Help!!

[Christine Romano]

I started court reporting school exactly 1 year ago and I only have one year left. I use to be able to write at 120 words per min easily and now I can barely write 100 without struggling. I have a part time job as a teller and they are really pushing me to work a lot more so I think thats really interfering with my practice. Also my boyfriend just started going to college again so I'm trying to get use to the swing of things. Is there any advice that I can get as to what I can do to get myself to want to work just as hard as I was before. I don't practice at all I only touch my machine when I go to school and I seem to be only going twice a week when I should be there everyday. Help. Thanks.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

You only have one year left - hopefully. Follow Diane'e advice. Break down your practice time - do 20 minutes in the morning, 20 in the afternoon and 20 at night. At least you won't lose what you have.

[Diane Hickman]

Christine, I'm going to assume you still want to get your license, so I give you permission to take a break and let the dust settle in your life. It's okay to say "hold it" once in a while. The amount of time you take is entirely up to you: a week, a month, two months...whatever. Talk to your school counselor and tell him/her what is going on. They will understand, believe me. Life can derail the best of intentions, so if you feel as though you're swimming upstream, then take a moment (however long that moment is) and get used to the changes in your life. While you're doing so, take out your machine and go over your theory book at your own pace. If you taped your speed classes, use them to practice with. Review any academics while you relax. Plan to set a date to return to your present CR school and stick to that plan. Don't worry, school will still be there. Court reporting will still be there, and your machine will be ready whenever you are. Don't be so hard on yourself.