(no subject)
I turn twenty three in just about a week. The thing about that age is that .. well there's absolutely nothing special about that age. That's the thing.
I have entered in the glamorous twenties in which all milestones have been passed and most people my age are already getting married, having kids, graduated from college and/or have traveled afar.
I used to feel so ahead of my age. Which is why its a kick in the pants that I have started a four year university this year.
General Chemistry and Freshman University Studies are the two places I feel like a fish out of water or a sore thumb.
Chemistry Lab consists of a three hour block in which we get to play with things that could burn through your skin or fucking explode. Both frighten and thrill me. Seriously, they say you cant wear contact lenses in the lab because some chemical fumes can FUSE IT TO YOUR EYEBALL.
During our third week lab, we were having fun trying to determine which alkali metal we had via different chemical reactions. Two hours into the lab (home stretch), I overheard one girl while rinsing out my beaker. "Ugh Ive never had to stand so long ever....." I promptly turned around, and said, "Ha.. never had a job?" Thinking it was a sarcastic comment cause ... c'mon! The answer I got was "Uh... no." I bit my tongue. What?! After working full time since I was 16, this seemed unreal. These kids weren't in high school. I go to school with kids.. KIDS.. who wont have a real job until they have a degree in their hand.
This made sense in some of the offices Ive worked in where people lacked all professionalism yet had college degrees. It should be mandatory for kids to take one year between high school and college and work a full time retail or office job no matter their financial standing to realize WHY they're going to school.
Freshman Inquiry is this University Studies program that incorporates all your general studies into one class that you take every semester. Same people, same instructor, all the subjects rolled into one. Sounds great right? 5 units, no English 101, Sociology 101 AND Women's Studies 101. Just University Studies.
I have found two other people in my class who are not 18. Two. Out of 40? Okay whatever. I can deal. I just already have the "working in groups" skill and am not shy about speaking up.
But as we discussed voting machines and their reliability, we came upon the "hanging chads" conversation of the 2000 election. When the teacher prefaced "You guys probably don't remember this election.." I choked on my own spit a little. Slap in the face numero uno. When she continued by laughing "What, you guys were 10? Maybe?" I died just a little. When she went on to the 2004 election and continued the same spiel I glanced toward the other two older folks in the room, one who served in Iraq, to see if they shared the same contorted face I did.
So now Im on the brink of another birthday, where I used to feel like the youngin, and I am officially an elder to the people I see most often.
So what exactly am I celebrating.. I can't rent a car without added insurance, but I can buy my whole 200 person chemistry lecture a keg!
I have entered in the glamorous twenties in which all milestones have been passed and most people my age are already getting married, having kids, graduated from college and/or have traveled afar.
I used to feel so ahead of my age. Which is why its a kick in the pants that I have started a four year university this year.
General Chemistry and Freshman University Studies are the two places I feel like a fish out of water or a sore thumb.
Chemistry Lab consists of a three hour block in which we get to play with things that could burn through your skin or fucking explode. Both frighten and thrill me. Seriously, they say you cant wear contact lenses in the lab because some chemical fumes can FUSE IT TO YOUR EYEBALL.
During our third week lab, we were having fun trying to determine which alkali metal we had via different chemical reactions. Two hours into the lab (home stretch), I overheard one girl while rinsing out my beaker. "Ugh Ive never had to stand so long ever....." I promptly turned around, and said, "Ha.. never had a job?" Thinking it was a sarcastic comment cause ... c'mon! The answer I got was "Uh... no." I bit my tongue. What?! After working full time since I was 16, this seemed unreal. These kids weren't in high school. I go to school with kids.. KIDS.. who wont have a real job until they have a degree in their hand.
This made sense in some of the offices Ive worked in where people lacked all professionalism yet had college degrees. It should be mandatory for kids to take one year between high school and college and work a full time retail or office job no matter their financial standing to realize WHY they're going to school.
Freshman Inquiry is this University Studies program that incorporates all your general studies into one class that you take every semester. Same people, same instructor, all the subjects rolled into one. Sounds great right? 5 units, no English 101, Sociology 101 AND Women's Studies 101. Just University Studies.
I have found two other people in my class who are not 18. Two. Out of 40? Okay whatever. I can deal. I just already have the "working in groups" skill and am not shy about speaking up.
But as we discussed voting machines and their reliability, we came upon the "hanging chads" conversation of the 2000 election. When the teacher prefaced "You guys probably don't remember this election.." I choked on my own spit a little. Slap in the face numero uno. When she continued by laughing "What, you guys were 10? Maybe?" I died just a little. When she went on to the 2004 election and continued the same spiel I glanced toward the other two older folks in the room, one who served in Iraq, to see if they shared the same contorted face I did.
So now Im on the brink of another birthday, where I used to feel like the youngin, and I am officially an elder to the people I see most often.
So what exactly am I celebrating.. I can't rent a car without added insurance, but I can buy my whole 200 person chemistry lecture a keg!