OPINION
Coming Thursday, October 4...
Editorial: A campus car rental system could reduce traffic and parking lot congestion.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Stewart: Lawrence is a city of epitomes that must be understood and appreciated.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007 PAGE 7A
BURGERTIMES
Change your mind-set and exhibit some self-confidence A shy personality can be overcome by embracing what can be termed externalization
It's safe to say I used to be shy. I grew up through school complacent with most things that riled my friends, and in general was disaffected by the day-to-day whims children are often led by, fight over or want.
It seemed to make sense to deliberate things that particularly pertained to myself only by myself. I was content with this approach
for quite sometime. However, the many transitions from dependence to independence experienced in college life have ushered in a new trend in how I approach others and myself, something that can be described as externalization.
I remember my first fight in first grade. Specifically, I remember staring into the
nurse's mirror, front tooth hanging by the gum, and realizing for the first time how disenchanting I found my experience with most other classmates to be. I will never cease to be amazed nor surprised by what others do, think or say. While I'm sure it further depleted my interest in the goings-on of others around me, I'm sure many (even whose baby teeth reached fruition) can relate.
In the same spirit of defeat or isolation brought on by the onslaught of responsibilities involved with college, one is also able to develop a mentality of ability and confidence, even if unthinkable before. Simple as it sounds, I found difficulty investing fully in others' company, or "opening up," if you will. The fact that so many people sound dumb when they talk had completely paralyzed my ability to communicate with others without having hesitation and therefore contrived, calculated responses. As a result, many euphemistically called me a "jerk" or "snob." I can confirm from experience a portion of the student community knows what I'm talking about. However, in engaging with people more fully I found that it is not all for loss. Being more sincere
with acquaintances or fighting the urge to let one's eyes roll to the back when confronted with an undesirable social situation is just the beginning. In having a generally heightened faith in the conversations I find myself involved in, I have begun to experience a sort of catharsis is in expressing ideas, mentalities and humor that have long been ignored or minimized. And no kidding—one might even walk away with a few new ideas of their own or a newfound appreciation for someone or their sense of humor.
Now, this is not a mandate to go hit on the next attractive person that happens to be studying in one's vicinity. Nor is it an excuse to be a blabbermouth or to join five clubs (they're great). In fact, externalization stretches
far beyond verbal communication, or at least it should.
I realize there is something to be said about silence. The ability to be around others without talking all of the time shows a great level of comfort for one another and expounds on truly genuine friendship, a relieving quality that I cherish. However, more often than not, awkward moments arise from not saying anything, rather than simply saying what one feels. Many are on a quest for irony, and yet I also see someone that can wear the most audacious get-up but not have the guts to venture out from expected responses (which by the way, are lugubrious way before they become cliché). To be short, what would appear as timidity usually is indeed timidity, uncomfortable for most
people and usually uncalled for. Internalization, the maintenance of one person's mystery to others, is an indispensable and healthy part of a person's life, but is far over-represented.
Most people will continue to annoy me. Despite this, if one decides to experiment with being opportunistic in exhibiting their confidence sometime, they might like whatever else that they cause by doing so. Even if they don't, the risk and self-edification makes it worth it (and specifically in my case, the tooth fairy premium and sizable portion of mint-chocolate chip ice cream.
NOT SO ANGELIC
Muselmann is a Tulsa, Okla., junior in journalism.
Donating blood worth discomfort It can be painful and scary, but giving blood can save many lives
ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON
You experience a little pinch, and about 10 minutes later you get a cookie and a T-shirt. Doesn't exactly sound too unreasonable, unless you're me. I still dread going to the doctor for physicals, for the fear of enduring multiple 'pinches' in one afternoon. At the doctor, you don't receive food and apparel for your bravery; instead you get a Garfield war wound bandage.
However, as apprehensive as I get due to the thought of needles, I, like many KU students, have my share of tattoos and piercings. After the blood drive on campus during the week of Sept. 24-28, I began reconsidering the voluntary pain I have spent my money and time on, in which the sole benefits go to me. For 10 minutes of my time, I could have donated a pint of blood and had the opportunity to save the lives of three people. I say could have, because I did not take advantage of the opportunity.
