A Third Look At 2011

I give a special case to take a third look at the 2011 blogs. I wrote A Second Look At 2011 on Aug 9, 2012. I started A Second Look blogs written in Dec for the 2013 year blogs because the goals delaying one year are relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes. I wrote A Second Look At 2011 blogs which were given eight months. A Second Look At 2010 blogs were given five months written on May 13, 2011. There is no plan to take a third look at 2010 as of today. I give myself 13 years relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes from 2011.

1. Established Today And Tomorrow
Date: Sat Jan 1
Summary: Nobody is 100% established. Life finds a way to lower the percentage established regardless of a person's choice.
Feedback: The first 2011 blog makes it to A Third Look. A wisdom acquired I'm reminded. Appearances can be deceiving when people see other people. Is the person or are the people established to the maximum? Is the person or are the people under established? My intuition tells me most people are under established? I can say people's weakness prevent maximum establishment.

2. De Anza Week Jan 31, 2011
Date: Thur Feb 3
Summary: I attended Mission College to take a class on Quickbooks.
Feedback: I forgot I attended Mission College in Winter 2011 quarter and Spring 2011 quarter on Tue nights. The semester class was easy. I attended all classes sitting at the back with my laptop concentrating on the lectures half-ass. The project and the take-home final were easy as long as students started early.

3. De Anza Week Feb 28, 2011
Date: Sat Mar 5
Summary: I mentioned four weeks of fatigue on Mon Feb 28.
Feedback: I hesitate to share my feedback for the fatigue. Most college students experienced fatigue; however, as a college graduate with adult wisdom, if I minimized processed foods, spent less time watching anime, more time working out at the gym, slept more hours, and improved my prioritizations, then I reduced fatigue. Furthermore, I mentioned fatigue and sickness throughout the rest of the Winter 2011 blogs. Those two spread throughout campus like the early COVID-19 global pandemic.

4. De Anza Week Apr 18, 2011
Date: Sun Apr 24
Summary: The Mon Apr 18 entry I dropped Advanced Accounting. The Spring 2011 quarter was Auditing and Quickbooks at Mission College classes.
Feedback: A lesson to remember. A mistake I didn't repeat. It's okay to quit. It's okay to drop out. It was not a match. It didn't match my expectations. Anyone who says never quit a responsibility is partially correct. Staying or quitting depends on the circumstances. Staying or quitting is a judgement call.

Also, a representative from a CPA preparation course gave his sales pitch for students to enroll in CPA preparation courses. The students learned a bachelors degree is required to become a CPA. The professor confirmed the CPA changed. A rising tide raises all boats.

Number four third look is in a second look.

5. Meet Fraudster Barry Minkow
Date: Thur May 5
Summary: The auditing professor passed out an article on 1980s fraudster Barry Minkow.
Feedback: Minkow teaches the lesson, "Do not trust--verify."

60 Minutes Minkow interview Barry Minkow Master Mind of the ZZZZ Best Fraud.

6. De Anza Week June 6, 2011
Date: Mon Jun 13
Summary: I lost interest in Auditing class. Boring lectures. Survival mode. Too much to learn in a quarter. Information overload.
Feedback: The Auditing class is one of my best personal examples there is too much to learn in too little time. We live in the Information Age. More jobs require more training, more knowledge, and higher costs. The additional time spent in leisure doesn't pay the rent.

Number six third look is in a second look.

7. The Unemployed Like Me Has Expenses
Date: Sun Sep 18
Summary: The unemployed people must pay to live.
Feedback: The blog stands the test of time. I said, "The unemployed people living in today's tough economy still has to live life: eat, wear [clothes], drive to places, stay clean, [stay] in touch with people via cell phone and/or internet, mail letters, and more." Also, "The unemployed most likely has more time than money. Use the extra time wisely to prepare for your next job and be a better person."

8. A Childhood Lowlight
Date: Sun Oct 23
Summary: My childhood was inactive. There was no learning outside the schools. I didn't have friends outside the schools. There was too much solo fun. There was little parental involvement. Life was too easy.
Feedback: I can't change the past. I'm correcting as many mistakes as I can today. I continue catching up what I missed all the way back to my childhood. I forgive my parents.

9. I Must Declare Bankruptcy If I Was 15 Trillion Dollars In Debt
Date: Tue Nov 22
Summary: The United States Of America was $15.04 trillion in debt.
Feedback: The United States Of America is $36.05 trillion in debt.

10. The Human's Most Precious Possession
Date: Tue Nov 29
Summary: Memories are the human's most precious possession.
Feedback: True today. Take care of your brains. Never take brains for granted.

Number ten third look is in a second look.

Throwback Blog: De Anza Week May 23, 2011

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled De Anza Week May 23, 2011 written on May 25, 2011. I reflect these three days I went back to college during the Great Recession. My goal was to earn an A.A. degree in Accounting. I hoped to strengthen my resume when the economy recovered from the Great Recession. I thought a B.S. in Economics and an A.A. in Accounting were a good combination. They didn't work.

I visited the De Anza College-Accounting Department website. Four instructors remain in the department since 2011.

Reading the blog recalled my memory as if the three days happened earlier in the week. The week was memorable with action.

Mon May 23: The bad habit arriving late to class was never eliminated. Bad discipline. I was irresponsible.

Shocked was another verb the students felt when the professor handed out more homework. I finished the initial homework assignments before Memorial Day weekend.

Tue May 24: I missed driving to Mission College every Tue night. The class was easy. Attendance counted in the final grade. Important announcements were given in-class only.

Wed May 25: I should have exchanged contact information with the California State University (CSU)-East Bay graduate. She was informative on the accounting degree. Her accounting knowledge including auditing was good. For instance, there were in-class exercises. She exceled them for which sometimes she didn't read the textbook. The reason was she took an auditing class as an undergraduate.

I mentioned above the Economics degree and Accounting degree combination didn't work. The CSU-East Bay graduate explained a reason for which I was ignorant and I was in denial. The accounting classes taught in junior colleges are the same in four-year colleges; however, some important accounting classes are taught in four-year colleges only. Companies prioritize four-year colleges accounting degrees over two-year colleges accounting degrees. A person can say a two-year A.A. degree is fraud.

I think back about the conversation 13 years and at least three months later. I should have been proactive by researching skills I could learn related to accounting, data analysis, or both. The learning should have continued after graduation.

Mon May 23

The drive to De Anza was the shortest ever. I had one red light which was the first left turn that was a short wait. I still was 10 minutes late. The time could have doubled if I had more red lights.

The professor surprised the entire class. He handed out an additional chapter 5 homework assignment due Wed. 24 multiple choice questions. That's not good for those who wanted to finish the initial homework assignments before Memorial Day weekend. My goal is to finish all homework assignments before Fri.

Tue May 24

I arrived at Mission College at 7:20pm. The instructor said the official start time for the final is 7:30pm. Students can come at 7:00pm. I was running behind in everything. I ate a Snickers candy bar at the parking lot.

I turned in the take home final and received the final. My usual seats at the back of the class were occupied. I moved to the front. The final was doable. I didn't study. I recognized some questions from the take home final and lectures. I completed around 20 minutes. I received the take home final solutions after I submitted the final. It seems I did well because the debit and credit numbers matched what I calculated.

In a small way, I'm going to miss driving to Mission College every Tue night. It was a set activity for the beginning of 2011. I can use the two and a half hours to study for auditing and work out at the gym.

Wed May 25

The professor immediately checked the students completing the additional chapter 5 homework assignment as soon as he walked in the classroom. Then he began lecturing chapter 6. Finally, we reviewed the additional chapter 5 homework. The professor made me read all the questions.

I did poorly on the assignment. I got most of the questions wrong. Most students were surprised at some of the answers to the questions. The classmate who sat on my right was absent on Mon. She got most of the questions correct when she answered the questions before the professor announced the solution.

The classmate and I went to the library after class to photocopy the assignment for her. We talked about accounting degrees and economics degrees. She corrected my knowledge on accounting degrees at the California State University (CSU) systems. An accounting degree is actually a business administration degree. The account part is the business administration's emphases. I incorrectly thought an accounting degree is a stand alone degree with more accounting classes took compared to a junior college. The correction is the number of accounting classes is almost the same between a CSU and junior college. In particular, my classmate noted there are key classes taught at CSU junior college don't teach, and that's a key factor when it comes to companies hiring a person with a four year degree and a two year degree in accounting. The accounting classes I have taken at De Anza are the same as any CSU school. If I transfer to a CSU school, then some of my accounting classes count towards the transfer and I must retake some classes I already took at De Anza.

