badmouth the place, but I really hate it. I've had so many problems (and those were just last semester) but I've already started this semester out on a bad foot. But, praise be to my Lord, He had a lot of good come out of my stress from the last couple of days.

I was signed up for a Hybrid English Composition 2 class on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-10:45. I kept checking the bookstore and my professor had not assigned any books for the class. Also, she had not put up a syllabus. The day before my class (Monday), I arrived home from my Pastor's house at about 9:30 p.m. Usually I don't get home till 11:30 so I guess right there is a blessing from God. Anyway, I logged onto my blackboard account and my class was up! Yay! Well.....I looked at the syllabus and it said that it was a class called Women in Literature!!!!!! AND I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THAT!!!!! So I was really upset and tried to change it, but I couldn't because NOVA hadn't approved my English Composition 1 class from Liberty yet. Before, I had just gone to an advisor and she had manuelly done it. So I had to go to the school the next day (Tuesday) and try to change the class. Which meant I would miss the class I wanted to switch my original one with.

Now, I am a pretty huge overachiever academically. I didn't realize it until I went to Liberty but I am. I have thought a lot about why I am this way and I think I have pinpointed the reason. All of my cousins are way smart. And I mean way smart. And I always felt like the kind of average one so I really wanted to prove myself when I got to college and get a 4.0 and everything. Well, I did that but I also left after just one semester. Because of that, I still felt like a failure and that my family looked down on my intelligence and/or endurance. So missing the first class is kind of a big deal to me.

As I prepared for my visit with the adviser, I prayed for God's peace and that He would fill me with contentment in any situation. Probably a year and a half ago I wouldn't have done that but He reminded me of His presence and control and I cried out to Him. I have such a loving Lord. He did calm me and I went into my meeting ready for whatever was thrown me. The class I wanted was full so I signed up for a class at a different location on Mondays instead of Tuesdays. In the end, this is a much better situation for me. This location is where a few of my friends go and I am glad that I am going there as well. I have e-mailed my new professor and she has already responded to me! I am excited about the class and my first assignment sounds fun and interesting.

So my prayer is that when I face trials, I will be reminded of this little bit of stress and how God changed it into a learning experience and overall a better situation for me.