It's March Madness baby! (Of course I'm cheering my Kentucky Wildcats for a perfect 40-0 season, so we'll see soon enough!)
Anyway, I hate Duke. I don't understand why anyone's a fan unless you're alumni. I mean, I'm not going to fault you for cheering your alma mater, even if it's duke.. But if you're a fair weather fan "just because" and you only want to brag on duke to annoy me, you're an asshole. Also? You better make sure that you even have the bragging rights to begin with.
At some point during the season Duke was ranked number 2. My coworker is a "just because" fan was trying to be superior and taunt me about it.
coworker: ~smugly~ Did you see the rankings? Duke's number two! Na-na-na-nana!
me: ~snort~ Yeah, you know what that's not though? Number one. Because that's Kentucky.
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Teachable Moment
I can get annoyed like anyone else. And like most people, there are things that annoy me more so than others. Like: college students and people who think music is the end all be all are two things that annoy me easily. So the other day when a college student felt the need to enlighten me about his music preference superiority, my annoyance tolerance was shot to hell from the second the kid opens his mouth.
student: I would like to donate a book to you guys that I have because you don't have it.
me: Well we have a policy actually of not accepting book donations. But someone at the center desk over there can tell you who to talk to about collection development.
student: It's a biography. You guys have several other books on this subject, several copies of a few of them, but you don't have this particular one. This one is really important and you guys should have it.
I was only slightly annoyed that he didn't listen to me, but that's pretty much what happens all the time with the college students I see at work, so I wasn't going to get all bent out of shape over this. He was more offend that I didn't want his book than I was by him not listening. But then he kept talking and tried to explain to me why we needed to have this book
student: It's a biography on Duke Ellington. Like the most important jazz musician of all time. You guys really need this book, and I want to to give it to you because it's so important. Music is life, you know? It's my passion, the most important thing.
So here's where I went from slightly annoyed to completely annoyed. Because as we all know, I have heard, dealt with, and left the music is my passion and most important thing ever dude. I probably heard those words verbatim or close enough before. And music? Not the most important thing ever. I was in choir and marching band, I used to know how to read music and I definitely think music classes should remain in schools, but "having a passion" for music is a far cry from "making a living" off this nonsense. While I know there are professional musicians who do make a living from music, and I respect the time and talent it takes to get to that tier, it's still not the most important thing ever. And besides, just because you think something is the most important thing, doesn't make the rest of the world agree with you. And you certainly shouldn't be foisting your opinions on me or anyone for that matter. (Impartiality is part of being a librarian, and the ability to providing equal access to all sides of something. (OK, well a public library, I guess if I worked in a special library I could be a lot more judicious in what kind of access people get to particular subjects))
I know this student had no idea what he stepped into with that comment or that my particular background with another "music is my passion" would annoy the crap out of me. But I still wanted him to just go away and to take his opinions with him. But I realized I could make this a teachable moment and said:
me: Well, I think unicorns are important. And we don't have a lot of books on those here either.
student: Uh....but this is Duke Ellington. You know who he is right? That this is important!?
me: I've heard of him. Now, the center desk over there can tell you who to discuss collection development with. Have a good day.
OK, not the best teachable moment and the kid probably thinks I'm a kook. But at least it was a little snarky. I count that as a win.
student: I would like to donate a book to you guys that I have because you don't have it.
me: Well we have a policy actually of not accepting book donations. But someone at the center desk over there can tell you who to talk to about collection development.
student: It's a biography. You guys have several other books on this subject, several copies of a few of them, but you don't have this particular one. This one is really important and you guys should have it.
I was only slightly annoyed that he didn't listen to me, but that's pretty much what happens all the time with the college students I see at work, so I wasn't going to get all bent out of shape over this. He was more offend that I didn't want his book than I was by him not listening. But then he kept talking and tried to explain to me why we needed to have this book
student: It's a biography on Duke Ellington. Like the most important jazz musician of all time. You guys really need this book, and I want to to give it to you because it's so important. Music is life, you know? It's my passion, the most important thing.
So here's where I went from slightly annoyed to completely annoyed. Because as we all know, I have heard, dealt with, and left the music is my passion and most important thing ever dude. I probably heard those words verbatim or close enough before. And music? Not the most important thing ever. I was in choir and marching band, I used to know how to read music and I definitely think music classes should remain in schools, but "having a passion" for music is a far cry from "making a living" off this nonsense. While I know there are professional musicians who do make a living from music, and I respect the time and talent it takes to get to that tier, it's still not the most important thing ever. And besides, just because you think something is the most important thing, doesn't make the rest of the world agree with you. And you certainly shouldn't be foisting your opinions on me or anyone for that matter. (Impartiality is part of being a librarian, and the ability to providing equal access to all sides of something. (OK, well a public library, I guess if I worked in a special library I could be a lot more judicious in what kind of access people get to particular subjects))
I know this student had no idea what he stepped into with that comment or that my particular background with another "music is my passion" would annoy the crap out of me. But I still wanted him to just go away and to take his opinions with him. But I realized I could make this a teachable moment and said:
me: Well, I think unicorns are important. And we don't have a lot of books on those here either.
student: Uh....but this is Duke Ellington. You know who he is right? That this is important!?
me: I've heard of him. Now, the center desk over there can tell you who to discuss collection development with. Have a good day.
