A Little too Pretentious?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

Yesterday was the first day of school for me. I’m taking two classes this semester, Engl 295: Writing about Criticism and ELang 223: Introduction to English Language (a linguistics class). I’m very excited about the ELang 223. Even just after the first day, it has me wondering if I’d do better to major in linguistics (while still minoring in editing) than in English. I guess I’ll see how I like this class.

My Engl 295 class, however, has me a little freaked out. I was excited about the class until my teacher had us read the following on our syllabus:

At BYU, a grade of “A” indicates that student performance is “Excellent,” a grade of “B” equates to “Good” performance, and a grade of “C” indicates that student performance is merely “Satisfactory.” I understand the use of the word “good” in the sense defined by the American Heritage Dictionary: “superior to the average.” Accordingly, in order to earn a grade of “B” or higher, you must submit above-average work on a consistent basis. If you understand the definition of “average,” you should be able to figure out that most of the students in most of my classes will receive a grade lower than “B”; the odds against an entire class being “above-average” are astronomical.

I’ll be the first to admit that some teachers do give As too freely. However, the way this teacher is making it sound, it seems like it’s nearly impossible to get an A in his class. I’m going to do my best. I’m also going to challenge my perfectionist-nature during the entire semester to be okay with my best, even if it doesn’t coincide with what my teacher considers “good” or “excellent.” My counselor even suggested that I don’t track my grade at all because I need to work through this issue of basing my “worth” on my grades. Wish me luck! :?

New Year’s Resolutions 2011

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

In 2010, I wanted to:

Continue to improve my relationship with Corey.
Read The New Testament.
Go back to school. :D
Read at least 35 books.
Lose another 30 pounds.
Go to church regularly (every week).

Now that 2010 has come to a close, I’ve realized that I didn’t do a very good job at meeting my resolutions, except for two. My relationship with Corey keeps improving daily. I know we can continue to improve our relationship, but it’s a lifelong process and one I’m fully committed to.

I also went back to school this year. I’m so happy to be back in school! :D Even though my life is extremely busy and hectic with school added into the mix, I feel like my life has purpose again and that I’m striving for something better. If you count the two A minuses from this last semester’s classes, I’ve received straight As this entire year. :D (I know A minuses aren’t technically As. But, with everything I had going on this last semester, I’m happy I got A minuses.)

I started reading The New Testament at the beginning of the year and I’m just barely in Romans. I pretty much gave up in March. I made a new commitment in July, but I didn’t follow through with that either. I don’t understand it as well as I understand The Book of Mormon. And, I don’t feel like I get the spiritual “high” from reading The New Testament like I do when I read The Book of Mormon, which makes “wanting” to read it each night a chore or a hassle. But, I’m determined to get through it! And, once I get through it, I’ll reread The Book of Mormon before I tackle The Old Testament. ;)

I only read 19 books this year. I wanted to read 35, but let’s be honest–I had a ton going on this past year. School alone kept me from reading as much as I wanted to. The fact that I was still able to read 19 books is a feat in and of itself.

I didn’t lose another 30 pounds. In fact, I’m pretty much where I was last year–a few pounds lighter actually–but that’s both good and bad. I know I could’ve done a better job with my weight loss this year, especially before I started boot camp and during the last month. I know what I need to change for next year so I can keep on track.

I didn’t go to church regularly at all last year. It was only in the last two months that I went to church regularly. I can’t use the 9:00-am church time as an excuse because that was sleeping in compared to the rest of the week. I just get into a frame of mind where I don’t want to go. At the beginning of November, however, I made a commitment to myself and my counselor that I wouldn’t miss a single anything between then and the end of the year, even if I was deathly ill. For the most part, I came through with this commitment; although, I did miss going to church twice (last two weeks), I missed two 12-step meetings (bad weather and birthday party), and I missed one day of work (bad weather). I have recommitted and I’m extending this commitment to the end of next semester (for now as I’ll keep extending this at the end of each semester since semester by semester seems more doable than an entire year all at once).

In 2011, I want to:

Continue to improve my relationship with Corey.
Finish reading The New Testament.
Continue to get straight As in school. This includes As and A minuses.
Read at least 25 books. This includes at least two classics (and The New Testament).
Lose another 30 pounds through healthy eating and exercise.
Show up for everything I’ve committed to. This includes school, church, work, 12-step meetings, and exercising (whether this is through boot camp or on my own).

