This week I shall be in a state bordering a nervous breakdown. Why you ask? I have a 4,000 word essay due next Monday. 67 words are currently residing in my Word document. Why did I do this? I've been busy. I've not been able to get on the computer. I wanted to go to sleep. I had other homework.
In essence, the usual reasons.
The worst part about this is that I was warned by last year's class to not procrastinate, to finish (or at least start) the thing over the summer. Did I believe them? Yes. What did I do about it? Nothing. I wanted to go on dates and Internet my way through summer; heaven forbid that I actually do work. I feel stupid. My only consolation is that no other kid has finished this essay either. We can all be stupid together.
28 October 2008
22 October 2008
14 October 2008
th3 p3rs0n4l st4t3m3nt
As every collegebound senior knows, the essay portion of the application is a major stresser. It requires intelligence, originality, creativity, and, above all, it must make a good impression on the admissions counselor. Each essay is pored over by the respective senior. It is the reason for sleepless nights and relentless soul-searching. It is presented with a special ritual to a trusted adviser, who searches it for flaws and then submitted back to the student for another rigorous round of editing. In all, this essay takes a massive amount of time from the student (and others) to create and formulate. It takes admissions about four minutes to read. Four. Minutes.
All of that time spent for a four minute impression of a document. What a waste.
But that isn't all; the topics for these essays can become ridiculously broad. For example, the UC personal statement's first prompt (for incoming freshman) states: Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
They also enforce a word limit of 1,000 words for the two essays. Each should be between 250 and 750 words.
This is ridiculous - My world is bigger than 750 words. I can talk barely talk about today in 750 words, let alone yesterday, and the day before that, and every other day of my life. How am I supposed to explain my view of the world without subjecting myself to a labelling process that endorses the stereotypes associated with each brand that I fall under. Personal statements are silly - they are far to short to accurately display the whole of someone's being.
All of that time spent for a four minute impression of a document. What a waste.
But that isn't all; the topics for these essays can become ridiculously broad. For example, the UC personal statement's first prompt (for incoming freshman) states: Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
They also enforce a word limit of 1,000 words for the two essays. Each should be between 250 and 750 words.
This is ridiculous - My world is bigger than 750 words. I can talk barely talk about today in 750 words, let alone yesterday, and the day before that, and every other day of my life. How am I supposed to explain my view of the world without subjecting myself to a labelling process that endorses the stereotypes associated with each brand that I fall under. Personal statements are silly - they are far to short to accurately display the whole of someone's being.
12 October 2008
Scarves
I hate the cold. This is not some sort of passionless dislike, where the person simply grumbles a bit under their breath. No. This is an ongoing war between me and the elemental powers that be, a seasonal matchup as inevitatble as the Apocalypse or the Superbowl. This is serious. Last year, I wore hats and jackets combat the weather, while They brought in wind to push Their icy fingers through the holes between the yarn and threads. However, this year I shall triumph over the cold. I have a plan to defeat this menace once and for all.
Scarves.
Yes. I shall sport a scarf during the winter months. This shall prevent loss of neck heat and will additionally prevent my sister from sighing at my apparent lack of style. Scarves have style. In addition, I can fit them in my second backpack easily - transport during cross-country practice will not be a problem.
Not to worry - all my usual methods of combat will be employed - my bundle of blankets and quilts, my shawls, my hats, my gloves, my layers of jackets, and my mugs of hot apple cider drink mix (the yellow brand) will be employed. This year, though, they will have a new, strong, and versaile ally - the scarf.
(Imagine if I didn't live in Southern California...)
Scarves.
Yes. I shall sport a scarf during the winter months. This shall prevent loss of neck heat and will additionally prevent my sister from sighing at my apparent lack of style. Scarves have style. In addition, I can fit them in my second backpack easily - transport during cross-country practice will not be a problem.
Not to worry - all my usual methods of combat will be employed - my bundle of blankets and quilts, my shawls, my hats, my gloves, my layers of jackets, and my mugs of hot apple cider drink mix (the yellow brand) will be employed. This year, though, they will have a new, strong, and versaile ally - the scarf.
(Imagine if I didn't live in Southern California...)
11 October 2008
th3 s3c0nd intr0
I have been Inspired to restart this blog. Note the capitalized "I". This is no regular whimsy, but a sacred duty (formed out of boredom and surfing). A new quest to bring some order to my life in a way that seems vaguely intriguing to those (nonexistent) few wandering through cyberspace.
I also need to work on some sort of organization of my thoughts. I currently blog on a thread on gaiaonline, but this encourages me to use two sentences at most per day. This type of communication should not be sufficient, especially in light of my current english class.
But I digress. I need to be more coherent and less tangential in my thinking abilities. I plan to generally sway my writing style to be more... wordy. I feel that I am too succinct in my expression of thought. (Even now, I have a strong urge to omit the previous sentence due to its repetitive tendencies.) In addition, I hope to like writing (a saga to be told at at a later date).
I also need to work on some sort of organization of my thoughts. I currently blog on a thread on gaiaonline, but this encourages me to use two sentences at most per day. This type of communication should not be sufficient, especially in light of my current english class.
But I digress. I need to be more coherent and less tangential in my thinking abilities. I plan to generally sway my writing style to be more... wordy. I feel that I am too succinct in my expression of thought. (Even now, I have a strong urge to omit the previous sentence due to its repetitive tendencies.) In addition, I hope to like writing (a saga to be told at at a later date).
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