Welcome to Math Class

Since its the end of the semester, I was told by someone in my math group thought it would be a great idea to recount the adventures of my first college math class. Since it was called Intro to Finite Math, I was not expecting to be challenged greatly over the course of the next few months, but my expectations were turned upside down. So here's a typical day at Math Class. 

I sit down in my desk in the third row from the back. No one is in it, which I guess is typical because there's only 3 people in that row, but it's 1 1/2 minutes until class starts. Oh, here comes Mikayla. Yay, I won't be alone. Except she looks like she might fall asleep walking up to her seat. What about the other person in my row, you ask? I have no idea what her name is, and half the time she sits a row down with her math group. In fact, my row is where the people who don't have a place to sit go. 

Oh, class is about to begin. Tony has his hands folded and is looking around the room, waiting for people to be quite. He's very patient, which probably comes from the 60 years he's been teaching, or his numerous grandkids (which we all know by name now). Most people get the idea and stop talking with their neighbor. But of course, there are the 5 people, and always the 5 loudest people, who are completely oblivious to Tony's signal. Ok, it's kinda subtle, but STILL. Anyways, some students decide to kindly let these people know that class is about to start by shushing as loud as they possibly can. Thanks. That was really helpful. However, it works. Then (or someone he asked before) prays to begin the class. 

Here we go. 

Ok, everyone is quiet and listening intently. Oh hey, Tony has something written on the chalkboard today to keep our attention. It's some mathematical formulas and examples. And he explains them. Fairly well. There's some stuff I don't quite get, but I blame that on the inconsistencies between the Alberta and Saskatchewan ciriculum. Most of it makes sense and refreshes my grade ten memories of math. Ya, it's fairly basic stuff, but remember, I haven't done math in 3 years. I need refreshment. 

Tony is doing one of the examples and asks the class what the answer is. Believe it or not, no one answers. This is part because it's still kinda early in the morning (and some people have been up since seven), but another part is because Tony's pretty much deaf. You have to yell the answer from the back row, and if he doesn't hear you, you have to say it again. It gets kinda embarrassng when you yell the answer 5 times and it ends up being wrong. So i stopped speaking up in class. Wait, does this mean Dayton actually used to speak up in class? Max three times. It didn't take long for me to go back to old habits. But then Tony makes a joke that he doesn't know what he did to scare the class already, and we all laugh a little. Then someone answers. THANK YOU. 

However, it wasn't soon enough. Along with old guy ears and an old guy back, Tony has an old guy mind. He loves telling stories of his family. That last joke reminded Tony of a story of his kids, or grandkids, or great grandkids, or whatever. I can't keep track of all of them. But the story is good. Then he bugs one of the front row kids (usually Mark. He's a go-with-the-flow kinda guy) and we all laugh. Tony makes sure to let him know that he was just bugging though. He even once picked on me in class (and I thought I was in the safe zone) about something. After class as I walked out, he let me know he was just bugging on me and wasn't picking on me. I laughed and said it was fine. Obviously he has never met Brian Gobbett. 

Well, at least we got in a good 25 minutes before Tony got off on his stories. And though I enjoy them, his explanations of math usually deteriorate rapidly after the first one. He usually tells around 3-4 stories a class. Maybe that's why he has us work in small groups at the end of class. Anyways, I now don't quite understand what's being talked about and it's not because I fell asleep. I don't think I ever dozed off in this class. Other classes...well, that's another story. For a much later time. But Tony keeps going and people start to lose interest. I start doodling. I look up for a second to see that half the other people in my vision have little swirlies on their pages. Awesome. That means my Math Man is better than all of them. Mikayla looks over at my drawing of a superhero and I have to give the explanation of how he was created. She then realizes its a superhero and not a man with a mustache and M shaped hair. Freshmen...sheesh.  

