Library Lessons

Day Two, I'm exhausted.

Understandable, granted the entire John Joy dorm house was abruptly awoken by the piercing screech of the fire alarm. It was just a drill... at 7:30 in the morning. It is a suitable time considering one must wake up, prepare themselves, eat breakfast, and be in class by 10:00 A.M., but that is assuming the individual went to sleep at a reasonable time, and the unintentional wake-up would be okay in terms of time. I was one of the proud few who still pulled 8 hours of sleep. Go team.

What the Presidential Powers group thought today was going to be was incorrect. Yesterday was the orientation to class, the introduction and presentation of the syllabus, so, naturally sequential, we thought today would be our first day of instruction.

Wrong.

Our class doubled up on the library tutorials and the use thereof, especially in regards to C.L.I.O. and its many partner databases. I have to say, however, one of those databases was incredible. The World News Connection is essentially an electronic center for news articles and press releases all around the world. Sponsering every single country, a student at Columbia University has access to English paraphrased or fully translated foreign news. Now, for instance, I could not only read about the U.S.'s response to [insert international affair here], I could read about [insert international affair target]'s depiction of the incident, ongoing or passed, as well. The amount of perspective this database offers is serious business, literally.

We were blessed with a feather-weight homework load. All we have to do are read Federalist Papers #1, 10, 47, 48, 51, 67-77, and 85. They are only full-length, university-level essays. Oh, and we have to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. That's due in about 14 hours. Oh, jeez. I forgot something. We need to have a 5-7 page outline and initial draft of our research paper with apt annotated bibliography by Friday. Easy enough.

In light of our recent homework list, I decided to begin my research in Butler Library after meeting with my cohort and Mrs. L. to touch base. I found myself thinking about life at Columbia University, personally, as a student. Every page turn, notebook flip, sudden yawn, hasty stretch, and bathroom trip, I pondered how I would fit into the school, and how the school with mesh with me.

I concluded that it is just about a perfect fit. Yesterday, even, Milani turned and said, "I could see you going here, Will." A second opinion without inquiry? Yes, please!

Doubts plagued my naive mind before finally settling into Columbia, but now I know where I want to go and what I have to do to get there. And, that's an invaluable feeling. Surely, I'm one-step-ahead of most of my 2012 classmates as is.

I predict success in this class. I can definitely see myself doing well, as long as I put in the necessary time to achieve such splendor. I'll be in the library.

Ciao.