I recently started reading Mama Kat’s blog, and I’ve been interested in the writing prompts she has every week. I decided to do it this week because the prompt is ten reasons I’m glad I’m done with school, and this is the first week of classes at UW. Let’s just say the stars aligned. This is the first fall I haven’t been in school since I started going to school, and don’t get me wrong, I love (loved?) school. I love school supplies, I like writing assignments in my planner, and I LOVE the feeling after a big project is turned in and over with. I was a little worried that this week would feel weird without class, but so far so good, and for the following reasons:
1. I have time to read what I want. It’s not like I totally deprived myself of reading fun stuff when I was in school, but I always did so knowing I should be working on school. The guilt was overwhelming, which leads me to . . .
2. No more homework-related guilt!
3. Reclaiming post-dinner hours. While I was working on my MLIS, I did most of my schoolwork after dinner. My schedule kind of sucked because I would work all day, come home to make dinner, and then have to sit down and crank out some reading or paper writing (or procrastinate and then stress out). Now that I’m done with school, there’s all kinds of time post-dinner for activities. Don’t judge me that some of these activities include watching Teen Mom. It’s a weakness.
4. Hobbies. In my newfound hours, I have the ability to take up hobbies. I haven’t done this yet, but hey, it’s early in my post-school life. Eventually, I’d like to get into refinishing furniture, decorating my house, running more, writing, thrifting, learning to cook . . . so many options.
5. Less book clutter. Z and I were in school at the same time, so the only time that my house didn’t look like a library had just thrown up was the five minutes immediately following my weekly cleaning. I can (usually) see the top of my kitchen table now that we don’t have makeshift study spaces scattered across the house.
6. Weekends. Weekends are so much better post-school. During school, I could have one free day, but then the other weekend day had to be spent catching up on homework and knocking out all my household chores too. Without homework, Z and I have more chances to head out of town or just relax. I’m also hoping that more weekend time means that my house will be cleaner, but I’m not sure who is supposed to notify the cleaning fairy that I’ve graduated . . .
I’ve run dry. I know that there have to be all kinds of things I’m overlooking, or at least four more to round out my list, but these are the big ones that come to mind.
Readers, are you done with school and have awesome reasons why? Anyone currently in school (*cough* Sarah Marie *cough*) and loving it? Thinking of going back to school? Discuss.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ooh, ooh! I just saw this story online . . .
Lately, all my conversations with people have this same phrase peppered throughout: "that reminds me of this story I was just reading online." I'm coming to realize that this gets annoying when I have an internet story for every possible situation. Hello, my name is Emily, and I'm addicted to blogs. In an effort to get some of this sharing out of my system, I am presenting ... (wait for it) ... a rundown of my favorite stories of the day!
1. Flavorwire had this slideshow of split portraits. It's crazy to see family resemblances side-by-side. Behold, exhibit A:
2. HelloGiggles (which is my new favorite site EVER!) had this story about board games, many of which still live in my parents' storeroom. It made me think of this great game I played a handful of times:
3. Finally, I saw this great diy project on DesignSponge for an electronic organizer. I saved the link to my delicious account, but if I'm being honest, I probably will never make this. But I should, because it is awesome.
I just realized that I also forwarded all the above links to people, defeating my goal of being less annoying with my internet stories. Damn.
How about you? Any great board games from your childhood? Projects to tackle? Pictures to photoshop into creepy cyborg shots? Discuss.
1. Flavorwire had this slideshow of split portraits. It's crazy to see family resemblances side-by-side. Behold, exhibit A:
2. HelloGiggles (which is my new favorite site EVER!) had this story about board games, many of which still live in my parents' storeroom. It made me think of this great game I played a handful of times:
That's right, mall madness.
3. Finally, I saw this great diy project on DesignSponge for an electronic organizer. I saved the link to my delicious account, but if I'm being honest, I probably will never make this. But I should, because it is awesome.
I just realized that I also forwarded all the above links to people, defeating my goal of being less annoying with my internet stories. Damn.
How about you? Any great board games from your childhood? Projects to tackle? Pictures to photoshop into creepy cyborg shots? Discuss.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Generation Me
I just finished reading Generation Me by Jean Twenge, and seriously, it really laid out what's going on with my generation.
From Goodreads: Called "The Entitlement Generation" or Gen Y, they are storming into schools, colleges, and businesses all over the country. In this provocative new book, headline-making psychologist and social commentator Dr. Jean Twenge explores why the young people she calls "Generation Me" -- those born in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s -- are tolerant, confident, open-minded, and ambitious but also cynical, depressed, lonely, and anxious."
I read this book as part of my self-imposed professional development reading program that hasn't been going quite as swimmingly as I had envisioned. I digress. Since I'm working with students, I thought it would be good to read some theoretical stuff on what makes this generation tick. I hadn't quite expected it to reveal the source of some of my own (very lovable) personality quirks, but it did, and my mind has been blown.
Let me start by saying this woman would be an AMAZING professor. She has this great tone throughout the book demonstrated in funny stories that really emphasize the points she makes. If all the books in my self-imposed professional development reading program were like this one, I would be making much better progress.
What I really took away from this book is that the self-esteem movement that has been pervasive in schools can be really detrimental to kids. Husband and I have been having this ongoing "spirited discussion" on this same topic: is college really necessary for everyone; what is the point of some degrees that don't lead to actual jobs; are we expecting too much success because we have degrees, etc. As a Generation Me-er, I have a hard time not believing that we can be anything we want to be, and that we deserve success. The other part of me wonders if I'm just trying to justify my degrees in English.
On a practical note, some of Twenge's points will help me to be a better adviser. I can help students manage their expectations and learn how to accept criticism while still encouraging them to work hard and aim high. I'm calling this the best of both worlds approach.
I was particularly interested to read about Twenge's theories on nationalized childcare. This is something I hadn't ever thought much about, but now I'm intrigued. Anyone have opinions on this?
From Goodreads: Called "The Entitlement Generation" or Gen Y, they are storming into schools, colleges, and businesses all over the country. In this provocative new book, headline-making psychologist and social commentator Dr. Jean Twenge explores why the young people she calls "Generation Me" -- those born in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s -- are tolerant, confident, open-minded, and ambitious but also cynical, depressed, lonely, and anxious."
I read this book as part of my self-imposed professional development reading program that hasn't been going quite as swimmingly as I had envisioned. I digress. Since I'm working with students, I thought it would be good to read some theoretical stuff on what makes this generation tick. I hadn't quite expected it to reveal the source of some of my own (very lovable) personality quirks, but it did, and my mind has been blown.
Let me start by saying this woman would be an AMAZING professor. She has this great tone throughout the book demonstrated in funny stories that really emphasize the points she makes. If all the books in my self-imposed professional development reading program were like this one, I would be making much better progress.
What I really took away from this book is that the self-esteem movement that has been pervasive in schools can be really detrimental to kids. Husband and I have been having this ongoing "spirited discussion" on this same topic: is college really necessary for everyone; what is the point of some degrees that don't lead to actual jobs; are we expecting too much success because we have degrees, etc. As a Generation Me-er, I have a hard time not believing that we can be anything we want to be, and that we deserve success. The other part of me wonders if I'm just trying to justify my degrees in English.
On a practical note, some of Twenge's points will help me to be a better adviser. I can help students manage their expectations and learn how to accept criticism while still encouraging them to work hard and aim high. I'm calling this the best of both worlds approach.
I was particularly interested to read about Twenge's theories on nationalized childcare. This is something I hadn't ever thought much about, but now I'm intrigued. Anyone have opinions on this?
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