The Disillusioned Student

I haven't been posting much lately. Last week was a whirlwind of friends, drinks, coffees and conversations. This week I have been breathing, thinking, walking the dog, jogging occasionally, and coming to terms with my decision.

I am not happy studying literature. It is not challenging enough, it is not interesting enough, and it will not change the world. A few years ago a teacher caught me after a debate (immigration, I was hung over and observed from a choice corner) and demanded I use my intelligence for something. If I did not open my mouth, do something, say something, I would never change the world, she said. I was taken aback, she apologised the next day for being completely out of line, and I thought no more of it. Another fun story about the peculiar relationships a teacher's pet has with her teachers. But she had a point. I want to matter, to leave a mark. That will not happen if I go into hiding in a literature department somewhere.

Did I post about considering medicine and law? I've decided on law. It will be a challenge, and I am looking forward to it. Doing something demanding seems like a dream. School has never been very difficult, and while I did have good teachers, being offered more assignments of the same kind does not cure boredom (I will not get into the failings of the Norwegian schools). This final year of English literature I plan to take on as little credit as possible, teach myself rudimentary Russian, work, read, exercise and travel.

The Disillusioned Student

I haven't been posting much lately. Last week was a whirlwind of friends, drinks, coffees and conversations. This week I have been breathing, thinking, walking the dog, jogging occasionally, and coming to terms with my decision.

I am not happy studying literature. It is not challenging enough, it is not interesting enough, and it will not change the world. A few years ago a teacher caught me after a debate (immigration, I was hung over and observed from a choice corner) and demanded I use my intelligence for something. If I did not open my mouth, do something, say something, I would never change the world, she said. I was taken aback, she apologised the next day for being completely out of line, and I thought no more of it. Another fun story about the peculiar relationships a teacher's pet has with her teachers. But she had a point. I want to matter, to leave a mark. That will not happen if I go into hiding in a literature department somewhere.

Did I post about considering medicine and law? I've decided on law. It will be a challenge, and I am looking forward to it. Doing something demanding seems like a dream. School has never been very difficult, and while I did have good teachers, being offered more assignments of the same kind does not cure boredom (I will not get into the failings of the Norwegian schools). This final year of English literature I plan to take on as little credit as possible, teach myself rudimentary Russian, work, read, exercise and travel.

Snapshot of Modern Life

We had a late dinner outside, shrimp and wine-laced pasta with chili and garlic (I overcooked the scallops for out entrée slightly, idiot that I am). We only crept inside a few minutes ago, after conversation over strawberries and Asti. Fater had to answer e-mails, Mother wanted to try a ridiculous game I bought her on her iPhone, and I had to catch up on my google reader. Saturday night in 2010, a twenty-something spending an evening with her parents: dinner, wine and computers. The dog sleeps in the middle, while I contemplate friending my parents on facebook.

And then one of us finds something fun, orders a google search for it. We laugh at it, are appalled by it, think about it, and launch a discussion over our screens.

Snapshot of Modern Life

We had a late dinner outside, shrimp and wine-laced pasta with chili and garlic (I overcooked the scallops for out entrée slightly, idiot that I am). We only crept inside a few minutes ago, after conversation over strawberries and Asti. Fater had to answer e-mails, Mother wanted to try a ridiculous game I bought her on her iPhone, and I had to catch up on my google reader. Saturday night in 2010, a twenty-something spending an evening with her parents: dinner, wine and computers. The dog sleeps in the middle, while I contemplate friending my parents on facebook.

And then one of us finds something fun, orders a google search for it. We laugh at it, are appalled by it, think about it, and launch a discussion over our screens.