The rush for higher education

For the majority of my friends and I, going for tertiary education after high school has pretty much been a given. Not really a question of "if" but rather, "what" or even "where". After all, we're told that if we don't go to college/university we will no doubt end up homeless, poor, and unloved, prostituting ourselves on street corners or living in cardboard boxes and fighting with sewage rats for food.
Honestly though, approximately 1% of the world's population go to college and yet the remaining 99% aren't exactly homeless bums so the whole rush with getting into a great college is rather ridiculous.
I mean, the competition I see is absolutely ludicrous. College education doesn't determine what type of person you are or what kind of person you'll become. Your motivation and efforts define that.
That's the problem with the American education system, people aren't motivated by themselves, they're motivated out of fear. When I was in New Zealand, people joined charities, volunteered, did extra curricular activites because they enjoyed them. Not to have a better transcript for college administrators to see.
In the end will anyone aiming for college actually care about the things they do? I'm not saying that no one enjoys the extra curriculars they participate in, I'm just saying there shouldn't be a heavy emphasis on people doing more and better to get into University.
Those who don't enjoy what they do will more than likely fall into a state of moratorium, unsure of themselves once they've entered college. Or even throw themselves into a busier and more hectic lifestyle. If everyone's in such heavy competition, who's going to slow down and enjoy life? And isn't that what it's all about? Taking the time to enjoy the ride.

- Wishing people would just enjoy themselves a little more.

How to be an Amity Druggie

(this is just based on the guys I know and want to mock =])

Just a few steps to becoming the epitome of an Amity drug-addict:

1. Never dress or look like you don't care, always present yourself as showered and clean. This immediately throws people off because most are under the incorrectly preconceived notion that all drug addicts don't care about their appearance and are subsequently unwashed bums.

2. Do well in school, take some challenging classes, but not so challenging that you'd have to do actual hard work in them. Doing well in class means teachers cannot complain about you to your parentals or otherwise.

3. Have an "I'm so chill" attitude and walk in slow, meaningful steps - as if you have all the time in the world to get to your next class.

4. Go to parties and get wasted and stoned and hook up with equally trashy druggies of the opposite or same sex.

Aannnd, that's how you achieve the druggie status at Amity. Congratulations! It's a pity so many of them are super cute.

The sad truth about life

The sad truth about life that is shoved into my face over and over again on a daily basis is that money will always play too important and complicated a role in our lives. So many factors are dependent on money, it's no wonder people often confuse happiness with monetary gains.
On any scale, be it communal or international, the human race does not function well with money. It is the cause of so many problems: arguments, wars, divorces, marriages (haha... ha...), crimes, etc. and yet what really sucks is that we cannot function at all without money.
Remember back to a couple thousand years ago when everyone bartered instead of using currencies? It just did not work.
Of course every person deals with money differently, some are complete misers while others use money like water and I've discovered it's not entirely relative to one's wealth.
Ugh, I previously had more to rant about but after attempting to write a stupid essay for expos. class my mind has gone blank and somewhat placid so feel free to add to my measly paragraph of complaint.


<3
- Bitter about everything

Feminist rambles

Many guys use feminism as an excuse to get out of being chivalrous: "Oh, I didn't pay the bill/buy your ticket/open the car door for you because I thought it would make you feel less equal."
Umm... no, that's not called inequality, it's called being polite. I consider myself a pretty strong and capable female and I would not feel compromised if a guy decided he wanted to pay for something or open the door and let me walk through first.
I've taken it upon myself to make guys feel uncomfortable whenever they cut past me and don't let me walk through a door/don't hold open a door for me - as the guy walks through and is in front of me I say "go ahead, ladies first right?"
Demasculinating and embarassing for him, satisfying and malevolent for me.

Also, why is it acceptable that guys can hook up with a multitude of girls and be considered a "man" whereas if a girl does that she's considered a "slut"?
I have this friend, let's call her Ginger. Ginger is a tall, red-head who just so happens to be very good looking. She's got a great figure (sans cleavage - but hey, you can't have it all), a effervescent personality, and the generosity of Mother Theresa. Yet the majority of my school hates her. Why?
Well, the girls hate her because they think she's a slut, because she gets with guys they like. Guys that they're incapable of hooking up with.
And guys hate her because they think she's a slut - oh but wait, they'll sweet talk her and hang out with her because then they can satisfy their petty hormonal urges, but once they're through they'll actually bitch about her even more than girls do.
I actually overheard two guys saying "Oh yeah Ginger, she's so fucking annoying and wont leave me alone, she's all over me." "Dude, that girl's such a slut." (Something along those lines anyway).

I'm not saying it's okay for girls or guys to prostitute themselves for attention (not that I don't like Ginger as a friend, she's a lovely girl - I just don't necessarily agree with all her ways), I'm saying that if guys want to preach equality and blame feminism, they should do it all round instead of just claiming what's convenient for them.
A whore is a whore, be the person he or she.

Sorry for the lack of cohesion, it's 2 in the morning (3 if you don't count daylight savings) and I'm tired as fuck.

Sweet dreams
- feminist seeking real equality with a side of chivalry still intact.

High School Parties

High School "Parties" are for lack of a better word, jokes. They are a way to sneak some booze to a friend's house (whose parents are away for the weekend and praying that they wont return to a wrecked house), make an utter fool of yourself in front of the same group of people you see everyday at school anyway, and do things you'll most likely regret once sober.
What's the point? Seriously, does it make you cool to answer the "whatcha up to this weekend?" with "Oh, I'm just heading to a part." And you musn't forget to add the "just" because without it, one may think that you don't go to parties every weekend, and god forbid that because not getting pissed would make you nerdy and entirely uncool.

If you're hosting a party, make it open, let random people come and go even though your house is potentially at risk. Because otherwise there really is no point in having a party if you're going to invite all your "safety" friends.
Oh and posting facebook photos of you and your friends drinking underage is not only screaming "I'm desperate to let everyone know I HAVE FUN!", but also incredibly trashy. No one wants to see a girl throwing up or evidently drunk.
If you're of age, sure, party, drink, have a shitload of fun. But if you're not, the whole hype with alcohol is IN YOUR HEAD.

Alcohol may be a catalyst to letting loose, but it shouldn't be the only way you can have fun. And if you're reading this and going "I can still have fun without alcohol, I just enjoy one or two beers to loosen up a bit"... then someone should slap you in the face because you're in denial and need serious help.

xx
- An ex-alcoholic (or not so ex?)