95% of the time I LOVE being an RA. I have great friends, a great floor, I get to plan cool events, and I'm always in "the know" about what's going on on campus.
Today, however, was in the other 5%.
My day started at 4:30 AM, when someone was pounding frantically at my door. I answered to find a very shaken resident telling me that she found someone in the bathroom passed out and having a seizure. I quickly grabbed my phone to call 911 and went to be with my fallen resident. By the time I got to the bathroom she had regained consciousness, and as soon as I saw she was breathing and conscious I became instantly calm. It's weird how, after dealing with so many incidents, the fact that someone is breathing is enough to be like, "Oh, no big deal."
She was, in fact, okay. I rubbed her back while she continued puking and we waited for the ambulance. She went to the hospital, but I was up until about 6:30 dealing with the incident, writing it up, assuring her roommate that everything was going to be okay, and then trying to fall back asleep myself. It is disconcerting to watch the sun begin to rise outside my window, knowing that I have to be up in two hours to greet it for an early class. Blast.
Being an RA is so fun, but it is scary and taxing to deal with emergencies. I'm not sure if it's good or bad that my fingers don't even shake a little bit anymore when I call 911. It's just like an extended speed dial. "Oh, hey, operator? I haven't yet talked with you yet this week. How are the children?" He he he it's not that bad, but I just feel like incidents don't phase me as much anymore. They leave me exhausted, but not shaken up. Does that make sense? They do, however, produce a very tired, cranky RA for the day after the night that she got four hours of sleep. Nobody better bust out the weed tonight; I would not be friendly.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Word of the Day: Experiment
Okay. I have a hypothesis. What made my "Inside These Crookston Walls" blog successful is that I had a format to write in every day, so I was more motivated to actually blog. Therefore I am trying out a format on this blog as well. It is going to be called "Word of the Day." I will pick a word that sums up my day, and then explain why. Easy as pie, right? I should have no problem updating my blog every day now, right?
Well, we shall see. That's why the word of the day today is "experiment." We shall see how this works.
I mean, I do want to remember college. For instance, I could tell you that this weekend was really fun. Rex and I reserved tuxes and bought his wedding ring (!) on Saturday, and then I had a wedding planning party with Charissa. YAY! Then Rex and I went to the movies and saw a movie about a couple who hates each other going into the witness protection program together. It was funny. And SEE? Now I won't forget that I did that because it is in this blog! On Friday night we tried Mike's Hard Lemonade for the first time, and it was DELICIOUS! Oh, and we went to Lou and Harry's Grrrrrrrrrrrrill!! Actually, we didn't, we just walked by it and thought it was a cool name. Well, more I thought it was a cool name. But don't you understand? Now I will REMEMBER that I think that is a cool name! This blogging thing is so cool...it's like writing my own memories. For instance, today I did math homework, but I don't want to remember that so I just won't write about it. Except that I just did. Blast.
I will have to work on this.
It shall be a fun experiment.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'm Bad at Blogging
It's true. I am bad at it. This is sad.
Today I went back and read pieces of my "Inside These Crookston Walls" blog from this summer. I was laughing so hard - I had forgotten most of the stuff that happened until I went back and read about it. I was so diligent about keeping that updated, mostly because I knew that in a few short weeks the whole experience would be over and I wanted to always remember it.
Somehow I am not looking at college the same way. In only 72 days I will be graduating from college - that's just over ten weeks! Yet somehow I have not been blogging. I am going to forget everything that I did here!!! AHHHHHH!!! I don't want to forget - college is a BLAST. I need to be better at blogging, though. Hmmmm....how to remember to update this....not sure.
Plus, I feel like "Sober Spartan" is so broad. What do I write about? It's like...freestyling. With "Inside These Crookston Walls," I had a format that I held to. I would nominate "Crookston Moments of the Day," choose my favorite one, and declare a winner. It was easy to keep up with and I never sat staring at a blank box thinking, "Hmmm...what should I write about today?" I was pretty much just doing a summer-long case study on craziness. I need to figure out a way to make blogging about MY life more successful. I just have so much more fun reporting on others. Plus, I'm getting married soon (86 days!), and I don't want to forget my first year of marriage. I'm totally going to need to blog about that. I mean, it'll be like "The Newlyweds" on MTV, only I'm not as dumb as Jessica Simpson and Rex is not a rockstar and we don't have millions of dollars and we're not getting divorced...so okay maybe it will be nothing like "The Newlyweds." It would be cool, though! I totally wish that I could read a blog of my parents' first year of marriage - wouldn't that be cool??? But, in order to prepare myself for that, I need to get better at blogging!!!!
Suggestions, anyone?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
My Math History
So I have this class, and I had to write my "math history" for it. I had to give a high point, a low point, a turning point, two "math scenes," my single greatest challenge, and two possible futures (one positive, one negative). This assignment is WEIRD. I kind of had fun writing my responses, though, so I'm posting them here. Hopefully my professor isn't too incredibly serious...
