Introduction

I believe that every child needs to rebel.  Teenage years are the stereotypical time for rebellion, but I managed to I managed to sneak through adolescence under the radar.  Now in my early 20s, I've decided to break out and start a revolution of my own: I am going to reclaim my learning.

Returning to higher education after a year and a half, I have finally relaxed enough around academia to realize that I do, in fact, like learning.  And I like reading.  I have always wanted to be one of those people who likes to just curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and a book, but unfortunately I usually get overwhelmed by everything else that I have to do, or the fact that the book seems so long, that I just lose myself in the internet.  At university this time, however, I've realized that I really like reading.  I always knew I was a bibliophile -- I just love being in libraries and around old books -- but I hadn't really gotten the knack of cracking one open and reading it until the end.

But this year, my entire conception of education has changed.  This is where I will probably sound like a pompous jerk, but I'll just say it: I'm back at school to get that little piece of paper that is apparently so important for jobs, and I think a great majority of the time I spend in class or doing homework is wasted.  I have already learned how to write a research paper, how to engage in conversation about a topic, how to state a point of view and back it up with sources, how to take notes in class, and how to suck up to teachers.  I don't need to receive a letter to show that I have paid attention or crammed just enough to do well on a test.  I want to learn, so I am going to take back my learning.  I am going to finally enjoy (and put to real use) the huge library at UBC, the enormous databases of scholarly journals, and the wonders of the internet to learn about anything and everything that I care to investigate.  No, parents, don't worry that I'll drop out of school again.  But you should worry that I'll start having new ideas and new perceptions of the world.  For once in my short, academia-crammed world, I want to enjoy learning.  Okay, now I will step off my soap box.

To preface the rest of the blog, I would like to say that I dearly hope that I do not come off sounding like a whiny, conceited child complaining that she is too privileged.  The purpose of this blog is to create a compilation of the knowledge I acquire and my thoughts and opinions surrounding it.  If you readers want to engage with me on any topic, or have opinions you would like to share on anything I write, then please leave comments!  It would be wonderful to see this blog turn into a book club.  I'm sure there are others of you out there who just want a place to explore knowledge -- so join me!

And now, I am off to the library.