We had a meeting today with four members of the UIS counseling faculty. It was an informal get together over the lunch hour to start to get an idea of where we are in our program and what our goals are for finishing. It was me and one other student. I’ve seen him on campus but have never had any classes with him. During introductions he said he’s retired from doing something with teaching technology to inmates. He went back to school because he was bored.

Three of the four faculty members had visible tattoos and on the sidewalk I was walking with what seemed to me kids. I still don’t have any exact answers regarding when I would graduate, though it’s looking more and more like it will take now another whole year, so three more semesters plus a summer class this summer. I could possibly get it all done by next spring, but because of the way their course schedule is laid out it would require me to take three classes this fall while also doing internship. They have semester-long classes instead of quarters. I haven’t any interest in doing a fuller semester along with Thanksgiving and Christmas ever again. They seemed to think that was a long time to stretch things out, but I told them I really was fine with it.

It does feel though like I am disappointing people when they continue to ask how school is going. It’s just one of the automatic questions people ask when they talk to me. Since I began, the total completion time has gone from 2 1/2 years, to 3 years, to now probably and most very likely 4. Either way, I am thankful now to have not been having to do an internship yet. I do not think I would’ve been ready to put in the hours. If this is meant to work out for me then it will.