So long, farewell, until we meet again!

Hello everyone!

I have had an incredible experience throughout the course, and I hope you have as well. I am using one of my drop weeks to cover blogging and participation because I AM TIRED. I am sure you all are too! However, I could not finish the course off without saying goodbye and reflecting on my experience.

One of the most significant things this class has shown me is the power of blogging. When I blog, I feel connected to what I am talking about, and the action of blogging allows me to develop my ideas further. I love being able to have a voice when writing about academic material, and this is more enjoyable than academic writing. I have decided to continue blogging under this pseudonym "Jodie Doodle" and use my blog as a way to grow my PLN and connect with others. If you are keeping your RSS feed (I know I am), feel free to keep me around. When I start up the new blog series, I will post about it in this one. If you are going to continue blogging, let me know so I can add you to my Inoreader!

This was the first college course I had taken since 2013 when I graduated with my bachelors. I have been incredibly nervous about going back to school for a few reasons, but will only going to write about two of them here (maybe I will write about the others in my new blog?). The first was fear, I was not sure if I was "smart" enough to go back for a graduate degree. I decided this year that I could not let fear hold me back and that I COULD DO THIS! I am starting out with the graduate certificate, but plan to apply to the graduate program next spring. The second reason was that I wanted to complete my graduate degree in person, being a military spouse would make that a bit difficult. I am unable to reliably plan out my life based on physical location. I decided that I could not let this be an excuse for not continuing to learn, after all, teaching online was what I wanted to do! 

This course has pushed me and inspired me. I am so excited to continue my education and keep pushing myself to learn more so that I can help others learn, no matter where they are in the world.

Thank you, Dr. Dennen, Mr. Arslan, and Mr. Screws for all of the work you have put into this course and creating a place online where I felt comfortable learning but uncomfortable enough to know I was growing. *Being uncomfortable means you are learning!*

Thank you, classmates, for being here and making this experience everything it has been.

I hope to see you online in the future!