Posts filed under 'Pop culture & college'
Kudos to Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, Flea, for going back to college! And the best part? He’s studying music - the very field in which he’s already successful. Now there’s making good use out of your downtime (the band is currently on hiatus from touring and recording).
Furthering your skills in a field you are currently working in is far from uncommon. In fact, there are many certification courses, as well as advanced degrees, that can help interested students, like Flea, quench their thirst for further knowledge. This kind of education will give you more skills and higher earning potential.
In an interview with MTV News, the 45-year-old rock star attending USC - Los Angeles said:
“Being in a band has been an education, and being on tour has been an education, so this is just me furthering my education in a different way. When I was a kid and it was time to go to college, I thought, ‘College is for people who don’t have the street smarts to make it on their own — get in a band, get in a van and get rockin’.’ That was a good philosophy for me at the time, [but] there were a lot of things I wanted to learn, and I want to learn them now.”
Smart move, Mr. Flea. We like your attitude, not to mention your drive to educate America’s youth in a subject like music - Flea is a co-founder and teacher at Silverlake Conservatory of Music.
A Red Hot Chili Pepper being educated AND educating at the same time - muy caliente!
-Amanda Fornecker
September 30th, 2008
“I am completely uneducated. Not going to university did give me an incredible driving force because it leaves you with a slight chip on your shoulder. It makes me feel I am going to read absolutely everything so I can prove I am not stupid.”
- KEIRA KNIGHTLEY tells the new issue of the U.K.’s Tattler magazine
Excellent. Another celebrity claiming that missing out on school is not a big deal. Hey, they probably can only say this because they’re famous. And what strikes me hysterical is that they can easily pay the rising costs of tuition without even batting an eyelash.
Listen, don’t justify your decision to not go to college like it gave you more skills and made you more worldly. Sure, I hated those required classes and thought that working in the real world through internships and my current job have taught me more than I could have taken away in my classes. But I know that my college experience helped put me where I’m at today.
It was through college that I got practice and was exposed to a variety of schools of thought. It’s where I was challenged to be the best I could be and even better than that. It’s here that I learned to be on my own and really become the independent and responsible young woman my parents are proud of. And it’s here where I formed friendships - some that will certainly last me a lifetime.
College is a time where everyone can explore and, to be cliché, “find themselves.” You learn so much about yourself and other people in that four-year period of time that it could not possibly compare to trying to make light of a decision not to go to school and claiming that you’re better off. Sure, college may not be for everyone, but that’s why there are career schools and different places for you to go to really hone your craft.
Please don’t take Ms. Knightley’s sad advice and apply it to your life. While it’s nice that she took the time to really try to prove she’s not dumb, she could’ve used that time to take a few online courses. We’re all busy. Take what she says as an example of what not to be like.
-Amanda Fornecker
August 4th, 2008
You’re not the only one to go to college, you know. Celebrities have gone too. And the latest to graduate is Peter Parker’s best friend and Spider-Man’s worst enemy: Harry Osborn, the New Goblin - known to those in the real world as James Franco.
According to the Daily News, Franco just graduated from UCLA with a degree in English Lit and plans to attend graduate school in the Fall at NYU. This 30-year-old always aspired to get his education on through all the roles he’s played over the years in popular titles like Freaks and Geeks, Never Been Kissed, and of course the wildly popular Spider-Man series.
Says Franco in the DN article:
“‘I am going back to school because I love being around people who are interested in what I’m interested in,” Franco told us. “That is the best way to learn.
“For me, being able to act in movies is not having it all. I am interested in other things, and I take my interests seriously. Thus, I’m back in school.’”
And there you have it. Franco just proves you can follow your dreams, work hard, and achieve your degree all at the same time. And even if you didn’t go straight from high school to college you can go back because it’s never too late. So follow Franco’s example and get started on your school search.
Photo: © 2008 Gettyimages. All rights reserved.
-Amanda Fornecker
July 11th, 2008
“I left school at 15. I’m not a genius songwriter. I don’t think I’m really good at anything.” - Lily Allen to Rollingstone Mag
Well that’s an interesting quote from a somewhat British role model who sings about smiling. Leaving school at 15 is nothing to brag about, as not all of us can have a lucky break to have one CD that goes out and does well. She clearly has self-esteem issues (not to mention drug problems) and maybe if she took a few classes then she’d learn a craft and be able to go out into the world and be more productive. It’s sad that she doesn’t feel like she’s good at anything. But I guess that’s what cutting off your education will do to you at such an early age.
