Falalalala, lala, la, la.

Though I’m certain that it depends upon your department, I’ve found that as I progressed into upper-classmen years that finals season is characterized less and less by actual tests and more and more by Projects.

Which, in all honesty has its upsides and downsides like everything else in life. So as a technical 16th grader, allow me to offer you my lived experience as I evaluate the pros and cons of each of the two major types of grade-defining assignments.

☆ PROJECTS ☆

CONS:

1. If it’s group work, then you’re going to have to work around other people’s schedules (and pick up slack).
2. Could require performance.
3. It’s going to make the penultimate week of classes stressful.
4. Requires research.
5. Sometimes your grade is dependent on the bias of your teacher.

PROS:

1. If it’s group work, then you have the opportunity to network with people you’ve met throughout your class.
2. Could require performance!
3. Because projects are often due early, you’ll be done with some of your classes before finals week.
4. You are going to learn things throughout your research.
5. At the end of it all, you’ll have created something tangible.

Verdict:

Projects are my own preferred method of examination.

While I’m not the biggest fan of group work, I have actually met and made connections through final projects that have been powerful enough to teach me things and make me friends. I also love performance though I know that that’s a serious con for a lot of people. And ultimately, even though tests examine more concepts more broadly, I find that the in-depth niche nature of a project leads to a better and longer-lasting understanding of one particular class concept.

If I were to grade the theoretical concept of Projects, I’d give it a B.

You’ll actually learn something from it, and there’s potential for it to be great, but the reality of group work and so many uncontrollable factors isn’t great.

☆ TESTS ☆

CONS:

1. Your final week of classes is going to be a marathon.
2. You’re going to forget over half the stuff you crammed into your head a year after the test.
3. All of your stress will bubble up to one specific day.
4. Classes will sometimes charge you for scantrons (which is the most superfluous expense ever, you’re saying my tuition doesn’t account for scantrons?)
5. Teachers get really finnicky about tests and will tote them around as life-defining experiences (they’re not)

PROS:

1. More definitive answers, less ambiguity of “am I on the right track here?”
2. Takes less time (because honestly, how many of us study weeks ahead of time).
3. You get your grades back quicker.
4. There’s usually a study guide to help you make flash cards with.

Verdict:

OOF. I thought this was going to be more balanced but my bias is clear here. Maybe it’s the standardized testing that was drilled into me as a kid, or the knowledge that I’ve forgotten over half of the things I was ever tested on, despite consistently getting good grades on my tests. I’m not a fan.

BUT! I do admit, that when I’m assigned a final exam rather than a project, there’s a little part of me that says: “Oh good. There’s less work here.” And the importance of reducing stress during finals season like that cannot be understated. Even if I’m learning less, sometimes mental health is more important than objective learning and academic improvement.

If I were to grade the theoretical concept of Tests, I’d give it a C-.

Passable, but not by much. At least it’s like a band-aid rip: painful, but mercifully quick.

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I hope that everyone had more projects than tests this semester, unless you have a completely different viewpoint than me in which case I hope that you had more tests than projects!

But more importantly, of course, I hope that you’ll have a happy set of Holidays, to whichever beautiful set that you do or don’t celebrate!

But unfortunately, I’m out of time! The Stanislaus Student bloggers go on break after this week, and will be returning in February of 2021.

No, it’s okay, don’t cry! I know you’ll miss me, I’ll miss you too.

But it’ll be good for both of us. I promise. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

I have lots of fun ideas for posts that I want to make, and I think the rejuvenation over break will help a lot in getting me back to tip-top shape to share some truly amazing things with you all!

Did you know that we have a study abroad program at Stanislaus that’s cheap and affordable and that I used? Did you know that we have a set designer on faculty that worked on James and the Giant Peach and other claymation movies? Did you know that we have theater performances that range from the intellectual and important Silent Sky to the hilarious and farcical Boeing Boeing?

If you didn’t, then come back every Tuesday in February and beyond to hear more about Stanislaus State and my experiences with it!

Take care, and know that you’re worthy and lovable.

-Nathan

I so rarely get to come on campus nowadays that when I do it’s a bit exciting. It’s weird to think that something so mundane as driving to campus would be something that I would find some happiness in, but its a reminder for me to stop and enjoy the world a bit.

Stanislaus is and has been one of the most beautiful places in Turlock for a long time now, so after filling out my COVID self-screening, putting on my mask, and driving to campus, I parked a little bit further away from my destination than I needed to and took to strolling campus just for the sake of it. And I’m rather glad, because if I hadn’t I may not have made the friend that I did!

This is Tony! (And yes, the pandemic has made it so that meeting a cat does constitute in my mind as making a new friend!) Tony was regally sunbathing atop his trashcan throne when I saw him and so I was faced with having to make the decision: Do I approach, or do I respectfully keep my distance?

I made the universal sign of cat-affection by pressing my lips together and making the sound: “pss pss” and Tony perked up and came right up to me, giving me permission to pet.

I gave him a good scratching and petting and was mindful not to expose my hand to his claws or anywhere that he wouldn’t like, and then afterwards I bid him good day and left to wash my hands. It was honestly a lovely experience 🙂

There’s actually quite a bit of protocol surrounding Tony and his fellow feline companions on Stanislaus, and while there’s a lot of lovable furrballs around, there is something vitally important about it all:

Respect the Cats.

You see, Tony is actually cared for in part by the AdvoCats, a group of students, faculty, and staff that love and care for the animals on campus and provide them with food, shelter, and occasionally even medicine. But the biggest message the AdvoCats seem to present is that the cats need to be respected.

Stanislaus is not a refuge for cats. And the cats that do live on campus have likely been neglected, abandoned, or run away from poor living situations to end up here. Cats are territorial in general, which means that the cats that already exist on campus will fight to keep their territory, and it’s unknown whether or not they will take kindly to new introductions.

The very reason the AdvoCats were founded, as you can read on their official Q&A document, is that the cats needed a voice and needed to be cared for. Unleashed dogs, people with malicious intentions, and general outdoor living can make for a dangerous life for innocent animals, so a little bit of organization is an excellent thing.

In fact, the AdvoCats explicitly state that they want people to know that the “campus fur babies are well cared for”, and that encouraging compassion for the creatures is vital.

In respect of the AdvoCats wishes, I don’t want to disclose the location of where I found Tony, but their official page does say that in trying to foster a community involved effort to care for the kitties they will accept volunteer or fiscal support, so I will say that if you find yourself encountering Tony or one of his companions, asking within the nearby building of how you too can help the cats would be well-received 🙂

But! What I can say and do, is leave everyone with a little bit of general cat-related wisdom:

• Respect the cat’s boundaries. Approach slowly, give them plenty of space to run away if they want to. Hold out your hand in case they want to sniff you.
• Don’t pet what they don’t want pet. Be mindful and responsive! To avoid getting a retaliatory claw or bite, let the kitty rub up against you and show you where it wants to be pet. And as a general rule, be careful with belly rubs!
• Don’t touch your hair or face. Even with well-tended cats like Stanislaus’s, make sure that you still keep yourself safe and clean as well! Be sure to wash your hands after petting unfamiliar felines.

If you follow those tips, and are generally being respectful, caring, and lucky enough to find yourself with a friendly kitty at Stan State, then I hope you get to have as good of an experience as I did with Tony 🙂