Just Another Cliche

There and back again.

2012-02-25T09:54:00.001-06:00

Haven't been motivated enough to write. Still not motivated to write. Yet, I'm writing now so I guess there's something in my tank. I've been swamped with free time and I've found myself bored out of my mind. It's sad. Nothing I've been doing holds my interest for long. Been playing a lot of guitar, and I'm better now at it then I've ever been. That's something to be happy with, I guess.

Well, that's it for now. Short and simple, just the way I like it.

2012-01-24T11:44:00.000-06:00

With the holiday season long over, I find myself sitting at the computer. Not only am I completely bored, but I'm uninterested in making myself un-uninterested in anything. I've been playing a lot of video games, which have helped fuel my creative thoughts on writing a copy of a story already told; but I'm also finding myself more inclined to pick up my guitar, which is a very good thing. I hadn't practiced in a long time, and I'm feeling that pain in my fingers. Hopefully I'll get them callused in no time.

What's new? Well trying to get my FAFSA filled out so I can go to school in the fall. I've already signed my housing contract, so it's just a matter of time before the financial stuff gets done and I can actually afford to go to school. Scholarships would be nice, but the deadline on those is almost here and I haven't even started (remember how uninterested I was in things from earlier).

I'll pull myself together in the end, and keep up my promise on writing more informative blogs. Anyway, off to eat some lunch and go to work. Life is fun, you know.

Recommended Class for Undergraduates: Episode 1

2011-12-17T14:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the first installment of an on going series targeting college freshmen and sophomores. The goal is to give you youngsters out there a few ideas of what classes could really help you. I'm not just talking about with getting good grades; I mean help you grow as an individual. There's more to life then a social life, partying, and having fun. Once you realize how important college is, you'll try your hardest to succeed. These classes did more then help me achieve my Associates Degree. They taught me something of value, and helped me to open my mind to new things. Hopefully the school you attend will have similar classes available, and have instructors as good as what I had.

One thing that is, obviously, wrong with our nation is our marriage problems. I'm not going to ever dedicate a blog to this. What I will discuss is the biggest issue with marriage, and that's communication. Communication is cited as the biggest reason for a failed marriage, or even relationship (I know I can attest to that).

This is the reason I've chosen Interpersonal Communication* as my first recommended class blog.

Why should you be interested in this class? Ever had problems communicating with the opposite sex? How about with a coworker? Teacher? Employer? Ever misread ques that someone wanted to talk or that you were unwanted, then felt embarrassed? Well this class taught me many things to help make you more aware when communicating. It also teaches how to successfully manage communication in a relationship. Something that can help reduce stress and problems in a relationship.

What this class requires:

Be prepared to read text.
Highlight, and take notes.
Answer questions in class.
Spend at least an 1-2 hours between classes reading/studying and you'll be fine.

The rewards:

Good grade for the transcript.
Effectively learning good communication techniques.
Being more aware of nonverbal ques when communicating.

Stay tuned for the next blog!

*-Wikipedia is not a recommended learning tool. I only used it as it because it had the most detailed description.

School's out!

2011-12-15T13:20:00.000-06:00

Well, at long last, I'm done with school for the time being. These next eight months will go by rather slow, I assume, as I look forward to moving down to Carbondale. It's been an enjoyable experience at Carl Sandburg College. I met some pretty cool people, and was introduced to a lot of cool things there. It's an experience, I can easily say, that was worth the time spent.

Now that I'm done with school, I can devote more time to reading, writing, playing music, and of course playing video games. I've already started reading a book for my own pleasure, something I haven't done in at least a year. The book is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. I'll give a more detailed response to it once I have finished, but so far it's proved to be very entertaining.

As Christmas approaches, I also just finished up my Christmas shopping. It's something I should have done a month ago, but was just too busy with school. Thanks to Amazon I won't have to wait in lines and worry about a store having what I want in stock. Instead I can just hope that UPS or FedEx doesn't lose my packages in their travels. With only ten days till Christmas, I don't have enough time to replace anything that gets lost.

Well, I should do something productive. Household chores are never enjoyable, am I right?

Snow? Oh no!

