I’m not normally a jealous person, but there are a few things that, yes, might just come down to basic jealousy, and they make me angry. But then, they also may just come down to the fact that I don’t appreciate people who don’t work as hard as I do, but get things handed to them.

Oh, wait. That’s jealousy. Alright then, I’ll just continue.

One of my biggest pet peeves of all time are people who get their education for free and do not appreciate it. I’m not saying that Canadian post secondary tuition is in any way comparable to, say, the States, where they definitely pay through the nose. I’m also not going to sit here and pretend that I am working 45 hours a week in addition to going to school in order to afford to live on my own and pay for school. But, some of my friends are. And some of them actually find themselves faced with the reality that they may not be able to continue their studies because they cannot afford it. But, I am getting ahead of myself.

There are, of course, plenty of people who get free post secondary education and deserve it, whether it be because their parents can afford it, or their parents can’t afford it, enough for them to acquire assistance or their government provides it. My issue lies with people who receive such privileges and then proceed to piss it away because it means nothing to them.

I don’t have the option of any of the above things. In fact, I had to save my first year tuition by cutting off my social life for 8 months so that I could save the tiny amount of money left over from working 20 hours a week at a grocery store, plus paying rent and bus fare (and no, I did not have a fancy phone at the time). I don’t have a problem with that. My parents told me it would make me appreciate my education, and possibly that I wouldn’t slack off, and here I am incredibly appreciative with (generally) killer grades to show for it. Sweet. But it irks me to sit around and watch several acquaintances (since I find myself unable to be friendly with, or in one case, to date, someone who is like this, since our personalities generally do not mesh well) who honestly don’t care where the money has gone and don’t take their education seriously. For example, with previously mentioned potential date, who promptly lost my interest when they told me they were simply enrolled in their 4 year university degree because they couldn’t think of anything else to do, didn’t really enjoy the course, and were planning on choosing something else since their parents would pay anyway.

Um wut? I’m sorry to be a bitch (except that I am not sorry), but that is a deal breaker (I will not let you pass that mentality onto our non-existent children!).

Most of you (who comment) work hard for your education, so I’m sure I won’t receive very many complaints about this entry. A few of you who may see yourselves as the sort of person I don’t want to involve myself with (although I’m sure you have redeeming traits, I just can’t often see past that sort of thing, sorry, I’m human and by nature a judgmental hypocrite at times) will claim that I am jealous, and you are partially correct.

Yes, I would say it would be nice to be able to study whatever I wanted without needing to worry about the cost (it would be a dream, really. Probably the 4th thing on my list of things to do after I win the lottery), but no, I wouldn’t want to give up the lessons I have learned from working hard.

I don’t know, student-types like me, all I ask this September is that you think about all the people who aren’t as fortunate to be doing what you are and consider working hard and doing well, instead of spending the next 8 months drunk, or dropping all of your academic classes because they’re “too hard”, or deciding in your final semester of med school to become a stripper (unless you are that bad at practicing medicine, then, by all means…).

This has been another episode of: Ling whines about stuff, then judges people potentially too harshly because she is stubborn, but usually she is a pushover who loves everyone, so let her have this moment. And also a public service announcement.

Good night, and good luck.

Sequels have a love-hate relationship with practically everyone. Some writers/directors/whatever have the crazy talent of being able to pull off a sequel. Unfortunately, this is a very rare talent. So, if you do come across it, be sure to capture it in some sort of capturing device.

Why so bitter? Well, I just finished reading “Nanny Returns” by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. I loved the first one, and I’ve read it and seen its movie counterpart several times. I didn’t even know the sequel was out (and it’s been out since Christmas!) until I went to pick up Mockingjay … read more?

So, I’m not going to lie, this entry is directed at Josh. If it helps out some of you guys reading this, cool. If you have any additional words of wisdom and advice, do me a solid and add it to the comments.

So, I first moved away from home in November 2006 to participate in a government-sponsored volunteer program. I moved in with 9 other young people, and blah blah, you can actually read a detailed account of the entire 9 months here. I moved 607km from home the first time, 3330km from home the second time (3 months … read more?