...about time for an update on all those questions I had before orientation.
First, the good news. Piano is continuing, although on an every-other-week schedule. I'm in Concert Choir and that's wonderful. I tested out of a year and a half of theory, I'm doing well in all my classes and handling the load well - so far I'm getting A's in all my classes except Speech. I'm meeting a lot of new people and I am enjoying that.
Bad news: I'm not in any music classes besides choir and I miss that a LOT. I especially miss orchestra and am thinking about asking Cascade if they'll let another viola in a month late. Even though I'm meeting a lot of new people, I don't really see any good friendships developing from that except for one. I'm doing well in all my classes and handling the load well.
What? I said that was a good thing too? It's both. The scoop is that I'm not sure I'm really learning and being challenged to do my best, now that I've grown accustomed to the schedule. Here is a little taste from today's writing class.
It's ten or fifteen minutes from the end of the period. The teacher says "We're a little tight on time, so we're going to switch gears. I want to hand out your papers now."
This is the first paper we've done for the class, and we're all a little apprehensive about our grades. She's mentioned that if we get a B- or lower, we will need to go to the writing center for editing on all our future assignments.
Our teacher continues, "Some of your papers were good..."
Mine's probably in that category, I think. From what I've seen in the peer editing sessions, I'm one of the stronger writers in the group.
"...some of them were a little scary. And one of them was outstanding."
I hope that one's not mine. Please let there be a really good writer here.
"...so good, in fact, that I wish I'd written it myself."
A feeling of certainty and dread rises in my stomach. I'm positive she's talking about mine, and she's giving it compliments it doesn't deserve.
"So I'm going to read it out loud to you. The author will remain anonymous."
Augh. Undeserved honors. Here it goes, she's gonna read mine and I'll blush or do something else obvious so that everyone knows it's mine...
Michelle, the girl next to me, an outspoken personality I've spent a lot of time with, says, "I bet it's McKenna. Her comments are so good."
I turn to McKenna, the pretty, intelligent blonde behind us, and agree quickly to hide my nervousness. "Yeah, I bet it's you."
More half-articulated thoughts impose themselves quickly over each other as she pulls out the paper and prepares to read. The people who edited mine in peer editing will know it's mine. It can't be mine. It's going to be mine. Why do I always react this way to honors? It's not something to blush over. I don't want to be singled out as the best writer in the group. I want company.
She begins by reading the title. "A Split Reality."
It's mine.
I'm feeling a little lonely today. Anyone else have these days?
The Two Kinds of Moderate
1 year ago
4 comments:
AW!!!! *giant hug* I had one of those days yesterday. I think. You can't really get away from it, just try and distract yourself with a book, or cry. The latter usually works better. I like hiking when I'm lonely.
I love you Crystal!! GO WRITERS!!! Ra ra ra!! :-)
Nice job, Crystal!
Wow. I can never write. Ugg.
Crystal-
your new nickname is Sophos. and if you follow Lindy's suggestion and go for a book, read the Thief. then you'll understand why.
*grins*
but I know it can be embarassing to be the straight-A student. I'm not that in all my classes (by any means, lol), but I'm doing really well in history and my mom says it's a good thing my teacher doesn't grade on a curve or everyone else would hate me.
and I'm in music theory 1, which is so easy as a 6-year pianist that it's kind of awkward to get done before everyone else and just be sitting there trying to keep my hands warm.
but congratulations anyway, it's really cool that your teacher liked it so much even if she did read it to the whole class!!! it a good thing to be a good writer...
Thanks, people. *hug* The problem, as I explained to my English teacher yesterday, is not being a straight-A student, but getting A's when you feel like you're doing B work. I'm not doing my best work in most of my classes and I'm still getting A's. Oh yeah, and EVERYONE grades on a curve here. It drives me batty!
Sophos, hmm. The Greek word for wisdom...but the Sophists in Ancient Greece were more concerned with rhetoric and surface knowledge than wisdom. Sophia, of course, would be the feminine version. There was a Sophie in one of the books we read in English...OHMYGOSH she chose that name on purpose! All the names in that book are significant... *faints dead away*
Btw, I am sitting in my new second favorite place on campus, the library of course remaining first. I made the mistake of never going upstairs in the brand-new HSC building before now and it's lovely up here.....
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