Sunday, September 07, 2008

A simple update on my complicated schedule

i realized i haven't let many people know about my upcoming school year. When i was a senior in college, i thought i had experienced my last first day of class (i hoped). However, i hadn't officially decided on seminary. TOMORROW (God willing) is my LAST... FIRST day of class. i graduate in May (we hope).

To do this, i am technically overloading this semester. For us, three classes is a full load and 4 (or 3 plus a year long internship) is maximum. i am taking 3 classes and interning at St. Mary's as Chaplain for my CPE (clinical pastoral education). Unlike most CPE programs, mine is squeezed into September-Jan instead of Sept-May (which most of them are). So, technically, both of my CPE credits land on this coming semester, putting me at 5 credits in theory. i had to get special permission.

i am taking the first half of my New Testament class now that i've had Greek. i am taking a class called Evangelism in the Congregation which will take a look at how to do that and how it is and has been done in the past. i will also take one called Images of Jesus which will take a look at Jesus as pictured and imagined in art and media, including cinema and TV over time.

i'll also be exploring a Direct Study idea for January with a professor on Pastoral Care to Adolescents.

What does this mean practically? i'll have 3 courses that take up about 6 hours of class each week, plus their workload. They say to estimate 2 hours of work for every 1 you're in class. Then, i have 6 hours of class each week for CPE and must perform 17 hours of clinicals each week (hours in the hospital visiting patients.

Since Ashley and i share a car that she drives to work and the hospital is 6 miles away, i'll be trying to schedule my massive hosptial hours for weekends and an evening or two. Suffice as to say, i'll be mondo busy. Please don't take it as a sign that i don't love you if i can't visit or see or spend time with you this semester. i would almost certainly rather be with you!

i'll also be unofficially job hunting all this semester and officially start some time next semester when i am certified ready to receive a call. If you're the praying sort, now's a good time to start ;-)

PS: i also got a steroid shot this week to combat the lingering effects of the poison oak i got a month ago after 2 rounds of steroid pills. That stuff is evil!

1 comment:

Let It Be said...

you still have the poison oak?!?!?