The past couple of weeks, I've been not thinking about WGU. I needed a break. I needed to let my sub-conscious help me decide whether or not I should continue with my MBA at WGU. At last, I received Task 1 from the Supply Chain course back, with the lowest scores that I've ever received on a task. No, I did not expect to pass, and if I had, I'd be quite disappointed in the graders because it was not my best work, and it was not graduate level work. I knew this, but I didn't know what else to add to the paper, and since I wasn't getting any feedback from the course mentor, I needed some, any feedback.
The break was good. I tried to quell the urge to work on my paper while I was away because I knew that I really needed a break and I was so thankful that I didn't have to endure a painful conversation about the new hardwood floors in her house. What I have been thinking about is something Jay and I have been talking about next summer. There is a running race in Death Valley, CA that I've wanted to do for about the past 5 years or so. It's 135 miles from Death Valley to the base of Mt. Whitney. It's a "bucket list" race, one that is going to take an enormous amount mental fortitude to get through. Mental toughness is something that I've struggled with lately. Running 135 miles in the desert makes it a necessity.
This Supply Chain simulation is basically the equivalent of developing a blister while running in Death Valley. Am I going to give up and quit, or am I going to pop that sucker and put some Super Glue on it and keep on truckin'?
I'm also reading a book called Hell on Two Wheels which is a true story that chronicles the Race Across America (RAAM). RAAM is a 3,000 (yes, three thousand) mile bike race which starts in Oceanside, CA and finishes in Annapolis, MD. It makes my little jaunt in the desert seem easy in comparison. Would these dudes and dudettes (be nice, like I grew up in the 80s!) quit because they got an owie? I think not!
Am I going to quit on my dream of becoming the first person in my family to not only have a bachelors degree, but also a masters because these past two course mentors have been horrible, because I got a paper back, or because right now, I can't figure out how to proceed? There is a saying in ultramarathoning, "If you feel good when you're running, don't worry, that'll change". Well it can change for the better, too. In the scheme of getting my MBA, once it's all over, I'm (hopefully) not even going to remember this simulation or these crap-tastic course mentors. (But I can blog about them! Hah!)
Basically, I need to do what the course mentor suggested, and give specific examples from the supply chain simulation. (See my previous post if you have any question as to how I feel about the simulation.) I don't yet understand the concepts presented in the simulation, thus I can't apply them, which means I can't analyze and articulate them in to responses for the tasks. Yes, I've read the assigned text books, as well as looked for other sources, but it's difficult since they don't directly apply to the simulation. What I need is someone who's done it, or who is doing it, to walk me through the consequences of my actions in the simulation.
After a two week hiatus from speaking with Kelly, she called today. (35 minutes late, with no explanation.) I decided that I didn't have much to lose by telling her the truth. I got her basic response of putting the entire burden on me. I don't think she took me seriously at first that I was thinking about quitting. I pressed her though, because I was feeling pretty hopeless about WGU. I didn't tell her that I'd changed my attitude. Since she doesn't follow through on things normally, I needed to try another approach to see if she'd actually take any action.
The break was good. I tried to quell the urge to work on my paper while I was away because I knew that I really needed a break and I was so thankful that I didn't have to endure a painful conversation about the new hardwood floors in her house. What I have been thinking about is something Jay and I have been talking about next summer. There is a running race in Death Valley, CA that I've wanted to do for about the past 5 years or so. It's 135 miles from Death Valley to the base of Mt. Whitney. It's a "bucket list" race, one that is going to take an enormous amount mental fortitude to get through. Mental toughness is something that I've struggled with lately. Running 135 miles in the desert makes it a necessity.
This Supply Chain simulation is basically the equivalent of developing a blister while running in Death Valley. Am I going to give up and quit, or am I going to pop that sucker and put some Super Glue on it and keep on truckin'?
I'm also reading a book called Hell on Two Wheels which is a true story that chronicles the Race Across America (RAAM). RAAM is a 3,000 (yes, three thousand) mile bike race which starts in Oceanside, CA and finishes in Annapolis, MD. It makes my little jaunt in the desert seem easy in comparison. Would these dudes and dudettes (be nice, like I grew up in the 80s!) quit because they got an owie? I think not!
Am I going to quit on my dream of becoming the first person in my family to not only have a bachelors degree, but also a masters because these past two course mentors have been horrible, because I got a paper back, or because right now, I can't figure out how to proceed? There is a saying in ultramarathoning, "If you feel good when you're running, don't worry, that'll change". Well it can change for the better, too. In the scheme of getting my MBA, once it's all over, I'm (hopefully) not even going to remember this simulation or these crap-tastic course mentors. (But I can blog about them! Hah!)
Basically, I need to do what the course mentor suggested, and give specific examples from the supply chain simulation. (See my previous post if you have any question as to how I feel about the simulation.) I don't yet understand the concepts presented in the simulation, thus I can't apply them, which means I can't analyze and articulate them in to responses for the tasks. Yes, I've read the assigned text books, as well as looked for other sources, but it's difficult since they don't directly apply to the simulation. What I need is someone who's done it, or who is doing it, to walk me through the consequences of my actions in the simulation.
After a two week hiatus from speaking with Kelly, she called today. (35 minutes late, with no explanation.) I decided that I didn't have much to lose by telling her the truth. I got her basic response of putting the entire burden on me. I don't think she took me seriously at first that I was thinking about quitting. I pressed her though, because I was feeling pretty hopeless about WGU. I didn't tell her that I'd changed my attitude. Since she doesn't follow through on things normally, I needed to try another approach to see if she'd actually take any action.
She said that she'd try and put me in touch with one of her other students who is just ahead of me, and who works at WGU. She said that he may be able to offer some assistance. I so hope it's Jay, my enrollment couse
I'm not going to hold my breath for Kelly to actually do anything, but starting tomorrow, I am going to look at the simulation from another angle. I may even reach out to the course mentor again. Perhaps he is willing to help, but he just doesn't know how. (Ok, even I'm not buying that but it's worth a try. I'll try and kill him with kindness.)
FORWARD!
I'm not going to hold my breath for Kelly to actually do anything, but starting tomorrow, I am going to look at the simulation from another angle. I may even reach out to the course mentor again. Perhaps he is willing to help, but he just doesn't know how. (Ok, even I'm not buying that but it's worth a try. I'll try and kill him with kindness.)
FORWARD!