OK, not the best teachable moment and the kid probably thinks I'm a kook. But at least it was a little snarky. I count that as a win.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Decipher
student: So, like, my, like, can, um you, like, um, wait.
me (totally confused): Ok...
student: Ok, like, my teacher, like um someone, like, told like me you can um like, um order a like book, like like and um like um someone, like like um they'll like send it some-um-where like um here and like you I mean me can like, pick it, like up here like? Um, yeah
--15 seconds pass while I stare at him even more confused--
me: I have no idea what you just asked me.
student: oh, oh ok, like,
me: Ok, if you are asking if you can request a book or material online, the answer is yes. And if the material is available someone from our staff will pull it for you and we'll put it on our hold shelf for you to pick up. At least, that's what I think you were asking?
student: Yes! And like, where um do you pick it up? Like, right here? This desk?
me: Yes, right here.
student: Oh my god, that is like so awesome! I'm going to go um request like so much right now. Thanks!
--walks away smiling ear to ear--
me: God help us.
me (totally confused): Ok...
student: Ok, like, my teacher, like um someone, like, told like me you can um like, um order a like book, like like and um like um someone, like like um they'll like send it some-um-where like um here and like you I mean me can like, pick it, like up here like? Um, yeah
--15 seconds pass while I stare at him even more confused--
me: I have no idea what you just asked me.
student: oh, oh ok, like,
me: Ok, if you are asking if you can request a book or material online, the answer is yes. And if the material is available someone from our staff will pull it for you and we'll put it on our hold shelf for you to pick up. At least, that's what I think you were asking?
student: Yes! And like, where um do you pick it up? Like, right here? This desk?
me: Yes, right here.
student: Oh my god, that is like so awesome! I'm going to go um request like so much right now. Thanks!
--walks away smiling ear to ear--
me: God help us.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
People
When I was in college a roommate asked my how stayed so skinny. I made a crack about being bulimic, serious concern washed over her face and I made a note to self: bulimia jokes not funny yet.
Last weekend at my library job:
coworker: You're eating another cookie? How are you so thin?
me: I throw it up later.
coworker: Hahaha!
me: Yes! I found people who think bulimia is funny! I found my people!
Last weekend at my library job:
coworker: You're eating another cookie? How are you so thin?
me: I throw it up later.
coworker: Hahaha!
me: Yes! I found people who think bulimia is funny! I found my people!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
No Help
college kid: Can you help me find something?
me: I can try. What are you looking for?
ck: Well, I'm not sure exactly what is it, my teacher said something about it. It may be a book or a movie.
me: Is this a course reserve maybe?
ck: Maybe? Do they have anything on reserve?
me: I'll check, who's your teacher?
ck: Uh, crap, I don't know their name.
me: That's ok. We can try to find it another way. What's the title of what you're looking for?
ck: Um, I don't really know.
me: Author?
ck: Um, no.
me: A keyword? Anything?
ck: Um, not really.
me: Yeah, I can't help you.
me: I can try. What are you looking for?
ck: Well, I'm not sure exactly what is it, my teacher said something about it. It may be a book or a movie.
me: Is this a course reserve maybe?
ck: Maybe? Do they have anything on reserve?
me: I'll check, who's your teacher?
ck: Uh, crap, I don't know their name.
me: That's ok. We can try to find it another way. What's the title of what you're looking for?
ck: Um, I don't really know.
me: Author?
ck: Um, no.
me: A keyword? Anything?
ck: Um, not really.
me: Yeah, I can't help you.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Vocab
We have laptops for people (students, staff and faculty) to check out for 24 hours at my academic library. Awesome right? Well not always, because sometimes all we have left are the older, slower computers and college kids can be so incredibly whiny.
A freshman turns in an older slower laptop, but before he turns it in he first asks if we have any macs. You have to wait 4 hours between laptop check ins and outs, so even if we did have any macs in he wouldn't have been able to have it at the moment anyway. Instead of understanding the rules and just leaving it at that, he wanted to make it clear to me that macs are a far superior computer. So he says: Mac's aren't slow. Dells are though. This dell was abysmally slow.
I just shrugged my shoulders and said: Oh well.
But what I wanted to say was: Look at you using your SAT words like a big boy!
