The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 14, 2005 Page: 2 of 8
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2 -- The Pony Express
Viewpoints
Turning 21 not what I expected
I turned 21 this past November.
This had been something I looked
forward to for as long as I can re-
member. As a child, I was always
told “you’re not old enough” or wait
until you “grow-up.” I feel as though
I’ve finally made it to that point.
Now that I’m here, I don’t know
what all the fuss is about.
At the age of 21, it’s basically
the last time you celebrate getting
older. Individuals experience about
six significant birthdays in their
lives before the twenty-first: At
one, this is your first year of exist-
ence. People still think you’re cute
at this age. On the tenth birthday,
you’ve been here for a decade.
When you turn 13, you’re a teen-
ager. At 16 you get your driver’s
license. At 18 you’re considered an
adult in some ways: you can vote,
get a credit card, or buy tobacco.
Adulthood really begins three years
later when you turn 21. You can do
everything that’s legal legally now.
Many college students choose
to go out and drink. It’s sort of a
tradition. Some people turning 21
take 21 shots of liquor. This is not
a good idea unless you’re con-
templating suicide. There’s a big
chance alcohol poisoning will fol-
low. Some people throw parties,
and others go gamble.
I don’t feel that different from
turning 19 or 20.1 have more privi-
leges and more responsibilities.
I’m on my own and I have bills to
pay. This is one dislike about be-
ing 21. No matter how old you are
and what you decide to do on
your birthday, just remember to
be safe. Your number one goal
when you turn 21 is to live to be
22.
By Monique Harper
Pony Express Editor
Spring 2005
Distance learning courses
offer options, opportunities
By Traci Hudson
Pony Express Staff
As the semester ends, it is
time to begin thinking about the
next semester and your schedule.
Internet classes offer an effective
way to solve scheduling problems.
It’s an option for sports players to
be away for sports practice or
games. If you are like some, it is
also a way to avoid being on cam-
pus everyday. Students who work
are another sector of people who
can benefit from WebCT.
With any class, work is in-
volved, but WebCT is a way to cut
down on in-class time. It is impor-
tant when choosing internet
classes to select a subject about
which you have some previous
knowledge. It will also cut down on
study time because you can use
your previous knowledge as a
foundation.
In addition, already knowing
the subject will help you because
with an internet class, a student
does not have the hands-on in-
struction like in a regular class.
Internet classes help students
become more responsible be-
cause they have to “police” them-
selves and place deadlines on
themselves. When instructors
place deadlines on assignments,
students must find their own pace
for studying. Pacing is the most
important way to succeed in an
internet class. Without pacing your-
self, you’ll find yourself staying up
late reading and dreading the
deadlines. Even the most dedi-
cated students can fall behind be-
cause of dealing with all the
classes’ deadlines, exams, and
finals coming all at once. Some
instructors are lenient depending
on the situation, allowing extended
deadlines, or testing at one of the
other Panola College campuses.
Internet students need to be re-
alistic. However, when students
begin to think that they have an
“easy A” and slack off, they get
behind, causing unwanted stress.
Instructors vary on WebCT.
Some are courteous and punctual
with returning e-mails, while others
are hard to contact. I had a class
where I couldn’t even call my in-
structor and the instructor failecHo
answer my e-mails. When students
feel lost, the instructor needs to be
available to answer questions and
be punctual with replies. When you
wait for three days to get an email,
you might miss a deadline or find
yourself stressed because you
can’t get the answers you are look-
ing for.
Another problem with internet
classes is the students them-
selves. In some WebCT courses,
discussion postings are consid-
ered an assignment. When some
students fail to post, everyone suf-
fers because people can’t meet
the instructor’s quota of work.
With the problems, students
may decide against internet
courses. However, the pros out-
weigh the cons. The freedom to
come home, relax, and be able to
set your own schedule is great. In-
stead of being on campus five
days a week, you might be able
to come three days a week. You’ll
be able to use your free time on
“off’ days to go out and have some
much-needed fun. When you are
setting up your schedule, remem-
ber WebCT and think about all the
time you’ll save.
The Pony Express
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Editor.....................................................................Matt McCoy
Viewpoints Editor..............................................................Monique Harper
Sports Editor..................................................Jonathan McCauley
Editorial Staff & Photographers.................................. Monique Harper
Jacob Reich
t
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David Stone
: Traci Hudson
Kris Young
Ashley Foster
Jessica Sparks
Pam Bullock
Leslie Cole
Faculty Adviser....................................................................Teresa Beasley
Contact Pony Express
Panola College, 1109 West Panola, Carthage, Texas 75633
903-693-2079 or 693-1117
or email to PonyExpress@panola.edu
The Pony Express is a product of Panola College, and is published during
the fall and spring semesters. The views expressed do not necessarily
reflect those of Panola College Administration or Board of Trustees. It is
the policy of Panola College not to discriminate on the basis of age,
race, religion, color, sex, national or ethnic origin in admissions,
educational programs or its employment opportunities. Panola College
is committed to equal opportunities for the physically and mentally
handicapped in compliance with federal regulations, Sec. 504,
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
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The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 14, 2005, newspaper, December 14, 2005; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth591786/m1/2/: accessed May 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Panola College.