What I Learned in One Semester of Nursing School

Tomorrow at 10 am marks the official end of my first semester. I'm trying really hard not to screw up my good grades at the end of the semester, but concentration has been a bit of an issue. I thought I was too old for that and this time would be different, but here I am... procrastinating. Since I was fortunate enough to have gotten some clinical experience at my last job, this semester hasn't been as hard on me as it has on others. Sure, I got shingles, but at least my sanity stayed mostly in tact. Regardless of all that scholastic nonsense, here's what I really learned:

1. There are a lot of us who are paying out of pocket and did not gain automatic acceptance who would really like to hear what our instructors have to say while in class. There are a few who don't meet that criteria who make it extremely difficult for the rest of us to concentrate.

2. The classes you find most worthless to your career will require you to do the most work... and no, it will not be graded.

3. Wasting class time with questions about whether or not you have Alzheimer's because this one time you stuck the milk in the pantry and your cereal in the refrigerator are not appreciated. Neither are questions about the contents of your kid's poop or starting every question with "I have a question." I mean, COME ON.

4. Most of our instructors are generally kind-hearted and easy to relate to. Don't mistake that for weakness. They will eat you alive.

5. Going to college for the second time will make you feel downright crotchety. Remember when you were 19 and acted that stupid? Didn't think so.

All in all, I had a pretty good run this semester, but I'm pumped for Christmas break. I've missed these month-long sabbaticals. Back in my corporate world days, I used to start new jobs in November and never was able to build up enough leave to get a decent break around the holidays while everyone else was off. It's times like these I really start to understand why some people are perpetual students.