The Importance of Being Earnest...

We're now reading Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest", and I must say, this is another good read (and very similar to "Tartuffe", where one is not who he appears to be). The title is very ironic, because everyone seems to be hiding something and/or pretending to be something that they're not. Ernest, the title character, is not who he appears to be; he pretends to be one person in one part of the country and another person in another part of the country. He longs to shed this second personality and be free to be who he really is with the love of his life, Gwendolen Bracknell; however, he has a whole other life with another family.

Algernon is a cynical character who doesn't see good in anything or anybody and he mocks not only those of a lower social standing, but also those of his own social standing. He, too, has created an alter ego--a sickly alter ego who is constantly on the brink of death--in order to escape what he feels is a ho-hum existence. He even implies that this is what Ernest (Jack) will have to face should he enter into marriage with Gwendolen (who Algernon also happens to be related to).

I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the story next week and seeing what becomes of the characters; what epiphanies will they arrive at? I'm also looking forward to my research assignment, which is due at the end of next week. Having read "Tartuffe", I have some insights that I would like to expound upon in the research paper. Well, that's it for now. It's almost time, fellow students; the end of this quarter is yet upon us. Study hard, and do well on your final assignments.

Week 9 and a research paper due next week....

So Week 10 in our Drama class, we have a research paper due on any of the following characters that we've read about this quarter: Tartuffe, Miss Julie, or the Cherry Orchard. They are all pretty interesting characters, but I know exactly who I want to do my paper on: Tartuffe. While all of the characters that I've read about this quarter I feel I can relate to in some way, I feel that I can relate to the characters in Moliere's comedy.

The reason I enjoyed reading about Tartuffe so much is because the story just goes to show how easily duped we can be if we choose to be. The protagonist Orgon allowed himself to be fooled time and time again by someone he considered a brother and a true confidante, allowing himself to be blind to the deception that his dear "friend" (who was really untrustworthy) heaped upon him. Tartuffe hid behind the guise of being a spiritual person, when really he was unrighteous at heart. All around Orgon could see Tartuffe's deception, but Orgon chose to shut these ones out.

My feeling is that Orgon may well have known that deep down, Tartuffe was not to be trusted. However, when we don't want to admit to our mistakes, we cling to our blind faith and our belief in whatever it is that we hold dear to us. In this case, it almost cost Orgon and his family everything. He was fortunate in the end, but this is a lesson to all of us. It's a good character study, as well, which is why I'd like to do my research paper on this story.

I received a comment on my blog regarding online learning with regard to math classes. This is my answer: study, study study; the notes are posted online for you to take advantage of, and the problems are outlined for you to practice. If it's a strictly online course, you will not have to appear on campus at all; the material will be posted online from one of the instructor's files, followed by instructions on how to take the test. So keep these pointers in mind, and I wish you well in your math class.

Week 8 has come and nearly gone....

The last few weeks of this quarter are drawing ever closer. I've worked hard, and my grades have certainly reflected it. I have to say, I never thought I'd enjoy this drama class as much as I have; when I first received the book in the mail, I thought, "Oh, great; we'll have to read all of these boring stories." Well, as they say: never judge a book by its cover. And in my case, it's literal. I judged the class by the thickness of the book and all the reading I'd have to do. But in reality, the stories could certainly have been written today and still had an impact. I thoroughly enjoyed Moliere's "Tartuffe", about a con man who pulled the wool over his friend's eyes for a long time (it makes me think of Adam Chandler, who turned a blind eye to his family while he was seduced and beguiled by an attractive young woman--only to later realize that they were right).

"Tartuffe" strikes the biggest chord with me, perhaps, because I know what it feels like to defend someone whom you felt you could trust, whom you loved like family, whom you would have given almost anything--only to discover that they not only used you, but attacked your very character when your back was turned but a minute. In fact, all of the stories that we've read more or less were studies in human nature.

My finance classes are going well, also. I feel more confident in my career path than ever; I feel that I would be able to successfully help others to manage their financial futures, whether friends, family, or strangers. I'm getting plenty of experience in the financial side of things at work; and I'll be getting even more when my internship starts (I absolutely cannot WAIT!!!). And to think: a couple of years ago, I was still in flux between two jobs and hadn't yet finished school. Now I'm a quarter away from reaching my goal, and it definitely feels good. "Don't give up" is my motto and the lesson I've learned that I'm willing to impart to all of my fellow students.

Floor-offset retirement plans....

We're discussing the concept of floor-offset hybrid plans, which combines the features of a defined benefit plan with the features of a combined contribution plan. This type of plan would allow the employees/participants to direct some of their investments, while at the same time protecting said employees/participants from unfortunate market conditions and/or bad investment decisions. When you think about it, this type of retirement plan make sense, given today's unfortunate market conditions.

The reason I say this is because when you're planning for retirement, you want to be able to adequately fund your retirement without sacrificing returns on investments. Defined-benefit plans are more stable, regardless of economic upturns or downturns; however, they do not always offer the best returns. And conversely, while defined-contribution plans offer great returns in a market that is flourishing, the exact opposite is true when the market is faltering. So hybrid plans make sense (like the one I currently have).

In a hybrid plan, you get the benefit of both long-and-short-term investments, and the plan stabilizes as you get closer and closer to retirement age, with the short-term investments decreasing and the long-term investment increasing. For all of you in the workforce right now or currently taking business and finance courses at Berkeley, this knowledge will come in handy--and may save you a small fortune in the future.

The Cherry Orchard....

