The Last Week

This last week has been very mentally and physically challenging for me.  I am still recovering from my most recent surgery.  I started working again last week and boy was it a long week, every part of my body ached at the end of each day.  I have also been dealing with a lot of personal and family issues, my mind feels fried.

Despite all of this I feel like these situations are testing my strength and building me as person.  If someone had come up to me and suggested that any of the things over the last year would happen to me, I probably wouldn't believe it and if I did I would have thought my condition would be far worse then it is today.

One day at a time and one foot in front of the other is how I am making it through right now.  I am searching for the sunshine:)

Danielle Haggins

My Writing Process

I have learned a lot about my writing process over the past few months.  I know that when I am creating a paper a lot of ideas come to mind.  If I do not write these ideas down, sometimes they aren't conveyed in my paper.  Techniques like brainstorming and clustering really help me properly form my paper.  It is a mechanism that allows me to put my thoughts on paper and go back to them for support during the process.  Once my topic has been chosen, I write down a list of all the points that I would like to cover.  During the final cut some of the points I wanted to make in the beginning are sometimes combined with other points and sometimes omitted all together.  Also if I develop writer's block, I am able to go back to this list and expand upon or add new thoughts.  Brainstorming and clustering help me through all parts of writing, beginning, middle, and end.

Danielle Haggins

Plagiarism

Avoiding plagiarism is important.  People work very hard to produce writing that accurately expresses their feelings or knowledge on a particular subject.  To take another person's hard work and incorporate it into something of your own without giving proper credit is unfair as well as illegal.

If I learned that someone was using my words without my expressed permission or without giving me proper credit, my feelings would be hurt, I would be angry, and I would seek justice.  Being a full time student and taking the time to develop a paper is hard work and is personal.  I believe that plagiarism robs someone of their voice.

I have only seen plagiarism first hand in high school.  Students copying papers of older students who took the class already, or just reading and copying another classmates work.  In the professional arena, plagiarism can be devastating.  A co-worker could steal work that was written by someone else and use the ideas as their own.

The internet does a pretty good job with citing references used and giving proper credit to the sources used.  I have seen many videos on youtube.com and they must cite everything down to the music that is utilized.  If this isn't done, the blogs are removed.  All professional medical cites that are reliable place their sources for anyone to view easily.

Last Surgery Is Complete.

Hello again,

It's 11-2-2010 and I have just had my second and final surgery, it was successfully completed on Friday.  I must say that I am glad it is over, but I am worried about catching up in my classes.  I have been working so hard to get good grades and realize that this surgery has taken me back a few steps.  I know however, that the best thing for me to do now is take what I am given and make the best of it.  I have decided to make some big decisions by the end of this week and move on.  I don't want to drown in sadness and focus on how upset I am that I am behind.  I just need to move forward.

Danielle Haggins

onedayatatime: Online school-love it:)

Traditional classes are not an option for me either. I have five children and a full time job and a husband whose schedule is different from week to week. I must admit that while I thought my plate was full, listening to your story has made me more respectful of what is going on in my life. I am sorry that your son is going through so much and I really wish you both the best. I also applaud you for continuing your education, the rough times won't last forever.

Danielle

onedayatatime: Online school-love it:): "For me, taking classes in a traditional, on-ground school was not an option. I cannot conform to a set schedule due to the unique needs my s..."

Stressed but excited

I have just had surgery and I'm waiting for the second one which will be in the next four days.  I am excited to get all of this behind me and move on, but at the same time I am so stressed because there is so much to do.  I know that it is important to stay positive and tackle the things that stress me.  Somehow though I still feel overwhelmed with worry and with the pressure to meet all the deadlines in front of me.  I hope that I can find a way to manage all the balls that I am juggling in the air successfully.  If anyone has any suggestions please let me know:)

Danie

Bad Day

Today has been a bad day.  I am behind in my school work due to computer issues.  These kind of things stress me to now end.  I have children, a husband, work, and school.  So little glitches in the game plan really set me back.  Hopefully I will learn how to roll with the punches!