Oral History Program Dannielle McAllister Interviewed by Carol Permar 16 April 2008 i Oral History Program Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah Dannielle McAllister Interviewed by Carol Permar 16 April 2008 Copyright © 2014 by Weber State University, Stewart Library ii Mission Statement The Oral History Program of the Stewart Library was created to preserve the institutional history of Weber State University and the Davis, Ogden and Weber County communities. By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Interviews are conducted with the goal of eliciting from each participant a full and accurate account of events. The interviews are transcribed, edited for accuracy and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewees (as available), who are encouraged to augment or correct their spoken words. The reviewed and corrected transcripts are indexed, printed, and bound with photographs and illustrative materials as available. Archival copies are placed in University Archives. The Stewart Library also houses the original recording so researchers can gain a sense of the interviewee's voice and intonations. Project Description The Weber State College/University Student Projects have been created by students working with several different professors on the Weber State campus. The topics are varied and based on the student's interest or task for a specific assignment. These oral history assignments were created to help Weber State students learn the value and importance of recording public history and to benefit the expansion of the Weber State oral history collections. ____________________________________ Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account. It reflects personal opinion offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ____________________________________ Rights Management All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to the Stewart Library of Weber State University. No part of the manuscript may be published without the written permission of the University Librarian. Requests for permission to publish should be addressed to the Administration Office, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408. The request should include identification of the specific item and identification of the user. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: McAllister, Dannielle, an oral history by Carol Permar, 16 April 2008, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. iii Abstract: This is an oral history with Dannielle McAllister. It is being conducted on April 16, 2008 at the Scowcroft building in Ogden, Utah and concerns her experiences as a student at Weber State University in Ogden Utah. The interviewer is Carol Permar. CP: Do you mind me asking you what your age is? DM: I'm twenty-seven. CP: Oh ok. Then how long have you been attending Weber State University? DM: All together it ends up being around four years. CP: Do you attend Weber State as a full or part time student? DM: Full time during spring and fall and part time during the summer. CP: Do you go all year round then? DM: Ya, so I can get it done. CP: (Laughter). DM: (Laughter). CP: Oh ok. What is your major? DM: My major is health administrative services and I am going to get an emphasis in health promotion. CP: Health promotion? DM: Yes. CP: Why did you choose this particular major? 1 DM: Well at first I was gonna do pharmacy but then I figured I'd rather help people prevent diseases instead of just giving them meds to just cope with it. So helping people the better way, you know, and being more informed. Because they come off saying this is bad for you. Then you hear about something on TV you really don't know if it really is good or bad and a couple of months later oh it's ok. CP: Tell me then a little about what the major really is. DM: The major is, I really want to try and work for the health department and help because the majority of what they do are programs to help people, like they have a "Healthy People 2010" trying to get people healthy cause, so they can prevent them from getting diseases. Some cancers, things like that to try and inform people and get them the help if they need it. I'm trying to get more of, I'm trying to help people prevent stuff. CP: More preventative. DM: Yes and if you are not informed about preventing something then you can't prevent it. In the health care system a majority of the people don't have insurance and you don't want people to be sick because they can't afford it and then it is already out of control the spending but if you can help prevent diseases then it will probably help with the health costs. They should go down a considerable amount. CP: That's really interesting. It is really an innovative approach to it. You know that a lot of the thought is just to throw drugs at people. By the time you know it you are ending up taking all of these drugs. But trying to prevent it, that is really very interesting. How much further do you have to go until you graduate? DM: I have just about two years. 2 CP: Two years. Oh ok. Do you attend outside school functions such as football games or lectures? DM: I really don't because I don't have that much time. I work full time and I have to take care of my daughter so that is my priority right now. (Laughter) I already had my time for fun. That's how I see it right now. CP: So my next question was are you in a sorority? DM: No. CP: Why did you choose Weber State over other colleges? DM: It's close enough that I am familiar with being too scared that I might get lost trying to find it and the teacher student ratio is not too big. I'm kinda scared around people. I just do what I have to do, but I just like how small the classes are. That helps me a little better. CP: Do you plan on going to graduate school when you are done? DM: Right now I'm not but in the future I might. CP: Once you get into it you'll see what other avenues there are. DM: Yes, I'll do it that way. CP: That makes sense. Get your foot in it and take one chunk at a time. DM: That's true. CP: What do you find to be the difficulties of going to school? DM: It's just like there are times when I can't go to my class because I have to take care of my daughter kind of a thing or she might