My mom is a pretty incredible woman. She has probably had more influence on my life and on the woman I have become than any other person. Sometimes I feel a bit worried as I see myself becoming more like her, but for the most part its a good thing. When I was growing up I was always pretty close with my mom. Sure, we had our tears and slammed doors, like every young girl and her mom, but in spite of those things I always felt like my mom and I had a better-than-average relationship. I know she'll be reading this, so I won't say that she was always right about everything, but I guess she's a pretty smart lady. I've learned a lot from her, more than I could ever sit down and enumerate, but I'll hit the highlights for you.
1) How to persevere in spite of present difficulties. I feel like this was one of the overarching lessons of my childhood. From skinned knees to broken hearts to job hunting to panicky stressed filled finals weeks, my mom has always been there to remind me that, "this too shall pass." "Momma said there'll be days like this, there'll be days like this, my momma said..."
2) How not to take myself too seriously. This is definitely a lesson in progress. And it probably will always be. I'm a stubborn, proud woman, and its often difficult for me to even admit that I have made a mistake, nonetheless to be able to laugh about it.
3) How not to be afraid of hospitals and sickness. This is something I don't often think of, but since my mom has worked in the hospital almost my entire life, I've spent a lot of time in hospitals. Unlike most people, I rarely went to visit loved ones who were sick or dying, so hospitals have never had a dark scary feeling to me like they do for so many. However, when I did have a loved one who was sick in the hospital, I was able to watch my mom interact with them, and learn from her how to act around someone that's seriously ill. Some people never learn that.
4) How to cook. Though I'm pretty sure she has to share credit with the food network for this one. And I'm also pretty sure that she taught me this one out of ulterior motives. She figured once I knew how to cook, she would be off the hook for a while.
5) How to read, and enjoy it. This is another one which she needs to share credit for. This was definitely accomplished through the joint efforts of my mom and grandma, but its one of those things I'll always be thankful for. It has definitely made school much, much more bearable.
6) How to clean. I always took this for granted until this year. My first year of living in my own place, and I'm starting to see just how much of an art cleaning and organizing can be, and my mom definitely has it down.
There is so much more, but I have papers I should be writing.. like usual. So I guess I'd best get back to those. I love you, mom.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Our apathetic youth?
So there I was, sitting at work. Bored out of my mind. You see, it was raining today. I live in Oregon, so it is usually raining, but apparently most people don't want to eat ice cream when it's raining. Weird, huh? Anyway, as I was sitting there, dying of boredom, I saw it. A new Salem Weekly. It's this little newpaper-like thing that comes out every week and covers different local events and such. Anyway, this particular issue was concerned with politics, and why the youth are so seemingly indifferent to the entire political process. I was intrigued. After all, it is my age group, right? Well, the first thing I found were some reader responses to the question, "Why are people less likely to vote, the younger they are?". Here's what was said:
One reader says, "Too busy voting for the next American Idol."
First of all, really? American Idol? Thats just insulting. Who watches that anymore? I mean, maybe when I was in middle school, but for goodness sakes its 2011! Simon Cowell isn't even on the show anymore! But on a serious note, yes, the youth of America is too busy. Not voting for American Idol, but educating ourselves, working two jobs, trying to climb the career ladder, starting a family, volunteering, traveling.. You know. All that useless selfish stuff that we do.
Another, "Sadly, when one does not vote, one guarantees the continuation of the system. If you despise it, do something. Only action will create change. Does it seem 'the lesser of two evils'...? Surely the lesser evil, then, is preferable. Imagine how the world might have been better...if only a few more had voted for Gore vs. GW Bush.
Ignoring, for the moment this woman's blantent political leanings, and the fact that she didn't answer the question at all, lets address the point she brings up. Is it better to vote for the lesser of two evils than not at all? My answer would be a resounding no. As a friend of mine said, "Refusing to vote is a vote in itself. It is a vote of dissension." In other words, its saying, "No, I don't like this system. I refuse to vote for an inbecile rather than an idiot, just because he has more money than the intelligent fellow over there". You want proof that this is our mindset? Look how youth voting numbers increased in 2008. With Obama, who promised us "change" and "hope". Young people finally thought that they had a candidate that they could believe in. And on the opposite end of the bipartisan spectrum, the same thing has happened and continues to happen with Ron Paul. When someone starts making sense, the youth gets excited. When its more of the same bullshit we've always been fed.. well... not so much.
