How Beer Saved the World

It's been hard to keep track of my posting! Blogging is actually pretty hard to do when you don't have internet at home.  It's kind of awkward writing here in the Lafayette lab... I feel like four people are standing over my shoulder, watching me type and it's like, uhhh....

I met with my advisor this morning before my 11:00 Stats class.  I got there before 10:00, and didn't leave until right before math class started, which is fine since the Geography Department is right next door to the Math Building.  But anyway! I finally got to talk to my advisor, Dr. Koti, whom I already sort of worshipped based on bias because he was A. my advisor; B. Tanzania study abroad trip leader; C. Honors society Phi Kappa Phi leader-person-man.  It actually gives me drive that I can be in more honors societies.  It gives me an actual reason to try in college and care about my GPA.  This whole caring-about-my-GPA thing is a new concept to me.  It started in like, February of last semester, and I have a 4.0 to show for it (my first 4.0 since probably 6th grade). 

Anyway.  I don't see a 4.0 in my future for this semester!  I feel like I'm trying, but I'm so so so busy, and then certain classes are just randomly kicking my butt, and I'm making big, non-college-related decisions during all this which sometimes literally makes it impossible to write reading responses or make time for statistics homework.  Basically, my life has not been revolving around higher education. Somebody slap my wrist immediately. 

Dr. Koti kept asking me what was my plan, what do I want my job to be, etc, and I love questions like those because it gives me a chance to be honest and say, "I don't know."  I mean, I make the answer longer and more intelligent-sounding than that, but I'm essentially shrugging my shoulders.  And he replies with, "Good." I found out some things today.

I had to accept by the end of our meeting that I could not take a swimming class this spring.  I could not take GIS this spring.  Instead, I would have to take Cartography and CIS 225 this spring, and take GIS and and CIS 236 this summer.  Which brings me to the whole reason I'm even letting all this happen: I'm not studying abroad this summer.  I was going to go to Tanzania this summer, but guess what?  There is not Tanzania trip this summer! They are putting it off for next year! And when he told me that, I was surprised, yes, but what surprised me even more was that I wasn't very disappointed.  I think there was some disappointment there, but mostly it was just relief.  What?! I never thought I'd be relieved to hear that I can't do the most awesome thing ever.  But I was.  Because it frees me up.  My money situation for studying abroad is incredibly impossible right now, and I was stubbornly going for it, telling myself it would all work out, but I can accept now that it was not for the best this summer.  I mean, it's not like I don't get to go! I just don't get to go right now.  Which is fine.  Good, actually, because I know my money situation will make a lot more sense next year.

I think today I will call some organizations, like Sav-a-life, Salvation Army, and Northwest Alabama Reading Aides.  I never thought I'd let time slip away so fast that I hadn't even started volunteering regularly and it's almost November.  But it's gonna happen.                 

Eat, Drink, and Be Larry

Our last forum we were focusing on an organization I've always heard about and never quite learned about -The American Junior League International - and that is thanks to Miss Lesley Tomlinson.  First she let us know a little bit about herself, and then about the League of the Shoals. She explained that she had gone to college in search for a "hot shot" job, but then met her husband.  That kind of sounds like a sad story, like she gave up her dream for a career to marry some guy, but she probably just realized that her dream was stupid compared to the life she would have with him.  It happens. 

The Junior League itself has very interesting history!  I liked the story behind it, how it was originally formed to put to use the potential of women who were held back by society and growing restless.  My favorite part about it was that, in 1901, it was founded by a nineteen year old girl named Mary Harriman.  She was my age when she started a mission that outlived the century and bettered women beyond her generation!  Her story is the perfect epitome of what our forum has been about, having dreams for ourselves and our community and working toward making them a reality.

The main tasks the AJLI has is to train their volunteers and maintain effective leadership.  It must do this while being sure to address the most critical needs of the community, whatever they may be, as well as meeting the needs of the women volunteering.  This has been the greatest hardship the organization has seen, because the expectations of the League are high, and the organization must meet the women where they are in order to keep them in.  The facts are, the world is not what it used to be, and women can't afford to devote their entire lives to volunteer service the way they might have in 1901.  Everyone needs an outlet to serve, but these days women are often either the sole or partial money-makers for their families, which takes up substantial time that simply was not demanded of the 1901 Junior League Member. 

