Week 12. Just finished typing and posting my preface, acknowledgements, and about the author assignments. This created a lot of deep thinking and reflecting on my part. Before this class I rarely did any writing except for class notes and cards and now it seems like I never stop. I know that sounds negative but its not meant to be. Its improved me and I definitely need it. I know that sounds so judgmental but not really. It’s a fact. I was talking to Ms. McComas the other day and mentioned even when I’m on the right track I get lead astray by other students who have better grades than I have. I do this because I have no confidence in my abilities. Ms. McComas is a great motivator and I am going to work on not being so critical about my work and work on boosting my self-confidence. I have learned that I do know some things and its better to get it wrong on what I believe than to listen to someone else and still get it wrong. Somewhere all this educational highway I lost what little confidence I had but now I’m determined to get it back. I can see low self-esteem as damaging my future and I’ve worked too hard to let that happen.

Oh well its 6:00 and I’m taking the night off. Anthony and I are going to the movies to see Santa Claus 2. He’s hoping this will put scrooge (me) in the Christmas spirit. I’m worn to a frazzle and still have four weeks of school left. Yikes!

Aims/objectives: Find out how to structure my MRP so that each genre leads to the next. I’ve looked at the summer class for ideas. Get up with Ms. McComas for direction.

My name is Geneva Skeens and I am a senior in the Communication Disorders program at Marshall University located in Huntington, West Virginia. I live in Prestonsburg, Kentucky with Anthony (love of my life and my biggest fan) and commute to Huntington every day. I have two sons, Alex and Blake and one granddaughter, Natalie.

A couple of my closest friends, thought I was crazy and a little reckless, to leave my stable job to become a student at Marshall University. But as I told them, “I have a dream (boy does that sound familiar) and I’m living it.” I should graduate May 2003 and I plan on applying for graduate school at Marshall. Hopefully I’ll be accepted.

I don’t even know where to begin with acknowledgements, as everyone has been so helpful. I’d like to say “Thank You” to my CD 315 class, especially Allison and Cindy, who are in my group. Whenever I had a question or a problem, all I had to do was e-mail the group and I always got an answer. Allison and Cindy were kind enough to review my work and give me ideas to make it better. Boy, do they like punishment. Thank God for Ms. McComas, she’s been a lifesaver to me. She has provided me with plenty of nudges and lots of counseling along the way. She has challenged me to learn more than any teacher I’ve ever known, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

My inspiration came from my brother-in-law, who passed away, two years ago. During the last months of his life he had a swallowing disorder. Because of his experience, I know a little about the psychological aspect of not being able to chew or swallow, and how it can affect your life. It’s devastating to say the least.

I’d like to include a very special thanks, to Anthony, for always giving me the support and encouragement to go on. Even when I fell down and wanted to quit (I grew very tired this semester) he kept insisting that I get up and finish what I started. He’s my rally guy! I don’t know how I would have made it this semester without his sense of humor.

I’d also like to thank my parents, Betty and Henry and my children, Alex and Blake, for always being positive about my future.

Geneva M. Skeens