A freshman turns in an older slower laptop, but before he turns it in he first asks if we have any macs. You have to wait 4 hours between laptop check ins and outs, so even if we did have any macs in he wouldn't have been able to have it at the moment anyway. Instead of understanding the rules and just leaving it at that, he wanted to make it clear to me that macs are a far superior computer. So he says: Mac's aren't slow. Dells are though. This dell was abysmally slow.
I just shrugged my shoulders and said: Oh well.
But what I wanted to say was: Look at you using your SAT words like a big boy!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Desperato
Never tell a 20 year old college student that you met your husband on eharmony.
Because their response will be: Really? Yeah, maybe I'll do that one day, you know, if I was, like desperate.
Yep.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Late Night Phone Calls
My home phone rang at 11:50 pm last night. And at my age you answer the call form a number you don't recognize because you just hope that it's not an emergency.
It was not an emergency. It was giggly, sloppy drunk dial from the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area, jabbering something about frank and an order.
Relief that it' not an emergency quickly transitions into annoyance. But I told them they had the wrong number and got ready to hang up. But drunk and disorderly on the line doesn't understand and tries to dispute that with a "are you shhhhuuul you're not Frank? Like, really sure?"
Yeah. I'm sure. So that I responded with a groan and a why am even I talking to you you idiot? and hung up.
My guess is they were probably going to call back and tell me off, but then they passed out since my phone didn't ring again. I just hope that kid's hangover tomorrow is hell.
It was not an emergency. It was giggly, sloppy drunk dial from the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area, jabbering something about frank and an order.
Relief that it' not an emergency quickly transitions into annoyance. But I told them they had the wrong number and got ready to hang up. But drunk and disorderly on the line doesn't understand and tries to dispute that with a "are you shhhhuuul you're not Frank? Like, really sure?"
Yeah. I'm sure. So that I responded with a groan and a why am even I talking to you you idiot? and hung up.
My guess is they were probably going to call back and tell me off, but then they passed out since my phone didn't ring again. I just hope that kid's hangover tomorrow is hell.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Brackets
So. Did you see my Wildcats just won their eighth national championship?!?!?!?! Woohoo!!!
I was pulling for Kentucky* the whole time, but if you looked at my paper bracket, (the one I actually filled out and put on the fridge like a piece of kindergarten artwork) you'll see I had someone else slated to win the national championship.
Now, before anyone doubts my Kentucky faith/love, you must understand that I set my paper bracket up that way in order to help them win!
Because I cannot, for the life of me, pick a winner. Brackets, a horse race, even a blind draw, I never pick the winner. So my paper bracket is always total crap and never right. And if I had put Kentucky down to go all the way, they most certainly wouldn't have. So by putting someone else to win the national championship, I therefore cursed that team** and left the path open for Kentucky to take it all.
You're welcome.
However, I did pick them to win the whole thing on what I like to call, my "mental bracket." And that's a bracket that I fill out in my head and I just put Kentucky as the winner and don't really bother to fill in the teams they play against.
So my paper bracket this year, was wrong which was expected. But my mental bracket was golden!
*If you don't cheer for Kentucky they kick you out of school or take away your degree. I'm pretty sure that's in the by-laws
**Once again, the exception here is Duke. I cannot bring myself to put them in the national champion spot even if it is a means of cursing them. However, I did have them going to the elite 8 and they were out the first round, so I like to think I helped some.
I was pulling for Kentucky* the whole time, but if you looked at my paper bracket, (the one I actually filled out and put on the fridge like a piece of kindergarten artwork) you'll see I had someone else slated to win the national championship.
Now, before anyone doubts my Kentucky faith/love, you must understand that I set my paper bracket up that way in order to help them win!
Because I cannot, for the life of me, pick a winner. Brackets, a horse race, even a blind draw, I never pick the winner. So my paper bracket is always total crap and never right. And if I had put Kentucky down to go all the way, they most certainly wouldn't have. So by putting someone else to win the national championship, I therefore cursed that team** and left the path open for Kentucky to take it all.
You're welcome.
However, I did pick them to win the whole thing on what I like to call, my "mental bracket." And that's a bracket that I fill out in my head and I just put Kentucky as the winner and don't really bother to fill in the teams they play against.
So my paper bracket this year, was wrong which was expected. But my mental bracket was golden!
*If you don't cheer for Kentucky they kick you out of school or take away your degree. I'm pretty sure that's in the by-laws
**Once again, the exception here is Duke. I cannot bring myself to put them in the national champion spot even if it is a means of cursing them. However, I did have them going to the elite 8 and they were out the first round, so I like to think I helped some.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Out of State
Last weekend Mike and I took a weekend trip to Columbia, SC for our anniversary. Columbia happens to be where USC is, and being the academics that we are, (and, that our hotel was close) we walked around campus some. At some point I joked who would have thought we would be going on college visits so soon. To which Mike replied that our children would not be going to USC because it's out of state.
