Work this past week was insane, which of course complimented nicely with my bozo school week as well. Oh, the joy. Friday I stayed until 10:30 helping to find over 40 lost tests, which were "lost" because the scanner was messing up, so everything had to be entered by hand, so the supervisors had to deal with people plopping dozens of tests down together... some fell through the cracks of being scanned in. But we found them all, do not fret. Testing Center employees are born tough.
Saturday was even more interesting. I arrived late (... oops), but when I arrived, both the scanner AND the printer were not working, so in addition to the supervisors having to enter everything by hand, so did the test-hander-outers. Do you know how slow this is? And chaotic. And of course the lines were like 20,000 people long. We were going through 3-4 people like every 2 minutes or something (usually I can wip them babies out pretty fast).
And then, he came. I actually remembered him as we walked up to my desk. He was wearing a gray shirt with some design in red, green, and white (I remember thinking, Viva Italia? sortof) and plaid gray shorts. He also had rosy cheeks. I think I have a special magnetic field that pulls rosy-cheeked people (hmm... or maybe just boy ones?) into my life. It's weird.
I usually check my test count all the time when I am bored. And it even flashes up on the screen when you reach a new hundred number. But I didn't see it flash "10,000" at me until rosy-cheek man was already in the testing room, because of the chaos. I bet he'd have liked to know he made my day. 10,000 is a big number.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Two-Thirds Rule
I always try and do things like see if more boys than girls come in to take tests on Saturdays or during my shifts (late at night, right before the Testing Center closes, on late days, etc.), but every time I think there are more boys I realize it's probably just because I'm looking for them. But I've found an interesting phenomenon in the Music Room upstairs... the last 4 or 5 times I've proctored there, I've counted the male to female ratios. It figures out to 2/3 of the students up there are males, every time.
Now, of course there's been times when it's been 16/23 or something, but really. 2/3 keeps arising. What I think is interesting is the reason for this. Do guys just respond better to music playing during their test? Are males more likely to take a test at night? Or are guys just more likely to cheat, so they like the more un-proctored Music Room? (Ok, just kidding.) Of course, this is an observational study, so no causation can be concluded. (Thank you, O Noble Stats 221.) And I have only recently started collecting data. But it sure is food for thought.
Now, of course there's been times when it's been 16/23 or something, but really. 2/3 keeps arising. What I think is interesting is the reason for this. Do guys just respond better to music playing during their test? Are males more likely to take a test at night? Or are guys just more likely to cheat, so they like the more un-proctored Music Room? (Ok, just kidding.) Of course, this is an observational study, so no causation can be concluded. (Thank you, O Noble Stats 221.) And I have only recently started collecting data. But it sure is food for thought.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Y Not?
After our Divine Comedy plans epically failed (within like 2 seconds of their birth), we scrambled (for the hour before we were supposed to leave) to make it to the base of Y Mountain on time and in one piece (after a quick stop at Subway and Jamba Juice, where we met up with Jordan).
Um.... I almost died on Y Mountain. And I felt like the biggest wuss ever to set foot on BYU campus. If I was ever to be cremated, I would seriously consider having my ashes scattered along the trail, since I almost died there anyways. And it was especially embarrassing with Jordan there, who kept offering to take my bookbag and wasn't even breathing heavily the whole way up. MUTANT. WHO HAS DONE EVERY OTHER SPORT EXCEPT TRACK AND FIELD. Dang. Here's some other highlights of our night:
1. Pulsating all over my body as I hiked up the mountain. And feeling like I was going to puke.
2. Feeling like my head was touching the ground, it was such a steep incline.
3. Feeling like I was getting gout in my fingers. I couldn't take my rings off, they were so fat.
4. Taking the flat trail to the bottom of the Y, then having to climb up the Y itself (which is kind of illegal) to get to the top where everyone else who didn't want to come down was. Also near very loud Spanish-speaking people.
5. Getting a sweet scar on my leg climbing up said Y.
6. Feeling like I was about to plummet down to my death at any moment bear-climbing up said Y.
7. Watching The Princess Bride at the top of the Y. And having all the boys quote every single line... lol.
8. Falling walking back down the mountain. I'm pretty much awesome.
9. Swinging on the park swings.
10. Playing on this AWESOME big swing thing that looked like one of those horse-walker things, like in Princess Diaries 2.
