The Flower: An Introduction to Tasha

Introducing New Author from Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Tasha

The Flower: by me, Tasha

This is a personal poem I wrote, about the boy breaking down my walls. 

The Flower leans and stretches,

searching for the light.

Wanting the world to see her.

Wishing to feel the warmth.

The Flower is strong and fighting,

pushing through the dark.

She knows it exists outside,

she’s been told its worth the wait.

The Flower begins to wilt.

The weight of the sadness

is growing all around her.

Slowly she begins to loose petals,

she looses her beauty and light.

The Flower almost dead,

begins to drop her seeds.

She wishes the world be kind 

to her secret in the dark.

Just as the last petal falls,

a boy lets in the light

and finds her secret hiding;

The mass of Flowers

reaching up for him.

Come Hell or High Water

Perpetual Andragogy has taken a different turn. I always knew it would. I will expound later. But in the meantime, I will leave You with my Sunday Prayer of Thanks, on this, July 15, 2012.

Sunday, July 15 2012 ~ Fingernail Moon ~ Stars Coming into Alignment ~ Missouri ~  Our United States of America

Praise of Wisdom By Solomon ~ Introduction [The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition, Page 755, Catholic Book Publishing Company copyright 1980 - 1970, New York, New York, United States of America]

22  Now what Wisdom is, and how she came to be, I shall relate' and I shall hide no secrets from you, But from the very beginning I shall search out and bring to light Knowledge of her, nor shall I diverge from the truth.

23  Neither shall I admit consuming jealosy to my company, because that can have no fellowhip with Wisdom.

24  A great number of Wise men is the safety of the world and a prudent King, the stability of his people.

25  So take instruction from my words, to your profit.

I smoke your ciggarette, mostly because I want to remember the taste; impress it upon one of my God given senses.

Just as the exhalation of my Mother's Benson & Hedges, the smell, the taste; it resonates and remembers the race, in our 71 and a half Ford Gran Torino; (351 Windsor, not Cleveland) me to Girl Scouts, and her to work. The exhalation said "Breathe."

Ashes land on her black work pants. From a perfect and beautifully made-up face; from her lips she blows, does not rub, the ashes.

Blonde hair glistening, green eyes shimmering; she gives me a smile with her left upraised eyebrow. This, in one look told me: "Do as I say, not as I do." And I knew this would benefit me, somehow, in my future.

Everything, and I do mean everything, my parents taught me, I remember. I've also transferred this knowledge to 'my kids', none bilogical, all variant in age.

The Love ~ Oh The LOVE ~ This is what I carry with me every day!

"Come Hell or High Water" I would hear, even in conspicous absence, work, obligation or Service to Country, I knew, I always have known and will always know the Love!

This is what I have tried, and Oh, I Thank You Lord, succeeded in.

You see, every Child that I have been afforded the opportunity to influence, Oh Lord, Every One, EACH in His or Her Own way is so SO BEAUTIFUL!

I Thank You Parents. You did not really know me, yet somehow, you did.

You left your Children in my care as you went to work or play. And you knew your kids were safe. Such an awesome responsibility. Such an affirmation of my place on God's Green Earth.

And with Your Children, I reinforced Your Songs, Your Beliefs and added a little of mine.

Now, in this, the Autumn of my life, I am so very Blessed; Dear Lord, so Blessed!

Every Child and Child's Child: EACH and EVERY ONE:  creative, intelligent, (in his or her own way) insightful, caring, and loving. The older ones, they go to work on time and do not miss!

They sing, they dance, and they remember me. Can you belive it? Me?

They remember the stories I'd told them, both good and bad and Lord, O Lord, these kids are tough and resiliant!

They're passionate, at times overly so, but that's OK, because, guess what? In the end THEY LOVE!

I am so very Blessed. Thank You Lord. Thank You Parents.

