Well, things since the last post have been... I don't want to say "eventful," so I guess I'll settle for "interesting." Nothing's really happened, but I feel like something has shifted.
I mentioned Doc and the shower of compliments he drowned me in not long ago, and those words are turning into something more concrete. On Tuesday, he sat me down and went into serious mode.
"I have decided your career path for you. You don't have a choice. You're going to be an editor."
There's a really good magazine based right here in Little Rock called the Oxford American. As in, one of the best literary magazines in the country. It's kind of a big deal for Southern writers. Doc has offered to pull whatever strings he can to see about getting me an internship there. He's friends with the publisher and is trying to get me an interview with him. He spent some ten, fifteen minutes just telling me how much I would enjoy it, that I deserved a break and someone to go up to bat for me.
I honestly never expected to really get anything out of helping him out, but Doc is convinced I would make a magnificent editor. Interning with the magazine would be a great way to test the waters while getting a foot in the door. He can't guarantee anything, but it means worlds that he would even bother to try <3
Meanwhile, today I finally got to see what the recording process is like for the radio scripts. I met Doc at the department and we walked over to the studio (I'd never been, so I really didn't know where I was going). It looks pretty much like you imagine from TV and movies: a panel full of buttons and those bendy microphones. We spent a little under an hour there, him reading and me just watching the process. Three scripts, including one I wrote, were more or less finished this morning.
On the way back, he starts telling me about a few other radio projects he's involved in and I think I may have been roped into that too XD One of the other English professors is doing a half-hour show on Shakespeare's birthday and he wants me to have a look at that script. All while encouraging me to think about interning and editing for the local radio station.
If he keeps praising me like this, I might actually start to believe it XD
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Patience
I keep forgetting I have a blog. I do a weekly journal on dA already, so it seems odd to keep this one too I guess. Maybe one day I'll finally get into the swing of things and make it a real habit.
Been rather stuck lately with writing. Not writer's block - I don't get writer's block. Rather, I have long periods of time in which I simply don't feel like writing anything. I'm rarely at a loss for ideas or anything like that. I can make myself write if I need to, but I'd rather do it because I want to.
It'll come back. It always does.
Spring break is apparently next week. Huh.
Independent Study has gone rather quiet too. Poor Doc is just getting slammed with work. I really don't know how he keeps up. I just dropped a class because this semester was going to end up being too much otherwise.
Been rather stuck lately with writing. Not writer's block - I don't get writer's block. Rather, I have long periods of time in which I simply don't feel like writing anything. I'm rarely at a loss for ideas or anything like that. I can make myself write if I need to, but I'd rather do it because I want to.
It'll come back. It always does.
Spring break is apparently next week. Huh.
Independent Study has gone rather quiet too. Poor Doc is just getting slammed with work. I really don't know how he keeps up. I just dropped a class because this semester was going to end up being too much otherwise.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Complimentary Baptism
I should start a list entitled "Nice Things Dr. Minnick has Said to Me."
Apparently I would make a phenomenal editor for my ability to both see bigger pictures and the things on the microscopic level. I've been reading over a story of his the last few weeks and I kinda really love it. The second half is still rather rough, but the first half is really wonderful. He kinda has this Winesburg, Ohio thing going on - it's a book of place and atmosphere and Minnick is really good at atmosphere. He has some really beautiful lines scattered all throughout the entire thing.
Anyway, I called him about this latest chapter and ended up getting baptized with compliments for being so helpful to him while doing my own thing and writing radio scripts and postcards and I'm just really pleased with myself at the moment because he's so sweet <3
In return, he's been helping me pick my way though this Fiction II assignment of mine. I need to submit something that's a minimum of eight pages on Monday, and length isn't something I do. I was trying to turn Escape Velocity into something longer, but that's just not going to fly. Anything I add to it is just going to be padding. Instead I'm going to see if I can't expand Feelings with no names instead - there's more substance to that one that I think I could make longer - it's just a matter of finding a way to tie them together into a larger picture.
And that's my life of late. Writing and reading a lot of stuff.
Apparently I would make a phenomenal editor for my ability to both see bigger pictures and the things on the microscopic level. I've been reading over a story of his the last few weeks and I kinda really love it. The second half is still rather rough, but the first half is really wonderful. He kinda has this Winesburg, Ohio thing going on - it's a book of place and atmosphere and Minnick is really good at atmosphere. He has some really beautiful lines scattered all throughout the entire thing.
Anyway, I called him about this latest chapter and ended up getting baptized with compliments for being so helpful to him while doing my own thing and writing radio scripts and postcards and I'm just really pleased with myself at the moment because he's so sweet <3
In return, he's been helping me pick my way though this Fiction II assignment of mine. I need to submit something that's a minimum of eight pages on Monday, and length isn't something I do. I was trying to turn Escape Velocity into something longer, but that's just not going to fly. Anything I add to it is just going to be padding. Instead I'm going to see if I can't expand Feelings with no names instead - there's more substance to that one that I think I could make longer - it's just a matter of finding a way to tie them together into a larger picture.