Update On A Past Blog

I finished reading the book version of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowing, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne. The story is overrated. The plot twist saved the theatre production. I watch the live action play. I prepare myself to avoid being hyped.

I add two more lessons to the blog Top Ten Plus Nine Equals Top Nineteen Harry Potter Adult Perspective Takeaways written on Apr 29, 2020. The lessons happened at the end of Year 4 Goblet Of Fire. Harry, Ron, and Hermione visited Hagrid because there was no Defense Against The Dark Arts class. Hagrid told Harry it was okay to feel bad. Hagrid also told the trio, "Known it fer years, Harry. Knew [Voldemort] was out there, bidin' his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. . . . No good sittin' worryin' abou' it. What's comin' will come, an' wel'll meet it when it does. . . ."

A Second Look At 2016

It's the time I look back at my 2016 blogs to give myself feedback. The goal is the same as past second looks: relearning from my mistakes, reinforcing my lessons, reminding myself my moments, refreshing acquired knowledge, rediscovering new wisdom, correcting errant blogs, and sharing changes. These blogs are also the 2016 best blogs.

There are 11 blogs for A Second Look At 2016. There were 18 blogs in 2015, 17 blogs in 2014, and 11 blogs in 2013. I reduced the number of monthly blog postings from 9 to 7 starting in May 2016. Eight of the 11 blogs were posted in the months between Jan to Jun. The three remaining blogs were posted in Aug and Nov. I continue my second looks in Dec because I want a minimum one year to think about my past year.

I provide the title and link to the original blog, date, summary, and my feedback. Enjoy!

Blog Title: 1. Take The Time Cleaning And Organizing
Date: Friday January 22, 2016
Summary: There are positive benefits living in a clean residence.
Feedback: A person's or a family's clean residence is a sign the person or the family takes care of their surroundings. Moreover, a single person's clean residence is a sign of being a professional. Another sign of a clean residence is life free of clutter, waste, and anything toxic. Sincere effort is made for a clean life. Finally, a person who is bored or has free time should consider cleaning up something. Reorganize something. It's not boring. It's doing something better than doing nothing.

Blog Title: 2. Instant Bullets Blog Jan 25, 2016
Date: Monday January 25, 2016
Summary: Short paragraph blogs separated by bullet points.
Feedback: I want to emphasize some bullets points. They're "The Fairly Intelligent Fly" by James Thurber fable telling the reader there is no safety in numbers or in anything else, we should find time to refresh and relearn our skills since first responders are required to review consistently, don't be an old fuck, being physical now has long-term benefits, complementary relationships are long-term, true life experience is making mistakes and experiencing frustrations, and never skip meals.

Blog Title: 3. My Thoughts On Boring
Date: Friday February 19, 2016
Summary: I thought about what if I live a boring life.
Feedback: First, I removed the comparing myself with other in my daily life rules. We compare ourselves with other people. We should compare intelligently. We may realize our life is not as bad as we think.

Second, there are more people living boring lives than we believe. We see few boring people outdoors because most boring people stay indoors. Boring is a relative term. We compare ourselves who is boring and who is not boring. For example, a person with the latest and greatest goods may be living an exciting life. On the other hand, who needs the latest and greatest goods to live a good life? I drive a 12 year old car. My laptop is 10 years old. I have a small DVD collection and a tiny BD collection. The world has too many items to consume. Less is more. Live a happy life with sincere friends and a loving family is not a boring life.

Third, boring people choose to live a life minimizing harm. They live a life with safeguards and backup plans. A quiet life is a good life.

Fourth, Bill Gates' 11 Rules For Real Life Rule #7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Fifth, the process to success may be boring, may be routine, or may be dull; however, the end result is not boring. Most successful people say the process was not boring.

Sixth, I wrote a past blog on boring people titled Do Boring People Exist in Feb 2014.

Blog Title: 4. Throwback Blog: My All De Anza Review Blog
Date: Sunday February 28, 2016
Summary: I self-interviewed myself my years going back to school at De Anza College in 2009-2011.
Feedback: Even throwback blogs can be looked a third time. One question I asked myself was why I enrolled in Spring 2011 when I graduated in Winter 2011. I initially avoided answering the question by saying I learned something in my Auditing class.

The brutal truth was I didn't want to work. I still wanted to be a student. I wanted the freedom as a student. The job market was tough when I started searching for a job in Jul 2011. The job market 2011 was not the job market during my father's time.

Blog Title: 5. Work On Good Moments Happen To Good People
Date: Wednesday March 9, 2016
Summary: I shared all of the good moments in the present hoping for good moments in the future.
Feedback: I wrote eight blogs I personally called "self-pity" blogs using my daily job searching routines. I stop writing these self-pity blogs. I didn't need to defend myself what I do daily while unemployed. These blogs were a waste of time. These blogs reiterated learning new skills, hoping for the best, and working hard to achieve freedom. There was no need to remind myself. I bored the world with these self-pity blogs. The world waits to blog the end result which is freedom.

Blog Title: 6. My Miracle Is In Progress
Date: Monday March 21, 2016
Summary: My miracle achieving freedom considering my past life is in process.
Feedback: I consider myself lucky. I consider myself fortunate. I spent all my good luck points on who I am today. Also, I earn good luck points for how much I worked hard to be me today for tomorrow. I was weak. I was immature. Some may say I blogged another self-pity. My different perspectives are count my blessings, my naive life disappeared, and take personal responsibility. I forgive anyone and anything that hurt my past.

Blog Title: 7. Many Unemployed Jobs Searchers Like Me Are Frustrated
Date: Friday April 8, 2016
Summary: Unemployed people must blame the job search system.
Feedback: People who are neither laidoff nor fired don't know the job market today. Read between the lines on economic news. The economy is good; however, the job market is tough. I have been seeing full time direct company positions for which I applied. Time passes. These same positions are converted to contract position. Those who are working avoid entering the unemployment abyss.

Companies forgot how to hire the best candidates. Managers focus on recent experience and relevant knowledge. A candidate's character and small skills such as good communication and team player are all secondary. In the past, a candidate's character and small skills such as good communication and team player were primary because good job candidates learned on the job and learned outside the job if they needed extra skills.

Timing is everything. I have seen an increase in job openings days after President Donald Trump signed the new tax bill. Is the increase short-term or long-term? Time will tell.

Blog Title: 8. The Size Of The Pie Is Still The Same
Date: Thursday June 23, 2016
Summary: More people want a piece of the pie for which the size is the same. More people aren't going to get a piece.
Feedback: I said greed prevents more people getting a piece. Greed may not be correct. There is a finite amount of opportunities. Opportunities are key for people to be successful. Life has winners. Life has losers. There are good people who never achieve their goals because there are factors beyond their control.

The world population grows. The number of people increases faster than the number of increasing opportunities. It's like a factory producing robots. There are plenty of robots available. There is a limited about of demand for the robots.

Further, the rich people get richer. Money grows exponentially. Basic Finance 101. Investments earn interest over interest. The tax laws and business laws favor the rich.

Blog Title: 9. Top Ten Steve Jobs Quotes
Date: Wednesday August 3, 2016
Summary: I share more than ten Steve Jobs quotes. I learn from his wisdom; for example, "The journey is the reward" which is number one.
Feedback: I have a bias when it comes to Steve Jobs. I repost my favorite Steve Jobs quotes.

Blog Title: 10. Top Ten Life Lessons I Learned Watching Sports
Date: Saturday November 5, 2016
Summary: I posted life lessons I learned being a sports fan. They're curses are meant to be broken, rest, strong core, redemption, streaks and slumps, be professional, consistency, be calm, good coaching, and support.
Feedback: I want to add two more life lessons. The first is patience. Championship teams plan ahead. Championship teams don't win overnight. It takes time. Be patient. Mistakes are made. Lessons are learned. Successes are improved. Planning is writing down steps today for the successful tomorrow.

