an ode to pie a la mode!
My AP Economics teacher is slowly but surely ruining my life. I think she's trying to, and that's what makes it even worse. It seems as though the only thing on her agenda is being The Devil and she's making quick work of achieving her goals. Because there is no better way to discuss my sheer and complete disgust than in list format, that's how it's going to go down...
1. I can no longer eat fast food or consume dairy products (sans Ben & Jerry's). I'm sorry, but prior to November 18, I lived off of fast food. Until, suddenly, with her intense prodding, I realized that putting money into the pocket of a CEO at McDonald's was not a good way for me to be spending my time/money.
And then she makes us watch The Corporation which has a particularly disgusting section about rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone - increases milk production in cows) which made me turn away from my new-found love for milk with shame. I was finally learning to appreciate the finer things about milk - how it could perfectly compliment a bowl of Fruit Loops, how a couple tablespoons made my coffee that much more enjoyable. And now I'm left with nothing because, ew. I can't do it. When they're using words like "pus" and "bacteria" in talking about milk, it's time for me to start looking for alternatives.
In reading the side of a tub of Ben & Jerry's, I've learned that they don't approve of getting their cream from suppliers that use rBGH. While this is encouraging, I know I have to take it with a grain of salt - they also say that they can't really control what their candy/other stuff suppliers do. Still, I can't give up the creamiest, most delicious food on the planet and the fact that they say that makes me smile a bit. And they have organic ice cream - they're trying. ("Yeah, to cash in on a market of people who aren't as price-sensitive as they could be," says the cynical being in me.)
2. She gave me the much coveted and highly anticipated A+ for my semester grade. She had the nerve to challenge me to get one on the exam so that I could take home that shiny "+" to hang on my refrigerator. And, you know what I did? I STUDIED. I worked hard to pull of that grade and what does that leave me with? The knowledge that I'm going to have to work just as hard next semester. (Not to mention a really amazing understanding of production possibilities curves and profit-maximizing points.)
Unfortunately, because I was already studying for Economics, I took a "what the hell" approach and studied for my other classes as well. Because of her, I got an A on my English exam - meaning I kept my 4.0 and still have a shot at being valedictorian. Therefore, I can't just give up on my grades in general because there's still that possibility.
3. Saved the worst for last.
She appreciates my writing, even and especially my silly writing. She encourages me to put in an effort and then responds to it in a really thoughtful and interesting way. Not only have I been sitting in Psychology crafting Economics Fairy Tales, I've been dabbling around in writing short stories again. It sucks because I'd always wanted to be a writer but sort of gave up when I kept getting D's on my English essays.
...It's pretty easy to see, after all that, how my life has been ruined by this woman's thoughtlessness. Yet, I'm going to take the moral high ground here and say that, in all that horribleness, she's probably taught me something. I mean, I guess it's her fault that I know that David Ricardo was the first one to say, "Hey, comparative advantage rocks!"
Coolest teacher ever.
1. I can no longer eat fast food or consume dairy products (sans Ben & Jerry's). I'm sorry, but prior to November 18, I lived off of fast food. Until, suddenly, with her intense prodding, I realized that putting money into the pocket of a CEO at McDonald's was not a good way for me to be spending my time/money.
And then she makes us watch The Corporation which has a particularly disgusting section about rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone - increases milk production in cows) which made me turn away from my new-found love for milk with shame. I was finally learning to appreciate the finer things about milk - how it could perfectly compliment a bowl of Fruit Loops, how a couple tablespoons made my coffee that much more enjoyable. And now I'm left with nothing because, ew. I can't do it. When they're using words like "pus" and "bacteria" in talking about milk, it's time for me to start looking for alternatives.
In reading the side of a tub of Ben & Jerry's, I've learned that they don't approve of getting their cream from suppliers that use rBGH. While this is encouraging, I know I have to take it with a grain of salt - they also say that they can't really control what their candy/other stuff suppliers do. Still, I can't give up the creamiest, most delicious food on the planet and the fact that they say that makes me smile a bit. And they have organic ice cream - they're trying. ("Yeah, to cash in on a market of people who aren't as price-sensitive as they could be," says the cynical being in me.)
2. She gave me the much coveted and highly anticipated A+ for my semester grade. She had the nerve to challenge me to get one on the exam so that I could take home that shiny "+" to hang on my refrigerator. And, you know what I did? I STUDIED. I worked hard to pull of that grade and what does that leave me with? The knowledge that I'm going to have to work just as hard next semester. (Not to mention a really amazing understanding of production possibilities curves and profit-maximizing points.)
Unfortunately, because I was already studying for Economics, I took a "what the hell" approach and studied for my other classes as well. Because of her, I got an A on my English exam - meaning I kept my 4.0 and still have a shot at being valedictorian. Therefore, I can't just give up on my grades in general because there's still that possibility.
3. Saved the worst for last.
She appreciates my writing, even and especially my silly writing. She encourages me to put in an effort and then responds to it in a really thoughtful and interesting way. Not only have I been sitting in Psychology crafting Economics Fairy Tales, I've been dabbling around in writing short stories again. It sucks because I'd always wanted to be a writer but sort of gave up when I kept getting D's on my English essays.
...It's pretty easy to see, after all that, how my life has been ruined by this woman's thoughtlessness. Yet, I'm going to take the moral high ground here and say that, in all that horribleness, she's probably taught me something. I mean, I guess it's her fault that I know that David Ricardo was the first one to say, "Hey, comparative advantage rocks!"
Coolest teacher ever.