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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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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