The second is winning includes forgiveness; on the other hand, winning can hide problems which may haunt the person or team in the future. All is well that ends well. Winning is powerful. Winning helps people heal from any hurtful past.

Consistency includes play your game. Play to your strengths. Play your comfort level. Play your style. Follow the game plan.

Blog Title: 11. Luck Is Part Of Life
Date: Tuesday November 15, 2016
Summary: The most successful people under appreciate luck and the least successful people over-rely on luck.
Feedback: Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book "Outliers". He wrote luck and opportunity are the reasons why some people succeed and some people don't succeed.

Another viewpoint. There are some people--good people--down on their luck. They're struggling financially trying to keep a roof under their heads, food on the tables, and gas in their cars. People should be lucky and should be fortunate if they have all three. Count your blessings. Take none of them for granted.

I play Mahjong. An experienced player knows the best ways to win; however, if he or she doesn't get the tiles, then the knowledge means nothing. Mahjong is like all games played. Some luck is involved. Players rarely discuss luck openly.

Finally, it's better to be lucky than smart. Agree or disagree?

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Throwback Blog: My All De Anza Review Blog

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled My All De Anza Review Blog in Dec 2012. I blogged a self Q&A discussing my experiences at De Anza College. I reread my review blog. There was one answer I questioned today. One of the reasons I started taking Accounting classes was companies not hiring during the great recession. I know two people who found jobs in 2009. Time will tell whether my two years at De Anza pays off which currently has not.

Blogger's note: I wanted to blog my all De Anza review when I found a job. Unfortunately, I haven't found a job. The timing is appropriate to post my review. I use a Q&A interview format pretending 60 Minutes' correspondent Steve Kroft is interviewing me. My favorite articles were the financial crisis and real estate bubble.

The blog entry is unedited for grammar and content. 60 Minutes is represented by "60M" and I'm represented by "RM".

Introduction

60M: It's been 18 months since Raymond Mar attended De Anza College. Mr. Mar earned an AA degree in Accounting. His contract job at a telecommunications company was terminated in 2008. The financial crisis and real estate bubble bursted at that time. "I knew family and friends who lost their jobs," said Mar. He chose to go back to school rather than look for a job in a bleak job market.

We sit down and ask whether going back to De Anza was worth his time from Mar. 2009 to June 2011.

Interview

60M: What inspired you to go back to school?

RM: Actually, my first classes were ballroom dancing, strength training, and beginning Japanese. I dropped Japanese because the instructor, the sensei, taught too fast. I asked my friends who took Japanese at other colleges. All of them agreed I must drop Japanese. I saw a classmate in another class the next quarter. She said half of the class dropped before finals.

60M: What about ballroom dancing and strength training?

RM: My sister encouraged me to take ballroom dancing. She competed in amateur ballroom dancing competitions. She also went to school, and she didn't have time to teach me. As for strength training, I wanted to take a class to learn how to lift weights properly.

Ballroom dancing was fun. I met lots of people and made lots of friends. I met my girlfriend, too.

60M: In Fall '09, you choose to take an accounting class.

RM: Accounting was one of my majors I wanted to change after quitting majoring in Mathematics at San Jose State. I choose Economics. I thought I take the first accounting class and see what happens. If I liked it, I continue and work my way to earn an AA degree. After all, nobody was hiring during the financial meltdown. I had lots of free time.

As it turned out, I liked accounting and continued taking accounting classes, as well as taking ballroom dancing.

60M: You were a little careless taking your accounting classes.

RM: I admit I was a little careless. I took a couple of classes I didn't need to take. It turned out those couple of classes were taught by terrible instructors. One class was a complete waste of time. I should have dropped it when that class had too many students. That Spring '10 quarter I took that overcrowded class was the busiest quarter in terms of homework and studying.

Yeah, I should have planned out what classes to take. On the other hand, I wanted to take that overcrowded class when the first opportunity came to me because I never know when the next time the class was offered considering budget cuts.

60M: What were the biggest mistakes you made?

RM: I start with two mistakes I corrected. The first mistake was taking Japanese. Fortunately, I dropped the class. The second mistake was taking Advanced Accounting, a class I didn't need to take.

60M: It sounds like Advanced Accounting was required.

RM: It wasn't. I took the class out of self interest after I earned my AA degree. The professor was the worse professor ever, and that includes San Jose State. He couldn't lecture and couldn't explain the concepts just to save his life. We played games.

60M: Games?

RM: Yeah, games. Once a week, he brought these buzzers. All the students were divided in teams. The professor asked questions and the students answered them correctly to earn extra credit. You don't need extra credit because his grading was easier than high school exams.

Another game was the professor show an image he took in campus. Located and identify the image and you earned extra credit. Likewise for movies. The professor showed a clip from a movie related to accounting. Identify the movie and you earned extra credit.

Anyways, the third mistake that I failed to correct was taking a singing class. I took singing after playing Beatles Rock Band. I was inspired to learn how to sing better because I was the singer in the video game. There was nothing wrong with the instructor. It was just that the class didn't meet my expectations and I wasted gas and time driving to campus for just one evening.

The lesson was sometimes its okay to quit. There were more important priorities and better uses for my time.

60M: What were the lessons you learned? Of course you learned accounting.

RM: The lessons were everyone is human, go with the flow, timing is everything, and use it or lose it.

60M: Those four are life lessons.

RM: Yup, life lessons. Going back to De Anza was a second chance in my life. It was my mulligan card. I wanted to correct my mistakes or don't repeat my mistakes I did at San Jose State. I wanted to experience life as a college student again. I wanted to be a college student the right way.

60M: What was the right way?

RM: I wanted to meet new people and make new friends. (Thank you Facebook.) I wanted to experience new experiences and seek new adventures. For example, there was ballroom dancing I mentioned earlier. Others included hiking, visiting the Charles Schulz museum, playing Starcraft 2, visiting Monterey and Carmel, and much more. I didn't want to take college seriously like I did at San Jose State. Have fun, relax. Complete homework and projects last minute. Don't study too hard. Open myself up to something new from the simple try new foods to the first time moments riding a San Francisco cable car, and dating.

60M: Fall '10 was your best quarter. Why?

RM: That quarter I met the most people and made the most friends. One class everyone worked in teams for in-class work and for group presentation. I was lucky my group was the best in teamwork and presentation. The rest of the other groups experienced problems. The downside was the instructor was a bitch.

60M: Lol

RM: The downside of Fall '10 was I had to attend classes four days a week instead of two days for all of the other quarters.

Another best was the movie of the week checking out a DVD from the library. All of the DVDs I checked out must be from the American Film Institute Top 100 list in 1997, not 2007. *looking at the list* Some of the movies I watched were Midnight Cowboy, Citizen Kane, On The Waterfront, Singin' In The Rain, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Philadelphia Story, Vertigo, The French Connection, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. I also watched Rosemary's Baby.

60M: Some people say you should not have gone back to school. Instead you either find another job despite the bad economy or take a class on a specialty skill such as a software program. Further, even though you have an AA degree in Accounting and a BS in Economics from San Jose State, you're having problems finding a job now since many jobs want relevant and/or recent job experience. How do you respond?

RM: If I went back in time to Mar 2009, I still go back to De Anza, or at least Sept 2009 when I took my first accounting class. The experiences, the people, the memories, the lessons on life, everything from Mar 2009 to June 2011 made me a better person who I am today. I mentioned earlier about the mulligan. Everyone deserves a mulligan. I used my mulligan on going back to school.

Going back to De Anza was like a time out in my life, a long time out. Going back to De Anza was a life refresher, to rediscover who I am, to find who I wasn't. Slow down, relax, don't repeat my past mistakes again. It was a time to be a grown up, a mature person. Everything, everything I experienced I apply for all my present and future relationships, my careers, and my daily living life.

I'm optimistic I find a job. I was interviewed seven times this year. I received calls from recruiters and hiring managers. It's a matter of when I find a job and start my life after college part 2. I need a little luck and timing in my favor.

60M: What was your worse quarter?

RM: I say Winter '11, technically my last quarter. I got sick and missed a week. The instructor for my Intro to Business was boring. Oh, BTW, I still remember the videos we watched and that opening theme song.

Spring '10 came in second. Listening to Beatles, classical music, classic jazz, and Vocaloid music helped me study well.