And that's my life of late. Writing and reading a lot of stuff.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Collage
My first big assignment, though not due until the end of the year, is to make a collage. Or, a Cornell Box. I've actually seen them before, I just never knew they had a proper name. Do go explore that link; it's interesting stuff.
A Cornell Box is a sort of 3D collage. The class it's for is Pattern Recognition, so it makes sense to do something like this for a class that deals with organizing matter in new ways. I'm still not entirely sure what the assignment actually is, if we choose a theme or what, but I think things will become clearer as the semester goes on.
He showed us a few he had made himself, which did help. One was made out of an old jewelry box; he had hung some bells where the necklaces would have been, and pulled out the box drawers to make shelves for some small trinkets. I'm one of those people that has lots of small knick-knacks like that lying around, so I know I have the potential to make an interesting piece.
The basic gist is that the human mind will see patterns where there are none - all you have to do is put random objects together and people will start trying to connect them. That's just how our brain works. This class promises to be interesting if nothing else.
A Cornell Box is a sort of 3D collage. The class it's for is Pattern Recognition, so it makes sense to do something like this for a class that deals with organizing matter in new ways. I'm still not entirely sure what the assignment actually is, if we choose a theme or what, but I think things will become clearer as the semester goes on.
He showed us a few he had made himself, which did help. One was made out of an old jewelry box; he had hung some bells where the necklaces would have been, and pulled out the box drawers to make shelves for some small trinkets. I'm one of those people that has lots of small knick-knacks like that lying around, so I know I have the potential to make an interesting piece.
The basic gist is that the human mind will see patterns where there are none - all you have to do is put random objects together and people will start trying to connect them. That's just how our brain works. This class promises to be interesting if nothing else.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Lack of Books
The lack of Independent Study in my life this week is really bumming me out. Luckily, getting Monday off helps the week go by a little faster.
Haven't gotten my books yet, but I'm hoping to take care of that tomorrow or Thursday. Maybe Friday. As my only homework right now consists pretty much solely of reading, it's making life a bit difficult. My other assignment is to work on a radio script. I was supposed to try out one of the African-American authors for Black History Month, but I couldn't find any books by either of them in my library. And Minnick was pushing me to read some William Maxwell, and I did manage to find him in my library, so I went with that one.
I don't know how he finds those little biographical stories that he does. I've been researching Maxwell for two days and haven't found any kind of lead I can latch on to. And I'm only three chapters into the book, so I can't really talk about that at all yet either. I'm not sure what to make of this project yet :/
Haven't gotten my books yet, but I'm hoping to take care of that tomorrow or Thursday. Maybe Friday. As my only homework right now consists pretty much solely of reading, it's making life a bit difficult. My other assignment is to work on a radio script. I was supposed to try out one of the African-American authors for Black History Month, but I couldn't find any books by either of them in my library. And Minnick was pushing me to read some William Maxwell, and I did manage to find him in my library, so I went with that one.
I don't know how he finds those little biographical stories that he does. I've been researching Maxwell for two days and haven't found any kind of lead I can latch on to. And I'm only three chapters into the book, so I can't really talk about that at all yet either. I'm not sure what to make of this project yet :/
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The First Week
I put off writing a new entry until I'd had at least a taste of all my classes. It would have had it sooner if not for the snow day on the first freaking week of classes. Tuesday was cancelled before my first class even started. So, first impressions then?
Advanced World Literature actually should have been called Post-colonial Literature because that's all it is. Not sure why it was named the way it was. I have it three days a week at noon. Thus far, I'm pretty underwhelmed. It sounds like it's going to be one of those "Europeans were like soooo mean to their colonies and stuff" types of classes. Filtered through literature.
Don't get me wrong, colonialism wasn't exactly a proud moment of human history, but that message gets lost or at least watered down when you hear it over and over. It's the same reason I've never been able to get into African-American literature; the Civil Rights movement and evils of racism was shoved in my face every year for so long that it lost any potency or ability to move me. I never needed anyone to go through the baby steps of why it was wrong and infantilizing a subject that complicated completely turned me off of it.
Anyway, getting back on tangent, I'm not really looking forward to this class. Next;
Fiction II. I have to write an 8 page short story. Not looking forward to that, but I've got a few months. The professor is hit-and-miss with me - sometimes I like her, sometimes I wonder why she's teaching. We'll see how this one goes.
American Literature II. Or Romanticism. I've heard good things about this professor (namely, he's funny and his classes are easy), so that's a plus. On the other hand, the book list doesn't seem all that riveting. Same thing for American Dream, which is with the same professor, and will be focused on a single theme instead of a genre or time period. I've never had a class like that, so it might be neat.
