Have you ever noticed that experiencing someone else being hospitable towards you feels weird? I have. I wanted to write this post a long time ago when this happened to me.
Here's the situation: I walked into Chic Fil-A, seeking nothing but the bathroom. I was going to eat but not until after I was able to use the bathroom. I had that goal in mind and wasn't expecting anything would stop me from doing so. The second I walked in the door the cashier asked me how I was. I was confused. I hadn't walked up to the counter yet, I literally just walked through the door and already people were talking to me. But wait, they weren't just talking to me, they were smiling. Not one of those fake "I'm only asking you this because its in my job description" kind of smiles, but a real one. I was confused.
Why should that be confusing? Why is it that when people do something even remotely nice for us we think its strange and out of place. It should not be this way. Here's another situation for you...
You go over a friend's house. Now normally when you go over a friend's house the parents are quite nice to you...but this friend is originally from a different country, or maybe just their parents are. Either way, they still express the culture of somewhere that isn't here. You notice that they are over-the-top nice to you. They feed you...several times, are always asking if you need anything, the carry on pleasant conversation with you...quite simply they are super nice to you. "Ahhhhh" you think, "I love the hospitality of other cultures."
Let me highlight something for you ...other cultures...
Right, so whether or not we notice it...we, as a culture, are not super great at the whole hospitality thing. Why is that? I don't know, but it is not a good thing. We are also not super great at being receptive. If someone says hi to you when you pass by them...say hi back...its a simple phrase...hi...two letters, one syllable. It is quite easy to say.
Also I've noticed people have a terrible habit of asking the age old "how are ya?" without caring at all what the answer is. If you ask in passing, you should probably stop walking long enough to hear the response. Other wise just say "hey," or refer to the previous paragraph.
As a culture I think that our interactions with each other need work. We need to recognize that people are around us all the time and act kindly towards them.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The End of an Era
(prepare yourself, I get the feeling this is going to be a long post)
So I'm done with four years of college. Man that went by so fast! No, I didn't graduate...yet...but 4 years is still quite the mile marker!
When my bosses found out my schedule would not allow me to work for them for my final semester in the fall one of them said "whoah its the end of an era." Not too many girls actually stick with the grounds crew for 4 years...its tough work! What I didn't realize was that the semester I started working there was also the semester this particular boss started working there.
I absolutely loved my job on the Grounds Crew! I learned so much. This city girl now feels like she could actually get something to grow...and look nice too! Sure I hated the trash run, but I loved planting stuff, watering stuff, watching it grow and saying...you see that hosta over there? I picked that one out and planted it! I love knowing the names of things like my 2 current favorite kinds of trees (kwanzan cheery and red bud). I loved my bosses to pieces they were like my on campus dads. I learned how to start a leaf-blower (I went from not being able to, to being named the leaf-blower whisperer). I learned how to drive a pick up truck, a John Deer Gator, a spiffy Kubota, and yes, a dump truck. I won't dwell on this too long, I've already written a post about it a while ago, but let's just say that leaving was too much bitter and not enough sweet. I will never forget that job!
After 4 years I also finally completed the Honors Program at my school. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me. I had to fight to finish this program due to scheduling conflicts. I was only in my last honors class half of the time (and still pulled a B-!!!!). Honors was super difficult for me because my background did not prepare me very well for this material. I went to high school in a public school district that fails No Child Left Behind...I know I know...who knew that was actually possible...well it is. We did not read the same type of materials in my high school that many of my private schooled, and home schooled classmates did. I started this program pretty far behind! I never gave up though and now it is done! I am done (with)* Honors forever!
After I finish a summer course I will be done with regular college courses for my undergrad career! Next semester is student teaching so I'm treating it as something different. 4 years of classes. I've had the same professors over and over and over again (its a small college you must understand)...and now I won't have them anymore. It just feels weird, and strange.
Graduation: yes I did watch it, no I haven't done it yet. This past semester was the one where I was supposed to walk the stage. I still will but at a later date, and I've already written about that as well. I went to watch my class.
I watched my Honors class graduate. What an accomplishment. I am honored to be part of their class. What achievements and awards they received on top of completing the Honors Program. Great job guys. It felt weird to watch them go. After 4 years of reading Great Books, sitting in circles in talking about Great Books, writing papers and reflections on Great Books, and taking oral finals and doing final projects on Great Books we have a certain kind of bond. We watched each other struggle, we watched some classmates leave, and we urged some to stay. We stuck it out and we did it. The few, the proud, the 16 people from the Honors class of 2013 who actually made it. I was glad to see them cross that stage with their Honors tassels, but sad to see them go.
I know I wrote about Honors twice, but finishing the program and watching my classmates go are two completely different feelings.
I watched my class graduate. The people I came in with freshman year. The people who were at orientation with me. The people I watched grow into adults and who watched me grow into an adult. I will always consider myself part of the class of 2013. Always. This class is silly, goofy, smart, and kind. I am glad to have been a part of it!
