I’m really frustrated with my summer courses. It took me a long time to be able to admit it, but now I can.
I really didn’t think it was that much of a problem until I realized that my favorite part of the day is walking to class. That’s right? from the time I get out of my car, lock my door, close my door, unlock my door, re-open my door because my headlights are on (don’t ask me why this is at 10 in the morning), and then re-slam my door, to the time I open the door to the building that my class is in?I love it!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the smell of fresh cut grass fills the air (just like in “The Sound of Music”) and the gentle breeze blows through the hairs of my legs, creating that “not-quite- cold, not-quite-hot” sensation. It makes me wish that I could park in the far back row of the parking lot, but all those stalls are reserved for maintenance vehicles. Where can I get me one of those?
Bottom line is, and dare I say this too soon, it’s beautiful outside! The absolute last place anyone wants to be is in a lecture hall learning about statistics.
I’ve got a class in one of the lecture halls that has windows. The shades are usually closed in this room, but one day, about five minutes before class started, a student stood up and opened the shades. Outside, two girls were sunbathing and appeared to be studying and three guys were throwing a Frisbee around.
So I did what any other studious senior who wanted to graduate would do. I stood up, walked over to the window and closed the shades again. The guy looked at me with a confused look. I had to give him a reason, so I blamed it on the glare against the chalkboard. But there was another reason?I would never be able to learn with the window open!
If there’s going to be a Frisbee flying through the air, I want to be the one catching it?not the one laughing at the guy who trips over his shoelace while running for it. If there are going to be babes lying under the sun, I want to be part of that study group?even if it means getting sunburned at the same time.
How could anyone sit in that lecture hall knowing about all the summer fun going on outside? How could anyone possibly listen to what the instructor is trying to teach when all they can think about is being outside enjoying God’s green Earth? We can’t work with these conditions!
In which case, why do they have windows in the lecture halls anyway? It’s not like anyone would want them open when it’s a gloomy day outside. Can you imagine walking into the room on the day of an exam, looking outside and seeing a tree get struck by lightning? That’s real encouraging.
At my old school, on such nice, sunny days, we’d have classes outside. There were specific places outside the buildings for such occasions. On a given afternoon, you’d see at least five or six classes meeting under the blue sky every hour.
When I mentioned this idea to a teacher here at the U, she gave me a confused look and denied my request. Everyone looked at me as if I were from another planet. I guess heaven forbids a student to tan and learn at the same time.
I love sunny days with the nice breeze and Frisbee games, and I just hate not being a part of it.
The real problem with my summer courses is not the intensity of the classes, the frequency of the papers or the extra-long lectures.
The real problem is not being able to be a part of the real meaning of summer. It’s my weakness, I guess, but hey, on the bright side, those rainy days will sure help my reading schedule.
Happy studying!