I don’t have the traditional background that most instructors have. I went to a party when I was eleven and didn’t get back until I was forty five. Obviously, much of my life was misspent; however, I managed to put an end to more than thirty years of alcohol and drug addiction culminating with a stretch in the state prison system. While I was there, I found a path to a new life, and was encouraged by a teacher to pursue an education upon my release. She helped me with those tedious financial aid forms and by the time I was released, my grant was finalized, and all I had to do was enroll. So, upon being released from the California Department of Corrections on 3 Dec 1989, my first life came to an end. During that first life, however, I did manage to raise a daughter. I didn’t do a very good job of it, but I got it done, and we are the best of friends today. I have an eleven year old granddaughter and a six year old grandson.

Fortunately, my grandkids will never see me the way my daughter did. They’ll never have to watch the police take me out of the house in handcuffs like my daughter did. They’ll never have to control their behavior according to what drug I was taking like my daughter did. And they’ll never have to endure being embarrassed in public like my daughter did. The most important thing I can share with you today, is that it hasn’t been necessary for me to take a drink or a drug since May 7, 1990, and for that I am eternally grateful. I tell you this in hopes that it will an inspiration for those who have, or have had problems with drugs and/or alcohol.

I graduated from Barstow High School in 1962. In 1992, thirty years later in my second life, I graduated with honors from Barstow College with an Associate degree. I earned my BA in Psychology in 1994 from Chapman University when it had an academic center at MCLB (like Park University does now). In 1998 I earned a Master of Human Services in Community Psychology from National University in San Diego, CA. And on 2 February, 2004 my Ph.D. was conferred in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA.

Besides being an adjunct faculty member at Barstow College, I have also taught Minority Group Relations for Park University.

PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS:

I believe that a commitment to a college degree is a commitment to learning. There was once a time when people sought a college degree based on the acquisition of knowledge. Most people don’t seek education for intrinsic purposes anymore. What we see now is people seeking college degrees for financial gain or a better job or career.

A commitment to a condensed nine week online course is basically saying that you are self-motivated enough to keep up with a demanding regimen usually more stringent than an on-campus course. I have designed this course for students to succeed, and since it’s only a one-unit course, it isn’t as demanding as three-unit courses. There are weekly writing assignments in this course. If students are not familiar with spell-check and grammar check in word-processing programs, I strongly suggest they get familiar with them. It is important to take pride in writing. It is a personal presentation to the outside world. Writing skills in this course will be rewarded. Errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling will be penalized. Writing skills are imperative, whether in college or in the work force. Most four-year universities require a writing exam before a degree will be awarded. A student who has poor time management skills, poor writing skills, or who tends to procrastinate, and is unable to communicate well in writing, will also be a poor candidate for a job, career option, or graduate school.