Here's the punch in the gut...I watched my first college friends graduate. The first people I ever befriended at this school. The ones who stayed up late and got up early with me freshman year. My first roommate. The ones who's rooms I pretty much lived in instead of my own because I don't like doing homework in my own room. The friends who I met on my wing, on 4th floor, in the bathroom the night before we had a class together, at the orientation dance, at lunch that random one time, and in my first semester of scary college classes. My first college best friend and my first college friend group. And let's be honest if the "community" on the 4th floor our freshman year is still being talked about by the RAs to this day clearly we had something great going!
In four years I went from an ambitious girl with no clue what she was going to do with her life to an ambitious woman with no clue where she is going to live in December. I've learned so much and been touched by so many people. I've come very far in what turned out to feel like a very short period of time. Grown ups are not lying when they say that college will fly by! Four years is already gone and I cannot believe it! This is the end of an era for sure.
*I would normally say "I'm done Honors!" and apparently that isn't normal
So I'm done with four years of college. Man that went by so fast! No, I didn't graduate...yet...but 4 years is still quite the mile marker!
When my bosses found out my schedule would not allow me to work for them for my final semester in the fall one of them said "whoah its the end of an era." Not too many girls actually stick with the grounds crew for 4 years...its tough work! What I didn't realize was that the semester I started working there was also the semester this particular boss started working there.
I absolutely loved my job on the Grounds Crew! I learned so much. This city girl now feels like she could actually get something to grow...and look nice too! Sure I hated the trash run, but I loved planting stuff, watering stuff, watching it grow and saying...you see that hosta over there? I picked that one out and planted it! I love knowing the names of things like my 2 current favorite kinds of trees (kwanzan cheery and red bud). I loved my bosses to pieces they were like my on campus dads. I learned how to start a leaf-blower (I went from not being able to, to being named the leaf-blower whisperer). I learned how to drive a pick up truck, a John Deer Gator, a spiffy Kubota, and yes, a dump truck. I won't dwell on this too long, I've already written a post about it a while ago, but let's just say that leaving was too much bitter and not enough sweet. I will never forget that job!
After 4 years I also finally completed the Honors Program at my school. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me. I had to fight to finish this program due to scheduling conflicts. I was only in my last honors class half of the time (and still pulled a B-!!!!). Honors was super difficult for me because my background did not prepare me very well for this material. I went to high school in a public school district that fails No Child Left Behind...I know I know...who knew that was actually possible...well it is. We did not read the same type of materials in my high school that many of my private schooled, and home schooled classmates did. I started this program pretty far behind! I never gave up though and now it is done! I am done (with)* Honors forever!
After I finish a summer course I will be done with regular college courses for my undergrad career! Next semester is student teaching so I'm treating it as something different. 4 years of classes. I've had the same professors over and over and over again (its a small college you must understand)...and now I won't have them anymore. It just feels weird, and strange.
Graduation: yes I did watch it, no I haven't done it yet. This past semester was the one where I was supposed to walk the stage. I still will but at a later date, and I've already written about that as well. I went to watch my class.
I watched my Honors class graduate. What an accomplishment. I am honored to be part of their class. What achievements and awards they received on top of completing the Honors Program. Great job guys. It felt weird to watch them go. After 4 years of reading Great Books, sitting in circles in talking about Great Books, writing papers and reflections on Great Books, and taking oral finals and doing final projects on Great Books we have a certain kind of bond. We watched each other struggle, we watched some classmates leave, and we urged some to stay. We stuck it out and we did it. The few, the proud, the 16 people from the Honors class of 2013 who actually made it. I was glad to see them cross that stage with their Honors tassels, but sad to see them go.
I know I wrote about Honors twice, but finishing the program and watching my classmates go are two completely different feelings.
I watched my class graduate. The people I came in with freshman year. The people who were at orientation with me. The people I watched grow into adults and who watched me grow into an adult. I will always consider myself part of the class of 2013. Always. This class is silly, goofy, smart, and kind. I am glad to have been a part of it!
Here's the punch in the gut...I watched my first college friends graduate. The first people I ever befriended at this school. The ones who stayed up late and got up early with me freshman year. My first roommate. The ones who's rooms I pretty much lived in instead of my own because I don't like doing homework in my own room. The friends who I met on my wing, on 4th floor, in the bathroom the night before we had a class together, at the orientation dance, at lunch that random one time, and in my first semester of scary college classes. My first college best friend and my first college friend group. And let's be honest if the "community" on the 4th floor our freshman year is still being talked about by the RAs to this day clearly we had something great going!
In four years I went from an ambitious girl with no clue what she was going to do with her life to an ambitious woman with no clue where she is going to live in December. I've learned so much and been touched by so many people. I've come very far in what turned out to feel like a very short period of time. Grown ups are not lying when they say that college will fly by! Four years is already gone and I cannot believe it! This is the end of an era for sure.