11. Doing a cartwheel for the first time in a long time with Audrey.
12. Getting kicked out of the park by the cop, who apparently approved of our choice of Princess Bride, but said the park closed at 11.
13. Having to wait 20 minutes for a seat at IHOP, at 2:30 in the morning.
14. Kristian ruining his fries I was to eat by drenching them in pickle juice. (Ok, I guess he *did* buy them...)
15. Seeing Jordan eat his 6 pieces of french toast in 5 minutes flat, and draining a glass of water less than a minute after we had received them (I actually think this is his normal pace, not out of extraordinary hunger).
16. Awkward Jordan hug. Oops.
17. Awkward Kristian hug. Again.
18. Getting to bed at least an hour before Megan woke up for work (yay! we're improving! ^_^)
19. Waking up at 8AM to a mysterious call from Jordan... who turned out not to be Jordan.... which is another long story.
20. Disbelieving Jordan actually came with us and put up with our insanity. For a very long time. I kind of admire him for that.
Um.... I almost died on Y Mountain. And I felt like the biggest wuss ever to set foot on BYU campus. If I was ever to be cremated, I would seriously consider having my ashes scattered along the trail, since I almost died there anyways. And it was especially embarrassing with Jordan there, who kept offering to take my bookbag and wasn't even breathing heavily the whole way up. MUTANT. WHO HAS DONE EVERY OTHER SPORT EXCEPT TRACK AND FIELD. Dang. Here's some other highlights of our night:
1. Pulsating all over my body as I hiked up the mountain. And feeling like I was going to puke.
2. Feeling like my head was touching the ground, it was such a steep incline.
3. Feeling like I was getting gout in my fingers. I couldn't take my rings off, they were so fat.
4. Taking the flat trail to the bottom of the Y, then having to climb up the Y itself (which is kind of illegal) to get to the top where everyone else who didn't want to come down was. Also near very loud Spanish-speaking people.
5. Getting a sweet scar on my leg climbing up said Y.
6. Feeling like I was about to plummet down to my death at any moment bear-climbing up said Y.
7. Watching The Princess Bride at the top of the Y. And having all the boys quote every single line... lol.
8. Falling walking back down the mountain. I'm pretty much awesome.
9. Swinging on the park swings.
10. Playing on this AWESOME big swing thing that looked like one of those horse-walker things, like in Princess Diaries 2.
11. Doing a cartwheel for the first time in a long time with Audrey.
12. Getting kicked out of the park by the cop, who apparently approved of our choice of Princess Bride, but said the park closed at 11.
13. Having to wait 20 minutes for a seat at IHOP, at 2:30 in the morning.
14. Kristian ruining his fries I was to eat by drenching them in pickle juice. (Ok, I guess he *did* buy them...)
15. Seeing Jordan eat his 6 pieces of french toast in 5 minutes flat, and draining a glass of water less than a minute after we had received them (I actually think this is his normal pace, not out of extraordinary hunger).
16. Awkward Jordan hug. Oops.
17. Awkward Kristian hug. Again.
18. Getting to bed at least an hour before Megan woke up for work (yay! we're improving! ^_^)
19. Waking up at 8AM to a mysterious call from Jordan... who turned out not to be Jordan.... which is another long story.
20. Disbelieving Jordan actually came with us and put up with our insanity. For a very long time. I kind of admire him for that.
P.S. Nick the Hippie Kid is actually very nice. =)
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Long Time Coming
To The Poor, Confused, and Disillusioned Writer of that Daily Universe People-Write-In Section Who Was Angry About There Being Proctors in the Testing Center:
Hello. You might not even remember when you wrote your letter in, but I have been stewing about this rebuttal ever since.
I work at the Testing Center. I see firsthand how every week, there are people caught cheating taking their tests. I hear the stories of the most clever cheaters ever to grace these halls, but I also am the one who walks around and evidently is the source of your concern.
Point A. Proctors Bump You As They Walk Around, Disturbing Your Test and Causing You To Lose Focus and Get Worse Grades.
