Well, it's back to school once again. I can tell this year is going is going to be difficult schedule-wise, just because it's the first time I'm doing full-time school and full-time work at the same time. (or as close to full-time work as full-time school will allow, which is technically about half-time.) But as much as I may whine and complain about school, I can take comfort in one very important fact: at least I'm not in middle school.

Yes, I'm not going to sugar-coat it for any middle school readers...middle school is probably the worst period of education in a student's life. It wasn't even bad for me, but I still remember the middle school "aftertaste" that kind of penetrated the very air you breathe. I'm just thankful that my middle school experience was short...I did 6th grade in elementary school, and 7th and 8th grade in middle school. Because of that, 6th grade was one of my favorite years in school, instead of it being a year of woe and misery. In my opinion, 6th grade should be kept in elementary school...I know I was better off for it. Therefore, in honor of school beginning once again, I write a rant towards all current or would-be middle-schoolers:

Middle school is a paradoxical time in which you're not quite kids, and not quite teenagers. This is even worse than the gap between teenagers and adults, because at least teenagers can begin to develop some sense of identity. As a result, middle schoolers think that, magically, because they are no longer kids, they are now automatically adults. That's just not true. When you're about 25, then you can talk about being an adult. Not at 13. And I know quite a few 25-year-olds who would disagree about even that being considered "adult" age. So when you're 13, don't expect to be treated like an adult. Because you're NOT.

Teenagers (but especially preteens) think that they know everything, and they have the whole world figured out. But the fact is, you *don't* know everything. I thought I had the whole world figured out in high school, and then I got older and realized I was wrong. Sure, you know a lot more than you do when you're a kid. But that's not everything. So don't talk to your parents or your teachers like they're complete morons and haven't the faintest understanding of how you think or feel. It's true, they're not you. They don't have your likes or dislikes or interests, and they didn't deal with the same problems you do when they were your age. The world was very different when they were young. But that doesn't mean you know more than they do. 'Cause you DON'T.

What bugs me the most about middle-schoolers isn't that they think they know everything and try to talk down every authority figure that tells them otherwise, because that's normal. You're supposed to question your surroundings and what people tell you, because that's a part of growing up and learning to think for yourself. And during preteen and teenage years is the best time to be doing that. It's rather ironic that most people spend their teenage years trying to rebel, then spend their adult lives trying to play by the rules.

What DOES bug me is that in trying to rebel, or establish identities, or become adults, many middle schoolers develop these terrible behaviors, like somehow being an adult gives you the right to act like a jerk. Quite the opposite. I go to the mall and see all these middle-school kids dressing in skimpy midriffs and butt-flashing skirts or pants that fall to their knees, as if they actually look good in it. HA! The vast majority of middle-schoolers look terrible in the skanky stuff they wear in public, yet somehow still wear it because it's "cool" or "my parents would never let me wear it." They never let you wear it because you look like crap in it! Just wear normal clothes! You don't have to wear plaid tucked-in shirts or something "nerdy," just frickin' normal clothes. Why use clothes to "establish your identity" if your identity immediately comes off as "I AM A SLUT"? There are easier (and WAY cheaper) methods to "establishing your identity."

And the clothes are not even the most damaging part: it's the attitude. Parents rarely understand how their kids can suddenly turn from sweet little angels into big jerkasauruses. (And ususally a lot of denial results from it...) And the worst cases are not even jerks, but *manipulative* jerks. I've heard more than one horror story of teachers who have LOST THEIR JOBS, or come very close, because some manipulative little demon-child decided that they just didn't like that teacher and wanted them to lose their job. Usually these kids have the backing of some parent who's in denial that their kid is anything but an innocent little globule of goodness that can do no wrong. Sure, there were teachers in middle school that I hated, and that I would have wanted nothing more than for them to lose their jobs. But I never manipulated the adults around me with stories, lies and crocodile tears so that they actually were prosecuted for it. While I was in high school, one of my favorite teachers "mysteriously disappeared" because some bitchy little sophomore chick decided she didn't like him and accused him of sexual harassment. As a result, we had stoned substitutes for the rest of the year and didn't learn a thing. Seriously, we learned NOTHING. Yeah, that's really improving our educational environment.

The moral of the story: just because you're in middle school doesn't mean you have the right to be a whiner, a jackass or a slut. So don't do it!

Also, don't assume that just because I say you're not an adult and don't deserve to be treated like one, means that middle schoolers are somehow less valued or something. So you're not an adult yet...that's okay! That's a good thing! You have a lot of things to be happy about. Your parents still pay for your housing, your food, your insurance, and the massive amounts of crap that you buy! You still have the free time to do things you like and hang out with your friends! And before you argue and say no I don't, I have too much homework...yes, you DO have the free time! If you have time to read this rant on this blog, you certainly have the time to do things you like. And don't think it's all downhill once you graduate from college, either...just take the years as they come. Don't try to be an adult when you're still a kid, and you will have fun. Because kids should have fun, dammit!

And that leads to another thing...don't listen to the adults that tell you to start worrying about getting into college in middle school. Because you *shouldn't*. You can start worrying about that junior year of high school, sophomore at the earliest. It bugs the crap out of me when parents start prepping their kids for college as early as 4th grade, like kids will have any clue what they want to study intensively at that age. And college is really not the be-all end-all of education. Practically anybody can get into college nowadays.

Ahh, I love ranting. XD There's just something rather satisfying about getting out your biased, unfounded opinion for all to see. Maybe that's why so many people do it. Damn.

As far as my school goes, it's actually been a bit better than I thought it would be, despite the killer schedule. Dr. Jordan seems overly enthusiastic about Journalism, and the assignments don't seem that demanding. Great Books seems easier this semester (assignment-wise) than the previous semester. And Screenwriting looks like it will be fun (despite the terrible hours and lots of work). Now I just need to think of a good movie idea... I still have to go to Communication Graphics today, but that's one class I was actually looking forward to, so hopefully it will be good. The less work in assignments I have, the better. ^^;;

Operator Status: Just had about 12 calls in queue. This is a very bad sign. I don't think I'll be able to work weekday shifts by myself again. T_T

Maya PLE comprehension status: 15% Let's see when I'll actually have time to practice again...most get some finished work for a portfolio!