Pattern Recognition intrigues me. I'm still not quite sure what the class is about quite yet. Obviously it has to do with patterns, but I'm not really sure how to explain it. The interested can find the syllabus here if so inclined.
And of course I'm going to love my Independent Study. I thought I was just going to be helping Minnick refine his radio scripts, but it turns out that I'll be writing a few of them as well. At the same time, I'll keep working on my postcards and try to get 2-3 done every week. Right now, he has me researching some authors and I'd like to get at least one draft done by this weekend. We'll need as much time to edit as we can get.
Advanced World Literature actually should have been called Post-colonial Literature because that's all it is. Not sure why it was named the way it was. I have it three days a week at noon. Thus far, I'm pretty underwhelmed. It sounds like it's going to be one of those "Europeans were like soooo mean to their colonies and stuff" types of classes. Filtered through literature.
Don't get me wrong, colonialism wasn't exactly a proud moment of human history, but that message gets lost or at least watered down when you hear it over and over. It's the same reason I've never been able to get into African-American literature; the Civil Rights movement and evils of racism was shoved in my face every year for so long that it lost any potency or ability to move me. I never needed anyone to go through the baby steps of why it was wrong and infantilizing a subject that complicated completely turned me off of it.
Anyway, getting back on tangent, I'm not really looking forward to this class. Next;
Fiction II. I have to write an 8 page short story. Not looking forward to that, but I've got a few months. The professor is hit-and-miss with me - sometimes I like her, sometimes I wonder why she's teaching. We'll see how this one goes.
American Literature II. Or Romanticism. I've heard good things about this professor (namely, he's funny and his classes are easy), so that's a plus. On the other hand, the book list doesn't seem all that riveting. Same thing for American Dream, which is with the same professor, and will be focused on a single theme instead of a genre or time period. I've never had a class like that, so it might be neat.
Pattern Recognition intrigues me. I'm still not quite sure what the class is about quite yet. Obviously it has to do with patterns, but I'm not really sure how to explain it. The interested can find the syllabus here if so inclined.
And of course I'm going to love my Independent Study. I thought I was just going to be helping Minnick refine his radio scripts, but it turns out that I'll be writing a few of them as well. At the same time, I'll keep working on my postcards and try to get 2-3 done every week. Right now, he has me researching some authors and I'd like to get at least one draft done by this weekend. We'll need as much time to edit as we can get.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
That's It.
I'm done with this semester. I just sent in my last essay.
I've been feeling a bit better the past few days which leads me to believe a lot of my being sick really has been stress. It's still not totally gone though. I just want to sleep for a while.
I also managed to get my registration confirmed today. Every semester I have issues with registration and this year was no exception. I went up to campus to find out what this fine was about during the trip I found out some stuff that I really should have been told about months ago. But that's neither here nor there I guess. The important thing is that I'm all set for next semester, barring textbooks.
While I was up there, I went through the postcards I'd giving to Minnick so far - I couldn't recall which ones I'd already given him in the past. Luckily, I've managed to avoid giving him any repeats =) Finally got to see his new office, which is very shiny compared to the one in the English department. Not that I actually know what the one in the English department looks like under all those books he has stacked in there. Spent almost an hour just chatting with him around campus and now I feel so much better about life - I had no idea how much I needed to just talk to someone for a little while. Not about anything in particular, just not about school or working or what have you. I feel so much more relaxed for it.
I've been feeling a bit better the past few days which leads me to believe a lot of my being sick really has been stress. It's still not totally gone though. I just want to sleep for a while.
I also managed to get my registration confirmed today. Every semester I have issues with registration and this year was no exception. I went up to campus to find out what this fine was about during the trip I found out some stuff that I really should have been told about months ago. But that's neither here nor there I guess. The important thing is that I'm all set for next semester, barring textbooks.
While I was up there, I went through the postcards I'd giving to Minnick so far - I couldn't recall which ones I'd already given him in the past. Luckily, I've managed to avoid giving him any repeats =) Finally got to see his new office, which is very shiny compared to the one in the English department. Not that I actually know what the one in the English department looks like under all those books he has stacked in there. Spent almost an hour just chatting with him around campus and now I feel so much better about life - I had no idea how much I needed to just talk to someone for a little while. Not about anything in particular, just not about school or working or what have you. I feel so much more relaxed for it.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Still Sick
I keep updating about how close I am to being done, but I can't seem to write about anything else XD About four pages away from being done with my essays and I have two finals left.
Still sick. Sore throat is sticking around, I'm congested and out of Kleenex, have added stomach problems to the list of issues, and on top of all the other stress a certain monthly problem has entered the equation. It's been a terrible month.
Hell, it's been an awful semester. That internship was a massive waste of time, my workload has been really heavy, constantly broke, I haven't seen any of my friends in a year, and I don't really want to whine too much so I'll stop right here XD I should probably thank Minnick for keeping me sane this year, because otherwise I'd have no one at all to talk to. And he's kept me writing at least a little, so there's that.
