Dear Diary,
Today (actually, just a few moments ago) the head of the English department where I work sometimes told me that she'd "heard the most interesting thing," Mary Bledsoe (the head of COSA [Coucil of Student Advocates)had said that winning a laptop had changed a student's life. That student is, of course, me. (The English department head said it such an unbelieving way, like she'd just heard that oxygen wasn't to be breathed anymore by a three year old, so it immediately gave me a cue of "why no, it couldn't be!")
I freaked. When had I told her that? I was pretty damn excited about the winning and the recieving, that's for sure. But to say something so over-the-top and flamboyount and silly as that? "I didn't think it sounded like you," the English department head admitted.
I agreed.
Can winning a laptop change someone's life? More importantly, did winning this laptop which I am typing on right at this moment change my life? That's like comparing a laptop to a lover or an organ or a miracle drug. How can one equate a mechanical invention to something like that?
I had to deliver some tests to a the testing center. Before I left I told her, "Maybe winning a laptop did change my life. I'm not financially able to afford one and being given one with such gusto gave me some sort of inspiration that I could achieve more." As I was walking to the testing center I thought of how dorky that sounded.
"Did winning a laptop change my life?" I asked myself. "Did winning a laptop change my life?" I asked this over and over to myself. The word that always made me immediately say "no" was the word "laptop." Take that out of the sentence. "Did winning change my life?"
Humans, as a species, are obsessed with succeeding. And the symbolism that comes with laptops are obvious. Laptops are wireless. They permit the computer to be completely independent from a wire source (sometimes even the plug to charge). They are, symbolically and gushing with poetry, an example of independence. So, "Did winning an ultimate symbol of independence change my life?" Yes.
With that decided, I don't agree to blab something like that to a meeting. Mary Bledsoe was obviously trying to earn up support to prove that the laptop was worth its weight in expenses, which I fully support. But to do it in such a blatantly empty way...The english department head said that Mary had said it'd changed my life numerous times. Yes, Mary, tell them how happy I was to recieve the machine but don't use that joy and exploit a statement that I made in a time of ecstasy.
What I meant to say was, "Winning a laptop opened new doors for me that I'd not realized were there before. Winning a laptop did that, not the laptop itself. It represents independence. And it represents that I can win something I didn't think I could ever get before. It represents a little kid looking at that doll in the window. The kid never wants the doll forever but the ability to get the doll. Winning opened the door in my mind that says that I do have the ability to get it. Whatever it is. The laptop didn't change my life. Knowing my ability to do whatever I think is impossible did." That's what you were trying to say in the meeting, Mary. That's what you failed to convey.
Sincerely,
Evelyn
Next friend.
I freaked. When had I told her that? I was pretty damn excited about the winning and the recieving, that's for sure. But to say something so over-the-top and flamboyount and silly as that? "I didn't think it sounded like you," the English department head admitted.
I agreed.
Can winning a laptop change someone's life? More importantly, did winning this laptop which I am typing on right at this moment change my life? That's like comparing a laptop to a lover or an organ or a miracle drug. How can one equate a mechanical invention to something like that?
I had to deliver some tests to a the testing center. Before I left I told her, "Maybe winning a laptop did change my life. I'm not financially able to afford one and being given one with such gusto gave me some sort of inspiration that I could achieve more." As I was walking to the testing center I thought of how dorky that sounded.
"Did winning a laptop change my life?" I asked myself. "Did winning a laptop change my life?" I asked this over and over to myself. The word that always made me immediately say "no" was the word "laptop." Take that out of the sentence. "Did winning change my life?"
Humans, as a species, are obsessed with succeeding. And the symbolism that comes with laptops are obvious. Laptops are wireless. They permit the computer to be completely independent from a wire source (sometimes even the plug to charge). They are, symbolically and gushing with poetry, an example of independence. So, "Did winning an ultimate symbol of independence change my life?" Yes.
With that decided, I don't agree to blab something like that to a meeting. Mary Bledsoe was obviously trying to earn up support to prove that the laptop was worth its weight in expenses, which I fully support. But to do it in such a blatantly empty way...The english department head said that Mary had said it'd changed my life numerous times. Yes, Mary, tell them how happy I was to recieve the machine but don't use that joy and exploit a statement that I made in a time of ecstasy.
What I meant to say was, "Winning a laptop opened new doors for me that I'd not realized were there before. Winning a laptop did that, not the laptop itself. It represents independence. And it represents that I can win something I didn't think I could ever get before. It represents a little kid looking at that doll in the window. The kid never wants the doll forever but the ability to get the doll. Winning opened the door in my mind that says that I do have the ability to get it. Whatever it is. The laptop didn't change my life. Knowing my ability to do whatever I think is impossible did." That's what you were trying to say in the meeting, Mary. That's what you failed to convey.
Sincerely,
Evelyn
Next friend.