Upon reflection, this may be my most miserable Christmas season I've ever experienced. I have basically diagnosed myself with seasonal affective disorder, and it has become much more apparent through working in retail. This has been my first experience ever working in retail and first season is the busy, holiday season. I have worked a many terrible jobs including the disgusting pizza handling, degrading singing to scoop ice cream, working with the sickly, germy, high risk children, etc. I know about sucky jobs, but this has to be the worst. It is the worst in combination of the season. I literally have not had a day off since before Thanksgiving. My first day off will be Christmas day.
1. Constantly disoriented. You have no idea what time it is or even what day it is. There are no windows in mall stores and its very unlikely that you'd get anytime to look or even be able see the sun. You are running around in closed, dusty places under florescent lights and most likely in an uncomfortable "stylish" outfit.
2. Loneliness. It becomes much more apparent during this season for many reasons. You are required to smile and have superficial conversations with your customers. You are trying to convince people to buy relatively useless stuff for their loved ones, families, friends, significant others. But people are buying tons and tons of stuff, dropping hundred of dollars. There you are working at minimum wage and unable to even afford the stuff in the store that you work at. When you finally get to spend time with your family and friends, the season requires that you miss the most intimate of holiday moments, but working late hours or cutting your time short by making you work early.There is nothing genuine about who you are in this environment. Even if you aren't interacting with customers you are folding and cleaning for hours on end which is relatively useless because customers will ruin it the second you finish. When you finally get off work at your obscenely late hours, there's no one to talk to because most people are sleeping.
Maybe I need to learn how to deal with this, but I feel that I am a person driven by sincerity and human interactions that its hard to pretend to be something that I'm not.
The boy band of my dreams. Gorgeous, beautiful harmonies, catchy percussion. I saw this band 3 times in 3 different cities in 2009-2010. SO slightly obsessed.
This album took over my life since it came out. It's a mainstream version of the usual lo-fi Ariel Pink. I can stand the muffled sounds of lo-fi for so much. Such an amazing record.
When I heard this album was streaming on their website. I literally did not stop listening to it straight through for a week. I was actually angry that I had to participate in normal daily activities that would not allow me to listen to the stream. The album could be number 1 based solely on the track Dance Yrslf Clean.
Uplifting and honest. These guys define hip hop and set the bar for any lyricist and musician. Refreshing to hear an album that discusses real issues opposed to money, drugs and hoes.
I don't know how they were able to accurately portray my middle American suburban life so well. An album that plays on themes of modern architecture, and simple life. I could only hope that such a great band could orchestrate such sad situation into magnificent music.
The best transition that Sufie could take. A combination of his older works and most recent work. He utilizes both electronic and traditional sounds. Beautiful lyrics on loneliness and hope.
Most anticipated album of 2010. Absolutely great marketing accompanied with great music. Refreshing and his best work since The College Dropout. One cannot deny that this man is one of the greatest producers of our generation.
Simple, catchy music. The album takes 15 minutes to get through! Cute and fun, exactly how a girl would want to tell her boyfriend that she misses him.
I would say that I am not a Feminist. Of course, many feminist would argue that impossibility and that I was essentially born in to it. So let's keep it simple and nontechnical.
This is more of a manner regarding my traditional Grandma and Great Aunt being in town for the past 3 months. They are from Laos, old, and have been and still live life quite traditionally. As a woman, I'm expected to cook meals, wash dishes, clean the house, not go out, not laugh loudly, etc. General stuff really. When they first arrived, I didn't want to be disrespectful so I obliged to these traditional roles. I would come home fix them lunch, wash all the dishes and sit around with them. It was fine and awesome, I got to hang out with them. Now, I'm absolutely frustrated being trapped in this idealistic female role that I have never identified with. I feel like I'll do things because I want to, not because I should and because I'm a woman. Most recently my mother has grounded me to the house because it reflect poorly on my character. Leaving at night is not something a lady should do and it worried my grandma. Of course, my brothers do not have any of these limitations. Have no obligations or duties to fulfill or have any curfew to pertain too. I'm obviously already a too fat spinster out of control American so there is no hope for me. I don't know. I've just been extremely frustrated and tired trying to be respectful, but keeping to who I am.