Still sick. Sore throat is sticking around, I'm congested and out of Kleenex, have added stomach problems to the list of issues, and on top of all the other stress a certain monthly problem has entered the equation. It's been a terrible month.
Hell, it's been an awful semester. That internship was a massive waste of time, my workload has been really heavy, constantly broke, I haven't seen any of my friends in a year, and I don't really want to whine too much so I'll stop right here XD I should probably thank Minnick for keeping me sane this year, because otherwise I'd have no one at all to talk to. And he's kept me writing at least a little, so there's that.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Working
Okay. Okayokayokayokayokayokay. Tomorrow is my Algebra final. The day after that is my Film final. I need a little more padding on the film paper, but it's done. Still struggling with my Calvino paper, but my reading journal is finished. Need to write one other essay and a quick worksheet on etymology, but my homework is otherwise complete.
So yeah. Just gotta keep working until it's all done. Not much time for a long post right now XD
So yeah. Just gotta keep working until it's all done. Not much time for a long post right now XD
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Peanuts
I'm allllmost done with classes. Monday marks the beginning of my last week, followed by finals.
I really need to finish some papers this weekend. At the very least I've like to wrap up Career Perspectives and History of the English Language by Sunday, as both are due next week. I have a rough draft due on Tuesday as well, but the actual paper won't be turned in until the 13th, so I'm not quite so under the gun. Need to do some quick papers for Film as well by Wednesday. A page or two each I think should cover it.
My first final will be Algebra, so at least I'm getting it out of the way quickly I guess. Then Film the next day. Then a week's break before I take my last two.
And... that's really it I think. That's all the big stuff anyway. The rest is just peanuts.
I really need to finish some papers this weekend. At the very least I've like to wrap up Career Perspectives and History of the English Language by Sunday, as both are due next week. I have a rough draft due on Tuesday as well, but the actual paper won't be turned in until the 13th, so I'm not quite so under the gun. Need to do some quick papers for Film as well by Wednesday. A page or two each I think should cover it.
My first final will be Algebra, so at least I'm getting it out of the way quickly I guess. Then Film the next day. Then a week's break before I take my last two.
And... that's really it I think. That's all the big stuff anyway. The rest is just peanuts.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
School Stressors
Note to Self: Registration begins December 19th. I'm planning to sign up for Fiction Writing II, Pattern Recognition, Advanced World Literature, American Literature, American Dream, and of course an Independent Study. 18 hours. I'm gonna get racked across the coals this Spring.
Scrambling to get all of my final papers finished; I've got two big ones due very soon. I'm more worried about my Calvino paper as I've not even started. Currently reading my fourth book by the author and I'm thinking about doing a comparison paper between his various novels. He's very much an author of place and setting - I adore his descriptions. I love the way he sets a mood through imagery. I'd like to make that the focus of my essay, but I'm not sure I can stretch that into ten pages.
Anyway, I'm reading Difficult Loves, which is a book of short stories. I feel like I may be reading it too quickly - I think there's a lot of deeper meaning that's getting skimmed over in my haste to get it read. There was a lovely story about a hidden garden, and I just know I missed something near the end. A lot of them are kinda like that. It's probably going to be one of those things I get a lot more of later on down the line when I'm not responsible for so many other things.
Scrambling to get all of my final papers finished; I've got two big ones due very soon. I'm more worried about my Calvino paper as I've not even started. Currently reading my fourth book by the author and I'm thinking about doing a comparison paper between his various novels. He's very much an author of place and setting - I adore his descriptions. I love the way he sets a mood through imagery. I'd like to make that the focus of my essay, but I'm not sure I can stretch that into ten pages.
Anyway, I'm reading Difficult Loves, which is a book of short stories. I feel like I may be reading it too quickly - I think there's a lot of deeper meaning that's getting skimmed over in my haste to get it read. There was a lovely story about a hidden garden, and I just know I missed something near the end. A lot of them are kinda like that. It's probably going to be one of those things I get a lot more of later on down the line when I'm not responsible for so many other things.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Success!
Minnink gave me the go-ahead on my Independent Study request and I really wish I could use some dA emoticons because words cannot accurately express how happy I am about this. I swear I thought he was going to turn me down.
I'll be taking a full 18 hours next semester, but this is what I'm looking forward to. I'll be helping with the radio project for a grade, doing research and editing scripts, and I'll also continue working on my postcards and reading lots of shorts and flash fic. Lots of contemporary stuff. Joe Mino, Sherwood Anderson, probably some poetry in there.
I'm going to try and follow it up this summer with a second independent study focuses solely on the writing part. And that will be nearly all of my hours. After Spring semester, I'll only have a few classes left and I think I can get the last of it during the summer. And I'll be done. I'll end up with an Associate's degree in General Studies and I'll have an English major and Creative Writing minor.
So yeah. Success!
