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This 1st part has nothing to do with me being frustrated. I've just been meaning to talk about this for a while now, and it just so happens that I also have something frustrating to talk about (which I will get to in a bit). I just thought I should let you all know that a week ago I ended my totally awesome job as a TA at a children's summer theatre academy (well, that's what they like to call it, but really it's a summer camp) for kids ages 3-7. Overall, it went really well and I had a blast. I was gonna go more into detail, tell you about the individual kids and what I do and stuff, but I never got around to making a post during the month I was working cuz I was busy with working full time and taking a night class, and now the moment is gone and the specifics aren't fresh enough in my memory to write about them. So I'll just leave it at that, and you guys can ask me questions about it if you want to know any more. I love answering questions, so don't be shy! Wait, on second thought, I think I'll mention two kids who stick out in my mind. Robbie, the 7-year-old who thought he was a dinosaur. No, really. He never talked, just crawled around growling all the time. I had him in the afternoon (the 2 classes switched rooms at lunchtime), and the other TA told me that in the morning in her class he was a dog. Then there's Olivia, the 3-year-old neat freak genius. She loved to clean. She was one of 3 kids who stayed after a little while cuz their parents were at work, and during that time I would start to clean the room while the teacher played with the kids. But she never wanted to play, she just wanted to help me wash the tables and take out the trash. She also liked to read (she could read chapter books at a 5th grade level), and count things (she could count to 100 in English, Spanish, and French). Just to give you an idea of my very interesting group of kids.
Now, for the reason for my frustration. I'm sick of closed-minded people. There seems to be this attitude with a lot of people I know (not my friends, like theirs parents and relatives and stuff) and random people I've met over the summer that liberal arts schools are crap and won't get you anywhere, that anything to do with the arts won't get you anywhere, and that going to a school more than 3.5 hours away is stupid and a waste of money. Oh yeah, and they don't seem to be that fond of self-designed majors either, because apparantly if a major has never before existed at another school, or isn't a very common or well-heard-of major, then once again it won't get you anywhere and it's a waste of money. I'm very fortunate to have parents that are completely accepting of the fact that every choice I have made so far regarding my education is against the unwritten rules of old-fashioned, annoyingly conservative people (going to a liberal arts school, going to a school pretty far from home, designing my own major, and doing a second major in Art), and I feel thankful for that. But the many other people I have run into that like to criticize my choices are starting to get on my nerves. And yes, it has been a lot of people. I'll give you an example of an annoying conversation I've had several times: "So, what grade are you in?" "Sophomore in college." "Oh, what college do you go to? CCRI, RIC, or URI?" "Actually, none of them. I go to Drew University." "Drew University? Never heard of it. It must not be a very good school." "Well, it's actually a pretty good school. But it's in New Jersey. That's probably why you haven't heard of it." "Oh, you live in New Jersey? Are you on vacation?" "No, I live here. I'm from Cranston." (Confused look on the face of the person I'm talking to. The conversation usually ends here). Let's just say I'm not exactly dreading coming back next week, even though overall my summer has been very nice. It'll be nice to be around other people who understand why liberal arts schools do not suck.
Now, for the reason for my frustration. I'm sick of closed-minded people. There seems to be this attitude with a lot of people I know (not my friends, like theirs parents and relatives and stuff) and random people I've met over the summer that liberal arts schools are crap and won't get you anywhere, that anything to do with the arts won't get you anywhere, and that going to a school more than 3.5 hours away is stupid and a waste of money. Oh yeah, and they don't seem to be that fond of self-designed majors either, because apparantly if a major has never before existed at another school, or isn't a very common or well-heard-of major, then once again it won't get you anywhere and it's a waste of money. I'm very fortunate to have parents that are completely accepting of the fact that every choice I have made so far regarding my education is against the unwritten rules of old-fashioned, annoyingly conservative people (going to a liberal arts school, going to a school pretty far from home, designing my own major, and doing a second major in Art), and I feel thankful for that. But the many other people I have run into that like to criticize my choices are starting to get on my nerves. And yes, it has been a lot of people. I'll give you an example of an annoying conversation I've had several times: "So, what grade are you in?" "Sophomore in college." "Oh, what college do you go to? CCRI, RIC, or URI?" "Actually, none of them. I go to Drew University." "Drew University? Never heard of it. It must not be a very good school." "Well, it's actually a pretty good school. But it's in New Jersey. That's probably why you haven't heard of it." "Oh, you live in New Jersey? Are you on vacation?" "No, I live here. I'm from Cranston." (Confused look on the face of the person I'm talking to. The conversation usually ends here). Let's just say I'm not exactly dreading coming back next week, even though overall my summer has been very nice. It'll be nice to be around other people who understand why liberal arts schools do not suck.