It's hard to define happiness. In my pursuit and current aspects of it, I am technically happy. I see my family everyday including my Grandma, I have a bed to sleep in a heated home, well fed, great friends to interact with, and a part time job that I absolutely love. So these things should make me happy because I'm grateful for everyday that I have on this earth with these people. So upon taking the Graduate Record Examination and my terrible score on it, there were things that I had to reconsider. Were the tears I shed truly necessary? Was the platitude of "things happen for a reason?" a legitimate excuse for why I performed so poorly? I cried and I cried believe that I would never get into any graduate school. Learning that the flaws in the system that I was trying to correct actually made it so that people like me who it failed could ever get through. A vicious and corrupt cycle. Of course, when I arrived home. I was complete defeated and miserable. When asked to wash the dishes, I refused and said that my brother should do it. He had been at the home all day. My aunt quickly responded that I should have done it because I was a girl. This further infuriated me and I stomped up to my room to disappoint my traditional grandma. Yes, I am that no mannered American girl that will never get married because I show no grace or poise that a traditional Laotian girl should have. Alas, I got over it fairly quickly and went to go spend time with my family and friends, who came over. Embarrassingly, my mother had the audacity to ask me if my grandma could take photos with my "farang" (foreign) friends. I thought it was hilarious and asked my friends for this favor. They also thought it was funny and towered over my grandmas as we stood in the dining room taking photos. Then we played with my baby cousin for a bit as well as a round of scrabble. We also spent a long time measuring our boobs because we figured our boobs probably morphed the last time that we were measured. Did you know that it is almost impossible to find an accurate boob measurement online? Our boob sizes varied from 38AA to 42H which are mostly nonexistent bra sizes. We vowed to get our boobs measured the next day.
So I went to bed in a fairly hopeless yet gratified state. I awoke mid through a dream because Sunday is actually my only day that I get to sleep in and not wake up at 6am which is really nice. So I woke up around 9 and played around with my music editing tools. Fun, but I didn't really get far. My friend called me numerous times to discuss her illness to which I have no diagnosis whatsoever for, but consolation. While talking to her on the phone, I received message from my other friend that a friend from college was taken off of life support and had indeed died. He was only 25 years old and suffered from a progressive form of pancreatic, stomach cancer, or I'm not really too sure about. Upsetting news to hear of such a young life with such a bright future ahead of him be taken away so early. With this on my mind, I continued on to meet with my high school friends at the mall which oddly felt like we were in 2005 again. So now I'm sitting here thinking about the past and the future. What's right for me? As shown today, I learned that life is short and who really knows when your opportunity will be up? What will have shown for myself? So I gotta wipe my defeated and self-loathing feeling and renew the vitality that I have for life and humanity. I've always wanted to study abroad, but the fear of living out on my own in another county often prevented me from pursuing such a thing. Currently, it's not having money and student loan debt. I was too lazy to finish my peace corps application, but I'm finally getting the enthusiasm to pursue teaching jobs abroad. So here I go adding a teach abroad app with my 7 other grad school apps. Can't be sitting and waiting for experiences to come to me. I gotta find them. So Korea, I may or may not see you in a couple of months. I'm young and life is short. I have to make the most of what I'm given.
I remember the way that I used to be and it kind of always blows my mind, upon reflection. I felt that i was so young, naive, and unstable. But it also wasn't even that long time ago. I didn't even have any self confidence whatsoever until this year. I finally feel comfortable with myself and do not seek to fit the ideals of convention and society because those things are not the things that rule my life and make me feel important.
