Post by dowellharmon on Aug 8, 2011 22:28:35 GMT -5
The Organization Kid did two major things as I read it. One, it reminded me a lot of myself and the way I feel about my everyday life. Sometimes I feel like I have little to no free-time because of all my work, not just homework but baseball, quick recall, and the other activities in which I am involved. Last year, even sleep was cut into due to morning academic team practices before school, which cut an hour out of my sleep, something which proved to be problematic as I dozed off in classes for the first time in my academic career. Next, 8 hours of structured learning, school, in which not only were assignments given, notes taken, and learning achieved, but also homework due later in the day, or two days from now was done. So even in the moments during school in which a break could be taken, that moment was spent catching up on late calculus review packets or Stats FRQs, which was a lost cause to begin with. Following school, 2 hours of baseball, in which I exercise the physical aspect of my body which has been held under wraps for the last 10 hours by academic endeavors. By the end of baseball practice, which occurs 6 days a week, and “Optional” hitting on Sundays, my body is physically and mentally drained. Luckily for me, I still have loads of homework to do, which sometimes will consume the rest of the night. The little free time I have is spent sitting mindlessly in front of the TV because it takes as little effort as possible. The spontaneity and lack of any concentration needed is what draws me to this practice. I realize I need to just enjoy life and live in the moment, but it is difficult to do so when every waking moment in your life is spent preparing or doing something to ensure a better future for yourself, or at least that’s what you are told.
Another major thing it did is show me what I wish I could be, and that is more goal-oriented. These Princeton scholars set goals, and although I do have aspirations for after college, I’m still not decided on my college or career path, so my goals are not fully developed, so It is tough to live my life oriented to my goals when I don’t even know what they are.
The article reminded me of a film we watched at GSP called “The Race to Nowhere” in which several students were interviewed and followed on their quest for greatness, which in reality, didn’t even matter much in the long run. I find myself growing restless because I’m working so hard and seeing no results, and the results (college and career) seem so far away its almost tough to set goals and to be power tools because it is so draining during the present.
I’m not to the point where I have to give my friends appointments to see me, but I sometimes wish I could force them to alert me with what they were doing and how I was involved.
Another major thing it did is show me what I wish I could be, and that is more goal-oriented. These Princeton scholars set goals, and although I do have aspirations for after college, I’m still not decided on my college or career path, so my goals are not fully developed, so It is tough to live my life oriented to my goals when I don’t even know what they are.
The article reminded me of a film we watched at GSP called “The Race to Nowhere” in which several students were interviewed and followed on their quest for greatness, which in reality, didn’t even matter much in the long run. I find myself growing restless because I’m working so hard and seeing no results, and the results (college and career) seem so far away its almost tough to set goals and to be power tools because it is so draining during the present.
I’m not to the point where I have to give my friends appointments to see me, but I sometimes wish I could force them to alert me with what they were doing and how I was involved.