Posted by afp on August 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I am quickly approaching the point in my education where I need to start thinking about my future, and I would rather not. The end of my educational career that is creeping up is enough to stress anyone out; throw in getting a real job and paying off student loans.
People call it a quarter-life crisis, which is when you basically have no clue what is going to happen or how you are going to survive after college. I thought college was supposed to prepare me for my career, but I’m not sure it has not prepared me for actually finding my job.
Rachel Kanczuzewski is a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in early elementary education and Spanish who is in the same boat.
“I’m not sure exactly what I want to do directly after I graduate. Maybe go abroad to volunteer or something like that, but eventually teaching is what I want to do,” Kanczuzewski said.
Link to TheNewDominion.com.
Posted by afp on August 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment
One day earlier this week I was sitting in the Augusta Free Press office when the editor sent me a link to a story on msnbc.com. The story was about how most college freshmen think e-mail is too slow, have never worn a wristwatch and basically didn’t know Clint Eastwood was an actor before he was a director.
First off, this is completely ridiculous to me, because I am literally only three years older than these young adults, and I have done all the things they think of as ancient. I am 21 years old. I should not be made to feel old by the fact that these kids have never had to use a phone with a cord or that they don’t remember when the Internet first took over the world. Because they do not remember those things, I am sure they don’t remember fact that a Mac computer, before it was abbreviated, was called a Macintosh, and floppy disks are something that should be in a museum.
The world these kids live in is one where Internet has always just been there for their convenience, and MTV has always played reality shows. I remember the days of dialup Internet and my parents yelling at me for being on AIM and taking up the phone line. I also remember the days when MTV and VH1 used to play music videos all day every day, and there was no such thing as a reality show. Back when TV shows had scripts and “The Simpsons” ruled over “Family Guy” and “Doug” and Bugs Bunny were the go-to cartoons, those are the days I grew up in.
Although those things seem to be something everyone should remember firsthand, it is something these college freshmen do not unless their older brother or sister recorded it on a VHS tape, something that is probably also foreign to them. Yes, I am only a few years older than these teens, which is why this is so strange to me. Now I understand why parents think it is hard to bridge the generation gap and try to understand where they are coming from; it’s because the world is changing so fast that it is even hard for young people to keep up with.
The trends change every season. There are fashion shows that are promoting spring attire in the fall just to keep up with the evolving world. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that Internet would be as widely accepted and used as it is now, let alone have the ability to access it and send e-mails on our phones? I feel stressed just thinking about ways to try and keep up with the ever-changing trends. I feel even more stressed thinking about how in just a matter of years things I do on a daily basis are going to be replaced by maybe working with something that has yet to be invented. I blame Bill Gates for the generation gap I am facing with people three years younger than me.
Column by Jenny Hypes. Jenny can be reached at jenny.hypes@emu.edu.
Posted by afp on July 15, 2010 · 1 Comment
Column by Jenny Hypes
jenny.hypes@emu.edu
In early elementary school, I was dead set on becoming a doctor, until I found out math and science were priorities. After giving up on my lifelong dream, I decided being a Spice Girl was the next best thing. Although they were not particularly good singers, they had great accents and were in a fantastic movie, “Spice World.” Truth be told I still have not completely given up on that dream especially after their, to me, brilliant reunion tour.
It was around fourth grade that I came back to reality and decided that I needed to become something that I would really enjoy and that was practical. I knew I loved music and dancing, so obviously my best option would be to become Cuban. Continue reading “Jenny Hypes: When I grow up …” »
Posted by afp on July 12, 2010 · 1 Comment
Column by Jenny Hypes
jenny.hypes@emu.edu
At the end of the school year, all I could think about was how this was my last summer as a college student. Next year I graduate and will be out in the big bad world trying to fend for myself, so I thought to myself, This better be the best summer ever. About two weeks after school ended, I packed up my stuff and traveled with 26 students and two professors to Ireland.
I go to EMU in Harrisonburg, and in order to graduate all students must complete a crosscultural experience. These experiences are usually led by professors and range in staying anywhere from Washington, D.C., to China. You could go for as long as a semester or as short as three weeks. I chose to go to Ireland and do a six-week-long experience. Continue reading “Jenny Hypes: My summer vacation” »
Jenny Hypes: Generation gap
Posted by afp on August 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment
First off, this is completely ridiculous to me, because I am literally only three years older than these young adults, and I have done all the things they think of as ancient. I am 21 years old. I should not be made to feel old by the fact that these kids have never had to use a phone with a cord or that they don’t remember when the Internet first took over the world. Because they do not remember those things, I am sure they don’t remember fact that a Mac computer, before it was abbreviated, was called a Macintosh, and floppy disks are something that should be in a museum.
The world these kids live in is one where Internet has always just been there for their convenience, and MTV has always played reality shows. I remember the days of dialup Internet and my parents yelling at me for being on AIM and taking up the phone line. I also remember the days when MTV and VH1 used to play music videos all day every day, and there was no such thing as a reality show. Back when TV shows had scripts and “The Simpsons” ruled over “Family Guy” and “Doug” and Bugs Bunny were the go-to cartoons, those are the days I grew up in.
Although those things seem to be something everyone should remember firsthand, it is something these college freshmen do not unless their older brother or sister recorded it on a VHS tape, something that is probably also foreign to them. Yes, I am only a few years older than these teens, which is why this is so strange to me. Now I understand why parents think it is hard to bridge the generation gap and try to understand where they are coming from; it’s because the world is changing so fast that it is even hard for young people to keep up with.
The trends change every season. There are fashion shows that are promoting spring attire in the fall just to keep up with the evolving world. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that Internet would be as widely accepted and used as it is now, let alone have the ability to access it and send e-mails on our phones? I feel stressed just thinking about ways to try and keep up with the ever-changing trends. I feel even more stressed thinking about how in just a matter of years things I do on a daily basis are going to be replaced by maybe working with something that has yet to be invented. I blame Bill Gates for the generation gap I am facing with people three years younger than me.
Column by Jenny Hypes. Jenny can be reached at jenny.hypes@emu.edu.
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with bill gates, doug, family guy, generation gap, jenny hypes, mtv, the simpsons