I have become a stranger to my own blog this semester. Soon after my last post, I started to have migraine attacks each day. Normally when I get a headache, I take some ibuprofen, take a nap, and I am fine when I wake up. Soon, it wasn't working anymore. When I woke up, the headache would be worse. One weekend, I couldn't take the pain anymore and a friend took me to the emergency room. They got the migraine to calm down and put me on muscle relaxers because my neck was tense from reading and being on the computer constantly for school. The muscle relaxers helped keep the migraines down, but I felt quite loopy sitting in class. One day my literature professor seemed more interesting than normal. The next day, I went to bed and woke up at 3 a.m. with a splitting migraine. I had to go back to the hospital and this time they gave me a strong narcotic. I did not drive home and after emailing my professor I couldn't take the exam, I went to bed.
I did a checkup later in the week with the student clinic on campus and the doctor officially diagnosed me as a sufferer of migraines. She gave me a prescription to try for migraines; a month's supply (9 pills). I followed the instructions on the box, but I went through them in a week. I was then referred to a Neurologist. Ever since then, I have done blood work about four times, a MRI, and taking a different prescription. This past week I have been feeling like myself than I ever have since October. I had two weeks of break and the first week I spent most of my time taking two to three showers a day with a cloth over my head to stop my head from throbbing. My parents became extremely worried when they would find me in the shower. I became extremely frustrated. I just wanted to feel normal again, but I know the main cause of them: stress.
I have had 3 years of stress toppled on me. This past semester was the roughest I have ever experienced. Not only did I have 17 books to read between 5 classes, but I fought with the university about graduation requirements to graduate after next semester, the GRE test for graduate school, graduate school applications, a 20 page paper for my Charles Dickens Independent Study, two jobs (one of which had a project deadline looming), two scholarship protocols, and all the other assignments for my courses. My body finally had enough and decided to tell me so with migraines. I wasn't even finished with the semester like most of the students. Tracy and I worked on my 20 pager the week after finals, two of my applications were due, and I had that project for my job deadline too.
I am glad I am starting to feel like myself and can recognize when I am about to get a migraine. I have also been drinking more water, and did some research about migraines. Some food and drinks can be triggers: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, aspartame, aged cheese, nuts, etc... Caffeine, such as in chocolate, coffee, or soda is a double edged sword. While it is a trigger, it also helps to relieve migraines. That's why in each Excedrin Migraine pill there is an equivalent of one cup of coffee. There are also environmental factors like the weather. When the barometric pressure is low, headaches and migraines are more likely. Another factor is extreme weather changes like being warm and then it being cold in a short amount of time. This has been the case for Mount Pleasant all fall and winter. Also, I should have mentioned migraines are especially different from headaches. While headaches can be very painful, migraines usually have specific symptoms and are much more painful. For me, the light, whether from the sun, lamp, or technological device, makes them more painful. This is also true for noise and things that make me stressed, like reading or writing for class.
Anyways, I am feeling much better and doing whatever I can to figure out my triggers. After all the pain, I didn't realize it nor was I working towards it, but I made the Dean's List this semester with a 3.8. My parents said I seemed stressed about my grades, but I was actually stressed about finishing everything with the little amount of time I had. The Dean's List is not worth all those migraines, but I am pretty proud.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
10/30/11
Being a Responsible Student a Negative?
This week I had to make a decision whether to go to a performance with friends or stay home and work on the million things I have to do for college. It was a difficult decision for me. This performance only happens every year near Halloween and in remote places. It was difficult because I only see my friend when we have dinner on Tuesdays every so often, and I have wanted to see the performance all my years at Central. This is my last chance to see it while at Central. I had a few ideas how my friend would respond when I told him the truth. I contemplated not telling him the truth, which is awful, but I felt guilty letting him down. He's a go with the flow type of person, so I knew he wasn't going to peer pressure me. I decided to tell him the truth and told myself that he has his priorities and I have mine. I don't think any less of him because his are different than mine, and that I don't necessarily agree with them all. I try really hard not to judge people because it's not my place to do so. However, his response after I told I wasn't going to the performance was a catalyst to all these awful feelings. I felt like I needed to defend myself more or do something in order to make me feel better. I guess that's why I am writing this post.
