At the moment, it’s fairly difficult for me to write about my family’s traditions. Over the summer and at the beginning of school, my family pretty much imploded. There were a lot of changes, a lot of stress, and just a lot of ‘mess’ in general. It’s been, to be honest, very difficult managing those problems as well as balancing the new experiences of college, living on my own, holding a job, and being involved with clubs and friends. It’s made me really grow up, and I’ve had to question much of what I valued.
With all of this going on, this blog topic is an interesting challenge for me. There are a few traditions that I could mention- habits and events that have been established since my childhood. I could, I suppose, describe our tradition of going to my grandmother’s for Thanksgiving, or attending church every Easter morning, or picking out a Christmas tree together, or any of a dozen other generic practices that could be plucked off a Hallmark card. But, the second stipulation of our assigned topic was that we value the traditions we discuss. That, frankly, no longer applies.
I no longer put any stock in the appearance of warmth that these traditions imply. No matter how permanent and secure a reoccurring ritual may be, it does not guarantee that the family is permanent or secure. So, consequently I can’t really say any tradition is important to me. Instead, I prefer to focus on day to day life with my mom and two sisters. The fact that we are still together and happy after everything that’s happened much more gratifying and important than any of old traditions.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Mid-Terms!
I am in denial. There's no way it's time for mid-terms already. I just got to Converse. I've just started classes. I'm still getting into the swing of things. There's just no way...Ok, glad I've gotten that out of my system.
I'd actually like to think I'm ready for mid-terms, and I have a plan semi-in-place for studying. This is especially true for my IDC class. I feel like it's going to be one of my more difficult classes, if for no other reason than the format.
It's one of my Honors classes- which means nothing more than the other students are both very intelligent and very precocious. The class is largely based on group discussion. Or, more appropriately, heated debate. Or, to be honest bickering and arguments over the hidden meanings of the Plagues or the cultural implications of Gilgamesh. In truth, this means that we have really gotten into the texts, but it has also made it difficult to take notes. However, I do have some study strategies.
The most important strategy I have is to pace myself. I am, naturally, a crammer. However that isn't really an option this week, with my schedule being about as crazy as it's ever been. I have 3 exams, 2 papers, and a small mountain of reading due this week, not to mention Dracula practice for 3 hours every night and a club or meeting most evenings. Add to that my current job search, and I have a very tight study schedule that I am sticking to.
I plan on going over one text every night until the exam, and working on my essay a little everyday. I'll cover Gilgamesh tonight, the Bible on Monday, Greek mythology Tuesday, Antigone Wednesday, and Plato on Thursday. Hopefully, I will also have time to review everything Thursday evening, leaving me ready for the test Friday.
For the notes themselves, I plan on focusing on the main points we covered in class. I will be going back through my notes- particularly those from common sections- and highlighting the main 'world view' of each culture we have studied, and specifically how this influenced the work from that period.
Still, my notes from IDC are very sporadic, and I'm not sure this will be enough. So, to fill in any blanks, I plan on skimming back through each text, and getting the main ideas. To cover the more specific points, I hope to be able to discuss the works again with some of my hall mates. All the girls in my dorm are in IDC, and many are in my class. This makes for some interesting conversations regarding religion and beliefs, but it also means I'll have plenty of material to use for my IDC essay and exam.
I'm fairly certain these strategies will work, if only there were more hours in the day to put them into use!
Blessed Be!
I'd actually like to think I'm ready for mid-terms, and I have a plan semi-in-place for studying. This is especially true for my IDC class. I feel like it's going to be one of my more difficult classes, if for no other reason than the format.
It's one of my Honors classes- which means nothing more than the other students are both very intelligent and very precocious. The class is largely based on group discussion. Or, more appropriately, heated debate. Or, to be honest bickering and arguments over the hidden meanings of the Plagues or the cultural implications of Gilgamesh. In truth, this means that we have really gotten into the texts, but it has also made it difficult to take notes. However, I do have some study strategies.
The most important strategy I have is to pace myself. I am, naturally, a crammer. However that isn't really an option this week, with my schedule being about as crazy as it's ever been. I have 3 exams, 2 papers, and a small mountain of reading due this week, not to mention Dracula practice for 3 hours every night and a club or meeting most evenings. Add to that my current job search, and I have a very tight study schedule that I am sticking to.
I plan on going over one text every night until the exam, and working on my essay a little everyday. I'll cover Gilgamesh tonight, the Bible on Monday, Greek mythology Tuesday, Antigone Wednesday, and Plato on Thursday. Hopefully, I will also have time to review everything Thursday evening, leaving me ready for the test Friday.
For the notes themselves, I plan on focusing on the main points we covered in class. I will be going back through my notes- particularly those from common sections- and highlighting the main 'world view' of each culture we have studied, and specifically how this influenced the work from that period.
