Observation #2 Fraternity

The other day I observed just a regular day during classes at my fraternity. I sat out on our front benches and hung out with several other brothers. In front of our house leaving and entering occurs; therefore, a lot of conversation and chit-chat takes place. It’s common to discuss anything that seems irrelevant to class most of time. For example most of us will try to decide what we are going to do that night whether it just is relaxing at the house, studying, or having a party. Most of the guys, seriously not me, will always light up a cigarette. That is just one of the norms of hanging out in the front of our house. Other norms would be playing practical jokes such as dumping water from an upper window on someone walking in. The whole goal basically when you are there is to chill and have a few laughs. Conversations and talk in the front lawn never are really important and normally consists of a simple “what’s up” and “later.” The space and context only allows brief conversations but it certainly does not prohibit hanging for long periods which several do. Not much really occurs here except friendly chat in between classes of course it’s different after class.

Observational Blog 1#

I work at the bar on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I check id’s at the door, help keep everything under control, and clean up after closing. It ends late but I enjoy the job because of the people and especially the cash. Yet on Tuesday night I observed the manners and attitudes of those that came in. It was obvious most of time pointing out an underage verses someone who is of age to drink even before they gave me their id’s. Underage kids acted nervous at times taking their fakes directly out of their pockets instead of out of a wallet. Some were too arrogant too. They seemed so overconfident at times that it was extremely easy to see that they had a fake id. Many would sit an complain for minutes after denying them normally being quite offensive and rude. Ones that were over had an attitude of their own. Many were offended when asked to present their ids. And a handful would complain and moan when they were asked to pay a $2 cover charge. I heard things like “I never pay the cover,” “I come here so much I don’t have too,” and even “ I too good to pay a cover.” All this was just ridiculous. Certainly there were several cooperative and polite ones but too many were arrogant and mean whether underage or not although the attitudes of both greatly contrasted as I pointed out.

Carolina State Game

Last night i went to basketball game at the Dean Dome. The Heels met up with one of top rivals, NC State. Before the game I met up with several of my friends from high school that go to NCSU. They all came up to the game which wasn't good for them but I'm sure they were expecting the worst anyway. Before the game we went out got some food and hung out till it was gametime. By 7:30 we were off. The game started out suprising mainly because State pulled out to an early lead. I mean we are the 3rd ranked team in the counrty and State is barely floating above .500. But in the ACC and more importantly a rivarly as old and intense as the one between UNC and NC State, there never is an easy game. The emotions of a rivarly game for UNC between Duke or State is as heated as it gets. Many have the feeling no matter what their team does during the season that if they don't beat Duke and State then the season is a loss. Thats college sports. It's not about the money or fame or jersey sales, it's about pride, school spirit, and love for your college. In these rivarly games all this is taken to an even higher level. No matter the the rankings, records, personel, or any other factor that would seem to matter, these rivalry games never seem to go along with whats on paper. For example back in 1994 UNC was the best team in the country and had their sights in a National Title. Yet before the year was over the Heels still had to play Duke. Duke hadn't one an ACC game all year and their Coach had to take the year off. Anyone would have predicted a blowout for the Heels, but a true fan would have though otherwise. Duke ended up fighting UNC into several overtimes including a halfcourt shot to tie the game as time exspired. The Heels did win that game but Duke gave it everything and thats what its all about.

Besides the past though at the game last night, State pulled a similar show. They led most of the first half and only trailed by 3 at halftime. Eventually Tyler and company proved to be too much for the Wolfpack but it was a great game and they only lost by 9 to agruably the best team in the country. The audience last night seemed speechless and shocked at the way the game went early. "We should kill these guys," I was thinking as long with everyone else. The Heels could never have fully dominated that game although everything says they should have. NC State outmatched took on their rivals with no fear and gave us a scare all the way till the end. Once UNC took it's first lead the crowd light up, u could't hear the person sitting next to you because of the noise. State and UNC just love being a hard on each other and although no many will admit people at State are great freinds, but they are like brothers. At the game I never missed a chance to gloat in the friends face. It was like old times last night getting a group of us all back together like our high school days. The mood though last night see seemed bad though and a somwhat depressive though. Everyone wanted to be up by 20 points but u can never expect that in a riavlry game. No one went out last night so despite the win it was like expected I suppose. When you go to Chapel Hill your taught to expect to always win which really sucks when you don't. But last night was a win. Once the Heels took the lead and the fans, including myself, I never sat back down. Insults flew all night between my friends and I and from State fans to UNC ones. If you ever go to a college basketball game always try to attend a rivalry game. Get swept up in shouting, yelling, jumping, chanting, and being their for your school. At a stituation like that you feed off the crowd just as everyone else does. It's like a chain reaction of enthusiam and excitement. All I know is that there was nothing better than seeing the sea of baby blue in the stands a win for Heels last night.

