One last video to recall the past year:

“I have an idea what you can write about” he said to me. And by he, I mean Michel (the host of RBCp2p). A week later, I received my Visa Gift Card issued by RBC. With $50 on the card, I was free to spend it however I wanted, provided I then write about the experience and the details of the VGC’s by RBC. It’s funny how much more exciting gift cards are than money. In general, getting a gift card from a specific store (Starbucks, Best Buy, etc) excites me because I can dream of all the wonderful things that await me at the specified location. There are some major differences between those gift cards and the Visa Gift Card. Allow me to examine the main points made on the brochure that accompanied my gift card:

Total Control

With values from $25 to $500, the Visa Gift Card allows you to give someone access to just a little bit or quite a bit. The beauty is that it looks like a Visa card, but it’s free money from somebody who cares, as opposed to borrowed money that will carry an interest rate.

Millions of Possibilities

As opposed to store gift cards – that only allow you to use your funds in THAT particular store – the Visa Gift Card is accepted worldwide wherever Visa is. How convenient is that?!

Unsurpassed Flexibility

It’s awesome having the freedom to spend the money on what YOU want. Sometimes our loved ones can mean well, but they might not know what you most desire. Or, they know precisely what you love, but don’t have the time to buy you 10 different gift cards. Enter the Visa Gift Card.

Security and Protection

Can you imagine how disappointing it would be to receive a $100 gift card for your favourite store, but to lose it before you ever have the chance to buy your desired item(s)? Have no fear. With the Visa Gift Card, assuming you’ve registered it online you can have it replaced. There IS a $15 replacement fee but in many cases this is still better than losing your funds entirely.

Instant Satisfaction

Why wait? There is nothing standing in your way with the Visa Gift Card. No setup is required and there is no activation to slow you down. Like I said, it’s wise to register it in case the card is lost or stolen.

I used the card in The Source (by Circuit City), The Body Shop, United Book Stores, HMV and Things Engraved, all without a hitch. It was simple. Swipe and sign, and off I went to my next destination. It’s amazing how much fun it is to spend money using a card that LOOKS like a credit card, but without that looming feeling of “ugh, I have to pay this off soon”. I tried to make the most of the $50, but it sure does go quickly. Being the frugal-meister that I am, I think I did pretty well. Only one of the items I bought was for myself, and I wouldn’t call replacement pads for headphones very exciting. I know it sounds corny, but giving really is a gift in itself.

One feature that I would find useful is to know how much money remains on the card. You can check online, at www.myrbccardbalance.com (perhaps the most obvious website name ever) but if out for a day of shopping, finding access to a computer may be challenging. I assume you could access it from a smartphone, so get on those Blackberries and iPhones, people. Aside from that small gripe, I would recommend getting one of these from your local RBC branch. There is a $3.95 fee to purchase a card, which is of course subject to change. A small price to pay to give someone the freedom and convenience of spending how they see fit.

Thanks RBC, for giving me the opportunity to try out the Visa Gift Card!

The title of this blog entry is courtesy of Hank, whom I met recently while traveling. His friend John has this saying (coined by the late Albert Ellis, I discovered): Don’t “should” on yourself! I’m sure you can figure out what this means, but if not I will clarify. The idea is that we ALL, at one point or another, say something like:

“I should have [fill in the blank with something not done]”
“I should [fill in the blank with something not yet done]”

There are many, many aspects of our lives in which this type of thinking can be problematic. Instead of saying that we should have done something or that we should do something, why not get into the habit of ACTUALLY undertaking these desired actions? In relationships, finances, work, and school we all have improving to do. The key is to take the necessary steps to avoid “should”ing on yourself. I can say that I am personally guilty of this behaviour, and in some cases it runs the risk of leading to the loss of some amazing opportunities.

I should tell my friends and family that I love them, more often.
I should open an RRSP.
I should start working out and eating healthier.
I should work on that paper.

I should donate blood.
I should have…I should have…I should have…

Sometimes in life, you just have to DO, instead of sitting there thinking and talking about it. Just do that thing, so you don’t have to later say to yourself that you SHOULD have done it. I’m a firm believer (but for some reason not always a follower) that you regret the things in life that you should have done (but didn’t) more than the things you’ve done (but shouldn’t have). Sure, there will be exceptions to that rule but in general I think it’s the unfulfilled things that we regret the most, especially when it leads to undesired consequences.

