Posts tagged University of the West Indies

While the many problems that circulate around the University of the West Indies may be funding, student’s grade point averages and continued international accreditation. Student based problems have not been seriously addressed. These large overview issues affects a student learning in more ways than one. This blog post is not meant to be vague, but give my personal real life examples of how learning at the University of the West Indies has always been a challenge. These include but are not limited to, hands on learning, proper administrative processes and the lack of concise learning objectives. 

The concept of learning at the University of the West Indies for an undergrad student is quite simple. Learn the material that is given to you and regurgitate as much as possible during the exam. While application is necessary in some cases, regurgitation usually suffices an impressive grade. At the end of the day, I do not take any initiative  to do anything outside my scope of ‘learning’ unless I am awarded sufficient credits. While each students is awarded for assignments done, taking initiative is rarely awarded, and as such we have a bunch of students who are just not keen on learning. I honestly include myself in this bunch. 

As a matter of fact, I have a friend who is scholarship winner and did the same degree program as I did. She recently graduated and I am extremely proud of her for doing so with first class honours. She openly admitted to me that she never did the assigned readings for any course that she did during her three years at the University. Essentially she took key terms from the power point slides, contrasted with the objectives of the course and was able to suffice a constant ‘A’ average during her stay at UWI. I ask then, What are the point of these additional readings? 

One of the major issues that I have with my degree program is that there are very little hands on approaches to learning. The reasons for this mainly stem from a lack of funding to the University. Tertiary education is free to those who prove themselves worthy of this privilege and as such our classes can be as big as 100-400 students. In some courses labs are omitted because there is not enough material for all the students to use. Instead a tutorial usually takes it places. While I was in my first couple years of UWI battling with courses on soil and soil management, there were no practical approaches to learning the material. Instead I battled with chemistry and physics in order to attain a passing grade, despite my academic weakness in these areas.

I must admit though, that there are indeed a few environmental courses that mandates practical approaches such as Marine Ecology, Caribbean Island Ecology and Tropical Forest Ecology. I was able to try my hand at Marine and Forest Ecology and for both courses my comprehension of each was very clear. While the material was expansive to learn, I understood the crux of the information given. Everything that was learnt came to life in a realistic setting. I am now doing Tropical Aquaculture and while we are doing scenario planning, I feel as if I am doing these just for the purpose of a grade and not necessarily with the accurate intentions of setting up an actual tropical aquaculture pond. We had took a visit to Sugarcane Field Centre, a farm that produces talapia. The class is so incredibly huge that I did not get a chance to see the hand sexing process of the fishes. We were all barely able fit in areas where they were having discussions with us. Needless to say the apparent difficultly in ‘learning’

As many of my readers would know, I pursue a minor in Theatre Arts under the faculty of Humanities. I must admit that the Department of Life Sciences is efficient in administrative communications with respect to your courses and changes in timetables for the week, the Theater Arts program operates on word of mouth when it comes to administrative issues. This should not be the standard for any University. While we still do use the noticeboard, this form of communication should be eventually eradicated. When my brother attended University back in the day, the notice boards were key to valuable information on campus. I still do check it from time to time, however the information is not as important as the ones I receive via email. 

The majority of the times, I am confused. Some lecturers are not very clear about what they want from us. While they are there to just simply guide us, how is it possible that you can guide an entire class into the wrong direction. Case in point with this current aquaculture course I am taking. We were given our 2nd Scenario to do. A four page document that seem to require a host of information. We produced as much as we could, because to fight for that 2.5% of our final grade is always a dirty battle. After the assignment had been corrected, we had a full two hour classes on what we should have done. I was shocked! Why was not this guidance given to us before. The answers were meant to be quite simplistic and not as complex as we originally envisioned. There was only one group that did extremely well, and as such would be treated to lunch because of their expert analysis on the scenario.

I must admit though that this lecturer is actually feeding us a lot of information and taking the time to guide us. However she confused me so much this time around. I would have really appreciated the guidance before rather than after. Our entire group was a bit disappointed. We have 2 more of these scenarios to do and we plan to kick some serious ass!

These are just some of the many limitations that the uwi student has. While these are quite obvious and are probably known, if we continue to mute our minds to the issues, they may never be heard. I would admit that I cannot remember the majority of my academic work since year 1. The style of learning is very different.

