semesters are symphonies
Saturday, April 29th, 2006The potpourri of people, places, and events that make up a given semester make it better than any novel. Even the best authors attempt to replicate realism and mimic authentic ironies in the lives of their characters (this description casually ignores the wonderful results of surrealism and imaginative writing, so please forgive, Lewis Carroll). Another semester is briskly coming to a close here at Virginia Tech and, even though I am still burdened with copious assignments, I am becoming reflective. Particularly so because my summer will be spent here in Blacksburg with a slim crew to hang out and converse with. I lucked out, though, because the few people I know who are staying the summer are some of my best friends here.
I have been very scientific this semester, almost to a fault. I discovered how much I can work out before my most trained muscles seize and weaken; the secrets of my metabolism were revealed during intense study sessions where I consumed nearly only soup, muffins, and coffee; I intensely discoursed with companions on topics ranging from Japanese fashion, globalized distribution methods, universe-structuring theories, and beyond. The moderate strictness of my courses let me try levels of self-motivation without fear of literally destroying myself on the academic front - specifically, how much focus can I afford to appropriate to each type of course at any given point during the semester.
That’s only the beginning of the extracurricular, if you will, studies I involved myself in. The more personally advantageous pieces of my semester were summed up in another field of study - that of people. My Math Emporium job forces me to work with (and sometimes requiring the more exhaustive form of “working with’) students with varying backgrounds, varying learning abilities, and varying tolerances for admitting defeat. That job will soon end, but it has been a delight to assist hundreds of students with their math comprehension, all the while trying to lighten their impression of mathematics in general, from a have-to to an appreciative and effective way of viewing the world. This second (and soon-to-be only) at Bollo’s will surely teach me other communication and administrative skills - I look forward to a new challenge.
This isn’t an inclusive review of the semester, but just the amount that has crossed my mind so far. I rarely can look back and have clarity or specific recollection with only my memory, so I will surely browse through my old calendars and entries to fully appreciate the paths I’ve taken to reach this new finale/beginning.
Take this as another brief contemplation of the various elements that combine to produce bodies, humans, people. Also, take this as a natural result of roasting in the afternoon sun at the VT Pylons with back on concrete and eyes to the sky.