With All My Heart,
Kathleen 'Krazy Aunt Kat' Ackroyd

Perpetual Andragogy Back from Hiatus

No, I did not fall off of the face of the Earth! That's impossible! For Proof, check out Lippershey, Schmippersey - I Failed Astronomy! (Funny now, not so much then)

I did take some time off though. I was, well frankly, overwhelmed! More on that later. In the meantime, I have the videos up on the Perpetual Andragogy YouTube Channel and also, catch me on Twitter @perpetualgogy. I've been using these hastags: #UNLV #ENG235 #ENG298 #ART160 #Andragogy

For those of you that don't know, I'm a Junior at UNLV. I finally decided on an English major with a German minor. Now, from what I've researched and heard, double majors are best. That's all fine and good, but I'd really like to get my Degrees before I croak!

If you can, be sure and join us for this year's Walk with the Heart of a Child. The updated video and link to our page on Kintero.org is on the 'Can I be of Service Page' just click on the Alpha Xi Beta thumbnail in the top right corner.

Classes for Spring 2012 are English 298 - Writing about Literature, German 113 - Elementary German I, English 235 - Survey of British Literature, and Art 160 - Art Appreciation DE (Distance Education). I know what you're thinking, "I thought you said you were a Junior?" Yes, I am, but these are required courses. More on that later also.

One Down Three to Go!

I tried, I can't even tell you how many times, to return to college and finish my Degrees. Finally, after  30 years, almost to the day of graduating High School, I have earned my first degree. On Monday, May 23rd, 2011 I was conferred an Associate of Arts with High Honors from the College of Southern Nevada at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Up to now you have read about the challenges of beginning an Academic Journey. Honestly, I believe the first two years of college is learning about how to learn and how to navigate the college system. Of course, you have to go to class, study and juggle your home and work life also. 

The College of Southern Nevada's 
Class of 2011

Special Thanks to Dustin Rains for the Photos in this Slideshow

I was one among a record number of almost 2,300 CSN Graduates. This graduating class also had a record number of Honor Students. Our Alpha Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa broke a record of it's own.

Under the the leadership of Alpha Xi Beta's President, Dustin Rains, Phi Theta Kappa membership was raised 28%. We earned the highest Pinnacle Award possible, raising the College of Southern Nevada's Alpha Xi Beta Chapter to a Five Star Chapter for the 2010-2011 academic year.  

This is the highest and most prestigious honor possible for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and I am uber proud to have been a part of it. 

Phi Theta Kappa also awarded Club of the Year Photo Susana Buller

As great as these achievements are, 

these accomplishments do not guarantee the ultimate outcome of our degrees. Before the crash of 2008, even an Associate's Degree opened many doors and employment was virtually a given. This, as reported in this Channel 8 News Now broadcast, is no longer the case.

I will continue my education, in pursuit of my ultimate goal of a MLIS, Masters in Library Sciences. My next step in my Adventure as an Adult Learner is my Bachelor's with a Major in English and a Minor in German. I am seriously considering changing my Minor to Spanish to increase my workplace marketability and reserving my German Minor for my Phd. You need two foreign languages for a Doctorate.

Thank You for reading Perpetual Andragogy Adventures of an Adult Learner and sharing my trials, tribulations and triumphs with your friends. Your interest in my Academic journey and your support of education for this Nontraditional Student inspires not only me, but also anybody who has even given the slightest thought to a return to college and the betterment of themselves.

Want to Go Back to College? Start Here!
Start your FAFSA
College by the Letters - I made you a FREE Outline of how to Start your own Academic Adventure
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa Alumni List (I should be the first name you see :D )

Implosion: An Ode to Gilman's Wallpaper

by K. H. Ackroyd

Peeling, peeling ever peeling, your tattered sickness has me reeling
Look quick, Did you see?
I think that woman is looking at me
Can't you see her, she's just right there, why I see my face reflected in her hair
There



Hush now, do you hear?
Oh have no fear.
It's only the Dr. clomp, clomp, clomping up the steps with my cure
and I'm sure
or am I?
My nails they scratch me, no not me, I meant, the nails, they hold the bed down for me
or is it against?
Last night I laid on the FOR/AGAINST bed
and what was dancing to the right of my head?
or in it?