What stops us from doing these things that we “should” do? Laziness, self-doubt, over-thinking, lack of motivation, EXCUSES? Believe it or not, there are some people who give all they have to those things in life that need the attention, especially other people. Without expecting anything in return, these people give selflessly in order to better the lives of others. There are no excuses as to why they can’t do something. We don’t have time, we don’t have the money, we don’t, we don’t, we don’t. We love to make excuses, don’t we?

Chances are, you often make time for all sorts of nonsense and spend money foolishly and imprudently. Why not change some of your habits and become the person you “should” be? Follow Brenden Foster’s lead. 11 years old and dying of Leukemia, his last wish was to help feed a homeless camp. Not only that, he wanted half the sandwiches to be peanut butter & jelly and the other half ham & cheese in case someone was allergic to peanut butter. In honour of such a brave and giving soul, invest in others, without making excuses. Try to become less selfish.

Whatever you do, though, don’t “should” on yourself.

I will first admit that I am far from an economist, and the following is based partially on my opinion. I do possess a fair amount of knowledge in relation to economics and how business works. On the other hand, I have no vested interest in defending the automakers. Much of what I’m reading in newspaper articles and seeing on the news comes from a position sympathetic to the Big 3. For anyone who doesn’t know, GM, Chrysler and Ford aren’t doing so well. They’re looking for $25-billion to help their companies. Anyone not directly (or indirectly) involved with the companies tends to show resistance to “rewarding bad management”, but it’s important to consider the consequences of letting the Big 3 fall.

Nay, I Say

First, let’s look at why so many would be opposed to having government money (taxpayer money) bail out the companies. I thought capitalism (love it or hate it) worked in such a way that the market determines what happens. Companies compete and the winner will be the one that gives the people what they want when they want it, adjusting to changes along the way. Consumers have been asking for cars that used alternative fuel sources for YEARS! Instead, these fledgling car companies chose to continue along the path of fossil fuel-based automobiles. Sure, there has been an increase in hybrids but there have also been many gas guzzlers created. If a company that made unhealthy and fatty foods continued to do so when the people wanted healthier options, their failure would be considered bad management and poor reaction to the market. Am I wrong?

As these companies ask for a bailout, how much money do you think rests in the hand of the executives of these companies? If the rationale behind paying them so much money is that they have difficult decisions to make and the wrong move means THEY are accountable, how do you explain bailing them out? Why on earth did they have such a huge paycheque if they brought the companies to ruin and are NOT actually taking responsibility for it? Oh wait,

“A copy of the legislation proposed to U.S. Congress, obtained by The Associated Press, suggests the bailout would deny bonuses to executives earning over US$250,000”.

Well, isn’t THAT nice of them? My province keeps increasing electricity rates while many residents have to choose between food and heat, and these already-high-paid execs are “sacrificing” the exorbitant bonuses. It’s no wonder the average person is disgusted by these large companies and our governments.

Yay, I Say

But what happens if the Big 3 fall? Well, it stands to become quite a mess. There is a plethora of information available online, like this CTV.ca article(where I got the above quote) that outlines the consequences to Candadian auto workers. 500,000 people directly or indirectly employed by the auto industry is kind of a big deal. If the comments on that article are any indication, people understand the gravity of the situation.

I was watching Bill Maher’s show the other day and his guest Ashton Kutcher (you might have heard of him) made a great suggestion. Instead of taxpayers bailing out these companies perhaps the oil companies should do it. The Big 3 did, after all, pledge allegiance to the fossil fuel and there certainly have been HUGE profits made by the oil industry. I guess this begs the question: what would happen if oil companies asked for the same help upon experiencing a decline in oil production? I think, again, we would find it hard to stomach. This focus on cars, to the point where entire towns rely on them for work, is ridiculous and amounts to being terrible capitalists (all the while touting its excellence).

Check out my upcoming (or already posted?) entry on going Green in the Name of Greed to see why I think greed may be what saves our planet. That is, if the execs of these large companies open their eyes and realize the business opportunities presented by the desire to – and necessity of – going green. In fact, you may be surprised to know that some environmentalists see a bailout of these companies as beneficial to their cause. If we bail out the banks and the Big 3, however, where does it end? As Kutcher suggested to Bill Maher, perhaps we’re all just being punk’d. Sure does feel like someone’s playing a giant practical joke on us doesn’t it?

