Escaping
Okay, so what's been going on?
Well, TWO Wednesdays ago I had a test and a quiz.
The first test I had was in Adulthood. And it wouldn't have been SO bad, if. . .
If I had found the time to finish reading each chapter it was over prior to one day before the test. . .
If I wasn't exhausted from going to a Downunder Horsemanship Clinic nearby with people from the farm
to see the amazing Clinton Anderson work with some problem horses. That was amazing, but left me super tired.
I had to get up at 5:00 each morning to go feed the horses at teh ranch by flashlight light. Looks like my LED light I
got for Christmas paid off. . .
If I didn't have Research Project group meetings for my Research Methods class. . .
Or If I was actually MOTIVATED to put forth the effort to study. 0.o Yeah. . . about that, I'm a 4.0 straight A student, but
some weeks, I really am not motivated. That was last week.
Well, I got to Adulthood, feeling less confident than I would have liked, and took the test.
Everything seemed to be going good. . . until the more complicated questions.
By that I mean the ones that deal with percentages, age ranges for diseases, and other such number things. Yeah,
I can do Calculus, I can do Algebra. But if I see numbers, or even years, in a class where they're not "supposed to be there" (according to my brain), I kinda shut down.
So I walked away PRAYING last week that I scraped by with a B. (Which I still wouldn't have been too happy about, because I want a 4.0, and HATE trying to bring a grade up. I can't figure out how much I need to make on the next test if the percentages of tests in the final grade is complicated, and hate just trying to shoot in the dark, to get an A.)
Well, then I had about 45 minutes to try to cram for the mega quiz I had in Cognitive Psychology. 0.o
Since I had tried to cram for Adulthood, I hadn't even looked at the three page study guide for that class, for the reasons already listed above. . . I also had not read Chapter 1 like I should have (although I did read Chapter 2). People who were around me who'd had me for other classes were shocked and . . . I think, dissapointed, in me. I'm always the one who freaks out and studies tons for a test. I want to be perfect on it. And for me not to study. . . I think it offended those who had studied. They either were like that, or smug that they might beat me on that quiz. And just so you know, in that class, there are no exams. Not even a final. Just eight quizzes. The teacher drops the lowest quiz grade at the end. Which means a quiz counts more in that class. Scary. . . that was definitely the one I thought he'd drop. . .So anyway, I walked in, and since a lot of people tend to like to see the smart girl fall, and a lot of people knew by that point that I was not prepared, it felt like I was walking to the slaughter. Really. I am prideful in my academics. . . I was upset. A bit. . . too late then. . . So I took it. . .
This Tuesday, I had my first test in Sensation and Perception. I had had this teacher for two classes before, he wants to help me get into graduate school and therefore help me in my academic career, he's steadily pressing my parents to transfer me to said school for my final years as an undergraduate, has said he'll write me a recommendation where I'm praised greatly. Basically, he's just considering whether or not to say I walk on water. :] And the first time he saw my parents, he laughed, hugged me, and said that I was a "pain in the ass". . . but in a "good way". Yeah, I think my nice pastor daddy's still reeling from that one.
Anywho, I really try to do my very, VERY best for his tests. Because normally, they're in the same subject area I want to go into. But, as with Adulthood, I had started a lot of chapters reading-wise, but never had time to finish, and needed to read those. He'd sent out a study guide two weeks in advance. I didn't pay it much mind until last Friday. . . And, well. . . needless to say I was up til 1:00 AM on Tuesday morning reading. I was not prepared yet again. And was even MORE upset than with the previous two examinations mentioned, because this is the field I want to go into: Research Psychology. I want to do well in any class that may pertain to that.
Sensation and Perception is one of them.
So I went in, took it, and came out the other side.
Now, for my grades?
On the Adulthood test, I was told I made an 88. Not bad, eh? Well, get this. I looked over the scantron, and realized that I had erased my previous answer, or B, on one of them, and then filled in E later. (No, i didn't cheat and do this after the test. This really happened. The teacher was sitting across from me, watching me as I looked over it. I didn't even HAVE a pencil on me. Not that I would have done this anyway. I have integrity. unlike SOME students.) Well, the correct answer was E, but the scantron machine thought I put B. So that bumped that test grade up to a 91%! YAY!
On the Cognitive Quiz. . . :) you know, the one I didn't study for? Before he curbed it, I got a 96%. After he curbed it, I got a 100%! YAY!
