The old Streams war.

Approximately 18 hours ago, I had a rather pleasing, 3 hours lasting informal debate with my friend on humanities stream vs. science stream. In India, it's like war. 1st-10th grade you fly around on a carpet and drink holy water, and in 11th (but mostly 12th) grade, your carpet tears apart, you fall from the sky, and the holy (now not-so-holy) water rains over you. Yeah, maybe it won't not rain hard on some people. But the ones worst struck (with lightning?) are people like me, who abruptly decide to change schools, change boards, change subjects, and then realize they have practically NOTHING to write in the college essay.

So then you sit and make amends.

Considering the amount of work I'm loaded with, it's a MIRACLE that I can still take time out for blog posts. Miracle why? (b)cos :- (notice the mathematical reference?)

1) PROJECTS
bam
2) EVEN MORE PROJECTS
bam
3) WEEKLY TESTS
bam
4) EXAMS
bam
5) ONLINE WRITERS COURSE THING
bam
6) SAT- long registration process + stu-dying
bam
7) USUAL HOMEWORK
bam
8) EXTRA CLASS/TUITION
bam
9) INTERNSHIPS- registration & searching(?)
bam
10) EXTRA CURRICULARS
bam
11) ETC. BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS MORE.

So, why am I so pissed, you ask? If I haven't made it obvious with that fugly list above, I proudly declare myself a fail writer. I'll put a barf bag over my head and parade with it for the rest of my life, thank you very much.

I am pissed because I missed my bus today and haven't had breakfast even if it's been like 4 hours and I'm sitting in my cramped room with open pages all around me and at least 7 tabs open on 3 windows in my laptop and a trashcan filled with empty refills because I used up all my pens. *breathes* And how did I possibly miss my bus, you ask? Because I'm so terribly sleep deprived because of this work and I actually dream about paper-monsters even while sleeping. So obv, I woke up late. See? There is always a reason.

And if you are a damned sciencee, shaking your head like a piranha on drugs, I'd advice you to wear a helmet before I shove an actual piranha down your throat.

..which brings me to my topic for today..

SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES (AND ALSO COMMERCE) ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.

When you step into the world of juniors and seniors wearing brand new Prada heels, you realize it's too hard to walk on them and trip off your high horse on the first day. I know I use too many metaphors, but I'm sure you can understand. But 11th grade is still fine. After a while, you get used to all those Humanities vs. Science jokes (Humanities is the manual labor of 11th grade), and Commerce just sits there in the good ol' neutrality. But when 12th grade arrives, you get a taste of reality. Unless you're charming and organized and actually have a planned path ahead, you become an average. And trust me, when you want a scholarship, you can't be an average. So you put aside your science/humies woes and start doing stuff.

But JUST when you thought you're psychologically recovering, you are forced to attend a family social gathering where you meet well-dressed adults clinking wine glasses and scrutinizing the nerves of your brain. And they always approach you with the same questions, and before you know it, you realize it's too late to run away, and embrace a conversation that defines 'awkwardness'.

"So, beta, which stream have you taken? Science, right?"
"Um, no, uncle, I have taken Humanities actually.."

http://grist.org/election-2012/crazy-talk-rick-santorum-out-denies-the-climate-deniers-and-spins-eco-conspiracy-theories/attachment/santorum-awkward-expression-flickr-dave_maass/

"Oh." (Snape style) "But.. I mean... are you sure? Did you make your decision wisely?"
"Yes."
"Well.. okay.. But are you sure about your career? What you're going to pursue?"
"Yes, I'm gonna do journalism."
"Well, okay then. Please excuse me. I have to go milk my anaconda"

Now, I'm not saying that all adults are like this. This one uncle unexpectedly turned round the conversation and praised me for taking humanities. There are many people who understand that SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS so why should you even compare in the first place?

So this anger is not directed towards everyone, mind you. It is for those who have had experiences like me and we can sympathize together and fight this out. Yeah, it's funny to joke once in a while ("YOU TOOK HUMANITIES, SO DON'T TELL ME ABOUT WORKLOAD!!!"), but it should all be in good spirit.

It is true that as youngsters, 80% of us had difficulty in math and only 20% had difficulties in English. In fact, we chilled the day before an English paper, and started cramming 2 weeks before a Math paper. So obviously because of the amount of memorizing formulas and applying calculations, math and science subjects were considered tougher. I remember in 10th grade how I HATED chemistry, but loved English. A friend of mine who also hated chemistry, pursued Science for the sake of status. When you're a science student, you're a *Science Student!!! :O* but when you're a humanities student, you're well, expected to clean dirt from fossils?

So here is a list educating you on what humanities is actually about. I'm not here to promote inferiority or tell you which stream is the best, but I'm just gonna shower some facts on you, which would guide your opinions and erase any stereotypes.

