I've never considered myself a "lazy" person. I do procrastinate and don't always perform to my ability, but I've never been called lazy (at least by anyone who's opinion counts). On the other hand, I've never really been an "overachiever." If something interest's me, then of course I'm going to put more time and effort into it, but I've never been the sort to spend my sunny afternoons inside studying (unless absolutely necessary). I do do quite a bit: 19 credits (maintaining a 3.8+GPA), work (anywhere from 10-40 hours a week), run a house (a full-time job on the side), go to the boys rugby games, organize things for the department (comes with being President), and enjoy going out and catching up with friends. My school work ain't easy either. Even just from knowing the classes that the Food Management kids are taking vs what the Food Science kids are taking, it get's me red in the face when they complain about algebra or Intro to Natural Science. Really?
I am busy and I like to have things to do, but am I really that much more busy than the average person? or just more so than the average college kid? Granted, I do have my own house and keeping that up and running, as I said before, is quite a chore that most college kids don't experience, but I fail to see how taking 19 credits and working and having all that other stuff is really that... outstanding. I take on more than most I suppose, but it's not that much. Is it? I always think to myself, "I'm not working hard enough, I'm not doing enough," but I'm beginning to realize that I do do quite a bit. And I do it well.
The people in my "food classes" tend to be of the more mature and wise than any other major on campus I believe. A majority of them (although we are very, very few in number) have been out in the work place for numberous years (some have kids and one, grandkids!!) and are here, in school, to learn. No dick around and get wasted and hook up with as many people as possible. They are here to make their lives better in the long run. I love that about my fellow Food Scientists. They drive me to work and do well and be a leader, a role model. I love that they come to me for help and gossip. These people inspire me as well. Kids! They have KIDS! And they're going to school full-time. That blows my mind. They do well in school and keep a family together, and they are impressed by me, by what I take on and by what I do. Baffling. I don't think it's deserved, quite honestly.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Why is it that...
Everyone these days needs their fifteen minutes of fame? Everyone wants to leave a legacy, be remembered for doing something great, not just die, be burried, and be forgotten about. Not only do people want others to know them, they want money. A lot of it. They want to do as little work as possible and get paid a lot to do it. Why is this? I'm sure it has nothing to do with that fact that "competative games" (eg. dogeball, duck-duck-goose) are not allowed to be played on school playgrounds anymore. Or that everyone needs to be told how "special" they are and "magnificent" they are by parents, teachers, mentors, etc.
We are brought up with this inflated heads and enormous ego's. No one is better than us, we deserve everything, and we are expected to do nothing. And it's not getting better.
My generation may be the first genteration (ever) that can expect to not make more than their parents. But... wait a second... Society owes me! I am awesome! I am brilliant! Why wouldn't someone want to pay me tens of thousands of dollars a year to sit in my climate controlled office where I have deal with talking sternly to people on the phone and recieving annoying memo's in my company email? I have a college degree! I am an investment!!!!!
Well, it used to be that if you had a degree, you had a leg-up. Now?? If you don't have a graduate degree and a handful of internships, you're boring, uninteresting, an underachiever... everything that you were brought up to believe otherwise.
Ok, maybe that's a little harsh. But seriously, don't think that a 4 year degree is going to get you far. At Campbells, where I internshipped for 6 months, if you had a bachelors, you were the bottom rung my friend. They wanted Masters. Granted, they would pay for your schooling to achieve a masters, but you're working full-time, possibley with a family, and taking classes. That is insane! Demanding job on top of graduate level studies on top of toddlers and a nagging spouse? When did society get to this? If you aren't a multitasking-overachieving-extraordinaire, your resume gets tossed aside.
This is a bias view, of course. I can only write of what I know and the food industry is just that. I know that if you have a bachelors, you have a job. If you have a masters, you have a career. It's very frustrating being so close the end of my 4 year degree (after having busted by butt) only to be sure that I will be in school again... someday. Probably while juggling work and family. I hate school. I love learning, but I hate the mundane busy work and getting graded. I could sit in a history class all friggin' day long and love it. But when test time comes around, I loathe history more than having dog poo on the bottom of my shoe.
