About Me
First Impressions of IS101 and CSN
To be blunt, I’m not very good with computers, and I’m going
to be honest about that. With that in mind, my first impression of IS101 is
that I know I’m going to struggle. After reading the syllabus and reviewing the
assignments, I can already tell this class will be challenging. If I don’t
fail, I expect to at least aim for a passing grade. I have some experience with
Word, almost no experience with Excel, and a bit of experience with PowerPoint,
mostly because CSN uses PowerPoint a lot, and honestly, that was a struggle for
me.
LabSim Experience, Discussion 2 Part 2
For Discussion 2 Part 2, I chose LabSim 3.3.1 Printing
Options in Office Applications, which focuses on using Word’s print current
page and page range settings to print only selected pages. I chose this topic
because of my real work experience. As a nurse, we deal with patient history
and physical documents that can easily reach 20 pages or more, sometimes close
to 100 pages. I once got scolded by my boss for printing the entire history and
physical documents when she only needed the most recent lab results. That
experience stuck with me and is exactly why I wanted to learn how to print only
specific pages instead of entire documents.
Something I Want to Share
One thing I want to share—I’m kind of a pessimist. I get that it might turn off some people, so I usually keep to myself to avoid spreading it. I don’t buy into the idea that everything will always work out; bad things happen, and I just try to be ready for them. When something good comes along, it’s a bonus. I’d rather expect setbacks and be prepared than be caught off guard. It’s not the most cheerful outlook, but it helps me handle challenges, including this class.
Cheer up pessimistic hedgehog :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are one of two students leading by a significant margin in IS101-3005, Spring 2026!
It's okay to make a mistake. It's okay to be scolded. As long as you learn why the mistake happened and minimize a repeat occurrence.
I foresee you continuing to lead your classmates in terms of proactiveness and performance, Kevin ^_^
"I’d rather expect setbacks and be prepared than be caught off guard." is a very relatable statement. However, you should also remember that positive moments can catch you off guard! You could be expecting something bad to happen, but when good things come to you then you'd also feel very surprised. I think being a prepared and cautious person isn't bad at all, but you have to remember to breathe and cut yourself some slack, and to not be extremely harsh about your capabilities. Sometimes, what we think about ourselves become reality. Don't manifest for yourself to be less capable than you really are. :)
ReplyDeleteChae, I get what you’re saying. I know I lean more toward expecting the worst so I don’t get disappointed. It’s kind of my defense mechanism at this point. But you’re right, sometimes I probably don’t give enough room for good things to happen. I just don’t like being blindsided by failure. Maybe I do need to breathe a little and not assume I’m less capable than I actually am. It’s hard to change that mindset, but I’ll think about what you said.
DeleteHi Kevin, I love the formatting on your blog post and how you have customized it. I also found your background really interesting, especially how you’ve experienced different fields like pharmacy, nursing, and now accounting. Your example about printing specific pages was very relatable and shows how practical these skills can be. Even though you mentioned feeling unsure about computers, what part of the class are you most curious about now, or which part have you already found most interesting to learn about?
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for reading my post and noticing the formatting. I spent some time trying to customize the blog because I wanted it to look a little different from the default layout. My background has been a bit random, pharmacy, then nursing, and now accounting, so sometimes it feels like I’m starting over again. Computers were never really my strongest area so this class can be stressful sometimes.
DeleteWhat I’m actually curious about learning more is advanced pivot tables. In my work as a quality assurance nurse, I deal with a lot of patient data and reports. For example, counting how many patients had heart attacks, how many received wound care, or how many falls happened in a quarter. Right now I sometimes have to count things manually, which takes a lot of time. If I could really understand pivot tables, those quality reports and statistics would be much faster to generate.
What a sight to see a blog that has been formatted in a way that I feel like I am in a build a bear shop that feels warm and cozy. Cute hedgehogs by the way. That being said, I was a pessimistic about life and it's challenges and I do agree with making a cushion so that you won't be disappointed in failures and I still experience that; however, it's still two sides of the coin, you might be pessimistic now, but who knows when the coin flips and you'll see the silver lining on things. A big breakthrough might be a catalyst for it, who knows! Keep doing a great job and that hedgehog might be as confident as Sonic.
