new blog post

That title was the most creative thing I could come up with. Can you tell my brain's been fried? School - I shake my fist at you...

For those of you that haven't heard me complaining about it in person, I have a few assignments due within the next three days that I've barely started. And yes, I'm well aware that blogging about it won't get them done any faster... in fact, I'm pretty sure this'll slow the process down. BUT it's been so long since I last blogged - I just had to write something.

I'll even try to keep this blog educationally focused. ...Is that a thing? I'm going to make it a thing.

According to a blog I just started following five minutes ago, April is National Poetry Month and I happen to be taking a few English literature courses in which I've read a poem or two. So I would like to take this moment to share with you my favorite poem so far. ...Actually, I can't say that in good conscience because I have about eight zillion favorites, many of which were written by Emily Dickinson - someone I didn't even know was a poet (I just knew she was a famous writer) until this year... And I call myself an English major. For shame...

Anyway, this 'favorite' poem is by William Carlos Williams (awesome name, btw) and it's called This is Just to Say.

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

If that's poetry, I like it.

Do you think my prof will count blogging with an 'educational focus' as something worth some marks? That would be awesome if she did because it's not like I'm ever going to finish any of these projects...

I guess I'll get back to them now.

Hey! Did you notice that it's spring outside?! I went for a short walk today (short was all I could afford) and it was glorious. I love this weather. I just thought I'd mention that.

Alright...

Keep it real!

midterms

Does anyone have a breath mint or a stick of gum or something? 'Cause I just midtermed in that trash can over there...

Seriously, I almost feel physically ill after all the BS I just spewed out on paper and handed in to my teacher so she can grade my intelligence (or lack thereof - I haven't gotten my marks back yet, so either could be true at this point).

Not to sound cocky (though every time someone says that, they proceed to say something ridiculously self-praising... and this time isn't any different...) but I think I've actually become a master at the art of pleasing teachers. I've been working at it since kindergarten, so don't feel bad if you're not in the same boat. Plus, you also get called a lot of names over the years like 'keener' and 'teacher's pet', so you should actually be happy about the fact that you're not in the same boat.

Anyway, with my skills as a teacher-pleaser, I've become acutely aware of exactly what teachers need to hear in order for their A+ reflex to kick into gear. Therefore, I'm the a-hole that doesn't do any of the readings but still gets good marks. But as said a-hole, I feel like the education system may be a little bit of a let down. I mean, if I can fly through it getting great marks that don't actually reflect how much I'm learning, what does that tell you about the way things are working?

This whole 'handing in tests and essays' is getting old. It's teaching kids - at least, kids like me - not how to retain information that will someday (so they say) come in handy in everyday life (...I can't wait for the day when my boss at the doctor's office runs to my desk dying to know the definition of a novella...) No - it's teaching kids that if you regurgitate what your prof says in class and pretend you have some sort of an opinion about it, you'll get a good mark.

All that said, I'm not saying getting an education is stupid because I am actually beyond grateful for the opportunity I've been given, the privilege so many people don't get. But what I am saying is that when you learn something, you've learned it. What's the point in proving it by writing some test or essay that just confirms that you were listening in class?

When I take archery, I'm given a bow and some arrows, told a few tips and then pointed in the direction of the target. No test. When I take an acting class, I'm given some lines (sometimes) and put on a stage and then I hear "action!" No essays. When I write a book it either gets published or it doesn't. No "B-". So if university (or education in general) is supposed to be steering us towards 'reality,' then what's with the requirement to spew back information? To prove that we know the stuff? I'd much rather demonstrate my knowledge by simply speaking up in class or trying to write a story that musters up some controversy - taking a page out of Mark Twain's book.

Just, please, no more "we're just wanting to see if you were paying attention" crud, because I'd understand your interest if you actually did something other than give me a pass or fail after I handed in that paper I spent six hours writing. If this education system is really interested in my learning, then they wouldn't stop at grades. Getting a good grade accomplishes nothing but giving me a little self-esteem boost, and getting a bad grade just makes me think less about the class and more about how much I suck.

The best part of this rant is the fact that I come from a long line of teachers...

I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that disagree with me, and maybe this entire post is just craziness spawn from too little sleep and too many midterms, but, for the moment, I stand by my conviction. I never want to write another midterm again.