Anywho, I digress... Parents are too lax with this kids these days... that's part of the problem I believe. My 14 year old brother had a cell-phone when he was 13... 13!!!!! I got a cell-phone when I left for college (otherwise my parents never would've heard from me). I've read articles in which parents are asking other parents, "is 8 too young for a cell phone?" Yes... YES! 8 years old is too young to have a cell phone. My 12 year old cousins have cell phones. Not just any ole cell phones though... the newest, most recent, most expensive cell phones you can walk into Verizon and buy. Why!? I imagine that when their sister (14-15) got a cell phone (for whatever reason) that they too just haaaaad to haaaave them. Parents can't tell children "no." I don't believe the saying goes, Ease of life builds character. If you hand a child everything they want, show no discipline (backbone), and baby them, they're never going to become worthwhile, ambitious, sociable, productive adults. If everything is handed to you, you never learn the sarisfaction of working for something and then achieving it. Perhaps that's part of the reason everyone needs fame and money just for being... them. Even if there is nothing spectacular about that person. Be humble you sunsuvbeetches, you're getting on my nerves.
We are brought up with this inflated heads and enormous ego's. No one is better than us, we deserve everything, and we are expected to do nothing. And it's not getting better.
My generation may be the first genteration (ever) that can expect to not make more than their parents. But... wait a second... Society owes me! I am awesome! I am brilliant! Why wouldn't someone want to pay me tens of thousands of dollars a year to sit in my climate controlled office where I have deal with talking sternly to people on the phone and recieving annoying memo's in my company email? I have a college degree! I am an investment!!!!!
Well, it used to be that if you had a degree, you had a leg-up. Now?? If you don't have a graduate degree and a handful of internships, you're boring, uninteresting, an underachiever... everything that you were brought up to believe otherwise.
Ok, maybe that's a little harsh. But seriously, don't think that a 4 year degree is going to get you far. At Campbells, where I internshipped for 6 months, if you had a bachelors, you were the bottom rung my friend. They wanted Masters. Granted, they would pay for your schooling to achieve a masters, but you're working full-time, possibley with a family, and taking classes. That is insane! Demanding job on top of graduate level studies on top of toddlers and a nagging spouse? When did society get to this? If you aren't a multitasking-overachieving-extraordinaire, your resume gets tossed aside.
This is a bias view, of course. I can only write of what I know and the food industry is just that. I know that if you have a bachelors, you have a job. If you have a masters, you have a career. It's very frustrating being so close the end of my 4 year degree (after having busted by butt) only to be sure that I will be in school again... someday. Probably while juggling work and family. I hate school. I love learning, but I hate the mundane busy work and getting graded. I could sit in a history class all friggin' day long and love it. But when test time comes around, I loathe history more than having dog poo on the bottom of my shoe.
Anywho, I digress... Parents are too lax with this kids these days... that's part of the problem I believe. My 14 year old brother had a cell-phone when he was 13... 13!!!!! I got a cell-phone when I left for college (otherwise my parents never would've heard from me). I've read articles in which parents are asking other parents, "is 8 too young for a cell phone?" Yes... YES! 8 years old is too young to have a cell phone. My 12 year old cousins have cell phones. Not just any ole cell phones though... the newest, most recent, most expensive cell phones you can walk into Verizon and buy. Why!? I imagine that when their sister (14-15) got a cell phone (for whatever reason) that they too just haaaaad to haaaave them. Parents can't tell children "no." I don't believe the saying goes, Ease of life builds character. If you hand a child everything they want, show no discipline (backbone), and baby them, they're never going to become worthwhile, ambitious, sociable, productive adults. If everything is handed to you, you never learn the sarisfaction of working for something and then achieving it. Perhaps that's part of the reason everyone needs fame and money just for being... them. Even if there is nothing spectacular about that person. Be humble you sunsuvbeetches, you're getting on my nerves.
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