I think a lot of people's priorities have to do with their personality and the way they were raised. My parents pushed me to my limit when I was in high school. Ever since then, school always comes first. I was never an all A student, but I worked my butt off. I am a different type of student; one that I don't see very often, which is frustrating. Over the years, I have noticed that people perceive me as a super smart student, which isn't exactly wrong, but they then conclude I have all A's and a really high GPA, which is wrong. I think I do well with my GPA, but it will never match my intelligence. I am the type of student that never misses class unless I am deathly ill, takes a lot of notes and participates in class, reads almost everything the professor assigns, goes to office hours, spends hours studying and writing, but I still receive a B. I have always struggled through school, that's just my nature. I know I have to work extremely hard to get that B. I do get A's occasionally, but there seems to be some sort of disconnection to what the professor wants and what I create. I say this because I see people who work just as hard as me, but have no problem getting A's on all their assignments. With one person I know in particular, it doesn't even matter which professor she takes, she gets perfect scores on everything, and I know I work just as hard as she does.
The other part of this is my personality. I am an introvert; less than I was before college, but still very much a home body. It's not necessarily that I enjoy doing homework, I would rather be doing other things than homework, but it gives me an excuse to be at home. Most people would find it weird that I enjoy being alone. Some would say they would be lonely, but I'm not like that. I enjoy time by myself, there's a difference from being alone and being lonely.
I guess in all of this I wish my friend understood me more as a student, or rather everyone. I'm seen as a "weird" or "wrong" college student because I don't party and spend most of my weekends doing homework. I can't help it. I struggle, and the fact that I am carrying two jobs and two scholarship protocols to meet ends meet means that when I have two hours of free time, it goes towards homework. The weekends are what keep me afloat. So when my friend says, "have fun being responsible," it gives me mixed feelings. Most people don't "have fun" being responsible. They wish they were still a kid and didn't have to deal with all these adult responsibilities. I don't regret my decision, I just wish it was easier to have a social life along with work and school. I guess when I heard about going to college is picking two out of the three(social life, school, work) they were right.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
9/29/11
Time is Inevitably Strange
I have been trying to work on a post to introduce the beginning of my last fall semester at Central Michigan University, but it's already the end of week 6 of the semester tomorrow. This means I am about two weeks away from the half way point of the semester. I guess when I titled this post awhile back, it still fits.
All the realizations and things I have had to do as a senior are weird. I keep thinking how in about a month, it will be my last time registering for CMU classes. I had to actually apply for graduation a few weeks ago. You have to apply to get in, and apply to get out. My apartment complex emailed everyone about resigning for next year, and I deleted it because I won't be here. That was a real shocker. My French Revolution professor told us today in class that in 2013 they will be offering a field trip to go to France. I was so excited, then I realized, I won't be here.
My closure with CMU and my life here will be very difficult for me to go through. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic for graduate school and leaving Michigan, but CMU has been my home for almost four years now. I have gotten comfortable with finding everything on campus, know who to go to on certain things because of past experiences, and have made so many connections. I always knew I would have to continue onto graduate school since I was a freshman, but I can't believe it's already here. I am already applying to schools(the places are listed on the right side) and so nervous about getting accepted or not. Just last week I took the GRE, which I am not good with standardized tests, but I studied hard and hoped that Indiana University will accept me. I love their program, campus, and community of Bloomington. I know I will be heartbroken beyond belief if I am not accepted there. Every time I think about it, I get nauseous. I am nauseous because my time here at CMU is ending, I have no idea where I will end up, and I want Indiana more than any of the other schools. I am going to be uprooted again, and moving to a foreign place. One of the biggest factors that is helping me is I won't be alone. My boyfriend is going with me, and that's the greatest comfort I could have asked. However, I wish I could just email the Directors of the two Masters programs I am going to pursue and let them know, I promise if you accept me, you won't regret it.
I know I am ready for graduate school, and no, the GRE definitely is not the test to tell me that. I know I am ready because of the education the faculty of CMU have given me, and the experiences with my scholarships, work, and volunteerism. I guess I have to keep telling myself that if I don't get accepted, I will handle it as I have handled everything else; I will take the next steps forward to get what I want. If that means getting accepted to one program at IU and applying for the other one again, I will. It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman getting to know my way around Mount Pleasant and CMU, and now I am a senior graduating in May 2012 with my Bachelor of Arts degree with a major of English and concentration of World Literature and minors of History and Leadership. I keep trying to imagine myself in commencement gowns again and a tassel on my cap, but this time graduating with a college degree and my parents taking my picture in front of the CMU Seal. It still seems surreal, but I know, as the semester and my entire years here have shown, it will be here before I know it.
