Today was my third day of college classes. In those first three days, I have learned an incredible deal, not necessarily in the fields I'm studying, but rather in general about my academic future.
First of all, the schedule is very strange to me. I knew that I would not go to class non-stop from 8 to 3 like I used to, but I was not familiar with the way things work. I have an hour long class early in the day, and hour and a half break, and then another hour of class, before finishing with the rest of lunch and the afternoon and evening to myself. Having the chance to have such large gaps gives me plenty of time to decompress from the stress of the last before advancing to the next class.
Another element of college that I never considered was the academic pursuits of many of my instructors. I have several teachers and professors who are students themselves, working on doctoral programs and dissertations. I expected to get to college and have ancient, worldly people talking at me. Instead, I have experts in their fields, who are young enough to be up-to-speed on the cutting edge advancements in their lines of work, who are able to share their own academic experiences (because they were recent enough that they still remember).
One of my instructors gave me an excellent piece of advice when I went to visit him during his office hours. He said that a writer had said that anyone who dedicates 10,000 hours to a field of study, whether it be athletic, academic, or intellectual, will surpass the natural talent of a prodigy and become a true master. This individual had long since passed his 10,000 hours in his field, and could attest to the expertise that come with it. This was his way of telling me also that studying "what sounds cool" will not lead to success necessarily, but rather throwing one's self wholly and completely into a field will lead to the greatest success.
I don't necessarily know what I am going to dedicate 10,000 hours to. I have a pretty good idea, but even I am open to the chance of changing my mind. What I am committed to, though, is working hard enough in college to succeed at the classes I'm taking, because I am privileged enough to attend a University that offers such a wide variety of classes at such a high level.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
August 17
Today was an interesting experience. I had the opportunity to go to the Commission on Youth Engagement as part of the Union For Reform Judaism's efforts to properly reach out to those members of the teen community who may not be reached otherwise.
One of the elements that was most significant to this was the coming together of all of the constituencies that go into the Union as a whole. Members of each subgroup within Reform Judaism were there to help in the creation of a new vision for how to get people involved.
I, along with five other NFTYites, was invited to the event for the opportunity to share the perspective of teens, and to experience the discussion so as to help in the development of a call to action to be put forward at the URJ Biennial in December.
The meetings lasted all day, and went across an enormous level of discussion points. During the course of the day, I had the chance to share my personal perspective on multiple issues and the ways in which I saw them being rectified. What was most significant to this was that not only did I have the chance to talk, but that the adult leadership around the table had a genuine interest in what I had to say. They all listened to my viewpoint, added their own thoughts along similar wavelengths, and were able to build the ideas that we were creating to incorporate what I was saying. This unique opportunity meant that all of the NFTYites at the meeting felt valued, and felt as though their voice was being heard.
Although the meeting was very long, and it was often difficult to remain completely focused, it was an incredibly valuable opportunity for our movement to call to the table so many different components of the organizations that make Reform Judaism flourish. It gave hope for the future that we will be able to create resources for Jewish teens for future generations to come. And it allowed us to practice what it is like to be the adult leadership, creating valuable information for our peers and for our successors in the movement.
One of the elements that was most significant to this was the coming together of all of the constituencies that go into the Union as a whole. Members of each subgroup within Reform Judaism were there to help in the creation of a new vision for how to get people involved.
I, along with five other NFTYites, was invited to the event for the opportunity to share the perspective of teens, and to experience the discussion so as to help in the development of a call to action to be put forward at the URJ Biennial in December.
The meetings lasted all day, and went across an enormous level of discussion points. During the course of the day, I had the chance to share my personal perspective on multiple issues and the ways in which I saw them being rectified. What was most significant to this was that not only did I have the chance to talk, but that the adult leadership around the table had a genuine interest in what I had to say. They all listened to my viewpoint, added their own thoughts along similar wavelengths, and were able to build the ideas that we were creating to incorporate what I was saying. This unique opportunity meant that all of the NFTYites at the meeting felt valued, and felt as though their voice was being heard.
Although the meeting was very long, and it was often difficult to remain completely focused, it was an incredibly valuable opportunity for our movement to call to the table so many different components of the organizations that make Reform Judaism flourish. It gave hope for the future that we will be able to create resources for Jewish teens for future generations to come. And it allowed us to practice what it is like to be the adult leadership, creating valuable information for our peers and for our successors in the movement.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 7th
I know I haven't blogged in quite a while, so I wanted to make sure that I got one in before school starts. This summer has been an incredible one, and has filled my time with excellent learning, growing, and relaxing.
This summer was also an emotionally overwhelming one. It was the first time that I had to refer to my high school as "my old school" and my classmates as "people I WENT to high school with". This sounds like silly language choices, but it was anything but. This represented a drastic change in the way I saw myself. I was no longer tied down by what I thought I was in high school. I felt as though I had the chance to reinvent something. I didn't really want to reinvent myself, but to reinvent the way I saw myself and the way I put myself out for others to see.
I graduated on June 2nd. In the two months since, I feel as though I have grown significantly, quite possibly the most I have grown in any two month period in my life. This growth is in several directions. I learned what it means to be living independently, as I spent the summer at an amazing camp (URJ's Kutz Camp) and had the chance to really be responsible for my own living for six weeks. I learned what it means to truly not care what other people think of you, and to simply be the person you are in new places, because people will wind up liking you better anyway. And I learned that I am continually growing, as is everyone around me.
This last fact may sound simple, but it is actually monumentally important. I am learning, growing, and turning into a better person all the time. Yet I so often think of people in cemented terms. I rarely consider how some one's summer experiences may have changed their ways of thinking, or how they behave. I want people to give me the benefit of the doubt, but how can I have that if I'm not willing to do the same.
I have changed a lot this summer, and I think for the better. I hope and wish that people will have the chance to see what kind of person I am and am becoming, rather than dwelling on what I once may have been.
May it be God's Will
This summer was also an emotionally overwhelming one. It was the first time that I had to refer to my high school as "my old school" and my classmates as "people I WENT to high school with". This sounds like silly language choices, but it was anything but. This represented a drastic change in the way I saw myself. I was no longer tied down by what I thought I was in high school. I felt as though I had the chance to reinvent something. I didn't really want to reinvent myself, but to reinvent the way I saw myself and the way I put myself out for others to see.
I graduated on June 2nd. In the two months since, I feel as though I have grown significantly, quite possibly the most I have grown in any two month period in my life. This growth is in several directions. I learned what it means to be living independently, as I spent the summer at an amazing camp (URJ's Kutz Camp) and had the chance to really be responsible for my own living for six weeks. I learned what it means to truly not care what other people think of you, and to simply be the person you are in new places, because people will wind up liking you better anyway. And I learned that I am continually growing, as is everyone around me.
This last fact may sound simple, but it is actually monumentally important. I am learning, growing, and turning into a better person all the time. Yet I so often think of people in cemented terms. I rarely consider how some one's summer experiences may have changed their ways of thinking, or how they behave. I want people to give me the benefit of the doubt, but how can I have that if I'm not willing to do the same.
I have changed a lot this summer, and I think for the better. I hope and wish that people will have the chance to see what kind of person I am and am becoming, rather than dwelling on what I once may have been.
May it be God's Will
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