The next, "...because they are 'checked out'. The majority don't really have any idea what's going on; they're not paying attention." Strangely enough, she seems to contradict herself as she goes on to say, "they are beoming a bit cynical about the media outlets, and don't really know where to go to get unbiased information about candidates. They don't just want info from the candidate's pages, they want third party analysis withouth the hype and party fliters."
Its funny to me that a demographic which she characterized as completely "checked out" and "not paying attention" seems to be seeing right through all the games that the media and the candidates play. Yes, we are a cynical generation. I don't think that makes us "checked out". Politically speaking, I think that makes us pretty damn smart. Of course this guy is gonna say whatever it takes to get elected. Of course he's gonna look good and sound good. But we know how this game works. Look at his funding. Who has this guy in their pockets? Because that'll really show you how things are gonna go if he gets elected. (I'll also take this opportunity to say that Ron Paul has never accepted campaign donations from big banks, corporations, or special interest groups. Also, he has raised more money from active military than any other republican candidate. In fact, he also raised more than Obama did.) Really, it seems to me, that if you have this cynical youth, who are unwilling to just take a politician's word as fact, who are actively looking for valid information about these politicians and their views.... well, it seems to me thats about as "checked in" as you can get.
Much moreso, in fact than the fast majority of Americans, who get their new through Bill O'reilly or Glen Beck, or The View. Young people actually thinking? And making their own opinions? But... they don't have some Harvard educated political scientest to guide them? How will they possibly understand? At least, that seems to be the majority opinion of these political commentators.
I know its a long video, but the important part is at about 1:10:
Heaven forbid a rapper (omg, a rapper, those guys are all terrible) have a political opinion. Heaven forbid that he encourage America's youth to think critically about the actions that our government takes. Becasue God knows that we can't question the government or everything will fall apart.
And then, from Bill O'Reilly again, because he just makes it waaaaayy too easy.
"Stoned Slackers", Bill? Really? "The people who are on your intellectual level"? If Bill O'Reilly had his way, no one would vote until they were 45, and then, they would have to promise to vote Republican. Its just sad to me that he is so threatened by the idea that young people actually might have intelligently weighed the options, and still decided to vote Democrat. Or as the case may be, decided not to vote at all.
Because, as another reader wrote, "Elections are sold to the highest bidder. And... the under 30 crowd has more sensitive bullshit detectors"
One reader says, "Too busy voting for the next American Idol."
First of all, really? American Idol? Thats just insulting. Who watches that anymore? I mean, maybe when I was in middle school, but for goodness sakes its 2011! Simon Cowell isn't even on the show anymore! But on a serious note, yes, the youth of America is too busy. Not voting for American Idol, but educating ourselves, working two jobs, trying to climb the career ladder, starting a family, volunteering, traveling.. You know. All that useless selfish stuff that we do.
Another, "Sadly, when one does not vote, one guarantees the continuation of the system. If you despise it, do something. Only action will create change. Does it seem 'the lesser of two evils'...? Surely the lesser evil, then, is preferable. Imagine how the world might have been better...if only a few more had voted for Gore vs. GW Bush.
Ignoring, for the moment this woman's blantent political leanings, and the fact that she didn't answer the question at all, lets address the point she brings up. Is it better to vote for the lesser of two evils than not at all? My answer would be a resounding no. As a friend of mine said, "Refusing to vote is a vote in itself. It is a vote of dissension." In other words, its saying, "No, I don't like this system. I refuse to vote for an inbecile rather than an idiot, just because he has more money than the intelligent fellow over there". You want proof that this is our mindset? Look how youth voting numbers increased in 2008. With Obama, who promised us "change" and "hope". Young people finally thought that they had a candidate that they could believe in. And on the opposite end of the bipartisan spectrum, the same thing has happened and continues to happen with Ron Paul. When someone starts making sense, the youth gets excited. When its more of the same bullshit we've always been fed.. well... not so much.