I really try to attribute my sudden change to relationships and interactions with other people. If these people did not tell me of the things and way that I have acted around them, I would never have known all the imperfections that I have held. I feel that I have always been honest and open to experience, but this was with the guidelines that set by society standards which unknowingly to me at the point did not work. It really limit the way I could experience things because I was searching for a label, a certain way to perceive things.
I had unknowingly become idealistic, a romantic on how the way things should be and how people should perceive me. I became consumed by the idea that people would see me one way or think of me another way. I was too proud over the idea of my image. I created a fascade that I was mentally stable and was able to judge and rule over people I knew nothing about. Obviously, I have not reached perfection, nor will I ever or anyone will ever. The fact that I have finally become comfortable with myself as a person finally allows me to utilize my talents and skills to help others.
Essentially I wanted to get at that these interactions that I've had with people have changed my life. Without their support and strongwill they have demonstrated for me I wouldn't be where I'm at now. I used to believe that I was so independent and when I asked for help, it would make me dependent on them. It was a terrible mindset to have. I realized that in order to be independent you would have to ask for help others because no one is all knowing.
I wish other people would take the time to understand and learn the convention they have created and the hassles they caused in their life because of it. I have grown to understand that as long as their is an understanding, mutual respect, and trust then there is no need to create any other label. Happiness is key and why ruin a good relationship trying to mold/ create something that does not exist. As long as two people understand what they have with each other then why is it necessary to intrude on their happiness and try to pull it into societal conventions. It is merely a label. I know my role and how I feel and that is all should matter. As long as I know the truth, and receive respect- there will always be an understanding between any two persons.
Today was my last day of nannying. Thank God. It was exhausting. It wasn't a bad gig and I would gladly do it again. Getting paid $10 to sit around and do nothing. I worked 3 days and got paid from $230-$300 depending on the hours so it wasn't bad. There were a few things that I got accomplished while nannying
-read the first half of 3 different books -improved my pool playing skills -improved my baseball playing skills -improved my tan -went to Grant's Farm for the first time -went Glow Putting for the first time -went to the Nascar Park -learned about West County
Coming back home is essentially coming back to a time capsule. You can find everything from the past. It's absolutely absurd how your tiny room can encompass your entire life. I went through my yearbook and saw my face littered through the pages. Who decided to put my face in the yearbook that many times? Well while looking for my tarot cards I found my diary that I wrote in from 6th grade to 10th grade. That's a long ass time to write in a diary. The journal isn't even that big, but while going through my angsty entries I found a many sonnets, raps, and poem that I wrote. To say the least they are absolute jemz and I believe it is my duty to share them with the world. Also to put out their that I am available to become a rapper and do appearances and what not. God I am so awful.
"My Song" by Sanita version 08/31/01
Yo! I'm Sanita and I rule this world step in the place and they say who's that girl on my report card only A's and B's I'm Laos so I'm from across the seas Don't hate because there's a mac in me Every girl every boy says hi to me Every trick wish they could rhyme like me Every guy wish they could get with me Like P. Diddy I be making my money Playa wannebes say" whassup my honey?" I say what the hell you just say to me foo you must not know who Sanita be!
All in all - the song is absolutely vain and unrealistic. I had no job to "be making my money." I wasn't at all popular enough to have everyone say hi to me. Though my report card that is a true statement, but odd one to have in a rap song. Also I incorrectly used Laos, it should be that "I'm Laotian", but I was young and naive. I'll forgive my 12 year old self.