With about 20 minutes left in class, he breaks us off into small groups. These are 4-5 people we are paired with all semester to work on projects and other assignments, as well to help each other out. What's so good about math groups? Well, Kevin is an accounting tutorial leader. He's pretty much a math machine. But, alas, he hates teaching it outside of tutorial. Thanks, KO. Then the buck is passed to me because I still have retained much of what I learned in high school (thanks, Mrs. Owen Brown).  So I start working on the stuff Tony said to do. Then we get talking. Really, the math group time at the end of class is a great excuse to not do work, but to make us look good, I do a little bit, just in case Tony makes it up the stairs to check on us. Which he usually doesn't (old man back, remember? Oh, also old man knees, and legs, and feet..). Then Mikayla says I should write a blog about Math class. Hmm...

Then Tony says class is done. It's a 50/50 chance that I'm content with the stuff I learned today or hate life because I don't understand a darn thing. Tony always offers a friendly smile, though, which usually helps the mood. However, this class has made me realize that a good teacher makes all the difference. My high school math teacher was the greatest. You can't argue against that. I won't let you. Tony was a good professor, but many people struggled with basic concepts that I had learned in high school, then had to explain to them, which wasn't made easy because Tony had left me partially confused as well. His most repeated phrase was "I'm not teaching math, I'm teaching you how to teach little children." So I guess he did his job. We had to teach each other a LOT. 

So thanks, Tony. You made math entertaining. 

Post this OR ELSE

You've seen them. Or maybe even done it yourself. The "repost this if you agree" facebook things. And though most are extremely annoying and sappy (I really need to get rid of the junior high girls on my facebook friends...unless you read these. Then stop posting sappy things) some are extremely funny. I think I've even reposted a few really good ones. But the ones that really bug me the most are the faith ones.

This you may find odd. I am a Christian and am not afraid to let people know. I've given my life to Christ to serve him and his plans. Many of the people I go to school with here are in the same boat (though it helps I'm in a Bible college). However, that opens my facebook up to status's and photos of "If you love God, then you'll repost this. If you love the devil or sin or starving puppies, you'll scroll on by". When I see these posts, I as a Christian feel somewhat guilted in to posting these things on my wall. But I don't, because I find issues in this theology.

I'm not against posting faith related items on social networking sites. In fact, I have great respect for people who do this from the heart. But when have you really thought long and hard about reposting something? It's like a junk email forward. "These pics are funny!" "This is so sad!" "What is this??" Brief emotions that cross your mind for a minute then they're gone. Rarely are people really affected by the side adds on websites, at least I'm not, because they are they're to draw attention. LOOK AT ME! I HAVE A SICK PUPPY HOLDING A STARVING CHILD IN AFRICA! AND THEY ARE HIV POSITIVE! Of course, your heart (if you have one) goes out to these depraved people and animals because they are suffering and need help. But you scroll by. You monster!

But you're not a monster, are you? You're a rational human who lives in a richer nation (like Canada) who can afford nice things. But you don't click and support every little thing that you see that is hurt and sad and sick. Why not? Part of it is probably selfishness and laziness. Admit it. I am. I don't have the time or money to help out. So we don't. But it's also the internet. Where people can create new lives and business's and whole cities that don't exist. It's a virtual world. They're just pictures. They could be fake, for all we know. So we avoid them.

The same goes for faith reposts. They are attention grabbers. Do you truly believe everything in it, or do you just feel guilty that you're not reposting it? If I don't repost this, am I saying "I LOVE THE DEVIL AND SIN AND SICK PUPPIES"? No. That's contradicted by how I live my life. Why must I prove my faith by a facebook post? Because who actually reads more than 2 lines on facebook? In fact, if those posts didn't have the last line they always do, they would be fine. My faith is not defined by a picture. It is defined every day of my life, by how I talk, act and think. I choose to not be pressured by spam faith posts that you've seen 2465 times before.

So if you truly believe what these say and think that it serves as a good witness to your friends, then repost these. But other than that, they serve to annoy more people than help. It plays on the whole "If you're not a Christian, you're going to burn" mentality. The mindset which non Christians have come to  label all Christians as. And we don't really want to feed any of that.

Ok, rant over. Also, I think I'll take a break from Facebook themed blogs for a while. But some things ANNOY ME SO MUCH!