If you did take the initiative to help save lives, you may have noticed a difference in the eligibility requirements. Kansas, along with Washington, Georgia and a few other states, has lowered the minimum age of donation to 16, with parental consent. Some blood banks in Arizona are even allowing freshly tattooed persons the chance to donate, something that had previously deferred donors for a year.
Not only have regulation requirements eased up, but to appeal to younger audiences, some agencies are providing gifts post-donation. One of the new gifts is an iPod.
If you did make a trip to one of the on-campus locations set up by the KU Blood Drive Committee, Community Blood Center and the Red Cross.
Red Cross, you would have walked away with your new T-shirt and a yummy cookie to compensate you for donating your blood. Granted it is not an elaborate ink design, or even an iPod; the satisfaction of helping should be enough. I am not trying to preach about how we all should have donated, because I did not even do it. Accordingly, only about 37 percent of the American population is eligible to donate.
If we have 15 minutes to spare and are willing to help other people, we should. Being students, it is not always easy to volunteer our time or donate our money to those who are less fortunate and in need. But if you would like to help, after learning more about it, I think donating blood is a great way to start. Even though Kansans will not receive iPods or more extravagant gifts, it should not be about that. Those of you who did help out by donating for the sake of donating, kudos to you, because I admire that, I, on the other hand, have set a goal for myself to overcome my wimpy ways and make a trip to the Community Blood Center to volunteer for free pain that benefits me in no way, other than making me feel good about myself and maybe making me a little lightheaded.
McNaughton is a Topeka junior in journalism.
DRAWING BOARD
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
MAX RINKEI
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
The new uniforms are just fine. Please, find something more useful to complain about.
Who the hell steals the feet off of a bike? Seriously.
Everyone always talks about how Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger starred together
I wish I was a campus squirrel.
Thank you to the many cat-calling drivers in Lawrence, because thanks to you, I shaved twenty seconds off my mile time. This just goes to show that sexual harassment and cardiovascular
in the movie "Predator," but they forget that they also star together in the movie "The Running Man." This movie is Ingrid Neal's
health go hand-in-hand.
I'm in love with the guitarist who plays on Thursdays at Jet Lag. He has beautiful blue eyes.
Free for All, I just saw a UFO fly over the Catholic Center.
This movie is incredible.
Somebody tell Taco Bell that "melty" is not a word. Although, it is kind of good to know that at least their cheese does have a melting point.
I just wanted to clarify that I really enjoy masturbating with Germex.
My roommate and I just spent two hours looking at old cartoons from the 90's just to figure out the "Don'cha know." It's from Bobby's World, by the way.
If KU can hold onto the ball on Saturday, we will win this football game. Rock Chalk, go Hawks.
Free for All, you smell like a flower. A poop flower, that is.
Sex should be like driving a Honda. Slow, obscene and loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
Wait, you read Cosmo and put thought into what you read? Think for a second and first keep yourself from reading that crap and then realize who cares what it says? That magazine promotes nothing more than sex, pointless
How do you tell a roommate to get their shit together and move out? We all just want them gone.
What the hell!? Why is the KSU fight song coming out of Memorial Stadium?
I will stop watching porn when my girlfriend decides she'll have sex with me at absolutely any time I want.
I'm really pretty, FFA, but all guys want to do is bone me. Damn my ridiculously good looks!
How am I supposed to know when it raining if my dorm cable and internet don't go out? Just when I thought something was reliable.
TALK TO US
A lot of times nice guys finish last because they're actually boring/clingy/desperate guys.
Erick R. Schmidt, editor
864-4810 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Eric Jorgensen, managing editor
884-4810 or ejorgensen@kansan.com
Darla Slipka, managing editor
864-4810 or slipka@kansai.com
NOW THAT YOU'VE READ THE OPINION PAGE, HAVE AN OPINION?
Kelsey Hayes, opinion editor
864-4924 or khayes@kansan.com
Bryan Dykman, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or dykman@kansan.com
Jackie Schaffer, advertising director 864-4358 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Katie Abrahamson, sales manager
864-4477 or katiea@kansan.com
Malcolm Goold, general manager, news adviser
864-7897 or mlpdban at kanaan.com
Jon Schitt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jschitt@kansan.com
SUBMISSIONS
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The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Kelsey Hayes or Bryan Dykman at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Darla Slipe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique
McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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