The next, "...because they are 'checked out'. The majority don't really have any idea what's going on; they're not paying attention." Strangely enough, she seems to contradict herself as she goes on to say, "they are beoming a bit cynical about the media outlets, and don't really know where to go to get unbiased information about candidates. They don't just want info from the candidate's pages, they want third party analysis withouth the hype and party fliters."
Its funny to me that a demographic which she characterized as completely "checked out" and "not paying attention" seems to be seeing right through all the games that the media and the candidates play. Yes, we are a cynical generation. I don't think that makes us "checked out". Politically speaking, I think that makes us pretty damn smart. Of course this guy is gonna say whatever it takes to get elected. Of course he's gonna look good and sound good. But we know how this game works. Look at his funding. Who has this guy in their pockets? Because that'll really show you how things are gonna go if he gets elected. (I'll also take this opportunity to say that Ron Paul has never accepted campaign donations from big banks, corporations, or special interest groups. Also, he has raised more money from active military than any other republican candidate. In fact, he also raised more than Obama did.) Really, it seems to me, that if you have this cynical youth, who are unwilling to just take a politician's word as fact, who are actively looking for valid information about these politicians and their views.... well, it seems to me thats about as "checked in" as you can get.
Much moreso, in fact than the fast majority of Americans, who get their new through Bill O'reilly or Glen Beck, or The View. Young people actually thinking? And making their own opinions? But... they don't have some Harvard educated political scientest to guide them? How will they possibly understand? At least, that seems to be the majority opinion of these political commentators.
I know its a long video, but the important part is at about 1:10:
Heaven forbid a rapper (omg, a rapper, those guys are all terrible) have a political opinion. Heaven forbid that he encourage America's youth to think critically about the actions that our government takes. Becasue God knows that we can't question the government or everything will fall apart.
And then, from Bill O'Reilly again, because he just makes it waaaaayy too easy.
"Stoned Slackers", Bill? Really? "The people who are on your intellectual level"? If Bill O'Reilly had his way, no one would vote until they were 45, and then, they would have to promise to vote Republican. Its just sad to me that he is so threatened by the idea that young people actually might have intelligently weighed the options, and still decided to vote Democrat. Or as the case may be, decided not to vote at all.
Because, as another reader wrote, "Elections are sold to the highest bidder. And... the under 30 crowd has more sensitive bullshit detectors"
Friday, November 4, 2011
On Surviving College with Your Sanity Intact...
As I explained, oh-so-eloquently in my last post, college is tough. In fact, at this very moment, I should be writing an 8 page midterm essay, but instead, I'm writing for all of you.
Now, you may call me a procrastinator, but as the bible says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Also, there really is a good reason why I'm here blogging. In fact, its kinda one of my secrets of success for college life. Ready to hear more?
As most of you already know, I am an unapologetic bookworm. I love to read almost anything I can get my hands on. (I used to say anything I can get my hands on, but after reading The Canterbury Tales in Middle English, I've had to revise that statement). But college is tricky. It likes to take those activities that you love (reading, writing, math, science, what have you) and cram them down your throat until you really don't remember why you used to like them in the first place. So, every now and then, it is necessary to remind yourself. Which is why, when I'm drowning in reading assignments for my literature classes, I make it a point to reread one of my old favorite books. Okay, if I wanted to be practical about it, I probably don't really have the time for it, but it keeps me sane, so it really is important to make time for it. Which of course, is the same thing I'm doing here. Reminding myself that sometimes, I actually do like writing. As long as it doesn't revolve around Medieval gender roles as they relate to The Wife of Bath. So that is my first suggestion.. take some time to do the things you love, without the pressure and deadlines that college puts on them.
