when would I find the time to study? It has been quite a few years since I was in school, would I even be able to pass the classes if I took them? And truly I was just SCARED, but I pushed myself on. Got online, found the program I wanted and MADE THE CALL - one big scary step out of the way! I set up a time to go in and talk to someone within the interpreting program, get some guidance. 
There, there it is the first time I saw the sign to the sign language department. Another moment full of fear, what if they just laughed at me, what if they could just tell by looking at me that I wasn't fit for their program? Well that is not what happen, of course, they were every helpful (even if they gave me some wrong information - I mean this is community college right? Not everyone will give you the more current information) So I set up a time to come back and have my ASL skills tested. With a sigh of relief I turned to head home. I had did it - two big steps to starting back to school! This is the view of the drive home 
very beautiful and reassuring, or so I thought. And then back home, back to the WA side. My OR adventure for the day was OVER but, I had done it :) 
There was plenty of paper work and phone calls and a trip back to the sign language department for a placement test (where I was assessed at ASL 102, so I was able to skip ASL 101, which was helpful and mildly reassuring), two more trips to a different campus to straighten out my application with the school and my transcript and a few more phone calls, then back again to figure out my financial aid situation. Then after all these extra steps it was time to register!! 
PROOF that I am back in school :o)I ended up taking two classes, my ASL 102 class and then a Psy 215 (human development) class. Both are prerequisites for the Interpreting program I am hoping to join Fall 2011. My ASL class is on Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30pm - 8:20pm and my Psy 215 class in a tele-web class (but honestly takes much more time and I will be glad to see that class over)
Everyday I get more comfortable with my new identity (student) and even though it was scary and overwhelming at first (not that the homework isn't NOW overwhelming) it just feels right. I am so happy that I pushed myself and walked through my fears. Now I get to laugh every Monday and Wednesday night - my ASL professor is AMAZING. Here is a sample of what my classes are like here he is talking about a couple that are pregnant and describing how the woman is growing through the months. :o) I am sure that even though he is deaf and using sign alone you will be able to understand. (Sorry about the poor quality, it was taken via my phone.
C
