A Semester of Mistakes?
      by Robin


 Friday, December 19, 2003 - 10:28 PM

   These are the days that make your friends or those who know you just a bit green with jealousy. Actually, my tale stems from an entire semester of work. So, let’s begin where it started shall we?

When I planned this semester I knew it would be a little rough. I was not in the very least excited about taking ceramics. I was scared of my digital class and figured I just “be average” in my photography class. As far as my gen eds go, I figured I would not have to work too much to swing an A in Biology (after all, I have a had tougher teachers!), was apprehensive to Philosophy because I just knew that was way over my head, and was not the least enthused about another semester of marching band (I know, band is not a gen ed). Boy was I ever wrong.

I even went so far as to declare this semester of mistakes. You see, things started off well for me and all of my roommates. All of the sudden one missed class a few too many times because the class was so rudely scheduled at the crack of dawn (how dare they rob us of sleep…they already rob our pocketbooks!). For another, the three extra hours became too much to balance between her job and practicing. And then there is me. I dropped ceramics because I did not have time to play with clay. Believe me, as much as I detested that earthen junk, I still wanted to master it. It proved time and time again that it can and still will kick my butt, leave me with hand injuries, and join the masses of the like in watching my failure for many more times. So, because I didn’t give that class the proper time to make the most of it, I dropped. I’ll pick it up later. Enough said.

I was sad after dropping a class. Those were good credit hours! I won’t get them back. Eh, the way I see it…I suppose it would be fun to hang around Henderson for a decade…With a new resolve to focus on the hours I did have left, which was bare minimum for a scholarship, I decided to slice up my time accordingly. I gave my extra time to my photography projects and was ever so glad I spent that time honing my skills. I became labeled a “dark room geek” and later promoted to “darkroom queen”. I did the best work I could and did waaay more than I should have. I was the envy of my class. It was fun. I got an A.

And my digital class? Well, I think I could have been more creative. I hope to force myself to do that next semester. My biggest problem is my familiarity with the tools at hand. I am hoping to fix that over the Christmas break. I got a new scanner/printer that is practically jumping in the box. I think it wants to play. I like new toys pets. Now that I have a means to getting my photos into the computer perhaps I won’t be as afraid to play with them.

As for band- well I am not glad I stayed for another semester. I had a terrible attitude the whole time. Sorry peers. Games were fun. Performing was fun. Practicing was not. I know, I know. It is necessary to practice in order to perform well. But, honestly, my time could have been better spent “throwing pots”. (making things with clay for those of you who don’t know the lingo) If I hadn’t done band this semester I would have had another art class behind me. But I wanted to keep my scholarship. Once again, money is and always will be the root of all evil.

My biology class was not the complete breeze I thought it would be. The information was easy in retrospect but the way it was presented did not work for me personally. I’m just not a power point kind of girl. Things started off well in that class. I got an A on my first couple of tests. Then photosynthesis burned me and in effect sending me scraping up the grade canyon ever since. After much battling and attention to my studying I pulled over the ledge with an A. The struggle reminded me of the feat I pulled off in my Algebra class last fall. Only that battle was more graceful. *Chariots of Fire plays* 

And then there was philosophy. Oh my gosh. Some people think old dead guys have nothing important to say. Or maybe they do think they have validity but just don’t care. That was the attitude of a good majority of my oversized Intro class. And then something happened. I became philosophical myself. I figured the only way I could learn their views was to make them a part of me in some way. Not agree with everything they said but rather understand it and see where my views fit in to the greater scheme of things. (Duh people- that is it the point of the class!) I found it to be a mental challenge and a good exercise in questioning my faith in that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be-thought. (I think a better one than I endured last spring. I care not to discuss that here.) At any rate, I had to write papers that tested what I knew and came out pretty well on them. I discovered that I have a knack for writing and the skill necessary to make a decent philosophical argument. Bite me Paul. So, if my art classes don’t throw too much of a fit, I will take on a few more philosophy classes and call it a minor and have the joy of reflecting on life for the rest of it. And by the way, I got an A in there too. Let the public flogging begin.

Because I divided up my time and prevented major failure by taking on too much, I was able “to enjoy life more”. Writing papers was fun. That is right. You read that. I said fun which means I enjoyed it. There is an art to writing papers I have discovered. And pulling them out of your rear last minute is also an art. I won’t allow myself to master that one. I am too organized for my own good. So, methodically I plan and have fun if time will allow. Sadly, I don’t think I have the ability to be lazy. If I present something hap hazard or ill thought, I do feel badly about it. I know I could have done better. So, I try to do my best to avoid the guilt. And you hate me for it. That’s cool. I still have a nice grade point to show for my lack of social skills. I hope to hang onto that for at least another semester. Then stuff will get really tough next year. Bring it on. The more mistakes I make the more experienced I will be; therefore a merrier Robin you shall see.

 
Robin- “I think therefore I am I think”