60M: You choose to continue taking an accounting class in Spring '11, the quarter after you graduated. Why?

RM: I enrolled in Auditing and Advanced Accounting. I dropped Advanced Accounting as mentioned earlier. Auditing was a hard class. I actually learned a few things I apply when I hear business news about disclaimers, security breaches, fraud, and embezzlement. It wasn't a waste of time. I was in survival mode for most of Spring '11, yet I didn't take the class too seriously such that I spent hours and hours studying. I had a life.

Auditing was a class to complete the full circle of all the accounting classes I took.

60M: In the Auditing class, you met a classmate who graduated at a CSU school with a business degree. Tell me what information she gave you.

RM: That recent graduate was smart and a quick learner. I remember one class meeting she arrived late. We had an in-class assignment. She opened the chapter, read a few pages, and then answered the questions correctly. She never took auditing as an undergraduate.

The information she told me was clarifying graduating with a BA in accounting. There was no such thing as an accounting degree, at least at the CSU schools. Business majors graduated with a business degree with an emphasis in accounting, or finance, or marketing. We went to the library, went online to compare an AA degree in Accounting and a BA in Business-Accounting. There was little difference. Most of the classes for an AA degree were the same classes for a BA. The major difference was two or three classes not taught at junior college. Further, if I were to transfer, I had to retake at least my two quarters of Intermediate Accounting because those credits were non-transferrable.

The bottom line was I could have a BA in Business-Accounting should I count my GE classes at San Jose State. It's those two or three classes that made the difference between an AA and a BA. How about that. Something to think about. I bet most BA or BS majors don't know just a couple of classes makes the difference between another BA or BS and an AA degree.

60M: How were the instructors overall?

RM: Overall, the instructors were good. Most of the part time instructors were good. Some of them really cared and some took time to share life experiences. The full time instructors were so-so. Having said that, students going to community colleges, I suggest you favor part timers.

60M: Timing was in your favor. You got all your classes at favorable times, with the exception of Fall '10 when you attended school four days a week. The friends who still attend De Anza said it's worse now.

RM: It's one of my life lessons I learned. Timing is everything. All my friends told me overcrowding is at the worse and classes are harder to get. They're seeing older age people unemployed going back to school.

60M: Share some little tid bits.

RM: I remember World Cup '10 was huge. The cafeteria had big screen projectors. I remember a group of card gamers moving all the tables together and playing card games. They're a perfect example of geek gamers. Do I want to meet them? No.

The cooks who worked the grill gave lots and lots of fries when people ordered the burger combos. Even their breakfast menu was decent. Prices were all reasonable. No refills on fountain drinks.

The only time I cut class was when I was sick. I never cut class just for the heck of it. To be honest, there was no reason to cut just for the heck of it.

There were three rooms I attended classes two or more times. Two of the three rooms I earned A grades all the time. Moreover, all my classes took place in two buildings and the computer lab, with the exception of the singing and ballroom dancing.

I ate lunch outside De Anza two times, and they were all on the first day of school for the two quarters.

60M: Compare the students at De Anza to when you were a student attending San Jose State.

RM: De Anza students had cell phones and smart phones. San Jose State students a few had cell phones, and you needed either a land line or pager to communicate. Email was spreading slowly. De Anza students could buy books on the web or at the bookstore, or buy a cheaper .pdf copy. San Jose State students bought at the bookstores only. The short answer was technology and communicating.

De Anza students could take tests and submit homework online. San Jose State students all work were done in class. And De Anza students had portable mp3 players for music. San Jose State students had walkmans.

De Anza students registered online. San Jose State students register by phone using a class scheduled printed hardcopy.

60M: Raymond Mar continues to think about De Anza occasionally, much more than San Jose State. He believes college students today have an easier time than when he attended San Jose State. Students today use technology to help with their assignments, keep in touch with friends and instructors, register for classes, and get their final grades. On the other hand, he fears that the technology today can make more people being alone and too independent.

The biggest mistake when he attended San Jose State was meeting very little people. That should be life lesson number #5: always meet new people.

Mar has experienced recruiters and hiring managers not considering him because of his lack of recent job experience and going back to school. What you do being unemployed can be just as important as what you did at your recent job. Right now is the best time to hire Mr. Mar because he's a better person who's more professional and more mature than ever.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Alternate Endings

What if I did this instead of that? We think back the different choices we could have made which could have changed our lives. Why do we think back in our pasts to think about alternate choices? I'm no psychologist. I believe there are two reasons. The first reason is to learn from our mistakes. The second reason is to make us feel better in a sad moment.

We are human. We make bad choices. Sometimes there are bad moments that happen beyond our control. Bad timing and bad luck are part of life. We must continue forward. The world didn't come to an end.

Here are some past moments and the possible alternate endings:

Graduated At Prospect High School. I attended Blackford High School for three years. The Campbell Union High School District made the decision to close two schools because of the recession. Blackford High School closed for my senior year. I finished my high school at Prospect High School.

What if Blackford High School remained open? 1. My classes were easier. The teachers at Prospect were more challenging than Blackford. 2. No driver's license. I lived within biking distance from home to Blackford. 3. I could have been the senior cadet officer in my R.O.T.C. class. 4. I saw all my friends at Blackford instead of seeing half my Blackford friends at Prospect. 5. I could say I attended a school for at least four years. I attended my junior high school for three years. I attended three elementary schools for two years each.

Graduated With An Economics Degree. I started my education at San Jose State University majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Economics. I changed my major to Economics and my minor to Mathematics.

What if I graduated with a different major? Accounting and Geology were also my new major choices. If I majored in Accounting, I had a better chance finding a job quicker after I graduated and I had a better chance finding a job if I lose my job because of layoffs. I might have earned a CPA because it was much easier earning a CPA back then compared to today. And a major in Accounting and a minor in Economics were a good combination of business knowledge and analytical thinking.

If I majored in Geology, then I'm likely in the same job situation with an Economics degree. It was hard to find a job and it was hard to find a job in a recession.

Finished De Anza College In Spring '11. My A.A. degree in Accounting was completed at the end of the Winter '11. I finished De Anza in Spring '11 because I wanted to take the Auditing class which was offered only in spring quarters.

What if I ended De Anza in Winter '11? I could have started job searching three months earlier. I could have took a mini vacation three months earlier. I could have realized how the job market changed and how job searching changed since 2008 three months earlier. The bottom line was my new life started three months earlier.

What if I didn't attend De Anza? I might have found a job. My friends who looked for a job during the recession found a job. I experienced job searching in a tough market for the first time in my life. I didn't experience real student life I should have experienced back at San Jose State which included making new friends, having fun, making mistakes, and being youthful again.

Attended Anime Expo '07. Anime Expo '07 was held at the Long Beach Convention Center temporarily for one year. Their contract at the Anaheim Convention Center ended in '06.

What if I skipped Anime Expo '07? I didn't experience another bad con. I saved money. I saved my vacation time. I didn't get sick after the Fourth Of July holiday. The Long Beach Convention Center was too small for a big attendance. There were not enough hotel rooms. The hot temperatures made the experience worse for outdoor events and the lines for events.

I should have listened to my intuition which said Anime Expo '07 was going to be a bad convention. I wanted to keep my Anime Expo attendance streak intact.

Full Metal Alchemist Anime Saved Me From Quitting Anime. One of Fanime Con '04's programming was the Full Metal Alchemist Midnight Marathon. The anime series was popular in Japan. It was my opportunity to watch the series.

I talked to a friend who graduated college the day before the marathon. He told me he was phasing out of anime. I thought about quitting anime the rest of the day.

What if I didn't watch Full Metal Alchemist? I quit anime at the end of '04. I watched 17 episodes from midnight to 7am. I choose to wear a costume of the main character at the end of episode eight. I continued being an anime fan from '05 to '14. Full Metal Alchemist is my all time favorite anime series. I met lots of new people and made lots of new friends. I have little friends today without continuing anime.

Contract At Cisco Terminated On Nov '08. I was a Business Analyst from Mar '07 to Nov '08. My contract ended because the real estate financial bubble bursted.