Honestly, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. And if people like you didn't leave their bookbags and coats and food wrappers and purses and tennis rackets and shopping bags in the aisles, proctors like me wouldn't have to accidentally bump into you as they pass you at a maximum of 3 times per half hour trying not to stumble to their deaths passing over it. I have to contort myself into avoiding page corners hanging off desks as it is, and I have learned how to take 5 foot wide steps to avoid people's mess on the ground. Sorry if me bumping you makes you angry and get a bad grade. Most of the time I can't even look at the desks and tests I am passing because I am too busy looking at the floor to make sure I don't die. Testing Center employees are not picked for their more highly developed balancing abilities, so I'd like to see you trot back and forth through the rows without looking down or accidentally touching someone or something. Yeah.
Point B. Why Do We Need Proctors Anyway, If Everyone Agreed to Follow the Honor Code? They're Dumb. Let's Fire Them.
Although I congratulate your integrity in following the honor code, that doesn't mean that everyone does. Take a look around campus. Ever seen a skirt that wasn't exactly knee length, or some facial hair that seemed a little too arranged into a beard? People are willing to not exactly follow other parts of the Honor Code, obviously, so what's to say they will follow the academic portion of it exactly, either?
I've never caught an outright cheater, but I've sent some people to the supervisor for using unstamped notes and such. People will do anything to get what they want or need, and as we all know, college tests can matter a lot in your final grade, college graduation, and future careers. There are desperate people out there, and even if you knew 50% of the people on campus there'd still be over 15,000 people with their own beliefs, excuses, needs, and worries. You might want to think twice before speaking for them or allying themselves with them.
I hope I've not sounded jaded, but I just think there is a reality here that needs to be recognized. I was a naive little freshman when I came to BYU, too, and the first time I saw a girl wearing shorts about 10 inches away from her knees, I was horrified. I've since learned that there are many different interpretations of this gospel and general morality, and judging anybody just doesn't even help at all. I know the majority of people here would never ever even think of cheating on a test, but for that small percent for whom temptation sometimes gets the better of, that's what we are here for. The Super Proctors of the Universe.
I hoped that helped and wasn't too confusing. Just know there's more than meets the eye, and knowing what's really going on is sometimes actually better than just living in ignorant bliss. Sometimes.
Sincerely,
A Person Who Hates Proctoring, Being Aggressive to Test-Takers, and Who Often Tells Herself The Cheaters Will Just Have to Get Their Eternal Reward in the End
Hello. You might not even remember when you wrote your letter in, but I have been stewing about this rebuttal ever since.
I work at the Testing Center. I see firsthand how every week, there are people caught cheating taking their tests. I hear the stories of the most clever cheaters ever to grace these halls, but I also am the one who walks around and evidently is the source of your concern.
Point A. Proctors Bump You As They Walk Around, Disturbing Your Test and Causing You To Lose Focus and Get Worse Grades.
Honestly, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. And if people like you didn't leave their bookbags and coats and food wrappers and purses and tennis rackets and shopping bags in the aisles, proctors like me wouldn't have to accidentally bump into you as they pass you at a maximum of 3 times per half hour trying not to stumble to their deaths passing over it. I have to contort myself into avoiding page corners hanging off desks as it is, and I have learned how to take 5 foot wide steps to avoid people's mess on the ground. Sorry if me bumping you makes you angry and get a bad grade. Most of the time I can't even look at the desks and tests I am passing because I am too busy looking at the floor to make sure I don't die. Testing Center employees are not picked for their more highly developed balancing abilities, so I'd like to see you trot back and forth through the rows without looking down or accidentally touching someone or something. Yeah.
Point B. Why Do We Need Proctors Anyway, If Everyone Agreed to Follow the Honor Code? They're Dumb. Let's Fire Them.
Although I congratulate your integrity in following the honor code, that doesn't mean that everyone does. Take a look around campus. Ever seen a skirt that wasn't exactly knee length, or some facial hair that seemed a little too arranged into a beard? People are willing to not exactly follow other parts of the Honor Code, obviously, so what's to say they will follow the academic portion of it exactly, either?
I've never caught an outright cheater, but I've sent some people to the supervisor for using unstamped notes and such. People will do anything to get what they want or need, and as we all know, college tests can matter a lot in your final grade, college graduation, and future careers. There are desperate people out there, and even if you knew 50% of the people on campus there'd still be over 15,000 people with their own beliefs, excuses, needs, and worries. You might want to think twice before speaking for them or allying themselves with them.
