*I need to get an internship. Writing/editorial internships tend to ask for writing samples; sometimes, published writing samples. What counts as published? Print only? Internet? What about a blog? What about a facebook note? Published or not published, this internship search got me looking back at some old facebook notes I'd written and I decided to start sharing them on here. I'm big into creative non-fiction writing but just haven't done much lately-- too much else going on-- so I decided to post some of my old facebook notes on here. Don't steal my stuff! (I don't know that I actually need to say that, but just incase.) This one is called "Jerks" and was originally posted November 12, 2007.
I know I have a thing for natural lighting, but I think everyone can agree that there's something amazing about walking into a classroom in which the lights still haven't been turned on. There's always a soft blue glow from the light coming through the windows. It’s nice because it contrasts the harsh fluorescent lighting normally associated with classrooms. The feeling is particularly good if it’s a morning class. In the morning you want calm darkness because that’s what sleep is, or was before you had to get up for school. Your body knows what is coming. It knows yellow-tinted fluorescent lights are looming in the near future, but when you arrive and they’re not on its heavenly. You sit at your desk marveling at the blessing you’ve been given, knowing that all the subsequent students who file in feel the same way.
But there’s always that one kid who turns the lights on. He (or she) walks in slightly pompously giving off an I’m-ready-for-the-day vibe. He flicks the switch and at once everyone turns around to view the culprit. He doesn’t notice, or perhaps he just doesn’t care. Although, I believe it’s the former. The light switch flicker would have to be ignorant about the entire situation to have done such a thing in the first place.
I wonder about the flicker’s motives. Does he believe he’s helping out the teacher? Moving the light switch from the OFF to ON position saves the teacher about two seconds of time when he arrives. Does the flicker think this really helps? Is it worth it to have the remainder of the class mad at you? Perhaps he thinks he’s doing a favor to his classmates. Perhaps he thinks we like the lights on and enjoy having our rare minutes of quiet serenity abruptly interrupted by his flicking. Maybe he just likes the lights himself and doesn’t think about other people’s feelings because he’s an inherently selfish asshole.
Whatever his motives are, I decidedly hate light switch flickers. They have been around throughout all my years of schooling and their presence has not ceased with college. If you’re not annoyed by them then maybe you need to rethink your life next time you walk into class and feel your hand drifting towards the light switch. If you don’t know one, you are one.
I know I have a thing for natural lighting, but I think everyone can agree that there's something amazing about walking into a classroom in which the lights still haven't been turned on. There's always a soft blue glow from the light coming through the windows. It’s nice because it contrasts the harsh fluorescent lighting normally associated with classrooms. The feeling is particularly good if it’s a morning class. In the morning you want calm darkness because that’s what sleep is, or was before you had to get up for school. Your body knows what is coming. It knows yellow-tinted fluorescent lights are looming in the near future, but when you arrive and they’re not on its heavenly. You sit at your desk marveling at the blessing you’ve been given, knowing that all the subsequent students who file in feel the same way.
But there’s always that one kid who turns the lights on. He (or she) walks in slightly pompously giving off an I’m-ready-for-the-day vibe. He flicks the switch and at once everyone turns around to view the culprit. He doesn’t notice, or perhaps he just doesn’t care. Although, I believe it’s the former. The light switch flicker would have to be ignorant about the entire situation to have done such a thing in the first place.
I wonder about the flicker’s motives. Does he believe he’s helping out the teacher? Moving the light switch from the OFF to ON position saves the teacher about two seconds of time when he arrives. Does the flicker think this really helps? Is it worth it to have the remainder of the class mad at you? Perhaps he thinks he’s doing a favor to his classmates. Perhaps he thinks we like the lights on and enjoy having our rare minutes of quiet serenity abruptly interrupted by his flicking. Maybe he just likes the lights himself and doesn’t think about other people’s feelings because he’s an inherently selfish asshole.
Whatever his motives are, I decidedly hate light switch flickers. They have been around throughout all my years of schooling and their presence has not ceased with college. If you’re not annoyed by them then maybe you need to rethink your life next time you walk into class and feel your hand drifting towards the light switch. If you don’t know one, you are one.
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