Of Learning and Profound Thoughts

The most effective in-class learning experience of my life. That's a toughie.

It may sound a tad weird, but the most effective learning experience that I had in a classroom was actually watching one of my two favorite teachers in the world, Mr. Paul Johnson, slamming into a wall demonstrating Brownian Motion. It didn't teach me too much about physical science, but it taught me a bit about being yourself.

If you ever knew Mr. Johnson you'd think he would fit in great with the professors here. He's smart, zany, and really cares about his students. He wasn't afraid of slamming into that wall as long as at least one of us in that room took away an example of what Brownian Motion is. One of his most effective learning tools has also been his plethora of tales of his past. He told us all kinds of stories that (loosely) related to what ever he was teaching us at the time. He wasn't afraid of being himself - so be it that he realized that he as a high school teacher had a few limits - and leading his students by example.

Being yourself may not seem like something that would be effective in college studies, but I find that being myself helps me. I don't have to put on airs in class, thus I can pay attention to Dr. Theilmann's inspiring rhetoric instead of trying to keep up a pretense of whatever.

The only thing that I have to do is try not to start blurting out random things in his class like I have some weird form of Turret's. More about that story later.

Outside of class is a bit easier. To date my best out of class learning experience was my first few days here. I learn best by experience - AKA the hard way - so even though I theoretically knew that not everyone in the world was like my comrades at SHS it still hadn't sunk into my subconscious.

Here I found out that most people think it's okay to be a complete Transfan/Fanbot and quite a few people think it's cool that I am. No one laughed at my Transformers sheets, instead they said things like "I want Optimus Prime sheets." I met several people that are fellow anime/manga fans and one who shares a love of Ronin Warriors. My complete randomness is something that makes me endearingly unique - not utterly weird. Also, I don't feel like I'm the only person in the class with a brain. In fact I'm loving the fact that I sometimes feel like I have no brain! I have a challenge for once in my life!

These help here because I'm not afraid to say that I need help. I know that my classmates won't look down on me - or try to anyway - because they understand that not everyone in the world is into John Deer and FFA. They understand that I refuse to shop at stores where the jeans cost more than a good mouthpiece (which can be around $60). It feels damn good.
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As for the above mentioned story, that would be the fact that in Dr. Theilmann's Global Warming class today I was hopped up on sugar and around a certain time of the moon's cycle I find myself increasingly prone to mood swings. If my mood happens to swing toward hyper I develope a sort of random Turret's where I blurt out completely out of left field things.

For example, Dr. Theilmann thought I was about to say something profound in his class today.

My profound thought happened to be that I realized that "Cameroon" rhymed with "macaroon".

I Am Womyn, Here Me Rawr

So, today in Converse 101 there was mention of a book that I thought looked interesting. My fellow students should be able to recall Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History from the Power Point Dr. Walker and Dean Molly showed us. So, I found it in the library and started it, and I must say that it is indeed right up my alley.

I'll tell you plainly, I'm a staunch feminist.

And in case you didn't get the memo, no, that doesn't mean that I hate men (good God my dorm is covered in Johnny Depp, Shia LeBeouf, and Optimus Prime) or that I burn bras or any of that other crap. It means that I do not appreciate men whistling and leering at me, that I dislike boys thinking that I'm a loose woman just because the windows in my car are down, or being passed over for the male child. All of those have happened to me; the first two just this past weekend.

It means that I do not believe that I should be seen but not heard. If God can hear my voice loud and clear then you should be able to too. It means that I will not accept getting 32 cents less than the human being that just happens to be equipped somewhat differently when we do the same damn job - and knowing me I'm probably actually going through more hazardous stress than the other person so I should darn well get a full dollar for his dollar. It means that telling me that I should be at home raising babies will piss me off big time. I have two nieces and a nephew, and I've provided free daycare and babysitting since I was nine years old. I am not doing that for at least another three or four years.

If I can find a willing partner that is. Being a feminist also means that it ticks me off when boys get intimidated by women who are smarter or as smart as they are. It also ticks me off that girls are constantly given the wrong body image. Despite what the popular media says, guys are a little put off by girls who are nothing but bones. I have it on good authority as one of my guy friends did mention it to me. And imagine, if you don't want to hug a skeleton I doubt Mr. Man does either.

Lastly, it means that I believe that we are all equal in God's eyes. In IDC we've discussed Genesis and the significance of Eve being created from Adam's rib. I do not believe that it was because Eve was supposed to be inferior, and while I may giggle and think "right on", it's not because God had a better idea or was just having a practice run. I believe that it's because God really didn't want Adam to walk alone. Humans are social creatures. We need each other more than we can ever know, but we can't be together if we always find ways to separate ourselves. Yes, we should all be unique, but we also have to remember that - to throw in my token Transformers reference - there is more to us than meets the eye.

