Things You Learn In College

[Juniper]

. . . especially as a "mature" student.

I love the Cellar because it's a place I can speak my mind about weird things and believe that someone is gonna get it, somehow. So here's what is on my mind right now, after spending the evening A.) re-designing our church's website and B.) writing a paper for British Lit.

Number one, I've learned to trust myself. When I started back to school, I didn't think I knew which end was up. I was afraid to answer questions in class, terrified that I couldn't keep up, thinking I was lost and confused when the truth was that the shit just flat-out didn't make sense to anyone. Turned out my instincts were pretty good and I was right most of the time. So now I speak up and just try to have fun with it, and I'm not so self-conscious. Yesterday my short-story class critiqued a story I wrote, and though I like the story, I am more proud of the fact I put it out there and --here's the real biggie -- felt more confident of my work than I did about the comments. Even from the teacher.

OTOH, I'm not so proud that I don't see what other people have to offer. Some of these "kids" are really smart. Some of them just think they are, and are probably gonna get smacked down at some near future point, poor things.

I have also learned that some people are really, really stupid. And that the contrast is amazing between the Damn Hard Shit in college classes and the ridiculously easy. Which can happen in the same class, and it also amazes me that some people even pass these classes.

For example, I went to geology lab and I swear, I could literally hear my brain sizzling as it attempted math calculations trying to figure out some stuff on a topographic map. Easy for some, but not for me, the lady who thought she'd taken her last math class 20 years ago and almost threw a party to celebrate.

Then I went to take a Big Midterm Exam in my graphics communication class, which took me exactly 9 minutes and 25 seconds and I scored 95.

So I'm sitting there taking the test, and the teacher says: "Number 17 is messed up -- just put down "B", it's a freebie.

About sixty seconds later, the guy sitting next to me raises his hand. "Hey," he says, "what's up with number 17? What are we supposed to do?"

A few people laugh as the teacher repeats himself.

Two minutes after that, a girl toward the back of the room raises her hand. "I don't think this is right," she says. Yep, #17. Amazing. It's not like this is a big lecture hall, either. It's a small classroom.

So that's another thing you learn in college; how some things are really tough on even the smartest hardest workers and other things just slip by so the dim underachievers can get A's, and how arbitrary it can be. How even some girl who shows up 1/2 hour late to class or even completely flakes on the first exam can squeak by with a C and get the same degree as the worker bees.

Life isn't fair.

Still, I think you get what you give. Somehow.

[xoxoxoBruce]

In defense of the guy next to you, and the girl near the back, some people zone out, block out all distractions, when they concentrate.
Also one, or both of them, may be hard of hearing, rather than stupid.

Of course we already know, you and Bri are the smartestest of all.

[Juniper]

Well, Bri is.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Juniper

...other things just slip by so the dim underachievers can get A's, and how arbitrary it can be. How even some girl who shows up 1/2 hour late to class or even completely flakes on the first exam can squeak by with a C and get the same degree as the worker bees.

Actually, i think juni means me here.

[Pie]

You know what you call the med student who graduated at the bottom of his class?

Doctor.

[Juniper]

Originally Posted by Brianna

Actually, i think juni means me here.

Please tell me you're not serious.

I was talking about that girl in my Graphic Com class who's 1/2 hour late every single time, and that oh, so fashionably dressed girl in my Philosophy class who not only skipped the 1st exam, she waited till a week later to ask the prof about taking it late.

But here I go again, putting foot in mouth.

[monster]

Originally Posted by Juniper

that oh, so fashionably dressed girl in my Philosophy class who not only skipped the 1st exam, she waited till a week later to ask the prof about taking it late.

Did the prof let her?

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Juniper

Please tell me you're not serious.

I am a self-loathing English major.

[monster]

Flaky and Loathing in Ohio? there could be a movie in that ...or a book... or maybe a term paper?

[Pie]

"All is strange and vague. Are we dead, or is this Ohio?"

(Hey, I went to school in Ohio; I'm allowed to mock it.)

[monster]

this is batshit insane country

[SamIam]

This just shows what happens when "older" students are allowed to attend college. They see through the bull shit that the young ones swallow down as gospel.

[kerosene]

I thought you were going to say "my social security number." Very insightful. I enjoyed reading this.

[Juniper]

LOL case, I learned that in college 20 years ago.

And I learned my husband's SS# by filling out umptyzillion health info forms at various pediatricians over the years.

No, the prof did not let her. But there was some deal where one of the exams only counted for half the points, whichever you did worst on. We (myself and a couple other classmates) thought she'd drop the class, but she didn't. Makes me wonder if she and the prof "worked something out," but I'm very cynical aren't I?

Bri, are you especially self-loathing this week because of Milligan's essay assignment?

[limey]

Would that be Spike Milligan?