The First Day

...of the rest of my life.

I went back to school today. It cost me $960 in tution and will probably cost me another $400 in books. Does anyone notice anything wrong with that? It's simply not right. A math book that I will never refer to again should not cost $120, and if it does, it should be on all of the used book sites because all the poor students should be trying to get some of that precious cash back into their poor bank accounts. Yet I have searched all the sites to no avail. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. It's actually more expensive online. So tomorrow I will walk the death march down the corridors of the downtown campus and fork over the dough. Why do they pick on the college students?

I did find my $95 music book for $16 online. The cover has been ripped off and it's highlighted. As if I care.

I got engaged, too. The wedding will be in a year and a half, and right now, I'm so poor I almost wish it was longer. But I am happy, and so not all will ever be lost.

In history (American History to 1865) we made groups and had to figure out what we all had in common. We were all white, we were all sophomores, we all liked chocolate, we were all tired, and though no one said it, we were all christians. Not just any christians. We were youth ministry and missions majors. Except me. I was so bummed I kept my mouth shut. Maybe they'll witness to me. Somehow I doubt that. I seriously dislike this town.

In Literature my teacher lovingly told me and the girl behind me that we were "a couple of smart a****" because the last books we've read were Jane Eyre and a Tale of Two Cities. Maybe I can be friends with him. I think he likes me already.

In my music class we were told that though we might not sing beautifully, there is something beautiful about each and every one of us, whether anyone knows it or not, and that our job as teachers will be to find the beauty in each and every child that walks through our classroom, and then to help that beauty grow. He loves Jesus. His eyes are real. (he also plays in church every Sunday)

To sum it up, I'm not very impressed with school. But I'm growing in a different way right now; I'm learning self-discipline and the value of being prepared. Thomas H. Huxley says it the best:

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly."

So off I go, to finish applying for financial aid and redeem my money. Then I shall read the 100 odd pages of homework I have to do. If I cannot redeem my time, I will have at least learned something of the value of hard work.