DL misconceptions

Real Students... we are!

     If you have never been a distance/distributed learning student you may not grasp this thought at first. In fact, I barely did when the topic was broached. I was blessed with an undergrad program at a state college that was robust and solid. I never once doubted I was a real student- the work was entirely too hard and the interaction too constant to ever believe otherwise.

     

     Yet, one night, alone in Stub Hall at the entrance awaiting pizza delivery, a pastor and his wife who were staying there for a conference stopped to chat. He told me, in his parting words, “don't you think, for even a moment that you are not a real student.” It registered but I dismissed it as the pizza came in the door- food can do that.

    

     On my last day at Luther though, this topic came up again. As the staff at the cafeteria (truly awesome and super friendly!) were sharing 'see ya laters' with me they reminded me that even while I am away from them and campus, I AM a real Luther student. At that moment (funny how that one also happened around food...) it sank in and as I wandered to my table, I began to ponder this. What does this mean? Why is this a concern? Who feels this way? Those questions asked, I am now leaving this thought with you... and an amusing video from an earlier cohort.
http://youtu.be/Phcwu92hKJA

Its all Greek

Wondering how my classes are going?  Well... Greek is all I am taking right now.  Biblical Greek to be precise.  That is more than enough in my opinion. 
I am blessed that I learned enough of several languages to get myself into trouble in the matching countries, and enough of 2 others to get myself out of trouble too.  Therefore, I understand the conjugation of verbs.  I understand the definite articles of all nouns have a gender.  What is throwing me for a loop is that even adjectives, adverbs, nouns, etc are... well... sort of conjugated too, but they call it declination.  I call it torture.

Vocabulary of Greek is actually pretty easy and the family has been wonderful about using my flash cards to quiz me.  So, while I learn Greek, they are too.  Well, maybe just vocabulary?  What I do notice is the flashbacks of spelling bees and Latin in Middle School and those memories remind me of what my kids lives are like right now.  I will not look a gift horse in the mouth- any opportunity to bond with them or understand them is precious.

Back to Greek though. I may sound whiny.  I can admit it,  I am a bit.  English grammar is hard enough, then twist it into Greek and anyone would have nightmares.  Yet, I am actually enjoying the challenge.  I am learning from new texts (Septuagint) and getting to understand the depth of meaning in the original texts.  It really opens my eyes and my heart is being fed too.  Suddenly new doors are opening and I am more excited than ever to be in Seminary- even in the throws of sheer misery while seeking to grasp Greek grammar. 

What's next? 

What is this blog about anyway?

So you are wondering, and rightly so, why is she writing this?  What about it should appeal to me?  Why should I care?
I can answer the first, I can hazzard a guess at the second, and I cannot even begin to understand the third- it is entirely too personal.
Why?
Why not?  How many distance learning Master of Divinity students do you know that are willing to share the ins and outs, the ups and downs and the totally embarrassing and otherwise mundane moments of Seminary?
Yeah.  I thought so.  And since there is not a line around the block, guess who gets the job?

As for why it should appeal to you? Besides the fact that you probably don't have a long list of people who share this journey with you in writing,  you probably have little or small clues as to how this whole thing works anyway.  I know a lot of people are just now becoming familiar with online learning in the first place, so the question that comes up most often is how you train someone who needs serious 'connection' to develop fully during thier degree program while only doing it online?  It is my hope that you will see just how this works through my eyes, that you will see what a Lutheran does to become ordained (A Pastor) and the journey that gets us there.

FYI, I do take questions.  I promise if you have the courage to ask, I will have the courage to post the question along with my most honest answer.  Help me to educate you and others.  Help me to grow.  Help us to understand each other.

Finally, I write this because I love to write.  I love to share.  I love to learn, and I love to connect.  This is my way to allow some very special people (my candidacy committee at the Metropolitan New York ELCA Synod) as well as my supporting congregations (prayerful, financial, membership, etc) and my friends and family to really get a good look at the process.

So.  Buckle in.  I have about a dozen posts ready to go.  Keep watch and maybe consider subscribing to this page.

Joy in ALL Things,
Just Julie

First Week

Firsts. 

       When I hear that word, I think of the traditional ones; first tooth, first step, first day of school, first job, and in that mindset, I realize that the title "First Week "epitomizes the journey of  new student orientation at Luther Seminary. Those other firsts hold so much potential, mark the beginning of a special journey, one that is unique to each person who marks that first moment.First Week at Luther Seminary holds nothing less.

      For me, I mark the moment that I stepped out of my dorm at Stub Hall that first morning. It was sunny with a touch of haze and as I looked across to Northwestern Hall, I saw pastel chalk writing along the steps and sidewalk ending in eager faces awaiting my approach, much like an eager family member at the airport gate. As I walked up those steps it reminded me of the excitement I felt when walking down the aisle to greet the groom who would become my partner for life. Potential and Promise. My first day as a Graduate student and even more monumental, my first day of following a call from God in pursuing my Master of Divinity.

     First Week was filled with many firsts for me. My first moment at Luther Seminary Campus. My first discussion with a professor. My first raising of the hand to offer a question. My first worship with this new family. It also marked the first time I went sight seeing alone in my life which included a feather being woven into my hair(Minnesota State Fair!), my first meal shared with other students, and my first shared communion with the fellowship of students and leadership at Luther.  Each a new beginning, full of that word again: Potential.

      Sadly, it was also the first night that I lost several hours of sleep to a skateboarder grinding on the steps between Stub and Northwestern Halls at 3 am. And only the first of many days where my mind would be full to overflowing with information and I would wonder if my head might pop off. But there is one first that really stood out; that moment, as the first hymn was being played and we waited to sing, at our first worship together, I had the first moment that I knew, without a doubt, this is where I am supposed to be. So many firsts are filled with insecurity and a fear of the unknown ahead, and yet, this first, this moment of absolute surety, left me only filled with gratitude and joy.