Some advice for Ms. Allen: In order to be really productive you first need to believe in yourself. Then see what you’re good at. You’ve got to be good at something, right? What are your interests, goals, and passions in life? Try to make a list of these things and see what programs might be of interest to you. A degree will certainly help you go farther than only a few years of high school education.
In the case of Ms. Allen, of course, she’ll need to get her GED before she proceeds with coursework at practically every collegiate program in the U.S. or Canada. Maybe she can go to cosmetology school and learn the dos and don’ts of dying your hair (pink is soo not in).
I can’t help but wonder, if she doesn’t have any talents, what’s her back-up plan if and when she doesn’t have another singing hit? Maybe with a degree Lily Allen will actually smile for a good reason and not at seeing her ex-boyfriend miserable…
-Amanda Fornecker
July 9th, 2008
If you’re like most soon-to-be college students, chances are there’s a philosophy course waiting in your future. While you may recoil in horror at the notion of studying things like utilitarianism and deontology, the truth is that looking at the world through a philosophical lens can be fun and — dare I say it? –- enlightening.
Still skeptical? Then maybe you should try easing yourself into the realm of philosophical discussion with the help of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series. Each book from this ongoing collection is dedicated to analyzing a different cultural icon or show within the entertainment world. 
Chapters are written by college professors from across the nation and are as educational as they are representative of fandom at its finest, with everything from character motivations to plotlines discussed.
Case in point: After reading just two chapters of Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul, I’ve been introduced to classical and contemporary thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and Judith Jarvis Thomson — all in the course of pondering popular Batty topics like why Batman is better than the Man of Steel, and Bruce Wayne’s motivations for ever donning the cape.
In short, the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series is a perfect easy-to-understand crash course in philosophy cushioned by a topic you already love. Where else will you be able to read about the philosophical implications of hot shows like 24, Lost, Family Guy, The Office, and even The Daily Show?
– Genevieve M. Blaber
June 25th, 2008
It’s not unusual to hear about kids taking more pains to cheat than to study – there are even entire movies written around the concept as in the case of “The Perfect Score” – but a high school student in Orange County, California may have recently taken things to the extreme.
Known for his Cs and Ds at the prestigious Tesoro High School, 18-year-old Omar Khan now has to deal with some heavy math. There are 69 criminal charges pending against him — and they’re all related to an alleged scheme to turn lackluster grades into sterling As! Using everything from identity theft and spyware, to the old standby of and breaking and entering, Khan is alleged to have broken into his school’s computer databanks to up grades for himself and a dozen others.
While these charges may seem petty when taken on their own, together they result in nearly four decades of jail time. Though it’s doubtful Khan will get even half that amount if convicted — a few years of jail and community service is far more likely — it’s still a high price to pay for what could have easily been gained through a few hours of studying.
So maybe next time Khan will try cracking some books before he has to crack open a jail cell. With his leet hacking skills and computer prowess he could have easily embarked upon a lucrative career in technology. And trust me, “career criminal” doesn’t sound half as good as “computer systems analyst” to a prospective employer.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
Update: Looks like Khan had a “study buddy” in all this. Fellow student, Tanvir Singh, is suspected in connection with the cheating scandal and will turn himself in next week.
June 20th, 2008
I’ve only been out of NYU for a year and already there are new trends jumping from campus to campus. While some of these are completely new (sustainability, what?), others are ripped straight from fads of yesteryear — yeah I’m looking at you, Harry Potter.
In no particular order, here are three college trends that are picking up speed today:
1. Quidditch Conquers Campuses
I didn’t start reading Harry Potter until I was in high school, but once I did I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the game of Quidditch. Taking place hundreds of feet in the air while players swoop around on flying brooms, it was hardly the kind of sport you’d catch on ESPN, but these days college students are spreading a down-to-earth version of the magical pastime. Occupying a real grass field — although players refuse to give up their obviously non-flying brooms — college Quidditch is a reasonable departure from the “real thing” and comes complete with a Golden Snitch who, enacted by a student, walks around campus to avoid capture by players.