Very soon the organization became a quiet but national problem because it was SO exclusive.  12:00 meetings on Tuesdays?  Sorry, working women!  You have to be a stay-at-home caregiver to be one of us!  They have also had to work through prejudicial issues with race, old age, premarital childbirth, even personal vendettas such as who you dated in high school!  I can just imagine the drama that must go into keeping this thing going, all women with their catty leadership, and all local so everyone knows each other's dirty laundry.

I admire Miss Tomlinson's standpoint that when the Junior League denies someone because of their position in life, they are saying "You're not good enough to volunteer."  It's good that she's working to include the older women who want to help and the others.  Still, there were a couple of things that I need to point out: for all the prejudices they are trying to hammer out of the system, there are two clear inconsistencies in her regime.  First, she said without apology that they will take no girls our age when the League is quartered in a college town, which we are.  So 19-year olds in other towns are good enough to volunteer, but not us?  I thought we were supposed to be hearing from organizations we can be a part of.  Secondly, the foundation is by nature "girls only."  Are men not good enough to serve?  There is no remaining male counterpart to the Junior League, so why exclude them from the volunteerism that has been up and running for so long?  Just a couple of thoughts. 

I personally like the thought of a women-run foundation, but she did say they are trying to ditch the "grown-up sorority" reputation, and those are two pretty big people groups for a service foundation to turn up their noses to.

Buttons All Down Her Back

May I just say that LionJobs is a wonderful invention?  When I am educated enough, I am going to be all over the GIS internships they have on that site!  Man, companies really need employers in my field.  It makes me think I'm working toward something important in society, like I am and will be something the world needs more of. 

Speaking of changing the world, this past Monday, we were spoken to by a representive for Big Brothers, Big Sisters.  Now, I have some experience with this organization from when I was a Big Sister my senior year, and let me just say, the one that they run here in Florence sounds a lot more legitimate!  Everything from the mentor screening, to the rules, to their mission sounds like a real improvement on the one run at my high school.  Ours felt like a babysitting program with no real learning, bonding atmosphere, not to mention that half the time I was mentoring little boys who were too shy to talk to me.  Chances are the kids don't need a girl to spend time with them; they're missing a father figure.

Actually, Mrs. Gina Mashburn mentioned just that.  It was honestly kind of a head scratcher because she said that they needed neither girls nor white boys, which is too bad because everyone in our class is either a girl or a white boy.  So basically, we learned that while BBBS is a very effective, important organization in the lives of troubled kids, there isn't a big chance that any of us in the forum really fit the ticket they are looking for to fill those roles.

Of course, I believe they would let our guys make it through the system, because the main issue in our community (and probably most communities) is the lack of fathers in the lives of children, particularly young boys.  I believe that is a big reason that it seems that young men in my generation have such a hard time figuring out how to be a good man.  The only steady people in their lives are usually women, who have to act as both caretaker and role model.  By the time boys are grown, they don't know who to be,  because all they grew up seeing was a woman working hard and taking charge.  I really don't think it matters if the mentor is black, white, or brown, as long as he's setting a good example for his Little Brother. 

I understand that they don't need any more girl mentors, though, since all the Little Sisters have their Bigs.  Having a Big Sister for a Little Brother kind of hinders the point of the service, I know from experience.  I don't know how to relate to a violent sixth grade boy who only wants to talk about AK-57s and skulls.  Calm down, kid. 

:K

Xtreme Cuddling

I've been thinking about my major a lot lately.  I mean, this is something that is going to lead to that thing I do - whatever that may be - for the rest of my life.  When I think about my major, I'm like, Yeah! Geography! I can learn about everywhere in the world and be a computer master and go on safaris and hug koala bears! But then I'm sitting in Map Interpretation class, and the teacher hands us big table-top maps, writes a series of 8 digits on the board, and then says, "Find that on the map."  And this is not just hunt-and-find that number on the map.  This is, figure out which each number means and translate each of them into one point on one grid on one section of that map.  It doesn't help that the teacher is so excited about his topic that he talks quickly, and I'm intimidated so I'm thinking slowly, and by the time I figure out the first thing he says, he's already done explaining some other thing.  Basically, I'm lucky to grasp every other step we cover in class.  With those odds, I'll get a 50 on our first exam. Awesome.  The thing is, I still am excited about my major.  So far this has been the first class that feels like a little too much.  Then again, this is the first real technical GIS class I've had.  What if it gets harder from here?  What I really need is to take the actual Geographic Information Systems course.  I don't know much about computers but I know I am capable of navigating them once I'm introduced to new systems.  I mean, I really liked CIS 125, but... I have a feeling that's not entirely relevent.  

