Excited about all 4 of my classes!!

The Security class is very interesting. I have learned that security has to be balanced with availability: if your PC is so secure that you can't even access your files then it's too much!! LOL
We are learning all about CIA triangles (this has nothing to do with Central Intelligence and everything to do with computer information security!) and the McCumber Cube. Fascinating stuff!!

Networking class is incredible! (Yeah, so I could have gone into this instead of Web Design - I would have been just as excited!!) I think I could REALLY get in to this stuff!!! LOL

As to my PHP class: we haven't gotten far enough in it yet for me to have any idea how that is going to be. But I have learned that PHP is in the top 10 programming languages, along with JaveScript and XHTML - which I have already had. And, I have downloaded WAMP and CAMstudio on my PCs and even played around with CAMstudio. I made an informal, unpracticed, desktop demo about folders and how to open them. WOW! This is an incredible program - and it's free!!! Just go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/ to download onto your PC.

My 4th class, which is NOT a computer class, is a very much needed class for today's younger college students: Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development.  Mrs. Silvia B. Palmer is our instructor. She is a longtime friend of my mothers who I had met once many years ago. She is very knowledgable in her topic and has many years experience teaching and lecturing. I am blessed to have her for this class. I am sure I will learn much - including how to teach a college level class, as she has asked me to teach a particular topic. (She is eager to get suggestions from her students but I had NO idea she would ask me to teach!!)
One of the challenging things we have to do in her class is to memorize each students first and last names and be able to point them out!!! I am fairly good with names and faces - but 27 students??? Lord, please HELP me!!
I have long thought saying someone's name when you speak to them, especially in greeting and parting, is very important. Now I get to put that into practice in the classroom. (Let me state here that in all my classes I make a point to learn as many student names as I possibly can - but usually only their first names, and; I always address teachers (and most of the staff) correctly - by Mr. or Mrs. (or Ms) and their last name: Mr. Long, Mrs. Black, and Mrs. Palmer. Some of the staff are addressed by placing their first name after the Mr. or Mrs.: Ms Tiffany, for example. (She is one of the Rotaract organizers.)

Speaking of Rotaract...
I am involved with Rotaract, sponsored by Sunrise Rotary Club, again this semester. I love the social atmosphere and the community service we do as a group. Today we met in the school dining annex at lunch and handed out flyers about our up-and-coming meeting on August 29. We are trying to increase our club membership. Hopefully we'll pull in some new members.
HEROES, a support group at school for older students and/or students who are in challenging situations, is another group I am involved in. While it is an information and help source it is also social. I enjoy that. Out meetings are very informal.
Having just requested info about another club at school, Phi Beta Lambda, I may become involved in that as well. It is a leadership club that offers free leadership conferences which would be invaluable as a business owner/manager.

Anyway, as you can tell, this promises to be a full and fullfilling semester - I plan to work hard and enjoy it to the fullest!!!

I am still gung-ho Web Desgin but can see that Networking would be a nice, and very beneficial, compliment. I may well go for that diploma next, and had said as much to Mrs. Black during the summer term - well before I had any networking classes. And it is even more true now! But time and finances will tell.
After I get my Web Design diploma, or perhaps when I am close, I plan on switching to a degree. It will mean about 2 more semesters but will be well worth it. I might even be able to pull in a Networking class or two to fill in space in one or two of those semesters - that is why I have a Networking class this semester.

On another note: I have published two Web sites that I designed. Note the name of my business at the bottom of each page: Su-Jobi Web Design. Here are the links to each one:
          http://www.smithservicespartsandrestoration.com
          http://www.swingswing-along.com

Thank you for your interest and for taking time to read my blog. I hope to update it fairly regularly - at least every other week - hopefully more! So stay tuned! LOL

Fall 2011 at NGTC

This semester I have two Web Design classes: Principles of Information Security  - taught by Mr. Long, and PHP Programming with MySQL - taught by Mrs. Black. I have not had Mrs. Black as one of my instructors but I already like her and am sure I will learn a LOT in her class.

I also have one Networking class: Networking: Network+ Guide to Networks  - also taught by Mr. Long.

Those three classes sound complicated but I am ready to dive in!

And then I have one non-computer class: Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development - taught by Mrs. Palmer. I do not know exactly what this will cover but I am sure it will be good as Mrs. Palmer has many years experience teaching.

Okay, so off to learning I go!!

Greatness is never handed to One on a platter: it must be cultivated through hard work, energy, effort, dedication, and perserverence.

Ah, now I am beginning to see the fruit of my labors! I refer to the books less, go to the w3schools web site more, and over-all feel more confident. My sites are looking MUCH better now - yet there is SO much more to learn! I can't wait!
I have learned: how to make a SpryBar and set the affects the way I want them; how to create a roll-over image; to make tables and forms; work with editable and non-editable templates, create my own template, and so on and so forth. It has been a great journey, so far...

And a journey it is: from the first time I built a web site, to the day I discovered that NGTC offered Web Design classes, to  XHTML, to JavaScript, to CSS, to Flash, to DreamWeaver, to Photoshop... so I travel on, toward the goal of graduating with a 4.0 - so far, so good! And excited about what may be around the corner that my instructors know all about but that will be entirely new territory for me. How wonderful to be a full-time Web Design student!!
Hoping to hear from my Web Designing buddies - both family and friends!!!