to: Michael Ross
cc: Robert Stoker
subject: RE: PSC 124
Dear Michael,
The Bulletin is clear about pre-requisite courses and PSC 002 is a pre-requisite to all 100 level Group B, American Politics, PSC classes. I am copying Professor Stoker, the instructor for that section of PSC 124. Only the professor can over-ride the pre-requisite requirement. This decision cannot be made by the Dean or by me as undergraduuate advisor. Have you already contacted Professor Stoker?
Regards,
Professor Wiley
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interestingly enough, the office of the registrar e-mailed me saying that the dean can, in fact, override that prerequisite requirement.
i've spent a lot of time this break thinking about my academic future. i am really interested in becoming an urban planner, but after talking to some professionals in the field about it, i'm not so sure that a bachelor's in public policy will help me achieve that goal. ideally, i should be getting my degree in city planning — but since gw does not have such a department, my next best bet is a bachelor's in geography. however, i've never taken any geography courses. so, i need to decide: should i switch over to geography now, or try taking an introductory course to see if i really like it?
the former of those options is the only way for me to achieve my degree in geography and still graduate when i want to (may 2010). but i am concerned by the apparent lack of employment opportunities for geography majors post-college (other than for urban planners). futhermore, i'm not so sure that i still want to graduate at such an accelerated pace; in fact, i'm contemplating studying abroad.
this is the university of cape town, the oldest university in south africa, the top-rated university on the continent of africa, and the possible future site of my study abroad.
i've wanted to go to uct for as long as i can remember. when i was thinking of leaving gwu after the fall 2007 semester, i considered spending a semester there. even though i ultimately decided to stay at gw, i have thought about it on and off, but dismissed it for several factors (money, the rents' concerns, desire to graduate early, fear of missing my friends, etc.). however, i'm now realizing that nearly all of my close friends will be studying abroad next year, so it looks like i'll be missing them one way or another. and money isn't an issue ever since the office of study abroad started waving a tantalizing scholarship offer in my face. the rents are even encouraging me to look into the semester at uct program.
but most importantly, i no longer feel in a hurry to graduate early. i realize how many options and opportunities are in front of me, but once i actually select them, other doors will obviously close for me. moreover, i keep on resolving to not take courses i'm actually interested in for fear of not being able to graduate in may 2010. (thus, my absolute misery in my courses this semester.) such a decision might indicate a lack of astuteness with regards to finances (as well as a delay in starting my career) on my part, but i'm tired of stressing myself out to get into psc 124. i bet the public policy courses at uct are more interesting, anyway! :)
speaking of my classes this past semester, i know i've mentioned in this and previous entries my disappointment in how 2008 transpired. from boy drama to agonizing classes to disappointing friends to a plethora of money woes, 2008 can go down as one of the worst years so far in my life. however, instead of trying to curtail this misery via meaningless new year's resolutions, i'm taking a hint from live journal (i know, shoot me) and am taking this challenge:
this is the 101 things in 1001 days challenge. starting at the stroke of midnight, it is my mission to do 101 things that i wouldn't normally do, that are seemingly extrordinary, and/or that i have never done before. however, rather than compose a list of 101 things and try to accomplish them (which leads to disappointment after not completing them), i'm merely using this challenge as a motivator to seize the day. these things can be geographical (example: travel to london), physical (example: go skiing), academic (example: obtain my bachelor's degree), emotional (example: make a new best friend), intellectual (example: learn french), job-related, family-related, god-related, or anything else of the sort.
however, there are a few restrictions. i can't use repeats to complete my list, i can't use daily activities that i've been doing since 2008 or before, and most importantly, i can't use things that negatively affect my life. other than that, this list is all about carpe diem and come what may.
in order to complete this list on time, on average, i must do one thing every 9.91 days. this project will be complete on september 29, 2011. good grief, i will be 22 by then!
wish me luck! let me know if you have any ideas of things for me to do, or better yet, let me know if you want to join me!
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