I hope I've not sounded jaded, but I just think there is a reality here that needs to be recognized. I was a naive little freshman when I came to BYU, too, and the first time I saw a girl wearing shorts about 10 inches away from her knees, I was horrified. I've since learned that there are many different interpretations of this gospel and general morality, and judging anybody just doesn't even help at all. I know the majority of people here would never ever even think of cheating on a test, but for that small percent for whom temptation sometimes gets the better of, that's what we are here for. The Super Proctors of the Universe.
I hoped that helped and wasn't too confusing. Just know there's more than meets the eye, and knowing what's really going on is sometimes actually better than just living in ignorant bliss. Sometimes.
Sincerely,
A Person Who Hates Proctoring, Being Aggressive to Test-Takers, and Who Often Tells Herself The Cheaters Will Just Have to Get Their Eternal Reward in the End
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wake Up
Usually about this far into my liking someone, I would be getting frustrated that they were not showing a certain level of interest back at me, and would eventually get tired enough (supplemented by other reasons) that I would fall out of like. But for some reason, I feel like this time, I’m calm. I know that he and I will work out whatever way the Lord has planned… whether it be great friends or mortal enemies (haha, I hope not) or something else, I don’t know, but I do know that all will be right in the Lord’s time. When I think about my friends and family who are or will be waiting for missionaries to return, I couldn’t imagine living through that… 2 years is such a long time! But again, I feel like the Lord’s timetable will be sufficient. A mission is the right thing to do. 2 years of effort now will sow great seeds for the future.
Perhaps this is all just a part of a slightly different philosophy I’ve been gifted lately. I think it literally happened that one day I woke up, and I was happy. For the past few weeks I have had a great time and striven to keep a smile on my face and annoyance out of my voice and attitude. I think I have been truly happy, and I hope that the people I’ve been around lately have picked up on that. Thinking now, it’s even harder for me to imagine being depressed and self-piteous and gloomy all the time. Why would I ever be so down when being happy is so beautiful? I wish I could show everyone how nice it is to be the happy version of yourself… but then again, I didn’t do anything spectacular; all I did was wake up.
Perhaps this is all just a part of a slightly different philosophy I’ve been gifted lately. I think it literally happened that one day I woke up, and I was happy. For the past few weeks I have had a great time and striven to keep a smile on my face and annoyance out of my voice and attitude. I think I have been truly happy, and I hope that the people I’ve been around lately have picked up on that. Thinking now, it’s even harder for me to imagine being depressed and self-piteous and gloomy all the time. Why would I ever be so down when being happy is so beautiful? I wish I could show everyone how nice it is to be the happy version of yourself… but then again, I didn’t do anything spectacular; all I did was wake up.
Something About the Nighttime
I love sleep. I love anticipating sleep (which often gets me through the day), putting on my pajamas (which relaxes me in itself), and then slipping into bed and finally being able to stop, once in the day. I’m not one to worry about the day ahead when I get in to bed, because I know I need to sleep, so why fret about what I’m going to do tomorrow when I’ve got a wondrous few hours of rest right now, just for me? I love being able to think about whatever I want, and watching the quiet outside. I love cracking out my back so I can be taller in the morning when I get up (ok, that’s not really the reason). I love snuggling up inside my blankets and closing my eyes to silence.
Sleep is so therapeutic. Sometimes I’m sorry I’m missing out on being aware of all my wonderful sleep time. Whenever I am sick (which is rare anyways), usually all I need is a good dose of comfy time in my bed to feel better. I don’t think I could live on the days I work if I didn’t get a nap in in the afternoons - I couldn’t survive the mornings, not having a nap to look forward to, or the evenings, where sometimes work feels like a millenia. I feel so sorry for people like Edward Cullen who don’t get to experience the exhilaration of a truly exhausted sleep.