I'll be taking a full 18 hours next semester, but this is what I'm looking forward to. I'll be helping with the radio project for a grade, doing research and editing scripts, and I'll also continue working on my postcards and reading lots of shorts and flash fic. Lots of contemporary stuff. Joe Mino, Sherwood Anderson, probably some poetry in there.
I'm going to try and follow it up this summer with a second independent study focuses solely on the writing part. And that will be nearly all of my hours. After Spring semester, I'll only have a few classes left and I think I can get the last of it during the summer. And I'll be done. I'll end up with an Associate's degree in General Studies and I'll have an English major and Creative Writing minor.
So yeah. Success!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Before the Year Ends
School things:
But the semester is nearly over, so I'm going to need some new projects to take on soon.
I've even managed to read most of the books I've had lying around. I feel so accomplished.
- Annotation Project for History of the English Language
- Unknown Project for History of the English Language
- Study up for Algebra Final
- 10 page paper on Italo Calvino
- Make a resume
- Complete Self Assessment and Reflection for Career Perspectives.
- Will probably have to write a paper on Hitchcock for Film as Literature
- Probably won't have any other Finals though.
- Keep working on radio project with Minnick, don't forget about the 12th.
But the semester is nearly over, so I'm going to need some new projects to take on soon.
- Make another hollow book. I think I could do much better on the second round. Though I doubt I'll be able to get the edges clean.
- Fill a bottle full of origami stars. I haven't folded any in quite a while, not since I filled up the last bottle. I even used up my entire backup stash.
- Flash fiction contest - I opted not to do one during NaNo because, you know, class and finals and holidays, but I really do new to come up with a decent prompt. I've been suggested "vintage," something taking place in a diner, a Catholic confessional, and instant and unspoken love.
- Write way too many postcards. I've been slacking on putting things in mailboxes. I'm going to need more flash fiction stories.
- Make a card for the deviantART Holiday Card Project. Make multiple if possible because I'm such a mail whore and hate hoarding stamps for very long.
- I really want to try that melted crayon thing. It looks pretty cool and super easy.
- I should really make use of that origami kit that I got for my birthday. I still suck at folding paper though - you have no idea how truly terrible I am at making anything more complicated than a Lucky Star.
- Collect some leaves. Find something to do with them.
I've even managed to read most of the books I've had lying around. I feel so accomplished.
Friday, November 2, 2012
I'm Still Here, Even if No One Else Is
Maybe I should make this a weekly update instead?
I spent my Halloween watching American Beauty in Film class. I liked it well enough I guess, but I don't care to ever see it again. I felt awkward watching it; everyone is dysfunctional in that flick. At least I managed to sit through it though - last week, I got up and left halfway through There Will Be Blood. I don't make it any secret that I can't stomach horror movies, but the other thing that really gets to me is tension. And I don't mean regular run-of-the-mill tension need to make a good story, I mean where they're obviously winding you up for something to happen. That was the feeling I got last week, and why I finally had to leave; that sort of suspense just crawls up my spine. (Honestly, I think I would have handled it better if not for that freaking soundtrack).
Got a translation project due on Tuesday - not too worried about it, just need to get it done. No math homework this weekend makes me a happy panda. Been chatting with Dr. Minnick about his radio project and my postcards. Need to set up an advising appointment soon, playing with recording technology, going to play some PSP this weekend. Life's pretty okay lately.
I spent my Halloween watching American Beauty in Film class. I liked it well enough I guess, but I don't care to ever see it again. I felt awkward watching it; everyone is dysfunctional in that flick. At least I managed to sit through it though - last week, I got up and left halfway through There Will Be Blood. I don't make it any secret that I can't stomach horror movies, but the other thing that really gets to me is tension. And I don't mean regular run-of-the-mill tension need to make a good story, I mean where they're obviously winding you up for something to happen. That was the feeling I got last week, and why I finally had to leave; that sort of suspense just crawls up my spine. (Honestly, I think I would have handled it better if not for that freaking soundtrack).
Got a translation project due on Tuesday - not too worried about it, just need to get it done. No math homework this weekend makes me a happy panda. Been chatting with Dr. Minnick about his radio project and my postcards. Need to set up an advising appointment soon, playing with recording technology, going to play some PSP this weekend. Life's pretty okay lately.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Midterms
So I dropped my tutoring internship. It's just been too much trouble - I was never shown what I was supposed to do, no one ever answered my e-mails or even seemed that willing to help, and I was wasting too much gas to keep coming to Little Rock five days a week to sit in a classroom and fail. And that's probably what was going to happen - the grade is based on participation and the paper you write detailing your tutoring experiences. As I didn't HAVE any tutoring experiences, this sounded like the only move I could make.
Everything else is going fairly well though. I had my Algebra midterm yesterday and I think I did alright. Made an 89 on my History of English language midterm which is totally awesome; I thought I was struggling in that class. Film was a B, mainly because I missed seeing Nosferatu. I'm not too worried about Approaches or Perspectives either. They don't even have a midterm.