2. Coed Cohabitation
I admit it, I never lived on campus, but the few times I stayed over at friends’ dorm rooms I could sense that there was either a real camaraderie that developed between roomies or genuine enmity. While living with a stranger can help you learn to coexist with others, it can also be stressful if you’re not compatible, so why not let students choose their own roomies? Many colleges today do, and several more are beginning to accept friends of different genders deciding to room together. Though usually offered on a limited basis, and to students who already know each other, coed dorming seems to be catching on and can be a comfy alternative for friends who know and trust their would-be roomie.
3. Student Sustainability
While some students waste resources, others take the time to recycle — but there’s another group of students on campus who are making the move to shake up they way they live. Termed “sustainability” this practice is an entirely new shade of going green with students changing everything from how much electricity they use to what temp they leave the thermostat on. The focus of a recent New York Times article, Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) has a dorm full of students who compete against each other’s shower times and utilize worm composting to cut down on waste. Although not every campus has an entire dorm dedicated to sustainability, many colleges are making the move to integrate some of these initiatives into the way they run things at large.
If you’re interested in reading more on college trends — past and present — then take a trip to CollegeBound.net’s trend section and then get started on your college search.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
June 10th, 2008
Snoop tells the new issue of Esquire: “A lot of people like to fool you and say that you’re not smart if you never went to college, but common sense rules over everything. That’s what I learned from selling crack.”
This from the man who speaks in “izzle-isms.”
Sure, college doesn’t teach you everything, Mr. Dogg, that’s why it’s important for people to live life, act on their entrepreneurial passions, soak up lessons both in and out of the classroom, and then go, go, go. But still, college equips you with the foundational knowledge to make sound decisions, excel in the business world, and deal with everyday situations both on the job and off.
And for those who have a life goal greater than dealing crack in a back alley, it sure does help.
–G.L.
June 9th, 2008
Yesterday was Earth Day but that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep on keeping green today and tomorrow. Living green will not only help the Earth, it can also help tighten your budget — a concern shared by plenty of college bound students. With that in mind here are a few tips for staying green during college:
1. Use Canvas Bags: Chances are you won’t be buying as much as you did when you lived at home, so why waste a few plastic bags when you can be prepared with your own canvas ones? Doing so will help keep plastic bags from hitting the landfills. If you find that you must use plastic bags, make an effort to later reuse them as trash bags, lunch bags, and even laundry bags.
2. Skip the Laundromat: While most people would rather go the automated route, handwashing can be gentler on delicate fabrics and clothing while also conserving electricity and water in the process. Not sure you want to get your hands wet? Then opt for a device like the Wonderwash Washing Machine which can clean small loads of laundry with the turn of a handle and zero electricity.
3. Create a Homemade Lamp: Sure, you can find dozens of happening styles at places like Ikea and other stores, but nothing compares to making your own one-of-a-kind lamp. How-to instructions and kits are available both on the Internet and at your local crafts store. Recycle vases and glass jars to create the base of your unique lighting fixture. (Interested in more tips for decorating dorms on the cheap? Click here.)
4. Don’t Write-Off Refillable Pens: By this stage in your education you’re probably used to purchasing bulk bags and boxes of pens at the beginning of each school year. But what happens to all of that plastic once you’ve run out of ink? They write their way into the trash. Though it may not seem like much, all those pens do add up — so consider buying a refillable pen instead. When the ink’s done you’ll only have a small tube to throw away, rather than an entire pen.
5. Think Outside the Margins: Your elementary school teacher taught you to always write inside the margins of the paper, but when all you’re doing is taking class notes there’s no point in wasting paper. Ignore that red line and start writing — or doodling — near the edge of the paper. You’ll be surprised by how much extra material you can fit on every page.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
April 23rd, 2008
It’s January and that can mean only one thing: time for Simon Cowell’s scowl!
If you’re like millions of other TV viewers, you’ve spent the last two 
weeks laughing and singing along with the latest season of Fox’s American Idol. Over the last six years, this nationwide singing contest has helped get some stars off the ground, including Kelly Clarkson, whose pop rock stylings have rocketed her up the charts, and Fantasia Barrino, who recently starred in the Broadway musical “The Color Purple.”
But not everyone can get their start through “American Idol” which is why many aspiring singers turn to performing arts schools for the training and opportunities it takes to enter the industry. Take for instance, Sunita Puleo, who chose to earn a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in vocal performance. Performing arts schools help students learn proper techniques while also giving them a leg up in the audition world.
Although it may not be the glitz and glamour of a hit TV show, performing arts schools will set you on track to your dream career — while also protecting you from Simon’s sharp tongue.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
January 30th, 2008
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