Slaving away reading a nonfiction book on global warming, a novella written in Italian, five short stories in a literary anthology edited by my English professor - I can honestly say this work is a labor of love. I feel the panic setting in, though; I didn't have time to do The Vagina Monologues nor Relexion (a spoken word/poetry performance group). I'd like to partake in both of those activities next year, because I decided that studying abroad doesn't really make sense for me. Ideally, I'd like to have the Creative Writing concentration next to my English major, which means that I have to take I believe four additional classes. Then after Conn, I'd like to get my Master's in Creative Writing at the University of Miami in Florida, and then head back up north to Boston University to get my Ph.D. in English Lit (focusing on the modern novel). It relaxes me so to have a game plan. Although I'm a lady who loves surprises and spontaneity, I love feeling stable, secure, and comfortable. Even though I think rocking the boat once in a while is necessary for a fulfilling life, sometimes it's nice just to have a goal and work towards making it happen.
But...I'm tired of everyone judging me for only taking 3 classes this semester instead of the typical 4. My classes are HARD. My Theory/Practice of Lit. Study class is pretty intense - first we read a novel or short story. Then we read the work of multiple literary critics and their published criticisms (whether in essays or books of their own) about those original works, and then finally we form our own criticisms based off both the original text and those of the critics. Talk about complexity! *brushes sweat off of forehead* Italian was pretty difficult too, because the professor has a thick accent and talks quite quickly in comparison to my professor from last semester who I loved to death. I want to take his Dante class in the fall, without a doubt; it's gonna be legit amazing. His classes in general seem to be pretty life-changing (not an exaggeration at all). I know I just need to spend the time studying/reading for all of these (I already told you about my American Earth class!) but it's hard between socializing, having "me" time, and seeing Prince Harry. I'm concerned that I keep pushing the "me time" by the wayside, because it's so easy to spend all of my free time either in the library or with the people you love. But I need a little time for meditation, for reading books just for fun and magazines, for drawing (a major passion of mine that I've haven't indulged in for far too long), for playing violin. I'm seeing Prince Harry in about an hour and a half, so maybe I'll practice violin for him so I can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I think that I need to make a more well-defined schedule where I'll have a certain amount of "me" time everyday (and no, writing this blog doesn't count! I'm talking more relaxation, rather than analyzation of my thoughts and feelings - something that can be actually pretty opposite of relaxing haha!)
However…this blog definitely gives me some balance. Journals are really private, and I think it's nice to share my thoughts with whoever cares to read this. That somewhere out there, people can relate to what I'm saying, or people can question what I'm saying and not understand where I'm coming from at all and therefore expand their mind to new possibilities and/or ways of thinking about things. I love hearing other people's viewpoints on the world -- even if they're infuriating to me, as can happen quite frequently being a bit more Libertarian than, well, anyone on this campus-- because it makes me challenge notions that I accept as Ultimate Truths and paradigms. Question the archetypes. Question everything you've ever been told. Question, question, question. I'm seriously considering taking philosophy next semester, rather than religion, to fulfill my requirement. I think I'd really like it, especially because it'll give me more material to share with you all!
But...I'm tired of everyone judging me for only taking 3 classes this semester instead of the typical 4. My classes are HARD. My Theory/Practice of Lit. Study class is pretty intense - first we read a novel or short story. Then we read the work of multiple literary critics and their published criticisms (whether in essays or books of their own) about those original works, and then finally we form our own criticisms based off both the original text and those of the critics. Talk about complexity! *brushes sweat off of forehead* Italian was pretty difficult too, because the professor has a thick accent and talks quite quickly in comparison to my professor from last semester who I loved to death. I want to take his Dante class in the fall, without a doubt; it's gonna be legit amazing. His classes in general seem to be pretty life-changing (not an exaggeration at all). I know I just need to spend the time studying/reading for all of these (I already told you about my American Earth class!) but it's hard between socializing, having "me" time, and seeing Prince Harry. I'm concerned that I keep pushing the "me time" by the wayside, because it's so easy to spend all of my free time either in the library or with the people you love. But I need a little time for meditation, for reading books just for fun and magazines, for drawing (a major passion of mine that I've haven't indulged in for far too long), for playing violin. I'm seeing Prince Harry in about an hour and a half, so maybe I'll practice violin for him so I can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I think that I need to make a more well-defined schedule where I'll have a certain amount of "me" time everyday (and no, writing this blog doesn't count! I'm talking more relaxation, rather than analyzation of my thoughts and feelings - something that can be actually pretty opposite of relaxing haha!)
However…this blog definitely gives me some balance. Journals are really private, and I think it's nice to share my thoughts with whoever cares to read this. That somewhere out there, people can relate to what I'm saying, or people can question what I'm saying and not understand where I'm coming from at all and therefore expand their mind to new possibilities and/or ways of thinking about things. I love hearing other people's viewpoints on the world -- even if they're infuriating to me, as can happen quite frequently being a bit more Libertarian than, well, anyone on this campus-- because it makes me challenge notions that I accept as Ultimate Truths and paradigms. Question the archetypes. Question everything you've ever been told. Question, question, question. I'm seriously considering taking philosophy next semester, rather than religion, to fulfill my requirement. I think I'd really like it, especially because it'll give me more material to share with you all!
Until Next Time,
xx BAS