Still, my notes from IDC are very sporadic, and I'm not sure this will be enough. So, to fill in any blanks, I plan on skimming back through each text, and getting the main ideas. To cover the more specific points, I hope to be able to discuss the works again with some of my hall mates. All the girls in my dorm are in IDC, and many are in my class. This makes for some interesting conversations regarding religion and beliefs, but it also means I'll have plenty of material to use for my IDC essay and exam.
I'm fairly certain these strategies will work, if only there were more hours in the day to put them into use!
Blessed Be!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Well, another crazy, busy, amazing week at Converse; another blog to write.
It’s surprisingly difficult for me to pick out the single most effective in-class learning experience. Being the dork that I am, I’ve always loved learning, so it’s had to pick out one instance. However, the most difficult, and motivating, experience would definitely have to be my 11th grade physics class.
I am not a “math person” or a real “science person,” but I’ve always been able to sneak by with, at worst a low A or high B. I think this is mainly due to my advanced and much cultivated cramming skills. In most of my more technical classes, I could get the basic concept on the night before the test, use it just enough to get through a set of equations or experiments, and then file the information away in the dark recesses of my mind, never to see the light of conscious thought again. Physics was different- I was one of only 3 juniors taking the course. The rest of the students were highly gifted seniors with the top GPAs in their grades. I may not be brilliant, but I had never before felt like the dumbest one in the class. After the first week, I realized I couldn’t sneak by with a casual understanding anymore; I had to actually know what was going on. Needless to say, the feeling of competition with the students around me acted as the best in-class motivator I’ve ever had.
This, I believe, is very similar to the academic environment at Converse. There’s a real sense of competition with my fellow Panthers and Devils. In the short time I’ve been here, it’s been obvious that these women are smart, they’re talented, and if I’m going to get the best out of this experience, I have to do my best everyday. No more sneaking by in college!
My most influential- and effective- out of class learning experience was not so much about competing with any one else for grades or knowledge. Instead, my experiences with my high school’s drama department taught me by pitting me against my own personal boundaries. It’s often very hard for me to come out of my shell around others, but through the friendships I made in my theatre group, I learned to trust myself, and to go after new experiences. Even if it was uncomfortable at times, I realized that I could handle much more than I would have originally thought.
I think the non-scholarly lessons from drama will serve me best at Converse if I remember to always push myself beyond my personal limits. No matter how difficult that may seem.
It’s surprisingly difficult for me to pick out the single most effective in-class learning experience. Being the dork that I am, I’ve always loved learning, so it’s had to pick out one instance. However, the most difficult, and motivating, experience would definitely have to be my 11th grade physics class.
I am not a “math person” or a real “science person,” but I’ve always been able to sneak by with, at worst a low A or high B. I think this is mainly due to my advanced and much cultivated cramming skills. In most of my more technical classes, I could get the basic concept on the night before the test, use it just enough to get through a set of equations or experiments, and then file the information away in the dark recesses of my mind, never to see the light of conscious thought again. Physics was different- I was one of only 3 juniors taking the course. The rest of the students were highly gifted seniors with the top GPAs in their grades. I may not be brilliant, but I had never before felt like the dumbest one in the class. After the first week, I realized I couldn’t sneak by with a casual understanding anymore; I had to actually know what was going on. Needless to say, the feeling of competition with the students around me acted as the best in-class motivator I’ve ever had.
This, I believe, is very similar to the academic environment at Converse. There’s a real sense of competition with my fellow Panthers and Devils. In the short time I’ve been here, it’s been obvious that these women are smart, they’re talented, and if I’m going to get the best out of this experience, I have to do my best everyday. No more sneaking by in college!
My most influential- and effective- out of class learning experience was not so much about competing with any one else for grades or knowledge. Instead, my experiences with my high school’s drama department taught me by pitting me against my own personal boundaries. It’s often very hard for me to come out of my shell around others, but through the friendships I made in my theatre group, I learned to trust myself, and to go after new experiences. Even if it was uncomfortable at times, I realized that I could handle much more than I would have originally thought.
I think the non-scholarly lessons from drama will serve me best at Converse if I remember to always push myself beyond my personal limits. No matter how difficult that may seem.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Integrity
It's a little strange to think that I've been at Converse for nearly a month now. It's also a bit strange how much I love college-life! I've met new people and tried new things, including auditioning for, and winning a role in an upcoming production of Dracula! Even the tough days and hard questions that have come up have been exhilarating. It's so liberating to know that I'm a 'big girl' now, that I'm an adult, and am perfectly capable of handling things on my own.
Of course, that's not to say there haven't been stressful moments of hard questions. One of these questions was posed by the Converse 101 class, and has proved especially relevant this evening: the question of integrity.
I suppose integrity can best be described as who you truly are when no one's looking. It has to go beyond a mere fear of consequences for wrong actions. Instead, I think integrity it the conscious decision to do the right thing for your fellow men and women.