To clarify, I'm not freaking out.  I'm just being honest with myself.  

Last week in forum (it was canceled this past week), Vince said, "Never let anyone tell you your job is just a paycheck."  It will change my life.  I will schedule my life around it.  Vacations, kids, relationships... It will be most of the reasons I "do" and "do not" for possibly the rest of my life.  (I'm still on the fence about how I want to do family stuff: how I raise my kids, etc.)

Anyway, I'm thinking about turning in this Success by 6 volunteer info sheet to Vince.  Better Beginnings needs workers.  The program is with United Way, which is cool because I actually wrote a couple songs about United Way for Honor's Step Sing last year.  It'll be like, "Oh hey nice to meet ya, I wrote songs for you last December" ... awkward...

I really liked the director of Success by 6, Emily Baker.  She was very relatable, mostly because she's close to our age.  It makes me feel like I can do a lot right now to benefit my future.  People want young people to step up and be leaders.  One other random thing I got from her presentation is, don't let the way you dress decide whether you get the job.  Invest in a dress or pants suit! That sounds awesome :) I want a hot suit.

:K

Law and Hors d'Oeuvres

One Mr. John Land visited us in forum, spoke on civic responsibility, of course,  and one of the first things he did was ask us, "Why are you in college pursuing higher education?"  For him, it was not a question whether he went to college or not.  In his family, it was, "You're gonna go." He didn't know what he wanted to be for a while, but he know he wanted to make $$.  But!  As a senior in college, he realized that he did not want to be a chemical engineer for the rest of his life.  So then, at a point where he was supposed to be launching into his career after finishing his major, he decided to go into something random: dentistry.  He did it at the urging of a dentist friend to just try it, because what did he have to lose at that point?  He knew he was meant for it from Day One. 

See, this the problem, people.  Don't go to college because Mommy and Daddy want you to; do it because it won't waste your time.  Whether it is because you love learning and don't want to stop, or because you have a goal in mind that you can reach through higher education, or you just want to go to college to find that one thing - go because it's right for you!  And if it's not?  Freaking don't go to college.  Mommy and Daddy don't have to live your life - you do.  My mom and dad would never have told me to go to college.  They knew I'd do well in it, but they also knew I have a brain and a purpose and don't need them to tell me what it is.  They did me the biggest favor by letting me make my own decisions.  I had the opportunity to carefully consider whether or not I even wanted to go to college. And because I got to make the decision, this whole experience means a lot more to me than if it had been "What you're gonna do, period."  Life is not about college! Or making it rain!  You're on this Earth to fulfill a purpose, not get a degree.

On that note, :) did you know that our Constitution ("In order to form a more perfect union...") is based on ancient Roman standards?  Excitement!

I'm not sure if this is just my personal note or an approximate quote of what Sir John said in forum, but this is what is written in my notebook: "Hey! No one makes you vote; this is not high school.  Grow up and be responsible."  That's probably a personal note based on what he said, because he wasn't as rude of a speaker as my brain is a thinker.  He also said that a cornerstone of democracy, presumably adopted from ancient Rome, is jury duty.  And you know what?  Only 25-40% of those originally summoned actually show up.  They have to be replaced. 

One thing that I have to disagree with Sir John about when he got to talking about volunteerism is that he is a Tennessee fan: "Orange is the new khaki.  It matches everything."  No, silly.  It doesn't.  Blue jeans match everything.  GO UK.   But then he redeemed that foul misjudgment by telling us to say yes when we want to say no.  Making a lot of money and having a "great" lifestlye is not that most rewards you.  It's always giving back. And did you know that college graduates are among the group who do the most volunteer work?  These people are out of college and volunteering more, when they are not being forced to!  College just raises an awareness and appreciation of others.  Sir John involves his company in meaningful volunteerism.  It brings the workers together and creates business connections.

He ended on the following notes:
*GIVING:
- It is more than money, but never less.
- At this point, I have the time and talent to do it.
- Hopefully in the future, I will also have the money.
- Just as it is hard to give of time and talents now, it will also be hard to hand over my money in the future. (So condition yourself now.)

*Read a book by Dave Ramsey, "Staying debt-free" advocate. The borrower is servant to the lender and not to those who need it.  It will change your family tree if you live giving back.