The Etiquette of the Facebook Status

Ah, the Facebook status. Probably the most read words out of everything today. There are inspirational quotes, classic one-liners, funny pictures, and links to promote other websites. However, this is not the majority of status updates. Every time we log in to Facebook, we face a multitude of simply awful posts. I say, no more! It is time someone published a list of rules that outlined the correct and incorrect ways to put up a status. A guide to give integrity back to the Facebook authors and enjoyment back to it's readers. So here it is. The Proper Etiquette of Facebook Status's.

1. The Golden Question
Before you post ANYTHING on Facebook, ask yourself the Golden Question: "Does anyone care?" Yes, I realize that Facebook is your own personal page that you are free to customize and connect with your friends in any way you want. It is still no excuse for bombarding other people's home pages with "I read 23 pages today!" or "I can't decide on which sweater to where...green or blue?" Hundreds of people can see the stuff you post. And hundreds of people get slightly more annoyed with you while reading the things you posted on facebook. There's already a place for posting useless tidbits of information. It's called Twitter. So post that stuff there so we can ignore it easier.

2. Confusers
How many status's have you read that make you wonder what the person is talking about? Like an inside joke, or a comment on a movie that we don't know. As much as I want to know if "this is the worst!!!!" or not, I would like to know what is the worst. Is it a person? An event? Was I there? Was it my fault? Should I be sorry? Or am i related to this person? Or a friend? Do I have to find and beat you now? This will eventually lead to an aneurism and that person will have to be hospitalized because they couldn't figure out what the heck you were talking about. 
Just ask, you say? If you have to ask more than 1 question at a status, its defeats the purpose of a status and becomes more like philosophy. And no one likes doing philosophy at 2 in the morning or during a paper break. So be clear.

3. Depressors
You know these. The status that is so depressing that it makes you die a little inside and you wonder how this person was able to roll out of bed to type this. They're not even calls for help. They're just...depressing. Also falling under the fist two, these status's should be avoided. Why? Because if you're on your computer all day, constantly updating status's, and trying to chat to people who you rarely talk to, because you hide in your room all day, then I really don't feel sorry for you.

4. Sharers
These are similar to Depressors in that they deal with the emotional side of things, but it doesn't have to be sad. It's just way too personal. Don't tell me you got your rash reduced, or your ingrown toenail surgery (accompanied with pictures) or that the girl you like is not into you because you peed on her cat (hmm...maybe that last one's ok). I guess this kinda falls under 1, 2, and 3. So that makes it 3 times as much avoidable.

5. Likers
Are you a 13 year old girl? Because that is the only time you can EVER get any leeway with these. "Like if want me to message you something nice!!" Though, I am tempted to like them and see what they say. Especially when they are a 13 year old girl in my sisters class who added me because I was on her bus. So far, no responses...

6. The Reposters
A great way to let people know you haven't a creative bone in your body. I'm sure everyone loves reading about which friends you would have during a zombie apocalypse. Well, at least those 6 friends who were tagged in it might. Unless they've ever been tagged in one before. Ever. They get old REALLY quickly.

7. So Much Deepness
"Posting song lyrics on your facebook page and thinking you're deep is like taking pictures really close up and thinking your a photographer."
Thanks Joel. Sums it up very nicely.

8. The Haters
A good dose of hate and mocking is required every now and then. Politics. Sports. Facebook Status's. But don't hate EVERYTHING. Your ex. Your parents. Your job. Your teacher. Your facebook changes. People can SEE this stuff and find out your a annoyingly bitter person inside. And guess how many people want to hang out with someone on who complains all the time?
No one.
Guess how many people want to make fun of this person?

So then, what IS a good status? With all the stuff I've mentioned, some people now have nothing to post, which may be a good thing (did I miss any?). But I'm not outlawing all status's (though hopefully most of them). A status should have meaning. This is a line or two that ALL your friends can see. Don't make this a place to post random thoughts (again, Twitter). It can be so much more! Whenever I contemplate updating a status, it has to either be funny, or giving info. I hold status's as pretty important. Why? You have an automatic audience of every friend on facebook you have. That can be up to hundreds of people! Whether you like them or not! It's a free version to publish jokes, promote songs and videos and pictures you like, share experiences, inspire people, call people out or simply to brighten the day of your friend in Texas. So make a status that takes advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Or, try to get more likes than someone else. Preferably, chose an unpopular, unfunny friend. You win every time.