ReplyDeleteThanks JD, I’m glad you liked the hedgehog theme. But right now I’m less like Sonic and more like the emo version, Shadow the Hedgehog. Same species, just more brooding and listening to dramatic background music while doing assignments.
DeleteHey Kevin, I see you enjoyed being in the pharmacy and studying to the deepest depth of knowledge in it, It sound crazy cool the way you said it "Mad Scientist" but it's just a stepping stone for me, I didn't even go to school for it I only accumulated the hours on the job, still I do enjoy, but I am destined for more. With regards to not knowing too much using a computer, Bro you are up there in the class, I hope you relax and enjoy your break, but the printing options are very useful, in CVS they're able to see any medications filled at CVS locations so they share a system. I'm glad that as a pharmacy technician, Patient profiles aren't very long, unless you're 65+ then you've got like 15+ pages of medications prescribed in the pharmacy. But it's a pleasure knowing we sort of have some shared knowledge and hope you learn what you want and shoot for the stars!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nicholas, I appreciate that. Pharmacy was something I really enjoyed studying deeply, but life had other plans so I had to pivot a bit. Hopefully that “mad scientist” curiosity still survives while I figure out accounting and everything else.
DeleteHello Kevin! I'm curious how you made up the pseudonym of "The Pessimistic Hedgehog", and if it's something you created before the class or after? It's admirable to switch your goals because of your family. I'm not proficient with computers either, so I expected to struggle as well but it's not as bad as I thought. The only reason I know maybe a little more about printing than other people is that I print photos for my family for Christmas. So, I only know enough to benefit my hobby of photography. I can understand being a pessimist. Though I wildly switch back and forth between optimism and pessimism myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks Izabelle. I chose the “Pessimistic Hedgehog” because I needed a mascot for my blog, but after making it I realized it fits me too well. I’m kind of like a hedgehog, prickly on the outside with spikes to keep people at a distance, but honestly pretty soft underneath because I get hurt easily.
DeleteHi Kevin! I really like how you decorated your blog page, especially using the hedgehog GIF, it adds a fun touch and also a little bit of cuteness! I also think it’s smart how you connected the printing lesson to your real work experience. That makes it very practical and shows how what you’re learning in IS101 can really help outside of class.
ReplyDeleteHi Vania, thanks for noticing the hedgehog theme. I figured if I’m going to suffer through LabSim and Excel, I might as well do it surrounded by cute hedgehogs for emotional support. And yeah, the printing lesson really came from real work experience, sometimes getting scolded at work is the best teacher unfortunately.
DeleteHi Kevin. It is good to be cautious. However, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Just like you said, you have made the mistake of printing more pages than you needed during your job as a nurse one time. However, you learned from that and decided to learn about the different printing features in Word so you don’t make the same mistake again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Makell, I appreciate that. That printing mistake really stuck with me because getting scolded at work is a very effective teacher. At least now I know how important those printing settings actually are.
DeleteHey Kevin! It's great you took the initiative to learn accounting for your family! It's incredibly purpose driven of you. I find it funny that you say you're not good with computers yet have on of the best formats for a blog, complete with a overall theme. I have no doubt you'll find great success!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Rafa
Thanks Rafa, I appreciate the encouragement. Honestly I still feel like I’m learning computers from scratch, so the blog design might look better than my actual skills. Hopefully with enough practice I’ll eventually catch up.
DeleteKevin, your transition from pharmacy and nursing to accounting demonstrates a pragmatic, family-oriented approach to your career, while your focus on mastering specific printing configurations in Office applications shows how you are transforming past professional setbacks into practical technical competencies to overcome your self-admitted challenges with digital literacy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Josias, I appreciate that perspective. My career path definitely looks like a zigzag instead of a straight line, but that’s just how life turned out. At this point I’m just trying to learn new skills and hopefully avoid ending up homeless somewhere under a bridge.