Today is Buy Nothing Day in North America. If you’re unaware of Buy Nothing Day (is it comfortable under that rock :) here’s something directly from the Adbusters press release

Now in its 17th year, Buy Nothing Day is celebrated every November by environmentalists, social activists and concerned citizens in over 65 countries around the world. Over the years, Buy Nothing Day (followed by Buy Nothing Christmas) has exploded into a global movement, inspiring the world’s citizens to live more simply and buy a whole lot less.

While Adbusters Magazine did not technically start BND (this credit belongs to Vancouverite, Ted Dave) it sure has spearheaded its promotion. The issue of consumerism, overconsumption and BND sure do stir up emotions, as is obvious from the comments on this article from two years ago. And it should. It’s the kind of issue we must face, and especially in these tough economic times. While I wholeheartedly support the sentiment and the righteous goal of BND, which is of course to bring awareness that we buy too much, I can’t help but feel uneasy about a few things:

1) The fact that it’s promoted by Adbusters Magazine

As nice as it is that this Canadian-based not-for-profit has become so popular, and I’ve enjoyed the magazine, it’s starting to feel fake and contrived. It seems that Adbusters has become the very thing it claims to be fighting. They sell their own shoe, for crying out loud. Sure, it’s described as anti-brand, and the un-swoosher (to combat Nike’s alleged corporate atrocities) but what makes buying that shoe any different than choosing some other company’s shoe? I know, I know. The conditions under which they’re made are (supposedly) better, the money will go towards promoting more Adbusters-related stuff and it’s just plain cool to be a rebel. But condemning marketers who "arbitrarily zero in on some emotion that means something to young people" and "attach that emotion to [their] brand” (as Adbusters founder Kalle Lasn has) seems hypocritical when this shoe is marketed in much the same way. I compare Adbusters’ gradual transformation into the thing it opposed to Kurt Cobain’s transition to a mainstream artist (but he seemed to realize it). And both have their own shoe. I kid you not. Behold the Chuck Taylor All Star Kurt Cobain.

2) Do people participate to be a rebel?

Again, I welcome a decrease in consumption. I really do. And I certainly don’t like the constant bombardment of marketing. But will people jump on this bandwagon (secretly hiding the little purchases they made) in order to be part of a movement that is rebellious and opposes “the man”, returning to business as usual the following day. We don’t need a Buy Nothing Day, we need a Buy Less Life. I’m sure that’s the goal of BND, but I’m not so sure it accomplishes that goal. I hate to be cynical on this one, but it feels like a bit of a ploy to keep Adbusters in the spotlight, selling magazines. In the book The Rebel Sell (I suggest reading this) the authors address the inability of counter-cultural movements to effect true change. From Wikipedia:

"The system" is not something that seeks conformity, but rather the opposite, it seeks individuality and the competition for distinction. To support this claim, Potter and Heath look at American Beauty, Fight Club, The Matrix, and Adbusters, all of which are supposedly counter-cultural, but popular in the mainstream. The capitalist system is not trying to stamp out individuality; rather, a force of social distinction drives the market. Individuals are in constant pursuit to "outcast" each other.

Exactly. Is BND just an extension?

3) Should we be taking money out of the market right now?

Given the state of the economy right now, is it advisable to NOT invest in businesses, even for ONE day? I think it would make more sense to spend money more wisely. I’m not an economist, but I think there are better options than not buying a single thing on that day. Often, protests can lead to judging and criticizing those who are shopping on “BND”, when they likely have no idea about the initiative. To quote the author from the piece I linked to earlier:

That's why I use Buy Nothing Day for what I think are better ends. I buy "consciously" all day long -- from getting a fair trade coffee at a locally owned shop in the morning, to picking up a few Christmas gifts made by independent artists and crafters in the afternoon.

I’d rather support a local business that deserves my money than simply participate in what honestly amounts to an empty gesture for many people. If you believe in Buy Nothing Day, cool. I once did, and I guess I’m not totally opposed to it now. But it’s always a good idea to examine why you believe in certain things, and to question the motives of those who promote them. Blindly following Adbusters (and those who espouse their messages) isn’t necessarily better than blindly following corporations.

