This Whole CollegePlus Thing...

Okay, so there's this thing called CollegePlus, and it is awesome. Period. What is it exactly? Well, in essence, it is "a distance, accelerated learning program designed to aid students in obtaining their fully accredited bachelors degree while equipping them to launch into life."  <<<(debt free).

Oh but it is so much more...

Firstly, I study at home in the comforts of my own room. Right off the bat here, I am saving thousands of dollars on room and board. Even as great as I see that, the benefits continue! I work part time (I have also worked full-time while in CP), I am currently pursing many other interests that are not in my degree plan, I participate in numerous ministries, I can work my schedule to participate in internships, AND I have the freedom to go on mission trips and other adventure extravaganzas. 

--Sounds good, but like, is it a "real" degree?-- 

YES! Let me tell you about it. The whole process starts when I'm matched with a coach who not only helps me academically, but also in every other way possible. Like seriously, we have the BEST conversations. EVER. Over phone calls, this coach helped me through the beginning stages of studying skills and figuring out just what degree I wanted to pursue that aligned with my life purpose. 

Now that I have made my degree choice, an English BA from Thomas Edison State College, (no, CP isn't the degree-granting school. I know- confusing. We'll get there in a minute), I have begun gaining all of my general education credits by taking credit-by-exam examinations. The most popular is called CLEP. These CLEP exams can be taken at most universities and colleges for a barely a fraction of a normal semester-long class. So, with the continued help of my coach, I independently study for a specific exam with various resources, and then take the the exam. Upon a passing score, I can receive 3 to 12 credits depending on the exam. This CLEP process can take me anywhere from 10 days to four weeks and only cost me from $100 to $150 (including books/study resources, the exam itself, and testing proctor fee). 

All of this to say, that I am moving through my general ed classes quite rapidly without having to take out any students loans. That's right, zippo. 

Once I have completed the various exams, as well as other signature courses by CollegePlus, I will transfer all of my work to Thomas Edison where I will finish my degree as a "normal" (ha..."normal"...) online student (still studying from home with the continued freedoms said above). 

psst... still debt-free. 

--Okay, well maybe that would work for you, but what about a social life? or the "college experience"? or "the campus life"?-- 

Let me just begin with that when I have the ENTIRE world to explore and discover, being confined to a college campus no longer seems appealing. And secondly, there is an amazing student community all over the US and beyond! Sure, some of us are only identified as an avatar, Facebook friend, or Google Hangout buddy... but seriously, this community is the BEST. And there are various opportunities for gatherings to meet and collaborate with fellow CP students. So I, in no way, feel like I am "missing out" on any social aspect of the traditional college experience.

If you have actually made it through all of these ramblings of mine, you may be able to tell that I am rather thrilled about this time in my life. Know what? I should be! This is the prime time. Sure things around me might be going a hundred miles an hour, I might be sitting at my desk for hours on end, or grueling over piles of flash cards, but CollegePlus has given me the freedom to live the life that God has given me to live.

Taking a deep breath in- It's go time. 

Coffee, Schedules, and Blessings :)

Plans. Schedules. Goals. Calenders. Alarms. Charts. Graphs. Chocolate stash. Clean desk. *Check* -- I am SO ready for this year.

I love having my calender set up and ready to go, but my most favorite thing throughout the years are all of the surprises. The things that were never "penciled in," the things that the alarm was never set for, and the things that could never be charted even if I tried. Whether good or bad, those surprises are what remind me that life is still alive; that the air is meant to breathe; that some things need only be felt.

So... Now that 2015 is in full swing, I can wonder at the things that I hope to fit into my fifty-two weeks. CLEP tests (don't know what those are? check out next week's blog for a Krista's college run-down), work (which can't really be defined as "work" because I absolutely LOVE it), and varying ministries from after-school programs to camp counseling to Mexico. I can't forget to keep my creativity running so I'm sure that there will be plenty of pictures, music, stories, blogs, and dances.

Oh, and coffee. Of course.

Tea is spectacular as well.

Speaking about tea; As normal, at the beginning of this January month, I chose a set of verses to dedicate this year. Committing the year to specific verses has become a tradition since the beginning of my journaling days. I do this mainly because I want to have a set focus for the nearing months; I want this year to have purpose. And secondly, I want to take the lessons I will learn this year, compare them to where my understanding of those verses began, and see where the Lord will have brought me during that year.

The choosing of the verses for this year was brought on by an article I recently read about blessings. That article is <here>. It got me thinking about what the blessings of God really are. Just because I might have a nice house, or a good job, does that mean God has blessed me more than suffering Christians in other countries? I don't think so... When I read Matthew chapter five, it gives me a much better focus on what God calls blessings.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

It is my prayer that this year through each of my activities and circumstances, those scheduled and those that are not, I will experience the true blessings of God and know the joy that is found in Christ. 