I've slacked off in postcards as I've run out of international stamps, but have been exchanging letters instead. I'm okay with that =D
Everything else is going fairly well though. I had my Algebra midterm yesterday and I think I did alright. Made an 89 on my History of English language midterm which is totally awesome; I thought I was struggling in that class. Film was a B, mainly because I missed seeing Nosferatu. I'm not too worried about Approaches or Perspectives either. They don't even have a midterm.
I've slacked off in postcards as I've run out of international stamps, but have been exchanging letters instead. I'm okay with that =D
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Twenty-Two
Another birthday, come and gone. I still don't feel any older, and haven't really since, like, thirteen or something I dunno.
No party, just chicken spaghetti at my parents place. A Barnes & Noble gift card and an origami set. A whiteboard decal that was ruined when I tried to put it up because my brother is too lazy to get out of the chair and help someone, even on their birthday.
School goes and I'm trying to play catch-up now that I finally have my books (save the MathLab packet). All I have to do for that one is pass - as in, make 60% or higher. I'm not setting the bar very high here. Especially since I can't even understand the guy's accent.
Anyway, on Thursday I got out of my language history class early, so I'm waiting for the current Algebra class to leave. Class starts at 1:40 - I got there about 1:25. I'm standing outside the room with five or six other people until about 2:00. Slowly, it begins to dawn on us that our class has already started, and he's been teaching for the past 30 minutes.
I repeat - class doesn't even start until 1:40. He was already teaching at least 15 minutes before anyone was even supposed to be there. Those of us outside made a decision - if he's going to teach early, then we'll be leaving early thank you very much.
So I guess I got the day off from Algebra for my birthday, because even if we had gone in, we would have been counted absent for missing more than 15 minutes of class. Because HE doesn't know how to read a damn clock. That doesn't inspire any confidence in my supposed math teacher.
No party, just chicken spaghetti at my parents place. A Barnes & Noble gift card and an origami set. A whiteboard decal that was ruined when I tried to put it up because my brother is too lazy to get out of the chair and help someone, even on their birthday.
School goes and I'm trying to play catch-up now that I finally have my books (save the MathLab packet). All I have to do for that one is pass - as in, make 60% or higher. I'm not setting the bar very high here. Especially since I can't even understand the guy's accent.
Anyway, on Thursday I got out of my language history class early, so I'm waiting for the current Algebra class to leave. Class starts at 1:40 - I got there about 1:25. I'm standing outside the room with five or six other people until about 2:00. Slowly, it begins to dawn on us that our class has already started, and he's been teaching for the past 30 minutes.
I repeat - class doesn't even start until 1:40. He was already teaching at least 15 minutes before anyone was even supposed to be there. Those of us outside made a decision - if he's going to teach early, then we'll be leaving early thank you very much.
So I guess I got the day off from Algebra for my birthday, because even if we had gone in, we would have been counted absent for missing more than 15 minutes of class. Because HE doesn't know how to read a damn clock. That doesn't inspire any confidence in my supposed math teacher.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Wednesdays
I have two classes that are reserved strictly on Wednesdays; Career Perspectives and Film as Literature.
I had high expectations of Film for obvious reasons, and equally high expectations of Perspectives because Minnick is teaching it. First impressions?
Well, Film was kind of a letdown really. I know it's the first day and all, but I was getting the impression that the professor wasn't too psyched to be back in classes. We're starting with Dracula and vampire films; my understanding is we'll be reading the book and watching at least three movies based upon it. I've never been a fan of vampires, so I'm kinda iffy. Our other two books are The Great Gatsby and Heart of Darkness, both of which I've read and neither of which I liked, so take that as you will.
Career Perspectives meanwhile, was at least interesting. Our first day was spent talking to a lawyer and how it can relate to the field we're in. I have no intention of going to law school given my poor people skills, but it was neat to simply listen. We have a schedule of speakers coming in over the semester, including people in education, web design, advertising, different places we can take an English degree. The bulk of our work though, is going to be concentrated on building a portfolio.
My case is a bit odd as a transfer student who is behind on credits, so I'm not entirely sure what I'll be submitting even though the guidelines are clearly spelled out on the syllabus. I can't submit anything from Composition for example, because I didn't take that at UALR. I'll need at least four papers though, and some creative writing stuff. I don't think it will be terribly difficult, but the evaluation portion has the potential to be problematic, again because I didn't do all of these things at UALR. I'm not sure how I'm going to work around all of that yet.
I actually do enjoy self-evaluation and reflective assignments, I've just never had one this intensive. And I've never had to cite my own papers to write a paper o_O
I had high expectations of Film for obvious reasons, and equally high expectations of Perspectives because Minnick is teaching it. First impressions?
