I believe in procrastination

"What are you doing?" If I were to give the typical instant messenger reply "nothing" I would be lying. I am always doing something. I am alway in the process of procrastinating.

No student on the planet can whole-heartedly say he/she has never procrastinated. Some of us including myself are all but too familiar with this concept. There are different levels of procrastination. There’s the one where you put something off because you know you have plenty of time before its due date. There is also the one where you struggle to finish a 350- 500 word paper an hour before it is due. And then there’s the one where you stay up all night doing schoolwork you should have completed early, yeah, that is the one that I have.

Opponents of procrastination will argue it is bad for a number of reasons; it stresses you, the work you do is not optimal, it is an indication of laziness, and the list goes on. Though procrastination can result in negative consequences, not all procrastination is evil. I believe in healthy and well-thought out procrastination.

Procrastination, when done right, can bring about a number of benefits. Cramming right before and exam keeps the information fresh in your memory. I can study for a whole semester and forget everything from the beginning of the semester. If I allow myself sufficient time before an exam, I usually do better with the materials fresh in my mind. Procrastination also allows me time to do things I normally would not prefer to do, like chores. I can put off doing laundry for days, but if I am faced with a writing assignment, all of sudden, I need clean underwear and socks. More importantly, procrastination guarantees me time. If I live my life based on a check-list, can I ever be sure that I will finish it all and have time to relax? Procrastination is a way of insuring me some time to enjoy and relax.

I believe in putting things off until it is due, but i procrastinate responsibly. This very philosophy has helped me through high school work and now college work. Life’s too short to busy all the time. Make time for yourself, procrastinate. Mark Twain once said, “Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

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Open Wide

The one advice that people give if you say you don’t know what you want to do with the rest of your life: Pick a career you absolutely love. In an ever-demanding, materialistic world, I better pick a career that makes decent money too. In order to have both, I work hard in school with hopes of going to dental school. Ever since the middle school and endless science and art projects, I have come to the realization that I love working with my hands. Among my list of hobbies include knitting, sewing, crocheting, and building miniatures. In addition, though I may appear quiet and shy, I greatly enjoy personal relationships with others. I find people fascinating. I also find satisfaction in being able to help others. I currently teach a second grade Sunday school class and am a resident assistant on campus.  After an internship my senior of high school, I decided that being a dentist would allow me to combine my dexterity and my desire to help others.

My family and I emigrate from Vietnam onto American soil in the early ‘90s so that my siblings and I can live the American dream. So far, I think I am on track. The American dream places great emphasis on education; I graduated with high marks in high school and sit a classroom everyday at an honors university.  Despite my social class, the idea that, with hard work, you can achieve any status gives me hope to aspire to be who ever I want to be.  Also in accordance with the “American dream,” if I work hard, I will be awarded with great fortunate. Though I don’t ask for the multimillion dollar house or the expensive cars, I do hope to live comfortably.  

From Special to Gifted and Talented

For the most part, I have enjoyed most of my educational experiences in school. Of the many, I would say the end of my first quarter in middle school stands to be one of my most memorable experiences. As an elementary school student, I was always placed in the lowest of the English classes, math classes, spelling classes, whatever other classes you can thing of. Miraculously, when I entered middle school and after having taken a number of exams, I finally found myself in classes with students I was segregated from in elementary school, the “Gifted and Talented” ones. The material was a little more difficult but at the end of my first quarter in those “GT” classes, I found myself with straight A’s. It was the first time in my life that I had seen so many A’s.

Unfortunately, my worse educational experience was one of my first experiences at UMBC. It was the end of August and I had not gone to orientation or registered for classes. Finally, the day before school starts, I went to orientation. Afterwards, I was assigned to an advisor to help me with my schedule. The advisor that was supposedly advising me was chatting on her AIM. Often, the computer would freeze. She had the nerve to call someone over and ask what the problem was, all for him to point out that it was because she had five instant message conversations up and running. Embarrassed, she then proceeded to rush me so she could leave. In the end, she managed to put me in a history four hundred level class. On the first day of class, I found myself among sixteen other students who were mainly history majors or graduate students. I managed to survive with a B.

We Are F-A-M-I-L-Y

In the mid 1960s and 1970s, the Black Panther rose to recognition for being an aggressive African American political party not afraid to use militaristic tactics to promote civil rights and self defense. The exhibit, “The Black Panther, Making Sense of History” captures both their ups and down, from active protests to the funeral of George Jackson. Despite what goes on, the Black Panthers, much like American culture, places grave emphasis and importance on family. The Black Panthers did what they felt necessary not only for themselves but also for the protection, education, and future of their families.

