3 weeks and counting:)

The fall semester will be done in 3 weeks...WOOHOO!!! This semester has actually flown by, let's hope next semester goes by just as fast! I am a bit stressed right now not because I am behind but because of circumstances beyond my control. For my qualitative research class, we had to do a class project which involved working with a specific health problem and we had to either interview or observe. I choose to do an observational study on the eating habits of elementary aged children in Wake County, NC. I decided to observe three lunch periods at my nieces' school and I had to go through the entire process of submitting my research project for review. I contacted the principal of the school and she told me she would love to have me come in but I needed to submit my proposed research to the Wake County Research and Evaluation Department. I looked on their website and it clearly stated that observational research for a class project was not considered research and I would just have to contact the principal. I informed the principal and she had spoken with the head of the department and I still needed to submit my proposal. I of course called the department to be sure and he said that yes, I did indeed need to submit my proposed research project. I pointed out what the website had said and he said that the information was not correct on their website. WHAT?!?! Anyway, so I did what I needed to do and submitted my proposal the second week in October and they said I would know if I was approved within a few weeks. I called a few weeks ago and they said they were in the process of reviewing it and I would know by Thanksgiving. I politely pointed out that my FINAL project was due December 7 and I needed to have my data collection done by November 14 at the latest. He said there was nothing he could do to help me! Its not like I am going to publish this study and have unlimited time to finish this!!! My final grade depends on this!! Thank goodness my professor is very understanding and knows that this is not my fault because I did exactly what I was supposed to five weeks ago!! So my professor and decided to just have me go eat lunches with my nieces and do the best I can with the data collection. Originally, I was supposed to walk around the cafeteria and observe but since I haven't been approved to do that, I can only eat lunch with each niece and one friend so my data collection might be more limited. The good news is that I have done my research and I know what they offer at school and I am very observant normally in my surroundings so I should have no problem. UGH!!

Other than that, my project is on track and I hope to get another project started and almost finished this weekend and upcoming week. I hate leaving things to the last minute and the sooner I finish up everything, the sooner I can relax and enjoy the Christmas season:)