DeleteHey Kevin, I'm already enjoying your blog post based off eye test alone, it really stands out! Also it is great to see how unselfish you are as you actively look to determine what degree/profession would not only help you but your family as well. You seem to go above and beyond and that speaks of your character I have no doubts you will succeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks James, I appreciate the kind words. Honestly I’m just trying to survive the semester and learn enough skills so I don’t embarrass myself when using these programs. Hopefully by the end of this class I’ll at least look like I know what I’m doing. 😅
DeleteHi Kevin, are you going to pursue a career in accounting or are you just trying to get the 2-year degree at CSN? I'm personally pursuing it as a career. Getting a CPA license is a big plus for accountants no matter the direction you go with. The only thing is, to take the test for the license you need, 150 credits from school, a, internship for a year under someone who has a CPA license, and the ability to study a ton. I'm currently pursuing an Associate of Business degree to transfer to UNLV for the Bachelor's degree in accounting, hoping I could get 60 credits before I transfer. Good luck on your journey and please share your experiences.
ReplyDeleteHi Thomas, thanks for sharing your plan and the information about the CPA path. For me, I’m actually studying accounting mainly because of our family business, so I’m not completely sure yet if I will pursue the CPA route. Right now my main goal is to understand accounting well enough to help manage the financial side of the business, but I’m still very early in the process and honestly still trying to get my debits and credits straight.
DeleteOne thing I would suggest, especially if you’re planning to transfer to UNLV for a bachelor’s degree in accounting, is to speak directly with an academic advisor or the counseling center at the school. When I spoke with an academic advisor, they explained that the AAS in Accounting at CSN is generally designed more for bookkeeping and workforce entry rather than transferring into a four-year accounting program. From what I was told, some of the accounting courses, like ACC 201, may not transfer directly into UNLV’s bachelor’s accounting program, which could mean starting certain accounting classes again. Because of that, it’s really important to confirm the transfer pathway with an advisor before committing to a specific degree plan, since different programs have different transfer agreements.
The reason my colleagues and some accountants I know have been encouraging me to consider a four-year degree instead of stopping at a two-year degree is because accounting is a very competitive field. Unless someone is already comfortable with their position or career path, many employers tend to prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher. From what I’ve seen when looking at job postings, especially for larger companies in Las Vegas, many of them list a BS in Accounting as a requirement along with experience. The AAS degree is still useful, but it is often geared more toward bookkeeping or entry-level roles rather than the full professional accounting track.
To be honest, my original idea when I started studying accounting was something much simpler, like becoming a bank teller or just understanding finances better. But realistically, you can often get those kinds of positions with many different degrees or even general business backgrounds. That’s why a lot of people in the accounting field recommend the four-year path if someone wants more flexibility and opportunities in the long run.
At the moment I’m still just a beginner in accounting. Conceptually I understand the big picture, like preparing the income statement, then the statement of retained earnings, followed by the balance sheet, and eventually the statement of cash flows. But when it comes to the smaller details, like determining whether a transaction should be recorded as a debit or credit in the correct account, I’m still working through that part. It gets even more confusing when topics like contra-assets or contra-revenue accounts come into the discussion. So right now I’m still in the learning phase and trying to build a solid foundation before thinking too far ahead about certifications or advanced paths.
Hi Kevin, it’s interesting that you decided to switch to accounting to help your family with the business side. Even if computers feel challenging now (''You are the best''), classes like IS101 are a good way to slowly build those skills. The example you shared about printing specific pages at work is also a good reason to learn those settings because it can save time and paper.
ReplyDeleteHi Gian, yeah honestly switching to accounting is more of a practical move for me because of our family business, not because I’m naturally good at it. Computers still feel kind of overwhelming sometimes, but I’m just taking it one step at a time and hoping it eventually clicks. The printing example really came from real work mistakes, so I kind of learned it the hard way. You’re right though, those small settings actually save a lot of time once you know them. I’m just trying to slowly build those skills without stressing myself out "too" much.
