Yesterday, I wrote out a long sort of rant that I had been meaning to write for ages, but it didn't feel write to post today. Perhaps tomorrow or when I don't have time to write anything else. I'm in a really good mood because I sat down this morning and wrote one of the three essays that I mentioned needing to write and it felt so good. It was on popular culture and the way it's preserved in various museums/exhibits in London. Relatively interesting stuff, I think. As I've never really spoken about this online, I should probably mentioned that I did not like my classes this semester. I got sort of shafted because my uni's study abroad department decided not to tell me they hadn't gotten the email (that I had sent, but it got lost in the void) with my class choices and so they just didn't register me in anything. So it was the week before classes resumed and I had none. Thanks, guys. Cool. I got put in four classes which vaguely resemble something similar to what I'm studying for my degree, communications/media, and then I spent the next ten weeks suffering through them.
That has happened to me loads throughout my education. I'm just one of those students who always falls through the academic paperwork cracks. Oh, you waived your physical education classes three years ago? Well we can't find the forms your old counselor filled out so you have two months before graduating to get those credits. Oh, you wanted to change your major? Well we you're going to have to do it all manually because it's too much work for your department. Oh, you wanted to take classes at this university you're paying loads of money for? Well sorry lol missed the email and it's not like it's our job or anything to make sure students are, you know, in classes. So yes. This crack-slipping tendency is one of the many reasons that I am probably one of the least academically driven people. Yes, I get everything done way too early, get good grades and professors generally like me, but I still just don't enjoy myself. I am very fortunate that most subjects come relatively easy to me, but I also just don't have the academic loving mindset I see in most of my friends. It has been probably about five years since I completed a reading for any sort of class, with a few interesting exceptions. I don't retain most information very well, unless it's things that I am already interested or familiar with, which is why I chose to student media. Media is familiar, therefore the idea is that I will retain, understand and, hopefully, enjoy it. Honestly, I am primarily getting a degree because in order to "get a job" you "need one." Which, let's be real, is mostly bullshit, but whatever. And because it means I can live in London on a (relatively) easy student visa. So it's not all bad.
I don't know how I got here. I guess it's just a reminder to people who always tell me I'm their educational inspiration (I kid you not, these emails exist), that they should probably be redirected to my friends Rosianna or Kathy. I am not perfect. No matter what I seem in my videos, I am not and do not think I am anywhere near an intellectual on any scale. I just like talking about things. If I could just sit in a room and talk, I wouldn't mind it all so much. But I just don't feel like I get a damned thing out of writing an essay, except perhaps a headache. And now, I am off to primp myself with new shower products (I always treat myself when I complete work - today it was Soap & Glory's "Scrub Your Nose in It") and then settle down with a cup of tea. Have a lovely evening. x
Train journeys this year: 14.
Books read this year: 16.
Videos posted this year: 30.
7 comments:
For some reason this post really resonated today. I think one of the most frustrating things about education for me is that no matter how much effort and time I spend learning about something, I'll have forgotten all about it within a year (if I'm lucky.) What's the point of education if we forget everything anyway? That seems like such a flaw in our brains.
(or maybe it's just my brain...? do other people remember, like, basic facts about American history?)
Ohh education. It's all so frustrating isn't it? Also, that picture. I can imagine Liam replacing Boo in Monsters Inc. Just saying, that would be hilarious.
Firstly, your night sounds amazing with the soap & glory & tea thing. Also, I relate on the whole not feeling like an intellectual. except, sometimes i feel like a straight up poseur. I know very little about a lot of things, but if i mention that little info in smalltalk or just any conversations, people think i'm a learned, well-rounded scholar. This is not the case, but I wish I could be. I want to fall in love with essays. I want to write an essay and feel like "I could publish this. I would definitely not mind other people reading this."
anyway, i'm sure that's not necessary. you just need to love what you do, right?
I feel the same, definitely. My classes this semester have been awful, as I'm mainly filling general education requirements and classes for a major that I'm not actually majoring in anymore. I get all my work done early, but my ability to retain the information or care is practically nonexistent. I thought I'd begin to really love academia when I started college but my apathy is only growing because I'm paying to be bored.
Ah! You've had horrible experiences with university admin! Welcome to the club. Pretty much everyone I know has had such an experience (including me). This is why when I was doing all my study abroad stuff I made sure to triple check that everything went to where it was supposed to. There are too many stories of people missing out on classes or (as one of my friends experienced) doing the whole class, sitting the exam only to be told you weren't enrolled in the first place!
So basically, I feel for you.
I love this post since I feel the same. I went to a major in specific because I thought I was going to meet very interesting teachers and class mates with an open mind and all that sort of naive thoughts I still have about humans in general (I know there are exceptions...THANK GOD...but I rarely meet them in my day to day basis). I wanted to be surrounded by open minded people and I end up in a major with the most stuck up intellectual snobs I could ever imagine. I think the academic life in general needs a huge change. There is people like us that actually need other types of stimulation and approach to learning in general. At least that was what I've perceived from this post and I'm really happy that I found your channel.
Have an amazing day!
I have a a whole list of things I need to get done today but after a morning full of watching videos on YT and then taking on the entertainment of reading blog posts, I found that my procastination took the best of me. :(
I was reading this and I don't know why but it inspired me to start my essay for Monday and I just want to thank you for your..words...
Hope you're having a good day ;)
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