New Start

Well I think I learned my lesson from the past couple weeks. In the past weeks I've had three tests and at the same time been slowly working on my final paper on the folk cure experiment we are all doing. But besides the paper I had psychology, Economics, and Geology tests all of which I waited till the last day to study for. But I didn't just wait that long to study but I also waited till the last day of each exam to read the suggested materials that we are supposed to follow gradually throughout the classes. And to make me seem that much more pathetic I bought my books for my classes the thursday before my first exam on Friday. All three nights before my exams no doubt were all-niters which at this point I kind of enjoy and seem to complete a lot of work but I know they are really unhealthly and all that. And so yeah I know this is pretty bad. It's pathetic but I know I'm not the only one. In fact if you don't proscrastinate then your in the minority of students at Chapel Hill or for that fact anywhere in country in my opinion. Though I plan on learning my lesson and changing up my habits for the remainder of the semester.

So yeah I got to change my study habits. The first way I plan to do this really doesn't involve studying at all. I mean no matter what happens to me Im goin like most wait till the last night to study for a test. But I do want to do better in my classes about keeping up, so I want to read what i'm supposed in small amounts each weeks so that I have some idea of what Im studying the night before an exam. Unlike our English class which requires you to work along at s steady pace, my others like most classes just have three tests and a final so your studying and rreading is up to you. So I planning to start reading earlier whether it actually happens who knows. besides schoolwork it should be a fun week. I mean a lot of exams were last week so people so be going out hopefully. And NC State comes here Wednesday to play at the Dean Dome im sure with several of their terrible fans but whatever it should be a fun night. After I turn this paper in this week my schedule should be chill so I do that reading i've been talking about.

What a Week

This week was a crazy one. For me it had it's ups and lows. To start it all off I found out tuesday during class that I had a Psychology test Thursday. It's mine own fault for not looking to see the test dates but it really jumped on me. Not to mention the fact that I had to work both Tuesday and Wednesday night. And on top of this I had to continue work on my final draft of our unit one papers. The week looked to be pretty bad. For the most part it went fairly well suprisingly. I mean I did pull an all-nighter on wednesday night for that exam. By Thursday afternoon I could barely stand because of around 30 straight sleepless hours and the fact that those hours were spent in the study lounge or a work. Yet personally I'm kind of proud because at least I got it all done. Around Tuesday I doubted that I was going to pull any of it off but it worked fairly well for the most part. I did okay on my exam and still got paid and had at least something to turn in for my paper. But I did learn my lesson hopefully. I have to learn to look ahead for the dates of tests or papers so I can start planning my time and managing it better. Most likely I do the same in a couple weeks.

Yet besides me complaining the Heels beat the Duke. I didn't get to rush Franklin Street but I'm sure it was crazy. I saw a picture of one of my friends hanging off a telephone pole like 15 feet in the air. From where I was working on Wednesday I saw crowds of people running away from their houses and bars and wherever else they might be. It's was a great to see. I think it's amazing how people react here, including myself, during and after a UNC-Duke basketball game. It can make our week, month, or even semester in just 40 minutes of play. When we do lose which doesnt happen much lately, yet when it does it's like a bomb hit Chape Hill. Though we did win on Wednesday and it couldn't be better. The Heels are on a huge winning streak, the are on top of the ACC, third and rising in the country, and just beat Duke. Things couldn't be better for the Heels.

Summer

It's crazy but I'm already having to plan out my summer. To me thats no good although it may be normal to some. I like to have options once summer comes along and just try to have a good time. Now though that I'm in college we always have to be thinking about our resume and think of ways in which we can stand out from the crowd when it becomes time to apply to business school or med school. I read somewhere that right now nearly 3/4 of last year's Wake Forest graduating class are still looking for jobs, i might have the numbers alittle off though. I don't know if thats completely true but it certainly makes me think about my future. No one wants to come out of college or graduate school with no job opportunities and chances at succeeding. I like many others want to have a job and possibly choices in picking the best scenario for my life. So now the summer planning begins. Summer is the chance to set yourself apart from the crowd.