I on the other hand seek my on the job learning experience outside of the walls of UWI. I was recently invited to a workshop that explores ecosystem services as it relates to the Caura valley. When I read the invitation that was also meant for journalists, I was more than elated to attend. It even discusses scenario planning in an entirely interactive manner, including a hike to the Caura valley. In this two day workshop we would be given a skill set to work with in our journalistic approaches.

Do you think I have a case here? Do these problems really affect the life of a tertiary student? I’d love to hear your views on this issues. Drop me a line or leave me a comment!

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel 

Recently my friends and I decided to go to the world famous Zen, a high end club in Trinidad and Tobago. It is understood that when attending this club you are paying for a brand, and not necessarily a true club experience. Zen offers the best of nightclub entertainment, but I will always beg to differ. This is not the first time that patrons had issues with this entertainment venue. Problems ranged from arrogant security to being cut by broken bottles on the floor. My issues are quite random and after this visit, I am not sure if I am interested in finding my place in this meditated universe ever again.

            While my friends and I were all coupled off, it was easy for us to get into the nightclub. There was this guy dressed in this simple white shirt and black dress pants that got pulled out of the line because he was by himself. He joined the other single fellas in a small group at the front of the nightclub. When this happens your chances of getting in to the club have just been cut down by half. In my opinion the best thing to do is count you’re loses and head back home. However, you have the option of waiting it out and hoping that they let you in. The main reason I believe most high end clubs do this, is to prevent the occurrence of a ‘piggy party’ or in other words a ‘sausage fest’

            Zen recently got refurbished, and once inside the club I was not impressed. I was more sorely disappointed. Zen has decreased in size and seems to cater for the bourgeoisie crowd that can afford private rooms and VIP areas. There is now a classy cubicle located in the centre of the dance floor, furnished with white sofas, throw pillows a black marble styled table, adorn with candles and champagne glasses.  The VIP rooms located on the upper levels are covered by white drapes and named after popular alcohol brands such as 3zero rum. I could only imagine the cost of renting out a booth at zen. 51 degrees usually rents their VIP area for close to $3000.00, however Zen facilities may be much more!

            The main bar at the Zen nightclub is now a rectangle and not circular in shape. There were at least 3-4 bartenders serving a tertiary student population that just wanted to get high and probably get laid. The Zen bartenders are complete sexists, only serving drinks to women and couldn’t care less about the men that were trying to get drinks as well. I suggest that if you are going on a crowed night at the nightclub, to make sure that a girl accompanies you to get drinks. It’s the 21^st century and we are all looking for equality, apart from that chivalry needs to go out the window if you have intentions of getting high at Zen.

            One of the things that truly astounded me that night is the crowd that Zen now attracts. It is so varied! Last Wednesday night had people of all ages. There were the young and the very old, the ghetto and the ghetto fabulous. There were people who very underdressed and looked deplorable against the standard that Zen usually caters for. However since these under dressed girls own up to a ‘tun up pum pum’ they easily get in to the club.

            The condition of the white dance floor changed very quickly. As the drinks began to fall, the dust from under the shoes of the patrons created a mud field. The field of mud also had several short black straws and the occasional plastic cup that eventually got chucked into a corner of the dance floor. It was so disgusting to see girls barefooted, some of which kept touching the floor with their hands to show off their expert skills in whinery.

            The single fellas that I mentioned earlier did get into the club. There I was dancing with my friends and then I realized that there was a swarm of guys all around us. Each of them appearing more tusty than the next. Some of the guys leaned against the stage, legs apart and awaiting the arrival of a bumsee to make contact with their pelvic area. Soon enough one of the guys did get lucky; however the expression on this guy’s face was extremely ridiculous. Have you ever seen a sponge absorb water? This guy’s face screwed into so many erotic positions while dancing, that I swear he was convinced that he was having sex.

            I must admit thought that despite the stresses, the entertainment from the people definitely filled the void. Have you guys ever been to Zen? What was your experience like? Share with meh nah…. Ah want to hear a bess Zen story lol

I have had 3 hours sleep for the last 36 hours. Sadly I was not studying nor was I working on a plan to take over the world. Insomnia can somethings deliver heavy doses when you least need it. My plan was just to go straight to bed as soon as I got home, however for us online social media junkies, this hardly is ever the case. 