It moved I tell you! I touched it - it's true!
My, but this room has a lovely view
A baby is crying - I guess I should feed it  (look at watch) is it time?
or is there?
But work, work, work, work, work. I must write, as I hide, as I write
Rest, oh I should rest. But doing nothing is harder than doing something.
But I must rest
He said so
He



What is that smell? It smells like piss! It smells like stain. It smells yellow
fellow
Look!
I have the key! I won't be interrupted, I won't be interrupted
Hahahhahahhahhahhaha
Did you see? The Key! I threw it out the window!
Now, it's just me and this rope, and that woman
Did you see her?
she's just right there, why I hear my voice reflected in her hair

Somebody's knocking at the door, somebody's ringin' the bell, somebody's knockin' at the door, somebody's ringin' the bell, Do me a favor, open the door, let em in   Just ignore it 

That's only him, the Dr., John
That's  only
An axe? An AXE? A Shining Axe?
hahahhahhahahha

This room looks different
It's bare

Oh, I remember, it was that woman and me,

Did you see her?

we peeled, and peeled and peeled
Yes, we did, just her and I
Did I tell you? She broke the pattern?

She did!

Sources and References

The Morgan Library and Museum
One Hundred Years of American Women Writing, 1848-1948 An Annotated Bio-Bibliography by Jane Missner Barstow
The Charlotte Perkins Gillman Society
Women's Intellectual Contribution to the Study of Mind and Society
Norton Anthologies
Gilman's Authority with Subversive Commentary in "The Yellow Wall Paper" by K.H. Ackroyd 


IMPLOSION: An Ode to Gilman's Wallpaper by K.H. Ackroyd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at KHAckroydPermissions@gmail.com.

Where's the Break in My Spring Break?

Ahh, Spring Break. Usually I use this time to catch up on papers and studies, read a book that's not a text, play tourist in Vegas, work in the garden, or check off chores on my home maintenance To-Do List. But not this year. Nope, this Spring Break is different.

Now I don't know why, but UNLV and CSN have different weeks for Spring Break. Maybe some wise educator, way back in the 70's, decided that it wouldn't be such a good idea to turn loose upon the Vegas community all those college kids at one time. So instead of one full week off of school and studies, I get to go to one or the other. Well, that's not so bad. But that's not all I've committed to.

Photo & Quote by Justin J. McAffee, 

President of the CSN Capitol Club  

"At least 1,500 students came to Carson City on March 21st, 2011. A state historian said this was the most people in Carson city since 1903 when Teddy Roosevelt came to town."

While at CSN, I joined and became very active in the Alpha Xi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Joining this wonderful organization and participating in as many Service Opportunities as my schedule would allow made and continues to make a great difference in my life. I've also been involved in the campaign against the looming education cuts in Nevada by spreading the word in every way I can think of. 

Setting and accomplishing my educational goals and becoming more active in my community and its well being are fine endeavors but my ultimate goal is a job I love and enjoy. I've always loved creation in design. I've had a few odd jobs here and there to support my paper and ink habit, but I really needed something more substantial.

What the Garden is supposed to look like

So I got a job. And WOW am I overwhelmed! Not by the job, the job is fine - fast paced and always interesting, it's the hours that I no longer have for watching my favorite show, reading my magazines, or working in the garden. And that last one, working in the garden, or rather, not working, is a double whammy. Preparation and planting is behind schedule and I keep getting that look from my Mom. That one that says "when are you going to have time for me?" I feel so guilty!

This is just one story. There are millions more. Many Adult Learners are members of the sandwich generation. They have to care for their children and their aging parents simultaneously, hold down a job, keep up with their social and community commitments AND have three hours of study set aside for each credit hour taken. Oh, and they have to go to class also, so figure in commuting and the time spent in class.

There are only 168 hours in a week. Where can it all possibly fit? In order for me to organize and schedule my life, first I had to know where my time is going. 

