Articles

A Memorable Day

I lifted my head; the silence was deafening, interrupted only by the sound of Mary moaning from somewhere behind me. Everything was dark and cold, and all I could smell was gasoline. I pulled myself out through the windshield of the car and went to the driver’s side. Rick was lying still and I could… Read more »

Mom Night

For years, my Mom and I had a weekly tradition called “Mom Night.” Well, I called it Mom Night, I’m not sure what she called it—perhaps “Barb Night.” It did begin as Barb Night. I was balancing full time work and part-time studies along with the demands of a house and family. To preserve my… Read more »

Unexpected Lessons

As I adjust to life with no school-work deadlines, I have been able to reflect on some of the non-traditional lessons I learned while attending Athabasca University. What I learned from the courses is indispensable, but those lessons were the ones I was going to school for. I have found that there are many other… Read more »

Interview with the Director – Behind the Scenes at AU Press

Fellow undergraduate students might or might not know about the university press for AU called AU Press. It is an important resource for the representation of the academic and scholarly aspects of the university. Recently, Scott Jacobsen interviewed the acting director and marketing and production coordinator, Ms. Megan Hall. What are the tasks and responsibilities… Read more »

The Evolution of a (Reluctant) Geek Mom

Once upon a time, being called a “nerd” or “geek” was the epitome of an insult. The image of thick glasses and pocket protectors held fast in pop culture for many years. Admitting to being a fan of shows like Star Trek or playing Dungeons and Dragons opened oneself up to ridicule and shunning. But… Read more »

Editorial – Distance in Person

We all know that AU is a distance university. What some might not know, however, is that even as a distance university, AU still runs some “normal” classrooms. In partnerships with other universities and colleges, AU has run on-site, grouped study classes for years. It was a very limited offering of courses, usually chosen to… Read more »

You Love Poetry and I Can Prove It!

“If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once a week; for perhaps the parts of my brain now atrophied would have thus been kept active through use. The loss of these tastes is a loss of… Read more »

The MA Debate

I have watched many videos, read many articles and blogs, and researched many options in an attempt to decide which master’s degree I want to pursue. Or, do I want to go forward with a master’s degree at all? I suppose the final question is the one that I will have to answer before I… Read more »