And on my wonderful Sensation and Perception? Well, let's just say the way he smiled and handed it to me, the way he shook my hand and said he was proud and that I did a good job? I think I was the highest in the class with a shining 96%. He also said that our class, out of all of his, had the highest average on their first exam with 81%. I mean, his others were super low. Like 67% or lower. That's what he said. So he gave us the rest of that period off. It would have been great, if I hadn't have been super excited to go over color in the vision system (we're working through the vision system now, one of my favorites now that I fully grasp receptive fields), and if I hadn't had a class in that same room the next period. . . not much time to go anywhere. . . :)
So everything worked out. Because unlike some people, I engage in discussion, read my butt off as much as I can (or try to. I could probably do better), and really try to do my best in my own way. People try to challenge me for the teacher's pet position (because unlike highschool, everyone who's serious about their graduate school wants it ;]) And this is where it pays off.
I'm super happy, have my last "first" exam of the semester next Thursday, and plan to do well on it.
Now, why is this post called Escaping?
Because this weekend I am not going to think too much about next Thursday's test (I'll work on studying, but will not obsess. because I'll space it
out.)
Because I'll tell you one thing:
I HAVE MISSED WRITING!
I LOVE SCHOOL! I REALLY DO!
BUT I MISS MY STORY!
I MISS WRITING IT!
(mentally) SLADE AND SLASHERA AND ALL MY OTHER CHARACTERS FEEL NEGLECTED!
I'M TELLING YOU! THIS WHOLE WEEK, THEY'VE BEEN RUSHING THROUGH MY HEAD!
I'VE WORKED ON THE NEXT CHAPTER SOME, BUT ONLY A BIT (I'LL TELL YOU THIS: IT WILL BE LONG. I HOPE IT'S WORTH THE WAIT) I ALSO WANT TO DO A VALENTINE'S DAY DRABBLE. I ALREADY HAVE IT IN MY HEAD! :)
it is more like a Single's Awareness Day, drabble. . . lol
I MEAN, I'M DEDICATED TO SCHOOL. I'M DEDICATED TO BEING THE BEST OF THE BEST ACADEMIC WISE.
I REALLY AM!
But don't we all get tired of that? I wanted so bad this week, studying and everything, to just let go. To write. But knew that if I did, I'd never get any schoolwork done. And now that it's Thursday, I'm ready to escape this reality.
This weekend,.
I'm going to work on my story (and read for school this too, don't worry).
I'm going to relax. Because my stories and my ponies are really my therapy.
They are my way to escape from reality. To a world of my own design, or in a world where I'm surrounded by animals I love..
And this week, I heard this song, hat made me think about it. I think you may enjoy it too. About how we all have to escape reality sometimes. And while it doesn't list writing or reading, or our brainchildren, I think of my stories. . . (actually I think of Slade [ who is quite possibly the only male other than Jareth that runs through my mind room at the current time] singing this song). I hope you do too not about the thinking of Slade singing it. I mean think of your stories and brainchildren, and whatever else you do that helps you escape reality sometimes. Or just have fun. Yeah, that too.
Note: I do not sing it, and technically, Slade does not even sing it. I did not post this video. Neither did he.
Click to viewHere's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tfzWgP4c2s
So, anyway, I do plan on posting the next chapter this weekend.
It will be long, but as a preview, it will provide a slight insight into the interworkings of Slade's whole
organization scheme. And maybe answer a few questions about it you may have. If you have any questions right now, please
leave them in a comment below.
It won't only deal with Slade, though. It is, as I try to make it everytime, about Slashera's development in the end.
But you have to understand that I try to make Slade more than just the "big bad". I want to make him a bit more complex. You will also see a fear of his. . . *smirks* Yeah, my mind room Slade's not too happy about that. . .
Anyways, another big announcement:
Regarding the story as a whole.
It is nearing 80 or 90 pages total (this chapter might break the 90-page goal, perhaps).
And I have made a large decision.
I then met (mentally. I'm really being very imaginative writing this out) with my mental
representations of Slade and adult-Slashera.
And we/I decided:
Slashera's story will now be split into 5 parts.
Simply because there is SO much I want to put into the story,
and since it will be lengthy being a coming-of-age type story (you know, following her through life), I decided it'd just be easier to separate it, because I do want it bound by a printing store.
Here is the first heading (you know, for part I):
THE EARLY YEARS
Anyway, I think that was note worthy. And I know that I make a big deal out of this story, but even though I just now started to write it all out in order, it feels like this is the story that's been with me the longest. I guess it has sentimental value. . . something like that. :)
Okay, I'm done with my super long post.
Time to work on the story!
And enjoy my weekend!
And your comments!!!!