2011-12-10T08:30:00.000-06:00

So, it snowed. I hate snow. I mean, I really hate snow, and cold weather. It's just so awful. It's cold and it freezes, then when plows come and push it off the road it gets dirty. It's just so terrible. The worst part is I have to deal with an hour drive to work, and an hour drive home. So then I'm stuck with this crappy snow for two hours worth of driving.

Well in other news, I'm finishing up my finals on Monday. That's worth celebrating. After a long time and lots of hard work, I'll finally be done with Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. It's a great school, don't get me wrong, but I'm ready to be off to a four year university. All of my friends I went to school with are long gone, and I just feel stuck in this place. I hate feeling like I'm stagnant. The worst part is I won't be going to SIUC until next fall, so I've got eight months to kill.

Other than that, the only other thing going on is trying to get my shopping done for Christmas. I'm not a huge fan of the holiday, since it's so commercialized now. However, it's still a fun holiday. I've been sitting on Amazon trying to get ideas for friends and family, it's just a difficult task. I'm never sure on what they will like, and won't like.

Anyway, I need to get my morning two to three cups of coffee. Hope you enjoyed the read. Take care, everyone.

Tips for Future College Students

2011-12-08T20:18:00.000-06:00

Now I know everyone and their motherpost blogs on how to be a better college student. They all say thesame things, and most people just overlook it. The same tips appear in every blog, magazine article, and are given in every speech at every high school graduation.

I know when I was a freshman, back on'05, I was told this stuff. However, you really have to listen to it.If you're not ready for college by the time you leave high school,you're in for a rude awakening. College is meant to be fun, I get that. However, it's also a serious place. You'll work hard and after four years, you'll get a piece of paper that says you did it.

These tips are for your benefit. Ittook me a long time to fully understand how important it was I didwell in school. Don't make the same mistake.

Read, highlight, and take notes before a lecture. Professors and instructors usually give information the book doesn't cover as well as a better way of explaining the material the book gives. Vocabulary definitions are good to know, but a connotative way of remembering words is just as important.
Be active in your school. Take part in any club or social activity you can. It makes the college experience all the more enjoyable. Get to know your class too. Exchange phone numbers, emails, or add them on Facebook. The more in touch you are with them the easier it will be to get missed notes, or arrange a study group.
Get to know your professors. They are inspirational people who have been through everything you have. They can help mentor you and push you along the right path. They don't get paid to be flunk students, they get paid to teach.
Keep your notes for every class you take. You worked hard to remember the things you wrote down, they will come in handy in the future. Even if it's just to brush up on the material.
Do not procrastinate. Saying this to a college student is like giving a speech to the deaf. College students procrastinate, and I know I've done my fair share of that. However, take my advice to heart. It will hinder your grades to procrastinate. If you've got a month to do a ten page research paper then start doing your research before the end of the first week. Pick a thesis, start researching, and start drafting.
Don't just take what classes you need to pass. Go through and find classes that will help you be a better student. I've taken a few courses the last year or two like this. They, not only, taught me more than I imagined, but they also helped me be a better student and opened my mind up.

In my next post, I'll give you one of the courses I highly recommend. As well as, give you my reasons for recommending it. Take care everyone, and thanks for reading.

Things to come.

2011-12-07T10:56:00.000-06:00

Well,who am I, and why should you read this?

Idon't know.

Seriously,I don't.

I'ma 24 year old college student with an Associates Degree in Art. Nextfall I'll be attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale(hopefully) where I'll be working toward a Bachelors Degree inRadio/Audio Production. You'd think I had my life figured out.

Idon't.

Theonly thing I can tell you is I feel older than I am.

Iguess I'll start with a quick summary of my life. I coasted throughelementary, middle, and high school. When I got to college I nearlyflunked out. Then I spent two and a half years living a life Ithought I loved, till I realized my life was garbage. Then I spentthree years getting my life together and getting through a two yearcommunity college.

Now,I'm here.

Iguess, after being through all of it, I have more wisdom than I didwhen I was 18.

That'swhy you might read this. You might learn a thing or two, maybe get adifferent perspective on the world.

Thisis my third attempt at writing a blog. I'll certainly try and postthings that are helpful. I have a few ideas in mind of what to write.The problem is getting them down in a legible way. I have a severegrammar problem, so that might hold me back. We'll see.

Thanksfor reading.