The Tedious Nature of Academia: Why I Hate Mondays

Today was awful.

Couldn't tell you why, though. As far as I can tell, I had a normal day. Woke up, went to class, ate lunch, etc. No notably bad things occurred to my memory. Yet for some reason, today felt absolutely awful.

I think it's a Monday thing. I'm fresh off of the weekend, having lived the most relaxing life in the universe with the people I love and cleared my head with the joy of the Sabbath, and then POW I get smacked in the face with the mindless tedium of class after class after class. I used to think I hated Mondays. I knew nothing of pain in those days. In all seriousness, though, I am not a fan of my Monday schedule. I have straight classes from 9:00 to 5:00 with two hour-long breaks. Granted, that's not much more than I had in high school, but nonetheless, this is somehow significantly more exhausting.

High school does not prepare you for lecture-style teaching. I'm bored to tears every day as my professors reiterate the same information they told the class before me. I don't learn that way. I learn by exploration, by listening but also seeing and experiencing for myself. Fortunately, there are a few professors who break the mold. My English 203 professor, Dr. Erick Sierra, doesn't seem to have a lesson planned at all. He allows the students to drive the discussion, and in doing so allows us to explore the works we read in a much more meaningful way. Needless to say, I love the class. At least, I would, if it weren't my last class on Monday, and hour and a half long, and end right before dinner.

Yep. It's definitely a Monday thing.

I think it's also a spiritual thing. I find myself on a spiritual high after Sundays, and then the next morning I find myself drained, preferring to curl into a ball and hibernate for the next year instead of going to class. I dread waking up Monday mornings and dealing with another crazy day. I think that's where the root of the problem lies. With the high of Sunday morning still fresh in my mind, Satan can't distract me with the usual methods. Instead, he has to take a more covert approach: making me miserable with boredom. It's not a spiritual attack as much as a psychological attack, and that makes it easy to brush it off as trivial. But is it a coincidence that the worst of my boredom and exhaustion is my 9:00 Theology class? Doubt it.

Needless to say, I've had a full day. Now it's time to relax, and I don't think it's coincidence that my RA scheduled Bible study for Monday nights. It's a time of renewal that I desperately need on these days. Clearly someone up there is looking out for me. Thanks, God. Glad to know you've got my back!

If you're like me, struggling to find a point to the mundane and everyday, remember that we have a purpose through it all. Christ called us to be his hands and feet in this world until he returns. Wake up. Don't let the world tie you down and tell you that this mindless grind is all there is. There's a bigger world out there when you let Christ be the reason for your existence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4y3xPe6iVU

This song (by my favorite Christian band Red) sums up the world's lies perfectly. We fall in line and we live the lie every day. We allow the world to make us content with fitting in, and not stepping out and making Christ the center as we should. If we want out, we're going to have to "wake up and kill the machine".

So wake up. Breathe the free air once again. Know that even in the tedium, God has a plan.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

The Very Warmth of My Blood Seems Stolen Away

So today is a cold sort of day. Woke up cold, took a cold shower (darn you, South Hall), went to Theology and froze, toke a cold nap back in my dorm (again, darn you, South Hall), and then froze in US History. Fortunately, lunch was piping hot macaroni and cheese, a Cuban sandwich, and a cup of hot chocolate.

For some reason I'm really on edge today. I'm not sure why. Maybe I just need sleep. Yeah, that's probably it. It's the curse of the college student: we have time aplenty for sleep, and yet somehow we never have enough of it. Hopefully I can stay awake through the next three classes. I was falling asleep in Theology and  US History today. This does not bode well for the rest of my day.

So I'm sitting in Sociology waiting for Prof. Breems to arrive. What a winner. He's got the coolest beard of all time. I hear he has an entire PowerPoint dedicated to bad puns. He doesn't have that urge to kill- well, he does, but it's not the same (#StuffBreemsTalksAbout). He is- the most interesting professor in the world.

On the agenda for tonight: laundry, hot chocolate, and Fallout 3. I don't have an addiction. I can quit when I want. I mean, let's be real. Sometimes you just need to kick back and fight irradiated mole rats in post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Maybe an episode of Game of Thrones. Also not addicted.