My astronomy professor said something interesting the other day, and it reminded me of a theory of mine. He mentioned – in regards to climate change and the state of our planet – that there exists an opportunity to create jobs. Specifically, he joked about checking the Yellow Pages to find a windmill repairperson (to no avail), as there should clearly be someone trained to fix these increasingly-common contraptions. While I doubt you’d ever find such a person in the phonebook, the point is that with all the emphasis on emerging sources of “green” energy there will come some employment opportunities.

Now, for my theory:

I think if we do manage to save the planet and curb our emissions it will have nothing whatsoever to do with actually caring about preventing the destruction of Earth. Rather, it will come about as a side effect of wanting to make money from the new markets that will open up as a result of the focus on alternative energy sources. Call me cynical, but we have known about the problems (and many others) and haven’t done much about it. Throw some opportunities to make money in there, however, and I think we may go green in the name of greed.

Any one of you reading this could cash in on the green movement. You can invent something. You can get a job in a field related to the reasearch or development of green technologies. You can write a book about the subject. There are SO many opportunities surrounding the inevitable move to greener lifestyles, and I think the desire to make money will ultimately be what saves us, as ironic as THAT is (considering capitalism has greatly contributed to the state of our planet).

For all the consultants that currently exist (honestly, sometimes what they advise is so painfully obvious), wouldn’t it be great to be part of a green consulting company? One of the main ways to cut back on heating and lighting costs is to simply design things differently. I’m no expert (I wish I was) but even I know that the way we do things is often the least efficient way. Greed, my friends, will save us. I start a consulting company that approaches businesses, governments, and schools. I tell them how they can change a few things and save tons of money in the process (saving the planet is a positive side effect). They pay me money for having saved them money, and greed has transformed an energy-inefficient building into just the opposite.

The above example exists already, I’m sure. But when the time comes that it is criminal to NOT undertake the energy-saving methods, consultants will be in high demand. That’s one example, of course. There are other ways to make money from the focus on becoming green, and some creative individuals will figure out how. It’s sad that I think money will be what makes us move to technologies and habits that are just plain better for us. But if history is any indicator, curbing our wasteful ways is coming very slowly. I don’t even care if we go green in the name of greed, if the alternative is NOT going green and destroying the planet entirely. I’d rather have Earth keep supporting its inhabitants, even if the reason it continues to do so is the lust for money rather than the desire to preserve our home planet. Now get out there and make some money from this already!

My oh-so-clever title refers to Amazon’s Kindle and the Sony Reader, two of the most popular e-book devices on the market. Oprah loves the Kindle, and our very own RBCp2p blogger Nathan Jenkins brings it up in The Book is Back. You can check out their respective sites and a host of other sites that do a side-by-side comparison(the Kindle and Sony Reader, not Nathan and Oprah).

I’d like to discuss these devices in relation to their current and potential place in our reading lives. I have a class called The Rise and Fall of the Printed Book, in which we have covered life before the book, the advent of the book and our current move away from the book. The discussion has recently turned to these e-readers and I figured I would address what I see as the future of these devices (so that if I’m right – or even terribly wrong – someone may someday refer to me in a university class).

Been There, Done That

We’ve seen them before, and they have pretty much always failed. There are many reasons that people give for not liking these gadgets, whether they’ve ever used one or not. Don’t you find that’s the case with so many things we disapprove of – that we’ve never even used one before? For example, PC users often (and unabashedly) criticize and condemn Mac computers, and yet have never committed any serious effort to using one. I’m on a Mac right now, and I can honestly say there are both advantages AND disadvantages to using it, over a Windows-based computer. The same goes for these e-book readers, I think. In some ways they are superior to books, and in other ways they just don’t match up.

How do you currently read?

Many of us do most of our reading (whether you consider it reading or not) on electronic devices. Laptops, netbooks (like the Acer Aspire One or the MSI Wind), smartphones (like the iPhone or Blackberry) and regular cell phones offer us much of our daily text. We have emails, text messages, IM, Facebook, blogs, etc. There is no doubt a lot of money being invested to research whether people would be willing to read entire books on their cell/smart phone screens. PhoneBooks? Sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? Well, 5 years ago I bet most of you didn’t expect to be able to do so much with your cell phone and to spend so much time reading and writing on it.

