Well, I’ve finally looked at last fall’s grades. Many of you who know me know that it really was the semester from hell. But I have motivation to go forward now.

1. My GPA is still above a 3.0. Barely. I mean, barely. I actually have to work to pull it up this semester, but that should be easy, with MAE 488 being not too tough and two 100-level librul arts classes to slag through. Should be a nice 4.0 summer, which would mark the second time I’ve done that.

2. I will graduate from UAH with 156 hours, only 116 of which actually have a grade attached to them. Thank you, MSMS.

3. Looking at how bad my GPA was last semester, I have motivation to kick ass. Actually, I’m pretty angry with myself for shutting down last semester as I write this and think back. I was actually coping with it all through September and early October. It was in mid-October that I pretty well gave up and packed it in. I really don’t know why.

I know part of it was the stress relieving from me when my mom got out of the hospital. I know another part of it was the realization that engineering isn’t the be-all, end-all for me. But the big frustration for me is that I’d had a string of several really-good semesters since my fourth one at UAH, Spring ‘99, where I hit a nice apathetic funk. Last semester royally screwed that up, and with some easy and fun classes left to finish my degree [21 hours and counting!], I’m damned near home free. I’d really like to finish that string up with a 4.0 this semester followed on by a 3.5+ next spring [I'll be realistic--Stability and Control is kinda tough, and I have all my design hours then, too].

But other than as a motivational tool, this is the last time I’m worrying about last fall. What’s past is past, and life ain’t no rear view mirror. Full speed ahead.