DeleteHey Kevin, I know I'm pretty late replying but I gotta let you know you're doing an amazing job. It's very inspiring knowing you were not very good with computers and then seeing your hard work through your blog post shows that you've learned a lot and even with some of your pessimism, you go above and beyond when accomplishing your goals. Hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jay-R, I really appreciate that, it actually means a lot. Honestly I still feel like a confused hedgehog clicking around LabSim and hoping I don’t accidentally delete something important. Most of what I’ve learned comes from repeating things so many times that my brain just gives up and remembers. The pessimism is still there, just now with slightly better computer skills. At this point I’m just trusting the process and hoping my mouse clicks know what they’re doing even if I don’t.
DeleteHi Kevin, from what the professor has shared you are doing an incredible job and have almost completed the coursework 8 weeks early. To be a pessimist is a tough outlook on life because things may not always be great but if you live your life in mourning then you don't really get to enjoy it. I believe the farthest any negativity should go is those who call themselves realist. Going by history and facts to determine the outcome rather than always ready for the worst outcome. Although to be fair, I'm an optimist, you can kick me down but be sure I am going to get back up. I have experienced many ups and downs in life, but I still remain positive that there's always that light at the end of the tunnel. I like your ability to adjust your career based on the needs of your family that's very admirable. Nursing, pharmacist and accounting are very necessary job types. Amazing efforts in IS101 I know with accounting excel is necessary training and I am sure you will do great when you put your mind to it. Plus, your blog is really cool, it stands out from the rest.
ReplyDeleteHi, I like your perspective, but honestly I’ve kind of adapted it in my own way. There’s that American saying “hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” but I ended up dropping the first part, "hope for the best", because hoping started to feel like it hurts more when things don’t go right.
DeleteSo now I just focus on preparing for the worst, it keeps me steady and less surprised when life does its thing. I still respect your optimism though, it’s something I think people need, even if I don’t fully run on it myself. Either way, I really appreciate your encouragement, it actually means a lot coming from someone with that kind of mindset.
Hello Kevin, I love the blog and the animation of the hedgehog is a really nice touch! It seems that you are better with computer with computers than you have said. I understand the pessimistic attitude as well this year has truly been something, but there's always reasons for hope and positivity out there.
ReplyDeleteHello, honestly that’s exactly why I picked a hedgehog too, cute things get way more forgiveness than regular humans. If I mess up, people see a hedgehog and go “aww,” instead of questioning my life choices. It’s basically my strategy, let the cute mascot soften the chaos behind the scenes. Plus, the hedgehog just makes everything feel less serious, like even my stress looks kind of adorable now. Appreciate you noticing it, that little guy is doing a lot of heavy lifting for me.
DeleteHey, there, Kevin, the first thing that caught my eye when I opened this blog is how amazing your blog is, well-organized. I really found it very interesting how you set the background to be all the same as your picture that is very amazing and smart of you. Also, with IS101, I was feeling the same as you. I felt that I was going to struggle in this class, not knowing anything about Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I really felt really disappointed in myself because I knew I was not going to be capable of learning. Now looking back at it, I think we just complicated ourselves into thinking we would struggle without knowing anything about it. I really hope you are doing well in IS101 class.
ReplyDeleteHello Mizrain, I appreciate that, especially what you mentioned about overcomplicating things because I went through the same mindset at the start. Right now I’m actually reviewing for the Word Expert exam, and honestly I don’t feel very confident about passing yet, but I’m still going to take it and treat it as part of the process. If I don’t pass, I’ll just repeat and try again, that’s kind of how I’ve been approaching this class anyway. I think a lot of it really comes down to repetition and getting used to the steps rather than understanding everything perfectly the first time. We probably give ourselves a harder time than necessary, but we’re still moving forward. I hope you’re doing well too in IS101, we’re all just figuring it out as we go.
DeleteHello Kevin, I love how you decorated your blog! It's very cute! I too am studying Accounting. It's so admirable that you had a career before coming into CSN. After trial and error of attending college I came to a conclusion that I would study Accounting. Before that I picked up majors that were Pre-Med and Physics. Anyways, I wish you luck on your degree. How are you finding your Accounting classes so far? I find ACC 201 manageable, but the "Allowance for Doubtful Accounts" lesson is a bit tricky for me.