Back to Amazon and Sony

While currently unavailable in Canada (and why would you want one, since much of its appeal is that it runs on an EVDO cell phone network to download books, access Wikipedia, blogs, newspapers and magazines), the Kindle (is this the Kindle 2?) has opened the doors to the true future of the e-book reader. Sony’s product has some advantages, in design and ease of use (page numbers, for example), but it does not yet have access to over-the-air downloading of books or other content. Also, Amazon – being the huge provider of books – gives readers access to far more titles. Just like any other technological advance, there will always be improvements that can be made (the iPhone not having copy and paste for example – Blackberry Storm, anyone?). And of course, there are other e-book readers (that may even have advantages), but they are lesser known for the same reason iPods dominate – brand recognition and marketing.

The Future is Wow

This is my prediction: e-book readers won’t hit their stride for another 2-3 years but when they do, it will become standard to access a cell phone network in order to have constant access to content. I foresee the same type of online embedded advertising, such as Intellitxt, to show up in our e-book content. The screens will become touchscreens, and the whole process will be more interactive. Reading a story that talks about places, events, or even brand names? Touch the underlined (or bold, or italicized) word and be taken to information about it. The Kindle already has a built-in dictionary, but alas it is not yet touchscreen.

I don’t think the book will ever completely disappear (well, not in OUR lifetimes anyway) but there will definitely be a surge in the popularity of the e-book devices (just as there were with mobile phones) when the technology catches up to our expectations. Just as any technology, however, there will be constant upgrading, which is unnecessary with physical books. Part of the excitement of books is having a visible collection, rather than having it hidden in a device. But the same was once said about music. I could easily see myself using one if it gave me access to local newspapers, a larger number of blogs and was touchscreen. I do fear, however, that reading in this manner will (and already has) fundamentally changed the way in which we interact with text and reading. Who knows, maybe you (dear reader of the future) have accessed this on your touchscreen e-book reader. One can dream.

A brand new season is here!

So the other day I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone as I stood in my kitchen. I looked around and realized that a brand new season of fruit flies was upon us, and I knew I had to devise a plan to combat these pesky critters. I took a glass, put some apple slices into it and taped a sandwich bag tightly to the glass, poking holes in the top. The flies would follow the scent of the apple (do they have noses?) and once inside would become trapped, somehow not realizing how to get out of their predicament. It was at that moment, with the heat of my apartment and my annoyance with these winged invaders that I asked myself a question.

Are we all just fruit flies?

Seriously. Fruit flies just wander around semi-aimlessly, in search of something that appeals to them. Once they find it (in my sealed glass) they pursue it. Upon reaching their desired goal they realize – along with all the others who have done the same thing – that maybe it isn’t exactly what they had anticipated. They are trapped in this situation, but take comfort in knowing that they’re not alone. Maybe it’s not so bad after all. Actually, they’re kind of happy in their new predicament and they convince the others that things are in fact pretty good. Or at least that’s how I assume they behave, in order for my analogy to work.

We all seek certain things, right? Money, power, respect, love. We’re convinced that once we attain it that everything will be great. We wander around in search of these and once we find it we pounce. We’re not alone in this pursuit, of course. There are many others around us trying to find that entrance into happiness. Upon realizing our goals, we often come to the conclusion that happiness hasn’t necessarily followed suit. We look around and others seem to be in the same position. Oh no. We’re a little trapped. But have no fear, all we have to do is convince ourselves and the others around us that this IS bringing us happiness and that we aren’t trapped at all. Whew. THAT was close.

Sometimes it helps to look around and question whether the way you’re doing things is REALLY going to lead to the happiness you seek. Are you doing these things for yourself, or because you’ve been led to believe you SHOULD be doing it this way? If you’re reading this, you’re probably still young enough that you could make changes to your current life plan if you needed to. Don’t let yourself get all the way into the glass with those apple slices, only to realize that you’re stuck and don’t have a way out. Make sure those apple slices are what you TRULY desire.

It is important to note that this entry was redacted during the summer months, and while it alludes to the fact that Nick is very hot, he is indeed, at this moment in time, suffering through the throes of a rather violent snowstorm, his hands indeed thawing out from the bitter cold that awaits him outdoors. Discuss.

- Updated: November 20th, 11:05am, EST.

