#student experience

The main problem I find in the current schooling system is that it’s not mistake friendly in any way. This issue is also closely tied with grades, standardized tests, and the competitive environment in general.

Like, I’m told that “failures are good!” “failures help you grow!” but how can we afford to fail when in reality, a single failure can ruin our future? This is very relevant in extremely academically competitive countries where, for example, a B can ruin our chances.

How can you say that “failures are good” but punish students for it? How can we risk to fail when everything is on the line?

If a student is given 2 options for a project where one is a basic, less fun, but easy and the other is more exciting, fulfilling, but difficult, you bet they will choose the first one. Because even if it’s boring, and less fun, nothing out of their passion or interest, they will choose it because it provides a good security of grades. Easier to get a good grade on. While the other option is more fun, but risky. A bigger chance to get a lower grade, and we can’t risk that.

If this is happening EVERYWHERE, can you imagine how much chances the students are missing out on? But really, who are we to blame? 

The overall focus on grades are kind of terrible. I’m not saying that we should remove them completely, but it’s better we should, you know, in a way, “isolate” them. In my class, our grades are announced publicly and the teacher’s reason for that is to “motivate” us but in my perspective, it does makes me feel so much more pressured.

If grades don’t exist, or maybe if we get automatic As for the whole year, what would you do? If we drift the focus from grades and more to learning, it would feel so, so much better. I know many people might say students will be lazy and slack off more, and yes, I can’t deny that, but that’s where the teachers and the overall environment come in. If we push our students to have the right mindset, that learning is prioritized, to co-operate with others, to be a critical thinker- that won’t be a problem.

Now, the thing is, only little students care about learning anymore. Most just want good grades and get a good job, and yes, I am one of them. This is why you see a familiar argument: “why do I have to study (insert biology statement) here if I want to become an artist?” “why do I have to learn about geometry when I want to become a journalist one day?” It’s like as if we’re limiting all these subjects into “Jobs” and careers. And guess what? I don’t blame them.

We are pushed to think that these subjects are for our future, that even if they are useless, we practice discipline, obedience, and work ethic. That’s right too, but what about the other side? the learning side? The main side?

Even if they are “useless”, what’s the harm of learning things? Oh right, grades. We get back to the start again. Grades pretty much measure anything, and most of our academic decisions are based on them. Because we’re limiting these subjects to simply just grades, we don’t actually get to enjoy the beauty of it.

I agree, how are we expected to appreciate the beauty of a school subject when our schedule is jam-packed with daily tests, exams, homework, and the pressure of grades? How are we expected to enjoy the beauty of it when it’s just listening to a teacher, homework, homework, project, test, homework again, last test, and we just move on? just like that? Not to mention to stressing of grades and other classes too, oh boy.

Now let’s just imagine how many brilliant artists, writers, mathematicians, scientists, researchers, musicians we lost just because the narrow-minded system. A lot, I know. It all comes back to grades.

Judging from personal experience (being my perfectionist self), grades make me feel everything is a competition. I see my friends to be more of competitors I have to defeat, that I must not allow to have a higher grade, than as, well, human beings that support me. It’s quite harmful. It pushes me into this, I don’t know- horrible gifted kid burnout. I think that everything is a competition, when in fact, I know for sure learning isn’t. Everyone learns in their own pace.

But as you can see, the curriculum doesn't allow us to do that. And now everything’s kind of a mess.

Yeah, I’m not saying SCHOOL IS USELESS! HORRIBLE! SATAN’S CREATION! It’s extremely flawed. In a perspective of a student, in needs to undergo lots of changes, but I think it will do it. Slowly, but surely. A single student, a single teacher, a single adult won’t be able to change this whole system at once. I just hope in the future, the education system will begin to improve. That’s it for today, peace out

January 19 2021

I knew ALL the answers to 99% of the questions my professor threw at us today. I didn’t recite at all but I knew the answers 🥸🤚🏼

The funny thing is...I actually prepared for that class today. I sat down, read all four articles and did extra research on the topic and all. I did it out of fear of being roasted since I had a misunderstanding with my professor (storytime soon I guess LOL) but...I guess that fear (?) was an effective catalyst?

