Alphabetizing Documents & Failing at Spanish

Schmitz Hall, Data Management

I started Work Study this last Tuesday. It's forced me to change my daily schedule so that I must be in bed by 12 a.m. at the latest, and wake up at 6:30 a.m. at the latest.

At work, I have spent the last three days alphabetizing documents (diplomas, grade cards, petitions for various things), and I think that may be all that will be required of me. It's quite repetitive and boring, but I am very grateful for it for a number of reasons:

1. The location suits me
2. Experience with clerical work
3. I have many potential mentors already surrounding me
4. Insider knowledge of how a huge university works - at least to a certain level
5. The academic atmosphere is fueling my desire to make teaching my career even more

One man in the office just obtained his Masters degree in English. He asked me if I was doing Creative Writing or Literature.

Literature.

Why is that?

It's ...what I do best...? I plain love languages. In fact I might minor in Spanish.

He starts speaking to me in Spanish.

I understand every word and reply to him in English.

He looks at me funny.

I'm frustrated that I couldn't even reply using simple phrases in Spanish.

He tells me he took Spanish 101 a few years back so his Spanish is a little rusty.

I tell him I took Spanish 201 a few quarters back and that I've forgotten ...everything (except, as I've said, compehension).

GAHHH Now this makes me question whether I should even labor forth and pursue Spanish. I LOVE the language and believe that knowing it would open up so many amazing doors for me in life, but I'm afraid that I've fallen way behind.

C'mon, Mimi, pull yourself together. You want it, you can ask for it and believe that it's been given to you.