Well, Film was kind of a letdown really. I know it's the first day and all, but I was getting the impression that the professor wasn't too psyched to be back in classes. We're starting with Dracula and vampire films; my understanding is we'll be reading the book and watching at least three movies based upon it. I've never been a fan of vampires, so I'm kinda iffy. Our other two books are The Great Gatsby and Heart of Darkness, both of which I've read and neither of which I liked, so take that as you will.
Career Perspectives meanwhile, was at least interesting. Our first day was spent talking to a lawyer and how it can relate to the field we're in. I have no intention of going to law school given my poor people skills, but it was neat to simply listen. We have a schedule of speakers coming in over the semester, including people in education, web design, advertising, different places we can take an English degree. The bulk of our work though, is going to be concentrated on building a portfolio.
My case is a bit odd as a transfer student who is behind on credits, so I'm not entirely sure what I'll be submitting even though the guidelines are clearly spelled out on the syllabus. I can't submit anything from Composition for example, because I didn't take that at UALR. I'll need at least four papers though, and some creative writing stuff. I don't think it will be terribly difficult, but the evaluation portion has the potential to be problematic, again because I didn't do all of these things at UALR. I'm not sure how I'm going to work around all of that yet.
I actually do enjoy self-evaluation and reflective assignments, I've just never had one this intensive. And I've never had to cite my own papers to write a paper o_O
Thursday, August 23, 2012
First Day Back
You know how you get good ideas at weird times? That happened to me last night.
I went to bed early like a good student is supposed to; 2 AM, I'm still awake, and I think to myself I should have written some postcards to stuff in the professor's mailboxes. Instead of rolling over and ignoring the impulse, I realized it actually was a good idea, got up, fished out a card, and wrote a welcome back message for Dr. Minnick. But only one since it was so late.
I've since written one to the new linguistics professor, welcoming him to campus, and I've had time to refine the idea after some stuff in Adolescent Lit. But I'll get there momentarily.
My day began with History of the English Language (the one the new professor is teaching). My first impressions are that it's going to be a rigorous course, but an interesting one. After the usual syllabus stuff, we got to do some decoding with runic script, which was pretty neat. It's hard to say from one class if I'm going to like it or not - if it is going to be a lot of decoding like that, it might get old quickly. Then again, I do like puzzles. We'll see.
Next up is Algebra. The first day was not promising - we couldn't get into the classroom. On the bright side, we left quickly.
Approaches to Literature seems pretty fun so far. My initial impression was of an easy A. I think it will be a mostly reading and discussion sort of class, which tend to be my favorites. And we're reading Calvino in there later this year and I believe I've made my love of Calvino clear in the past <3
And thus we come to Adolescent Literature and I don't need to tell anyone how much I love this class. I enjoy the books, I enjoy the discussions, I love the professor - I'm here for the fun of it.
I've mentioned Minnick and I were swapping writing projects back and forth, and today he made a point of starting class with a close reading of a piece of flash fiction because he knew I would be there. Which is where I got a second idea for my postcard thing - he loves flash fic and one-sentence stories and all those really brief forms of writing. In short, fragments. So I've like to write a new one on a postcard say, every week, and stuff it in his mailbox. One of the names for flash fiction is "postcard fiction," so it's rather satisfying that way. And I do have an abundance of postcards now that I've started to make my own.
I dunno, *I* thought it was a neat idea. And it'll keep me in a bit of practice.
I went to bed early like a good student is supposed to; 2 AM, I'm still awake, and I think to myself I should have written some postcards to stuff in the professor's mailboxes. Instead of rolling over and ignoring the impulse, I realized it actually was a good idea, got up, fished out a card, and wrote a welcome back message for Dr. Minnick. But only one since it was so late.
I've since written one to the new linguistics professor, welcoming him to campus, and I've had time to refine the idea after some stuff in Adolescent Lit. But I'll get there momentarily.
My day began with History of the English Language (the one the new professor is teaching). My first impressions are that it's going to be a rigorous course, but an interesting one. After the usual syllabus stuff, we got to do some decoding with runic script, which was pretty neat. It's hard to say from one class if I'm going to like it or not - if it is going to be a lot of decoding like that, it might get old quickly. Then again, I do like puzzles. We'll see.
Next up is Algebra. The first day was not promising - we couldn't get into the classroom. On the bright side, we left quickly.
Approaches to Literature seems pretty fun so far. My initial impression was of an easy A. I think it will be a mostly reading and discussion sort of class, which tend to be my favorites. And we're reading Calvino in there later this year and I believe I've made my love of Calvino clear in the past <3
And thus we come to Adolescent Literature and I don't need to tell anyone how much I love this class. I enjoy the books, I enjoy the discussions, I love the professor - I'm here for the fun of it.
I've mentioned Minnick and I were swapping writing projects back and forth, and today he made a point of starting class with a close reading of a piece of flash fiction because he knew I would be there. Which is where I got a second idea for my postcard thing - he loves flash fic and one-sentence stories and all those really brief forms of writing. In short, fragments. So I've like to write a new one on a postcard say, every week, and stuff it in his mailbox. One of the names for flash fiction is "postcard fiction," so it's rather satisfying that way. And I do have an abundance of postcards now that I've started to make my own.