ReplyDeleteHello Lovelle, thank you, I really appreciate that. ACC 201 has been manageable so far, but yeah, the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts can feel tricky at first.
DeleteThe way I understand it is like having a cushion for money you already expect might not come back. For example, if you lend money to your brother and he says “I’ll return it later,” but deep down you already know he probably won’t, you kind of prepare yourself for that loss ahead of time. You don’t wait until he officially doesn’t pay, you already accept that some of that money is gone.
That’s basically what businesses do, they estimate and set aside an amount for customers who might not pay, so their financials are more realistic and not overly optimistic.
Hey Kevin, I really respect your honesty in this post it makes it feel real. Switching from pharmacy to nursing and now to accounting is a big change, but it sounds like you’re doing what’s best for your situation, which matters most. I also get what you mean about struggling with computers honestly, a lot of people are in the same spot, especially with Excel. The example you shared about printing only certain pages actually shows you’re already connecting the class to real-life situations, which is a good sign. Even if the class feels challenging now, it sounds like you’re willing to learn, and that’s what really counts.
ReplyDeleteHey Ash, I appreciate that, seriously. Yeah, part of why I switched is because my pharmacy degree from back home doesn’t transfer here in the U.S. They also told me I can’t just redo a BS in Pharmacy since technically I’m already a pharmacist in my home country, so that option is basically closed. The only path they gave me was to go up and complete a Doctor of Pharmacy, like at Roseman University of Health Sciences, if I want to practice here. And honestly, if I had $200k just lying around, I probably wouldn’t even be here studying again trying to get another degree.
DeleteSo I moved into nursing first since it was a more practical path, and now accounting is me trying to build something stable long term. It wasn’t really planned, more like adjusting to what’s possible. And yeah, I’m still catching up with computers and Excel, but I try to connect it to real-life situations so it actually sticks. For now I’m just focusing on improving little by little and making it work.
But honestly, more bad news for me, if I continue with accounting, I still have to take the CPA exam. After going through the NCLEX, I’m not gonna lie, I still have some trauma from that experience. I remember all the sleepless nights just cramming and overthinking every question, it really drained me. Thinking about going through another board exam like that again is stressful, but I guess it’s just part of the process if I want to move forward.
Hi Kevin, I just wanted to tell you that your blog is really cool—it's the nicest one I've seen so far. It's awesome!
ReplyDeleteHey Rafael, I appreciate you taking the time to look through my blog, that means a lot. I put some effort into the design because I wanted it to feel organized and easy to read, not just complete the requirement. I’m glad it stood out to you compared to others. Hopefully I can keep that same level going for the next parts of the class.
DeleteHi Kevin, first of all, I love your profile full of hedgehogs—they look so chubby and cute! Now, going back to your post, it’s clear that you made a decision based on what was best for your situation. I liked that you were honest about your skills with technology. Even if you feel like it’s a difficult class, I think the fact that you’re willing to learn is already a big step ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Alexandra, thank you for noticing the hedgehog theme, I wanted something consistent that also reflects my personality a bit. I agree with what you said about being honest with my skills, especially since I am still catching up with some of the technical parts. It’s not always comfortable, but I think acknowledging that helps me improve instead of avoiding it. I also used to the hedgehog's cuteness to distract readers on the negative tone of my post... I distract people with cute pictures XD.
DeleteHey Kevin, I liked your post! I respect how honest you were about your experience with computers. Your example with printing at work was actually really relatable too.
ReplyDeleteHi Fatima, I appreciate that, thank you. Yeah, that printing example really came from frustration because it sounds simple until something doesn’t connect and you’re just stuck there figuring it out. I feel like a lot of these “basic” computer tasks only look easy after you already know what you’re doing. That’s why I’ve been trying to actually understand the steps instead of just memorizing clicks. Glad it made sense on your end.
DeleteHey Kevin, that is great you mentioned about using print-range settings from your real nursing experience, it’s a very practical skill for handling long documents.