Then there's Bible study with my floormates later tonight. I love Bible study. It's a chance to be real and let God speak in a voice that isn't a pastor's, teacher's, or my own. I am truly blessed by the stories and insights we share during that time. I can't wait for it!

Well, class is starting. Time to wrap things up. Anyone know how cultural norms, practices and societal institutions contribute to issues with water distribution? Feel free to let me know. In the form of a comment.

Hopefully this chilly day will start to brighten up!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Free Associating at 3:00 AM

So I can't sleep. My body is exhausted, but I'm somehow wide awake. Maybe it's the bowl of ramen I just ate. Maybe it's the fact that I slept in until 1:00 PM today. Maybe daylight savings time has gone all wibbly wobbly timey wimey. We've now reached the point in the evening where my mind starts making illogical connections to unrelated topics. It's 3:30. I should be out cold by now.

It's not the first time this has happened. Sometimes I'm up all night, mind racing about the events of the past day, my plans for tomorrow, things I've heard, things I've said, the mysteries of life, whether or not I want to get up and make a bowl of ramen... you get the idea. Tonight is one of those nights where I ponder why it is that I'm here. I mean, I know that I filled out an application, turned in a deposit form, and moved in, but why Trinity? Why some tiny school in a suburb of Chicago?

I guess you could say I was running. Both away, and towards, all at the same time. But that's not what this story is about. And I'm certainly not complaining about ending up here. I love my new home.

This is also one of those nights where I ponder the probability of the rotating electromagnetic device on the desk next to me spontaneously exploding as I sit here and write. I also ponder the scientific plausibility of successfully constructing such a device out of spare hard drive parts. But then again, if anyone can do it, it's my roommate Sherlock.

Now I'm pondering where Sherlock is this weekend. Perhaps at his girlfriend's again? Or maybe he went home. Wish he'd leave a note or something. It's really quiet without him.

It's not quiet next door. Or at least it wasn't earlier. Gotta love bro time with Potato, Curly, and Taylor. We're pretty sure someone outside mooned us. It was dark, though, so we can't be sure. Whoever it was knocked on our window, so we know they wanted us to look. If the perpetrator is reading this, we forgive you.

I wonder if anyone is reading this at all. If you like reading it, please leave a comment. Yes, that was shameless promotion. But I put a lot of effort into this. It's nice to get feedback.

Speaking of feed, my twitter feed was exploding tonight. #Trollstock13 is trending in Chicago right now. Trinity knows how to put on a fantastic concert. Congratulations to all my friends who performed today: Mama Krajecki and suitemates Josh and Jordan!

Sorry, devoted fans, but I've had enough. My brain has ceased its yammering, so I think I'll head to bed. I've rambled incessantly enough for one night. Or morning. It's hard to tell. If you know, please tell me. In the form of a comment. Seriously. It's shameless, I know. I regret nothing.

Goodnight!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Introductions Round Two

Hey everyone! I'm back with a few shout-outs to people who were upset that they weren't mentioned in the last post: specifically, Anneliese Lokken. Anneliese hails from the magical country of Wisconsin, a land flowing with beer and cheddar. She's a hilariously snarky person with the unfortunate problem of having a.. shall we say interesting roommate. That's all I'm going to say on that matter.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to my suitemates, Josh and Jordan. Josh is a manager for Trinity's basketball team as well as a talented musician. Jordan works for the school paper and is also a talented musician. Ironically, all three of us are recipients of Trinity's scholarship for worship leaders. Needless to say, there is constant music emanating from our room.

Special shout-out to Mikayla, who is a fellow blogger: http://hellomynameismikayla.blogspot.com/ Read her stuff, it's funny, clever, and well-thought out! Mikayla is an amazing friend and you can always count on her to know what to say. She's a nursing major (like Nick and Krajecki), and therefore I feel incredibly safe hanging out with her!

I guess since I didn't do it before, I'll talk about my friends in a little more detail. First off is Kyle, also known as Potato. Potato is an ex-football player hailing from Idaho, thus his clever nickname. Like a potato, Tater has a rough exterior but when you get to know him, he's one of the kindest, most caring people you will ever meet. He's also one of the most hilarious.

