So I just finished my second-to-last class; Victim's Right and Advocacy. For me, it was one of the more interesting online classes for criminal justice. Mostly due to the fact that with 25 years of experience, I have had plenty of training in the application of law enforcement theory, but not a lot of experience in the more human side of the endeavor. Also, the class was made up of a larger mix of students in the social and behavioral sciences and not just CJ students. It was nice to see other viewpoints expressed on topics I had dealt with for years but never really discussed intellectually.
This class got me thinking more about what kind of school Granite State College really is. What might have been considered a kin to a correspondence school 20 years ago, because the institution didn't have classrooms or a singular campus, it really is a first rate distance learning university. The students have ample opportunity to exchange ideas, access to excellent research tools and professors that care.
I think the most endearing components of our school are the motivations everyone expresses as to why they are here. Reasons like; Moms making a better life for themselves and their kids, mature adults who have raised families and now want a formal education for themselves, and adult learners who want to continue to contribute in their chosen fields by staying current and up to date, are all common themes with my fellow classmates. Sincerity, selflessness and concern for the greater good are all goals that are held by members of our institution. These are the types of beliefs that any college or university would be happy to have their student body hold sacred.
So along the way, on this journey of mine that has spanned 20 years, I have come to realize something. Granite State College IS a "Brick and Mortar" school of sorts. Not one with a campus, and a quad or a student union, but one of a different kind. One where each and every GSC student that lives a life each day, and studies each night, are the bricks. Those bricks are bound together not only by the collective experiences we share in the virtual classroom but by our goals to become better people, and to make the world around us a better place as well. Those ideals become the mortar, solidifying us into a real place, a place where accomplishing more than your believed you could becomes a reality.
As I enroll in my last class, I reflect on the work I've done, the people I've met, and the real sense of satisfaction I feel knowing that I accomplished much more than I believed I ever could. At Granite State College, I feel like not only did I GO to the school, but that I am an integral PART of what makes the school special. In the end, virtual or brick and mortar, that's what a great college experience should be all about anyway.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you at graduation in June ;)
This class got me thinking more about what kind of school Granite State College really is. What might have been considered a kin to a correspondence school 20 years ago, because the institution didn't have classrooms or a singular campus, it really is a first rate distance learning university. The students have ample opportunity to exchange ideas, access to excellent research tools and professors that care.
I think the most endearing components of our school are the motivations everyone expresses as to why they are here. Reasons like; Moms making a better life for themselves and their kids, mature adults who have raised families and now want a formal education for themselves, and adult learners who want to continue to contribute in their chosen fields by staying current and up to date, are all common themes with my fellow classmates. Sincerity, selflessness and concern for the greater good are all goals that are held by members of our institution. These are the types of beliefs that any college or university would be happy to have their student body hold sacred.
So along the way, on this journey of mine that has spanned 20 years, I have come to realize something. Granite State College IS a "Brick and Mortar" school of sorts. Not one with a campus, and a quad or a student union, but one of a different kind. One where each and every GSC student that lives a life each day, and studies each night, are the bricks. Those bricks are bound together not only by the collective experiences we share in the virtual classroom but by our goals to become better people, and to make the world around us a better place as well. Those ideals become the mortar, solidifying us into a real place, a place where accomplishing more than your believed you could becomes a reality.
As I enroll in my last class, I reflect on the work I've done, the people I've met, and the real sense of satisfaction I feel knowing that I accomplished much more than I believed I ever could. At Granite State College, I feel like not only did I GO to the school, but that I am an integral PART of what makes the school special. In the end, virtual or brick and mortar, that's what a great college experience should be all about anyway.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you at graduation in June ;)
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