Suggestion Number 2: Surround yourself with the right friends. Now, what is "right" for you really depends on the type of person you are. If you are a perfectionist, and you put a ton of pressure on yourself to have everything done and on time and perfect and wonderful and I-have-to-get-an-A-on-this-exam-or-my-whole-world-is-going-to-implode-and-no-one-will-ever-love-me, perhaps you should consider taking a xanax. Okay, I'm kidding about the, xanax but it would definitely be beneficial to hang out with some people who are a bit more relaxed and low-key than you. Trust me, they will prevent you from having a mental breakdown. And, if you fall on the other end of the spectrum, and you have a hard time getting yourself motivated, and you don't take your classes as seriously as you should, surround yourself with some seriously motivated, hardworking people. They will whip your ass into shape. They really can't help it. In their eyes, you are faulty, and they must fix you.
Suggestion Number 3: Thou cannot live on caffeine alone. Really. I can't say how many times I've sacrificed sleep in order to get some reading or assignment or paper done. And then slept through class the next day because of it. And it makes absolutely no sense to kill yourself writing a paper if you aren't even gonna be there to turn it in the next day. You have to strike the perfect balance. There are going to be times that you have to stay up late and finish something, but you also need to know when to say "enough is enough".
And Suggestion Number 4: Take it one day (or if necessary, one minute) at a time. Trust me. When midterms come up, and you are looking a week full of days like this:
(No exaggeration there.. that was my Wednesday this week.) But anyway, when that happens to you, and it will, if you look at your to-do list for the entire week all at once, you may just start crying. And then you really won't accomplish much of anything. Just take it one day, one class, one assignment at a time, and you'll get through it. As my father just told me, "This too shall pass".
Now, you may call me a procrastinator, but as the bible says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Also, there really is a good reason why I'm here blogging. In fact, its kinda one of my secrets of success for college life. Ready to hear more?
As most of you already know, I am an unapologetic bookworm. I love to read almost anything I can get my hands on. (I used to say anything I can get my hands on, but after reading The Canterbury Tales in Middle English, I've had to revise that statement). But college is tricky. It likes to take those activities that you love (reading, writing, math, science, what have you) and cram them down your throat until you really don't remember why you used to like them in the first place. So, every now and then, it is necessary to remind yourself. Which is why, when I'm drowning in reading assignments for my literature classes, I make it a point to reread one of my old favorite books. Okay, if I wanted to be practical about it, I probably don't really have the time for it, but it keeps me sane, so it really is important to make time for it. Which of course, is the same thing I'm doing here. Reminding myself that sometimes, I actually do like writing. As long as it doesn't revolve around Medieval gender roles as they relate to The Wife of Bath. So that is my first suggestion.. take some time to do the things you love, without the pressure and deadlines that college puts on them.
Suggestion Number 2: Surround yourself with the right friends. Now, what is "right" for you really depends on the type of person you are. If you are a perfectionist, and you put a ton of pressure on yourself to have everything done and on time and perfect and wonderful and I-have-to-get-an-A-on-this-exam-or-my-whole-world-is-going-to-implode-and-no-one-will-ever-love-me, perhaps you should consider taking a xanax. Okay, I'm kidding about the, xanax but it would definitely be beneficial to hang out with some people who are a bit more relaxed and low-key than you. Trust me, they will prevent you from having a mental breakdown. And, if you fall on the other end of the spectrum, and you have a hard time getting yourself motivated, and you don't take your classes as seriously as you should, surround yourself with some seriously motivated, hardworking people. They will whip your ass into shape. They really can't help it. In their eyes, you are faulty, and they must fix you.
Suggestion Number 3: Thou cannot live on caffeine alone. Really. I can't say how many times I've sacrificed sleep in order to get some reading or assignment or paper done. And then slept through class the next day because of it. And it makes absolutely no sense to kill yourself writing a paper if you aren't even gonna be there to turn it in the next day. You have to strike the perfect balance. There are going to be times that you have to stay up late and finish something, but you also need to know when to say "enough is enough".
And Suggestion Number 4: Take it one day (or if necessary, one minute) at a time. Trust me. When midterms come up, and you are looking a week full of days like this:
Wednesday:
tutor French 10-12
class-12-3
work 3-4:30,
study group 4:30-7:30
work 7:30-9:30
Write midterm paper and do reading for Tuesday 9:30-whenever I fall asleep over my laptop
(No exaggeration there.. that was my Wednesday this week.) But anyway, when that happens to you, and it will, if you look at your to-do list for the entire week all at once, you may just start crying. And then you really won't accomplish much of anything. Just take it one day, one class, one assignment at a time, and you'll get through it. As my father just told me, "This too shall pass".