Which I agree with since there are plenty of schools in North Carolina they can go* to, and that are far enough away for them to feel like they are going away to college. (Hell, even if they go to UNC Charlotte, they're living in the dorms to get out of the house.) Unless they are going for a very specific reason/program, the kids shouldn't need to go out of state.** And they certainly aren't going to do out of state like I did*** either, and hour and half away. If they go out of state, I want a 5 hour drive and a state**** in between us to make it worth it!
* except Duke. Not only because I'm a UK alum, but also because it's private and if we're not about to pay out of state tuition then we sure as hell don't want to pay private tuition.
**personal example: my parent's told me they wouldn't pay out of state tuition for an in state education. Interior design at one of the top schools in the country? That's an out of state education. A Ba in sociology? In state all the way.
***and they are not doing undergrad like I did either. I am proud of my BA because I earned it, but I don't want my kids to struggle like I did for so long and be as miserable as I was in doing so.
****the exception for that is West Virgina. While Virgina is directly between North Carolina and West Virgina, I think we all know that West Virgina is a driving through in the daytime state and never a stay for any reason state.
Which I agree with since there are plenty of schools in North Carolina they can go* to, and that are far enough away for them to feel like they are going away to college. (Hell, even if they go to UNC Charlotte, they're living in the dorms to get out of the house.) Unless they are going for a very specific reason/program, the kids shouldn't need to go out of state.** And they certainly aren't going to do out of state like I did*** either, and hour and half away. If they go out of state, I want a 5 hour drive and a state**** in between us to make it worth it!
* except Duke. Not only because I'm a UK alum, but also because it's private and if we're not about to pay out of state tuition then we sure as hell don't want to pay private tuition.
**personal example: my parent's told me they wouldn't pay out of state tuition for an in state education. Interior design at one of the top schools in the country? That's an out of state education. A Ba in sociology? In state all the way.
***and they are not doing undergrad like I did either. I am proud of my BA because I earned it, but I don't want my kids to struggle like I did for so long and be as miserable as I was in doing so.
****the exception for that is West Virgina. While Virgina is directly between North Carolina and West Virgina, I think we all know that West Virgina is a driving through in the daytime state and never a stay for any reason state.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Jack of all trades, Master of none
Except. That I am going to get my masters!
My grad school letter came yesterday, finally! After 3 phone calls and a billion nerves wasted, I was told that a decision had finally been made. I just had to wait for the letter since they couldn't tell me over the phone. I honestly wasn't expecting it to come after the new year with most of the staff at the school off for the holidays, but I was oddly settled and ok with waiting since I knew the decision had been made.
The letter came yesterday. And I'm in!
Provisionally, but I'm still in. And I'm classified as out of state too. But I'm still in. Mike and I will take a closer look at everything and figure out the logistics of everything soon. What I may end up doing is deferring a semester so my residency status can change. I may go part time for a little and take a little longer to get the degree. But we'll figure that out soon enough. Right now, I'm just going to enjoy that I'm in, and have pride knowing that I will get my masters.
Pretty good Christmas gift!
My grad school letter came yesterday, finally! After 3 phone calls and a billion nerves wasted, I was told that a decision had finally been made. I just had to wait for the letter since they couldn't tell me over the phone. I honestly wasn't expecting it to come after the new year with most of the staff at the school off for the holidays, but I was oddly settled and ok with waiting since I knew the decision had been made.
The letter came yesterday. And I'm in!
Provisionally, but I'm still in. And I'm classified as out of state too. But I'm still in. Mike and I will take a closer look at everything and figure out the logistics of everything soon. What I may end up doing is deferring a semester so my residency status can change. I may go part time for a little and take a little longer to get the degree. But we'll figure that out soon enough. Right now, I'm just going to enjoy that I'm in, and have pride knowing that I will get my masters.
Pretty good Christmas gift!
Monday, December 19, 2011
What's In A Name?
This weekend my sister walked at her masters graduation (woot!). As they read off all 4 of her names, (first, middle, maiden and married) it reminded me of the conversation that I had with dr soc after he saw my full name at my graduation last year.
mike: Your middle name is Anna?
me: Yeah...
mike: Oh. I thought it was Ann.
me: Nope. It's Anna. Pretty sure of that.
mike: Yeah, yeah that is something you would know wouldn't you.
mike: Your middle name is Anna?
me: Yeah...
mike: Oh. I thought it was Ann.
me: Nope. It's Anna. Pretty sure of that.
mike: Yeah, yeah that is something you would know wouldn't you.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Grey or Gray? Either Way, It's Not My Favorite Color
Apparently being too terrified to get the mail and doing nothing but worrying about getting into grad school was too much for Mike to handle. So he made me call the grad school for my admission status this morning since classes start in a month.
I was right to be worried.