1) There are no fixed answers in Humanities. When you place a science/math marking scheme on your left and a humanities marking scheme on your right, you notice something. In science, each answer is numbered and there is one specific answer or keyword that you look for. However, in Humanities, there might be a line that says "Should be relevant to the topic". Maybe a few key words, or a sample answer max. There is no fixed answer. You have to think for yourself.

..which brings me to the next point..
2) You can't cram everything. Sure, there are some things that you must memorize, like the characteristics of a Social Institution. But 80% of it is your own reflective thing and analysis. You have to put a lot of thought and do a lot of reflective thinking, and let your creative ideas spill out.

3) There is a LOT to read. You have to have a good vocabulary and a sense of understanding to take Humanities. If you can't read, don't take it. Initially, I never imagined that the books will be so freakin verbose, but then you start reading, and sometimes I'd actually resort to my SAT math in the middle of studying Lionel Robbins, to calm my mind down a little.

4) Humanities (as the name suggests) is about people, and the world, as you know it, is inhabited by people. It goes a long way to be able to understand and analyze people and ideas. It really requires high levels of thinking and forming your own opinions. You have to think deeply about the world around you, about the minds of the people, and the way things are. You have to notice them and form an opinion and have the ability to put it in words. You have to gather information through surveys and observation. And there is no fixed formula, or method, for doing it. You don't get any guidance or DIY manual, you have to figure out yourself what you're gonna do, and how you're gonna do it.

5) Now you may ask "What's the point of thinking so much? How does it help anyway?". When I would get annoyed by analyzing every single prick and piece of a Wordsworth poem, I think to myself if analyzing all these words are even worth anything! But it is. It develops you as a person, as a human being, and as a part of the human race. It helps you understand people, how the thought back then, and how they think now. And practical uses of it, you ask? Advertisement. Businesses need to read the minds of consumers. People read books for fun. People are biased and want opinions. People are curious. When you go to school, don't you gossip more than discussing what the school floor is made of? I'm not nearly comparing an iota of school drama to the big bad world, but let's not forget that studying things about the past help us make inferences and developments for the future.

6) And come on people, have enough brains to realize that humanities is science in a way, it is a social science and involves the scientific method! (Um, hellow, what are mass surveys and aptitude tests supposed to be?) Don't go around bullshitting stuff like there is no practical use of humanities. Look around yourself. Amidst the people wearing lab coats and finding cures for cancer is a teenage girl being sold as sex trafficking. You enter your first day at work at a well-reputed firm, on your way to save the world from swine flu, when your coworker slams against you, hurling you to the ground, and walk past without apologizing. You can either send him for ethics or gender sensitization or sociology classes, but would you make him learn calculus and biology to change his mind about slamming against people without apologizing?

What if everyone relied on science and fixed formulas and never thought it logical to help each other and have opinions? Your family dies in a fire and you spend years mourning, and when you're starved of emotional support, a robot-ish guy approaches you and tells you to drown your pain with some morphine. Or maybe conduct a heart surgery to fix that metaphorical hole in your heart.
When grooms ask for overwhelmingly high dowries for the bride's family to sell their daughters like prostitutes, you don't turn to scientists for a smart way out. You reach someone who will understand your pains and be sensitive towards your decisions, and help you out emotionally.

Okay, I know I have exaggerated, and maybe to an unacceptable and pissing off level, and I apologize sincerely, if that's the case. Please don't take this the wrong way and don't blame me for degrading science. We NEED science and we have reached a long way because of science, because of technology, because of the gorgeous people out there in science clothes accessorized with a bright, technical brain. I understand logic and reason, but you can't always survive by that, right? There is a need for some heart and opinions. Isn't that what differentiates us from robots, and makes us more human? And okay, I know I sound super cheesy and typical humanities types, but I beg you to put aside your ego for once, and try to understand my point.

Ultimately, humanities, science and commerce should not be compared at all! The language of humanities is opinions and the language of science is logic, and eventually, we're not thinking of which one's the best. We're combining all this knowledge to fuel this world and make it a better place. People need to focuz more on their college applications than this sort of prejudice, because omggggg we have college next year, aren't you nervous?!!!
And please, do not be offended in any way; I am NOT criticizing science. I love science and had an A in Physics last year! I'm just mentioning some facts about Humanities because being a humanities student, I obviously know about my subjects, and I just think these stereotypes are quite unfair. Yes, now you may say that hence I would know less about Science, and I'm not denying that, so yes, I'm sure I've had some misconceptions also, and if you notice any, kindly forgive me. And besides, whether you took Psychology or Algebra or truck driving classes, your success would solely depend on your talent in those fields, not the fields themselves. As a human being, it is basic manners to respect people's choices in life. What do you want? Everyone to be exactly as perfect as you?

And to that uncle milking his anaconda, I will have to charge him extra when he comes to me years later seeking a well-read student to write his biography.

Now back to my list of work to be done -.-
Much larv(a)e, (because, tribute to biology?)