My Math History
The high point in my mathematical history was in fifth grade (is it bad that I piqued in fifth grade?). Anyway, my school participated in "Math Olympics." I won the Math Olympics competition in my class, so then I got to go compete against other mathematically advanced students in Michigan. At that competition, I won first place! HOORAY! I was incredibly proud of myself and how I represented my school, and I felt very intelligent. I still have my trophy...don't judge.
My math low was in high school. I attended KAMSC (Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center), a magnet school for students gifted in math and science. My senior year, I was in a Calculus class and - for the first time in my life - was entirely confused by the mathematical concepts. I could go ahead and blame the teacher, but I feel that it would be more realistic to blame my infatuation and constant flirtation with the guy who sat next to me. Whatever the reason, I did not understand the concepts. My friend Sara helped me in Calculus whenever I needed it, and I could usually scrape together enough comprehension to do decently well on the tests. My grade wasn't awful, but I did not feel that I grasped the material. I hated the feeling of inadequacy and stupidity, so this was my math low.
I would say that my math turning point would be in college when I decided to begin a math minor. After my twelfth grade Calculus shenanigans, I had decided that I wasn't good at math. After scoring very well on the math placement entrance exam at MSU, I had the opportunity to never take a math class again. I was very excited about this. After a while, though, I really started to miss math. I liked the challenge of the problems and the logic of how everything works together so neatly. Before, elementary/middle school math had been something that I was good at, in high school math was something I had to get through, but in college I saw math as something I actually enjoyed. This was a weird revelation for me. Given the choice to never take math again, I didn't take it! That still boggles my mind sometimes, but in general I am very glad that I decided to do a math minor.
Math scene #1: When I was five, my dad tried to teach me multiplication with Hershey's kisses on my great-grandmother's coffee table. It was largely unsuccessful. I mean, I was FIVE! When that failed, he tried to teach me percentages which was, again, unsuccessful. If I didn't understand multiplication, I'm not sure how he expected me to understand percentages. Anyway, I was frustrated by this exchange, but I was more intrigued because this opened my eyes to exactly how much I didn't understand about the world. I decided that I wanted to learn all of these crazy mathematical conepts, and that when I was older I would understand EVERYTHING.
Math Scene #2: It was kind of cool to come full circle and teach a class that I once took. I teach math and science camps for children in the summer, and I attended those camps as a young student (um, can we say "NERD"??). Anyway, my first year as a teacher there was four years ago, and I taught the class "Teddy Bear Math," which I attended as a kindergartener. It was a cool feeling.
Single Greatest Challenge: In a word, CALCULUS. I have already explained about my Caluculus problems in twelfth grade. I took Calculus I again in college, and I worked my butt off. I practically moved in to the MLC and to the professor's office hours, and I came out with a 4.0. YAY! I tried to take Calc II online, though, and that epically failed. I mean, math online? This is just a bad choice. I should have seen that coming. Therefore I still need to take Calc II, and I'm very nervous about it.
Positive Math Future: Assuming I finish my math minor, a positive math future would be one in which I can teach students math concepts and get excited about the logic and preciseness of the subject. I did not find a love of math until college, and I believe that it would have been very useful to achieve that mindset earlier in life. In a positive math future, I would be able to do this.
Possible extension of this future: Maybe I will be able to inspire one of my students to love math, and they will become very skilled in it. They will work outside of school to persue math concepts beyond what we are learning in class. Because they are so good at math, they will excell in Physics in high school. Because they are good at Physics, they will major it in college. Then, because they are so good, they will get lots of grant money for research, and they will make some huge breakthrough. They will win a Nobel Prize and start their acceptance speech with, "Well, I owe it all to this one teacher..."
Negative Math Future: I am one class away from finishing my math minor (that pesky Calc II), and in a negative math future I would not finish that minor. I would go on to never use the math minor that I worked my butt off to achieve, and I would feel a large sense of regret over the loss of tuition money and effort put into it.
Possible Extension of this future: Perhaps, because I feel such a sense of guilt and inadequacy, I will quit the field of Education altogether. Because the economy right now is just booming...yeah, right...I won't find another job. Because I have no job, I will lose my house and become a hobo living on the streets of Chicago (why Chicago? Not sure. Sounds like a good place for hobos). I won't be a very experienced hobo, though, so food will be scarce and the other hobos will almost certainly pick on me. I'll probably die in some sewer and be left to be eaten by rats, but my last words will be, "If only I had finished that math minor..."