This evening the course of my social events seem to take on specific theme of having a purpose in life. The discussions that I had made me realized that discovering one’s purpose is more of a journey than anything else. Today in my African and Asian Theatre class, the concept of spirituality was brought up. This spiritual concept along with the realization of one’s true life purpose seems to go hand in hand.

I do many things that I love, whether it be posting blogs on tumblr, writing for giemagazine, performing on stage or working with my environmental volunteer group. I honestly believe that doing the things you love would guarantee that direction into discovering your life purpose. Do I believe that I have found my purpose? No I do not think so. I believe that I am on the pathway, but I feel as if I am not entirely there as yet. 

Today I also had the opportunity of interviewing a very young social worker who aspires to enter the medical field as he gets older. He has been qualified in the field  of psychology and is currently practicing. Imagine that within his life span, he wants to heal both the human mind and body. I find that to be totally inspiring. I could easily imagine that he does get immense satisfaction from the tremendous amount of social work he does for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, however with his vision, he wants to do more than what he is doing already. 

I also bounced up my good friend Alexander and one of my past Trinity College friends Dale. We were speaking about our degrees and the direction that we were taking. While all three of our career paths were very different, we all reflected that similar theme of purpose and direction. It seems to be a concept that lingers on the University campus. Thinking about it now, it makes me wonder if this is some sort of mental condition of oppressed youths who just simply do not have a variety of employment options? At the end of the day, that’s like questioning destiny, We all have a some type of plan laid out for us, and it will happen whether we like it or not. 

Alexander these days has his hands very full. I always joke with him, since his resume actually resembles mine to some degree. We actually belong to two organizations and together we have brought  some brilliant ideas to assist in the development of both organizations independently. Alexander has it very tough having to work on weekends and also serves the student body as the guild publications chair. Despite these duties Alexander maintains his cheerful smile and his sometimes overtone oddness. Not to mention his florescent kicks that brightly lights the path he walks on, but literally and figuratively. 

Alex, like Dale was also expressing the sentiments of where life would eventually take us. Today I learnt that Alexander is also acting in the festival of plays. A festival held every year by the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies. His character has a bit of speech impediment, having  a strange vocal affinity to the letter “L”, hence my header “What’s your true life plurpose?” The character is comical beyond words.

While my colleagues and I try to determine at what time that true purpose would dawn on us, do you think we all \have achieved it? Do you think its something that we would eventually realize one day? Would it be something we ever find? What about you? Have you found that life purpose? Please let me know… share a bit.. I would love to hear it :D

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel

P.S I have some uber fantastic news, but nothing has been made official as yet. As soon as it does. I would make sure to post up the full story :D 

One of the major reasons that I have not been blogging as much is because I have been involved in a national theatrical production called Nation Dance: The Pilgrimage. It is being done by the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies. I am involved in the production because currently doing a course that makes up my minor in Theatre Arts, and as such I am required to be apart of it. 

Nation Dance: The Pilgrimage focuses on one primary objective, that is to discover what it means to be Trinbagonian. It also incorporates a literal and figurative journey to discover a sense of nationhood and nation building. The production also takes a very close look at our social and political context of yesterday, today and the future. 

Like the title says, we are on a pilgrimage and thus the show has been traveling to many places across Trinidad and Tobago. For each show we visit a different community that would share with us the values that they brought to this land. Each community has taken up the responsibility of dramatically representing their history and traditions that melds with the 1 hour production that we have created. 

In this production there are four individuals that go by the name of pyong. Each one of them represent an ill of the society that is “Mauvais Langue”. After being accused and sent a way to discover their mother, who they say is the roots of the land, they set out on a journey to different communities in search of their mother. At each community they are set with real life challenges, that the pyongs have no idea what they would be. At our recent show in Waterloo, “Shooter Pyong” had to eat a red hot pepper with roti, in order to cleanse his body of beef, pork and other impurities to be accepted by the community that runs the Temple by the Sea.  He of course, was sweating beads after he consumed it. These traditions presented by the communities show different values of Trinidad and Tobago, and in this quest to find what i really means, we would present them on our final shows at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies.

PLEASE SAVE THE REMAINING DATES…. 8 shows… and 2 have already gone!