Especially in a community such as Converse, integrity is vital to maintaining the trust of the group. I think that, for us Valkyries, the sincere desire to do the right thing helps keep our integrity intact, and keeps us honor-bound to our sisters.
However, it's of course much easier to write a nice, neat, ink and paper definition of integrity than to actually live a life based on it. This evening, and in fact in the last few hours, I have had to reflect quite a bit on integrity, and morals in general. And, I've realized that, as adults, there is not usually someone looking over our shoulders. It is in these cases that our integrity can be fully developed, but only through constant practice. Everyday, I think we should try to be a little more honest, or a bit more generous, or a little kinder to those in need. Even though there is the occasional (or, in my case, all-too-frequent) slip, I think this everyday exercise of our personal integrity helps who we are become more like who we'd like to be. Even when no one's looking.
Blessed be!
Of course, that's not to say there haven't been stressful moments of hard questions. One of these questions was posed by the Converse 101 class, and has proved especially relevant this evening: the question of integrity.
I suppose integrity can best be described as who you truly are when no one's looking. It has to go beyond a mere fear of consequences for wrong actions. Instead, I think integrity it the conscious decision to do the right thing for your fellow men and women.
Especially in a community such as Converse, integrity is vital to maintaining the trust of the group. I think that, for us Valkyries, the sincere desire to do the right thing helps keep our integrity intact, and keeps us honor-bound to our sisters.
However, it's of course much easier to write a nice, neat, ink and paper definition of integrity than to actually live a life based on it. This evening, and in fact in the last few hours, I have had to reflect quite a bit on integrity, and morals in general. And, I've realized that, as adults, there is not usually someone looking over our shoulders. It is in these cases that our integrity can be fully developed, but only through constant practice. Everyday, I think we should try to be a little more honest, or a bit more generous, or a little kinder to those in need. Even though there is the occasional (or, in my case, all-too-frequent) slip, I think this everyday exercise of our personal integrity helps who we are become more like who we'd like to be. Even when no one's looking.
Blessed be!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
It's hard to believe that we've only been in college for less than two weeks! Starting school at Converse has been one of my favorite experiences ever. There's already so much I love about this school, and the women here.
Of course, with that said, I can already tell I will have to make some adjustments. The work load, not surprisingly, is much more intense than I'm used to in high school. Even with honors and AP course, I've never had to balance so many assignments at once. I don't think I ever wrote anything down nor did much more studying than an occasional glance at my text book. From the first day of class, I think it's been obvious that Converse courses are taught on a different level, with much greater demands- and rewards- than high school. I've already had to begin changing my study strategies. In fact, though I've never used a day-planner before, I now have two calendars- one of which is color coded!
Another big change seems like it may become a problem soon. Over the summer, I got my first 'real' job. I've been babysitting since the day I turned 13, but as of last June, I was working nearly everyday at a daycare. Now that classes have started, I'm struggling to fit in my hours. It was mentioned in our Coverse 101 class that if a student works more than 10 hours per week, it will negatively impact her grade. I'm currently logging in about 15 hours per week. However, the work load so far has not proved overwhelming, even with a part time job. At the moment, I'm going to assume this balance will work, and not worry about modifying my schedule. That is, at least until I receive my first few grades.
Even with all the changes of my first few weeks at college, there are some things that have remained the same. I still have a hectic schedule a events I enjoy, a great family that's cheering for me, and amazing friends- some old, many new- that I will have for a lifetime. I may be hopelessly optimistic, but I think that if these things stay constant, I won't have too many problems adjusting to Converse after all.
Blessed Be!
Of course, with that said, I can already tell I will have to make some adjustments. The work load, not surprisingly, is much more intense than I'm used to in high school. Even with honors and AP course, I've never had to balance so many assignments at once. I don't think I ever wrote anything down nor did much more studying than an occasional glance at my text book. From the first day of class, I think it's been obvious that Converse courses are taught on a different level, with much greater demands- and rewards- than high school. I've already had to begin changing my study strategies. In fact, though I've never used a day-planner before, I now have two calendars- one of which is color coded!
Another big change seems like it may become a problem soon. Over the summer, I got my first 'real' job. I've been babysitting since the day I turned 13, but as of last June, I was working nearly everyday at a daycare. Now that classes have started, I'm struggling to fit in my hours. It was mentioned in our Coverse 101 class that if a student works more than 10 hours per week, it will negatively impact her grade. I'm currently logging in about 15 hours per week. However, the work load so far has not proved overwhelming, even with a part time job. At the moment, I'm going to assume this balance will work, and not worry about modifying my schedule. That is, at least until I receive my first few grades.
Even with all the changes of my first few weeks at college, there are some things that have remained the same. I still have a hectic schedule a events I enjoy, a great family that's cheering for me, and amazing friends- some old, many new- that I will have for a lifetime. I may be hopelessly optimistic, but I think that if these things stay constant, I won't have too many problems adjusting to Converse after all.
Blessed Be!
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