Wow, it feels like a while since I last wrote!
I had originally prepared a draft of this post where I was going to talk about some class structure changes that had come into effect here at WVC, as well as the repercussions thanks to them.
Luckily, however, I suddenly found myself at the brink of passing tests, so I figured, "Meh, I'll just wait!"
And so I am happy to announce that I have passed my remaining 140 wpm tests! That means I reached my goal of passing 140 by the end of October.
140 4-V passed on October 28, 2013
140 QA passed on October 30, 2013
That's right, folks, I actually passed a 4-voice before a QA!! What is the world coming to??
(Honestly, it's all thinks to this deliciously slow-ish 4-V that Maggie gave on Monday night. Bless my lucky stars.)
Now, you're probably thinking, "Okay, so she passed her 140s. Guess that means it's onto 160 class!"
Wellll...not quite. You see, that brings me to the topic I meant to bring up before.
As of the end of September, students enrolled in 80-140 class CANNOT attend the high-speed classes (160-220). Why, you ask? Because the new administration at school doesn't understand the importance of push/trail classes for CTR students, and see it only as follows: "A student enrolled in one class but attending a different class FOR FREE?? Not on MY watch!"
They don't see it that a student at the 140 level would essentially be taking advantage of just enough hours in both the lower and higher speed classes to equate to the regular amount of hours that they are entitled to by unit payment.
The best that our sympathetic instructors have been able to do is come in 15 minutes before class and push us at 160, topped with a 160 test (except for 160 4-V).
This is likely the biggest reason for my "delayed" passing of tests. Remember, I've maintained a pretty strict 2-week pass average for every test, but lo, it took me a full month before I passed a test!
...Then again, I did pass two in one week, so in a way it does still even out. Does'nt it?
Without the ability to routinely sit in at 160 class in order to a) improve 160 wpm processing ability, b) feeling like 140 is "pssht, slow!" c) more exposure overall, I think this contributed mainly to my pass rate in the month of October.
I admit, though, there may be a few more reasons to consider:
1) No more push classes.
2) Picking up more modeling gigs.
3) One week was totally stressed due to bad interaction with sister-in-law.
I have no regrets regarding the second reason, but I won't even get into that last one! However, it did teach me a valuable lesson in dealing with depressed/neurotic types. Just stay away and don't feel like you can fix them (or that you HAVE to). All the mental anguish I spent mulling over that horrible interaction really left me drained and unfocused for the following week of class. A week where I could have been making some serious progress!
On the bright side, these test passes come at an excellent time because my wonderful twin sister will be coming down to visit all of next week! This means I won't have to have any pressure or guilt about not being in class. In a way, I feel like I've earned this little one-week vacation. And to top it all off, I get the good news on Halloween! When I'm dressed up as Nicki Minaj (yet again) and look forward to the days' festivities!
Lastly, you might be asking yourself, "Okay, what's next then"? Well, I still have a solid month of school left to hopefully do the following:
1) Further perfect my 140 speed and accuracy
2) Begin working more through CAT software
3) Possibly purchase a digital writer to aid in transition to 160+
4) Pass 160 JC and 140 Lit before the end of the semester
As I mentioned above, with so little practice time in class at the 160-level, that last goal may be a hard one to achieve, but I'm going to think positively!
Until then! Happy Halloween!