Performances:

March 16 - Naparima Hill, San Fernando - 7 pm

March 18 - Temple in the Sea Grounds, Waterloo - 5 pm

March 23 - Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Laventille - 7 pm

March 24 - Golden Lane, Tobago - 7 pm

March 25 - Pembroke Heritage Park, Tobago - 5 pm

March 30 - Calvary Hill, Arima - 7 pm

March 31 - DCFA, UWI - 7 pm 

April 1 - DCFA, UWI - 5 pm

NO COST for performances March 16 - March 30.

The DCFA venue admission is Adults $50, UWI students/ NDATT MEMBERS $30, children $20

The role that I have in this production is the character Mamaguy. Mamaguy is considered the Big Fish of Mauvais Langue. He is without a doubt well aware of the happenings on all levels of the country. He is a thief, channeling money from the treasury through very close friends in the royal court. His hands are clean but is very well connected. Oddly enough Mamaguy enjoys dressing up as a woman. He prides himself because he looks sexy and enjoys the comfort that no one can tell him anything about it. He is the primary reason as to why Mauvais Langue is in a serious sense of despair. 

Here are a few shots of the production at Naparima Hill where we visited the Warao  community.

This has been the oddest semester. We are about a month away from final exams, and we have not even seen the draft exam time timetable as yet. I implore those who see this post, not to hesitate and send the draft exam timetable to shahadali18@gmail.com, for such an action would be overly appreciated. 

This is the usual time that we tease our friends for having exams back to back to back, or reveling in the joy that we have 4 day periods in between our toughest exams. I am not sure if the draft time table is not meant to be distributed, but it usually ends up in my personal email as oppose to my campus email.

The Draft Exam Timetable helps most students guide their action of study for the remaining month, but apparently we have no other choice but to predict when our exams are going to be. I am giving it at least about another 3 weeks before it comes out online officially, but by then I would already be in a hot mess for final exams.

I am in desperate need of this timetable………the key to efficient exam preparation….

Always looking at life,

Even without an exam timetable

Shahad the Sentinel

Theatre History scares the hell out of me. Apart from the reason that I tend to do terrible in midterms and final exams, the philosophical theories tend to get overly exaggerated at times. 

My last midterm was in Western Theatre History that covered such a wider range of philosophical topics that ultimately made me fail the midterm, but thankfully I was able to cram really hard and pass the final examination. I was able to suffice a C+ and to be completely honest…. I was extremely proud. :D

This semester I have undertaken the grueling task of doing Modern Theatre History. I like a challenge, a challenge that I can overcome. However my midterm is on Thursday and in essence ”my ass rel dark”. Not that I am completely unaware of what has happened in class, its just that their are finer details that can potentially tie me up.

We mostly focused on Realism and Naturalism and the dates span between 1850-1950. I’m honestly giving up on remembering too many dates. My dyslexic self would more than likely mix them up. I would however admit that we have looked at some extremely interesting authors, such as Anton Chekov, Henrik Isben and August Strienberg. All of them are brilliant writers in their own sense and I would admit I have varying levels of appreciation for each of them. What I can’t handle is the theorists.

Adolphe Appia and Gordon Craig essentially started experimenting with symbols and light, however they themselves have their own wide range of opinions. Looking at Eugene Scribe and the construct of a well made play with careful exposition seriously causes personal hibernation while revising their archaic time period.

I am about to attempt the impossible right now. I am going to try and recall Stanislavski’s 10 principles in the construct of his plays. Let’s go:

1.) Relationships

2.) Objectives

3.) Obstacles

4.)Text

5.)Subtext

6.)Strategy

7.)Interior Monologue

8.) Tactics

9.) Beats

10.) Steuppppssss u does never remember d last one… let me check my book…ohhh Evaluations……

Now seriously do not ask me to define and explain in full length what each of these means. This is the University of the West Indies…. We are like birds that feed their young…. we regurgitate information to get marks…. We are at a lost when it comes to application, Ask me to put on a play using this system, and I have no idea where to start. Its the horrible but honest truth. 

I hope to God I can suffice a passing grade. I honestly need an A for this course.

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel

When I step into the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, I consciously know that there are approximately 20,000 students enrolled at the University. It makes me wonder if getting a degree is as meaningful as it should be. I am enrolled in one of the largest faculties, Science and Agriculture and to be honest, their acceptable standard of education is highly deplorable. I am not being ungrateful for free education. I am just stating the plain facts. 

