college.
I think I decided why I like college so much. Or at least my particular college. Besides the obvious nifty things at UCF (fountain, stain glass in library, etc) I enjoy the atmosphere. At school I'm not a weirdo for admitting a genuine love of books. There are others like me. There are also many delightful folks majoring in humanities/philosophy. The few of us that decided to take a different path and not major in business or engineering like everyone else...its cool. All the time I overhear other students who were actually stirred by what just happened in class, talking about heatedly while going to get some food. I am reading this book which opens up with a quote from good ole John Stuart Mill - I nicknamed him J.S. because I can. I think eventually when you read several authors incessantly you do begin to have a weird bond with this person who is either dead or has no idea you exist...I think that's a thought only other avid book readers can get because I just realized how crazy it sounds. Anyway, the quote, "The only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this." So true. However, that is where often people fail in arguments. They are unwilling to hear the other side, even if you aren't agreeing by listening - some people refuse to even entertain the opinion of others - even when that opinion is of extreme education and skilled knowledge. Its weird. That can make you better. Learning from those that are better at something or know more about something than you. Everyone has something to give. If you let everyone give what their natural talents and ambition have gotten them, than you then take that on as well and only become more wise and perhaps even a tad more intelligent. Anyway, this is why I think I really like my professors, even the ones that I am not really fond of in the beginning. They know more than me. Its not like they got their job because daddy gave them the business, or the school decided to hire an external. All of my professors acquired their position by being where I am right now at one point. They know the ropes and have been in college longer and thus have more degrees. I think I respect that on so many levels. I can honestly say that I am smarter than some of my bosses in the past and present, but I can never say I am smarter than any of my professors. So, with that fact out of the way is when the real enlightenment occurs becasue I do not have to worry about anything based on sheer stupidity. Things are accomplished at a swift rate at UCF. I learned probably the most I have learned about myself and the people around me in just four months of class. Next semester I am sure will be just that much more educational. I really feel like whatever the big point of life is, it is not having a job you hate and living in a world of mediocrity where your tv is your best friend. There is an unbelievably enormous amount of shit to get into, to see, to think about, amazing people to one day call friends....soooooo much more......and yet, there are the Jessica Simpsons of the world that will simply just never get it. Is it our responsibility to bring them into the real world, or shall we just let them be?