*I would normally say "I'm done Honors!" and apparently that isn't normal
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Who is graduation for?
So its graduation season...yes season because there are so many of them.
Whether it be from 6th grade, high school, or college, the graduation ceremony is usually "for" someone.
In college I realized that you have the option of not walking...aka not crossing the stage in front of everyone to show off all your hard work...This idea is rather foreign to me.
Something else you should probably know as I write this is that I am graduating late: in December. My school does not have a ceremony in December. To "walk" I would have to come back in May. People keep asking me if I'm going to walk...Yes, and I will be walking for myself!
but first, let's look at this...
Graduations are for the family of the person graduating. They put up with a lot of stuff to get you where you are. They helped you study, put up with your stress, calmed you down, proof read your papers, heck they memorized multiplication tables with you (maybe even for 3 summers in a row). Some parent also spent a FORTUNE on your education...private school, college tuition, tutors? If your parents paid for you...shoot you owe it to them to walk across the stage so they can get all proud and teary eyed...they've earned it!
Graduations are for friends. Graduations are a time of celebration! Its a time when everyone can get together and celebrate each other. Its a time of good byes and wishing each other good luck. Graduation provides closure...
Graduations are for the individual. Come on, as a student you worked hard to get to that point. Show it to the world. Shake some hands, wear a silly looking hood, maybe even a few cords...show yourself off! School is hard; papers, tests, professors who dislike your writing style...listen learning is tough work and after all of that, a little recognition is nice.
...ok so why will I come back and walk next May? ...why didn't I just walk with my Associates Degree?
I will be walking for myself. Yes, I will also be walking for my family, and my friends...but in quite a large part I am walking for myself. College has been quite the roller coaster ride. I have worked hard to pay for school by myself, I have worked hard to get decent grades, I have worked hard to complete the Honors Program...its been rough...blood, sweat, and tears literally went into this education! I will be walking to show that I will have finally done it! Finally graduated. This graduation will be for me.
It will also be for my family. Shoot my family has certainly put up with so much garbage from me about school. Plus I know my parents would love to come out for it; show their support and get to see their daughter walk across the stage get a fancy folder, move a tassel and take a picture in front of tons of people.
My graduation will also be for my teachers and my professors. They have worked so hard with me to get me where I am. It would clearly be impossible to have a graduation without the teachers! I have had some particularly excellent teachers and professors, and without them I wouldn't graduate.
So you see, graduation, even when it is mainly for you...is not just for you. So many people had something to do with your education. Graduations are celebrations for all of academia!
Whether it be from 6th grade, high school, or college, the graduation ceremony is usually "for" someone.
In college I realized that you have the option of not walking...aka not crossing the stage in front of everyone to show off all your hard work...This idea is rather foreign to me.
Something else you should probably know as I write this is that I am graduating late: in December. My school does not have a ceremony in December. To "walk" I would have to come back in May. People keep asking me if I'm going to walk...Yes, and I will be walking for myself!
but first, let's look at this...
Graduations are for the family of the person graduating. They put up with a lot of stuff to get you where you are. They helped you study, put up with your stress, calmed you down, proof read your papers, heck they memorized multiplication tables with you (maybe even for 3 summers in a row). Some parent also spent a FORTUNE on your education...private school, college tuition, tutors? If your parents paid for you...shoot you owe it to them to walk across the stage so they can get all proud and teary eyed...they've earned it!
Graduations are for friends. Graduations are a time of celebration! Its a time when everyone can get together and celebrate each other. Its a time of good byes and wishing each other good luck. Graduation provides closure...
Graduations are for the individual. Come on, as a student you worked hard to get to that point. Show it to the world. Shake some hands, wear a silly looking hood, maybe even a few cords...show yourself off! School is hard; papers, tests, professors who dislike your writing style...listen learning is tough work and after all of that, a little recognition is nice.
...ok so why will I come back and walk next May? ...why didn't I just walk with my Associates Degree?
I will be walking for myself. Yes, I will also be walking for my family, and my friends...but in quite a large part I am walking for myself. College has been quite the roller coaster ride. I have worked hard to pay for school by myself, I have worked hard to get decent grades, I have worked hard to complete the Honors Program...its been rough...blood, sweat, and tears literally went into this education! I will be walking to show that I will have finally done it! Finally graduated. This graduation will be for me.
It will also be for my family. Shoot my family has certainly put up with so much garbage from me about school. Plus I know my parents would love to come out for it; show their support and get to see their daughter walk across the stage get a fancy folder, move a tassel and take a picture in front of tons of people.
My graduation will also be for my teachers and my professors. They have worked so hard with me to get me where I am. It would clearly be impossible to have a graduation without the teachers! I have had some particularly excellent teachers and professors, and without them I wouldn't graduate.
So you see, graduation, even when it is mainly for you...is not just for you. So many people had something to do with your education. Graduations are celebrations for all of academia!
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