The Dance

I went to Red and Whites last night… it pretty much pwned.

The key to having a good time at a dance is to go with a really fun date who you don’t feel awkward with.  Because you don’t want to get embarrassed with you inevitably look like a complete tool on the dance floor XD  Speaking of which,  you need a guy (or girl) actually dances.  ‘Kus you know.  It’s a “dance.” Because the people who don’t even make an attempt to have fun dancing just suck.  I mean, I guess if you just like to stand on the sidelines and drink soda, too, then maybe it won’t be a problem for you, but I HATE when people waste time standing around at parties.

When I went to Counties with the guy I was dating last year it was TERRIBLE because he’s one of those intellectual types who thinks he’s above everyone, therefore he thinks he’s too good to move around a little bit on the dance floor because it’s “stupid and unneccesary.”  Pretty much as soon as we got to the dance, he straight up told me that he didn’t want to be there.

Lucky for me, I’m no longer dating an ass-brain

I get why people think it’s stupid.  The music is mostly mindless stuff with too much bass and oodles of computer editing, and most people (me included) really have no idea how to dance, so they just look ridiculous XD  As a result, you’ll always feel a little bit self-conscious at such events,  but that’s kind of what makes it fun.  There’s nothing like shaking off those insecurities and just having a good time.

That’s what I did last night, and it was definitely the most fun dance I’ve ever been to

Cutest couple evurrr ^_^

How do you deal with a crappy teacher?

I don’t want to give details so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings/get anyone in trouble (the internet is a dangerous place), but I did want to discuss a certain situation.

I have a teacher this year.  A couple weeks in we knew he was trouble when he gave us a quiz on something we had never gone over in class.  He’s one of those teachers who NEVER gives the answer because he wants you to “figure it out yourself,” which is all well and good as long as we eventually hear it from him and have it explained to us.  But we don’t.  We NEVER DO.

Anyway, it just got me thinking about how hard it is to learn and succeed when you have a difficult teacher.  Some teachers are mean, some  are stubborn, and some treat you like you’re five years yonuger than you actually are.

I do pretty well in school without trying very hard, but I’ve been in situations where I just drop so low because of a teacher’s method of doing things.  I’ve got a few general steps to follow when it comes to dealing with such predicaments:

1) Attempt to adjust

I’ve known so many kids who will start bitching about the teacher as soon as they start doing poorly in the class.  When you bomb a test, before you freak out and pass judgment on your poor teacher, ask yourself this question: What can I differently to do better? Adaptation to new and uncomfortable situations is a HUGE part of life.  Do what you need to do to understand this particular person’s teaching style and try your best to go along with it.

2) Do extra work

If you can’t seem to get a firm grasp on your teacher’s methods, try to take matters into your own hands. You can always study from your textbook.  (They’re always pretty straightforward, unlike teachers.)  The internet is also a wonderful source, although you have to be careful with the information you find.  Take it as an opportunity to make use of your school’s resources.  My school has an awesome library and a bunch of reliable databases online.  Doing a bunch of extra work is a pain, but if you really want to do well, sometimes it’s necessary.

3) Ask for help

Although it’s possible to learn a lot on your own, we all need help sometimes.  You can ask your parents for help, consult a teacher in the same department as the class you’re struggling in, get a tutor, or even discuss the subject with one of your peers who has taken or is taking the same course.  What I’m really getting at, though, is the idea of extra help.  Going in to your teacher and asking for help can sometimes be one of the best ways to solve your issues with a class and an ineffective teacher.  By having one-on-one time with the teacher (or even getting time with a smaller group), not only are you having things explained to you in greater detail and getting special attention, but you are getting to know the teacher and how his or her brain works.  Also, the teacher will be getting to know you and how you learn best, therefore learning a bit about how to teach kids your age more effectively.  Not to mention the kudos you’ll get from your teacher for taking initiative.  If a teacher sees that you’re working hard and trying to understand, he or she will respond to you in a more positive way.

4) Give feedback

It’s difficult to tell someone that he or she is wrong, especially if that someone is an adult who has authority over you, but constructive criticism is a good thing. Things aren’t likely to get better unless you clearly state what you feel needs to be changed.  Ask a lot of questions in class, and be honest when you don’t understand the way the teacher is teaching something.  The extra help sessions I mentioned earlier might also be a good opportunity.  You can say things like, “what did you mean by,” and “I didn’t understand what you meant when.”  It’s very important to be respectful, though, because if you get snarky, I can guarantee that no one’s going to be happy.

5) Talk to your guidance counselor

This is something you should only do when you’ve all but jumped off a cliff to try to make things better with a difficult teacher.  I do not believe in complaining to the administration about an issue I’m having with a teacher, but sometimes it’s all you have left to do.  Make sure you explain the situation as best you can to your guidance counselor so that he or she can se something about it.  You can talk to him or her about maybe switching into another class.  If you argue your case well, then your counselor will probably understand. Talking to your counselor is also something you should absolutely do if your teacher is violent, verbally abusive, sexually inappropriate, etc.  I’m not even kidding, guys, it happens, and you’d be surprised how long people like that stay on the job sometimes.  Know your rights.

Good luck next time you have to try that.  And please respect your teachers.  Just try to imagine what it feels like to teach a bunch of rude teenagers about the laws of physics.

:)

:)

I got into Tampa U and they offered me money   Now I just have to make the audition :p

That’s all.  Haha.