Curly is the master of sass. Regardless of what you say to him, you can expect a snappy and clever retort. Curly (sometimes called Nick) is also a Wisconsinite, a fact that we constantly give him grief for. Curly's favorite phrases are "Aw, heck no!" and "That's what she said." Curly is a fantastic pianist and guitarist, and one of the first people I met when I first arrived at Trinity.

The other person I met on my move-in day adventures was Sierra, aka Soda. Soda's a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and quasi-pianist. Like me, she's a fan of Doctor Who and Pokemon, and is also a fan of video games. Needless to say, we get along well (which is good, because we're dating!). She's a kind, caring, amazingly strong person. Most people on campus know her as Sierra Mist, owing to her habit of introducing herself by saying "Hi, I'm Sierra like Sierra Mist!"

Mallory is one of my closest friends. Mal-Mal (as she is known throughout the land) is a normally quiet person, but if you make her laugh (or give her sugar) she becomes one of the most adorably funny people in the universe. Mal-Mal can be identified by her distinctive squeal of glee: "EEEEEEEEE!" This is usually followed by a clip from The Wanted, Teen Wolf, or some other such nonsense. I'm judging you, Mal-Mal.

Mama Krajecki is one of the most hilarious people in existence. She's a crazy girl who doesn't take orders from anyone. She also has an unhealthy addiction to horror movies and the Internet. Mama Krajecki is an incredibly caring person (hence her title as mom), and constantly entertains us with her horror stories of public schools.

So there's my friends! More will be introduced as stories warrant, but since these are the people I spend the most time with, I figure that's enough for now. Thanks for reading! Unless you didn't read it. Then I retract my thanks.

Later!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

I Believe Introductions Are In Order...

Hey everyone! I'm Nathan. Chances are, if you're reading this, you already know that. But for the sake of any random newcomers, that's my name! I'm a college kid living at Trinity Christian College, which I consider my second home. People here are so friendly and on fire for God! But I digress.

A bit about me. I grew up in a wonderful Christian home with my mom, dad, and three little bros: Jared, Seth, and Luke. I'm an avid gamer, a decent cross country runner, a better musician, a devoted Tolkienite and Whovian, and most importantly a strong Christian. That doesn't mean I don't have off days. I've had my share of struggles, but if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?

I grew up in Alger, a neighborhood near Grand Rapids, MI, but when I was four I moved to Grandville, where I spent most of my life. As a child I attended Calvin Christian Elementary, Middle, and High School. I'd say overall it was a very good experience, and I'm glad to have the solid Christian education I received there. After some rough times during my senior year, my two best friends in the entire world (Nifer and El Josho) convinced me to attend Teens Encountering Christ, which reignited my dying passion for my savior, Jesus Christ, changing my life forever and removing any doubts I had about my future. Unlike much of my graduating class, I broke the norm and *didn't* go to Calvin College, instead choosing Trinity, where already I feel so at home! In my first few months here I've found such an amazing community. On move-in day I wandered past the room next to mine and heard guitars being played. I poked my head in and asked if I could join, and the rest is history! Those people are now some of my closest friends. What would I do without my spectacularly ripped bro Potato, Sassmaster Curly, my stunningly gorgeous and talented girlfriend Soda, the reserved yet hilariously adorable Mal-Mal, sketchy Mama Krajecki, or my eccentric but brilliant roommate Sherlock? I love them all to death, and I'm so blessed God has brought them into my life!

So I guess you could say I've got it pretty good. College has been such an adventure! Whether it's road trips to Wisconsin, 4 AM McDonald's runs, running amok downtown, movie marathons, slip 'n' slides, or pulling a BioShock all-nighter, it's always a good time! I'm so glad I took the leap of faith I did in coming here.

So that's me and my life! I'll be posting stories of my mishaps as they occur, so don't expect regular postings. Do, however, expect shameless self-promotion on Facebook (Nathan Piersma) and Twitter (@eaglesarecoming). You could even subscribe to my YouTube channel (NPFilmsInc) if you so desire. Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Some of you probably read most of it and then just gave up and left. You know who you are. Some of you skimmed and just read the beginning and end. Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you. Just kidding, it still counts as a page view. Do whatever, this is America.

That's all I've got in the way of pointless ramblings for today! God bless! Get ready for another adventure! ALLONS-Y!!!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.