So today was the first day of school... sorta. If anyone has been following the California budget crisis you will know it extends to the public school system. The current problem is that without money, the UC system is being forced to cut programs, staff and teacher hours as well as to increase student rates. The teachers and students are not very happy about this and subsequently organized a strike on the first day of classes. I had heard a few rumblings about a proposed strike, but honestly didn't know that it was actually going to happen until I received a group email from the French department last night informing us that there would be no French class on the first day of school. Um, okay, I get to sleep in an extra hour. However, I still had two other classes that day that were supposedly being held.
My second class was Introduction to Wine Making. This should actually turn out to be a really interesting class. It covers everything from vines to crushing to bottling and even includes a section on tasting, though it all has to be hypothetical testing because of age restrictions. None-the-less, this should turn out to be an interesting class.
After wine class it was off to the "Silo" to grab lunch. While I was eating my sandwich a group of coeds started up a random bikini water balloon fight. I think it was to promote the Outdoor Adventures club, but honestly who was paying attention. Only in college....
My last class of the day was Advanced Writing, Business/Legal. The class started normally, but the professor immediately launched into the strike and who in class was going to go and support the rally on the quad that was just about to start. Turns out he has a no strike clause in his contract and would be docked pay if he participated but he was adamant that we skip class that day and go and join our fell teachers and students on the quad. I assume most people just went home, but I went and listened to what the union leaders had to say.
The turn out was really not all that great considering a school of 30,000 people. The speeches were rather repetitive with most anger being directed at the president and his high salary. I didn't hear much of a solution. But I suppose the point was to rally the people behind a cause, hopefully the solutions will come later. I stuck around for about 45 minutes until the heat (it was close to 100 again) was too much to bear and so I headed home.
All in all an interesting first day. Where else do you find a water balloon fight and a campus strike in one day? Only in university...
My second class was Introduction to Wine Making. This should actually turn out to be a really interesting class. It covers everything from vines to crushing to bottling and even includes a section on tasting, though it all has to be hypothetical testing because of age restrictions. None-the-less, this should turn out to be an interesting class.
After wine class it was off to the "Silo" to grab lunch. While I was eating my sandwich a group of coeds started up a random bikini water balloon fight. I think it was to promote the Outdoor Adventures club, but honestly who was paying attention. Only in college....
My last class of the day was Advanced Writing, Business/Legal. The class started normally, but the professor immediately launched into the strike and who in class was going to go and support the rally on the quad that was just about to start. Turns out he has a no strike clause in his contract and would be docked pay if he participated but he was adamant that we skip class that day and go and join our fell teachers and students on the quad. I assume most people just went home, but I went and listened to what the union leaders had to say.
The turn out was really not all that great considering a school of 30,000 people. The speeches were rather repetitive with most anger being directed at the president and his high salary. I didn't hear much of a solution. But I suppose the point was to rally the people behind a cause, hopefully the solutions will come later. I stuck around for about 45 minutes until the heat (it was close to 100 again) was too much to bear and so I headed home.
All in all an interesting first day. Where else do you find a water balloon fight and a campus strike in one day? Only in university...
So how's school? I'm going to UC Irvine, and I want to go to Columbia for graduate school. Reading your blogs are very helpful. I was out of school for 5 years for the military. I'm having a tough time getting used to campus again. Would love to read more info about how things are going with you.
Great blogs... very intriguing. But I was just curious, what EXACTLY do you want to do careerwise? Are you an entrepreneur? I know getting to Harvard would be an amazing accomplishment, but where does that put you afterwards? Or is that a part of going to Harvard? In that you will figure out what part of the business sector you want to immerse yourself in?
I'm currently at a crossroads right now... I was just accepted to Business School @ U Texas / Austin, and I hope it's the right path... I'm spending a lot of $$ to go to college for a few more years just to figure out what I'm meant to do. My undergrad is from OU, and well, 4 years there and I still am not sure. I guess that's why I'm going to grad school.
Good luck to you!
I guess you didn't get into Harvard? Hope things work out @ Davis for you.
Davis is for undergrad. Harvard is for Graduate School. Haven't even applied to HBS yet.
Devin:
That is a very good question. The answer I am constantly rewriting in my head. I know that do not want to just goto Business School with the hopes that the experience alone will find my path (read "Ahead of the Curve", story of a writer who was accepted to HBS and had that exact experience). Currently, my desire is to focus on general business management so I can work with internet/new media/entertainment/tech companies and help them grow.
A path is definitely a necessary requirement before stepping into any school of higher education. No one but yourself can lead you to what you desire, the school is a capitalistic entity, not a spiritual one.
Thanks for posting this. Would be intrested to read more or possibly please contact me by email thank you!
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