Why am I going to College?

If there is one thing that my previous experience in education and schooling has taught me its that I will quickly grow frustrated, bored and even depressed with a subject if it is forced down my throat or if I really dont want to learn it. This has manifested itself over as many years as I can remember throughout a myriad of subjects. I learn best when left alone with something that I care about or can reasonably manage.

I promised myself (and my parents) that I'd go to college and get a degree.
The catch? I will only go if I can learn what I really want to and only if I have some control and say over what I study. (Since I'm such a submissive-softy where my parents are concerned, they often exercise more control of what I do, than I do.)

If I am presented with the unpleasant situation where I must do something, like it or not, then in order for me to do that necessary thing, I mean, really do it, then I have to know and understand that there is a point to it.

If I cant see the point, or dont agree with the point, then I will resent that task/subject/process every single second that I'm doing and when the ordeal is over and done with, then I will then do my very best to avoid it as much as possible for the rest of my life. (Case in point: Accounting.)

It is very easy for me to lose interest in a thing, and until my interest is renewed in that area, I cant stand to be near it or have anything to do with it. I also hate to not finish what I started.

So from Day One of planning my college experience I knew that I'd have to be able to get in and out as quickly as possible with as much education and knowledge as possible. I couldn't see myself getting just one degree in 2 years. That seemed like such a waste of time, too frustrating.

Especially since I want to learn so many different things. It just wasn't cohesive with my "Life Plan"

I figured I'd go to College for two years straight and get out with as much as possible.

Even though I start in Summer taking 3 classes, I'm not counting this time. As it is a "trial" period. They recommend that you take 2 classes during the summer since the sessions are "express" but I'm determined to take no less than 3. I had wanted to take a 4th class but couldn't afford to.

So, excluding this first Summer Session, I'll be doing my best to divide approx. 66 classes and 194 credit/units into 2-2.5 years worth of school.

Now, my school has two fifteen week semesters (Fall and Spring). It also has 3 shorter sessions during the summer, and it offers 3 distance learning programs; Tele-courses, Several classes are offered in the SPI (Self-Paced Instruction) format and of course, there are web-based classes.

If I play my cards right, utilizing all my resources and with careful time management then I should be able to divide my 60+ classes into 4 and 2 summer sessions and graduate with 2 degrees, 3 Work Skill Certificates and maybe even snag that Vocational certification that I've been wanting.

Fall 09, Spring 10, Summer 10, Fall 10, Spring 11, Summer 11.

Fortunately there is a couple of classes that I can take once and not to take again, even though the degree/certificate calls for it. I'm still working out the particulars. But only about 3 class.

Unlike some people, my interests dont cross so I'm going to have to take the 95+% of the classes for all the things that I want.

The General Idea

OR
What I want to learn and Do During College

I want to get a college education. I want to go on to university and study Electronic Engineering because I want to learn not just how things such as toasters, cell phones and remote controls work and how to make them, but I want to learn more about the art that is Engineering and electronics have always fascinated me. I'm planning to only study things in College that interest me:

So I know that I will try to learn as much "interesting" stuff as possible while in school, then spend the time I save doing some real-world learning.

So, I want to take class that will help me develop a fuller knowledge in:

Web Design and Development -- While in college I'm going to get a Work Skills Certificate in this field as its a bit more "all inclusive" than the simple Tech School Certificate I'm getting now.
Martial Arts -- Judo I and II are offered at my school and I plan to take them both. I think it'll be fun.
Athletics/ Physical Ed -- I want to get a Work Skills certificate in Personal Training also from college.
Small Business Management -- I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur and since college has a Work Skills Certificate program then why not?
Art -- I'm going to take a couple of drawing classes. I've always liked drawing but have never been any good at it.
Foreign Languages -- I plan to take a year of both Spanish and French (i.e. French I & II and Spanish I & II)
Electronic Technology -- I plan to get an A.S. Degree in it.
Paitient Care Assistant -- Okay, so you have to go to Technical School for this, so what? I've wanted to take this class since I was 16, but you had to be atleast 18 and have graduated. Its only 6-8 weeks long but I think it's a great "minor" certification to have so I want it.

I've been saying since last October or so that I would like to take a language class every year that I'm in College and University, in this manner I figured that I'd learn the crude basics in about 7 languages. I planned to start ASAP by taking I and II of French and Spanish while at community college. When I transferred to University I had hoped to study, Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese and then I'd try something like Italian while self learning ASL and Esperanto since no courses for those two languages are offered in my area.

If I play by all the rules, and take 2 years in junior college and 2.5-4 years in University then I'd be 27-28 when I finish my Bachelors in Electronic Engineering. The good thing is that I could learn as many as 6 langauges while in schoole. The bad news is that I dont when I'll die and would much prefer to actively participate in the "real world" as soon as possible.

Going by the "norm" I'd be a little too close to age 30 when I finish school. No thanks.

I think I'd rather try for the same education, working at my own pace and save myself a few (read: at least 4) years, then do something constructive with my time. I've been in self paced, secondary education classes for the past 4 years now and I think I have learned a good deal of what I am capable of.

There are many things I want to learn about, or expand my limited knowledge of, this is my reason for going to college. It is also my reason for not wanting to stay in too long. I dont want to "burn out" or risk losing my drive to go there or learn anything.

I'm in the middle of developing a mock schedule, outline and game plan to tackle the feat.
I'll be updating again soon to share my 1st drafts.