I dunno, *I* thought it was a neat idea. And it'll keep me in a bit of practice.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Tinkering
Today I signed the graduation paperwork - once I pass Algebra with a "D" or higher, I'll have an Associate's Degree in General Studies.
It was very anti-climactic.
Right now I've almost got my schedule where I want it, but I'd like to work in at least one more class. I'm currently signed up for a math class close to home in the evenings, but two of the classes I was really wanting to take are also in that time slot. I can move the math, but to a less convenient time :/
I have to have the math. I can't not pass it this semester. It's the one thing I absolutely need. I'm hoping to consult with someone about the scheduling issues later next week to see what I can fit into mine.
It was very anti-climactic.
Right now I've almost got my schedule where I want it, but I'd like to work in at least one more class. I'm currently signed up for a math class close to home in the evenings, but two of the classes I was really wanting to take are also in that time slot. I can move the math, but to a less convenient time :/
I have to have the math. I can't not pass it this semester. It's the one thing I absolutely need. I'm hoping to consult with someone about the scheduling issues later next week to see what I can fit into mine.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
A Poetic Education
The latest in my line of writing projects and one that's been making me think all day long. It's always the short stuff that prompts long-winded posts.
The series thus far is compromised of poems with six lines falling into two stanzas; stanza one is how the narrator should have learned something (i.e. by studying), stanza two is how they actually learned it (i.e. by experiencing). Fairly straightforward.
PaperDart posted a comment that really got me thinking though; about what I was writing, how I was writing it, and, more importantly, why I was writing it. I hadn't intended to imply anything negative about a love of learning, but the poems could be read that way. I've already brought it up in the Artist Comments here, but for summary; after mulling it over, I came to the conclusion that the disconnect I had been writing into the poems had less to do with learning and more to do with educating.
I have had three very good teachers and one truly awful teacher; the rest more or less fell into the spectrum of "bland." I understand that a teacher has a difficult job; I don't envy their profession or the sheer volume of work on their shoulders. But this is important work - this actually matters. They're working with kids eight hours a day. That was more time than I ever spent with my own family in a day.
I don't want to come off as "education MUST be fun or kids won't learn," but there's so little to enjoy in the current education system, or at least the one I went through. Minnick told us a few weeks ago in Drama - kids get an average of about two minutes to talk during the entire day. And then you wonder why they're restless in class?
But the teachers I did have, the good ones, the ones that made it worthwhile, got it - they made things not necessarily fun, but engaging. We wanted to listen. We wanted to hear what they were trying to say, or at least I did. Even if the rest of the day was shot by the other classes, these were worthwhile. I know last semester Adolescent Literature was more or less the only reason I got out of bed some mornings. I suffered through Anthropology, its lab course, and Form and Theory just to get to it. It was my reward for going through all the motions.
I'm getting rather rambly, so I'll cut it short - people deserve to know when they're making a difference. And even though I'm no longer in contact with two of those three teachers, I can make damn sure the third one knows it. And I did :)
The series thus far is compromised of poems with six lines falling into two stanzas; stanza one is how the narrator should have learned something (i.e. by studying), stanza two is how they actually learned it (i.e. by experiencing). Fairly straightforward.
PaperDart posted a comment that really got me thinking though; about what I was writing, how I was writing it, and, more importantly, why I was writing it. I hadn't intended to imply anything negative about a love of learning, but the poems could be read that way. I've already brought it up in the Artist Comments here, but for summary; after mulling it over, I came to the conclusion that the disconnect I had been writing into the poems had less to do with learning and more to do with educating.
I have had three very good teachers and one truly awful teacher; the rest more or less fell into the spectrum of "bland." I understand that a teacher has a difficult job; I don't envy their profession or the sheer volume of work on their shoulders. But this is important work - this actually matters. They're working with kids eight hours a day. That was more time than I ever spent with my own family in a day.
I don't want to come off as "education MUST be fun or kids won't learn," but there's so little to enjoy in the current education system, or at least the one I went through. Minnick told us a few weeks ago in Drama - kids get an average of about two minutes to talk during the entire day. And then you wonder why they're restless in class?
But the teachers I did have, the good ones, the ones that made it worthwhile, got it - they made things not necessarily fun, but engaging. We wanted to listen. We wanted to hear what they were trying to say, or at least I did. Even if the rest of the day was shot by the other classes, these were worthwhile. I know last semester Adolescent Literature was more or less the only reason I got out of bed some mornings. I suffered through Anthropology, its lab course, and Form and Theory just to get to it. It was my reward for going through all the motions.
I'm getting rather rambly, so I'll cut it short - people deserve to know when they're making a difference. And even though I'm no longer in contact with two of those three teachers, I can make damn sure the third one knows it. And I did :)
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