College, or, I Am Weird

I have been attending Sixth Form college for two weeks, now, and I haven't got anything else I want to write about this Tuesday so I'm going to halt production on another names list (I am forever doing names lists) and try not to get distracted by the Tim Minchin DVD (which is really difficult because of certain tendencies towards ADD and a slight sound sensitivity - not to mention that Tim Minchin is Totally Awesome), the cat (my brother's cat!), and

[starts singing along to TM]

[song ends]

What was I on about again?

Okay, I shall do some writing on college, and rate certain aspects - probably comparing it to High School as well.

Social:

HS Rating: 2/10
College Rating: 5/10

My social life seems to have improved. I used to barely speak with anyone except teachers (and I got laughed at for that *sigh*) and those I did speak to in school time outside of lessons either were lots younger than me in the case of later years (year 7/8-ish), a lot older than me and knowing me as "Crotchet's sister" (they'd have been year 10/11 when I was year 7/8). Those my age heard a load of gabble, often about the Chalet School or other things I found interesting (True story: I once spent a whole lunchtime talking about an option in the Maths Challenge - More Information Needed). Well, about, one or two people, really. This was usually early morning to one person, and when another came in, I ended up completely silent while the other two talked for a bit and then went outside for a walk. And then at lunchtimes I'd gabble away until someone challenged me to run around the field once and when I had completed they weren't there and I spent the whole of the rest of lunchtime looking for them and panicking. (Okay, it only happened once, but there's the issue of making it interesting).

Now, I have a better, more balanced way of approaching conversations. Okay, I still would never dare to start a conversation, and don't like to speak in a group (Or even just trying to think myself into talking and Not Doing So - it's worse the larger the number). But, I know different ways to approach conversation (ask questions - this is easier at College level because you can ask what subjects they're doing, and talk about college a bit, and let them talk about things more than you do.

Okay, let's go ahead while Tim Minchin is playing with a wand/conductor's stick thing.

Comfort:

HS: 3/10
College: 7/10

High school: basic chairs, uniform, not very brilliant desk space.

College: more padded chairs, wearing what I like (okay, underwear doesn't tend to be comfortable, but my arms are) and quite good desk space.

Lessons:

HS: 6/10
College: 9/10

High School: At High School people weren't always serious about their subjects, and classes were large. Teachers who had little control over a class meant that classes were so annoyingly rowdy and it was difficult to concentrate and I always had to go back to the old standby of singing, and then people would tell me to stop singing and I'd hum, which would mean they insisted on stopping me from humming, or later me just silent and just wanting to Get Out as soon as I bloody well could. It was especially bad when the lesson was being taken by a cover teacher. I could rant on forever about cover teachers, but this page is pretty long already and I've still got 2 more aspects to talk about (unless I think of any more). However, lessons did tend to be decent, and were bloody awesome if they were being taken by Mr Aitken. But that was just Year 9 Maths, and one in Year 10. I wanted him as Head of Year when I was in Year 11 like he was head of Year 11 when I was in Year 9. He had an office near my form room, but I am going off on a tangent and ought to get on with what I am supposed to be writing about.

College: Classes are smaller and tend to be more serious about what we're studying (we get to choose, see). I also get to sit near the front all of the time where I'm less likely to mishear stuff (although I do do it - 39 for 35, for instance, which is a bit awkward when it's a page in a textbook).

Timetable:

At High School, the timetable was always full. From 8:45 to 3:30, everything you did was timetabled. so you might get, for instance:

Monday:

8:45 - Registration
9:05 - Science
10:05 - Science
11:05 - Break
11:15 - English
12:20 - Lunch
1:15 - Registration
1:30 - Spanish
2:30 - Drama

So all of your time that can be timetabled is.

But at college, it's different because you have time that isn't timetabled. So I have one lesson on a Tuesday, and only one - the other time can be used for study, eye tests, lying in, watching Tim Minchin, blogging, and a lot of other stuff. Socializing would be a big part of that for some people, but probably not me. I'm a bit of an introvert.

Groupwork:

The nightmare of High School, this was. It was a total nightmare. Apart from the fact that I am hopeless in a group unless I have a specific job in it, I am easily distracted by idiots and end up arguing with them because they are too distracting (and so is my currently favorite song with is a Tim Minchin one *roll*). I always find it awkward to talk in a group unless I am making an objection. But in College at the moment there doesn't seem to be that much groupwork, and what's the betting that there is little in distraction? Pretty high, I'd imagine.