But I have another take-home midterm due in an hour, so I'd better start working on it. I may need another breath mint after this one too. I'm about to regurgitate a heck of a lot of BS...

Keep it real!

hallelujah! ...almost

I've been up for almost 24 hours... I had a nap from 1 to 3 am this morning, so I guess I didn't actually pull an all-nighter.

I was writing an essay for my Anglo-Saxon Lit class and I just finished in half an hour ago.

Hallelujah!!

But I still have a few more assignments due before the end of the semester...

(Hence the almost.)

Still, the Hallelujah Chorus keeps running through my head.

It may have something to do with the youtube video my mom showed me this morning when I was three quarters of the way done my essay...

Check it out!

It helped me stay awake for the last few hours it took to finish my essay. I'm thinking Red Bull is what'll keep me awake for the rest of the day.

Have a good one!

And keep it real.

three little words

There are three words I've been dying to hear and it's getting harder every passing day that I don't hear them.

"Back to school."

Seriously, I never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait for school to start this September. I think it has to do with the fact that: a. I'm taking amazing courses this coming semester and b. Full-time work is slowly killing me inside. Also... yeah, I'm not afraid to say this... I'm in love with learning. Work = mindless, routine activity - day in, day out. School = a clustercuss of brain activity, sometimes... most times... too much brain activity to handle but all I can say to that is Bring It On. (All or Nothing... In it to Win it... sorry, I got carried away, there are just so many movies references there...)

It's only three weeks away! I'll be able to read, write, socialize, sleep whenever I want. My life will be my life again. Sure, I'll have to do things like study and research and write essays on topics I don't actually understand, but at least there's a greater purpose in all of it. Unlike filing - where the only purpose is so that I can find that chart later in order to file it again later...

The fact that I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up (which, I'll have you know, is still far away) just makes me like school all the more. I've got plenty of time to figure out what to do with my life. Right now - fingers crossed for archer in the Olympics ;)

I guess I'll make the most of these last few weeks of working full-time. I mean, the greater purpose to filing is that it's paying for me to go to school, so there is that. Plus, I might be able to buy my own bow soon and practice on moving targets -- I mean, practice in my backyard away from people...

...Tomorrow it's my brother's birthday. Happy Birthday brother!

Keep it real!

ALMOST there!

DUDE!! I haven't written a post in soo long! But I've still been writing - belieeeeeeeve me! Research papers, hermeneutics assignments, exams - and of course, none of those could stop me from writing a little more in my novel. But now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have two more exams this Wednesday and then SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!

Summer.

*Sigh* I love that word. And the season. I'm so excited for summer. I'll have a full time job and will be wearing scrubs every. single. day. but that totally can't get me down this time around. I'm on a softball team - we're having our first practice this afternoon!! :D And I'm hoping to spend the next few months trying to get my book published - however that looks. Even if I don't get it published right away, I will self-publish a few copies just for fun. But my plan is to get it for real published - it'll happen ONE DAY.

What else will I be doing this summer?...

I'm going to Niagara Falls with a few friends for a mini road trip - can't wait!! I hope to spend plenty of weekends on a beach. I'm counseling at my church's day camp every so often when I have a day off from work. I love working at day camp. (Plus, it doesn't hurt the tan).

And then, of course, there's the unexpected. Who knows what else will happen this summer?! I'm leaving lots of room for the unexpected. A friend of mine is going to Australia for three weeks as a spur of the moment thing. I REALLY wanted to go with him, but it'll have to wait another year or two. But that doesn't mean nothing else will come up and maybe I'll be able to do some of the other stuff.

Tomorrow I'm going for a bike ride. It's supposed to be a beautiful day, so here's hoping!

Oh! I got an essay back that was worth 45% of my grade. Yeah - 45%!! Ridiculous. BUT I got a really good grade on it. I was surprised. So was my prof - haha! That could explain why I'm in such a great mood these days. Or maybe it's the natural endorphins from working out. Did I mention I joined a gym? I don't remember if I said anything about it...

...I joined a gym. It's SOO much fun! I only get to go twice a week 'cause it's a tiny bit far away. It had a really cheap membership fee so I thought, why not? I'm loving it so far. And I still love my short hair. :) Lots. I'm not going to keep it short... probably. I THINK I want to grow it out again, but I'm enjoying the short while it lasts.

Anyway, I guess I've talked for a while. I should probably go.

Keep it Real!! :)