The picture, taken from the exhibit, shows a group of children whose parents were members of the Black Panther party. The children were removed from public school and placed in the Intercommunal Youth Institution to ensure their safety after various shootings at party offices and members’ houses. Though the Black Panther were not afraid to be militant and violent to achieve what they deserved, they were the opposite when it came to family, showing nothing less of love and protection. This photo, taken by Stephen Shames, is taken at a downwards angle, making it appear as if we are looking down at the children, guarding them. In addition, the picture is developed in black and white, with no colors, and no sense of cheeriness. Instead the black and white affect create a sense of seriousness, communicating that the children in the pictures are important. The way the children are pictured shows a great deal of order and discipline. They are all wearing similar uniforms and are standing in pose. The children are meant to be taken seriously and will be a force to reckon with.

7 for all Mankind ME!

I don’t obsess over shoes or purses, but I get excited about designer denim. My obsession is with 7 for All Mankind. What is culturally significant about Seven is, when it first came out in 2000, it did not utilize the normal routes of advertisement through excessive commercials or magazine ads, but instead used product placement. For example, in “Gossip Girls” the rich girls, who are idolized, sport Sevens with many of their outfits. The use of celebrities for exposure has made Seven into one of the most notable designer denim in the market. This is evidence of how heavily American culture idolizes its stars, from wanting their lifestyle to mimicking their jeans.

Though I think it’s cool that Cameron Diaz and Jessica Simpson also wear Sevens, Seven appeals to me because it portrays my identity as one that is more concerned about quality than quantity. Though Sevens are a little on the expensive side, I would rather have one pair of Sevens than two pairs of jeans that do not fit and look ordinary. Taste wise, I prefer Sevens over other denim brands because it is simple yet sophisticated. Its fabric and finish make it suitable for attending church or for a night out. Seven expresses my value because of its unbeatable craftsmanship and uniqueness. Sevens jeans are known for its “perfect fit,” hugging the hip, butt, and thighs in all the right places. Its fit, fabric and detail render no two identical pair.

Unfortunately, with all brands, Seven is becoming another example of how “cool hunters destroy what they find.” As more and more people are beginning to discover Seven, the brand is slowly going from hip to mainstream. As a result, others and myself are beginning to expand our horizon, mine being towards Joe’s Jeans.

newspaper, television, INTERNET

The amounts of media I consume are at extremes, either plenty of it or close to none. I am shamed to admit I am part of the population that is uninformed about current events. I never pick up a newspaper unless something strikes me on the cover as I run by the newspaper stand on my way to class. I watch little television so I don’t bother to make watching the news a priority. And worst of all, I waste valuable time clicking away on the internet.

My habits have been molded by my lifestyle and how I was raised. Being raised in a household where Vietnamese was the first language, my family did not see the use in prescribing for English newspapers. With my busy school schedule, I barely have time to sleep, let alone afford to turn on the television. Also because of school, I am heavily depended upon the internet; to check email, review lecture slides, and do homework.

Since the start of college, my media habits have been pretty consistent, no newspapers, little television, and lots of internet usage. Because I do not watch the nightly or evening news and because I never read newspapers, I have had to pay with ignorance of current events. A feeling in which, not until recently, did I realize was scary and stupid, not to know how and what things will affect you later on. The internet is a wonderful thing, if used with caution. When I’m not doing homework, I find myself wasting time going to pointless sites. And though I recognize the obvious problems my media habits, good things can come of it too. Because I am not in the habit of watching television, I do not waste my time on useless sitcoms and reality television. Because I use the internet a lot, I have learned a lot. Occasionally, I will click on a news link and read up on current events. Through Youtube, I have learned to knit and crochet.

In order to achieve a healthy balance between my different types of media consumption, I should pick up the newspaper, turn on the nightly news, and restrict my internet use. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my classes start at 11:30 am. On those days, I should wake up earlier to get breakfast and pick up the New York Times and USA Today so that I compare articles and be more and accurately informed. At night, I should make it a point to watch the daily news at 10 or 11 and go to sleep earlier. For lent, I have given up instant messenger and have restricted myself to no more than an hour’s worth (because I am realistic) of surfing on sites as facebook and perezhilton.

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Hello to all! My name is Hoang Bui. I am a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. After completing fours years here, keyword being four, I hope to advance on to dental school in hopes of becoming a WORLD-RENOWN dentist, okay maybe not. My dream school is the University of Maryland Dental School. In between paying off my debt after dental school, I would like to settle down and become a super-mom. I love kids! My hobbies currently include reading celebrity gossip blogs and doing crafty things such as knitting, crocheting, and sewing.