I have several options for this summer. The first one that I really believe I'll do is summer school whether it be here in Chapel Hill or at ECU in my hometown of Greenville. By completing summer school I could get a huge jump in my school work and make my semesters during the school year less strenuous. This should help my grades and provide myself with less stress and more fun time. Not to mention the science courses I'm taking are so difficult that I really need to separate them by semester which summer school would help. Another choice I have is possibly going to Texas for job in selling materials. there is a chance a receiving upwards of $8000 but its a 9 to 9 job. Not to mention its all summer. With the number of hours and long distance away from home I doubt I'll being doing that. Im really not even considering it at this point. the last option is working for my dad. He owns a bar and restaurant in Chapel Hill and I could help out here this summer while going to summer school. And I'll be close to friends and family. Most likely I'll be doing that but I just wish I could have fun in the summer like I always have.

Videogames

I can say all I want to about not having enough time for my studies to my parents because of my job or fraternity or pledging or whatever, I play way too many videogames. I honestly do attend if not all most of my classes. I mean I just feel bad when I don't. It only take about 2 or 3 hours a day to go and by just attending class you can normally escape a class with a B if its not too hard. But whenever I get back from my classes no matter the day the first thing I'll do is grab some lunch and turn on my xbox or N64. I ve caught myself staying up as late as 4 with class at nine racing in a mario kart game which is really ridiculous when you think about. And every morning when I wake up i just want to kill myself for wasting so much time or staying so late the night before staying glued to a TV and a controller. But who doesn't do some of this. I mean if you haven't played mario kart, mario tennis, some call of duty, or some NBA showtime then you're really missing out. And honestly its the old games that I played when I was in elementary school that I'm playing again. In my opinion thats pretty cool and it's not just me, all of my friends in Granville seem to do the same. I mean it's like your dad playing a game of pong again and getting addicted again. These games whether old or new though are way to addicting. I know I can say i'm not going play all I want but at the end of the day I always waste some time playing some type of game. Hopefully I can kick this habit or atleast limit it some. The one good thing though is that these games are big fun.

Wednesday Night Upsets

Today was huge in college basketball. Yesterday the heels took another step in the right direction. After dismantling archrival NC State in typical fashion, the Heels came home to destroy a hurting Maryland. Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough led the way to another Tar Heel victory and it seems as if the Heels are nearly back into top form. But besides the Heels, both Duke and Wake Forest had an interesting Wednesday. Wake Forest led off by trying to rebound off losing to Georgia Tech, the worst team in the ACC. They came out against Miami though looking like the Wake Forest we've seen in past years. They trailed after the first by only three and it seemed as though they would be poised for a strong second half. Jack McClinton and the Canes had a different. McClinton put up 30 points and led a rout on the seventh ranked team in country. The final score left the Demon Deacons hobbling to the locker room with a 27 point defeat. Certainly though we wouldn't see a similar outcome with Duke and Clemson though, but both games ended up very similar. Both would become large upsets and setup the Heels with a first place rank in the ACC. The Blue Devils from start to finish was dominated by a better and deeper Tiger team. Trevor Booker led Clemson in scoring and rebounding which led to the shocking 27 point defeat of Duke. These two games leaves the ACC and nation scratching their heads about two of best teams in NCAA basketball. Are these two teams as good as everyone though or are these skids just slumps or flukes? All that matters in Chapel Hill now though is that the Heels now seem to be the team to be beat. A new confidence will be clearly seen on the campus just because of these two losses. The Heels too are playing like they did at the beginning of the year. The only bad news thats been heard now is the suspension of William Graves. The sophomore was suspended for the rest of the season by Coach Roy Williams for unspecified reasons and everyone certainly is wondering what he did. But we'll never know I'm sure all we can do is support him and the rest of Heels. By the way UNC football's recruiting class has now been placed as the eighth best in country along with powerhouse programs like Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. Butch Davis is certainly turning our college in not only a basketball, soccer, and baseball powerhouse but a football one too.