The Sun is trying to kill me...

Most people love the sunny weather and the warmth it provides. It makes the outdoors more palatable for them, it gives them a 'wonderful' tan, and it also makes everyone strangely happy.

I think I am missing out on the good points.

No-one else seems to be a massive ball of sweat burning to death like they're in the oven on Gas Mark 9. No-one else seems to feel a bit sick or anything. And no-one else seems to care that it's burning their faces off, instead all going with their friends and groups and chatting like they don't care about anything at all.

In this weather, I get dehydrated like I am a sponge and all of the water is being squeezed out of me. And this is during low-profile activities, like wandering around the college. Not lost; never lost. Just wandering around. And then I'm dead thirsty so I go to a water fountain (or a "wa'er foun'ain" as is said by the people around). And, inevitably, some always ends up going up my nose instead of into my mouth. I don't know if you have experienced this because I am not you, but it is a very uncomfortable feeling.

Going home is a challenge in itself, after all, you're climbing this steep thing that is known as the hill. But when the weather is oppressing you, making your skin leak hot sticky sweat, burning you up and giving you a familiar feeling that you usually associate with too much car - it's called feeling sick - it turns into a nightmare. You end up concentrating on getting to the next patch of shade, and seeing that shade is rare on the way, well, eeek. Do Not Like. DNL. [ooh, nice abbreviation, Minim.] And when you see that nobody else is having problems, you wonder if the Sun is going "Mwahahaha! I hate you, you weird person, so I'm going to make you suffer,"

And then, when you do get home, guess what now?

The stupid lock won't open because the heat makes it too stiff for your puny little claws to turn, even with that tip that you've been given before. So what do you do now?

You go down the road/hill, because that's where your sister Quaver lives and she might be in and then you can play with your nephew for a bit until Moth's home. And they may have "drrriiiiink" as well.

Only your sister is out, doing some college stuff or something like that.

You decide to return to the doorstep, well, Moth'll be back soon. You also decide to cross to the shady side of the road for a bit more shelter. This turns out to be a good thing, as you end up squatting on the pavement due to the morose heat. (Is morose used in the right context, or do I have to change it?) Only some frumpy woman in her car (and cars often have air conditioning) is frowning at you and you notice when your brain turns from 'smush and cobwebs and no use' mode to 'below average and wants good impression' mode. Embarrassment. Fortunately you're already red and can't go deeper, so you get up and pass her, while she looks disapprovingly at you. You could do the same, really, but you don't.

So you get back home and perch outside, intending to check if anyone was in, in a moment. Well, anyone basically means Moth. And, well, she wasn't in then. Cause when I stood up to check, I saw her coming down the road.

But heat is murderous and almost impossible to deal with. 'Nuff said.

Student Code of Conduct

Today I received in the post from the Sixth Form College a Student Code of Conduct. It talks about a lot of different stuff about how to behave and treat other people etc etc.

If I had to summarize it in its categories, then I would say - work hard with as little distraction as possible, be respectful to everyone, be responsible about heath and safety and so on.

It is interesting, although really it's just a bunch of rules, you have to sign and say that you will abide these rules. Even then, people still don't abide by them. I know this because my mother actually works there in the library.

Condensed version:

You are expected to attend all lessons, be punctual and prepared, be organised and use study time wisely, ask for help when needed, submit only your own work, keep your phone switched off during 'teaching-related activities', and don't have them with you when there are exams, don't take holidays during term (as if!) and avoid doing to much part-time work during term.

You are expected to treat everyone with respect and politeness, respect others who are learning, be calm, responsible, and orderly, don't harass or bully people, don't distribute notices without permission, don't take drugs or alcohol, and don't bring them on site, dress appropriately (what does this even mean? Where does the boundary stop?), and behave well off-site as well as on.

You are expected to follow H&S instructions, always have your ID card with you and show it when requested (by staff, I presume), don't help or invite those who aren't students onto College premises, be responsible in using IT, look after valuables, if you have a car or motorbike register it with the college and drive safely (who has this stuff anyway?) and respect the environment (there's a list of things but I can't be bothered to share it).

Yeah, I can follow all of that. Easy peasy lemon sqeezey.