Online classes vs traditional classes

I'm taking five online classes this year at Triton College. This is my first time taking online classes and my first semester in college. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for them. Some of the counselors questioned me when I said I wanted to take online classess. Most of them said "It's really hard". I figured as much, since you have no one actually forcing you to do work or read something. But I had no choice whether to take online or in the classroom classes because I live out-of-state.

Online classes are much, much, more different then in the classroom classes. For online classes it takes, hard work, self motivation, and lots of dedicated time. In the classroom classes just take showing up, listening to lectures, and doing the work/homework they assign to you. Much easier right? Well not necessarliy, I find that online classes are much easier than in the classroom classes, because for a few reasons. One, you don't have to work up early to go to school and do work. You can wake up whenever you want and go to sleep whenever you want, as long as you get the work done. Second, you don't have to go anywhere! (except to take exams for some classes) You can sit in your pajamas, be naked, whatever you want! You can take bathroom breaks whenever, eat whenever, much more freedom then a regular class. Third, there seems to be less work online than there is in a regular classroom. I can get about a weeks worth of work done for two classes in about a day. But that takes ALL day for me to do so. But it's nice cause I don't have to worry about as much later in the week. Fourth, more time with your professors! A regular traditional class last about 45 mins or so and has 30 students. Include in working time and most students don't have a chance to talk to their professor on a personal level. On online classes, you can basically talk to your professor at anytime, anywhere. You usually have an answer very within asking it. One downfall to online classes is that if your computer breaks you are in deep trouble unless you find a new one. If you fall behind in work, it is going to take a lot of hard work to catch back up. And I mean a lot.

Overall I enjoy online classes more as of now, but personally I rather be with other students and the teacher face to face.

If anyone has taken both online and traditional classes, which do you prefer the most and why?

I left a comment on anca poputa's blog.

Meeting for the first time: Long distance love

Difficult, saddening, and full of agony. If you're in a long distance relationship or have been in one, you know how hard it can be to not have that physical connection all the time. Long distance and normal relationships are not complete opposites; they both require trust, a connection, and hard work. But I think that long distance requires much more work and motivation than a normal relationship.

I have been in a long distance relationship for over a year now. My girlfriend lives in Chicago and I live in North Carolina. We met over a internet messaging board, not expecting anything more than just an online friendship. We talked over instant messenger, Xbox, phone, and through texting for about two months before I said that I thought I was falling in love with her. Luckily, she felt the same way. Ever since then we have basically talked every single day. I was usually sad because I wanted that physical connection that we couldn't have and it was very painful.

Before we first met, I was extremely nervous and anxious. It's hard to put in words how nervous I was. I took a Greyhound bus to Chicago on Novemeber 20th to come see her. It was a very long, harsh, 21 hour bus ride. I didn't get any sleep on the bus or at the stops. I didn't tell my parents the truth of why I was going. I told my mom that I was going to visit colleges; after a lot of convincing on my part, she bought me a bus ticket for 240 dollars. I arrived on the 21st around 7 A.M. at the Greyhound station in downtown Chicago. I took a cab to my hotel; it was the second time I had been to an actual city. I was amazed by all of the big buildings and the people. Coming from a town that isn't very populated, Chicago was my dream city. I called her when I arrived at the hotel and we were going to meet at Union Station. I got ready and left; my girlfriend's directions to Union Station were vague, but considering how close my hotel was to the station, I found my way fairly quickly.

While I was waiting for her, I had an intense case of butterflies in my stomach- I thought I was going to vomit all over the city sidewalk. When she came through the station doors, I was amazed, speechless, and frozen. She screamed, ran, and basically tackled me. I couldn't believe this was actually happening and we were physically touching, holding hands, and looking at each other in real life. The people around us were looking at us like we were crazy fools.

When we're together, the times we have are amazing, but departing from her is never an easy thing to do.

Has anyone ever been in a long distance relationship or is in one? If so, would you like to share your experiences?