You Know You're in a Bad Grade When... 6/13/2001
Sorry for the rant before...usually I'm a pretty happy person. I just hate it when people piss me off. I'm feeling better though. Hey, I got an extra day tacked onto my summer vacation. As for the massive mural...I'll just gesso (thick white paint) the other side and do my own painting.
I'm going to work with my Dad on Saturday, so now I won't be poor anymore. (Relatively speaking). My job as a day camp counselor is starting is about two weeks, which kicks ass. I'll be out of the house for seven hours a day, which I desperately need.
I think I'll write a third entry later tonight. Last night I went to Jake's music concert. My mother and I met up with a parent whose son is in my grade. (We'll call her Mrs. N. Mrs. N has a son my age, and a daughter Jake's age, so she knows my mother pretty well since they're always at the same school functions. Oh hell, I'll just tell you the story now...
Quick background: My h.s isn't a bad school overall, but for some reason, there are just a lot of bad people in my grade. In the beginning of the year there were 245 people in my grade. Now there's 226 due to drop-outs. Out of that 226, there's an additional 20 who may not graduate because their grades are so terrible. Of the approximately 200 people who are definitely graduating, only 140 are going to college. Out of that 140, 60+ are going to Suffolk Community College. (You know you're in a bad grade when...)
Anyway, so Mrs. N, who's known me since first grade, saw me at the concert and walked over to me and my mother. I had seen her, but I didn't think she remembered who I was. ANYWAY, she says to my mother, "Can you believe they (me and Mrs. N's son) are graduating in two weeks?" My mother says, "Yes, time flies. Did you know Artist is going to Syracuse?" (Can you tell my mother's slightly proud?). So the woman starts gushing, "Oh, that's so wonderful! Good for you! Blah blah blah..." Then this woman asks, "Where's your other daughter attending college?" and my mother replies, "Becca is going to SUNY-Binghamton." Mrs. N looks at my mother strangely and asks, "Don't you miss your children?" My mother gave her a look that screamed, "You [expletive] idiot." My mother answers perfectly by saying, "Of course I miss my children! I'd rather that they go away and get the best eduation money can buy than have them stay home and have them waste their potential." (Mrs. N's son is a serious pothead--the fact that he maneged to graduate on time absolutely amazes me. He's one of the many going to Suffolk Community). I don't know, I guess you had to be there; I was roaring with laughter for hours.
Don't parents want the best for their children? Yes, I have to go away, but I know I'm improving my life and fulfilling my potential. It's not like I'm never coming home after college. (Although it may seem like an attractive idea sometimes). The students in my grade, and their parents, all have values similar to Mrs. N's. I know so many really smart kids who are forced to go to Suffolk because their parents refuse to pay for their college tuition. If you live in my town, you have to have a decent income. There are no people living in shacks around here...How can you refuse to help your child(ren) better their life? Don't people want their children to succeed? (And people call Jews cheap...Please. Take a look in the mirror.)
Another method of thinking is similar to Mrs. N's--"But I'll miss them!" Well, you're going to miss your child even more when they can't get a decent job due to inadequate education, and are forced to move off Long Island.
The last method of thinking is--"Why bother studying in h.s.? I'll just go to Suffolk, get an associate's degree, and I'm good to go." There are obvious problems with this method of thinking. Suffolk doesn't exactly offer the toughest classes in the world, and they are severely lacking in resources such as decent computers. Plus, in this day and age, most jobs require at least a bachelor's degree.
I'm not knocking community colleges, because there are many valid reasons why people choose to attend them. I'm just laughing at the stupidity of some people's reasons for attending them.
I mean, even our principal had to lie about where his son Sean was going at the senior awards ceremony. In our awards ceremony, the principal's son won a sports award. When you win an award, your GPA and future college is announced. Oddly, Sean's GPA was not mentioned, but they did announce that he would be attending SUNY--Cortland as a phys ed major. (I have issues with phys ed majors...) Yesterday our school newspaper listed where each graduating college-bound senior was going. Sean's name was listed under Suffolk Community. If I were the principal, I'd be pretty embarrassed. I mean, you're preaching about the values of studying and working hard and meanwhile, your own son can barely hold a C average. His son spends more time in the parking lot than in class. Wow, I got totally off-subject. I just meant to tell you about the funny story. Honestly though, I think my entire class is just amusing. Stupid, but amusing.
Hm. Anyway...I finally finished registering for my classes. Now all I have to do is send the form in. I signed up for Chemistry, Calculus ::shudder::, Intro to Cultural Anthropology, Religions of the World, and a required Freshman Lecture (b.s. course to integrate frosh into the school.) If I don't get AP credit for biology, I have to take Bio 101 instead of Religions of the World. If I don't get credit for AP English, I'll have to take Writing 105 instead of my Anthro course. (Please please God let me pss my AP exams with 4's...I don't want to take two science courses and calc...grrr). I'm getting excited though...If I get a good roommate, I'll REALLY be happy! :o) Wow. Now I'm really off-topic. Time to go.
Phobia of the Day: Ombrophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on
Until my next ramble
Artist
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