Archives for : J school

David vs. Year Two

Posted by :David Manly On : September 10, 2009
1

Category: "The Black", French Test, J school, Year Two

Well, year two of my Master’s program officially began a few days ago. It’s been an interesting ride so far, filled with plot twists and exciting revelations. Who knows what is in store for me this year?

Now, for some updates.

Those of you who I speak to/communicate with regularly, know that I am missing a “second language requirement” for my degree. Because I go to school in Ottawa, where a significant portion of the population is bilingual, the powers that be decided to make it a requirement to graduate. Seeing as I was a strictly Biology student, there was no need for me to take any foreign languages.

So, I decided to do something about it this year. While the school would prefer the language proficiency to be French, it can really be any language used around the world. Therefore, I decided to take a first-year sign language course. I thought it would be interesting, and an excellent skill to possess.

I also signed up to take the French proficiency test, which the school holds twice a year. It was a pass/fail deal. Worse case scenario, if I failed that, I would take the sign language course and get the requirement done that way.

The French test was on Tuesday, and I got the results yesterday.

By some sort of inexplicable event … I passed it! Cool, eh? So, that requirement for my degree is all done! And, I lose a course I was going to take this semester, so more time to do other sorts of school work.

Other than that, nothing much else has happened here. Yet.

Tomorrow is when the real work begins.

But, as a J-school friend said to me yesterday, “Just eight more months. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, we just need to survive.”

Words to live by, eh?

Ohhh, and I’ve been asked by a few of my fellow students about how soon until Chapter 5 of The Black will be released. I must say, I’m genuinely taken aback when people say they like my story. It does, and will always, put a big smile on my face when people talk about it. Hey, even negative stuff makes me happy, as you are reading it and really thinking about it. Criticism is welcome!

And don’t worry, Chapter 5 is coming, and it’s tentatively entitled, “The Path.” hope to finish it and put it up this weekend.

Fudge, Flask, Finger,Fungus, Feud, Fuse … and other F words

Posted by :David Manly On : October 7, 2008
2

Category: Chemistry, F, hell, J school, Journalism, Ottawa

*SIGH*

Journalism is hell.

Not like real hell, but more like a figurative hell. One with keyboards a clankin’ at all hours of the day, phone calls going unanswered, technological mishaps, pens burst, pencils snap… you know, like nightmare personified, but for J school students.

Well, as much as I thought I’ve learned from the past four-and-a-half weeks, apparently, it is NOT enough. I just got a swift kick in the arse back to reality.

In J school, we hand in a few assignments every week, and we get them handed back to us via email. I got one such assignment today. When I saw my mark, I’m pretty sure that my brain saw it and said: “DAMN! I do suck. I left Biology for THIS? Screw you, but I’m goin home!”

That’s right…. the other, other F word… FAIL

I have never failed anything in my life, except for 2 things.
1) First test in first year Chemistry…42%. But, I worked my ass off in that course from that moment on, and that test ended up being dropped!
2) Yeah, NOTHING ELSE!

The rules state that if you spell a person’s name wrong, you get an automatic F. I did not spell someone’s name wrong. If you misquote someone, auto-F. Not this guy!

I misspelled the name of the election district. I said Ottawa Central, instead of Ottawa Centre. Ottawa CENTRE. Wouldn’t Ottawa Centre be central too? I personally think that’s a better name… less confusion.

Not that it’s a big deal, as we get to re-write our assignments and get them re-graded. I finished the re-write, and I actually think it’s a MUCH better article than it was originally.

So, there you have it. I am a big F. But, if you add one more vertical line to an F?
F + I = A!
Now you ever said math didn’t have it’s uses?