PS: The mispelling of "roar" is internet-ish slang if you didn't know, but the alternate spelling of "woman" is actually used in a book on the feminist movement that I have at home.

Integrity (The easily offended need not read)

Integrity is knowing when you're right, wrong, and responsible. It's knowing when you've gone too far or you haven't gone far enough. It's realizing that you shouldn't judge the world by your morals, but instead help others attain them.

And you can quote me on that.

Why is it important? I hate that question. If someone honestly needs to know the simple, short answer to it, then he or she needs to jump off a building. For the details I'll tell you this: without integrity, you'd only have anarchy. And just because I enjoy Disturbed and Atreyu doesn't mean that I enjoy anarchy. Although, neither one of them preaches anarchy, and I believe Disturbed actually sings about changing the world for the better. Listen to Land of Confusion. Great song.

Integrity in daily life you ask? Well, I make it a practice not to tell lies to all and sundry - and I admit to lying occasionally (That t'would be the responsibility portion of the definition). I try to set a pretty good example for my nieces and nephew as well as anyone else who needs a strong kick in the morals department. I always try not to check myself before I go too far over say, a rule or someone else's personal tastes. I don't drop f-bombs around people who dislike cursing.

And please don't take my tone wrong or anything, it's just that I get to being bored with answering questions like these with very proper "Integrity is important because . . ." kinds of answers. I figure that if I must give you an answer, then I'm going to make sure it makes an impact. There is no disrespect meant with any of what I say here.

I guess that is another part of integrity, knowing when your words could be taken the wrong way.

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So yesssssssssss.

Heeee, Transformers reference.

Anywho, I'm a little all over the place right now because I'm a bit tired and I've got lots to do. I have another hour and a half to two hours of practice (Music students must be allowed their eccentricities) plus Music Theory (joy!).

On a much lighter - and nonschool related - subject, I've finally gotten my next template for my pixel avatar hobby done! I can't wait to get started on Rafe. (Rafe's the name of the character that the template features) I might also go ahead and digitally color him, but I don't like the way I did his nose.

Actually, I sort of forgot it. I just did my generic little line.

By the way, the pixel I use as my avatar here on Blogger is actually the one I did of Alexandria, Rafe's girl. Back to him, I also drew him with a rose in his mouth since he's infamous for giving out roses. (*laugh*)

Anywho, off to Blackman! YAY~!

*Today's sarcasm has been brought to you by Internet Explorer and Blogger.com~*

The College Commandments

So, I was just checking my email at midnight and guess what I had the pleasure of finding.

The TILT results were due. By midnight.

Yeah, I'm still fuming about my stupidity.

So, I still did them just so I wouldn't be a total slacker, and I have learned just one more College Commandment. As they stand there are five.

1) Thou shalt always bring thine own cleaning supplies.

2) Thou shalt read the syllubi for all classes for once in thine life.

3) Thou shalt remember that the microfridge doesn't need to be set to 5.

4) Thou shalt check thine email often and thoroughly.

5) Thou shalt not say no to free food.

I hope this helps someone else out there. Apparently I had to learn all these things the hard way.

Questions, Questions

So, what strategies do I plan to use to combat my procrastination and balance my life?

Let's see, there's the tried and true method of scheduling. In fact, I started it last night, but then I realized that I still didn't know exactly when my clarinet lessons were so I put it off until tonight after Wind Ensemble.

There's also my after ten rule. I don't do anything school related - unless it's an emergency - after ten o'clock at night. I bend that for things like MacGamut (I like doing it anyway) and probably this blog, but after ten is a no-no for everything else. After ten is when I plan to do my chil-laxing activities like fan fiction writing and pixel art.

I'm also going to save Friday and Saturday nights for socializing unless I have an "emergency". I'm thinking that a weekly movie night and an open chill night will do me just fine in the socializing arena until I'm more used to college and better at getting what needs to be done done. I'm not really a social butterfly anyway so too much socializing would do more than bring down my grades. I'd probably get irritable and moody. I love all my friends anywhere, but I need a lot of solitude or else. Heavy emphasis on the "or else".

Otherwise, all outside of class times, including meal times, will be open for me to do what I need to. I plan to practice every night around six since there aren't many people practicing in Blackman in the evenings. Plus I'm calmer and more apt to want to play after a day of sitting in a desk. While I love immersing myself in music there is nothing better than to actually play it. Theory and Musicology (aka Music History) are very interesting - and Musicianship and Piano are pretty fun, but at the end of the day, I want to play. I'll probably add another practice time once I get to my lessons, but for now six is it.