Falling behind on 4A Course
Hi All,
(Sorry that this is so long and thanks to anybody that actually reads it and offers any feedback)
I’m 29 years old with an extensive back ground in Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC and other maintenance related trades. In 2024 I began an entry level position as a helper working at a power plant. The work consists of cleaning filters, repairing diaphragm pumps, draining water off of tanks, operating equipment such as sludge & fuel separators and things of that nature.
I’ve very quickly gained an interest in the field and have received many great remarks in regard to my aptitude and overall work ethic. After inquiring with more senior staff around the plant they informed me that the best way set myself up for success long term and be considered for better positions is to pursue my 4th class (and then 3rds eventually and so on.) So with that being said I went ahead and enrolled in the Self Paced, Online 4A course through SAIT.
So I purchased all the necessary PanGlobal books and etc. but I also went ahead and purchased the optional “Prep Math Topics For Power Engineering” as I knew I’d need extensive refreshers on 90% of my more advanced math since I’ve been out of school for so long. (I went straight out of high school into the work force)
Here’s where it’s gotten sticky - My course is active from March 2nd until August 30th and I’m literally just completing the Prep Math book.. I won’t lie, I quickly realized I bit off more than I could chew and was struggling with a lot of the math at first. I even needed refreshers on simple stuff like order of operations. Not to mention I never really did any trig, logarithms etc in high school.
Basically, what I’m getting at is am I screwed? 15 weeks left, give or take and I’m literally just starting Unit A - 1 “Elementary Mechanics & Dynamics”
Last thing to mention, just to add some context: I do work long’ish hours with a lot of OT while also raising a toddler. I study 4 nights a week for around 2-3 hrs and I have two 1hr tutoring sessions a week just to get some extra assistance on difficult concepts or subjects. I also have a longstanding ADHD diagnosis which was able to get me an official letter addressed to SAIT & the ABSA from my psychiatrist that I could use to POSSIBLY get some extra considerations from them such as an extra month or two to complete the course and maybe some accommodations during the actual exam? I’m considering that a last resort as I really don’t like to use my ADHD as an excuse but in reality it definitely does hinder me. Especially considering the nature of self studying and remaining attentive etc.
Thanks for reading!