What if I continued working at Cisco through '09? I didn't experience a blessing in disguise when my contract was terminated. I didn't take a break from life. I didn't experience being a beginner again. I didn't experience correcting the mistakes I made before I realized I must grow up on Sat Oct 4, '08. I never attended De Anza College from '09-'11 to relive college life.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

My All De Anza Review Blog

Blogger's note: I wanted to blog my all De Anza review when I found a job. Unfortunately, I haven't found a job. The timing is appropriate to post my review. I use a Q&A interview format pretending 60 Minutes' correspondent Steve Kroft is interviewing me. My favorite articles were the financial crisis and real estate bubble.

The blog entry is unedited for grammar and content. 60 Minutes is represented by "60M" and I'm represented by "RM".

Introduction

60M: It's been 18 months since Raymond Mar attended De Anza College. Mr. Mar earned an AA degree in Accounting. His contract job at a telecommunications company was terminated in 2008. The financial crisis and real estate bubble bursted at that time. "I knew family and friends who lost their jobs," said Mar. He chose to go back to school rather than look for a job in a bleak job market.

We sit down and ask whether going back to De Anza was worth his time from Mar. 2009 to June 2011.

Interview

60M: What inspired you to go back to school?

RM: Actually, my first classes were ballroom dancing, strength training, and beginning Japanese. I dropped Japanese because the instructor, the sensei, taught too fast. I asked my friends who took Japanese at other colleges. All of them agreed I must drop Japanese. I saw a classmate in another class the next quarter. She said half of the class dropped before finals.

60M: What about ballroom dancing and strength training?

RM: My sister encouraged me to take ballroom dancing. She competed in amateur ballroom dancing competitions. She also went to school, and she didn't have time to teach me. As for strength training, I wanted to take a class to learn how to lift weights properly.

Ballroom dancing was fun. I met lots of people and made lots of friends. I met my girlfriend, too.

60M: In Fall '09, you choose to take an accounting class.

RM: Accounting was one of my majors I wanted to change after quitting majoring in Mathematics at San Jose State. I choose Economics. I thought I take the first accounting class and see what happens. If I liked it, I continue and work my way to earn an AA degree. After all, nobody was hiring during the financial meltdown. I had lots of free time.

As it turned out, I liked accounting and continued taking accounting classes, as well as taking ballroom dancing.

60M: You were a little careless taking your accounting classes.

RM: I admit I was a little careless. I took a couple of classes I didn't need to take. It turned out those couple of classes were taught by terrible instructors. One class was a complete waste of time. I should have dropped it when that class had too many students. That Spring '10 quarter I took that overcrowded class was the busiest quarter in terms of homework and studying.

Yeah, I should have planned out what classes to take. On the other hand, I wanted to take that overcrowded class when the first opportunity came to me because I never know when the next time the class was offered considering budget cuts.

60M: What were the biggest mistakes you made?

RM: I start with two mistakes I corrected. The first mistake was taking Japanese. Fortunately, I dropped the class. The second mistake was taking Advanced Accounting, a class I didn't need to take.

60M: It sounds like Advanced Accounting was required.

RM: It wasn't. I took the class out of self interest after I earned my AA degree. The professor was the worse professor ever, and that includes San Jose State. He couldn't lecture and couldn't explain the concepts just to save his life. We played games.

60M: Games?

RM: Yeah, games. Once a week, he brought these buzzers. All the students were divided in teams. The professor asked questions and the students answered them correctly to earn extra credit. You don't need extra credit because his grading was easier than high school exams.

Another game was the professor show an image he took in campus. Located and identify the image and you earned extra credit. Likewise for movies. The professor showed a clip from a movie related to accounting. Identify the movie and you earned extra credit.

Anyways, the third mistake that I failed to correct was taking a singing class. I took singing after playing Beatles Rock Band. I was inspired to learn how to sing better because I was the singer in the video game. There was nothing wrong with the instructor. It was just that the class didn't meet my expectations and I wasted gas and time driving to campus for just one evening.

The lesson was sometimes its okay to quit. There were more important priorities and better uses for my time.

60M: What were the lessons you learned? Of course you learned accounting.

RM: The lessons were everyone is human, go with the flow, timing is everything, and use it or lose it.

60M: Those four are life lessons.

RM: Yup, life lessons. Going back to De Anza was a second chance in my life. It was my mulligan card. I wanted to correct my mistakes or don't repeat my mistakes I did at San Jose State. I wanted to experience life as a college student again. I wanted to be a college student the right way.

60M: What was the right way?

RM: I wanted to meet new people and make new friends. (Thank you Facebook.) I wanted to experience new experiences and seek new adventures. For example, there was ballroom dancing I mentioned earlier. Others included hiking, visiting the Charles Schulz museum, playing Starcraft 2, visiting Monterey and Carmel, and much more. I didn't want to take college seriously like I did at San Jose State. Have fun, relax. Complete homework and projects last minute. Don't study too hard. Open myself up to something new from the simple try new foods to the first time moments riding a San Francisco cable car, and dating.

60M: Fall '10 was your best quarter. Why?

RM: That quarter I met the most people and made the most friends. One class everyone worked in teams for in-class work and for group presentation. I was lucky my group was the best in teamwork and presentation. The rest of the other groups experienced problems. The downside was the instructor was a bitch.

60M: Lol

RM: The downside of Fall '10 was I had to attend classes four days a week instead of two days for all of the other quarters.

Another best was the movie of the week checking out a DVD from the library. All of the DVDs I checked out must be from the American Film Institute Top 100 list in 1997, not 2007. *looking at the list* Some of the movies I watched were Midnight Cowboy, Citizen Kane, On The Waterfront, Singin' In The Rain, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Philadelphia Story, Vertigo, The French Connection, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. I also watched Rosemary's Baby.

60M: Some people say you should not have gone back to school. Instead you either find another job despite the bad economy or take a class on a specialty skill such as a software program. Further, even though you have an AA degree in Accounting and a BS in Economics from San Jose State, you're having problems finding a job now since many jobs want relevant and/or recent job experience. How do you respond?

RM: If I went back in time to Mar 2009, I still go back to De Anza, or at least Sept 2009 when I took my first accounting class. The experiences, the people, the memories, the lessons on life, everything from Mar 2009 to June 2011 made me a better person who I am today. I mentioned earlier about the mulligan. Everyone deserves a mulligan. I used my mulligan on going back to school.

Going back to De Anza was like a time out in my life, a long time out. Going back to De Anza was a life refresher, to rediscover who I am, to find who I wasn't. Slow down, relax, don't repeat my past mistakes again. It was a time to be a grown up, a mature person. Everything, everything I experienced I apply for all my present and future relationships, my careers, and my daily living life.

I'm optimistic I find a job. I was interviewed seven times this year. I received calls from recruiters and hiring managers. It's a matter of when I find a job and start my life after college part 2. I need a little luck and timing in my favor.

60M: What was your worse quarter?

RM: I say Winter '11, technically my last quarter. I got sick and missed a week. The instructor for my Intro to Business was boring. Oh, BTW, I still remember the videos we watched and that opening theme song.

Spring '10 came in second. Listening to Beatles, classical music, classic jazz, and Vocaloid music helped me study well.

60M: You choose to continue taking an accounting class in Spring '11, the quarter after you graduated. Why?

RM: I enrolled in Auditing and Advanced Accounting. I dropped Advanced Accounting as mentioned earlier. Auditing was a hard class. I actually learned a few things I apply when I hear business news about disclaimers, security breaches, fraud, and embezzlement. It wasn't a waste of time. I was in survival mode for most of Spring '11, yet I didn't take the class too seriously such that I spent hours and hours studying. I had a life.

Auditing was a class to complete the full circle of all the accounting classes I took.

60M: In the Auditing class, you met a classmate who graduated at a CSU school with a business degree. Tell me what information she gave you.

RM: That recent graduate was smart and a quick learner. I remember one class meeting she arrived late. We had an in-class assignment. She opened the chapter, read a few pages, and then answered the questions correctly. She never took auditing as an undergraduate.

The information she told me was clarifying graduating with a BA in accounting. There was no such thing as an accounting degree, at least at the CSU schools. Business majors graduated with a business degree with an emphasis in accounting, or finance, or marketing. We went to the library, went online to compare an AA degree in Accounting and a BA in Business-Accounting. There was little difference. Most of the classes for an AA degree were the same classes for a BA. The major difference was two or three classes not taught at junior college. Further, if I were to transfer, I had to retake at least my two quarters of Intermediate Accounting because those credits were non-transferrable.

