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Back to School: Round 2, Week 6

I'm over the hump! I've got more school behind me than in front, and I'm feeling pretty good about that. Also, and more to the point, I feel like I am actually retaining the information I am receiving. There are times in class when I've done a calculation, look at my answer, and forget what process I used to get there. Simply because it's becoming second nature and I don't have to overthink it anymore. This is good. Curious to see how long that lasts when I'm out of school, but for now good. Or at least until I pass the rest of my tests.

In the last 6 weeks, I have received 2 E.I. payments. One 3 weeks in and 1 this past week. I was warned that my first payment would be less as the paid out vacation pay at the end of 2015 affected what I received. Thankfully the second payment I received was about double the first one. It could be worse: some people who had already been on E.I. from not working prior to school are going to run out of funds before school ends.

Thankfully there is a little money that the Ministry of Training can give them, but from what I hear it's even less than what you get on E.I. and even that is nothing to write home about. I've heard of people that are putting off going back to school because they can't afford the 10 weeks on a reduced income. What kind of system do we have in place where people can't further their training due to financial restraints?

I had also been waiting on my cheque from the Ministry of Training for my gas allowance. I'm supposed to be getting about $44 per week of school. I was told it should come during the last week of January. Then again, I am waiting on the government to hand out money. I shouldn't expect it to be on time. After a 2 week grace period, I called the Ministry just to follow up, as others that I knew should be receiving money hadn't gotten anything yet either. From the phone call, I deduced it was a paperwork processing overload on their end. And that it should be only a couple more weeks. At this rate, if I'm lucky I'll get my gas money by the time school is done.

Remember the person I mentioned in the first couple weeks who I reckoned failed the review test? I'd been thinking about reaching out to him to offer some aide. My opportunity came on Friday. I ended up sitting in the row behind him. He turned around at one point to ask how we'd found certain information in the code book. I explained my thought process, as it wasn't a straight forward piece of information to find. He then asked about how to do one of the calculations we were working on. I asked him what steps he took to get an answer, and walked him through the part he wasn't sure of.

He stuck around after class to ask the teacher some questions. I waited for him to be done, and introduced myself. I learned that he has only ever worked in the residential sector. This level of schooling concerns things related more to the commercial industry. I can't imagine having to figure out calculations and applications of components you've never even seen or installed before. We're also getting to the point now where if you're still struggling with the last few weeks, it's going to be extremely confusing from now till the end.

We exchanged numbers and agreed to pick a time next week to get together. I said I'd go through any of the subjects he wasn't sure of. Its gotten to the point where when he asks a question most of the class rolls their eyes. At least he's been trying from day one, which is more than I can say for some of the others in the group. I think about if we were on the job, if someone was trying and struggling, we'd step up to help. School should be no different. Hopefully I can help, and if nothing else, add some points in the good karma column.

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