Between then and 6/28/03 I decided to re-edit "My Song" and this was the product
It's the S-A-N-I-T-A Sanita's the name and freestylin's the game yo my rhymes are insane put a paper to the mic and it'll burst into flames I'm A-Z-N repping L-A-O Playa hatas wanna call me a hoe don't ya'll knoe I'm jus a F.O.B. Game so tight gotta say oo wee Fresh off the boat oh please no Fione Oriental Bitch, you gotta know I'm the saweetast with the so sweet ass but don't think I'm fast unless you see me in my car because I'mma be a star and I ain't gonna let no one pull me down and I know Ima always be around because anything you say or do i can do betta it's the way I move, talk, walk, whatever don't say you can rhyme when you can't even speak you think you got many dimes when you get money from your mom every week you think you ballin with your rented ice bouncin in the club think you look nice even though ur ride barely got you there and what is dat your wearing, salvation army wear?
Once again, terrible terrible mindset for a 13 year old? to have? My God. This is probably why you should not let your children listen to rap. It rots the brain into thinking that the world is diamonds and hoes! Also note I love the salvation army or I shop there very often now. I left the misspellings to accurately show how thug I was in my vernacular. Absolutely terrible.
I have been listening to "Ambling Alp" probably for the past 2 weeks on repeat. But I haven't had the time to actually pick up the album. So I finally got the album and I simply had no idea what to expect. Yeasayer's All Hours Cymbal was an major part of my life as a sophomore (2007-2008) in college. It represented all the things that I loved at the time which was mostly music and partying. It beautiful and crazy which represented the chaos that was my life at the time. It was pure fun and yet at the same time a certain sadness which can be heard through out the lyrics of that album. So with that in mind, I didn't know what current Yeasayer would mean to me in this present time of my life. Would it still be the craziness that I knew it as 2 years ago? Would I be utterly disappointed that the music lacked the nostalgia it held for me so long ago or would I be disappointed in the lack of development the musicians have?
So I put on Odd Blood before I got ready for whatever I had to do that morning. The album started with "Ambling Alp" which I thought could not get any better than that song. As I continued to listen to the album, I noticed that their music was a lot more "chill" or "calmer." The tribal driven beats were not as prominent although the bass drum seems to be more thought out in placement than usual. The electronic synths were the focus of their songs as well as the lyrics. Before, lyrics seems to be part of the music sound and usually incomprehensible. The lyrics of this album are more reflective and discuss the issues of growing older and apart. So like Yeasayer, I seem to have grown up with them. The sounds of their music seem now to morph into something like Hot Chip and Peter, Bjorn and John which is great because I love both of those bands.
Everything seems to sound like a cirque du soleil soundtrack on this album.
Madder Red - Chinese Acrobat Theme Song O.N.E - Knifeish
So I mean to say that my love for Yeasayer is a personal matter and that what you take from it may be completely different from mine. If you were searching to hear music that Yeasayer "used" to make than this album may not for you. There is no doubt that they are great musicians and you should enjoy their music for what you can and not necessarily what they mean to others, but yourself.
"Now, the world can be an unfair place at times But your lows will have their complement of highs And if anyone should cheat you, take advantage of, or beat you Raise your head and wear your wounds with pride"
- Yeasayer "Ambling Alp"
To go away and not look back and think of what the others say To go ahead and change your life without regard to what is said And everyone must do the same you find yourself lost again forget the things you've left behind through looking back you may go blind
I had a dream that the world was taken over by robots and bugs. I was hanging off a cliff trying to reach the top because the skyscrapers had become so big that you could never see the sun. So I was trying to see the sun by climbing the cliff. I was hanging on the cliff for dear life and was about to fall until I was saved by a flying roomba and it took me to a bug basketball game. Since I was actually allowed in this robot/ bug world, I had to hide under the bleachers. The game was disgusting. So I was able to escape the game without being noticed and found my friend Elizabeth. She had to buy a new dress so we jumped in to her red car and went to Walmart. Since we weren't allowed to exist, Wal-mart was really dark and everyone was really quiet. So there were a couple of other humans shopping in the dark Walmart as Elizabeth and I looked for a dress for her. I was really scared because I thought the bugs would find us out and I kept looking to the car to run away.
