I have noticed from my Facebook feed that I have an abundance of friends who are homeschoolers just heading off to college or preparing to head off into college. Being the resourceful and extroverted person that I am I see this as an opportunity waiting to be taken. Actually, it is many opportunities waiting to be taken.
1. I can easily share any tips I gather on making the transition from homeschooling to college easier.
2. Through possible comment sections I can maybe gather some tips myself.
3. I can vent my feelings to some possibly sympathetic parties.
There are probably other reasons but those are the ones that occur to me immediately. That's probably telling. ... May have to go look over those reasons again.
In the meantime I can give you my general honest opinion of my first two days of college classes.
My first day was Monday, Rachel and I arrived five minutes before I had to be at my first class, I may be guilty of some jay-walking. I found my first class and discovered that it wasn't exactly what I wanted to sign up for and the teacher wasn't exactly the best at explaining what he wanted from the class. However, when I say that my first class was my worst it's a surprisingly good thing; it wasn't so terrifying that I ran off and didn't want to continue with college. As much as I tend to be a pessimist I have to admit that the worst I have encountered wasn't actually bad. Score one for the optimists.
My second class was very encouraging, the teacher was friendly and humorous and the other students were now awake enough to start acknowledging my presence. Really it's probably a good thing no one tried to talk to me during my first class, apparently morning people are sensible enough to not talk to the general populace. I got a comment on my Perry the Platypus folder, I knew the Phineas and Ferb merchandise was a good idea.
My third and fifth classes are both computer classes and kind of go over my head but I still can't manage to not enjoy them. The teacher is quite likable and funny. It also helps that they're both subjects I'm genuinely interested to learn so putting forth effort to try to figure out html and flash animation and whatever other crazy things there are actually feels like it's worth it.
The fourth class is a music class and is probably my favorite. The teacher has some good stand-up comedy moments and the subject is extremely interesting to me. Also the students there are more involved and talkative, they're a very eclectic group.
Other than classes I have a brief break between the first and the second during which I have an extremely early lunch and read sociology and computer textbooks. To unwind between schoolbooks I read Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton because I'm an abnormal person like that. I also people-watch a lot and someday I'll be outgoing enough to start conversations with the people who look like they're not sprinting to a class late.
Speaking of sprinting I've done a lot of that this week. I looked at my schedule and said "ten minutes between each class?? That's just not possible!" So I watch the clock desperately during each class, getting ready to run as soon as a class is over. The result of my efforts is that I've been early for every class but the first. Apparently ten minutes between each class is enough, silly me.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Ridiculous Love
Just a little get to know you lesson about myself before I start writing some random blogging stuff. Note: this is a blog post I wrote back around Easter. When I didn't have a blog.
I’m the one with the really long name, Elizabeth Hope Miracle Wheeler (it’s boring on the ends and exciting in the middle.) I’ve been described as strange and insane. Everything from “crazy” and “brilliant” to “reserved” and “proud of it.” That last could also be “opinionated” and “blunt.” I have very strong opinions and, though I enjoy debating and welcome a good argument, if you disagree with me I’ve also been known to be maybe a little unpleasant when people disagree with me. Maybe. But that's really mostly an exaggeration.
I’m also mostly a geek. If something can be geeky I will make it so (unintentional Star Trek joke.) Usually my blogs will probably be geeky or (I admit it) nerdy, focusing on characters in literature, movies and pop culture and what lessons we can learn from them.
This time, however, I wanted to focus on a topic that has been on my mind lately. It’s more than usually appropriate right now as well since I’m writing this the day before Easter. I’d like to remind you of God’s ridiculously devoted love. You’re probably familiar with the concept of ridiculously devoted love, though you may not realize it.
Have you ever made a present for someone? One of those projects where you spend weeks pouring your whole self into it. Then after all that work you dramatically present your finished project. … After the big moment you barely get a thank you and the recipient goes on with their life. You think to yourself “Wait, that was a huge part of my life, I spent hours and days on that, isn’t your life a little more touched by it?” Mentally you might scratch that person off the top of your gift list, obviously they don’t appreciate your hard work.
Or here’s an example with which pretty much any teenage girl can associate (though maybe you won’t all admit it.) Have you ever liked a guy who didn’t know you existed? Oh that’s just a wonderful feeling isn’t it? (Sarcasm intended.) Better yet when they do know you exist but obviously don’t care that you exist. I really must do a study on why we decide to like such boys.
So think about it this way: God looks at you and says “Man, I really love Elizabeth. I love her so much, with all my heart and I want to express that.” So he says to himself “I’ll give her a gift! I’ll give her a gift so precious and expensive that she can’t possibly not see how much I love her.” He put his whole self inside of a human being and sent him down to earth to live and die and rise again for you, it was the best gift he could have given.
Now what is God’s response? Does he say “Yes! She noticed me!” Or does he say “What? How could she possibly miss the purpose of my gift?” But it’s even more sad if you don’t see his gift at all and that’s not even his only gift. All of creation is his gift to us and it’s constantly declaring the glory and power and love of God! (Romans 1:20.)
