Biscuits for a Stranger

I was challenged this week to buy a coke for a stranger. My experience was not one I exactly planned for. I went to Macey's (the grocery store) to get some food for Sunday pot roast dinner. While I was in line I noticed a woman behind me with three items: brownies, chocolate chips, and biscuits. As I was purchasing my items I turned around and told the clerk that I would be purchasing hers too. The woman looked at me with the strangest look, probably wondering why in the world a stranger would buy her something. Her first reaction was to decline my offer three or four times, but I was very insistent. Her second reaction was to accept my offer but only hand me one item. She set the other two down claiming she did not need them anymore. I purchased the biscuits for her, she gave me a quick thanks and I was on my way. As I was walking out the door I glanced back and discovered her buying the other two items plus a pack of gum! I didn't know what to think when I saw that scene.

Prior to buying the drink I think I expected to be the person buying an item for a person standing on their last leg. You know those stories, the ones where people have to decide between food and bills and some stranger helps them. I somewhat expected this challenge to help me become that stranger. However, I was simply a stranger buying biscuits for another stranger. I'll never know the consequences of that action nor the impact it made. I do know that I felt great after the fact. For a moment in my busy life I was able to forget about my needs and help someone else. It was a defining moment.

Back to the Basics

I took three midterms last week. Each one was difficult in its own way. During my finance test I wanted to crumble the test up, throw my desk, and run out screaming franticly. Its funny how teachers will give you study guides and problems to work out, but won't test you on that material. It seems to me that study guides should coincide with test material...but hey I'm not a teacher. After one of my tests I started to think about the methods teachers use to "measure" their students comprehension levels. I do not believe tests are the most efficient and effective measuring tool. It is almost a lazy way for teachers to evaluate their students. In some circumstances I believe tests are appropriate but not in all situations. When children are younger they gain the majority of their knowledge in class from their teachers. When they reach advanced academic stages teachers start to rely on books to teach the students. Now, in college students are required to gain the majority of their knowledge outside* class. It is for this reason that teachers give tests to evaluate their student’s knowledge level. Whatever happened to teachers taking a more hands-on approach? Some classes are too large for professors to do so, and that is circumstance. However, some classes are small enough where teachers can take a more hands on approach; yet, they rely more on the books to teach their students. I believe it is time that teachers realize the potential impact they have on their students learning process. It is time they take a hands-on approach. It is time students gain the majority of their knowledge in class, rather than outside class. Teachers have the responsibility of shaping the rising generation--knowledge is power.

Walking with Words

It's amazing how words can change almost any event or encounter. I was a small party the other night and noticed a guy talking to a girl. It was interesting to see how the words each of them used, constantly created new paths. Each word was like a footstep. Essentially their conversation was like a walk together down unknown paths. Body language is like a road sign. It gives warnings, it cautions, and it shows the speed limit. This guy talking to this girl was oblivious to any sign and kept rambling on; walking farther and farther away from her.

In our lives I think it is important to learn how use right words that take us in the direction we want to go. I think it is important to heed road signs as we walk ... in other words watch out for body language as we talk we each other. Lately, I feel like I have two left feet that keep taking me in circles. I have no problem talking to people; I just can't seem to find the right words. Eventually I'm staring into a blank face or the side of a head. However, for one day I felt like I was walking in the right direction. It was great.

Different directions with eyes glazing over

12:28 PM
Why is it that when we walk down the sidewalk and see another human being we become somewhat anxious? I know not everyone has that problem but for the most part people have a difficult time interacting with strangers. We are all just people living our own lives. Yet, for some reason, we categorize each other into different segments of society. I'll admit sometimes I do not want to stop and talk to people. Other times I'll walk by people and they will look into a different direction or glaze over until they pass me. What is the source of this behavior and why do we do it? It is not something taught in our society nor by parents; however, people all over the world developed a difficulty interacting one with another. I'm not talking about butterflies or anxiety commonly related to talking with the opposite sex. I'm talking about everyday encounters with other humans that result in two people looking in opposite directions or two people's eyes glazing over as they pass each other. One cause may be a nervousness to interact with a stranger, but why are we nervous? There is no reason to feel anxiety or butterflies because we are all humans in the same family. Somewhere down the road we've got to realize this and start interacting with each other without fright.