Restless Thoughts(no kidding here),
Andreah
All the realizations and things I have had to do as a senior are weird. I keep thinking how in about a month, it will be my last time registering for CMU classes. I had to actually apply for graduation a few weeks ago. You have to apply to get in, and apply to get out. My apartment complex emailed everyone about resigning for next year, and I deleted it because I won't be here. That was a real shocker. My French Revolution professor told us today in class that in 2013 they will be offering a field trip to go to France. I was so excited, then I realized, I won't be here.
My closure with CMU and my life here will be very difficult for me to go through. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic for graduate school and leaving Michigan, but CMU has been my home for almost four years now. I have gotten comfortable with finding everything on campus, know who to go to on certain things because of past experiences, and have made so many connections. I always knew I would have to continue onto graduate school since I was a freshman, but I can't believe it's already here. I am already applying to schools(the places are listed on the right side) and so nervous about getting accepted or not. Just last week I took the GRE, which I am not good with standardized tests, but I studied hard and hoped that Indiana University will accept me. I love their program, campus, and community of Bloomington. I know I will be heartbroken beyond belief if I am not accepted there. Every time I think about it, I get nauseous. I am nauseous because my time here at CMU is ending, I have no idea where I will end up, and I want Indiana more than any of the other schools. I am going to be uprooted again, and moving to a foreign place. One of the biggest factors that is helping me is I won't be alone. My boyfriend is going with me, and that's the greatest comfort I could have asked. However, I wish I could just email the Directors of the two Masters programs I am going to pursue and let them know, I promise if you accept me, you won't regret it.
I know I am ready for graduate school, and no, the GRE definitely is not the test to tell me that. I know I am ready because of the education the faculty of CMU have given me, and the experiences with my scholarships, work, and volunteerism. I guess I have to keep telling myself that if I don't get accepted, I will handle it as I have handled everything else; I will take the next steps forward to get what I want. If that means getting accepted to one program at IU and applying for the other one again, I will. It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman getting to know my way around Mount Pleasant and CMU, and now I am a senior graduating in May 2012 with my Bachelor of Arts degree with a major of English and concentration of World Literature and minors of History and Leadership. I keep trying to imagine myself in commencement gowns again and a tassel on my cap, but this time graduating with a college degree and my parents taking my picture in front of the CMU Seal. It still seems surreal, but I know, as the semester and my entire years here have shown, it will be here before I know it.
Restless Thoughts(no kidding here),
Andreah
7/30/11
Blood Chilling Questions
My independent study with Tracy has really made me question what's going on with the United States. Tracy and I started with A Tale of Two Cities. I read an excerpt in the first class I had with Tracy and it captivated me. When I wrote the purpose of our study to be accepted by the university, it was difficult to answer why I am interested in Dickens. I resorted to asking the internet why should I study Dickens. I'm not much for television, but Oprah's episode about reading TTC and Great Expectations hit the nail on the head. The website stated that Dickens' writing is very honest about the times in which the novel took place and what Dickens lived through. This reminded me of the chapter in TTC when the people of Paris storm the Bastille, and cut off the governor's head. Dickens didn't sugarcoat any of the violence of the French Revolution and lived up to the famous line, "the streets ran with blood."
What does this have to do with the United States? As I read some short novels about the French Revolution, everything erupted based on the wealthy being in power and having no restraints to that power. The peasants and bourgeoisie finally had enough of suffering, and watching the nobility bask in all the luxury, they came together to remind the wealthy who truly had power. As I struggle to survive as a college student and lower-class member, I feel their pain. Now as the United States is crumbling, I have felt the eve of a revolution upon us. The middle-class is becoming less of an existence every day as the wealthy keep pushing to the top; the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer . Even though we have no French king, the wealthy are in power of our government. The French nobility were free from taxes, and worked towards a silver platter life. As our Republican and Democrat parties act like children and put the rest of the country on edge, it's about where we are going to cut to survive. Republicans don't want taxes because the wealthy(most of the Republican party) will have to give up some of the luxuries they have been enjoying for years. Democrats want to raise taxes to try and even out the playing field. I'm not saying either one is the correct path because I don't know, and neither does anyone else really know what will happen.
Tracy also provided me with some tough questions that connect with the current times that makes my blood chill. They make my blood chill because I get a weird feeling the no one will like the answers, and they will answer what's really going on. Tracy is famous for pushing and challenging me to these type of questions. It's what I like about her; she makes me better as a writer, thinker, and person.
What does TTC say about "History?"
Who makes "History?"
Who controls "History?"
Who writes "History?"
Who are the historians in the novel proper?
What is Dickens' view of history?