I personally do not believe that I should have gotten into any tertiary education level institution because I am struggling so much to make the necessary credits to progress in each successive year. I do not have the most impressive grades in pre university courses, and now I am a lower average student in this faculty that has an obvious sub standard. 

Out of a possible 4.0 GPA, the minimum acceptable GPA for any student within my faculty is 0.75. This means that you can get D+’s in all your courses and still manage to come out with a degree at the end of graduation. This of course would not be a 1st class or a 2nd class for that matter, but it would be a degree none the less. Its so ridiculous almost everyone can be enrolled in University education and there is little consideration to the capacities in which we all study and learn. 

My core classes can be as much as 200-400 students. Every other elective fills up very quickly and you honestly have to move like a fox to get the desired course you want when online registration opens up. I remembered that Marine Ecology was closed by Day 2 of online registration, accepting only 60 students. However in general, classes that make up the brunt of your degree are extremely large.

Our faculty also has a nasty habit of setting in-course exams for 5% and 10% of our final grades. They make us work strenuously for the grade. We are suppose to have midterms, however midterms apparently occur two weeks before final exams. The stress is honestly not easy. Labs are now worth 2% or 4% each, as they all add up to a grand total of 20%. Its honestly nerve racking.

Why is a degree pointless? Well when 90% of UWI graduates each year are currently unemployed at the point of receiving their degrees and the other 10% have links for elitist jobs in their respective fields of work, it makes you wonder why you should even try that hard? It really is very discouraging.

Learning in uwi is like an eagle regurgitating worms for its young.  We vomit back the information that was given to us during a class room session. Getting an A is probably the most easiest thing, but learning in UWI is one of the most difficult things you can try to do. Its honestly plain talk….. bad manners

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel 

Vibrations…. Rhythms…. Sound and Movement, started off my Production 2 class this afternoon. There was no denying the energy that was filled within the small Dance Studio at the Department for the Creative and Festival Arts. This was just the start of a year long production that us, the students are planning to work very meticulously on.

The amazing thing about a production, is the amount of thought and analysis that goes into production that eventually produces a spectacular product. A product that can be heavily marketed for an audience to enjoy and discuss. Primarily it is a process, and like our lecturer said… “Trust the Process”

Today we were dancing, moving around, taking turns to share a vibe with each other. All of my classmates were sweating beads as we shake, rolled and jumped to the energetic rhythms of the drums. I was not about to pretend to be shy, I love music that moves the soul. I danced and kicked up my legs in full festivity and I was loving every minute of it. Soon enough we were chanting and testing our vocal skills. Vocal unison eventually happened, which was completely fantastic to hear and even more exciting to be apart of. 

After a relaxation period, we were able to get into the crux of our production and deal out the many thought processes. We had our own individual presentations, and we saw from the very creative to the very informative. We were told to trust our artistic side, and relieve ourselves from too much of the academic background. As our lecturer told us, he consider us to be bright :)

The processes that I have learnt at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts is priceless. They teach you how important it is to be apart of a process when planing a production. A process is key to making a good production. If there is no process, then the purpose of the production would be extremely unlclear.

Recently I made a huge decision to relieve myself as Project Coordinator of a concert that I was planning to execute. From what I have learnt at the Centre, everyone must be willing to engage themselves in a process. It must be a collective vision, and a collective drive. It must be well thought out and well planned. A production cannot be rushed and therefore it must be given space to grow. Apart from that, I relieved myself from such duties because unknown to some… I actually have a life. I have other responsibilities and other dedications…..

If you are running a production and you can’t even tell me the days and times that you plan to have your rehearsals…. Do you expect me to plan my other activities around dates that I do not even have. No… It does not work that way. It’s a process. A process that needs to be trusted, and was sadly trusted by no one.

I honestly had to remove myself from the utter embarrassment that was about to befall me. I rather stick with colleagues who actually know what they are doing when it comes to executing a production….. building it from the ground up and getting involved in a process.

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel

 I recounted my first experience in a laboratory attending the University of the West Indies. I remember it like it was yesterday. The afternoon sun was blazing upon us, and all the freshers were all smiles and ecstatic to be at a tertiary level institution.

The course was Diversity of Plants and Animals, and by all indication of the lectures, the course had proven to be quite enjoyable. It was not until we had our first lab did we get the huge shock of our lives that while at the University, laboratory work was serious business. 