October 31, 2008

Hey Ten-Years-Ago Me,

I checked with Thirty-Years-From-Now Me (us?) and he assures me that sufficient research has been done in the field of Historical Self Correspondence to confirm that with minimal hints to what the future holds, it’s fine to write to you. So rather than tell you what happens and warn you how to avoid it, I’ll offer you some insights and some advice that may help you without fundamentally altering the course of your life. This is a huge risk, I warn you. If you don’t want to take the chance of making things worse, then stop reading now. If you dare, however, then continue reading this letter knowing that you may not experience certain things (both good and bad) due to having read it. Let’s go.

First of all, I won’t bother telling you my current status since by the time you’re done this letter and make it to 2008 you may have changed the path. I can say, though, that I do get paid to write and have done some traveling. So those goals can certainly be attained if you strive for them. As for being awesome, was there ever any doubt? Come on. Haha. Trust me when I tell you that the decisions you make now are not going to determine what you can do with your life. At any moment, you have the power to change your path, whether it feels that way or not. Also, life has a funny way of changing that path for you. What may seem like a challenging or distressing event in your life may, in fact, become something positive in the months and years to come.

If you’re going to pursue a post-secondary education the unfortunate reality is that student loans will be a huge part of funding that education. There are other ways to do it and I highly suggest you look into scholarships, bursaries, student credit lines, government funding (for certain programs), contests and competitions (even if they’re canada-wide and you think the odds are slim). And take your time. There’s really no rush to graduate. If you want to take less classes, work while you study or even take time off then go for it. The myths that if you take a break you won’t go back, well it depends entirely on the individual.

You’re going to go through some things that will test you. Certain people will stand in your way and be obstacles, probably for no other reason than to satisfy something within themselves. It won’t be easy and sometimes you’re going to want to quit. Persevere and find creative solutions to these challenges, and become a better person because of them. You can’t control what other people are going to do, so just be the best you can be and keep plugging away at it until you get where you want to be. And if you do have to leave some things behind, then just hope that the future can bring them back to you, if that’s what you truly desire.

Before I go, I want to thank you. Looking back into the past HAS helped me realize some things. Once upon a time I was lost and unaware of the endless possibilities of life. I assumed that things had to take place a certain way and if they didn’t something was wrong with me. I quickly realized that what others do and how they do it, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the way I do it. Had someone told me that I would be where I am in 2008, I likely would not have believed them. I won’t tell you where that is, but rest assured that things could be much much worse (and they have been…sorry). So live your life and learn from the things that don’t quite work, and I’m confident you’ll achieve your goals.

Your Truly,

Your older, but still pretty youthful, Self

P.S. we don’t really call our decade anything. Maybe I’ll write to Ten-Years-From-Now Me to see if the next one is called the Teens.

P.P.S. keep using your French. Tu vas en avoir besoin!

P.P.P.S the wonderful woman says hello :-)

April 7, 1998

Hey Ten-Years-From-Now Me,

I know you probably won’t respond, because you’re too busy writing books, traveling the world, helping the poor or just being all-around awesome. I figured I would try anyway, though. As you know, since you were once in this exact spot, I have the decision to make of what to do with my life. I feel like what I decide at this very moment, freshly turned 18, will determine the rest of my life. Doesn’t seem to make sense to do it this way, does it? Because I get good grades, it’s assumed that I’ll go to university. I’ve been accepted into a couple of different ones but I don’t really know what I wanna do, so is it wise to just go anyway? That seems to be what most people are telling me I should do.

Other options would be to go to a college of some sort, and do something more hands-on and practical. I hear the courses don’t take nearly as long and there’s a better chance of finding a job. Or, I could just try to work and/or travel, since I might not get the chance to do it later. I sure would like to see Europe. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it there someday. One thing I want to do, as you know, is write a book. With writing being something I enjoy, maybe I should pursue that. I just don’t know. So hard to decide what I want to do right NOW. If I don’t do it now, will it ever happen?

With teachers talking about STILL paying off their student loans, is that just the way it has to work? Might there be other ways of doing it? I don’t have much money saved, and the scholarship isn’t that much. I feel like graduating from university with such a huge debt load is counter-productive, a little. I could start my life right now and just jump right into it, and see where it takes me. But that’s so risky and against what everyone is suggesting I should do. You must be well into paying off your student loans, since I assume you graduated years ago. Man, I hope you’re doing alright because right now I’m not so sure where this is all heading.

