The Daily OrangeA balanced course load can expand personal limits and boundaries
By Danny Fersh
Posted: 4/1/09, 1:07 AM EST Section: Feature
Everyone has his own comfort zone. For some, it's going out and being around people. For others, it's staying in and being alone. For me, it's a box of tissues, a pair of pink pajamas and a Meg Ryan movie.
Whether it's "When Harry Met Sally" or "Sleepless in Seattle," once that love song starts playing and my eyes well up with tears of joy, I can't help but wonder why all my friends would rather watch the NCAA Tournament than Meg Ryan faking an orgasm.
Regardless, that warm and fuzzy feeling I get from romantic comedies immediately cools off when I'm pulled out of my comfort zone. So, you can imagine how I felt when I went ice skating and salsa dancing for the first time in my life on successive nights this weekend.
For most people, an ice rink and a Latin party are two completely different experiences. Yet somehow they've both blurred together into one long memory full of pain, flailing limbs and innocent bystanders.
Nevertheless, I had a pretty fun weekend. As it turns out, leaving my comfort zone was the best decision I've made since asking my professor to crash at her place.
Thus, with renewed spirit and a sudden sense of boldness, I tackled my fall 2009 class registration using a Don Quixote meets "Old School" combination of daring, flair and KY Jelly. It was difficult. It took forever. There were casualties. But, in the end, I found four courses that will definitely stretch my boundaries:
AEE 442: High Speed Aerodynamics
I'm not entirely sure what this means, but when I asked my neighbor in the engineering program, he said it has to do with rockets and stuff. Which, of course, sounds awesome. Especially when the Estes model rocket you're working on fires off prematurely, launching itself into your TA's office and setting his desk (and your homework) on fire. All in a day's work.
PSY 395: Abnormal Psychology
It's always fun to see the alternative methods people use to work out their issues. Can you imagine what a demonstration from the professor would be like during a lecture? "OK class, listen up. Today we're observing Arinze Onuaku. Watch as he sinks deeper into the shark tank with every missed free throw."
Whether it's "When Harry Met Sally" or "Sleepless in Seattle," once that love song starts playing and my eyes well up with tears of joy, I can't help but wonder why all my friends would rather watch the NCAA Tournament than Meg Ryan faking an orgasm.
Regardless, that warm and fuzzy feeling I get from romantic comedies immediately cools off when I'm pulled out of my comfort zone. So, you can imagine how I felt when I went ice skating and salsa dancing for the first time in my life on successive nights this weekend.
For most people, an ice rink and a Latin party are two completely different experiences. Yet somehow they've both blurred together into one long memory full of pain, flailing limbs and innocent bystanders.
Nevertheless, I had a pretty fun weekend. As it turns out, leaving my comfort zone was the best decision I've made since asking my professor to crash at her place.
Thus, with renewed spirit and a sudden sense of boldness, I tackled my fall 2009 class registration using a Don Quixote meets "Old School" combination of daring, flair and KY Jelly. It was difficult. It took forever. There were casualties. But, in the end, I found four courses that will definitely stretch my boundaries:
AEE 442: High Speed Aerodynamics
I'm not entirely sure what this means, but when I asked my neighbor in the engineering program, he said it has to do with rockets and stuff. Which, of course, sounds awesome. Especially when the Estes model rocket you're working on fires off prematurely, launching itself into your TA's office and setting his desk (and your homework) on fire. All in a day's work.
PSY 395: Abnormal Psychology
It's always fun to see the alternative methods people use to work out their issues. Can you imagine what a demonstration from the professor would be like during a lecture? "OK class, listen up. Today we're observing Arinze Onuaku. Watch as he sinks deeper into the shark tank with every missed free throw."
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