ReplyDeleteHi Tegene, I appreciate you pointing that out because I did not expect something from nursing to actually carry over into this class. It is kind of funny how something as simple as print range suddenly becomes useful when documents start getting long and messy.
DeleteIn the field, I used to deal with paperwork that had to be clean and exact, so I guess that habit followed me here. IS101 just made me realize that those small details are not just random buttons, they actually solve real problems.
I am still getting used to applying it in Excel and Word in a more technical way though. It is like I know the idea, but now I have to prove it in a different environment. Hopefully by the end of this phase I can make it feel more natural.
Hello Kevin, I love how you formatted your blog, it feels very personalized and unique! I respect your decision to switch from nursing to accounting to support your family's needs. Coming into IS101, my experience with Microsoft products was much the same, I had some experience with Word, but limited experience with the other products. I know now that you have practically finished the class weeks early, and I commend your effort, great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Scott, I really appreciate that, especially the part about the blog feeling personalized because I was honestly just trying to make it feel less robotic. The switch from nursing to accounting was not really planned, it was more like life pushing me in a direction I had to accept. Your experience with Microsoft products sounds a lot like mine, I knew a bit, but not enough to feel confident. IS101 kind of exposes that gap because you cannot just click around and hope it works. Finishing early sounds nice, but honestly I am just trying to stay ahead because I expect something to go wrong at some point.
DeleteThat is just how I think, prepare for the worst and hope for something manageable. Still, I appreciate the encouragement, it makes the grind feel a bit lighter.
Hello Kevin! Having you as a classmate has been such a pleasure! You truly make class more enjoyable with your commentary more than you think! I also can be a bit of a pessimist at times. But it is important that you remember: where your thoughts go, energy flows! The more time you think about the bad, the more likely it is to happen. Not saying that to push any agenda or spiritual sayings onto you, but I truly do believe it! Better days are coming ahead Kevin! Hearing all of your accomplishments in class gives me hope that you will do great things in life -- I don't believe you will end up homeless! You are far too smart and supported for that to happen!
ReplyDeleteHi Avery, I get what you mean about being a pessimist, I think I just learned to expect less so I do not get caught off guard. I do agree that mindset matters, but for me it is more like I stay grounded rather than overly hopeful.
DeleteWhen I think about things going wrong, it is not to attract negativity, it is more like preparing for it so I am not stuck later. Your point about energy and focus is something I am still working on though, especially balancing overthinking and actually doing the task. I do appreciate you saying better days are coming, even if my brain immediately questions it. At the end of the day, I just try to keep moving forward even if I am not fully confident. That is probably the closest thing I have to optimism.
Hey Kevin! Your background photo is the cutest! I love the way your formatted your post. It's very organized and creative. I understand why you are pessimistic, but a balance of being pessimism and optimism can exist at the same time. Depending on what it is of course. You have already accomplished so much in terms of your personal and educational pursuits, and I strongly believe you will succeed at whatever it is you put your mind to. Sometimes, our minds can tell us lies, but it is up to us to either believe it or not.
ReplyDeleteHi Josie, I am glad you liked the background because I definitely got carried away with it, I was supposed to write and somehow ended up decorating like it was a full time job. The balance between pessimism and optimism you mentioned actually makes sense to me, I do not see it as choosing one side, more like adjusting depending on the situation. I lean toward being cautious, not because I expect everything to fail, but because I feel more prepared that way. What you said about the mind telling lies really stuck with me, especially when things get overwhelming and my brain suddenly starts making very convincing worst case scenarios. Sometimes the negative version just sounds more realistic, even when it is not. But I also know if I fully believe that, I would probably not try anything at all, so I kind of push forward anyway. I am still figuring out how to stay realistic without letting it stop me.
DeleteAnd honestly, the cute animals are part of the plan. I use them to soften whatever I am saying, because without them my blog would probably sound like a long internal debate with myself. It is like I am saying something slightly pessimistic, but then I add a hedgehog so it feels less intense. Think of it as emotional camouflage, the content stays the same, it just looks friendlier. If people leave remembering the cute background instead of my overthinking, then I feel like I did my job.