want more time with me. I'd rather do that then 3 school because I can always make up the day. I can't make up the time with her right now. That's probably the most hardest thing right now is having my daughter. If you don't have a kid because you can just go out and do whatever you need to do. And like today I missed class because my daughter decided to get up a little earlier than I want her to and then she woke up and I am basically late for class, (laughter) I have a couple of those that happen or if she gets sick and I catch what she has the following then I'm out of school for a week. So that's what I see that's what I see as the difficulty of having kids. When if you don't have a kid then you don't have those kinds of problems. CP: How old is your daughter? DM: She is three. CP: She is at a good age then where she. Do you find it hard then to do homework with her? DM: Sometimes, but she's the type that really can she'll find something to do CP: She's pretty independent then? DM: Yes, she doesn't really, like every once in a while she will see and ask what I am doing or something like that. But she's usually not too bad. I usually do it when she's sleeping or playing with her cousin and then she is pretty occupied so I don't have to entertain her (laughter). CP: That is really good that, that really helps a lot that she is so independent so you can take the time to do what you need to do so she is busy doing her thing. DM: That is a good thing. CP: Do you find, being a traditional student, that your school experiences are different than if you were to attend school earlier? 4 DM: It is probably about the same. The only difference is that I don't have a child that's probably the thing. A few years ago I probably, well ya. Probably child and. Well the difference would be but now I finally figured out what I really wanted to do. And that is a little bit different. It took me a little while to decide finally what I wanted to major in. That's kinda the difference the older I got the more I knew but the younger I am the more I am able to do. Get involved in the different things they have in school. CP: Do you view education different than if you would have like gone to school right out of high school rather than waiting? Do you look at learning and education different? DM: Yes, it is different for me because I did go for a year after I got out of high school but I didn't really know what I wanted to do and I just didn't want to stay in school and waste money. For me to be sitting around and thinking maybe I want to do it maybe I don't kinda a thing. So it took me then longer and then it helped me to view if I really want to, um, let’s see I do see education differently that's for sure. It’s more making sure I do good grades, (laughter) Compared to when I was - oh well I got that grade, oh well. CP: (Laughter). You see the advantages of education. DM: (laughter) Yes, it is very different. That is true. That is true. It does change when you see the advantages of going to school. CP: Ya. I did the same thing. When I went to college right out of high school I just goofed around. I wasn't there for the education and learning. I didn't have the desire to learn. And then when I turned twenty-five I realized I needed to get my act together and start going to school and then I did. You do view it a lot different. DM: That's true. 5 CP: How do you relate with teachers and fellow classmates? DM: I kinda just keep to myself kind of a thing. They probably don't even notice if I am there or not, (laughter). But I just that's what I am, I am just really a… CP: Introvert. DM: Ya I just stay, I just keep to myself I do what I need to do just get what I need to do get grades, ask for help when I need it. I really do just keep to myself. CP: Probably because cause maybe part of it is the age difference too. I know I'm going to school and there is quite a big age difference between me and them. Although it is interesting I do talk with them. There are a lot of smart kids out there. But ya, there is a big age difference. What they are into verses what I am into. What gives you the most satisfaction in attending school? DM: Actually that I am bettering my future. Like I am trying to do something with my daughter, she will be starting school and I see it as like in get my degree then I can get a better paying and stuff like that. I'm really looking to the future what it is. I know it might be hard now but the end result will be good. CP: Plus you'll be in something you really enjoy doing. When you decided to go to school what were your feelings at first? DM: Scared, (laughter). Because I knew I would be dealing with all sorts of people. I don't know what it is with a whole bunch of people it just scares me sometimes, (laughter) I am thinking what am I doing, can I do it? It’s like I hope I don't make a fool out of myself kind of a thing. I know that the more I put myself in that position the better I've been getting. Yeah. 6 CP: Did you come up with excuses in the beginning as to why you shouldn't do it or couldn't do it? DM: I'd always say I'd be too scared or I don't want to fail all that kinda stuff. I just figured you know I won't know unless I tried. Yeah, (laughter). CP: I know when I first decided to go back to school too I kept on coming up with all these excuses and my husband finally said to me he goes: "Quit telling me how you can't do it - tell me how you're gonna do it." And that just, it just turned me around and I thought you know what that's true because I'm telling him, I'm just coming up with excuses. So that just really I thought "Oh, ok quit (laughter) making excuse you know." DM: Ya that is true. CP: What was your best experience in class? DM: The only thing I can think of was actually understanding stuff, (laughter) I'm sitting in the class and thinking ok I didn't forget it like I thought I had. Especially my math. I actually got an "A" in the math class. CP: Which one was it? DM: It was 1010. And I kept hearing that it was hard, hard, hard. CP: You're kidding? DM: No and I got an "A" in the class and I actually got a 100% on one of the tests. So that shocked me - the class that everyone kept telling me "you're gonna fail" I actually got an "A" in. 7 CP: 1010 math