Is that the point, Ten-Years-From-Now Me? That life will take you in all kinds of directions and that the smallest decisions can change SO much? Oh no, I probably shouldn’t ask you for a response to this letter at all, since your answers might make things worse. Part of me wants to know the future but that might ruin it for me, if I try to change things. I’m so confused. All I know is that I really enjoy learning. Unfortunately I have entirely too many interests and can’t really choose what to pursue. I guess that’s part of life though, right? Making mistakes, learning, moving on and rolling with the punches.

Well, it seems that even without your response, I’ve figured out something about the future: it’s uncertain and I’ll just have to follow my heart and see where that takes me (us?). I hope this letter finds you well, and who knows, maybe you learned something from ME. Haha. Wouldn’t that be funny, if hearing from Ten-Years-Ago You somehow helped you figure out YOUR future. Say hi to the wonderful woman I hope you’ve found by now, and tell her I look forward to meeting her. Does that even make sense? Man, this whole writing letters to future selves thing…kinda confusing. Take care!

Sincerely,

Your more youthful self

ps: being in the 90’s, I can’t help but wonder what you call the decade YOU’RE in! The 0’s? 2000’s?

pps: mom says if I don’t speak French that I’ll lose it. J’éspère que tu comprends encore le français!

Here's a video recap of my recent trip to Europe!

There’s No ‘A’ in Experience

The other day, in my Astronomy class, I watched the guy in front of me typing something for a different course altogether. It’s far from the worst offense using a laptop in class – I’ve seen Tetris, Wheel of Fortune (she couldn’t solve a super easy puzzle, making it more embarassing), Facebook, and IM programs – but I couldn’t help but glance at his screen. Being a writer, and a pretty decent one I’d like to think, I noticed a plethora of spelling mistakes. It was very telling that he misspelled (itself a common word to spell incorrectly) the word ‘experience’. I had already decided that I wanted to write a piece about the difference in being a 28-year-old student versus being a 20-year-old, but watching this guy not pay attention to the prof - whom I consider one of the most intelligent I’ve ever had - really convinced me to write this entry.

DISCLAIMER: In no way do I intend to sound ageist or assume that I have all the answers, while 20-year-olds know nothing. In fact, I aim to defend all students. Just wait for it.

I wanted to (and still will) address the way in which many newspapers and magazines paint all students with the same brush, assuming we all think the same and possess the same level of experience and maturity. I have to say, however, that looking around at some of the behaviour and actions of many students (most of whom are in the 18-24 range) I can see why adults (am I an adult yet?) would create this broad stereotype of the irresponsible, inexperienced and unknowledgeable student.

Condescending Tone and False Assumptions?

Have you ever read something that was discussing students and thought to yourself that the author was really assuming the worst of students? Right now, perhaps? I’m actually on YOUR side, believe it or not. I find it quite irksome when a writer adopts a condescending tone towards students, and believes that ALL students are experiencing independence and jobs for the first time. We aren’t as naïve and inexperienced as these writers claim we are. Well, some of us are, but is anyone writing to/about the rest of us? I’m not seeing it.

Age isn’t necessarily the best determinant of maturity and life experience, but it’s a pretty good one. Yet, I know mature 20-year-olds with plenty of experience, while plenty my age could learn a lot from their younger counterparts. Like I said, it’s not all about age. I just feel that few news organizations represent those who are serious about their eductaion, have lived on their own for many years, possess tons of job/life experience and who can identify condescending and presumptive writing when they see it. Maybe that’s the problem. In general, do we fit that apathetic and irresponsible stereotype that has been placed upon us? Or is it simply that those students stand out more than the ones who know themselves, what they want and how to achieve it. We’re not all lost souls, trying desperately to find our way amidst drunken debauchery and late nights partying.

What’s The Next Step?

I don’t know if I’ve made a point, exactly. My concern, as an older-than-typical student, is that I seldom read anything that’s speaking to my situation. Maybe some of you feel the same. Or, perhaps I’ve touched a nerve in calling you out on some of the nonsense you pull during class. Maybe you’ve seen people blatantly wasting their time during class, and thought the same as I did. Either way, we all have choices to make throughout our post-secondary experiences. Will you fall right into the stereotypes that have been created about the student, or will you call people on their false assumptions? Write to newspapers and magazines and tell YOUR story. Respond to articles that don’t address your questions and concerns. Will you start with commenting HERE, or just be on your way? It’s up to you.