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wBeverly's Journal |
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This is my Journal. If you stop by, leave a comment. Thanks!
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wAugust 02, 2002 |
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I should have gotten a job this summer. I owe my parents way too much money. I should have been working for DSC... instead? Volunteering. I should have been working for ROP. Instead? Helping out at class. I SHOULD BE GETTING PAID FOR THIS SUMMER!!!! What's all this cr*p about using my time and not paying me?! I've expressed interest in getting jobs at both places, and both places said they'd look into getting jobs for me... but NO. Why? Because they know that I'll cave in and volunteer my time for free. News for you. Next year summer, no pay, no help. I'm not taking this anymore. I need to pay for college.
posted by
Beverly at 11:52 PM
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wAugust 01, 2002 |
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Phantom of the Opera: Wow. It's like hearing an echo inside your head come alive onstage. Wow. Male actor/singers have really nice voices. We saw this at Drood and now here at Phantom. Wow.
Why am I going to Reed? First, let's take a look at my "Why Reed?" essay (part of my application).
2. “Why Reed?” essay. How did you first become interested in Reed, and why do you think Reed would be an appropriate place, both socially and academically, to continue your education?
Though I know one should not judge a book by its cover, I must say that a first impression is a lasting impression. The first time I became acquainted with Reed was when I received a brown letter in the mail that had an interesting design in the upper left-hand corner and the Fibonacci shell spanning the length of the envelope. The majority of the letters I had received were white with similar print and were probably all written by the same distribution organization hired by those colleges. The uniqueness of this envelope inspired me to inquire further about this college, so I sent back the reply card. The next day, I asked my International Baccalaureate counselor about Reed. He gave me an enthusiastic reply, saying I would love it at Reed and that Reed is where I would want to go if I wanted to get an education. I have known that man for four years, and I admire and respect him and his opinion more than anyone else’s, but like any good skeptic, I had to see for myself. I perused the viewbook, and one particular sentence caught my eye because it perfectly described my situation as it is now in high school. “I want to go somewhere where I can change a teacher’s mind, where I can stay us arguing about environmentalist economics and whether Leviathan has ever existed, whether time is an axis and if it can run backwards, how quintessence can weigh so much, and whether the arbitrary can ever be correct.” I cannot say that I will argue those topics, but I know that I will always have something to argue. I am currently in a theory of knowledge class in which we are learning to develop our own thinking. In this class, I have been involved in many heated discussions (more like arguments) on various topics, including the Fibonacci sequence, politics, and even Thomas Kuhn’s theories on paradigms. I also have noticed that disproving teachers in high school produces volatile results, and being in a forum where the students “can change a teacher’s mind” would be absolutely ideal for me.
Here at Loara High School in Anaheim, I feel welcomed among my peers. I am friends with the band, the choir, drama, the ASB, sports, visual arts, the honors students, the regular students, students of all walks of life, students of all ethnic backgrounds, in essence, a little bit of everyone. Perhaps because I am active in so many activities on campus, I have broadened my scope of acquaintances. Even outside my own school, I have met students from throughout the District of 32,000 students because I am the Student Board Member on the Board of Trustees for the District; I have met students from all of California because I attended the California School Boards Association conference this past November; and I have even met students from all over the country because of my participation with the Foundation for Teaching Economics, Economics for Leaders Program, that was held at UCLA this past summer. I love to meet new people, and I know that I will meet many new people no matter where it is I study. The social aspect that attracts me to Reed is the traditions in celebrations. I am especially interested in Paideia; perhaps I do not yet have a complete understanding of the setting of this time of the year, but I know that I would not hesitate to jump in a find out what it is all about. I enjoy traditions and am very protective in keeping the integrity of traditions that have been left for me and my generation to carry on; I welcome new traditions but always keep the old. And even if I am not accepted to Reed, I might have to stop by to see what Nitrogen Day is all about just because.
Yeah, I know, same old same old... at least the last part. I don't think I even knew much about Reed at the time I applied. I wish I had looked into it first. I wish I had done the research before (younger people, let this be a lesson).
So, why do I want to go to Reed?
1) It's small. 1300 people vs. Berkeley's 25,000+. I want to go to a smaller college because I'll get more "attention" that way... more time to ask professors questions (and the professors CARE)... more chance to really stand out.
2) No TA's. I just don't think TA's really get the job done (yes, I know that I'm making assumptions, but we can all agree [I think] that Professors can do a better job than TA's]
3) No football team, no cheerleaders, less clubs, etc. I want to be able to concentrate on my studies.... so that I may one day be truly intelligent. I don't feel intelligent now. I feel like I've wasted four years doing things... but not learning from anything... Mostly, having fun. I need to cut the junk and just read or study or something like that. I think Reed will give me that environment -- everyone's a nerd at Reed (well, everyone but the pot heads, I guess).
4) The people are real, and the people are friendly. Berkeley was very cold when I was there... strangers don't talk to strangers... You would only talk to those you knew from before... or, occasionally, people who know people you know. At Reed? Everyone's open to brain-picking and just talking.
5) Reed is academically rigorous. I'm sure Berkeley is, too... but Reed's policy promotes learning, not grades.
I'll think of more later.
posted by
Beverly at 12:28 AM
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wJuly 30, 2002 |
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You know what my weakness is? Kids. Yes, that's right, kids. I thought I didn't want to volunteer at DSC this summer, but I showed up yesterday, and now I'm hooked. Stupid kids... why'd they have to be so cute?!
posted by
Beverly at 11:42 AM
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Did anyone ever notice that the dates on the enetation comment boxes are all off! They all say today's or tomorrow's date... regardless when you actually posted! Okay, what's going on?!
posted by
Beverly at 4:54 PM
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wJuly 28, 2002 |
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I hate AOL.
posted by
Beverly at 11:23 PM
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The Iliad: anyone want to help me find some will power to go read it? I'm sure it'll be good... it's just that it's _so_ long! Well, once I'm done w/ my room, maybe I'll get to reading it. (except for the fact that I keep coming up with new things to clean so that I can stall longer!)... I hate procrastination!
Another thing: when you go to the beach, take your shoes/slippers with you when you go away from your car... and try really hard to pry your camera away from you... it'll make your day a lot better, believe me.
posted by
Beverly at 5:37 PM
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I don't remember why I was so against the beach before. Went there today with the lunch bunch... it was very very fun. Maybe because it was cloudy and somewhat cold... I don't like the hot hot sun and sandyness all over... but sand isn't that bad, when it isn't poking your feet. Perhaps the best part of today was the randomness of it all... we decided to go to the beach out of nowhere... just on the road, and made a turn to go there. (actually, we were going to go mini golfing)... Anyway... the beach is great. The cool thing is that walking from point A to point B on the beach doesn't change much of perspective in terms of sand, ocean, and sky. It's just SO BIG that a little walking leaves you pretty much in the same place in terms of the world and the stretch of beach. In the city? Everything is so packed that you can walk a step, and your perspective will change... not at the Beach... and that's one thing I respect about the beach.
posted by
Beverly at 3:27 AM
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