The Finer Points on Higher Learning: The World of Necessity Edition

Props to esc

Not factoring in the Recession, spending paper is pretty short for a college student, especially those with an acquired taste for the best. There is books to buy, tuition to be paid, food ain't cheap, if you are an art student, materials are far from painful to the pocket, and most of the entertaining events are far from free with even movies costing double digits. What is one to do when there is a surplus of goods that catch the eye and scream, "BUY ME. YOU KNOW I'M FRESH AND NEEDED IN YOUR CLOSET," at least that's what they say to me. The best rule of thumb I've come up with though when it comes to spending that job checks(in my case birthday money) is to buy what you don't already have a lot of, which means they are the closest thing to necessities in comparison to pleasurable buys.

Props to Bok_Bok

With winter getting ever closer, I'm tempted to plan to spend some bills on some new jackets, but the problem is I already have a more than satisfactory M65 and while it is a wee bit big on my skinny frame, it protects me from the wind like a tweed shield. Therefore, my buying of a new jacket would be a waste of paper. This is an example of something unnecessary.

Yes I really want this backpack. Can you read this Mom & Dad? I know you gotta squint real hard.

The product I do need the most though is something that I have overlooked for an amount of time, a nice backpack. For the entirety of anyone's school career, a bag has been present carrying a ton of books, but most of the time no one ever thinks about a book bag for anything more than color. While I do have a carrying tool that does a good job of protecting my laptop while also toting some other goods, it is becoming more and more of a burden with the amount of pencils, markers, books, sketchbooks, ruler, exacto knife, etc etc that I have to carry on a day to day basis. I personally need something that can be comfortably carried while riding a bike, and something that can carry a multitude of objects all while no crushing or breaking any of those materials. This is an example of a pleasurable necessity being that it isn't really needed in the sense that it costs 3 digits, but in my experience those walmart bags have a life span of a year, so you either pay a bundle of money on something good, or you pay a little bit of money each passing year. I'm getting off point a little bit though, I'll get back to worthy expensive goods vs unworthy expensive goods vs cheap goods at another time.

Props to Lactose the Intollerent

The best thing one could ever buy is something that goes past a material pleasure, and leads to a psychological goal oriented pleasure that will last an eternity. Any amount of money spent on providing a future for one's self is never wasted. In my case, I have to buy trademarks licenses or whatever the correct term is, server connections, web-space, stickers, and a web designer, but while this is more expensive and more time consuming compared to that of going to a store and walking out with a new piece to one's closet, the enjoyment from these are far better. Nothing can beat the feeling that you have done something that not only you can enjoy, but others can enjoy, and are fulfilling your own dreams.

In short, if you have a lot of sneakers and don't have cash to burn, don't buy sneakers; if you need something that will make living each day to day easier and won't leave you starving, by all means buy it, and if you have the chance to spend money on something that will make you truly happy and build a future for yourself....do I really have to say do it? Naw I didn't think so.

Peace and Love(props to Lucy because I stole that saying from her).

The Finer Points on Higher Learning

Props to chp_2k

Today I had the opportunity to witness the lazier population of the Georgia State student body. Maybe I am among the nerdy category of Hollywood stereotypes, but I do know I have a natural enjoyment from gaining any type of knowledge possible. Even though this is true, I’ve never given enough time to any type of study behavior. I would return home, spend the minimum amount of time on homework, then quickly approach the game system of the time, and continue to take massive amounts of time in the virtual world, but who didn’t do that grade school through high school?

Props to John Althouse Cohen

I’ve quickly learned from this year solely that this approach is not possible in school due to the simple fact of not truly being able to pick it up first go around without much outside work. On the one of the numerous other sides of the learning spectrum where a student does all the work possible while not truly learning anything, and never being able to apply their-selves outside of the classroom. This category of students is what I call the perfect failure. Even though they are able to get the highest grades in school, they never do anything associated with classes that isn’t going to be tested upon. This behavior leads to the same exact outcome as the habits that I exhibit.

Props to C. Barabanov

To make the best out of the academic aspect of college, it is necessary to never fall short of the expectation of professors. In the words of my father, “Don’t half ass it son.” If a teacher expect you to read a chapter, read one at least and more if possible. If not don’t expect to study the things guaranteed to be on the tests. Six chapters cannot be covered within thirty questions in the least, but the best possible strategy to combat such things is to pick up the key aspects. You can never fail with that. At least I hope because that is what I plan to do for now on. Wish me luck.

College Madness Pt 1

I recently had the privilege of having a discussion with my friend, who's "just doing it for the refund check," and the following feeling of disapproval and slight disgust pushed me to write this. Being that one of my favorite writers were able to beat my lazy butt in delivery of an essay on the same subject, I've still decided to put my big two cents into the college discussion.

In my most recent post, I spoke of being rewarded with the presence of much desired birthday presents, but this is not a given by far. If it wasn't for my good grades, great work habit, and ability to just enough my way through school all the while gaining the coveted Hope Scholarship, and being able to do this same thing in college and hold on to Hope like Obama's speech writer, I would not be the spoiled(not a brat, I just gets a lot of things) child that I am today. While I don't take these for granted I feel as if many of my peers take their opportunities for granted.

I know I just jumped from bday presents, to college, but my views on higher education is that it is a privilege that is more so viewed as a obligation these days. Most students make the mistake of not getting out of a lower mode of education, not realizing that the teenage wasteland known as high school is built for accomplishment, and that the college experience is much more of a contest between peer groups. Meaning that with each passing school year, more and more people are dismissed from their learning experience due to lower than average scores.

I for one love this feature because my biggest peeve of college level slackers are the ones that complain about school yet won't take the time and effort to quit and enter the real real world. I hate when I see someone who has a scholarship piss that money all away while partying, missing class, and not even taking the time to fail a test by just missing it all together. Maybe they aren't interested in what they are learning in school even in the least of trivial bit, or they just don't give two feces about the knowledge they could be taking in, I don't know because I'm not one of those. I see what I can get out of each and every class even if they have nothing to do with my art major, but more so I see that I have a free ride for the time being in the best time of my life. The other, or as Phil says, the 85% that may have a scholarship just take it for granted. Wait till your parents, or you yourself have to pay for it. Bet it won't be that hard to waste your time and money then.

The Best Night Ever

Had a fair day in my classes today, but the day really picked up when it was basically night. It started off with going to the special screening of Observe and Report. That really set the mood right for the night.

After going back to the dorm room, I decided to start my drawing homework. Instead of really trying to draw out what I was trying to do, I just did it. It's a little hard to explain if you don't already understand, but basically it means you just naturally get it. Everybody has something like this. 

Before I had even thought of starting  my homework, Marks had basically talked me going into Apache. It was a good decision in the end. Good performances, good atmosphere, had my batgirl there with me.

All the chilling definitely left me and Mrs. Pac-man hungry so we decided to go into the Landmark with a couple of minutes before closing, and found the funniest sign ever. I don't remember it for verbatim, but it had something to do with somebody named Vincent and his lost social security card, and how big of a dork he is. Really though, who brings a social security just lying around. Wake up with a million dollar debt on that ass. Anyway the gyro(me) and hamburger and fries(Liz) really hit the spot.

And just to put something up because the more I draw the more I am stoked about it.