The bottom line was I could have a BA in Business-Accounting should I count my GE classes at San Jose State. It's those two or three classes that made the difference between an AA and a BA. How about that. Something to think about. I bet most BA or BS majors don't know just a couple of classes makes the difference between another BA or BS and an AA degree.

60M: How were the instructors overall?

RM: Overall, the instructors were good. Most of the part time instructors were good. Some of them really cared and some took time to share life experiences. The full time instructors were so-so. Having said that, students going to community colleges, I suggest you favor part timers.

60M: Timing was in your favor. You got all your classes at favorable times, with the exception of Fall '10 when you attended school four days a week. The friends who still attend De Anza said it's worse now.

RM: It's one of my life lessons I learned. Timing is everything. All my friends told me overcrowding is at the worse and classes are harder to get. They're seeing older age people unemployed going back to school.

60M: Share some little tid bits.

RM: I remember World Cup '10 was huge. The cafeteria had big screen projectors. I remember a group of card gamers moving all the tables together and playing card games. They're a perfect example of geek gamers. Do I want to meet them? No.

The cooks who worked the grill gave lots and lots of fries when people ordered the burger combos. Even their breakfast menu was decent. Prices were all reasonable. No refills on fountain drinks.

The only time I cut class was when I was sick. I never cut class just for the heck of it. To be honest, there was no reason to cut just for the heck of it.

There were three rooms I attended classes two or more times. Two of the three rooms I earned A grades all the time. Moreover, all my classes took place in two buildings and the computer lab, with the exception of the singing and ballroom dancing.

I ate lunch outside De Anza two times, and they were all on the first day of school for the two quarters.

60M: Compare the students at De Anza to when you were a student attending San Jose State.

RM: De Anza students had cell phones and smart phones. San Jose State students a few had cell phones, and you needed either a land line or pager to communicate. Email was spreading slowly. De Anza students could buy books on the web or at the bookstore, or buy a cheaper .pdf copy. San Jose State students bought at the bookstores only. The short answer was technology and communicating.

De Anza students could take tests and submit homework online. San Jose State students all work were done in class. And De Anza students had portable mp3 players for music. San Jose State students had walkmans.

De Anza students registered online. San Jose State students register by phone using a class scheduled printed hardcopy.

60M: Raymond Mar continues to think about De Anza occasionally, much more than San Jose State. He believes college students today have an easier time than when he attended San Jose State. Students today use technology to help with their assignments, keep in touch with friends and instructors, register for classes, and get their final grades. On the other hand, he fears that the technology today can make more people being alone and too independent.

The biggest mistake when he attended San Jose State was meeting very little people. That should be life lesson number #5: always meet new people.

Mar has experienced recruiters and hiring managers not considering him because of his lack of recent job experience and going back to school. What you do being unemployed can be just as important as what you did at your recent job. Right now is the best time to hire Mr. Mar because he's a better person who's more professional and more mature than ever.

De Anza Week June 20, 2011

Mon June 20

More changes and announcements regarding the final. The professor had emergency surgery to remove his cyst last Thursday after his routine checkup last Wednesday. However, the substitute instructor proctors the final. The professor’s second daughter has a routine checkup and he’s driving her to the doctor. The professor uploads the essay questions tonight. I study the essay questions tomorrow.

The professor told the class his cyst has been giving him pain for the last five weeks. He took Tylenol to combat the pain. He was prescribed Vicodin which he never took. The pain from the cyst might explain why his lectures have been boring and significantly off the mark after Memorial Day weekend. I blogged his lectures were the worse ever, and I factored his Intermediate Accounting classes.

I’m looking forward to studying the essay questions because essay questions are easier to earn high scores. I believe essay questions a student is rewarded with points for what they know. The professor grades essays for what a student knows. On the other hand, multiple choice exams are graded on what the student missed and don’t know.

Final is on Thursday. Lots of luck.

Thur June 23

The final was easier than the mid-term. There were less theoretical questions and there were two essay questions. The professor must have changed the final from three essay questions to two. I completed the essay portion first because if I ran out of time, I read and answer unanswered multiple choice questions quickly. I finished the final with 30 minutes remaining. My brain was fatigued and I lost my train of thought. I submitted my final without double checking my answers.

That’s it. I’m done with De Anza. I wait for my diploma with an AA degree in Accounting.

I choose to use my end of quarter review I have been doing in past quarters to review my entire experiences at De Anza. The all De Anza review blog is coming soon. In the meantime, I write blogs about other topics. I want to take a break writing De Anza blogs.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week June 13, 2011

Mon June 13

The shortest class lecture throughout my time at De Anza. I arrived ten minutes late. The students were in front of the door. I guessed the professor was late. A classmate told me the professor was finding the keys to the classroom. The class before Auditing was cancelled and the room was locked.

We entered the classroom after waiting a total of 20 minutes from the time lecture begins. The professor informed the students the lecture is short because he needed to tend to her daughter who has chronic sickness. In addition, there were major announcements for the final. One, there is a substitute proctor because the professor has surgery the day after the final. Two, there are essay questions on the final. The professor emails the questions to the students. Three, all extra credit assignments can be submitted on final’s day.

Wed June 15

The professor announced the essay questions are going to be revised. We receive the updated essay questions on Monday. The professor lectured chapter 11. The final is chapters 5, 6, 7 and 11. The professor skipped chapter 12. I have eight days to study for the final. I need lots of luck because I start studying chapter 5 tonight.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week June 6, 2011

Mon June 6

Today’s lecture was worse than Wed June 1 when everyone got back from the Memorial Day weekend. The positive side was I didn’t fall asleep. The negative side was the lecture was boring, boring, and boring.

The professor finished lecturing chapter 6 and began chapter 7. Some students asked for a delay on the chapter 7 homework due Friday. I looked at the homework. There are so many questions. The concepts are getting drier and I’m having trouble comprehending. Also, I can use the delay because I have to catch up on my personal life.

I’m going to be honest. I’m losing interest in the class.

Wed June 8

It’s survival mode. I just care about passing the class. My grade can be A, B, or C. I can’t take for granted being lazy and the professor handing out passing grades on a silver platter. Maybe I apply to transfer to a four year college in the future. If I get a bad grade in Auditing, then it may affect my chances I'm accepted. On the other hand, knowing the professor, attending all classes, submitting all homework, submitting most extra credit, I should pass as long as I don’t bomb the final.

I remember taking Computer Science 46A at San Jose State University in Fall Semester ’93. I failed the final, but the professor gave me a C- grade. I was saved because the professor knew my name, attended all classes, and submitted al homework. Another reason was my classmate knew C++ and was a programmer in the US Marines. To repeat, I’m not taking for granted I pass the class.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 30, 2011

Mon May 30

Memorial Day weekend. No school.

Wed June 1

Today was the last day I arrive late. I was fatigued from Memorial Day weekend. The professor reviewed auditing from chapters 1-4. Next, the professor told everyone final’s day which is Thur June 23. Time’s flying fast. We have three weeks of classes. I must devote time daily studying.

My fatigue got the best of me as I fell asleep during the lecture. I can’t help it, and the professor’s lecture was boring. The classmate who sits on my right said today’s lecture felt like it was the longest class session.

My priority is finishing chapter 6 reading and homework. Then I read chapter 7.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 23, 2011

Mon May 23

The drive to De Anza was the shortest ever. I had one red light which was the first left turn that was a short wait. I still was 10 minutes late. The time could have doubled if I had more red lights.

The professor surprised the entire class. He handed out an additional chapter 5 homework assignment due Wed. 24 multiple choice questions. That’s not good for those who wanted to finish the initial homework assignments before Memorial Day weekend. My goal is to finish all homework assignments before Fri.

Tue May 24

I arrived at Mission College at 7:20pm. The instructor said the official start time for the final is 7:30pm. Students can come at 7:00pm. I was running behind in everything. I ate a Snickers candy bar at the parking lot.

I turned in the take home final and received the final. My usual seats at the back of the class were occupied. I moved to the front. The final was doable. I didn’t study. I recognized some questions from the take home final and lectures. I completed around 20 minutes. I received the take home final solutions after I submitted the final. It seems I did well because the debit and credit numbers matched what I calculated.

