Blog #4 "College Pressures"

There is a wide range of pressures put on students at the college level.  I think that the amount and type of pressure depends on the person, but I think that all of us can relate that we are affected by it in some way.  The biggest pressure I feel like I’m facing right now is work pressure.  I work at a golf course and right now is a really busy time for a golf course. Through the summer I work 40 hours a week, but when school starts, that doesn’t back down much until around October and November when the weather starts to die down.  Holding 30-40 hours a week on top of a full school load gets to be hard to manage at times.  I am allowed to bring my homework to work, which is a huge plus.  That is usually what keeps me going; otherwise I would be completely bogged down in school work.  I have my moments where I want to quit my job, but I eventually get through it.

I think another pressure that college students get wrapped up in, in a lot of cases, is peer and societal pressure.  At the college level especially, you are getting to the age where there is a lot more to do and friends are turning legal.  A lot more distractions from your school work are brought up.  Students have to learn how to balance their school work and their social lives.  I know firsthand how hard this can be, especially during your first year of college.  You gain so much more freedom, being able to move out of the house, it feels as though you don’t have anyone to answer to.  This sometimes can get students in too trouble.

I believe societal pressures can sometimes be overwhelming too.  If you think about it, today there is a lot of pressure put on students to get a degree and to make sure you get a degree in something that is going to make you money.  I agree with Zinsser, in the essay when he talks about how college these days is so geared towards society, and making sure that you will have that safety net when you get out of college that way you know you can get a job.  Kids are no longer choosing routes that would allow them to do what they love.  For example, being a musician, an artist, or even a writer.  This ties in with parental pressures also.  Parents these days are not helping the situation because they want their child to be just as successful, and would rather they choose the business route or the medical route, for intense.

I think as you get older you learn to handle these pressures in a more mature way, and are able to cope a little easier.  Some of these pressures I think will carry with you all through your life, and it’s up to you to learn how to manage them and how you are going to let them affect your lifestyle.

Blog #3 "University Days"

The hardest class I have ever taken was my Public Speaking class.  I took this class my senior year of high school for college credit.  I wasn't particularly looking forward to taking this class in the first place mainly because i don't enjoy memorizing things, it is hard for me.  The reason i took it in high school was because i figured it would be easier there, and i would know all the kids in my class that consisted of 25 tops, as opposed to a class of 40 or better here at Washburn.  Well little did i know, that class wasn't going to be easy.

The first speech was easy.  All we had to do was introduce ourselves.  It was supposed to be 2 minutes tops. From the looks of this speech, i had it in the bag.  After that one they got progressively worse. All leading up to the 10 minute long speech.  I honestly cant even remember what i did my speech over, all i remember is it stressed me out completely.  I ended up completing the essay and being able to recite it, however what came out of my mouth wasn't completely what i had planned to say because i forgot parts of it. I was able to ramble enough to make it sound like i knew what i was saying, and like it was planned.

The part that made this class horrible for me was the fact that i was really sick for one of the speech days. This was not planned and definitely wasn't an excuse to get out of my speech.  I had it ready and all memorized, i just couldn't go to school. My teacher would not let me make up my speech, because he said that he said from the beginning "you had to recite your speech on the day planned".  He gave me a zero on that speech and i barely passed the class with a C.

After passing this class i felt like i had a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. Even though this grade has affected my college GPA, i am still thankful that i passed and wouldn't have to take a class like that every again!

Blog #2 "On Keeping a Notebook"

Personally, I have never kept a blog, notebook, or anything of the sorts.  When I was younger (2nd or 3rd grade) I would attempt to keep a journal.  This would last me a couple days and that was it.  These journals, however, were "top secret".  They usually consisted of descriptions of the newest shirt my mom just bought me, or which friend I was spending all my time with, and the latest drama that went down on the playground that day. (all the important things)

I believe that a lot of the point of keeping a notebook is exactly as Didion put it, recording "how it felt to me".  I don't think there is a right or wrong way to keep a notebook/blog.  If your are interested in writing fictitious stories, like Didion, then so be it.  These stories might remind you of certain points in your life, other people may not understand it, but that's okay, they don't need to.

I do  believe that social media affects how people these days record things.  A lot of blogs out on the Internet are filled with things involving current events.  It gives people something to talk about, and voice their opinion.  the news is alot easier to access these days whether it be on TV, the radio, or the Internet.

All in all, "blogging" today is different in my opinion today than "notebook keeping" back in the day.  I think it revolves more on opinions about current events and celebrity gossip than it does your own personal, detailed, day to day life.

About Me....

Hello, my name is Rebeca. Mostly everyone calls me "Beca" except for my mom, because she "named me Rebeca for a reason." I am new to this whole blog thing, I havn't had one until now. I am currently a junior here at Washburn, and I am a marketing and manegment major.

I graduated from a highschool here in Topeka, and yes, I have lived here my whole life.  I always thought going through highschool that I would get out of Topeka and go to college somewhere else, but as the time became closer I stuck with Washburn. I am very happy I did, I enjoy the atmosphere here.

I work at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. I work in both the pro shop and in the snack/bar area. It is the perfect job during school, because as it starts to get colder, the golf course business slows down and I am able to bring my homework to work. (The tips arn't so bad either!)

I love to scrapbook in my free time. My mom and I got started on it a while back, and I have continued ever since.  I played volleyball very competively since the 3rd grade, I however, didn't continue at the college level because I was unfortunatly burnt out and wanted to focus on school alone.

I think that about summarizes my life right now!