The Measure of Success

I think one of the many reasons I love going to an institute of higher learning is the majority of professors care more about your understanding and mastery of a topic than your actually grades reflect.

Sadly, we live in this world currently where grades are the measure of success and I can vividly recall from my Senior Year alone, 12 separate instances where the teachers neglected teaching because we "didn't need that for the test" or because it was "a lot of effort" to go over.

Maybe it's the fact that my parents are dishing out loads of money to send me to school and because of that, I feel a greater responsibility and obligation to do my work and achieve my very best.

But I attend a university where people constantly brag about how low they failed because the school is just that difficult. I tend to disagree and point to their poor work ethic and decision to study at the last minute; however, it really does something to you when you put in a good amount of effort to study and you don't get the grade you had hoped.

Does that mean I'm just stupid? That I can't take in the information they want me to and that I'm destined to be a garbage man? LOL no. Ew I couldn't deal with that smell all day. Stop. Focus.

It just means it's a harder school. And the worst part is, everyone is just like you, trying to do their best. What REALLY sucks is when you put in more effort than the girl next to you and she ends up with a grade 10 points higher. Also the fact that you are below the average.

How is that possible?? You studied your ass off, probably twice or three times as much as some of these dilweeds, yet you still came out on the bottom. You know what, so what? Life moves on. A grade doesn't define yourself worth and it doesn't define your character.

I loved this quote my Calculus teacher told us about failure, by Samuel Beckett.

"Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No Matter.
Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better."

I. LOVE THAT.
It says so much in so little.
It's like okay you failed. But don't get yourself down. Keep going. And if/when this happens again, you
ll be even more prepared to deal with the reactions.

So what do you do? You find a study buddy. You reflect on how you studied, where you studied, and what you studied. You try and make some change to how you went about doing so. And then you ace the next MF-er to silently showcase how smart/talented/awesome you really are.

The other tough part about coming to a university where the median SAT score was well above a 2000 is the fact that these people have these false-sense of entitlement. They feel like with their brain power and lack of coherent social skills, that everything is theres for the taking. And that isn' from my pessimistic outlook; this is me saying that these people LITERALLY think that these positions are theres and anyone who interferes is wrong.

And with that sense of this entitlement comes their love and admiration to brag about how smart and successful they are. Uhm excuse me? Just because you got a higher grade on a test that I studied three times as much for doesn't mean you're smarter.

Success isn't about getting an A, it's about how you deal with getting an F.

I'd like to think I cope quite nicely. You, however, probably cry home to your mother or yell blasphemy at the poor TA who was forced to grade your test. Please, go home and get over yourself. You're not that special if you can't find fault in yourself.


Y@

How to Determine if You are a White Girl

My palms sweat nervously as I wait outside the local Starbucks for the store manager to call me in for the job interview.

What if they test me on the different types of beverages they have?! Don't they know I only like the holiday-specific drinks. Everything else is overpriced and too strong for my weak stomach. 

The store manager comes in and says I can come back, but in a flash of excitement, I realize I don't have to depend on anyone but my parents for as long as possible. My maniacal laughter fills the store. Concerned patrons look at me, as I run out the door. I am free. I am broke. I need a job. Ugh I need to tweet about this. 

Hello all three of you that are reading this, I'm Wyatt. I am one of Charlotte's, formally Char or Charlemagne's, best friends. And she's brought me into this, for some reason, to give to you my skewed opinions of the world. And what better way to start than with my weekly holiday: White Girl Wednesday.

First thing's first: what IS a 'white girl.' Well instead of a boring definition, I'll list some popular characteristics. If you fall into a lot of these, you should evaluate your life and consider coming out to your parents as a white girl.

Some descriptions/facts/characteristics of White Girls:

•  Starbucks is like the God of Consumerism. If you have money, you go to Starbucks. If you are thirsty, or hungry, you go to Starbucks. If you are worried or stressed about life, you go to Starbucks. If you need to catch up with an old friend, you skip the crap and go to Starbucks. 
• A subset of this is that a white girl goes to Starbucks so much that the Baristas begin to not only recognize them, but their order as well. (You even begin to work in some discounts or, better yet, drinks on the house).
• Tweeting about your boyfriend problems isn't tacky; its encouraged. Please use as many "yous" and non-descriptive pronouns as possible. It heightens the angst for your audience.
• Know that everybody KNOWS who you're tweeting about.
• Keep tweeting about it.
• Instagramming in the middle of public is highly discouraged...unless of course you're at Starbucks. Then we all know you are trying to show off as well as look a bit artsy. It's okay. We all do it.
• Your favorite show should be somewhere in the realm of Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, or Revenge. Glee can count as well.
• If you're desperate for attention, the best way to get it is by tweeting something about how you love Chuck Bass and/or Blair Waldorf. 
• Army Pants and Flip Flops have never, are not, and will never be okay, no matter what the prime-ultimate-comedic film says
• Speaking of which, if Mean Girls comes on, you don't not watch it. There's no options.
• Sweatpants or Yogapants with Uggs is the ultimate "IDGAF" outfit.
• Your main concern is the weather so that, if it is anything but sunny and warm, you let all of your friends know through all forms of social media possible. 
• Having your own Summer Blog helps you get through the year.

Those are just a few of the things that make up being a White Girl.

And White Girl Wednesday is where you should take pride in being a white girl and flaunt all your qualities. So wake up! Tweet something angsty. Instagram that Starbucks. And above all else, live everyday like you are Blair Waldorf. Until you quickly come to the realization that you nor your non-existent boyfriend have the money to keep up with such habits where you should then take your problems to social media.

-Y@
Twitter
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A girl and her gay

Every girl needs a gay best friend.  

A Damian to my Janice, a Brandon to my Olive, a Will to my Grace, a Kurt to my Rachel, and of course, an Anthony to my Charlotte.

Meet Wyatt.

Quite possibly the sassiest you'll ever meet.

*Warning* Wyatt will in no way sensor his thoughts.

Happy white girl wednesday from your favorite white girls!

Check back later for Wyatt's first post!

xox

Char