1. Wear all of my dresses that I have no yet worn by May. 2. Lose 10 lbs (via running 3 days a week) 3. Eat healthier (one fresh fruit and veggie a day) 4. Get out of America 5. Read at least one book a month for leisure 6. Give up pop (SERIOUSLY) 7. Read the news more often 8. Learn how to cook or bake from scratch 9. Do yoga at least once a week 10. Work on personality (see below)
Personality Goals 1. Be less stubborn 2. Be less proud 3. Be more confidant 4. Stop over analyzing things 5. Let things go/ don't dwell
Honorable Mentions: Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light Peter, Bjorn, & John - Living Thing Beirut - The March of the Zapotec/ Real People Holland Anjulie - Anjulie
I love Lady Gaga and I will truthfully admit it. Initially, I was skeptical and annoyed at the concept of Lady Gaga, but upon review of her persona and music, I've come to the conclusion that she is actually great. Obviously, people do not seem to understand my love for Lady Gaga thus I have written an essay on my reasoning and submission to admiting to liking Lady Gaga and her potential to develop into a global pop all star.
Lady Gaga is a household name whether "it" is a he or a she or even a she with he parts or merely and "it" with both parts. Emering in 2009 after the success of single, "Just Dance" off her first official album, The Fame. Currently, the album sits at the top of the charts and Lady Gaga releases single after single including, "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", etc. The thing about Lady Gaga is... EVERYTHING. She is slowly becoming the epitome of pop music whether you ADMIT it or not. The thing is that she is talented and worthy enough to actually reign as Pop Queen or Princess...that is if she follows the correct steps. Lady Gaga even has the potential to be similar in Michael Jackson status (not saying she can top him or will have a child molestation cases charged against her), but given the quick rise to fame she has achieved now...she has the potential for world pop takeover.
Things Lady Gaga Has 1. Reinventive and outlandish/ unique fashion As you may have heard already, but Lady Gaga has had many comparisons to early Madonna and her quirky fashions. Look at Halloween costumes now, when you dress like someone from the 80s, you dress like a "Material Girl" a look and termed by Madonna herself. She became the epitome of what the 80s represents.
The fashion was gaudy and outlandish, but EVERYONE did it. Lady Gaga in present society, she never wears pants and admitedly announced it in her song, "Paparazzi" - never in jeans. The "Lady Gaga" costume is absolutely absurd but it was the most popular Halloween costume of this year and it will probably stand to represent the 2000s...forever. Christina Aguilera even admitted to stealing the fashion persona of Lady Gaga stating that, "This person [Lady Gaga] was just brought to my attention not too long ago. I'm not quite sure who this person is, to be honest. I don't know if it is a man or a woman."
2. Actual talent + Catchy Singles Unlike Madonna and similar to early Michael Jackson is the fact that Lady Gaga actually has vocal ability and range. She can actually sing unlike past pop stars including Madonna and Britney Spears. Lady Gaga showcases her vocal talent often in covers and ballads because she's telling you that she does not need to lip sync and her talent is REAL. Another thing is that she is everywhere and in every single song. If she isn't being featured in the new Beyonce track then she's featuring Akon on one of her tracks. You just gotta saturate the industry and she is indeed doing that.
Check out her cover of Coldplay's Viva La Vida. First off I don't even like that song by Coldplay, but her remake is pretty enjoyable.
3. Original and high budget music videos Recently the music industry has seen a resurgence of music videos because for the past decade or so they have been pretty much obsolete. It came to the point where the only show that played music videos, TRL was cancelled this past year. With no place to watch music videos, what's the point of making high budget music videos. Luckily enough with the help of some low budget youtubey inspired videos like OK GO's A Million Ways, Beyonce's Single Ladies, etc. Music videos are coming back with avengence and Lady Gaga is producing some major freaky videos that you haven't seen stuff like this since Missy Elliot was fat or Michael Jackson was alive (too soon?). Remember when you used to see videos like this on TV all the time?
