conversations

I had two meaningful conversations today. One right after the other, in two different ways.

First, I had a meeting with my History prof [Matthew Daley, GVSU - get in one of his classes!]. We had to have a meeting about a paper, before final revisions. It was nice to hear such thoughtful compliments from a professor. He was very proud of my work, writing technique, and overall approach to this paper. After 5 minutes of me having a smile on my face so big it hurt, and him going through my paper, he asked me how I was doing with the other aspects of class. This meeting was meant to be 20 minutes long, and quickly turned into an hour. I enjoyed having an intellectual discussion about teaching styles at a Liberal Arts college, and what to expect when I cross over into Prof World. Witnessing a teacher that amped about History, as well as college in general, was so refreshing. Although he said he couldn't also help with my Linguistics class, he's still okay in my book. :)

After leaving his office and jumping on the bus, I started talking to the bus driver. I have this issue with the lack of acknowledgment that they are real people, with names and lives. Think about it, they have their name slots right next to the rear view mirror, and how many times do you actually use it? I'm one of the people that say thank-you when I get off the bus, but think of putting their name at the end of it. It reminds them that we know they're people, not just bus drivers. Anyways, her name was Dawn and for the 20 minutes of our trip together, we learned about each others lives, and I felt better knowing about her life. I think I've gotten too used to identifying people by their occupations, not their lives. I hope she gets away for her vacation to Washington D.C. like she wants.

So there you have it. Next time you have a few moments, talk to a Prof, bus driver, waitress, dog walker, whatever. Learn their names. Learn their lives. And see past the occupation. It could give you a sense of realization you weren't expecting on another mundane day you're just trying to "get through".

BAIL OUT BULLSHIT

I want people [students that rely on loans especially] to do some research. hopefully a light bulb will go off above everyone's head regarding this bail out money. we are headed for a LOT of trouble if this goes through.

I for one CANNOT pay tuition at Grand Valley [it went up 19% from last year alone] without good ol' Sallie Mae helping me out.

I kept telling myself "maybe Bush will go quietly", but that seems impossible. I knew OBAMA would have a mess to clean up when he gets into office, but please please please, not this too.

I hope you can afford your house, and trust the bank that your mortgage is through not to lose everything. I hope you can pay for college out of pocket. And I hope you have sensational credit if you plan on purchasing ANYTHING if this bail out goes through.

Why do we live in a society consumed by consumption?? Bigger is better. Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme. I want a better car than you, a bigger house than you. KNOCK IT OFF AMERICA. We are destroying this country.

And I can only name a handful of people around me that actually know enough to give an honest fuck.

school.

If I could be a professional student, I would. I am in love with my Profs this semester. So much knowledge, and so much inspiration.

I'm looking forward to being all grown up and being a professor. Since being a professional student isn't entirely possible, I'll just enjoy these last 5 or 6 years of pure educational bliss until I can return the favor to all those crazy college kids.

Sometimes I get really excited about the future.


But on the contrary, I've just about had it with the fellow students I roam GV's campus with. Some conversations make me question how they got into college, or passed high school. But, silly me...thinking college was more about an education and less about getting wasted off keg stands and random hookups. I might jump off the clock tower if I hear another young woman use "like", "uhm", and "oh my god" all in one sentence.

Vote or...don't?

I'm starting this blog unsure of which direction I'm headed in. I just feel like I owe it to myself to dig as deep as I did last time I wrote in here. I'm not entirely sure why that last post was so pivotal for me, but it made me fall more in love with Phil, and now serves as a constant reminder of just how incredible he is. But I digress.

The hot topic in my life is politics. And while I won't turn this into an attempt to get you on "my side" of the political fence, I will step in and tell you that voting, and knowing why you're voting for that candidate, is important. If not to you, then to me. We have this amazing right to speak our mind. If you think it doesn't mean anything on a large scale - you're wrong. Because if everyone felt that way - then we wouldn't be voting at all. Because then not a single opinion would matter, be heard, or even taken into consideration.

It is important. In less that 8 weeks, we pick a new President. A new figurehead for our always confusing government. A new person to call the shots. A new spokesperson for the American people in foreign affairs. A new person to lift us up, or tear us down. To make it better, or make it worse. And if that's not important to you, then I'd like to know why not.

But, that's just me.

And I can also look at it from another viewpoint. If it isn't important to you, which is an attitude of yours that I'm not out to change, then don't vote. Don't ask someone who you should vote for, do just go "wing it" in the voting booth, and don't waste a privilege on ignorance. I'd be disapointed in anyone voting that didn't know what their candidate stood for, as well as the opposing candidate. Some people don't even have the right to vote, and live in country where their opinion doesn't matter.

Here your opinion can matter...are you going to make it count?

Okay, okay. There's the only political mumbo-jumbo you'll here from me for a few weeks ... until the election gets closer, then I cannot make any promises.

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Maybe if I update more often, there won't be as much pressure to make each post incredible. Sorry if you were let down. Actually, not so sorry, because I'm embarrassed for you if you were let down by a bit of old-fashioned patriotism.