My mantra for next year is the following: “I’m striving for progress not perfection.” I know I’ll make mistakes and I know I’ll cave under pressure every now and then. But, the important thing to remember is what I do with those mistakes and how I respond to them. As long as I’m determined to better myself, I can’t fail. Here’s to making the next year successful! :D

Sure Thing by David Ives

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Jenni Elyse

We just finished the drama unit in my current English class. During this unit, we read two plays and one screenplay. The plays were Trifles by Susan Glaspell and Sure Thing by David Ives and the screenplay was Tender Mercies by Horton Foote. I enjoyed both plays and the screenplay was fair. Honestly, I would’ve liked Tender Mercies better if it had been about a drunken alternative singer who turns his life around rather than a drunken country singer. That way when it came time to watch the movie in class, I wouldn’t have felt like someone was scratching their nails on a chalkboard every time someone sang. ;) My favorite of the three was Sure Thing, although I do highly recommend Trifles as well.

Sure Thing is a play involving only two characters, Bill and Betty. Betty is reading a book in a cafe and sitting alone when Bill comes in and asks to sit at the same table. It’s a very short comic play in which the conversation between Bill and Betty is continually reset by the ring of a bell any time one of them responds negatively to the other. The use of the bell gives way to some very interesting topics and interactions between the two. I thought I’d share a performance of the play from youtube. (The F-word is used once during the play.)

A Complaint in Spanish

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Jenni Elyse

Note: For those of you who don’t speak Spanish, there’s an English translation afterward.

Siempre he querido estudiar en el extranjero pero nunca he tenido la oportunidad. BYU está organizando un semestre en Madrid durante la primavera. Los estudiantes que pueden ir a España van a tener la oportunidad de estudiar en la Universidad de Alcalá y visitar a cuidades cercanas por siete (mas or menos unos pocos días) semanas. ¡Quiero ir muchísimo!

Al principio, Corey y yo pensamos que yo podría ir. Pero, después de mucho pensamiento y consideración, nos dimos cuenta de que no es posible. Para ir, necesito tomar dos clases en el invierno–Span 206 y una para prepararme por el semestre en el extranjero. Parece bastante fácil, ¿verdad? No es fácil. Es necesario que trabaje tiempo completo y los horarios de las clases contradicen con el horario de mi trabajo. ¡Así es la vida! Quizás pueda ir otra tiempo.

*****

I’ve always wanted to study abroad but I’ve never had the opportunity. BYU is hosting a semester in Madrid during Spring term. The students who can go to Spain will have the opportunity to study at the Alcalá University and visit neardy cities for seven (give or take a few days) weeks. I want to go so badly!

Initially, Corey and I thought I could go. But, after a lot of thought and consideration, we realized that it isn’t possible. To go, I have to take two classes during Winter semester–Span 206 and one to prepare me for the semester abroad. Seems fairly easy, right? It’s not. I have to work full-time* and the class schedules conflict with my work schedule. C’est la vie! Maybe, I can go another time.

*It’s not just a matter of having to work full-time. Sure, I do have to work full-time so Corey and I can meet our financial obligations. But, I also have to work full-time because my job won’t allow me to go down to part-time. I could always find another job that works with my school schedule, but I probably wouldn’t be paid as much, which of course brings me back to the “meet our financial obligations” problem again. (In the last 10 years, I’ve worked up to a fairly good salary. And, I’m nearly 100% sure that any other job I took–before I finish my degree–would pay me about half of what I earn right now. But, at least I have a job, right? I know there are many people who’d kill to have my job.)

Random Ramblings

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Jenni Elyse

I’m disappointed that there haven’t been any Friday’s Fab Five posts for the last few weeks. I’m running out of material to post on my blog. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but since I’m neck deep in school, work, and boot camp, I’m not really doing anything exciting so I don’t have anything to write about.

*****

Today marked the end of the poetry unit in my current English class. I’m so happy! Now, I just need to take the test tomorrow and I can leave poetry far behind me. I must say that I’ve learned a lot in this class. I’ve actually learned to appreciate meter and the words used in poetry much more than I thought I would. I can actually see poetry’s relevance now. I still don’t enjoy it all that much. Actually, I should qualify that. I still don’t prefer poetry over fiction. But, I do appreciate it more.

*****

As I’m figuring out my school schedule for winter semester, I’m realizing how hard it’s going to be to maintain a half-time student status. Most of the classes I need to take are either held at the same time or several hours apart, which doesn’t work with my work schedule. This is a big deal because a student can only receive financial aid if they’re a half-time student. Luckily, I’ve figured out a schedule that will work for winter semester. I just hope I can continue to find something that works as I progress.

*****

Boot camp is still going well. I was sick most of last week so I only went on Monday. When I went for the first time this week, I could feel I hadn’t exercised for a week. But, because my body is so used to exercising as hard and as often as it does, I recovered quickly. The workouts are still very tough, but my stamina is getting better and better all the time. Even though I don’t always enjoy exercising while I’m doing it, I love the feeling (other than the sore muscles) afterward.