Check out this amazing video for "Bad Romance"
4. Odd publicity/ rumor mill story If there is one thing you've heard about Lady Gaga is that she isn't actually a woman or is a woman with man parts. Well, I have no idea what the truth is, but it is pretty entertaining to skepticize the gender of a talented woman? I guess it's entertaining to the rest of the world. I mean who doesn't have a penis these days? Whatever is going on inbetween her legs, the world is interested and it can only create great publicity for her. Thing is also is that Lady Gaga is actually going along with the idea. She's using it as a backdrop to support her opinion on gay/gender rights which I have to admit is pretty awesome. Everyone should be able to marry regardless if they both have vaginas or penises, right? In comparison of other pop artists, well is this really necessary? Pop artists are usually bat shit crazy anyway. Ex. Britney Spears, Madonna, Michael Jackson. You all can google that yourself.
5. Great Live Performance If there is something that people want, its a great live performance. We want fireworks, midgets on stilts, acrobatics, lions, snakes, etc. We want everything that you could possible throw us and I mean it's pretty hard to keep up too. I mean who hasn't done a pole dance these days (looking at you Miley Cyrus). So it is key to have a crazy and original live performance.
I mean if you don't find any of that entertaining then I don't know what's wrong with you. I am proudly going to her concert in St. Louis because it's going to be a whole hour or so of her doing exactly that. Throwing blood and fireworks in my face. Yes, please. She still needs that one crazy performance that everyone remembers though like Madonna's VMA performance of "Like a Virgin." So keep on working on it Gaga.
Things Lady Gaga Needs (to work on) 1. Preoccupation with fame needs to end If there isn't anything more annoying than a celebrity complaining about the famous life is a non-celebrity writing about the annoyances of a famous life before they have one. Lady Gaga's concept of her first album revolves around being famous or as it's called "The Fame." Yes, the album is great and catchy, but I hope this is her whole schtick. That is usually an artist's downfall when they starting singing about the famous life because NO ONE can relate to that other than other celebrities. I have no idea what it is liked to be stalked by paparazzi or have too much money that I have to use it as toleit paper. Frankly, I don't care about the sad parts of being a celebrity. So give me some good dance music about getting wasted, having sex, being in love or something like that. Surprisingly enough, Lady Gaga's supplement to "The Fame" entitled "Fame Monster" does not contain any songs that pertain to a "fame." So GOOD WORK GAGA! Keep it going!
2. Must integrate factors of social justice This is a fairly early concept for a rising star, but it is a necessity when creating a global pop star. People like artists that care and understand. I mean don't go flipping Bono from U2 on me and give all the Africans special edition U2 ipods. Lady Gaga needs to organize a movement "Heal The World" style. Seriously, who didn't go crazy when this came out? Or she could adopt an Asian baby. She's doing pretty well with Gay Rights support, but until she gets a gayby or something she won't make it on a global scale.
3. Out of control money spending I know that it takes a lot of money to support the fashion habits and live performances to be Lady Gaga, but seriously... she is going to end up declaring bankruptucy by the end of there year at this rate. Well luckily she is going on a national tour soon and will be releasing her album relatively soon. I'm no accountant, but I don't want her to pull a MC Hammer. You gotta keep that stuff worked out so watch your spending!
4. Take over Europe and The Japanese
Lady Gaga needs to have Japanese girls riding on her back and smelling her eyelashes. Actually, her newest album, "Fame Monster" is going to contain pieces of wigs she's worn. Weird and appealing to psycho fanatics. It needs to be Zoolander style. Europe is explanatory. Just take it over.
5. Awkward Love Life Debacle Lady Gaga ain't got time for a boo or something?! Well she's talked talked aggressively about sexuality in most of her songs and I think it's about time we saw a Mr. Gaga. What psycho man would date Lady Gaga? Is she already married? Can she make out with Christina Aguilera...b/c it'd be like making out with herself? Actually I'd like to see her make out with R. Kelly at some award show...the grammys? But something crazy needs to happen pretty soon.
