Another upset at my college

I get a call Wednesday about 1:20p.m. from Ms. Dawn in the Spanish Dept. at my college. Ms. Dawn is in charge of the Spanish dept (as far as making sure kids complete the requirements for a degree in Spanish or minor). Ms. Dawn told me that she knows I filled out my paperwork to declare a Spanish minor in March 2008. Here it is October and she is just now getting around to entering it in the computer. ...Surprised she didn't lose the paperwork... She said that she didn't really pay attention to what I said my major was on the declaration form. The problem is I'm a Communications major and that since that is basically not a true department and is a branch of the Liberal Studies Dept. I should have a Spanish major and a minor in something else. I told her that the classes I've taken as a Comm major complement the Spanish (I've taken Anthropology classes on the American Southwest, history of Spanish, etc.) She seemed kind of apprehensive after I said that, then said, well, my problem was I filed the paperwork too late. TOO LATE IS MARCH 2008 AFTER I TOOK MY FIRST UPPER DIVISION SPANISH CLASS. THAT'S TOO LATE.

So basically I'm going to fight that and while it seems like my case trumps her's, we'll see...

I am just thinking how easy it would have been to have finished up last year and taken my degree in Comm, rather than go above and beyond to try to get the Spanish minor. I am upset because of what a Spanish minor means to me. It means that Im bilingual, I can teach Spanish, I can get jobs others can't, and I can travel and try out my Spanish. As of now I'm only 2 classes away. 2!!! ...And to just learn that now. ...And for the paperwork to take so long to be input. ...And to not be told when I originally filed the paperwork is inexcusable.

It goes without saying I am going to put up a fight and rattle some chains. I have meetings with this woman, the Spanish language and Spanish Dept. head. I will have an appointment with the Dean of the Humanities Dept. and the Dean of the college if I don't get results. I just hate how everything at my college is a struggle and this is yet another one... and now my degree is at stake.

Is it coming true?

I took AP European History in my sophomore year of high school. Fun class. I remember nearing the AP test- probably a week before there was a fire drill. Ms. Ward had just passed out booklets that she had explaining what the EU was when the fire drill happened. She said to take the booklets, to go outside to the football scoreboard, which is where we were supposed to stand. It was one of those long firedrills where the fire chief comes and then rips everyone another for taking so long to evacuate the school and if this were a real fire...

I remember Ms. Ward saying this would be a long fire drill, and that was why we were to bring the booklets along with us. We made ourselves comfy on the grass below the scoreboard and she began talking about the EU, the EU money system, how a country joins, and things of that sort. Then, she said this, which has still stuck with me today...

The U.S. is at the end of being a superpower for reasons like credit problems, rising prices, we're making more foes than friend sin the world, etc. Our economy is going to fall as the EU rises. When the Euro started rising in comparison to the dollar, I remember thinking what Ms. Ward said was true. Ms. Ward said the EU is going to become more and more accepted. She said that the EU is probably going to have to pull the U.S. out of where it is heading. I remember thinking, yeah lady... in 100 years. And now, today, I wonder if this day is sooner than I had thought with all of the credit and housing woes. If this $700 billion bailout doesn't happen I'm pretty sure we'll be in a depression. Will Europe pull us out?

Ms. Ward continued talking and said that this was her theory on how the world would end. She was not particularly religious- she was a non-practicing Episcopalian. She said that the U.S. will surrender to the E.U., China will too because their economy is so dependent on ours, hence everyone would be united together- world peace. Then the stuff that is mentioned in the book of Revelations would happen and that would be the end. I remember Lisa, my good friend, and very Christian friend asked why none of this was in the Bible and how Ms. Ward knew this. Ms. Ward said she didn't, but this was her opinion, but also what she thought based on her study of the E.U.

*** Another random thing from AP Euro since we're on such a happy note and talking about end times... Ms. Ward gave a lesson on the Catholic Church and popes once. She printed off a list of the Pope, their picture, and why they were chosen to power if it was known. I remember Ms. Ward saying what was said in the news after John Paul II died that this next pope (Benedict) was to be a transitional pope, only to be around a few years. Then there would be one final Pope after him... I found that whole idea mindblowing. How did she know all of this?

Well, whether we are end times or not, I wanted to share because I was thinking the other day how everything that Ms. Ward said about a big problem the U.S. is facing now seems to be coming true. Sure, credit, buying things on credit, of course will lead to problems, the housing market, etc. but back in 2003 I was a sophomore in high school and just couldn't imagine that.

Women's Studies Syllabus

I need Women's Studies- Gender Issues for a Global Woman, to graduate. The teacher is a middle aged, hispanic woman. She seems to be a little funny... case in point, her syllabus under course guidelines...

"Aaaaww... your teacup shitzu is so cute, and I know you want to show it off; I would carry mine in my purse like you want to. Please don't bring it to class in your purse, though. You can show me in pictures, however, when walking to or from class, or during my office hours. The same goes for your pet dog, cat, chipmunk, or elephant. They are just too cute, especially with the furry collars! They cry though, and my lectures aren't crying worthy. If they cry, I cry."

Excited for a long day

I will be up at 6:30a.m. tommorow. No surprise there. I have class at 9:00a.m. 30 miles south of me. The class ends at 12. I plan to treat myself to a relaxing lunch wherever I go.... go in... sit down... relax... breathe... reflect. I have class from 2:00-5:00p.m.

At 5p.m. I'm going to RUSH to the high school. I am picking up one of my best friends, Gaby. We're going to chaperone the Knotts Berry Farm field trip for all the students in the program I tutor for. I'm looking forward to the car ride with her, talking, getting to catch up, stuff like that, me singing at the top of my lungs to the songs on the radio, Gaby laughing, and just talking about random stuff. I really want to talk since we haven't had much real alone time since we met for lunch in July to talk.

We hope to be at Knotts by 6:30. We're going to eat with the teachers we work with. It'll be awesome. Then after dinner we'll have 5 hours or so to kill riding some rides. All the roller coasters that spin, go upside down, give you that sense of vertigo, you know the deal. We're going to hang out with Mrs. F who we work with and go on rides together. I'm excited, hopefully Mrs. F won't chicken out on the rides.

The night ends at 1:00a.m. I'm sure we'll be hungry, so that'll mean a late night snack somewhere. We'll probably get home about 2:00a.m. Then, knowing me I'll be up at 9:00a.m. or so the next day.

2 incredible opportunities

I want some advice- I've thought about it and am at a crossroads.

I interviewed last spring for an internship with a high ranking state official with a lot of power in Washington. I got the internship. If I could get a letter of recommendation with their name on it, I'd be set I think. It would mainly be doing office stuff- helping around the office, writing letters, responding to citizens in the area about problems they are having.

So why take this internship and why to not? The name of the official on a letter of recommendation for me... closer to home... 30 minutes away as opposed to an hour with the one below. The office seems really uptight and not so laid back. If I want to go into government, public relations, etc. this is a good start.

I interviewed at the beginning of this month for an internship with a newspaper. It sounds like an incredible experience because I can get experience working at a newspaper, have my name PUBLISHED, learning to shoot, report, and write stories working with reporters. Getting to go in the field and interview.

So why take this internship and why not? Great experiences working at a newspaper, which would help if I do end up pursuing journalism. The downside is that I'd be commuting 60 miles each week 2 days a week and it is an hour away. The position is basically an entry level reporter- not a beat reporter. I would be doing community pieces- interviewing various figures in the community like sports person of the week and get to cover news stories.

Both would be 10-12 hours a week and both would be unpaid.

I need to make a decision TODAY. School starts Thursday and I'm going to have to run around and take care of all the paperwork in the coming days.