I never want to study...
But I always HAVE to study.
I care about my grades.
However, it needs to be stated that I care so much about learning, not just about my grades. I truly absorb and retain concepts that interest me, and regularly reference them in everything I do. In fact, I totally understand why SMU insists upon a liberal arts education for every student- it really makes you smarter. Being educated in the liberal arts means being "well-rounded." In today's educated world, being well-rounded is one of the only ways to get an edge over your competition. Let's face it, knowing a little bit about a lot of things is nice, and knowing a lot about one thing is nice as well. However, if you know a little bit about everything and a lot about one thing, you've got the advantage. I believe that nothing makes an argument stronger than a diverse set of evidence. Thus far, SMU's liberal arts classes have provided me with just that- a diverse set of evidence. Every day, my ideas are strengthened by my liberal arts knowledge. Also important, liberal arts education allows young adults, like myself, to dabble in different areas of study. I believe that this is crucial, as so few incoming freshmen know exactly which majors and/or careers they wish to pursue. Learning a little bit about everything can help many students figure out exactly what it is they want to learn a lot about. Turns out, there really is a method to some of SMU's madness.
Anyway, I've really just been struggling with this darn 8 am. I love the material, but I hate the time. So rough. I feel horribly complaining, as the professor of that class makes the Plano-Dallas commute every day, and still manages to arrive at 5 am on the dot. Sometimes, she even manages to be early. Also, if I'm really going to focus on feeling bad for complaining about waking up early, I could remember the thousands of people across the world who have to wake up at the crack of dawn every morning just to get their water for the day.
Plus, complaining gets you nowhere. Nowhere but a blog post, it seems like.
My exam material remains untouched.
In fact, I am currently daydreaming while gazing through Fondren's perpetual florescent haze at all the students doing their work (or not doing their work). I should probably, no most definitely, stop this.
If this blog was a person, I'd tell it to wish me luck.
If I was my own best friend, I would tell myself to study.
So, since my best friends aren't with me and I don't believe in luck, I guess I should get at it.
PS- I stopped at Central Market tonight to pick up some dinner and encountered the most interesting gentleman. He works behind the preprepared foods counter, and has gray, untamed hair. He wears a red hat that he swears rarely leaves his head. All sanitary concerns aside, this guy was cool. He had an interesting story to tell, and I was pleased to listen. Turns out he used to write copy for Leo Burnett in Chicago. Since learning about Leo Burnett, the man and the agency, in David Hadeler's Advertising Literacy class last semester, I've developed a vested interest in all things Leo. I was impressed by the late Leo Burnett's life-long dedication to values and the family. Burnett emphasized this dedication in his retirement speech, known as "When to Take My Name Off the Door." In it, Burnett explains to his audience that he understands that one day his name may be removed from the door of the agency and replaced with the name(s) of the new owner(s). It is only when Leo Burnett Worldwide fails to adhere to the value system upon which it was built that Burnett insisted that they take his name off the door.
As of February 17, 2011, Leo Burnett's name is still on the door. His commitment to values, and to apples and black pencils, still remains obvious as one strolls through the agency's halls today. I have been fortunate enough to pay Leo Burnett's Chicago location a visit, and was blown away by the powerful presence of tradition and excellence. Burnett employees seemed to be proud of their work, and their heritage, and confident that Leo Burnett's name is here to stay.
Below is a video clip of Leo Burnett's infamous speech, "When to Take My Name Off the Door."
Ok, for real now. I'm going to go study.