My Math History
The high point in my mathematical history was in fifth grade (is it bad that I piqued in fifth grade?). Anyway, my school participated in "Math Olympics." I won the Math Olympics competition in my class, so then I got to go compete against other mathematically advanced students in Michigan. At that competition, I won first place! HOORAY! I was incredibly proud of myself and how I represented my school, and I felt very intelligent. I still have my trophy...don't judge.
My math low was in high school. I attended KAMSC (Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center), a magnet school for students gifted in math and science. My senior year, I was in a Calculus class and - for the first time in my life - was entirely confused by the mathematical concepts. I could go ahead and blame the teacher, but I feel that it would be more realistic to blame my infatuation and constant flirtation with the guy who sat next to me. Whatever the reason, I did not understand the concepts. My friend Sara helped me in Calculus whenever I needed it, and I could usually scrape together enough comprehension to do decently well on the tests. My grade wasn't awful, but I did not feel that I grasped the material. I hated the feeling of inadequacy and stupidity, so this was my math low.
I would say that my math turning point would be in college when I decided to begin a math minor. After my twelfth grade Calculus shenanigans, I had decided that I wasn't good at math. After scoring very well on the math placement entrance exam at MSU, I had the opportunity to never take a math class again. I was very excited about this. After a while, though, I really started to miss math. I liked the challenge of the problems and the logic of how everything works together so neatly. Before, elementary/middle school math had been something that I was good at, in high school math was something I had to get through, but in college I saw math as something I actually enjoyed. This was a weird revelation for me. Given the choice to never take math again, I didn't take it! That still boggles my mind sometimes, but in general I am very glad that I decided to do a math minor.
Math scene #1: When I was five, my dad tried to teach me multiplication with Hershey's kisses on my great-grandmother's coffee table. It was largely unsuccessful. I mean, I was FIVE! When that failed, he tried to teach me percentages which was, again, unsuccessful. If I didn't understand multiplication, I'm not sure how he expected me to understand percentages. Anyway, I was frustrated by this exchange, but I was more intrigued because this opened my eyes to exactly how much I didn't understand about the world. I decided that I wanted to learn all of these crazy mathematical conepts, and that when I was older I would understand EVERYTHING.
Math Scene #2: It was kind of cool to come full circle and teach a class that I once took. I teach math and science camps for children in the summer, and I attended those camps as a young student (um, can we say "NERD"??). Anyway, my first year as a teacher there was four years ago, and I taught the class "Teddy Bear Math," which I attended as a kindergartener. It was a cool feeling.
Single Greatest Challenge: In a word, CALCULUS. I have already explained about my Caluculus problems in twelfth grade. I took Calculus I again in college, and I worked my butt off. I practically moved in to the MLC and to the professor's office hours, and I came out with a 4.0. YAY! I tried to take Calc II online, though, and that epically failed. I mean, math online? This is just a bad choice. I should have seen that coming. Therefore I still need to take Calc II, and I'm very nervous about it.
Positive Math Future: Assuming I finish my math minor, a positive math future would be one in which I can teach students math concepts and get excited about the logic and preciseness of the subject. I did not find a love of math until college, and I believe that it would have been very useful to achieve that mindset earlier in life. In a positive math future, I would be able to do this.
Possible extension of this future: Maybe I will be able to inspire one of my students to love math, and they will become very skilled in it. They will work outside of school to persue math concepts beyond what we are learning in class. Because they are so good at math, they will excell in Physics in high school. Because they are good at Physics, they will major it in college. Then, because they are so good, they will get lots of grant money for research, and they will make some huge breakthrough. They will win a Nobel Prize and start their acceptance speech with, "Well, I owe it all to this one teacher..."
Negative Math Future: I am one class away from finishing my math minor (that pesky Calc II), and in a negative math future I would not finish that minor. I would go on to never use the math minor that I worked my butt off to achieve, and I would feel a large sense of regret over the loss of tuition money and effort put into it.
Possible Extension of this future: Perhaps, because I feel such a sense of guilt and inadequacy, I will quit the field of Education altogether. Because the economy right now is just booming...yeah, right...I won't find another job. Because I have no job, I will lose my house and become a hobo living on the streets of Chicago (why Chicago? Not sure. Sounds like a good place for hobos). I won't be a very experienced hobo, though, so food will be scarce and the other hobos will almost certainly pick on me. I'll probably die in some sewer and be left to be eaten by rats, but my last words will be, "If only I had finished that math minor..."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
What I really hate, is improper comma usage
Ew. That title literally hurts my eyes.
I have found a new respect for my friend Carly. She works in the writing center at GVSU. I absolutely cannot stand proofreading people's papers when there are grammar errors in them (as there inevitably are), and I had to do that yesterday. Now I am blogging about it because I need a place to vent.
If a friend asks me to proofread a paper or essay for them, I don't mind at all. As a Language Arts major, I have the skills to help them out. I will NOT proofread it in front of them, though, because I get too worked up. Sometimes in class we have to do peer review in class, and that's tough. I have to contain myself when I get all frustrated.