I felt like I regressed back to my 16 year old self! It was arguably the time where I had the best work ethic. Doing this earlier made me remember that I really am a capable bitch like look what I managed to achieve because I put my heart in it. I know life has been so tough on me lately but I’m persisting and I’m capable and I’m so proud of myself for knowing the answers. This is the first time I put effort into my class this term and I’m not mad at myself because the term was just hard but I do recognize that this is seriously a big big deal and I just want to celebrate that.

Here’s a photo of my lunch yesterday! Cooked up some quinoa with diced spam I coated in maple syrup and cooked with crushed nori. It tasted like a deconstructed spam musubi!

Sweets ‘n’ Treats: Near, Far, and In Between

I don’t know about you guys, but I am a sucker for sugar and an excuse to get off campus. I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite places to go!

Near:

Bakkerij Krijnen, Bennington, Vermont | While currently closed for the season as the owners travel, this local bakery has fresh pastries, bread, and soups every day (including vegan options!). I recommend: their blueberry and goat cheese scone 

Powers Market, North Bennington, Vermont | Powers’ sandwiches are good, but Mary’s baking is amazing. Sit in the window seat and read that book a friend mentioned but you haven’t had the time to start. This is also walking distance from campus! I recommend: the peanut butter cookies 

Far: 

Sticky Fingers, Dover, Vermont | This cute bakery is right by Mount Snow, making it a 45-minute drive. Everything they make is made fresh daily, and it’s clear that the pastries are a local favorite. I recommend: the mini red velvet cake

Schuyler Bakery, Watervliet, New York | This bakery offers a variety of nut-free and gluten-free options! While a little out of the way at a 50-minute drive, it’s definitely worth tasting why some locals are so loyal. I recommend: the chocolate chip cookies

In Between:

Iron Coffee Co., Hoosick Falls, New York | This coffee shop has a different vibe than most. While it can be a haven for studying in the upstairs loft, downstairs has pinball machines and, pretty often, some rad dogs. It’s a 20-minute drive from campus. I recommend: their hot chocolate and brownies

Lumber Jack’s, Hoosick Falls, New York | If you don’t want to get out of the car, this drive-thru coffee shop is quick and convenient. Located on route 7, about 15 minutes from campus. I recommend: their homemade apple cider donuts

Answer in photos if you like!

Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

What subjects do you enjoy the most at school?

What are your hobbies? For example, do you play a sport? Do you play an instrument? Do you act? Do you garden? Do you read books?

What are your interests? For example, do you like to keep up with politics? Do you watch a lot of movies? Do you know a lot about different types of rocks?

What causes/issues are important to you? For example, LGBT rights? Animal welfare? Mental health care?

What kind of environment do you like to be in? For example, do you like to be with lots of people, or do you prefer to be alone? Do you prefer to be outdoors or indoors? Do you like to be a leader, or a follower, or work independently of any hierarchy? Do you work better or worse under pressure?

Make a list, and put anything on it that you enjoy or that feels important to you, even if it sounds silly. Then do some google research for potential degrees related to each thing on the list, and potential careers related to each thing on the list, even if they seem like unlikely or unrealistic choices. Write down anything you might possibly be slightly interested in doing!

My roommate and I were like “oh this is probably bad” and grabbed backpacks, keys etc to run down to the basement. My sister across the hall and her roommate were in a similar situation. Power was out, emergency lights made the hall super creepy.

Down the hall, our other hall-sisters peeked out like “Is that a tornado?” And one girl was like “Siren didn’t go off. I have class tomorrow.” “Me too.” “I have homework.” “I’m going back to bed.” “But guys, I’m pretty sure that’s a tornado out there?” “I don’t care.”