Someone Please Save Us, Us College Kids...
I am writing this for my fellow students, because you all know how dearly we love to commiserate. I'm also writing this for those of my friends who are still in high school and think they have it rough. Just you wait, buttercup. Just you wait. Now those of you who are Cascade kids, its true, you will be better prepared than most of your peers. To start with. You lose that advantage pretty darn quick, trust me. As soon as you fly through the preliminaries, you are in the same boat as everyone else. And that boat is sinking. And there are no life jackets. Oh yeah.. and it is sinking in lava, cause water? Thats just too darn easy.
I miss having free time. I know, it seems like hyperbole to say that I literally have no free time, cause after all, how am I writing this without the free time to do it? Well.. I should be sleeping, so I can get up for my 8 o clock class tomorrow, but the melatonin hasn't kicked in, and I'm just too wired. Therefore, I present to you, my rant. To most of you students this won't come as a surprise, but I feel like it might to some of the older and younger crowd reading this. College professors expect you to put in 2 hours of your own time for every hour of class time. (Because they all think that their class is the most important class of your college career) That means that, for instance, for my Shakespeare class, which meets twice a week for two hours, I should be putting in 8 hours of time outside of class, just generally reading and studying. Now when you add that to the 4 hours I'm sitting in class, that means "it is recommended" that I spend 12 hours per week on just this class. Now multiply that by five, and you'll begin to see why they say that college is a full time job. Also, this "recommended study time" is not a maximum. Just in case you wondered. Just the "recommended" to pass the class. And college damn sure doesn't pay overtime.
In fact, you're paying to be there. Except that you don't have money to pay for anything but ramen and peanut butter. So you get a job. Cause that's something you have time for. Now I'm extremely blessed that I usually have a lot of down time at my job, so I'm able to get some reading and homework in while I'm there. Honestly, if it weren't for that, I don't think I would be making it through this term. So, with a job, you're adding another.. oh, 20-25 hours a week in which you are busy. If you're keeping a count, we're at 85 hours a week now, just between school and work.
And then there's sleep. Glorious sleep. College students love sleep, and I'm no exception, although sleep tends to evade me most nights. So we'll take a conservative estimate here, and say you get 6 hours of sleep a night, instead of the recommended 8. Thats another 42 hours a week taken away from your free time fund. A total now of 127 hours a week.
So, with just the basics calculated in, out of the 168 hours available in a week, including the weekend, you now have 41 available. This seems like a lot until you consider that you still have to eat, shower, clean, cook, drive to and from school and work, get dressed, etc.
So yes, we like to complain. In fact, I think with college students, its on the level of an olympic sport. Between any two given students, there will always be an unspoken competition of "who is more miserable".
Student 1:"Well, I'm taking 16 credits this term, and working, and playing volleyball"
Student 2: "Oh yeah, well, I'm taking 18 credits, all upper division, and one of them is an 8 o'clock class. Oh, and I'm working 2 jobs."
Okay, so its not always as overt as that, but the competition is there, trust me.
In closing, my advice:
To those of you who are not yet in college, I love you dearly and I don't mean to scare you away from college, because trust me, there are good times, and it is worth it in the end. (at least that's what they keep telling me, but seeing as I'm not at the end yet, I'll have to take their word for it) The camaraderie between college students is something you will not experience anywhere else. It stems from the fact that we are all perpetually stressed and miserable and sleep-deprived, and somehow we are able to accept each other in spite of that. But as a warning, do not come to college expecting it to be all parties and freedom and wonderfulness.
To my fellow students: I feel your pain. Keep up the good fight. We signed up for this, remember? I can't remember why just at the moment, but I feel certain that we chose this. Hang in there. Drink a Red Bull. Do what you can and push through it. And take deep breaths...
On the other hand, maybe "Arts and Crafts is all I need. I'll take calligraphy and then I'll make a fake degree"
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