What I have learned #3

What I’ve Learned #3

Well, I’ve now reached a point in the year where the end couldn’t be soon enough. Social lives have started to dwindle to a minimum. In the meantime, classes have stockpiled their final material and exams all for the very end. I can’t claim that this has taught me anything new, however. Everyone is familiar with the idea of finals week and the excessive studying that it entails. So, leading up to finals week what have I learned?

Linear Algebra: I’ve learned in Linear algebra all about eigenvalues. But enough about that.

Developmental Biology: Cyclops exist, it’s a true thing. And Cyclops babies are quite possibly the scariest thing I’ve every seen. I feel bad calling a baby ugly, but let’s be honest, take a look:

You may be wondering why I am sharing this disturbing image, but I find all the ugliness interesting. Think of all the many ways we could have been mutated in birth. So after seeing this, I feel quite grateful for my symmetrical face. And the presence of two eyeballs.

Literature and Civilization II: The shocking update that I discovered is that Nora Jones wrote a large majority of the movies I like. Most people apparently already recognized the connection between Norah Jones and Meg Ryan films, but that was a new discovery for me. The best being When Harry Met Sally, but Norah Jones was pretty much the original Nicholas Sparks, minus half the corniness (and that says something). Another thing I learned is that Kurt Vonnegut seemed like a really unhappy person. I think someone needed to give that man a hug more often. Especially his dad, I’m sensing daddy issues.

English Composition: This class for me recently has entailed analyzing hidden agendas of movies. So recently this has been focused on Disney classic cartoons. When it comes to Disney princess movies, the originals don’t honestly have too much to offer in terms of moral values. Fortunately, as the modern times demanded a stronger female protagonist, the hidden agenda changed. From movies such as Snow White (Some day you’ll marry a prince, since that’s all that matters) and Little Mermaid (Do whatever you want no matter the cost) to the more recent Mulan (protect your family) and Princess and the Frog (Work hard for your dreams).

Genetics: Basically this class has led me to the conclusion that virtually everything about you is somewhat controlled by your genes. Meaning that even a large chunk of your personality was determined before you were born. Example:  whether or not you enjoy positive humor, whether or not you’re an aggressive person, whether or not you can sing…pretty much is all associated with some genetic factor. Somewhat of a downer in the end because it basically is saying that some things you were genetically gifted and some you were honestly born to be terrible at or not enjoy.

Well that pretty much summarized a large majority of my recent educational experiences. I could describe in detail each protein, page number, and equation I’ve recently read and/or memorized, but I feel like that would be necessary. In the meantime, additional fun facts I have recently discovered:

#1: The deliciousness of bubble tea. Popping those little jelly-spheres

(“bubbles”) is simple pleasure at its finest.

#2: Watching a movie inside the back of a car at a Drive-In is far superior to velvet movie cushions with plastic cup holders.

#3: How to make a snowflake (as in I just recently learned how to make a snowflake, and I’m pretty boss at it now…just saying)

#4: An orphan by the name of Sally in China is going to be receiving a Christmas card I made in about 3 weeks