So we finished reading "The Cherry Orchard" this week, and we were asked to write what we felt the cherry orchard represented to Lyubov Andreevna, one of the central characters in the story. I felt that the cherry orchard itself represented home and happiness for Lyubov, with a sense of unchanging familiarity. This was all that she and her family knew, so she clings to the past and avoids the future because she knows that things are about to change--which they do, for her and her family. According to the commentary after the story, this is very symbolic of the changing aristocracy, of the old social order in Russia at the time of the revolution.

There were other things that struck me as symbolic, as well, such as the snapping of a rope in the distance; the dying of the family friend Firs; and the sound of a tree being chopped down in the distance. It symbolized, to me, a break with the old way of life and the introduction of a new way of life for all concerned. If this story were told today, it could definitely represent the society at large with the faltering economy and a changing way of life for many modern families.

I will admit that I found this story somewhat boring initially, but once I really understood the characters and what their hopes, dreams, and fears were, I realized that we all have a little bit of Lyubov in us--clinging to the past and the old way in order to avoid facing the future and the present realities of the situation we find ourselves in (even though they were high society, they were still apprehensive about the future).

Lyubov Andreevna and "The Cherry Orchard".....

This is the current story we're reading for Drama, and I'll have to admit, I'm not really enjoying this one as much as the previous stories. However, one character is of particular interest to me: Miss Lyubov Andreevna and her fascination with her family's cherry orchard. As many of us have discussed, she is childlike in her behavior and seems to have a zest for life and for living, choosing to ignore her family's impending eviction/foreclosure.

What I'm learning, however, is that her perceived over-the-top happiness is a cover and a coping mechanism. She has had a lot of pain in her adult life, and retreating back to happier times--her childhood and where she grew up, for instance--is her way of dealing with the world. As I and the rest of my class read on, we'll see that something happens that may force her to confront the realities of life.

But it got me to thinking: Lyubov is not so different from any one of us. Many of us have ways to deal--or not deal--with difficult situations. We all have that "happy place" that holds some magic for us, where we forget our problems for a while. Maybe I'll come to enjoy this story more as it progresses.

I think Blackboard is down again...

I've been trying to log on for the past few minutes, and I can't get through. I'm gonna try back in another half hour, though. This does happen, online students, so don't get discouraged. Computers are sophisticated pieces of machinery, but they are NOT failproof. As long as you're not in the middle of taking a test and/or you don't have an assignment that's due immediately, you're fine. You simply have to check back and make sure the website is back up so that you can continue in your current studies.

It's Week 7 already, and I'm hoping you all have registered for classes (PARTICULARLY if you're an online student). No time like the present; stay focused on your goals. Registering for your classes ahead of time keeps you in the moment (of education, that is). In fact, just yesterday when I was grocery shopping, the bus passed by on the other side, and there was an advertisement for Berkeley College. I actually smiled when I saw the bus go by, because I'm actually part of an institution that encourages and challenges its students to be all that they can be in life--whether it be in the arts, business, or the medical field.

Can't stay long, though; gotta finish reading this story for drama and hope that Blackboard comes back up tonight. So again I encourage you to get your education and hang in there. Remember, the hardest door to get to is your own; and you've already gotten past that. So that's half the battle.

Week 6 already.....

This is the halfway point, folks. This is where your grade for the quarter is already pretty much determined; or, this is the point where you can turn things around for yourself if you feel that you aren't getting the grades desired. As for me, I'm going to keep forging ahead. My grades at present are excellent; I think I messed up on a test this week, but I have the opportunity to turn that around from this moment on so that it doesn't count against me as much.

I'm so excited, though; this quarter is almost over, and then next quarter is my very last quarter at Berkeley. As I mentioned before, it is kind of bittersweet, but I'll never forget those who helped me along my "Road to Success" (ha ha), starting with Anthony Villani, and continuing along with such wonderful students and faculty members who didn't allow me to make excuses for myself whenever I did less than my best. When your professors see/read your potential, they won't let you get away with subpar performances. And I'm grateful for that; I've even been able to challenge myself more in the workplace.

Speaking of the workplace, this is where I'll be performing my internship (I just have to await the official O.K. from Career Services). I'll get a chance to not only show what I'm made of as a Berkeley College student, but I'll also be giving my employers a chance to consider me for advancement opportunities within the organization. My last internship with Newark City Hall allowed me to utilize some of the skills I'd acquired in business school, but it didn't really prepare me for a job in my field. Now, however, I feel that even if I don't continue with the company I'm currently employed with, I'll be able to take the valuable knowledge that I acquired with me elsewhere. Who knows what the future holds, but I'll be prepared for it.

Final quarter.....

I'm actually registered for my final quarter for the Winter term, and while I feel a certain satisfaction at almost being finished with my schooling, it is truly bittersweet. I'll miss logging in to Blackboard and reading all the goings-on (hopefully I can still squeeze in a school activity before it's all said and done) and blogging about all the things I'm learning in class. I'm hoping I can still blog as a Berkeley alumnus, much the way Aleksandra and Vanessa are doing. I am really grateful to the wonderful staff and students at Berkeley College for the encouragement and kindness that they've shown to me. Again, I say: if you're looking for a school that will meet your academic needs, Berkeley is definitely a viable option. And if you can't make it onto a campus, online learning is a viable option, as well.

I also had the opportunity to interview with Media Relations about my experiences as an online student; I hope I didn't come across as a babbling idiot, is all. I guess I was nervous and excited at the same time that I was chosen to share my experiences. But I would certainly do it again if asked. I only hope that the remainder of this quarter and the final quarter will give me an opportunity to interact with my fellow students on a more personal level, as I explained in my interview. I definitely plan to be available for commencement in May, so I'll definitely be meeting my fellow students and graduates of 2010. I'll continue to follow Mike and his updates on Twitter so as not to lose touch completely with Berkeley College and Berkeley students.