Sleep is so therapeutic. Sometimes I’m sorry I’m missing out on being aware of all my wonderful sleep time. Whenever I am sick (which is rare anyways), usually all I need is a good dose of comfy time in my bed to feel better. I don’t think I could live on the days I work if I didn’t get a nap in in the afternoons - I couldn’t survive the mornings, not having a nap to look forward to, or the evenings, where sometimes work feels like a millenia. I feel so sorry for people like Edward Cullen who don’t get to experience the exhilaration of a truly exhausted sleep.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Testing Center Musings
Today I filled in for half of my sister Megan's shift at the TC, and it was SO slow. Here's some valuable insights from the time I lazed about earning money:
1. Proctoring in the Music Room upstairs is like entering another dimension. You just sit there. For half an hour. While life continues downstairs. I tried to think about how long a half hour would feel like on the main floor, especially on a slow day like today. Time seems to either stand still or fly by in the Music Room.... please watch the past few episodes of Lost to truly capture my feelings on this.
2. Dang Chemistry tests. Why can't it all be shoved into one class, or just taught once and everyone remember it? Instead of always hearing, "Oh, we don't go that indepth in this level of this class. So please just accept that this random thing I just told you is true." I don't care about knowing why, that's all I need. Really. 10,000 different levels just seems a little redundant to me.
3. Them people who all talk in line to the people behind them, and then I'm like, "I CAN HELP THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE..." and then they stand there forever and then don't even say sorry when they finally come up to me after finishing their conversation. Yeah, I'm not as nice to them, pretty much on purpose.
4. It's really awkward when people take 5 years to pack up after you've already handed them everything and said good luck.... it's like, ok, you can move on now.... so you awkwardly smile to the next people in line, pretend to do something on the computer to take up time (check out our computer screens when you take a final in the Wilk-- not much to do there...), or organize all the person's mess for them while they're packing their bookbag. I end up doing that a lot.
5. Every night just about the time I get to work, the clock in the back starts spinning around at a good clip. Until our time in the back is 15 minutes faster than real time. So then I forget to proctor until my shift is practically half over. Oops.
6. Proctoring is boring. Unless it's downstairs in the computer room, because then they let me read. That's how I got through most of Pride & Prejudice by now.
1. Proctoring in the Music Room upstairs is like entering another dimension. You just sit there. For half an hour. While life continues downstairs. I tried to think about how long a half hour would feel like on the main floor, especially on a slow day like today. Time seems to either stand still or fly by in the Music Room.... please watch the past few episodes of Lost to truly capture my feelings on this.
2. Dang Chemistry tests. Why can't it all be shoved into one class, or just taught once and everyone remember it? Instead of always hearing, "Oh, we don't go that indepth in this level of this class. So please just accept that this random thing I just told you is true." I don't care about knowing why, that's all I need. Really. 10,000 different levels just seems a little redundant to me.
3. Them people who all talk in line to the people behind them, and then I'm like, "I CAN HELP THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE..." and then they stand there forever and then don't even say sorry when they finally come up to me after finishing their conversation. Yeah, I'm not as nice to them, pretty much on purpose.
4. It's really awkward when people take 5 years to pack up after you've already handed them everything and said good luck.... it's like, ok, you can move on now.... so you awkwardly smile to the next people in line, pretend to do something on the computer to take up time (check out our computer screens when you take a final in the Wilk-- not much to do there...), or organize all the person's mess for them while they're packing their bookbag. I end up doing that a lot.
5. Every night just about the time I get to work, the clock in the back starts spinning around at a good clip. Until our time in the back is 15 minutes faster than real time. So then I forget to proctor until my shift is practically half over. Oops.
6. Proctoring is boring. Unless it's downstairs in the computer room, because then they let me read. That's how I got through most of Pride & Prejudice by now.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Really Now?
From some friends I came across this article about a girl who recently sent 14,528 text messages in one month, totaling out to 484 messages/day, or one every 2 minutes of every waking hour. If they hadn't had unlimited texting, they would have owed AT&T $2905.60.
HELLO. Do these people have real lives? I mean, I hate talking on the phone, too, but there's a line. And you just crossed it, girl.
HELLO. Do these people have real lives? I mean, I hate talking on the phone, too, but there's a line. And you just crossed it, girl.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
History... It's Happening.
My mom & Grandpa always send out an email on Sundays telling about their weeks, and I love reading them. Today, my Grandpa said something that especially impressed me, even though it probably wasn't meant to do so. He said, "February is history." And I got to thinking. February is gone. I'll never have this month or those days or those minutes back. Did I spend them well? Did I waste them away? Looking back, I think I'm happy with what has happened, especially in these past few weeks. I will remember them with a smile. =)
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