Someone in the grad school office looked up my name and the reason the decision was taking so long. And then I talked to her supervisor to explain things. I was told that a decision has been made, but there are still some questions about my gpa. So my application has been forwarded to the department head's attention. Who is in Dallas the rest of this week and not looking at my application. So as of this moment, my admission status is still in a "gray area."
That? Is not a yes. It's not a no either, but... it's not a yes.
This has to be based on my uc gpa. Because my uk cumulative gpa was a 2.9. I have nothing to show for my 6 years at uc except a low gpa. And there is nothing I can do to change that. So now I'm just wishing and hoping and praying that cincinnati hasn't kept me from something I want once again. Last year when I walked at my graduation, I believed I had finally triumphed over that school. I had nothing to be embarrassed about anymore. I could hold my head high and say I earned this, and cinci couldn't take anything away from me anymore. I should have known better.
Needless to say, I'm even more anxious now. I've said that I would apply again and look into other programs if it didn't happen this year. But if my gpa is the reason for their hesitancy, there's nothing I can do to change that and this is just going to keep coming up, no matter what school I apply to. I'm still at the mercy of other people's acceptance.
Gray sucks.
I was right to be worried.
Someone in the grad school office looked up my name and the reason the decision was taking so long. And then I talked to her supervisor to explain things. I was told that a decision has been made, but there are still some questions about my gpa. So my application has been forwarded to the department head's attention. Who is in Dallas the rest of this week and not looking at my application. So as of this moment, my admission status is still in a "gray area."
That? Is not a yes. It's not a no either, but... it's not a yes.
This has to be based on my uc gpa. Because my uk cumulative gpa was a 2.9. I have nothing to show for my 6 years at uc except a low gpa. And there is nothing I can do to change that. So now I'm just wishing and hoping and praying that cincinnati hasn't kept me from something I want once again. Last year when I walked at my graduation, I believed I had finally triumphed over that school. I had nothing to be embarrassed about anymore. I could hold my head high and say I earned this, and cinci couldn't take anything away from me anymore. I should have known better.
Needless to say, I'm even more anxious now. I've said that I would apply again and look into other programs if it didn't happen this year. But if my gpa is the reason for their hesitancy, there's nothing I can do to change that and this is just going to keep coming up, no matter what school I apply to. I'm still at the mercy of other people's acceptance.
Gray sucks.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Higher Ed
So I took the GRE again yesterday. The good news is that my verbal score went up 50 points! However, my quantitative score went down 50 points....so I have the exact same score as I did before.
However, I feel ok about this. Because this GRE, my verbal score was a 10 points higher than my quantitative score. And I have a feeling that with library school, most want your verbal score to be the higher of the two. After the test I felt good enough about it to even send my scores to the grad school I want to get into.
I didn't study for my SATs or ACTs, and I still got into college. And while I did study for the GRE, a distracted hour or two a day doesn't actually do much good. But I feel ok about everything. I was way more relaxed this time around, and the score I needed/wanted to go up did.
It's funny though, because I studied the verbal section more my first test, and ended up having that be my lower score. This time I studied the math section more and that was my lower score. So the moral of the story is, studying is bad.
However, I feel ok about this. Because this GRE, my verbal score was a 10 points higher than my quantitative score. And I have a feeling that with library school, most want your verbal score to be the higher of the two. After the test I felt good enough about it to even send my scores to the grad school I want to get into.
I didn't study for my SATs or ACTs, and I still got into college. And while I did study for the GRE, a distracted hour or two a day doesn't actually do much good. But I feel ok about everything. I was way more relaxed this time around, and the score I needed/wanted to go up did.
It's funny though, because I studied the verbal section more my first test, and ended up having that be my lower score. This time I studied the math section more and that was my lower score. So the moral of the story is, studying is bad.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Going to Need a Bigger Boat
I had an interview this afternoon (yay!) for a part time position. The job isn't what I thought it would be, but what it is still sounds good and something I would be good at. (It wasn't a bait and switch like the other "interview" I had, just not what I thought.) We started the interview early since I arrived a little early, and I flew through the questions they asked me, so it's hard for me to gauge how it went one way or the other.
Well, anyway, it's a part time position, which is not ideal because I have need medical. But it's at a place I want to work at and right now I just need to get something and my foot in the door. Especially now, because a whole slew of fresh graduates are about to enter the job market.
The market's tough as it is, and everyone is looking. But at least graduating in December, I entered the market with fewer of me. And now, with graduation approaching again, all of those fresh out of college kids are plopping their names and resumes into the applicant pond. The job pool is staying the same. But now, there's just a lot more guppies in there.
Well, anyway, it's a part time position, which is not ideal because I have need medical. But it's at a place I want to work at and right now I just need to get something and my foot in the door. Especially now, because a whole slew of fresh graduates are about to enter the job market.
