And we're off...

First night of classes, and you could tell our cohort was glad to see one another again. We've really bonded this first semester. In our cohort, we have groups of 4 that we were assigned to at the beginning of the year. At the end of this semester, we are changing up our groups within the cohort, and you can sense some have anxiety about leaving the groups they've come to know and love. I really love my group too! Its been awesome to see each of our strengths come to light, and not that we planned it, but it seems on each of the group projects, each one of us has taken turns at being the project lead. I am a little nervous about changing up our well oiled system, but I'm trying to look at it like- I know each person in my group has something great to give and share, and would benefit others just being in a group with them. It will be an adjustment, but we will always be close, since this is our first group.

Walking into the class, Dr. Thom was set and ready to go. Great initiative and preparedness for this first night. while looking forward to what Critical Thinking has to offer, I could sense a buzz of anxiety in the class about what was to come in Accounting. Many haven't taken it in 10 or so years, or in my case- ever. Students met before class asking about the assignment we had received, which would be due the following class. However, 6PM rolled around, and we kicked off the night with Dr. Thom.

First, Dr. Thom called each student by name and requested us to provide our expectations of the class. Through the class we had open interaction, and Dr. Thom used a variety of engaging teaching techniques from Q&A, Brain Teasers, and at one point we gathered in a circle in the middle of the room for an interactive exercise. We closed the night with a journal entry of what we gained from class that night.

At 8PM, we met Professor June. We were to have 100 pages through three chapters read for the very first session of class. We covered one chapter in class, and cemented the basics of credits, debits, financial statements, earnings, and revenues.

The homework has been quite challenging. Most of the problems feel a bit like stretch problems, and we aren't being taught just yet how to work them, so we are having to figure it out on our own. A group has started meeting, for now indefinitely, at the Georgetown Public Library to try and make an impact in the problems assigned. In 2 hours we were able to complete 3 of the problems assigned. We're a little concerned about this, but see that future weeks have less problems assigned and are hoping this becomes a little more manageable.

I'm blessed with a wonderful Controller named Bob, here at Children At Heart Ministries. Bob and I met over our 30 minute afternoon break to review some of the concepts and check the work I had completed so far on this assignment. For 20 minutes we worked on the next problem of the assignment. I'm so thankful for Bob- The picture is evidence of our hard work!

This semester may lead to me pulling back from some of my commitments. I'm just about to head out for a Board Members retreat, and between baby showers and my husband and I still needing to do our own Christmas, it's going to be a stretch to get everything in this weekend. I like to challenge being all I can be, and often that has been by doing more. I think the Concordia MBA is teaching me, sometimes taking it to the next level is focusing most on being the best I can be, and the "doing" will come, but just may need to be scaled back... at least until Aug. 2012.