These are the questions as they are written by Tracy's dissertation advisor(a Dickens scholar). The only real hint Tracy gave me was about who writes history. She told me to think about Madame Defarge knitting. She's keeping a registry of all that come into contact with them, and are believed to be against the revolution. I was staring at them yesterday and noticed her advisor put History in quotations. As a history minor, I love history for its multiple perspectives. There is no clean, cut way something happened. A lot of people think history is all about memorizing facts and not repeating the past, but I disagree. There could be two people in that mob to the Bastille who view what happened in very different ways. One could view it as the only way to survive was to be a part of the mob, even though they wanted nothing to do with it. If people read something from that person's perspective, they could form that into most people just being followers. Whereas the other person had struggled so much, they truly believed in the cause and was blood thirsty. History is very much about perspective, and I think Tracy's advisor is trying to tell me that with the quotations.
I hope once I finish TTC and read up more about France and the revolution, I will be able to provide some analysis for Tracy the next time we meet. I think because Dickens' writing is raw, it's a great source to history that might have been overlooked(being fiction and all). I encourage anyone to take up this book as America seems to be having a tale of its own.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
What does this have to do with the United States? As I read some short novels about the French Revolution, everything erupted based on the wealthy being in power and having no restraints to that power. The peasants and bourgeoisie finally had enough of suffering, and watching the nobility bask in all the luxury, they came together to remind the wealthy who truly had power. As I struggle to survive as a college student and lower-class member, I feel their pain. Now as the United States is crumbling, I have felt the eve of a revolution upon us. The middle-class is becoming less of an existence every day as the wealthy keep pushing to the top; the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer . Even though we have no French king, the wealthy are in power of our government. The French nobility were free from taxes, and worked towards a silver platter life. As our Republican and Democrat parties act like children and put the rest of the country on edge, it's about where we are going to cut to survive. Republicans don't want taxes because the wealthy(most of the Republican party) will have to give up some of the luxuries they have been enjoying for years. Democrats want to raise taxes to try and even out the playing field. I'm not saying either one is the correct path because I don't know, and neither does anyone else really know what will happen.
Tracy also provided me with some tough questions that connect with the current times that makes my blood chill. They make my blood chill because I get a weird feeling the no one will like the answers, and they will answer what's really going on. Tracy is famous for pushing and challenging me to these type of questions. It's what I like about her; she makes me better as a writer, thinker, and person.
What does TTC say about "History?"
Who makes "History?"
Who controls "History?"
Who writes "History?"
Who are the historians in the novel proper?
What is Dickens' view of history?
These are the questions as they are written by Tracy's dissertation advisor(a Dickens scholar). The only real hint Tracy gave me was about who writes history. She told me to think about Madame Defarge knitting. She's keeping a registry of all that come into contact with them, and are believed to be against the revolution. I was staring at them yesterday and noticed her advisor put History in quotations. As a history minor, I love history for its multiple perspectives. There is no clean, cut way something happened. A lot of people think history is all about memorizing facts and not repeating the past, but I disagree. There could be two people in that mob to the Bastille who view what happened in very different ways. One could view it as the only way to survive was to be a part of the mob, even though they wanted nothing to do with it. If people read something from that person's perspective, they could form that into most people just being followers. Whereas the other person had struggled so much, they truly believed in the cause and was blood thirsty. History is very much about perspective, and I think Tracy's advisor is trying to tell me that with the quotations.
I hope once I finish TTC and read up more about France and the revolution, I will be able to provide some analysis for Tracy the next time we meet. I think because Dickens' writing is raw, it's a great source to history that might have been overlooked(being fiction and all). I encourage anyone to take up this book as America seems to be having a tale of its own.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
6/17/11
Winds of Change
I don't even know how I should start this post. So much has happened and put my life on the fast lane that it's difficult to get all my thoughts together. I was wrong to think this summer wasn't going to be busy. I should know by now that last summer, when I wasn't taking a class and graduating soon, was the only nice, easy-going summer I would have.
About a week ago my fate was answered when the Director of the Clarke informed me the president approved the grant for my project! It was hitting me all at once; my three years at Documents on Demand is going to end soon. He contacted my department, but because another girl is leaving for a better, summer job, they might ask me to come back for a few hours, if they need help. I am thrilled to work for the CMU Clarke Historical Library! The Director, Frank, is great to me and his staff. He treats others like individuals and doesn't think he is better than anyone. He is open to all opinions, no matter what the person's title. He's also friendly and extremely talkative. I will probably get to set my own hours and work as many as 40 hours per week, if I want. My research is most likely to also get published in the 125th anniversary book in a few years. My name will go into the acknowledgments. I am ecstatic to have this opportunity and to work with a staff that truly respects their students. They treat the students' work environment as a learning environment too. The reference assistant and I both agree that it's too bad I am graduating next Spring, because the Clarke would have been a great fit for me all along.
UGH, graduation. Through much research, calculating, and serious thought, I have set my heart on a graduate school; Indiana University at Bloomington. There were only two options for me in Michigan, and they both failed my research and comparison to IU. Wayne State? Their library program is falling apart, not very well known on the scale of library science, and I would rather not live in Detroit. University of Michigan? Ok, ok, so I know it's like a bitch to afford, but they have a great digitization and technology program(what I am interested in), but here's the crazy calculation. IU has the most dual-program options with the Master's in Library Science. The one I am interested in is the MLS and Master's of Arts in History. To get both degrees is 50 credits with out of state tuition $17,000 per year. At U of M, just the MLS degree is 48 credits and in state tuition is $16,000. If I stay in Michigan because in state tuition is so much "cheaper," it's going to take me twice the money and time to get the two degrees I want. In 12 months, I can become an Indiana resident and it will be cheaper than in state tuition at U of M.
There was another factor in my decision for IU. My boyfriend is having the roughest time finding a job in his field in Michigan. He went to trade school to become an electrician. He got his diploma, came back to Michigan, and Michigan changed the law about getting a license. He is one class away from being able to get his Michigan electrician's license, but he has to have a 40 hour/week steady job while he takes the class. Indiana can offer him more job opportunities and he won't have to take that class to work towards his license. After six months, he can become an Indiana resident, and start logging his hours towards his license. I feel guilty not having my degree done yet. He's in our hometown, looking for any job he can right now. We both can't afford to live alone, so he has to wait. I know he doesn't blame me, especially since I am getting out in four years, but it still makes me antsy. I want to start our life together and be done with this long distance crap.
With all my emotions of guilt, excitement, and anxiety, I have to start working hard to get into IU's History Program. The Library of Science program isn't as difficult to get accepted. The History Program also requires the GRE and a paper maximum of 30 pages. I ordered a bunch of GRE books from Documents on Demand (haha). I want to look at them before I buy a bunch of books. My awesome professor, Tracy, offered to do independent study with me to produce a winning, 20 page paper. We are going to study Charles Dickens and his relation to Victorian History. So now reader, I hope all these things have given the realization that I am finishing my summer course, working two "jobs" until I start working for the Clarke, studying for the GRE, and getting an independent study course around, which I also have to get approval to substitute for another English class to count towards my major. Did I lose you yet? Because I think I am lost, haha. I have been working 9-11 hour days between the Clarke and the main library. I can't wait for July 11th when I can just work in the Clarke and get paid. However, I am grateful for this great opportunity at the Clarke.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
About a week ago my fate was answered when the Director of the Clarke informed me the president approved the grant for my project! It was hitting me all at once; my three years at Documents on Demand is going to end soon. He contacted my department, but because another girl is leaving for a better, summer job, they might ask me to come back for a few hours, if they need help. I am thrilled to work for the CMU Clarke Historical Library! The Director, Frank, is great to me and his staff. He treats others like individuals and doesn't think he is better than anyone. He is open to all opinions, no matter what the person's title. He's also friendly and extremely talkative. I will probably get to set my own hours and work as many as 40 hours per week, if I want. My research is most likely to also get published in the 125th anniversary book in a few years. My name will go into the acknowledgments. I am ecstatic to have this opportunity and to work with a staff that truly respects their students. They treat the students' work environment as a learning environment too. The reference assistant and I both agree that it's too bad I am graduating next Spring, because the Clarke would have been a great fit for me all along.
UGH, graduation. Through much research, calculating, and serious thought, I have set my heart on a graduate school; Indiana University at Bloomington. There were only two options for me in Michigan, and they both failed my research and comparison to IU. Wayne State? Their library program is falling apart, not very well known on the scale of library science, and I would rather not live in Detroit. University of Michigan? Ok, ok, so I know it's like a bitch to afford, but they have a great digitization and technology program(what I am interested in), but here's the crazy calculation. IU has the most dual-program options with the Master's in Library Science. The one I am interested in is the MLS and Master's of Arts in History. To get both degrees is 50 credits with out of state tuition $17,000 per year. At U of M, just the MLS degree is 48 credits and in state tuition is $16,000. If I stay in Michigan because in state tuition is so much "cheaper," it's going to take me twice the money and time to get the two degrees I want. In 12 months, I can become an Indiana resident and it will be cheaper than in state tuition at U of M.
There was another factor in my decision for IU. My boyfriend is having the roughest time finding a job in his field in Michigan. He went to trade school to become an electrician. He got his diploma, came back to Michigan, and Michigan changed the law about getting a license. He is one class away from being able to get his Michigan electrician's license, but he has to have a 40 hour/week steady job while he takes the class. Indiana can offer him more job opportunities and he won't have to take that class to work towards his license. After six months, he can become an Indiana resident, and start logging his hours towards his license. I feel guilty not having my degree done yet. He's in our hometown, looking for any job he can right now. We both can't afford to live alone, so he has to wait. I know he doesn't blame me, especially since I am getting out in four years, but it still makes me antsy. I want to start our life together and be done with this long distance crap.
With all my emotions of guilt, excitement, and anxiety, I have to start working hard to get into IU's History Program. The Library of Science program isn't as difficult to get accepted. The History Program also requires the GRE and a paper maximum of 30 pages. I ordered a bunch of GRE books from Documents on Demand (haha). I want to look at them before I buy a bunch of books. My awesome professor, Tracy, offered to do independent study with me to produce a winning, 20 page paper. We are going to study Charles Dickens and his relation to Victorian History. So now reader, I hope all these things have given the realization that I am finishing my summer course, working two "jobs" until I start working for the Clarke, studying for the GRE, and getting an independent study course around, which I also have to get approval to substitute for another English class to count towards my major. Did I lose you yet? Because I think I am lost, haha. I have been working 9-11 hour days between the Clarke and the main library. I can't wait for July 11th when I can just work in the Clarke and get paid. However, I am grateful for this great opportunity at the Clarke.
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
6/3/11
Fate Is Mysterious
My intuition is a bit funny with situations. I didn't predict it down to detail, but fate has finally revealed itself. I wrote a few weeks ago about how my project at the CMU Clarke Historical Library must mean something if I didn't get the Library of Congress internship. Well, I think I got my answer. The Director has gone forth and asked the president for funding and furthering my project. He wants to pay me and a researcher/writer to really fulfill this project. It isn't set in stone yet, but I am excited to see what the president has to say. However, this means he is trying to buy my time from my current department in the library. The other dilemma is the project will end in December and I would be out of a job. The Director has assured me that if my department says they cannot assure me a job in the Spring semester, the Clarke will gladly hire me.
This is the second time I have considered switching departments, mostly for the good of my future career as a librarian. The Director informed me it would be 20 hours a week, which is what I am doing now. That's way more than what my department can offer me during the semester. I also assumed that would mean I could schedule my own hours, which is also what I am currently doing.
But, the project isn't all about possibly getting a job. I have learned a lot about CMU the past two weeks of my research. In 1891, Central Michigan Normal School was privately owned, and in 1892 the state accepted it as a normal school. Normal school refers to it being a school for teachers. In December 1925, the burning of Old Main(administration building) occurred. Shortly after that, the building of what is now Warriner Hall started over the Old Main's rubble. Warriner was the administration building, library, and provided classrooms. After the school started to thrive again, wildcats was proposed as the mascot for sports. In the next issue, Harry Gover, the owner of the campus store proposed the bearcat instead, saying it "has the same fighting qualities of a wildcat, but more, because no one has ever seen one." The discussion was about having an animal of Michigan woods. There wasn't anything official in writing, at least that CM-Life documented, but the newspaper seems to run with it after that.
Just this week, I discovered something home hitting to me. I was scanning through a Central Michigan University history book that was published in 2007. I was in the beginning, reading about a woman named Lucy A. Sloan. She struck me when it said her obituary stated she "was the heart and soul of the suffrage movement." I read further and discovered she was a self-made woman through education. I instantly asked the reference lady if they had anymore information about Sloan. She brought out a memorial bulletin to her death. I knew there wouldn't be any mention of her work for the movement. It was unladylike to be involved with politics around 1918. I was right. There was a piece from President Warriner and other professors, but nothing mentioned her work for suffrage. It was ironic, however, that Warriner commended her intelligence, loyalty, and work ethic as a woman. He wrote an article before her death about women can get a teaching degree, but should focus 1/4 of their time in home economics to eventually support a man and children. Anyways, I am rambling. The last piece I came across was a small biography about Sloan. The first sentence was my home hitting moment. She was "born and reared in Hillsdale County." I was instantly astounded! This woman was the first Head of the English Department for Central, worked for suffrage, was a self-made woman, known for changing the lives of her students, and she was from my area of Michigan! And currently, the Hall named after her still stands today. I couldn't believe it. She is practically a founder of Central and originated from my area!
The sad ending to this story is that Sloan died with the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918 and never saw women get the vote. However, I am planning on writing a piece for the Clarke's blog. The staff keeps telling me they would love to have me as a guest writer. They knew I would find interesting things besides pivotal changes. I also hope to find something more on Sloan and her work for the suffrage movement.
Well, I am looking forward to a non-work weekend. I might work on my two, one-paged papers for my class and the blog piece, but other than that I am going to do what I want. It was a rough week with losing Monday for a research and work day because I ended up having 9-11hour days between both libraries. I had to meet the 20 hours at the Clarke and work in Park to pay bills. I am so happy to be in my apartment tonight and sleeping in a little tomorrow. There's much fun reading and writing to do!
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
P.S. I am still here Harold Camping!
This is the second time I have considered switching departments, mostly for the good of my future career as a librarian. The Director informed me it would be 20 hours a week, which is what I am doing now. That's way more than what my department can offer me during the semester. I also assumed that would mean I could schedule my own hours, which is also what I am currently doing.
But, the project isn't all about possibly getting a job. I have learned a lot about CMU the past two weeks of my research. In 1891, Central Michigan Normal School was privately owned, and in 1892 the state accepted it as a normal school. Normal school refers to it being a school for teachers. In December 1925, the burning of Old Main(administration building) occurred. Shortly after that, the building of what is now Warriner Hall started over the Old Main's rubble. Warriner was the administration building, library, and provided classrooms. After the school started to thrive again, wildcats was proposed as the mascot for sports. In the next issue, Harry Gover, the owner of the campus store proposed the bearcat instead, saying it "has the same fighting qualities of a wildcat, but more, because no one has ever seen one." The discussion was about having an animal of Michigan woods. There wasn't anything official in writing, at least that CM-Life documented, but the newspaper seems to run with it after that.
Just this week, I discovered something home hitting to me. I was scanning through a Central Michigan University history book that was published in 2007. I was in the beginning, reading about a woman named Lucy A. Sloan. She struck me when it said her obituary stated she "was the heart and soul of the suffrage movement." I read further and discovered she was a self-made woman through education. I instantly asked the reference lady if they had anymore information about Sloan. She brought out a memorial bulletin to her death. I knew there wouldn't be any mention of her work for the movement. It was unladylike to be involved with politics around 1918. I was right. There was a piece from President Warriner and other professors, but nothing mentioned her work for suffrage. It was ironic, however, that Warriner commended her intelligence, loyalty, and work ethic as a woman. He wrote an article before her death about women can get a teaching degree, but should focus 1/4 of their time in home economics to eventually support a man and children. Anyways, I am rambling. The last piece I came across was a small biography about Sloan. The first sentence was my home hitting moment. She was "born and reared in Hillsdale County." I was instantly astounded! This woman was the first Head of the English Department for Central, worked for suffrage, was a self-made woman, known for changing the lives of her students, and she was from my area of Michigan! And currently, the Hall named after her still stands today. I couldn't believe it. She is practically a founder of Central and originated from my area!
The sad ending to this story is that Sloan died with the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918 and never saw women get the vote. However, I am planning on writing a piece for the Clarke's blog. The staff keeps telling me they would love to have me as a guest writer. They knew I would find interesting things besides pivotal changes. I also hope to find something more on Sloan and her work for the suffrage movement.
Well, I am looking forward to a non-work weekend. I might work on my two, one-paged papers for my class and the blog piece, but other than that I am going to do what I want. It was a rough week with losing Monday for a research and work day because I ended up having 9-11hour days between both libraries. I had to meet the 20 hours at the Clarke and work in Park to pay bills. I am so happy to be in my apartment tonight and sleeping in a little tomorrow. There's much fun reading and writing to do!
Restless Thoughts,
Andreah
P.S. I am still here Harold Camping!
5/21/11
Last Blog Post Due to Destruction of the Earth and My Banishment to Hell
According to Harold Camping, I have less than ten hours to live. This was also predicted by Camping in the 1990s, ironically 1990 was the year I was born. This wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to predict the Earth's end. The first recorded was 634 B.C. in Rome. According to prophecy, the Roman Empire was only going to last 120 years. When the 120th year rolled around, of course everyone freaked out, and the year passed without incident. I learned about this and more predicted apocalypses, that obviously never happened because we are all still here, from the History Channel's facebook: Apocalypses That Weren't
The cynic in me thinks a lot of these predictions, especially the one in 1914 that has an abundance of predictions following, that people are just doing it for fame. Harold Camping riled up a bunch of people and has won the attention of the media, despite his previous, failed prediction. It also makes me further think if such an end would happen along with the ascension of believers, the person who hits the nail on the head gets bragging rights through those pearly white gates. If they make it. Or perhaps it is the ultimate strategy to gather up some converts. Just like Saint Augustine, he may be the first guy to write down his unanswerable questions to God and reflect on his conversion experience, but that doesn't mean he is the first one to have these thoughts. Why would God let one human being become informed of the date of doomsday? If God is so merciful, wouldn't he let us go on with our lives without fear?
Personally, this isn't the first time I have been told I am going to Hell. I linger between Atheist and Agnostic most of the time. With these beliefs, I am considered a minority, and reiterating my fate to the fiery flames of doom is nothing unusual. When it gets warm out and the students are still here, we have religious people come and protest. For some reason, which I still don't understand, they inform students we are going to Hell because we are in college instead of doing God's work. Being a junior, I know just to ignore their yelling and keep walking. This year, one of the people handing out flyers spoke to me about believing in Christ before I go to Hell. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'm Atheist. I have been doomed since the beginning." He said nothing to me and I kept walking.
If you've read my past post, "Freedom is Slavery," you will remember by church experience with my grandmother. If you haven't, the basic idea is I believe is that the religion, at least the ones that have a belief in some sort of higher power, is a way out from free thinking. If a book or script tells you everything you should and shouldn't do, there's no need for critical thinking. Don't get me wrong, stealing, adultery, murdering, etc.. are wrong, but I would like to see someone take the challenge of a decision without the base of religion.
Sometimes I wonder how I would be different if I grew up in a religious household. Would I believe everything I previously stated? Either way, I agree with my father about Hell. If you did Satan's bidding, why would he punish you? But that's another rant. Well, if I do go to Hell tomorrow, it's nothing new. I will go to Hell knowing I respected others' religions, but barely scraped up any for my own. There's really no hope for me as an Atheist/Agnostic bisexual. At least I can stop complaining about being cold all the time.
The cynic in me thinks a lot of these predictions, especially the one in 1914 that has an abundance of predictions following, that people are just doing it for fame. Harold Camping riled up a bunch of people and has won the attention of the media, despite his previous, failed prediction. It also makes me further think if such an end would happen along with the ascension of believers, the person who hits the nail on the head gets bragging rights through those pearly white gates. If they make it. Or perhaps it is the ultimate strategy to gather up some converts. Just like Saint Augustine, he may be the first guy to write down his unanswerable questions to God and reflect on his conversion experience, but that doesn't mean he is the first one to have these thoughts. Why would God let one human being become informed of the date of doomsday? If God is so merciful, wouldn't he let us go on with our lives without fear?
Personally, this isn't the first time I have been told I am going to Hell. I linger between Atheist and Agnostic most of the time. With these beliefs, I am considered a minority, and reiterating my fate to the fiery flames of doom is nothing unusual. When it gets warm out and the students are still here, we have religious people come and protest. For some reason, which I still don't understand, they inform students we are going to Hell because we are in college instead of doing God's work. Being a junior, I know just to ignore their yelling and keep walking. This year, one of the people handing out flyers spoke to me about believing in Christ before I go to Hell. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'm Atheist. I have been doomed since the beginning." He said nothing to me and I kept walking.
If you've read my past post, "Freedom is Slavery," you will remember by church experience with my grandmother. If you haven't, the basic idea is I believe is that the religion, at least the ones that have a belief in some sort of higher power, is a way out from free thinking. If a book or script tells you everything you should and shouldn't do, there's no need for critical thinking. Don't get me wrong, stealing, adultery, murdering, etc.. are wrong, but I would like to see someone take the challenge of a decision without the base of religion.
Sometimes I wonder how I would be different if I grew up in a religious household. Would I believe everything I previously stated? Either way, I agree with my father about Hell. If you did Satan's bidding, why would he punish you? But that's another rant. Well, if I do go to Hell tomorrow, it's nothing new. I will go to Hell knowing I respected others' religions, but barely scraped up any for my own. There's really no hope for me as an Atheist/Agnostic bisexual. At least I can stop complaining about being cold all the time.
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