This is the one of the last time that I will be spending at my parent's house for Fall Break. It's interesting that no matter how old I get, the second I return back to my home I just turn back into a child.
-Waiting for my mother to feed me -Eating junk food - watching hours of television - sleeping in my awesome bed - going shopping w/ my mom
It is just so odd to know that this place will always be my home and then think in the future when it won't be my home. How do I learn to leave without this place? I just don't know.
I DON'T WANT TO GROW UP!
But I mean I know that I could never live in this place forever. I've lived here for 18 years before departing for college. I know I can never return to all my old habits. Where will I be happy?
BAH! These are the questions I need to answer before....May? Oh. GOD. I am so unprepared for real life.
So if you have any advice on my future or anything like that..I'd like it handed to me on a silver platter..hell I'd even take it on paper if necessary.
I'm only 21 for crying out loud!
I can do it! We can do it! I believe! WE BELIEVE!
Up up and away. I don't care what people say b/c they gon' judge me anyway / so WHATEVER - Kid Cudi - Up, Up & Away
You guys know how I love posting lyrics. So here I am again. Posting some lyrics from songs I like
They don't know me yet/ the day will soon come/ they don't know my best/ the day will soon come/ - Anjulie - The Day Will Soon Come
I'm on the pursuit of happiness/and i know everything is shining always gonna be gold/ and i'll be fine when i get it/ i'll be good - Kid Cudi feat MGMT and Ratatat
This week has quite the unsuccessful week for me I must say and David Bowie is probably disappointed by me.
I didn't get the job that I applied for even though I nailed both of the interviews...I guess they were looking for someone more hip and younger.
The other job I wanted to apply for has "maxed out" whatever that means.
The lab I wanted to work for is only available during the time I have class.
We definitely failed at trivia last night.
I definitely got trashed and ended up vomiting a bunch of sweet desserts.
I dropped a grand of money this week on various school supplies.
My feet hurt from wearing flats.
My back and hips hurt from my discombobulated bag on my shoulders.
Things are definitely not the way they seem.
On the plus side, I really enjoy my classes that I'm in. They mostly revolve around discussing how we are fucked and being oppressed in society. Truth. So basically I'm fucked as a SLU Student, a Woman, and a person living among technology.
The GRE is seriously like climbing a huge sand mountain, it is both tiring and mostly impossible.
As I approach my final undergraduate college career, I have been given the choice to take a wondrous standardized test called the GRE aka the Graduate Record Exam aka the pain in my ass. The GRE is supposed to test all the things you didn't learn about in college so you can do something that you actually know about in Graduate School.
I am a Psychology major so of course it is necessary that you test all of my math abilities that I have since that last time I took a math course was in high school, makes a lot of sense. I'm being tested on math that I learned in MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!, let's see that was about....7 years ago. I'm sure I'm going to need to know how to calculate the volume of a quadrilateral figure when I'm a psychologist as well as know that the synonyms and antonyms of the word calculate.
So like every college student in my place right now has their stack of GRE vocab flash cards, GRE study guide, and another guide called All the Math You DIDN'T learn in College. Is this a test going to be a measurement of what I learned in college, NO. Instead it will be a test of all the things I could cram and learn from various sources in a span of 6 months. You would think that once you got out of high school that standardized tests no longer existed, but alas...you need another one to get into another school. Oh did I tell you that this test is $140, $40 to send to the school of your choice and most applications to schools are also about $40. So let's do some arithmetic that I just learned: $140+$40(10)+$40(10) = $940+/- that is if I apply to the recommended 10 colleges.
GRE, you are my nemesis and I furiously shake my fist at you! Excuse me, I mean...GRE YOU ARE MY ADVERSARY AND I CORYBANTICLY BRANDISH MY FIST AT YOU
