Everything you need to know is online

Seriously. Ok, please be forewarned that this is another work-related rant of sorts. I know some current students read this (aka my friends!) but rest assured that none of you fall into this category. This rant is about the dumb students.

Really, so a student has gone to the website and can't find the contact information for a particular lender. Ok, well before I judge their ineptitude, I give them the benefit of the doubt. I've perused enough bank websites to know that yes, it really can be confusing. So, in giving them the benefit of the doubt, and in hopes of providing them with a link so they can somewhat self-serve, I go to the website. There, on the top right, is a Contact Us link. Click on that, and lo and behold there is a list of services and the numbers for contacting people about those specific services. About halfway down... yep, you guessed it. The number for Student Loans.

Well maybe that was too many steps for the student, or to much scrolling down to find the information. Maybe they have a broken finger/hand/arm/whole body cast? Let's try option two. Go back to the main page of the bank, **BANK**.com. There are four main categories of service. It took me a little longer to see this one (read-- 15 seconds instead of 5) but under Personal Lending is a link to Student Loans. Click. Lo and behold, the banner area of the page contains the bank name/logo, and centered over everything is the phone number. The phone number! The same one found on the Contact Us page.

I realize some aspects of financial aid are confusing. I've done it for two years and there's still stuff that throws me off. But students like this really make me wonder. The Federal government has said they want to simplify the FAFSA. At my conference in Nashville, one employee from a different school said that if you can't figure out how to fill out the FAFSA, you probably aren't qualified/ready to attend college. True? Maybe, maybe not.

If you worry about the state of common sense in our world today, check out this great story, courtesy of the 100 Hour Board.


AND... here is the Quote of The Day that was posted for today. So befitting, I think.

No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts.

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Dear eyes,

I know we haven't talked very much in the past 24 years, but I hope you realize how important you are to me. Without you I couldn't see, and that would put a damper on a great many things in my life. Should I tell you this more often? I'm not a fan of your current passive-aggressive behaviour towards me. I understand you might be tired of wearing contacts, but couldn't you tell me by getting dry or something, not be getting red and irritated? It's very unbecoming to both of us. I've laid off for the past several days, letting you hide behind glasses. I think you've enjoyed this more, though your stunt today makes me wonder. Why, when I'm already acquiescing to your desire for glasses, must you react so strongly to the eyeshadow I put over you? I wish I knew if it were the color scheme that you didn't like, or if you were allergic to the pigments, or if I should use brushes instead of the wand. But did you really have to turn all itchy and bubbly on my eyelids? I hope our relationship can survive your shenanigans.

Sincerely,

The glasses-wearing girl who hopes she can wear a little eye-makeup in the morning. This is starting to devolve into an "ugly" week.

PS. Please let the breakouts on my face know that I am very aware of them and would like them to vacation elsewhere.

PPS. You may consider emulating my cute pink-painted nails. Those make me happy. Follow their shining example.

I need your comments!

Ok friends, I know people read this without commenting, but this is one time where I'd really like as many comments possible. I have a hair dilemma. I can either dye my hair more blonde to match this wiggie, or I can buy a new wiggie to match my hair. I'll probably be highlighting my hair anyways, but as you can see, that's not really enough to tie it in to match. So, sweaty dance face aside, what would you do about the hair?

Workin' hard for the living

Bless students. They are fascinating creatures, prime for research and examination. Indeed, in my line of work I have the chance to see them and draw empirical conclusions. Here are some things I have observed.

1. Most students who apply/are admitted have ACT scores in the 30's range and GPA's around 3.80 and higher.
   
2. Most students who apply for financial aid don't know how to read instructions.
3. Manners have largely gone down the drain.
4. Following manners are spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Students, students, students!!! Learn how to read, learn how to spell, and remember the manners your mother taught you. It's time to practice being a grown-up.

What's interesting about this is that my musings were triggered by someone mis-spelling some basic stuff. But once you think about it, reading skills and manners follow somewhat naturally into the line of thought.

Happy Birthday!

Here's some pictures from my birthday party in Missouri. Hooray for aging! And for awesome family who makes it so fun.

Now that's a first...

Okay, not even a week into the new year and I'm already having never-before-experienced experiences!!! After about eight or nine years of driving, I have officially been pulled over!

Don't worry, it was actually not that bad; nor was my driving the cause. I was coming back from Springville, toting Jeff with me, and had stopped at a light in Provo on University Avenue. I noticed the car behind me turned off his headlights, then turned them back on. That's when I noticed that it was a police car. The light turned, I accelerated, keeping my eye on the lights behind me, and sure enough, they turned on. I say "sure enough" because I realized on Sunday night, when I drove back from SLC, that my left headlight had died. Thankfully Jeff and I bought one today, but he and Alex couldn't replace it. I guess the battery is in the way, so they recommended I take it in to Dan, who could probably do it super fast. The officer walked up (I forgot the whole hands at ten and two thing.... oops) and asked about my lights. I told him I knew about the headlight and showed him the one we had bought. Then he asked if I knew my license plate light was out. I just realized when I wrote about him turning his lights off that that was him checking to see if my plate light was on or not. I didn't know that, so he said to get it fixed. He then asked for my insurance. Jeff handed me the cards, but as I handed them to the officer I realized they were not current anymore. Bad.

BUT! How blessed was I this morning to remember to grab that envelope out of my laptop case and put it in my purse! I always have my purse when I drive, so until I switched out the car set, at least they'd be in the car when I was. I told him I had the updated ones in my purse, rifled through, and handed that to him as well. He gave them back and said to get my lights fixed. The whole stop lasted like.... two minutes, tops. My first time getting pulled over, ever! I'm glad it was for a good thing, like lights.

Happy New Year, 2010!

To hold the same views at forty as we held at twenty is to have been stupefied for a score of years, and take rank, not as a prophet, but as an unteachable brat, well birched and none the wiser.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Here's to a new year and a new decade of adventures and growing!