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It’s been two days since I woke up, looked in the mirror, and found my hair thoroughly frazzled.
It’s been two days, and despite doing everything in my power short of cutting my hair, I still look like a character from a japanese anime.
a side by side comparison:
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 After analyzing the situation in more detail, I’ve arrived at two possible reasons as to why my hair is standing on end.
1. Caffein use. With so much to do at Richmond, it’s often well advised to make the most of it with America’s favorite stimulant. Everyone has thier favorite method of delivery, from the traditional cup of coffee to topical shower soaps. My personal favorite is the caffeinated chewing gum sold at the campus convenience store. Sold in packs of twelve pieces, the label claims each piece of gum is equivalent to half a cup of coffee. If this is true, one pack of gum is equivalent to six cups of coffee, making it one of the most cost effective sources of caffein available on the market.2. Academic Rigour.Yes, it’s that time of year…essays, lab reports, and the last tests prior to finals all converge in one frightful nexus. With only three weeks left before the semester ends, everyone’s nose is to the grindstone. Coming back from vacation and realizing this is kind of like looking at a ksunami wave right before it wipes an island off the map. There’s nothing you can do but hold your breath and swim against the current.There are a lot of different strategies people use to cope with the stress of finals and such, but for what it’s worth, here’s my take:
The best way to survive late semester is to live life like a guerilla war. As history and leadership majors should know, the thing that differentiates guerilla warfare from conventional warfighting techniques is that as long as the insurgency hasn’t quit fighting, it hasn’t lost. I’m waging a guerilla war on life, and so long as I keep fighting, I have not lost. Anyway, If my hair gets any more bouyant, it’ll be time to start emitting energy blasts from my fingers. Until next time, I’ll be chained to my desk working on a Biology lab report.
Kachaa! This week has been a whirlwind of confusion and euphoria, the cataclysmic beginning of what I can only imagine will rock me to the core. What in blazes am I talking about? Academics, naturally. On Monday, courses started up with a growling vengeance, effectively ending orientation for good. The show is on the road, and by jingers we’re rollin’ now. Let me give you my day in pieces, so as to help you avoid premature cranial detonation.
Intro to Genetics:
At 8:15, there is nothing I’d rather do than sleep. However, in the absence of sleep, a lecture on genetics can prove refreshing. In all seriousness, my professor is considered one of the better biology teachers, and her PowerPoint slides are extraordinarily helpful at helping us avoid confusion and visualize the material. The mental exercise of waking up for a lecture is sure to build my character.
Intro to Chem:
What’s better than a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart? Well, nothing, but chemistry comes pretty close. My chemistry professor emits rays of inspiration. He doesn’t just tell us about the periodic elements, he introduces us to them like friends. His stories and enthusiasm penetrate the mind like gamma radiation. In truth, he’s known to expect a lot of his students- but in the words of Thucydides, ‘He is best who trains in the severest school.’ I’m pumped at the prospect of learning chemistry backwards and forwards, front and back, until I can chew through physical chemistry like a woodchipper.
Scientific Calculus:
There are two types of math teachers in the world: those that multiply your thirst for knowledge, and those that make you want to jump out of a window in terror/despair. I had both in high school, but I am pleased to say that my professors for scientific calc are of the former type. One thing that has always nibbled at my frontal cortex is that calculus seems so symbolic and hard to connect to real life. Luckily, as the name implies, the course is heavily focused on my useful real-life applications.
Core:
Core reminds me of the First World War. Even though our professor is really cool and comes up with really good questions to start discussion, only a few people are willing or able to make intelligent comments, so the class becomes an exercise in trench warfare. When faced with public speaking, the majority of the class puts on a blank stare and hunkers down in their chairs as if trying to survive a mortar attack.
One thing I will say is that I’m looking forward to the books we’re reading- Nietzsche, Marx, and all the rest, important readings that if left to my own devices I would probably put off indefinitely. Hopefully, we’ll come out of the class well-rounded & with a better handle on where we stand in the world.
Chem Lab:
Taught by a friendly PhD from MIT who has worked at Los Alamos, this class is a welcome addition to my evening. From 6:30 to 9:30 Monday nights, I’m going to be doing titrations and the like, honing my laboratory skills until they are razor sharp. The goal of the course is to make us comfortable and proficient in a lab environment, and to that end the department has slightly reduced the grade pressure for lab by making effort a factor. If you want to learn chemistry without a worried mind and sweaty palms, Richmond is apparently the place to be.
Bio Lab:
My main interest in biology has always been in potential applications, but during AP Biology in high school we never did labs. I am extremely excited to finally sink my teeth into applied biology- watching genetics in action, inducing mutations, using recombinant DNA technology to manipulate life.
The professor for my lab section is undeniably chill. This guy is an ecologist that has worked in Afghanistan & Iraq, and has been on the staff of a senator as an advisor on environmental policy. His take on genetics is especially fresh, as he relates it to the big picture of animal populations etc.
As you can see, my quest for worldly knowledge is now officially riding the rocket of a liberal arts education. My classes are all taught by academic demigods, so hopefully I can get hooked up with some ambrosia and nectar.