One of the things that they abundantly made clear about was proper attire in the lab. Proper lab coats and footwear. If we did not meet the standards, you would be automatically moved from the lab.

I remember the lab itself being 3 hours and we had to hand in our lab within the stipulated time. Coming out of secondary school we had an entire week to do a lab, now it was just simmered down into a mere 3 hours. I was not prepared and thus the 3.5/10 had hurt me so bad. I was very relieved when they had told us they would not use it for our final grade.

I guess after that tremendous shock, I never took to labs as much as a scientist would. Its extremely precise and analytical. I am fairly good at it, but to be honest its tedious and mentally taxing. 

My minor in theatre arts is setting me free from the holds of beakers and bunsen burners, however these days the thought process of theatre arts has been quite challenging as well….

Always looking at Life

Shahad the Sentinel

It is very hard returning to the University of the West Indies having spent an ultimate vacation experience. My vacation was filled with such life lessons, and the literal crossing of international boundaries that it has made it extremely difficult these past two days to get back into the full swing of things. 

My time has been so heavily consumed by my volunteer efforts and it seems that another opportunity has presented itself that I have decided to keep hush hush until confirmation. My main goal right now is to catch up on my school work considering I sacrificed a week to attend the Commonwealth Youth Parliament in London. I must stress that I have no regrets though, because despite missing the first week of school, things are working out in my academic favour. 

I am pacing myself in the development of my mind, body and spirit. I actually jogged this morning before the sun started to rise and after 20 minutes I was so exhausted. Unfit much? I honestly need to take down a bit and probably avert to some brisk walking and transition into jogging in the coming weeks. I also have intentions of doing aerobics in the evening at school, but lets see how well this walking/jogging on the morning works out. I can honestly feel the pull of my muscles right now, and I now its going to feel 5 times as worse in the morning. 

Socially, I have already seen people that I am not too sure where I stand with, but I need to keep a positive mind and use these recreational activities to release so much steam that I have stored up inside me. I am being indirectly pressured in more ways that one. I need avenues to release pent up energy that can power 150,000 homes if my mental aggression could be converted in such a way. 

I am all for this transition back into my academic life, but trust me when I say I did not know transitions had sharp teeth, that keep penetrating deeply into my backside. 

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel

I am a very sociable person. I can interact once I am introduced, and I can carry on a fair conversation once the other person is not too weird or unorthodox. Today I would like to highlight the power of headphones and impaired vision. Its probably two of my most powerful excuses when I want some “me” time, while walking on campus at the University of the West Indies.

As a student of the faculty of Natural Sciences, you are exposed to a lot of people. Your classes tend to be huge and as a sociable person, you tend to make many acquaintances, colleagues and friends. One of the most challenging things to do on campus, is to walk through the natural sciences building without actually stopping to talk to anyone. Its pretty much a hard thing to do. Its also very difficult to find an escape when you need to study, and as such I study on the Humanities floor of the library.

There is still a major problem though. Moving around the campus is where most of your social trouble lies. You encounter everyone that you know from every faculty. This is where the headphones and impaired vision comes in. If someone notices you from afar, and they see the headphones plugged in your ears, they would not even bother calling you out. 

In the event that you do not have your headphones on, and you heard your colleague calling out at you. Stay calm, and keep walking. On your next encounter with that person, let them know that you did indeed have headphones on, and that it was impossible to hear you with Machel Mantano’s Big Truck playing loudly in your ears.

I have impaired vision. It is corrected, however I cannot see from afar. If a colleague is calling out at me. I would something wave in to the distant person who is waving back at me, having no clue who the hell it was. Needless to say I feel no guilt, even if it is a good friend, since I genuinely did not know who was calling me out to begin with.

I am tired of using the excuse “Oh! That was you!”, when I very well knew that was the person indeed. However rushing over to the library always seems far more important than stopping to have a chat. Headphones and impaired vision does have its advantages and helps me live a more efficient academic life.

I am not trying to be harsh, and say that I ignore the people I know. Ask anyone and they would tell you that I make time for as much people as I can. However when the University of the West Indies compromises near 20,000 students, you tend to meet those that you took extra lessons with, those you went on camp with, and those you may know from your voluntary groups. You tend to know a lot of people. Finding time to study on a campus such as this, it is a necessity to know the tricks of the trade……headphones and impaired vision for the win!

Always looking at life,

Shahad the Sentinel