Why do I get so frustrated by grammar and punctuation errors? I don't know. I just really, really do. For some reason I feel that all college students should know how to use basic grammar and punctuation. These are not strong points for my mom, so sometimes she will have me grade her students' papers for her. Well, she used to anyway. I don't do it anymore because it makes me too angry. I will literally sit and write all over the paper, sighing angrily and saying things out loud such as, "Oh my gosh WHY would you think a comma goes there?!?" or "YOU'VE MADE THAT MISTAKE FOUR TIMES!! CUT IT OUT!" or "I am going to call your old English teachers and tell them that they FAILED with you!" Yeah, it's pretty bleak.
Last night one of Rex's friends asked me to proofread a paper for him, and I just about lost it while I was proofreading. First of all, he asked me to proofread it and then handed me the computer. I gulped and said, "You want me to proofread it here? Right now?" I glanced nervously at Rex, and he just smiled. He knows how much I hate that. The friend said that yes, I did have to proofread it right then because the paper was due in a few hours. Blast. I steeled myself and decided that I would not freak out if there were grammar and punctuation errors. Besides, this guy is pretty smart. There probably wouldn't be any anyway.
Let me just give you a few snippets of the ensuing conversation I had:
Me: "Um, if i see something small that needs to be fixed, do you want me to fix it?"
Him: "Like what?"
Me: "Like indenting the first line of the paper..."
Him: "Okay, sure."
*gripping my leg to keep from freaking out...this is going to be a long paper*
Me: "I'm going to go ahead and capitalize this word because it's at the beginning of a sentence. Is that okay?"
Him: "I guess, if you're sure it's supposed to be capitalized."
Me: "Yes. I'm quite sure."
*digging my nails into the palm of my hand so hard it leaves marks*
Me: "I think a colon would work better in this sentence."
Him: "What's a colon?"
Me: "Uh...the thing with the two dots..."
Him: "Okay, whatever."
*biting my tongue to keep from saying something like, "Who let you pass elementary school English??"*
The good news is that I made it through, and I was able to keep my composure. I must say, though, it was HARD. I can't believe that Carly does this everyday to help people with their papers. I find it too emotionally taxing. I left in an absolutely horrible mood, upset with an education system that never taught him things such as colons and capitalizing the first letter of sentences. Rex found it humorous how much this angered me, but it really did. HOW is it okay that he didn't know those things?! He's not dumb! He definitely could have known them if someone would have TAUGHT him correctly!!!
If my future students don't use punctuation correctly, especially commas, I will just kill them. Then they won't grow up and make people proofread their horrible papers.
Perhaps that is a bit extreme; I must rethink that position.
Now I have vented, and I feel better. Thanks for reading. Want me to proofread any of your papers? Ha ha...
Friday, November 6, 2009
Weddings are not a big deal
It jars my brain a little bit to even see this title actually typed out in print on my screen. But it's true. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage. The wedding doesn't matter - I'm preparing for a marriage.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Desking
I am incredibly bored working behind the Mayo front desk, and I don't want to pull out my homework. It's Friday night, for goodness sake! So instead, I am going to write a haiku. Today my friend Melanie came to visit me with her four year old son Travis. He's...well...here's the haiku:
Running, jumping, CRASH
Guard all of your valuables
Human tornado
The kid is CRAZY! He's pretty funny, though. He was running down my hall causing all sorts of a hullabaloo, and people were poking their heads out of their doors to see what was going on. Rex held him over his head like a "jet" so that Travis could fly down the hall at warp speed. I can't decide if Travis makes me want to have kids or to never have children ever, but what I do know is that it's fun when he visits and he does all sorts of cute things. It was really good to see Melanie too. I was in her wedding...oh goodness...nine years ago? (I am OLD!), and now we're talking about mine. Weird how life comes full circle like that, you know? I mean, when you think about all of the intricacies of life, it makes homework seem completely irrelevant! Therefore wasting time behind the desk is totally justified. :-)
Running, jumping, CRASH
Guard all of your valuables
Human tornado
The kid is CRAZY! He's pretty funny, though. He was running down my hall causing all sorts of a hullabaloo, and people were poking their heads out of their doors to see what was going on. Rex held him over his head like a "jet" so that Travis could fly down the hall at warp speed. I can't decide if Travis makes me want to have kids or to never have children ever, but what I do know is that it's fun when he visits and he does all sorts of cute things. It was really good to see Melanie too. I was in her wedding...oh goodness...nine years ago? (I am OLD!), and now we're talking about mine. Weird how life comes full circle like that, you know? I mean, when you think about all of the intricacies of life, it makes homework seem completely irrelevant! Therefore wasting time behind the desk is totally justified. :-)
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