Blog #4, "College Pressures"

Many great things come along with being a college student; but just as many pressures and stressors tag along as well. The first college "blow" I took was the realization that I would not be going to Kansas University, as I had always dreamed. At first, it was kind of a bummer. Though, I soon realized that my parents were doing the best they possibly could for me, and I learned to appreciate everything they do to help me journey through the college life. They have been very gracious the past 2 years or so of college, paying for over half of the costs, while pulling out student loans for the rest. The idea of being locked in the system of debt right as I finish up college is a little shocking, but there was really no other choice, as for most people these days.
  At first glance in retrospect, it doesn't seem that my college life has had as many pressures as one would assume. Peer pressure and parental pressure haven't really been there for me. My parents care infinitely about how well I do in school, and want nothing less than the best for me, but I've never felt real pressure from them. No matter how a semester turns out, they are happy that I got what I got, and no worse. Now, I don't get particularly bad grades, so that might explain why they never put much pressure on me. I try to give them as many A's as possible for their hard-earned money they spend on furthering my education.
  Since I started college, I have never really had a job during the school year (only during the summers). I lived at home the first two years, so much expenses were paid for, on top of my allowance I received. There was a point last semester where I got a one month temporary job, working easily over 30 hours a week. I know there are people out there that do way more than that, but nonetheless it was difficult to balance everything. I feel fortunate to have dipped my toe in the waters of having a job during the school year, mainly because I now have no choice. I moved into an apartment and now must learn to start supporting myself, while doing school. My parents are paying my rent and a little extra, but that leaves multiple other bills on top of groceries. It will be quite the adventure.
  The only way to deal with pressures is to conquer them as they come, one at a time. I will continue to learn and grow, bettering myself, and equiping myself for the future.
 

Blog #3, "University Days"

I had a Microeconomics class my sophomore year, which started off very interesting. The professor was great, and I had a couple of buddies in there. However, the testing schedule was something I did not like. Not only was there only two tests plus a final, each test was less than 15 questions long. Although each question could contain any number sub-questions, it was still very short, which meant if you didn't know how to one problem that contained sub-questions A-G, your test score was sure to be awful. The first test I nailed, and got an A. I had been taking excellent notes, and actually focused in the classroom. Unfortunately, my motivation did not hold up. The information got more dull, and the second section had much more information to cover. The second test came around. I wasn't nearly as prepared as the first before studying, and on top of that, I didn't do enough solid studying. I knew a good amount of the answers on the test, but there were a few questions with many sub-questions that I didn't have the slightest clue how to answer. That came back a D or F, no surprise to me. So for the final, I busted my ass.  I currently had a C in the class, but could potentially bring that to a B if I did well enough on the final. I had high hopes, believed in myself, studied hard, and....ended up still having that C when the class was all through. Bummer.
  Luckily for me, what grade I get in a single college class is completely irrelevant to the important things in life.

Blog Post #2, "On Keeping a Notebook"

Almost every person I know has a Facebook, Twitter, or blog. What are one of the top things people love about these sites? Sharing things about themselves. Aside from Facebook and Twitter, however, blogs/diary keeping can be, and often is, much more than a narcisstic individual wanting everyone to read every thought that ever floated through their brain.
  When Didion talks about a diary helping one "keep in touch", I grasp what she means. Not only can a diary be a good outlet (though I don't feel this is enough healthy release on its own), but it has the potential to lead one to much self-discovery. As a person is writing, they can release their emotions, while at the same time seeing through the emotions to the bigger picture, that could even lead to a profound insight into their soul's inner-depths. However, that is an extreme, and can't be expected to happen every journal entry a person might have.
  I don't have a blog, diary, or even a Twitter. It just so happens that I bought a little journal yesterday, but it is not meant to keep a daily record of my life. It is meant more for a creative outlet, whether I feel like making a doodle, jotting down a quote or passage that resonates with me, and little odds and ends. I do have a Facebook, which I probably check a little less often than the average college student. Being on Facebook is more about connecting with others, to me, than sharing things about myself. I can't speak for everyone, though. There are certainly people that shout "hey, look at everything I'm doing, every second!" Still, Facebook is meant for a different purpose.
  Blogs give us the same freedom to write, express, and learn just as a diary does. The obvious difference is that a blog can easily be accessed by others (unlike a private journal meant for your eyes only), intended for others to read on a regular basis. That being said, writing in a blog could become more about what others have to say and think, rather than purely for ones own benefit. I have a feeling that if I kept a blog and diary simelanteously, my blog would start skewing from the original purpose of being an outlet (though it still would be partially that), and be directed more for an audience, than myself.
  Nonetheless, blogs and other social media forms can allow deeper insight into others than one would normally receive. With millions of blogs out there, we can gain a view of the world from many different perspectives than our own.

About Me

Let me tell you a little bit about myself, a little late:

  My full name is Kenneth Lee Yates, though I go by Kenny. I have lived in Topeka for my entire life, am a Junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology (possibly double majoring), and I recently moved into an apartment with my girlfriend and two good friends (which is going fantastic). My interests vary widely; I love attending concerts, watching documentaries, playing ping-pong, and being in nature (whether it is camping, hiking, exploring, or just relaxing). In the previous years I have come to seek risky activities for entertainment. Last summer I went skydiving and plan to again in the near future. I recently went hitch-hiking for my first time, and jumped off a 40-50 foot high bridge into the creek (no worries, everyone ended up quite alright, maybe a little sore). Eventually, as I continue to do extreme activities, I'd like to continue exploring new possibilities including bungee jumping and base jumping, and further down the line, acquire my certified skydiving license. After I recieve my Bachelors Degree I plan to devote all my time and effort to ridding myself of college debt (which is my only debt), leaving me free from the system for the time being. I will maximize this opportunity by living my years to the fullest, exploring, traveling, couch surfing, vagabonding, and about anything you can think of, with my girlfriend whom I have been with for about 3 years give or take. She is a 19, absolutely loving and selfless, and a Vegan, which I only mention because it affects my daily life (in a very positive way).
  Sometime in this mess, I will acquire my Masters Degree. I see schooling as beneficial, but for furthering my knowledge just for the sake of furthering myself mentally, not for jump-starting a career that I'll be locked in for the rest of my life. I'm not too sure what I'd like to do job wise later in life, but I easily envision myself being an activist of some sort, a counselor, but who knows. When it comes time to settle down a bit, I'll figure that out.
  As for this semester, I have high hopes, and am looking forward to the English 300 class!