*You may not live what you profess, but you will certainly live what you believe.

* Material possessions will only make you feel good for a short time.  Plus, there is a limit to how much you can buy.  When you give, the rewards have no expiration date.  There is no limit to how much you can give of yourself. (I would have to argue with that last part, assuming we are all mere human beings.)

* You will get plugged in where your life leads.

Red Robin Rendezvous

So far, I'm still in Brainstorm Phase of  figuring out my civic engagement platform. And that's assuming that you know that by brainstorming, I mean that I haven't really thought about it at all.  This week has been really diverting from start to finish, because I have a secret.  That being said, the only good reason to be mysterious is to flaunt it in front of others without giving yourself away.  So I'll just do that :)
                                     ...
Last Monday in forum, a Miss Kay came and spoke with us about her workplace, a prospective place to start volunteer work for grief and loss education, The Healing Place (which is actually in league with Hospice of the Shoals."  She started out by asking us, "What would you do for a living even if you didn't get paid for it?"  That is a many-tiered question.  I love to do lots of things, but all I could draw at the moment was an honest I-Don't-Know.   "...Of course you want to make a living, but just dream a bit.  The world is waiting for you to do what you are good at.  Birds fly, fish swim - finish the sentence: I..." My only response is the one I consider Home Base: I live by faith to the service and glory of God.  Of course, I wouldn't call that "what I'm good at." 

I looove what she said about life just being a journey.  I know, oh hey, cliche!  But I like when people say things that I believe but don't often hear validated by others.  It's reassuring.  She said this life is a journey that's like trying on shoes, be it a career or anything else. Just because the shoe doesn't fit doesn't make you a failure.  I think it's so easy to miss out on life because you're trying to fit in with some kind of mold.  You avoid making awesome decisions to ensure that you're being logical and sensible, meanwhile just being ridiculous. Sometimes being what you perceive to be sensible = being wrong.   It's all right to let yourself consider a different route, try on a different shoe, and see how it fits.  You won't know it's right if you just walk by and tell yourself the shoes you've got are better.  I'd say this applies in basically everything except the actual act of getting married.  The vows you make at the altar is not a clubhouse pinky promise .  It's a covenant with another human heart and God Almighty.  Don't walk into a marriage considering divorce as an option.  Muddling around when it comes to choosing your college major and minor and job and dog and paint color and chocolate preference is fine, but marriage ain't no shopping trip! 

Having freaked out on that, time to go to forum.          

Mac 'N Cheese on the Rocks

So, you may have noticed that linked to this blog is another that we were assigned to keep about our first semester in college for Freshman Forum.  The purpose of that one was to keep records of what we learned from the speakers in the forum and to try to give an idea of how we dealt with starting our college lives.  Pretty tough goals to keep up with.  I mostly rambled and gave too much personal information. 

I actually have been kind of excited about blogging again this semester.  I would have been disappointed if Dr. Vince would have been like, "Hey, let's not do that blogging thing, nobody likes that."  Of course, this year's purpose is not the same as last time.  Now we are supposed to get civilly engaged, which is to say, we've got to get in some volunteer hours.  I don't really like the idea of literally counting the hours of service you give.  It's so incredibly superficial!  I have never in my life been asked to count the hours I spent helping someone - kind of takes away from the selfless part of it if you're doing it because you're keeping tabs on your own good deeds.  But I completely understand why it has to be under those guidelines for a class, and it really helps that we get to pick the service we become involved in.  Then there's no excuse if you're dragging your feet, because we are given the opportunity to pick something we care about.

Since, as of the beginning of last semester, I am now a Geographic Information Systems major, it would benefit my career the most to get involved in some kind of dam service project or environmental aid group.  But careers aren't everything in life, and I am afraid of old people, so I think I'm going to face my fears instead. Last year I went to a community service fair in the GUC, and one group sounded especially intimidating to me - Hospice of the Shoals.  I mean, as far as I can tell, you're going in to someone's house and talking to, reading to, feeding, and basically just trying to make someone feel a little better on their deathbed.  These are just really old people who essentially have nothing left to do but wait to go home to eternity.  You hang out with them, and then possibly be assigned someone else the next week because your new friend just died!  How terrible is that? What do you say?

After talking that up so well, you're probably like, man, I want to do that too!  I could also work in an animal shelter downtown.  I like puppies.  I'll think about it.  Time to go to the gym.

"Hats off to the bull!!" - Chevelle   

:K