In a small way, I’m going to miss driving to Mission College every Tue night. It was a set activity for the beginning of 2011. I can use the two and a half hours to study for auditing and work out at the gym.

Wed May 25

The professor immediately checked the students completing the additional chapter 5 homework assignment as soon as he walked in the classroom. Then he began lecturing chapter 6. Finally, we reviewed the additional chapter 5 homework. The professor made me read all the questions.

I did poorly on the assignment. I got most of the questions wrong. Most students were surprised at some of the answers to the questions. The classmate who sat on my right was absent on Mon. She got most of the questions correct when she answered the questions before the professor announced the solution.

The classmate and I went to the library after class to photocopy the assignment for her. We talked about accounting degrees and economics degrees. She corrected my knowledge on accounting degrees at the California State University (CSU) systems. An accounting degree is actually a business administration degree. The account part is the business administration’s emphases. I incorrectly thought an accounting degree is a stand alone degree with more accounting classes took compared to a junior college. The correction is the number of accounting classes is almost the same between a CSU and junior college. In particular, my classmate noted there are key classes taught at CSU junior college don’t teach, and that’s a key factor when it comes to companies hiring a person with a four year degree and a two year degree in accounting. The accounting classes I have taken at De Anza are the same as any CSU school. If I transfer to a CSU school, then some of my accounting classes count towards the transfer and I must retake some classes I already took at De Anza.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 16, 2011

Mon May 16

I earned a 74% on the mid-term. I can say either my intuition was good that I didn’t fail or my intuition was bad that I didn’t get a 90%+. The professor said scores were good overall. This is the first time I got a score in the 70s attending De Anza. The final score is probably going to be a C+ when the professor curves the grades or adds “benefits of doubt” points he refers his curve.

I realized most of the questions were theoretical questions. There was too much theory to remember. My mind was overloaded. However, in all honestly, my mind was not focused on studying. My brain is tired from schoolwork. I’m eager to move forward in my life, yet I’m patient such that my opportunity is coming soon.

On the positive side, I’m actually learning. I’m retaining information and knowledge from the lectures and the reading. One of my uncles has a structural engineering degree and a few friends at San Jose State earned poor scores in mid-terms yet they learned in their classes. I didn’t learn anything in my professor’s Intermediate Accounting classes, and my lowest exam score was an 82%. Auditing is my first class I score lower than average grades yet I learn something. It’s a new feeling.

I talked to a classmate about the Advanced Accounting class. She said more students dropped.

Tue May 17

I forgot my textbook when I rushed out of the house to Quickbooks class. Fortunately, the lecture was bonus chapters 8-9 not part of the final. I completed the take-home final. I need to worry about the final which I’m really not worried. I was tired I slept during the first hour of the lecture.

Wed May 18

Today was lazy and moody. The professor ended the lecture 30 minutes early. Many classmates were unfocused and wanted to leave. I was focused because the professor asked me to read the sample CPA questions from the projector.

No homework was due this week. He wanted to give us a break. I finished reading Chapter 5 in three days. I want to finish Chapter 5 homework before Memorial Day weekend.

I learned the classmate who sits on my right went to De Anza part time when she worked full time. She was laid off in 2009. She transferred to Cal State East Bay to attend school full time. She received her business degree in accounting in Winter ’11.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 9, 2011

Mon May 9

The professor passed out evaluation questionnaire to the students. The quarter is not over. Some students were surprised we completed evaluation questionnaires. One student joked the professor is committing fraud such that the envelope must be signed by the student in charge and dated. The professor said not to date it.

The mid-term review was different. The professor reviewed possible short answer questions and then read off the multiple choice questions. He didn’t read the entire questions. He gave hints. He teased us by giving us the four choices to a few questions as if we were playing jeopardy.

The mid-term is a personal test for me. How good is my gut feeling, my intuition, and my osmosis. Most of the review was straight from the lectures. There is too much to know. I feel information overload after reading chapter 2. The concepts are dry and boring.

Some students wanted to delay the mid-term one week later. I wanted the mid-term as scheduled on Wednesday. The consensus is the students are worried and don’t fully comprehend all the material. We shall see what happens on Wednesday. The professor is correct. Auditing is harder than Intermediate Accounting.

Tue May 10

We finished Chapter 7. The instructor finished all of the chapters covered in the green sheet. Next week is the last regular class meeting. He discusses Chapters 8 and 9 as bonus chapters. The students and I started the take home final that requires many hours.

The room was stuffy. The front door was open before the instructor started the lecture.

Wed May 11

The Auditing mid-term was a test of my intuition and gut feeling instead of my understanding of the concepts. Completing the mid-term was like completing the final. I experienced a big sigh of relief. There were 32 multiple choice questions and short answers. The short answers were not writing sentences and paragraphs. They were matching. One section of the matching the answers were given. The section had ten choices and ten statements numbered one to ten. The numbers next to one to ten were the answers. Hilarious!

To the student who sat next to my seat, who are you? You must be an online student.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 2, 2011

Mon May 2

Spring ’11 quarter has reinforced the importance of showing up on time. Today I struggled arriving in class on time. I was ten minutes late. Fortunately, I missed nothing because there were technical problems. The professor wanted to show a video on Barry Minkow, a convicted fraudster in the 1980s. The plan was to watch the video and he let the class out early because he had a meeting. He lectured Chapter 4 instead and the class was released around 2:15pm.

The first mid-term is Wed May 11. I’m behind in my studying.

Tue May 3

Tonight was another long class session. The instructor finished Chapter 6 and started Chapter 7. The instructor passed out the take home final instructions. The students who went home early should have stayed; however, I’m sure the instructor posted the instructions online. I looked at the take home final in the textbook. It’s long. I do a little each day like I did for the take home mid-term.

Wed May 4

There is a section in Chapter 4 that discussed analytical procedures. I read it and I realized what I did at Cisco was analytical procedures. Wow. I must have done something correct because my analysis was accepted by my manager and her managers. I never took accounting classes at San Jose State. I must be a natural who needed more education and experience. In all honestly, I find analysis boring.

One of the students created a DVD copy of the Barry Minkow fraudster documentary video. We watched the documentary in class. Then the professor finished lecturing Chapter 4. Oh, I showed up to class on time. Yay! Monday May 9 is the mid-term review. I’m still behind. There is too much to know.

I went back to Admissions & Records after Auditing to check my AA degree application. I talked to a different worker who actually did something. She asked for my student ID card and went to the back to confirm with another staff. She confirmed my application is being process. That was a relief. She said I can check my application status online. I didn’t know that.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 25, 2011

Mon Apr 25

I drove to school running late. I choose to spend an additional five minutes at home to pay a bill. The five minutes turned into arriving at class 10 minutes late. I blamed the red signal lights.

Fortunately, I missed nothing. There was a speaker for Rogers, another CPA exam prep company. She spoke for ten minutes handing out information. I went up to the front of the class to look at the handouts.

The professor started today’s lecture after a five minute delay. I talked to a classmate about Rogers. The professor came back and lectured Chapter 3. He told us Chapter 3 is hard such that the authors combined two chapters into one. I started the homework. It’s not really hard. There’s too much to learn. I do a little bit everyday. The first mid-term is two weeks from today. I study a little bit everyday.

Tue Apr 26

Today was a long day that included today’s Quickbooks lecture. The instructor covered most of Chapter 6. We learned purchase orders and bills. We finish next week. The instructor also tells us about the take home final.

Wed Apr 26

This week I experienced mental fatigue. If there is no such thing as metal fatigue, I create the new term today. I press the snooze button every morning the alarm clock woke me up. I’m physically okay such that I raised myself from my bed instantly. However, my brain said to me, “I’m tired, more sleep.”

I admit I have a snooze habit. The good news is I have been pressing the snooze button less frequently the past two weeks. I’m considering getting a new alarm clock without a snooze button.

I went to Admission & Records after Auditing to verify the department has my AA application. I was told the supervisor is the only person who confirms applications. He was in a meeting. I was given his business card to contact him by email. I email him tomorrow.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 18, 2011

Mon Apr 18

I officially dropped Advanced Accounting. I felt relieved. I have more free time. I submitted my application last quarter for an Accounting AA degree. Advanced Accounting was unnecessary. One may think more students take Advanced Accounting to take the CPA exam. The class was small. I wonder if students who took more accounting classes lost interest in earning a CPA. Time will tell if I made the correct choice.