The market's tough as it is, and everyone is looking. But at least graduating in December, I entered the market with fewer of me. And now, with graduation approaching again, all of those fresh out of college kids are plopping their names and resumes into the applicant pond. The job pool is staying the same. But now, there's just a lot more guppies in there.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
It's All In Who You Know
So, I have a BA in sociology. (I really do! The fancy piece of paper came!) Dr soc has his PhD in sociology. (And a BA and MA while I'm lauding his accomplishments.) Did I mention that we both got those aforementioned degrees from the same school?
Yeah. Like that doesn't look scandalous..
But it's actually not. He received the PhD August 2009 and was out of the graduate program by the time I switched to sociology in around October 2009. There was never a teacher/student relationship, and it's not like he would have crossed the line if there was anyway, since he still won't make out with me in his office.
Well, anyway, we may have never crossed paths while at UK, but we knew a lot of the same people. And that would be due to him knowing who all my teachers were since they were grad students of sociology and he was in grad school with them for 5 years. And not that it came up, but we felt it best to just not mention "us" in the department.
But once, just once, I let one of my teachers know who I was dating. I had needed help on a few problems and had gone to office hours. We were just chatting about things and thus the following conversation:
teach: When do you graduate?
me: December!
teach: Cool! What are you going to do after graduation?
me: I'm moving to Charlotte and there I'll try to find a job and then get into grad school there.
teach: Are you going to go in into library science? And why Charlotte?
me: Yeah, I am and my boyfriend accepted a job there this summer. So I'm joining him after graduation.
teach: Oh cool. What does he do?
me: He teaches at a community college.
teach: Does he have his PhD?
me: He does.
teach: Where did he get it from?
me: Here....from UK
teach: Really? Cool. What does he teach?
me: Sociology...
teach: And he got his PhD here?
By this point I know if I keep evading it's just going to look worse and worse. So I figure letting one person know isn't the end of the world, and we're adults about this.
me: Yeah...yeah, it's Mike soc.
teach: NO way! (his face face lit up with recognition.) That's awesome! Tell him I said Hi!
me: Will do.
Of course I told dr soc about it and him and my teacher were friends so it wasn't that big of a deal. But it was still funny.
Yeah. Like that doesn't look scandalous..
But it's actually not. He received the PhD August 2009 and was out of the graduate program by the time I switched to sociology in around October 2009. There was never a teacher/student relationship, and it's not like he would have crossed the line if there was anyway, since he still won't make out with me in his office.
Well, anyway, we may have never crossed paths while at UK, but we knew a lot of the same people. And that would be due to him knowing who all my teachers were since they were grad students of sociology and he was in grad school with them for 5 years. And not that it came up, but we felt it best to just not mention "us" in the department.
But once, just once, I let one of my teachers know who I was dating. I had needed help on a few problems and had gone to office hours. We were just chatting about things and thus the following conversation:
teach: When do you graduate?
me: December!
teach: Cool! What are you going to do after graduation?
me: I'm moving to Charlotte and there I'll try to find a job and then get into grad school there.
teach: Are you going to go in into library science? And why Charlotte?
me: Yeah, I am and my boyfriend accepted a job there this summer. So I'm joining him after graduation.
teach: Oh cool. What does he do?
me: He teaches at a community college.
teach: Does he have his PhD?
me: He does.
teach: Where did he get it from?
me: Here....from UK
teach: Really? Cool. What does he teach?
me: Sociology...
teach: And he got his PhD here?
By this point I know if I keep evading it's just going to look worse and worse. So I figure letting one person know isn't the end of the world, and we're adults about this.
me: Yeah...yeah, it's Mike soc.
teach: NO way! (his face face lit up with recognition.) That's awesome! Tell him I said Hi!
me: Will do.
Of course I told dr soc about it and him and my teacher were friends so it wasn't that big of a deal. But it was still funny.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Flashback
I needed to bring in a few copies of my resume and reference contact sheet to an interview I had this morning. First: interview, yay! And it went well I think, so phew. But that's not the point of this post. Let's go back to the "needed to bring in a few copies of my resume" part.
My resume is a saved word document file I can email and/or print when I need. Since moving to Charlotte, I've only uploaded and attached it as I've been applying for jobs. Printing a physical copy is a perfunctory thing, so I figured I would do that before I went to bed last night and then get a good night's rest so I could be on my A-game.
I haven't had to use my new (to me) printer yet, so it stayed in it's box until last night. As I'm starting to set it up, I discover there are no cables of any sort in there. A few extra ink cartridges, all color and no black ink, but no cables, not even a power one. So for the moment I have an expensive paper weight. Normally in a situation like this, I would just save the file to a flash drive and print it on dr soc's printer, but his is out of ink. Which we knew because that was why I was setting up my printer in the first place. And my extra ink cartridges won't work in his printer either.
