So Long, Farewell...

Hello All,

Since this is the last blog post of the semester (I think), I want to use it to reflect a little bit. I am thinking about deleting this entire blog after it's been graded. I have a personal blog that I update. There, I'm completely anonymous and I like it that way. This blog is a little too personal for me to share with strangers and cyber-friends, so it may have to go. I've enjoyed keeping this blog. It has definitely come in handy when I needed feedback and encouragement. I only hope that I was as helpful with my comments to my classmates, as their comments were for me.

Since my very first post was about my apprehension concerning my first semester at LSUS, I figured it would be only fitting to write this blog about the lessons I've learned since the beginning of the semester.

Lesson One: Leave home (I live in Minden) two hours before class starts. From my home, it takes me approximately an hour to get to LSUS. However, with traffic, detours, and the unexpected, I have often been very pressed for time. When I leave home at 10:00 for my 12:00 class, I am able to take my time, pick up lunch or run an errand, get a great parking space in front of the building, and still have time to look over my notes. Being early is always better than being late.

Lesson Two: Ask your classmates what classes they have taken, and what they think of the professor who taught it. This goes a long way when choosing classes in the future. Exchanging information with people who know about a class first-hand has factored into the classes I'll take next semester, and what professor I chose to take them under.

Lesson Three: Get to know your advisor. My advisor has spared me from many headaches and sleepless nights. She has planned my schedule for the rest of my time at LSUS. There is no guesswork. I just have to register for the classes she's mapped out, and I'll graduate on time. She's the best!

Lesson Four: Wait until the first day of class before you buy your books. This semester I had to return two books because the class didn't require them. Next semester I'll wait until I get the class syllabus before I buy my books.

Lesson Five: Having a break between classes isn't so bad. This semester, on Monday's and Wednesday's I have a 45 minute gap between my two classes. At the beginning of the semester I thought it was a pain in the behind. I just wanted to get the day over with and go home. But as the semester went on, I loved having 45 minutes (sometimes longer than that, depending on what time my first class ended) to run to Walmart, grab some lunch, or look over my notes. This lapse in my day has proved to be very handy.

I'm sure I've learned hundreds of lessons these past few months, these are just a few. I've really enjoyed this class. I've enjoyed writing, and reading my classmates work. I've enjoyed Ms. Smith's updates and forum posts, and I've enjoyed reading about the day-to-day life of my classmates. I have a feeling I'm really going to miss this class next semester.

Be Well Everyone,
Kourtney Washington

P.S.- Enjoy the goodbye video I've posted above. The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies, and I couldn't resist posting this video. It's corny, but then again, so am I.

Retail is for Suckers!

Every Tuesday and Thursday, before my dreaded Statistics class gets started, a few of my classmates inspect my accessories, and ask me where did I buy them, and how much were they. They get a kick out of how little I pay for things. "This scarf? Two bucks at Rue 21." I say. "These sunglasses? $1.50 at Forever 21, online." I boast.

You see, I think paying full price for things is ridiculous. I started clipping coupons when I was nine years old. Every Sunday before church, I asked my Dad to stop at a gas station, and to please buy me two or three Shreveport Times newspapers. He thought it was crazy for me to be so young, and concerned with saving money, but he indulged me anyway. It wasn't until he saw that my coupon clipping was averaging about $15 a week off the grocery bill that he started to bring me papers without me having to ask. He added to my determination to save money by letting me keep the amount of money I saved using coupons. Cha-Ching!!

My enthusiasm to get a good deal has increased as I've gotten older. Loyalty cards, price matching, coupons, rebates, BOGO (buy one get one), after Thanksgiving sales, after Christmas sales, tax free weekends, clearance sales, grand opening sales, going out of business sales, etc...... You name the promotion; I know how to exploit it to my advantage.

For instance, when I'm shopping for clothing (which is pretty often), 85% of the time I ONLY buy clothing located at the back of the store on clearance. Usually they are from last season, but who cares? Because of this, I buy my spring/summer clothing in the winter and my fall/winter clothing in the summer. The clothing at the front of the store is brand new and full price. PLEASE! Nope, not happening. The second thing I do while shopping for clothing is to use coupons, and coupon codes (if I'm shopping online.) I almost never pay for shipping with my online orders, because I search the internet for free shipping codes. Also, before I go shopping for anything, I check that store's website for special discounts and promotions. Sometimes it's as simple as filling out a questionnaire to get a 40% off coupon.

However I must say, the wave of emotion that envelops me as I'm sitting in my car, looking at the sales receipt itemizing all of the money I saved is blissful euphoria. I'm on a high for the rest of the day.

Ummm... just thinking about saving money makes me want to log on to some of my favorite coupons sites.........

Gotta go! Thanks for stopping by!
-Kourtney