If you’ve read any love stories you can see how this has the makings of the best unrequited love story ever. The unnoticed lover who does everything in his power to get the attention of his beloved princess. The question is whether it has a happy ending and the answer is entirely up to you.
But in case you’re interested, you can read the full love story in John 3:16. I can hear you all groaning “Elizabeth, we’ve known that verse since before we could read.” Well try reading it again, it’s a beautiful love story. “For God so loved the world” even though its track record for loving him wasn’t too great. “That he gave his one and only son” his perfect gift to get the world’s attention. “That whoever believes in him” that princess who decides to say yes to his proposal. “Shall not perish but have everlasting life” a very literal and beautiful Happily Ever After.
A final note: This was written for a newsletter aimed at teenage girls. I apologize to any guy readers for the girly descriptions but hey, it still applies to you.
I’m the one with the really long name, Elizabeth Hope Miracle Wheeler (it’s boring on the ends and exciting in the middle.) I’ve been described as strange and insane. Everything from “crazy” and “brilliant” to “reserved” and “proud of it.” That last could also be “opinionated” and “blunt.” I have very strong opinions and, though I enjoy debating and welcome a good argument, if you disagree with me I’ve also been known to be maybe a little unpleasant when people disagree with me. Maybe. But that's really mostly an exaggeration.
I’m also mostly a geek. If something can be geeky I will make it so (unintentional Star Trek joke.) Usually my blogs will probably be geeky or (I admit it) nerdy, focusing on characters in literature, movies and pop culture and what lessons we can learn from them.
This time, however, I wanted to focus on a topic that has been on my mind lately. It’s more than usually appropriate right now as well since I’m writing this the day before Easter. I’d like to remind you of God’s ridiculously devoted love. You’re probably familiar with the concept of ridiculously devoted love, though you may not realize it.
Have you ever made a present for someone? One of those projects where you spend weeks pouring your whole self into it. Then after all that work you dramatically present your finished project. … After the big moment you barely get a thank you and the recipient goes on with their life. You think to yourself “Wait, that was a huge part of my life, I spent hours and days on that, isn’t your life a little more touched by it?” Mentally you might scratch that person off the top of your gift list, obviously they don’t appreciate your hard work.
Or here’s an example with which pretty much any teenage girl can associate (though maybe you won’t all admit it.) Have you ever liked a guy who didn’t know you existed? Oh that’s just a wonderful feeling isn’t it? (Sarcasm intended.) Better yet when they do know you exist but obviously don’t care that you exist. I really must do a study on why we decide to like such boys.
So think about it this way: God looks at you and says “Man, I really love Elizabeth. I love her so much, with all my heart and I want to express that.” So he says to himself “I’ll give her a gift! I’ll give her a gift so precious and expensive that she can’t possibly not see how much I love her.” He put his whole self inside of a human being and sent him down to earth to live and die and rise again for you, it was the best gift he could have given.
Now what is God’s response? Does he say “Yes! She noticed me!” Or does he say “What? How could she possibly miss the purpose of my gift?” But it’s even more sad if you don’t see his gift at all and that’s not even his only gift. All of creation is his gift to us and it’s constantly declaring the glory and power and love of God! (Romans 1:20.)
If you’ve read any love stories you can see how this has the makings of the best unrequited love story ever. The unnoticed lover who does everything in his power to get the attention of his beloved princess. The question is whether it has a happy ending and the answer is entirely up to you.
But in case you’re interested, you can read the full love story in John 3:16. I can hear you all groaning “Elizabeth, we’ve known that verse since before we could read.” Well try reading it again, it’s a beautiful love story. “For God so loved the world” even though its track record for loving him wasn’t too great. “That he gave his one and only son” his perfect gift to get the world’s attention. “That whoever believes in him” that princess who decides to say yes to his proposal. “Shall not perish but have everlasting life” a very literal and beautiful Happily Ever After.
A final note: This was written for a newsletter aimed at teenage girls. I apologize to any guy readers for the girly descriptions but hey, it still applies to you.
Unfortunately For My Writing, A Blog Needs Readers
So I'm sitting at my personal tree on the Mount Union grounds this week thinking "Hey! I'm coming up with a lot of fun ideas and I want to expound upon them to someone!" I'll ask you a question: what does a computer geek do when she wants to express herself and doesn't have a readily available audience? Apparently she creates one for herself in the form of a blog.
Unfortunately for you, the reader, this apparently means that you are the unwitting audience. Surprise! You get to see all of my random thoughts that are too long to be posted on Facebook. (If you've ever seen my Facebook posts you'll know that this is saying a lot.)
The point of this seemingly pointless post is really for me to say "Hi! Welcome to this rambling blog! Hopefully this doesn't just prove your already developed opinion that I'm a little crazy."
Unfortunately for you, the reader, this apparently means that you are the unwitting audience. Surprise! You get to see all of my random thoughts that are too long to be posted on Facebook. (If you've ever seen my Facebook posts you'll know that this is saying a lot.)
The point of this seemingly pointless post is really for me to say "Hi! Welcome to this rambling blog! Hopefully this doesn't just prove your already developed opinion that I'm a little crazy."
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