We don't live in the middle of nowhere, and I could easily do a google search and find the nearest 24 copy/print place, or run to a 24 hour big-box store and get the right cables or ink for dr soc's printer. But those things take a little time, and it's just past 11 o'clock by this point. By the time I would have gone out, shopped, returned home and printed a few copies, it would be after midnight and I then I would still have to get ready for bed. So I start having nightmare flashbacks to my daap days. The staying up all night, racing against the clock to get drawings done, have them ready in time to take to the printers the second they open, running out of ink halfway through a print job, and everyone else's printer in use and/or in the same situation as yours. Just bad, stressful flashbacks.
I'm sitting at my desk rubbing my temples because I know that this is a remediable situation, but I'm crippled behind my flashbacks. But dr soc saved the day/night. Seeing my frustration, he said he would run out and get the ink for his printer in the morning as I got ready. Which he did and then printed the copies I needed this morning while I did my makeup. I got to go to bed at a reasonable hour, I had enough resumes and reference lists in the morning, I didn't have to rush and made it to the interview with time to spare, on my A-game. I know printer ink may seem somewhat trivial to some, but to me he was my knight in shining armor. God I love that man!
My resume is a saved word document file I can email and/or print when I need. Since moving to Charlotte, I've only uploaded and attached it as I've been applying for jobs. Printing a physical copy is a perfunctory thing, so I figured I would do that before I went to bed last night and then get a good night's rest so I could be on my A-game.
I haven't had to use my new (to me) printer yet, so it stayed in it's box until last night. As I'm starting to set it up, I discover there are no cables of any sort in there. A few extra ink cartridges, all color and no black ink, but no cables, not even a power one. So for the moment I have an expensive paper weight. Normally in a situation like this, I would just save the file to a flash drive and print it on dr soc's printer, but his is out of ink. Which we knew because that was why I was setting up my printer in the first place. And my extra ink cartridges won't work in his printer either.
We don't live in the middle of nowhere, and I could easily do a google search and find the nearest 24 copy/print place, or run to a 24 hour big-box store and get the right cables or ink for dr soc's printer. But those things take a little time, and it's just past 11 o'clock by this point. By the time I would have gone out, shopped, returned home and printed a few copies, it would be after midnight and I then I would still have to get ready for bed. So I start having nightmare flashbacks to my daap days. The staying up all night, racing against the clock to get drawings done, have them ready in time to take to the printers the second they open, running out of ink halfway through a print job, and everyone else's printer in use and/or in the same situation as yours. Just bad, stressful flashbacks.
I'm sitting at my desk rubbing my temples because I know that this is a remediable situation, but I'm crippled behind my flashbacks. But dr soc saved the day/night. Seeing my frustration, he said he would run out and get the ink for his printer in the morning as I got ready. Which he did and then printed the copies I needed this morning while I did my makeup. I got to go to bed at a reasonable hour, I had enough resumes and reference lists in the morning, I didn't have to rush and made it to the interview with time to spare, on my A-game. I know printer ink may seem somewhat trivial to some, but to me he was my knight in shining armor. God I love that man!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Walking
Yesterday I walked across the stage at UK's December graduation and received my (long-awaited) BA.
Wait, my BA? How many of you are confused because you thought I had a degree? Well, here's what happened. Despite the years, the work and mental breakdowns, my cumulative gpa (from the years of work) was just a smidgen to low to actually receive the interiors degree. I walked at uc's graduation and found out 2 weeks later I didn't. By then I didn't have the strength to fight for it, mostly due to all the years, the hard work and mental breakdowns in addition to loosing 95% of my work 2 weeks before everything was due.
So if I told you I graduated, I was flat out lying to you. (I never lied on job applications though) I usually said I finished uc. Because I was finished. I was finished with that school, finished with all the courses and ridiculous demands, the design under the threat of death, the city, the constant feeling of inadequacy and the power that school held over me for a stupid fancy piece of paper. Finished. Done. I had been humiliated enough over the years. I could not go back to that school for anything, and I certainly was not going to grovel for something they didn't want to give me anyway.
It has undoubtedly been the most shameful thing in my life. But I went back to school. A new school, a school where I fit in and fit me a whole lot better. And I did ok. I may even say I did more than ok overall one day.
But as far as commencement went, UK only offered on ceremony in May. They never offered a December graduation until this year, and when presented with the opportunity I was really unsure if I wanted to walk. Because I have walked before. Sent the announcements. Had the pictures taken. And then....failure and shame. Despite my family's wishes, I still wasn't sure, because they will never understand how awful this could be for me. I know my mom wants her pictures, but I prefer to not have my humiliation frozen there on the mantel.
I mulled it over in my head for a while and decided to walk, even though I knew it would bring up bad and unsettling memories. I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy the ceremony fully, knowing that it can and has been taken away. And that I'm still uneasy about it and I'll feel a lot better about the whole thing when I get the transcript or coveted fancy paper. But I also walked because I knew I'd regret it later if I didn't. Also to get my mother and sister off my case. I walked for the other students who didn't get this ceremony. And I wasn't going to shun the university who will award me a degree and let the one that didn't think I was good enough win. If I didn't walk, uc still wins over me.