is the number one class for failures. I know when I was in it there was one kid it was the third time taking the class. DM: That was the first time and I haven't had math since high school, (laughter). CP: Wow, I am impressed. I know you are smart because I worked with you. Wow that is really cool. You should be a math major. DM: Oh no. I'm just taking enough to get me by. CP: So then have you gone on to 1050? DM: I'm in 1050 now. CP: You'll be glad when that is done? DM: Yes I am. CP: I actually found 1050 easier than 1010. DM: Oh no. See it is just that I hate graphs. I've always hated it. I don't know why I just do. CP: Yes your X/Y coordinates and polygrams. DM: Yes, I think that's probably what it is. It's not a straight forward answer, you have to draw to find it. I think that is my problem. Visual. Just give me something that with shows me A + B = and I'll be all right. I think that is my problem with it. I was the only one that I really could. I was shocked about that cause I've never gotten 100% on a test in college. I was shocked about that. CP: That's good. Ok, then what was your worst experience in class? DM: I really haven't had any. Only one where I missed my final. 8 CP: You missed your final! DM: Yes, so we know what kinda grade I got in that class. Yeah, I forget it was going to be in the class, yeah. That's the worst one. I learned from that one. CP: Well you have to have at least one of those. DM: That's true, but yeah. CP: That was probably very frustrating to get to the very end and forgot. DM: Yeah. It was like "Oh well, I'll take it again." CP: Is there anything you'd like to add or tell me? DM: No, I can't think of anything. CP: What did your family say when you told them you were going back to school? Did you tell your daughter? DM: See my daughter was really young when I first started. So she was like a baby. But it's just when I -I have to make sure about school, my parents are ok with it cause I guess they know that it's not like I am wasting any money or anything. I just have to schedule make sure that my mom is free. And I just make sure I am ok with that if I do take classes on campus it is not going to affect her time. She has to watch my daughter, but she also has to do stuff. So I don't want to cut into her time. Because make sure, if I do have morning classes it does affect her. I just have to Check the schedule and make sure it is not too bad that's why it's is good when I have online classes because I just have to, just when I have to go to campus to take the test, that is the only time I really have to schedule around. 9 CP: Most of the classes you take are online classes? DM: Correct, that is the only way I'd be able to go to school full time. CP: So you like that pretty good? You don't have any problems? DM: No I like it better. CP: You use the computer from your home then? DM: Yes. From the computer from home. Only one class I have to go on campus is, it is because I don't have the… it's for my computer class because they have the 2007 time office and we don't have that at home. So that is really the only I have to go on campus but that is easy enough. CP: How many credit hours are you taking this semester? DM: I have fifteen. CP: And you work full time? DM: Yes. One of the classes is already done. CP: I don't know how you do that. That is a lot. DM: I just didn't realize how many it is. CP: Is that about the average then? DM: Yes, twelve or fifteen. CP: Credit hours. That is about five or six classes. DM: Yes this one was six. A lot of classes I take are about four each. So after a while they do add up. Because I have a Pell Grant I have to make sure I do twelve hours. 10 CP: Well you can, oh with a Pell Grant. You can't get that part time? DM: You think you can but I'm doing full time so I can get done. With it I have to do so I have to make sure I stay within it. Twelve hours. That's the minimum. CP: Has anyone else in your family? Do you have any brothers or sisters? DM: I have a sister but she's not going. She doesn't want to and my parents know about it so they are not forcing her or anything because they know she's not that kind of type. Not that type of a student. They know I was. I was on the honor roll. They knew I was the type to go to college. They knew my sister wasn't and they don't put pressure on her to go either. If the person doesn't want to go they won't make them go. CP: Do either of your parents. Have they gone to? DM: My mom went to college for a little but my dad has an accounting degree. CP: So is he an accountant then? DM: Yes. He is an accountant with Hill. CP: Wow, Hill Airforce Base. DM: He's been an accountant there since he graduated high school. I mean not high school college. He's been there since seventy.... CP: When did he graduate? DM: I'm trying to think. Oh, because my parents got married in seventy-eight. So he probably...seventy-five I think. He did it right out of.... He was born in fifty-four so we are looking at.... About seventy-something. CP: Somewhere around there. 11 DM: I just know he's been there a long time and he's getting close to retirement age. CP: Yeah, he should be. He should almost have his thirty years in. DM: And he is looking forward to it too... (Laughter). CP: Yes, he should have a good pension and everything if he's been there that long and being an accountant he's making really good money. DM: So he's getting up there now. Yep, he does the budgeting for one of the planes. CP: That's interesting, oh wow. DM: Yes, so he's been there for a while. I never really knew exactly what he does. I just know he's an accountant. CP: He keeps track of debits and credits. Probably all the costs for what goes into airplanes and stuff. DM: Yes and he has to do the budgeting, that's how I know. I know that at the end of the fiscal year he always gets those bonuses because he is working a lot. CP: So is there anything else you'd like to add? I think we're. Thank you very much. I really appreciate you taking the time with me to interview you for my class. DM: It's no problem. CP: Oh, ok. Thanks. What classes are you currently taking? DM: I'm taking Math 1050, Philosophy 1000, TBE 1700 (Computer and Library Sciences), HAS 3000 (Intro of Health Care System) and Accounting 2020. 12