Most every Freelancer uses time tracking software of some sort. The best I've found is Paymo. It comes with a downloadable widget that I can desktop in and out of, set up my projects, and add tasks as I go.

So I tried a little experiment of sorts. I added my time spent on school, activities, work, the garden and things that need done around the house. Just please don't tell Mom I added her as a project. I don't think she would ever forgive me.

When I charted it out, I was astounded!

The orange and blue is my new job, the yucky green is my studies, and then there's all the rest. I need to find some balance or my grades will slip and I've worked far too hard to get this far. 

Now, I don't know exactly the steps I will take to manage this all a bit better, (I'll experiment and keep you posted) but I do know one thing. By tracking it and having a visual representation, I have taken the first step.

Do you know where your time is going? Have you found ways to juggle your home life, work schedule and college studies? If so, I'd love to hear from you. Well I'm off to get some work done. (notice the post time on this?)

Join the “We are One, Respect Our Rights” action to demand a reasonable solution to the state budget crisis!

Happy Birthday Perpetual Andragogy! with a revisit to Why Go Back to School Now?

I can't believe it's been a Year already! Thank You for reading what I have to say as an Adult Learner and taking this wonderful journey through the World of Academia with me. Your words of encouragement, with your public and private comments, only reinforces  my decision.

Looking back on this first post, I see I have strayed from my original plan of drawing correlations between Knowles' principles of the Adult Learner and my real world application through experience. I believe I still have the spirit of this theme though. 

 CSN (my first college) is almost as old as I am.

Have you, or someone you know considered a return to college? If yes and you don't know where to start, hop on over to the wiki. (just click the blue wiki button at the top right) It's not too late and no one is ever too old. Heck I'm (darn, those number keys aren't working) but let's suffice it to say my first concert (age 4) was Paul Revere and the Raiders. How's that for a flashback?   

Thank You again for reading. I am having great fun! I just love adding all this Scholarly information to my life experience. It feels right; that it should be this way. If you have any questions about college as an Adult Learner, drop me a line at Kathleen@perpetualandragogy.com

I'm claiming bragging rights for coolest college commute!

This is on the way home from UNLV

Why Go Back to College Now?

I wanted to be a Librarian, but when I looked at the qualifications, it required a Bachelor's Degree. (actually a Master's, but more on that later.) OK, but where to start and would it be worth it? 

The Chetham Library was founded in 1653 and is the oldest known Library in the English speaking World. Photo used with permission granted by Darby Sawchuck. Be sure to visit this wonderful Photographer.

After much research and positive self-talk, I mustered the courage and enrolled. I started slowly, with only a couple of classes, just to get my feet wet. At orientation I learned of a course called College Success. It was recommended for Freshman and Nontraditional Students.

Returning to college after 25 years well qualified me for  Nontraditional student status. Out with the math class, in with the College Success class. I added The History of Rock and Roll. "You can actually get credit for that?" I marveled, 
"Sign me up!"

 That was in the Fall of 2008. It is now Spring Semester of 2010 and forty class hours later. Along the way, I have learned something about myself. I don't learn the same way my younger traditional classmates do. With experience comes different ways to think about problems or theory set forth in standard curriculum. I ask more questions, hoping I am not dominating the discussion, and look for more interactions and applications of what is being presented.

I knew there had to be others like me, or somebody must have addressed this aspect of education. A bit of research later brought me to Malcolm S. Knowles and his theory of Andragogy. In his chart, Andragogy in Practice, I found the Six Core Adult Learning Principles. 

Professor Knowles and his contemporaries wrote this from the outside looking in. I have the great benefit of writing from the perspective of an Adult Learner in Action. In future Blogs I will share a learning experience, draw correlations between the experience and one or more of Professor Knowles' principles, then relate it to you in what I hope will be an informative and entertaining style.

Until then, I leave you with this.

 Hernry Latham Doherty from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 

Columbia University|Earth Institute

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. 

Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.