So fuck you uc. You don't get to tell me I'm not good enough anymore. And I'm not letting you bite any more of my moments. I walked. I win.
**12/20/10 All my grades have been posted, my semester gpa is a 3.1 and my cumulative a 2.9. I really did it!
Wait, my BA? How many of you are confused because you thought I had a degree? Well, here's what happened. Despite the years, the work and mental breakdowns, my cumulative gpa (from the years of work) was just a smidgen to low to actually receive the interiors degree. I walked at uc's graduation and found out 2 weeks later I didn't. By then I didn't have the strength to fight for it, mostly due to all the years, the hard work and mental breakdowns in addition to loosing 95% of my work 2 weeks before everything was due.
So if I told you I graduated, I was flat out lying to you. (I never lied on job applications though) I usually said I finished uc. Because I was finished. I was finished with that school, finished with all the courses and ridiculous demands, the design under the threat of death, the city, the constant feeling of inadequacy and the power that school held over me for a stupid fancy piece of paper. Finished. Done. I had been humiliated enough over the years. I could not go back to that school for anything, and I certainly was not going to grovel for something they didn't want to give me anyway.
It has undoubtedly been the most shameful thing in my life. But I went back to school. A new school, a school where I fit in and fit me a whole lot better. And I did ok. I may even say I did more than ok overall one day.
But as far as commencement went, UK only offered on ceremony in May. They never offered a December graduation until this year, and when presented with the opportunity I was really unsure if I wanted to walk. Because I have walked before. Sent the announcements. Had the pictures taken. And then....failure and shame. Despite my family's wishes, I still wasn't sure, because they will never understand how awful this could be for me. I know my mom wants her pictures, but I prefer to not have my humiliation frozen there on the mantel.
I mulled it over in my head for a while and decided to walk, even though I knew it would bring up bad and unsettling memories. I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy the ceremony fully, knowing that it can and has been taken away. And that I'm still uneasy about it and I'll feel a lot better about the whole thing when I get the transcript or coveted fancy paper. But I also walked because I knew I'd regret it later if I didn't. Also to get my mother and sister off my case. I walked for the other students who didn't get this ceremony. And I wasn't going to shun the university who will award me a degree and let the one that didn't think I was good enough win. If I didn't walk, uc still wins over me.
So fuck you uc. You don't get to tell me I'm not good enough anymore. And I'm not letting you bite any more of my moments. I walked. I win.
**12/20/10 All my grades have been posted, my semester gpa is a 3.1 and my cumulative a 2.9. I really did it!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Scared
I'm graduating in less than 3 weeks. I'm moving to Charlotte (and in w/dr soc) in 5 or 6 weeks.
I understand why people are asking me if I'm excited. I'd be asking the same thing. But I'm not excited.
I'm scared. I'm too scared that it won't happen. I'm too scared to get my hopes up. I'm too scared to enjoy myself and I'm too scared to be even a little bit excited.
So no, I'm not excited. And for the first time in many people's lives, I fail to have a response or anything to say.
I understand why people are asking me if I'm excited. I'd be asking the same thing. But I'm not excited.
I'm scared. I'm too scared that it won't happen. I'm too scared to get my hopes up. I'm too scared to enjoy myself and I'm too scared to be even a little bit excited.
So no, I'm not excited. And for the first time in many people's lives, I fail to have a response or anything to say.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Higher Education
I just confirmed my appointment to take the GRE. ::eep::
Yep, I want to go to grad school. I wasn't sure if I would want to go back to school again after doing the same thing almost 2 years ago. But after working in a library it's pretty much only a matter a time that you want to be a librarian yourself.
However, to be a librarian you need to have a Masters in Library Science (sometimes it's masters of library and information science depending on the program). Masters means grad school. Which means I need to take the GRE (among many other things).
I found an accredited library school program in Charlotte which is what spurred the decision to at least try for it. I'm putting all my eggs in one basket since this is the only program I'll be applying to. But I have to try. And taking the GRE is one of the first steps in doing so.
Holy crap. I'm doing this.
Yep, I want to go to grad school. I wasn't sure if I would want to go back to school again after doing the same thing almost 2 years ago. But after working in a library it's pretty much only a matter a time that you want to be a librarian yourself.
However, to be a librarian you need to have a Masters in Library Science (sometimes it's masters of library and information science depending on the program). Masters means grad school. Which means I need to take the GRE (among many other things).
I found an accredited library school program in Charlotte which is what spurred the decision to at least try for it. I'm putting all my eggs in one basket since this is the only program I'll be applying to. But I have to try. And taking the GRE is one of the first steps in doing so.
Holy crap. I'm doing this.
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