Z - ShamrockSox

Another Week

Another lackluster yet crazy week...

As it usually happens in many classes, the syllabus isn't strictly adhered to.  I don't think I've ever had a class that has stayed right on schedule.  So, many of my midterms have been pushed back.  I got my terrorism midterm last night, and it's not even due until the end of the semester.  I want to do it in the next 2 weeks though, since I'll have way too many other things to do at the end of the semester.  It's 4 essay questions, of which we must answer 3, at 1-2 pages each.  Not bad at all.

We haven't gotten our midterm for Policy Analysis and Program Eval (which I think I'll refer to as PAPE from now on) yet, but I think it'll probably be difficult.  We're getting into the more mathematically based stuff, which is really not my forte.  But I'd better learn it, since it's the type of stuff I'd like to do someday.  I'm not happy that I have to take CJ Research Methods as well, since it's basically the same thing.  I'd rather take an elective.  Maybe I can work that out, who knows? 

What's the deal with Suffolk having classes cancelled due to holidays rescheduled for Fridays?  Luckily, most of my professors have substituted a take-home exam for these days (instead of using a whole class to take a test).  I thought the general unspoken rule was that if you have a class on a holiday, too bad, you miss it.  No one wants to be here on a Friday night, especially from 7-10pm!

Anyway.  We're reading a very interesting book in Juv. Del. called "Last Chance in Texas."  It's about an innovative program for rehabilitating youth in Texas.  I might have mentioned it before, I'm not sure.  It's very interesting, going into the stories of the youths and what they've been through, causing them to become serious offenders.  However, it's very disturbing and sad at the same time.  But, I'd still recommend it - it's an interesting an easy read.

For my Juv. Del. paper, I'll be focusing on juvenile female offenders, which will be good, since I can pull from my experience as a residential counselor in a detention center.  I had a few other ideas, but my professor basically told me not to do them.  But, to be able to put personal experience into such a paper is rare, and I'm excited to do that.

I started doing research for my Foundations of PAD paper, which I'll be doing on citizen participation in policy making.  Could be interesting.  I pulled a bunch of articles that sounded like they might be relevant, but have yet to go through them.

The long weekend was much needed.  I went to Connecticut to visit some friends from high school going to grad school there.  It was fun, though a lot of driving.  And I certainly didn't get much homework done.

It'll probably have to be made up for this weekend.  Eek.

S is for Stress...and Sox!

It has been a long, tiring, hectic few weeks. 

My Mondays and Tuesdays start off on the commuter rail around 8am, and end on them around 11pm.  During this time there is work, class, and maybe 3 hours or so of downtime - which usually ends up being homework.  It leaves me with a relatively open Wednesday and Friday, but it also leaves me exhausted for most of the week.  I'm very glad I didn't take a second job.  I just don't think the time would be worth it!

Midterm season is upon us...already!?  For Foundations of PAD we have a take home essay, and it's optional.  I think I'll do it, just to take a bit of the pressure off from the final paper and final exam.  We've been asked to describe the major thoughts of two main thinkers of early public administration.  It's hard to go wrong there.  Policy Analysis and Program Eval should be 2 weeks after that, also take home.  Take home exams are a double edged sword.  On the one hand, you do well, almost without question.  On the other hand, I usually end up spending a lot more time on take homes than a regular exam.  But honestly, what I learn probably has a lot more depth to it.

I'm still having trouble coming up with paper topics.  As for the homeless project, I'd still like to do that.  However, since I'm not taking the statistic follow up of Program Eval, I'll never carry out the program evaluation I design for the agency.  Why should they give me all their time when I'm not going to even do the project?  This'll be something I'll have to hash out.  For Juvenile Delinquency, we have free reign on topics.  I saw a documentary about a boys detention center in Indiana where 24 select boys were put into a program for military training, whereupon they would have a good chance of entering the military afterwards.  Since in my opinion, education and career are the most important aspects of sucessful offender re-entry, I'm hoping to look into similar vocational programs and their success.  Hopefully the info is out there!

At work, our big semester program is coming next week, and I'm almost solely responsible for planning it.  Most of it has been done for a while, but I'm hoping I haven't screwed anything up.   Suffolk is still very new to me, so I don't know all the channels and procedures.  Today I went around hanging up posters...what a workout!

There is another factor adding stress to many New England students, myself included.  The Red Sox!  The playoffs are here, and we're playing the Angels.  That means late games.  I didn't go to bed until 1:30 last night.  I'm tired and a bit cranky, but in a much better mood than I would have been had I stayed up to watch them lose!

On a slightly more serious note - the deadline for voter registration is near.  Get registered and vote, vote, vote.  Altough the presidential campaign is important, there are other things at stake too.  If you're a Mass. resident as I am, there are also proposition questions concerning banning the state income tax, marijuana, and dog racing.  I think it's very important that young people turn out and pay attention to this election (and politics in general - however boring it may be).  There are so many things that need to be fixed.  We have a huge defecit, a social security fund that will be long gone before we're ready to retire, a mortgage crisis, millions without health care...oh yeah, and two wars.  I could go on, but you get the point.  We're going to be paying for all of this.  We might as well have a say in where are money will go and what will be done with it - hopefully to the benefit of many.

I'll get off my soapbox and do some homework.

Go Sox!