The professor finished Chapter 2 lecture. I write lecture notes on the textbook just like his Intermediate Accounting class lectures. The number of students has been decreasing. This week is the last week to drop classes with no record of withdrawal.

Tue Apr 19

I was busy having fun last weekend I’m behind in Auditing homework. I wanted to finish my Chapter 2 reading on Sunday night. I was too tired. I wanted to finish my reading on Monday night. I was too tired. I finished the reading after Quickbooks. I emailed the pre-lecture homework that was due on Sun Apr 17. I started on the homework due Friday April 22 I finish tomorrow morning.

I arrived at Mission College running a few minutes late. A student gave me her day parking pass. Thank you! She walked away as I was about to give her $2.

Tonight’s class started with instructor evaluation surveys. This was the first time I completed a survey in a junior college and first time in the middle of a semester. I gave my instructor an above average review. There are no surveys at De Anza. That’s terrible. The rest of the class we finished Chapter 5. No homework is due next week.

Wed Apr 20

I completed the Chapter 2 homework before I drove to De Anza. I need to leave the house earlier because I allowed myself 25 minutes of drive time and walk time. I still arrived late.

A representative from Becker, a subsidiary of Kaplan, spoke to the class about CPA preparation courses. He talked about the CPA exams and how Becker helps students pass the CPA exams. I submitted a form to receive more information. I didn’t win the $10 Starbucks card raffle.

The professor spoke to the class about the CPA and shared a few of his experiences after the Becker presentation. Then he told the class he extended the due dates for all Chapter 3 homework. Finally, he gave us an introduction to the Chapter 3. Next week’s lectures are all Chapter 3. He said that chapter is difficult.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 11, 2011

Mon Apr 11

My Auditing professor hinted there’s going to be negative changes for the Fall ’11 quarter at De Anza in terms of classes, staff, instructors, and student support. Timing has been in my favor since I started taking accounting classes in Fall ’09. I submitted my application for my AA degree last quarter. The classes I’m taking in Spring ’11 are for personal learning.

I talked to one of my classmates. He has a masters degree in civil engineering and works part time. I asked him why he’s taking accounting classes. He said he wants to earn a CPA.

I went home after class to eat lunch and rest. I arrived at De Anza in time for Advanced Accounting. I missed last Wed’s class because I had the stomach flu. I missed the extra credit opportunities and the first in class assignment. I experience those on Wed’s class.

Tonight’s lecture was my worse lecture I sat. It wasn’t the most boring which went to Intro to Business in Winter ’11. My Advanced Accounting professor couldn’t teach to save his life. I considered dropping the class and go back to my original plan. My original plan was taking Intermediate Accounting and Introduction to Business at De Anza and Quickbooks at Mission in Winter ’11. In Spring ’11, I take Auditing and continue Quickbooks. The month of June I have Auditing only.

I didn’t want to make the same mistake twice with Advanced Accounting. The mistake was continuing taking Beginning Singing in Winter ’10 which didn’t meet my expectations and I should have dropped. Moreover, I dropped Japanese because the instructor went too fast. I wanted to attend Wednesday’s class because I want to experience the extra credit opportunities. Sat Apr 16 is the last day to drop and receive a refund.

Tue Apr 12

The signal lights were in my favor as I drove to Mission College late. The instructor was writing the homework assignment as I entered the classroom. I received my take home mid-term. I received a 97%. Tonight’s lecture was another kickback standard lecture such that I followed the instructor and completed next week’s homework assignment.

The instructor passed out the solution to the take home mid-term that included the trial balance and journal entries.

Wed Apr 13

The Auditing professor was slow and unfocused during the lecture. He came to the classroom and took a long time settling in. He went into many tangents most of his lecture. We reviewed auditing CPA questions.

I talked to another classmate who graduated with California State University-East Bay last quarter. She earned a bachelors degree in accounting-finance. She wanted to take additional accounting classes. Obviously she takes the classes at De Anza instead of CSU-East Bay because De Anza is cheaper. She chose Auditing and considered Advanced Accounting. I told her I thought about dropping Advanced Accounting. She replied saying she’s not going to add Advanced Accounting. She said CSU-East Bay teaches Auditing for one quarter. The Auditing professor said De Anza is one of the very few colleges teaching Auditing for one quarter. My classmate says CSU-East Bay teaches Auditing for one quarter only.

I attended Advanced Accounting to experience the extra credit movie and clicker questions. The lecture was terrible. The professor can’t teach. The professor showed the extra credit movie after the break. The extra credit movies were related to accounting and business. We completed the in class assignment after the movie.

Finally, we played the clicker game. The professor has hardware from www.iclicker.com. The students were divided into teams of three. Each team had a clicker connected to his laptop. Each clicker has buttons A-D and power on/off. The professor displayed a question on the projector and the team answered the question pressing A, B, C, or D. The team with the most corrected answers receives extra credit points. Each student who participates receives extra credit points. My team placed first. They did all the work and I thank them for covering me.

The extra credit points are micropoints. Students received a small piece of paper. The students must write his or her name and tonight’s date on the back to claim the extra credit micropoint ticket. I don’t know the micropoint conversion into extra credit. My guess is the top students with the most micropoints receive extra credit towards their final grade.

The probability was high I drop Advanced Accounting after tonight’s class meeting.

I walked to the Visual and Performance Arts building to visit my social dance class. I talked to a few classmates and friends after class was over. The Wednesday’s night intermediate class dance demonstration is the Hustle. I danced with one of my friends after class while learning quickly the routine.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 4, 2011

Mon Apr 4

I enrolled in two classes for Spring ’11 quarter which are Auditing and Advanced Accounting. Auditing is the hardest accounting class De Anza offers in the Accounting Department. Advanced Accounting is easier than Intermediate Accounting.

I arrived at De Anza around 11:40am. I parked at Flint Center parking garage. I was lucky to find a space on the third floor. I found a seat outside the campus center to read Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I wanted to finish the book at the end of the week. A DJ started to play music that forced me to find another spot near the math and science buildings. I read Hogfather before Auditing and between Auditing and Advanced Accounting.

Auditing was held in the same room I took Payroll Taxes. I hated that room. We received information before 12:30pm classes began Auditing switched rooms with another class. Auditing’s new classroom is where I took Intermediate Accounting. Excellent! I recognized faces from my past accounting classes taking Auditing. The professor is the same professor who taught Intermediate Accounting. I got my same seat from Intermediate Accounting classes.

I went to the campus center to eat lunch. This week was the only time I stay on campus all day because of the first week rush and parking concerns. I went to the library to read Hogfather.

Advanced Accounting is in the same room I took Accounting 1A, 1B, and 1C. That is still my favorite classroom. I got my same seat. The professor taught at University of California-Santa Cruz and works for the city of Santa Cruz. His initial major was bio-chemistry. I liked his powerpoint slides that included a comic between lectures. We have a ten minute break at the half way point I really liked. The class is a night class and the break is good to keep us awake.

Tue Apr 5

I scored a 42 out of 50 for the Quickbooks mid-term. That was not too bad considering I didn’t study. I also submitted the take home mid-term. Tonight’s lecture was typical. I followed the instructor lecture on my laptop and I finished the homework assignment.

I went to a coffee shop inside campus to buy a Snickers candy bar because I ate a light lunch. I paid $1.25 for the candy bar. Damn.

Wed Apr 6

I had a bad morning. I had a stomach ache and I threw up. Another sickness. Timing is everything. It was better to have a stomach flu on the first week of classes instead of the last week of classes.

I skipped breakfast and went to school. I purchased saltine crackers and Tums. I ate some crackers and took two Tums before Auditing. It helped little. I was lightheaded, nauseous, I coughed because I didn’t drink water and I’m still recovering from my sinus infection, and my stomach felt uneasy. I choose to drive home after Auditing, take a nap, and then choose whether to attend Advanced Accounting.

I choose to skip Advanced Accounting. I email a classmate to check if I missed anything. It appeared I have the stomach flu. Almost all of my sicknesses are either a sinus infection or the stomach flu.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar