Well, since only Billie Jo has posted in the last few days, I thought I'd tell you all a little bit about what's going on with me...just to keep updated and everything.
Yesterday was the first day of my last year of school, HOORAY!!! I have 19 credits, and all of them are upper division dance theory courses. This means basically that they're classes dealing with all the non-dancing side of dance, and that the professors are out to prove that there is such a side of dance, and so each one of them (of course) believes that they ought to bury us in reading and writing about dance in its many forms. One such class is entitled Dance History. It is through this class that I will be learning more about World History than I ever wanted to know...coupled with the way that affected dance through the ages since its first existence. In short, our professor has informed us of PERSIA. Politics, Economics, Religion, Science, Intellectual Trends, and Art. I will study the PERSIA of each time period since the beginning of dance...and that means A LOT of reading. (Maybe not for you law boys.) But for me, 100-150 pages per week just for that class seems like a bit much.
I'd like to think that this is my "heavy" course for the semester, but it's actually the lesser of two evils. My 4 credit Kinesiology class promises to be a brain buster, and a challenge for memorization even for me and my trusty flashcards. Normally, they don't offer these two classes in the same semester, because it's too difficult of load for the average student. Ha ha...love it.
Finally, my favorite prospect of the semester--Current Issues in Dance. This class consists of (no textbook) issues thought up by the student, discussed by the students, and researched by the students. I'm not actually sure what our teacher is planning on doing all semester, since she didn't have a syllabus for us today and told us she planned on letting us "shape the class." Besides that, I'm the only Ballroom major, and since all the modern majors are a)extremely opinionated and b)exceptionally biased against all other forms of dance, I think it's going to be such a fun class. I was already informed today that my genre of dance was merely "entertainment" while modern dance and ballet (not all ballet, but some) are real "art."
So, enough of my complaining...what have you all been up to today? I miss and love you...get back to me soon. And if you can spare it, I'd love a little sympathy. I'll be up late reading, so I'll be sure to get your responses quickly! Lovies!
5 years ago
9 comments:
This is how life really is....everyone out to prove that their idea is the best and they know more than you do. It's up to you, little Girl. The rest of the kids have done it -- and loved through it -- show us what you're made us and be the best! You can do it. We are all cheering for you and making sure you're on top of the pile in the end will be what makes the whole thing fun! Oh what about your show with Origins? I think everyone will want to know when it is and where so we can all come and watch you in a little different kind of show than the UVSC Ballroom show! Love ya!
Gee, that wasn't really sympathy, Mommy. But thanks anyway...yeah, I'll post on Origins tomorrow. But for now, it's 1:00 and I finally finished reading my material for tomorrow's classes. Good nightsie!
Sounds like a really fun semester! I am so proud of you--its such a good feeling when you're finally done with school-but then real life begins and its not all that exciting!
Giselle, even though it may feel like this is a heavy load (and it sound like it is), when else in your life will you be able to devote 24 hours a day to learning what you love? Kinesology was one of my favorite classes. I think you will like it a lot, too. I was always so excited to be done with school, but just remember that the grass only SEEMS greener on the other side. Enjoy your cud now. I also had a history of dance class in school. We had to do the textbook learning of dance through history and we also had to learn peiod dances from different times. I will never forget doing a minuet in my BDUs (battle dress uniforms for all of you stinking legs) and combat boots. I think Jane Austen would cry.
Haha. thanks Liv and Chels. Although I can't imagine wishing I were still in school. I actually cried on wednesday morning when I had to get up and go to school. But it's fine. Someday you'll say, "I told ya so."
Today our Kinesiology professor talked to all of us about the prospect of dropping the class as a whole because most of us in the class are also in dance history, and the department doesn't think we can handle it. Like me, no one else could put it off another semester because we already known how full our next semester is. It's really nice to know that even the department doesn't think we'll be able to handle it, haha.
Here is little hint...no matter what a professor may say, there is absolutely no reason to do that much reading. Read a few of the assigned pages so that you can voluntarily make a comment at the beginning of class. This will save you from being unexpectedly called on for stuff you haven't read. You can later get good notes from your study groups on the stuff you didn't read. Trust me, you don't know how many times I was mad at the end of a semester that I was selling a book back to the bookstore that was never opened. Oh college...I miss you!
I seriously want to show sympathy, but... I miss school so, I can't. I really didn't think I liked it that much while I was there. I called Allen the other day from a store and asked him if we could go school shopping like "old times" because it just feels like you should buy new clothes at this time of year. Trust me, the same old work every day for the rest of your life is much worse than sitting in class wearing whatever you want, not going if you want, and meeting new people and doing something different every semester. I'm actually crying right now at work just thinking about it.
Allen and Patrice, thank you for your comments. They really are helpful. Allen, I was just thinking the same thing today when I was probably the only one in the class to have read all 5 articles we were assigned--plus you're right. If you give one comment and ACT like you know what you're talking about--you're golden. Sadly, I don't think I can skip out on too much kinesiology reading. Therefore, I must cut back on my Dance History reading.
Patrice--luckily for me, work will be different each day and I'll still get to wear whatever I want. However, I do know what you're talking about. I'm sure someday I will look back on this and wish I could spend the day chatting about the "different lenses through which we view dance, whether it be through gender roles, marxist roles, through body carriage, feminism, gay and lesbian rights...yada yada yada." But for now, not so much!
Giselle,
No sympathy from me!!!I had every single one of these classes and over time really grew to love them. Next to Allen I hate reading the most. Get in a good group, each of you read a section, take notes and then email them to each other. Ssadly enough there wasn't even email when I was in college. I know what you are all thinking. Yes those were in the days when we rode dinosaurs to school. AND YES you could get a refill of a 32 oz Dr.Pepper for only a quarter. No matter how the times change one things remains the same. Every McNeil child has faced this battle and come out victorious. I am proud of you and I hope you enjoy this year. I don't want to sound like a broken record and say that you will wish you were sitting in class instead of working a job day after day but right now I can say that I don't have the same feeling. FREEDOM! It has only taken 11 years from when I graduated from college. So everyone keep that in mind!!! Love you all, THE OLDEST AND WISEST MCNEIL!!!
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