Thou, dear sister, excellest them all

 Grace adorned her hair

Each whisp

A reminder of God’s faithfulness

Peace glistened from her skin

Every hug

She embraced with friendship

Long suffering streaked her cheeks

Each tear

Fallen with obedience

Wisdom arrayed her lips

Every word

Was filled with loving truth

Kindness enthroned her tongue

With each tiding

She esteemed all others

Gentleness were her hands

Every encounter

She handled with steadfastness

Endurance marked her feet

Each step

Taken in the will of God

She wore the robes of strength

Joy were her coverings of tapestry

And love were the pearls about her neck

Still,

Above all this,

Her fear of the Lord beautified her

Every day

She trusted in the hand of God

Her children rise up and call her blessed

Her husband also,

And he praises her.

Give her of the fruit of her own hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

In loving memory of

Kay King

She battled long and she battled hard.

Blessed be the name of the LORD. 

Scripture taken from Proverbs 31 KJV

Solomon's Poem

Rejoice evermore

How often do we pass up days and just because of their contents don't thank God for the beauty he has given us? Thanking God for the rainy, cold, and snowy days can be very difficult (especially if you get cold very easily!) but trying to look for the little beauties that God places in every day are amazing! We just have to find them, which is the fun part. Looking out my window yesterday, the last little leaf on a huge barren tree was hanging on for dear life, taking all the beating from the wind and rain. Another time this week while I was walking, I looked up and saw that grey completely surround me. The wind and the rain swept up in every direction, taking with it what seemed like every ounce of color. Although, not all of it was stolen...

This just makes me think of how we can still rejoice in the midst of trials. When the color in our own lives is stolen, God is always ready to give us joy, and help over come anything we are facing. God is good.

~Rejoice evermore~

Is photography an art??

Here is a paper I composed last year, thought it fits with my upcoming project:

Unordinary Perspective

By Krista Kahsen

The ideal of expressing oneself through
way of artistic activities has been popular since ancient times. Visual arts
have been most admired, some being, drawing, painting, sculpture, and
calligraphy. Applied art can contain architecture, fashion designing, jewelry
designing, wood crafts, and interior designing. There are the performing arts
where dancing, singing, theater, and music are expressed.
For years, these arts have proved the test of time and are still practiced;
traditionally, and modernly. However, in recent times, a new type of so-called
‘art’ has been born, photography. Is photography an art? This question has been
around ever since photography was invented. When debating this topic, three
matters should be observed, the medium, the art work, and the artist.

There are many different types of media that
artists use, far too many to list all, although, a few will be listed. Artists
that tend to draw, use mediums like, ink, pencils, pastels, and charcoal.
Painters use acrylic, oils, watercolors, and tempera. Each medium takes years
of practice and even more years to master. Photography, however, is just the
camera. Anyone can ‘snap a shot,’ but can the camera be used as a media? The
digital camera is a detailed piece of equipment. It takes time to learn the
different technical pieces of equipment and the processes that produce
different results for the images. There are modern connivances such as
commercial printing, computer software, and different papers to print on, to
enhance the photo. For the photographer, though, knowing how to use what is
available to them is the central ideal for their media.

The actual photograph is considered just
a mere imitation of real life that happened, by chance, to be taken at the
right time. No real thought is put into photography, because there is the issue
of the camera being between the photographer and the subject. Although, when a
photograph is taken with care and thought, it could be considered an art. “Art
lives in the tension between abstraction and description." Tension
between abstraction and description, this is a pretty good depiction of what art
is. It is the point of being abstract enough to enthrall, but descript enough
not to bore. If a photograph captivates you, pulls you in and makes you feel
like you’re there in the picture, it’s art.

Even if some photographs are art, is the
photographer an artist? Edward Weston said “photography as a creative
expression -- or what you will -- must be 'seeing' plus: seeing alone would
mean factual recording -- the illustrator of catalogues does that. The 'plus'
is the basis of all arguments on 'what is art.’”
Anyone can ‘see’ a subject and take a picture of it, it’s could almost be
natural. However, a photographer sees it in specific ways, and that is where
the artistry comes from. In art, there is a personal response to the subject
that the artist is working off of. A photograph is not merely a imitation of
real life, but a personal response being captured in a way of ‘seeing plus.’
Taking a photograph is not seeing and shooting. But more so, understanding the
subject, and then captivating a unique response in a single image.

Artists,
who stay with the idea that photographers are not artists, are just stating that
having the camera between the photographer and the subject is not art, just
merely technology. I seem to differ. The camera is a wonderful media that has
been critically designed to fascinate the world with personal ideals presented
by the artist using the camera. The media, the art work, and the artist agree
that photography is indeed an art. The definition of art is simply this “The quality, production, expression,
or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of
more than ordinary significance.”
Good photographs, taken by artists that have mastered digital photography, are
most certainly beautifully appealing. Having an unordinary perspective of the
world, through the artistic talent of ‘seeing plus.’