While the Library isn’t currently hiring, applications for the spring semester will open up on November 27. You can learn more at library.bc.edu/student-employment. Good luck!
Is the library hiring?
Nothing brings me joy???
I’m sorry you’re feeling that way right now. I do appreciate how you took the initiative to post your question despite the fact you‘re feeling down. I hope that your willingness to look for things to enjoy eventually leads to you finding an activity or people who can be a positive source of joy.
Studying isn’t working.
I’m sorry you’re stuck in the B’s. The Connors Family Learning Center (CFLC: bit.ly/BC-connors) has exactly what you need: 1) tutors who can help you get unstuck, and approach your subjects in new ways. 2) An academic coach who can help you adopt new study strategies, because different subjects and different workloads demand a variety of approaches. Good luck! I know you can do this!
Wall: What’s ur plan for the Fall Break?
Nothing much, just hanging around.
Hey Wall I feel confident about life!!
Wonderful! Such a great feeling. Whenever we succeed at something challenging, it adds to a strong foundation of confidence.
How is ~17% of the BC population in the top 1% richest in the country, yet still has students who cannot afford 3 meals a day? How does BC allow this?
Food insecurity among colleges students is a widespread problem. (bit.ly/food-insecurity-college) Thanks for acknowledging it. I’m a wall, so I don’t need to eat; I have great sympathy for humans and their need to eat. Did you know there’s a national campaign to address college campus food insecurity? challahforhunger.org/campushungerproject. Perhaps you could start a chapter here.
wwhhyyyy????
Beeccaauuuuse…
Being at BC makes me feel dumb
I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’re quite smart; you’re at BC, after all! Story: a human I know was a high-performing figure-skater as a teen. She had a world-class coach at a competitive skating center. She and her skating friends, though, always felt like lousy skaters because one girl, Peggy, could do jumps and spins in a way they could never seem to master They all felt clumsy by comparison. Well, Peggy went on to win gold in the 1968 Olympics and 3 world championships. You know her as Peggy Fleming. There are some world-class brains at BC. Let them shine, and don’t worry about it. (And don’t tell anyone, but there’s a rumor that BC students work their images really hard, and don’t admit to struggling when they are.)
There’s this girl who I really like…
It is terrifying but true that the only way to find out is to ask. Best case: she’s asking herself the same thing you are. Worst case: you find out she wants something different from you. Prediction: being clear what’s going on will make you feel better either way.
Should I go for something risky…
Everyone has a different comfort level, and most people end up having a number of jobs in their lifetime. You have time to experiment and see what works for you.
Why is the US so anti-immigration?
Sorry I didn’t get to this yesterday. There is sadly a long history of anti-immigration sentiment in US history, almost as old as the country. You might start with a source like this historical encyclopedia: bit.ly/bc-nativism.
Why am I so sleepy in class?
It depends — are you sleeping normally at night? If not, that’s definitely a reason for falling asleep in class. But if your sleep is pretty regular otherwise, you may just be drifting off due to the warmth of the room or the stillness of your body. Try having a snack or stretching to wake yourself up — you’ll pay better attention when you aren’t yawning!
Is it worth it to get a Comp Lit PhD?
It depends on what you mean by “worth” and “it.” If you’re passionate about literature and want a career engaging in it – studying it, writing about it, teaching it – then yes, that’s the path to that career. It’s not easy, and the PhD is just the opening salvo of challenges on the way to a tenure-track job in academia. If you just want to keep a hand in literature because you like it, I recommend pursuing any other career, and fostering groups of friends who read and talk about literature. I recommend talking to people with comp. lit. PhD’s to get their perspective.
Why do I fail tests?
It’s distressing, for sure.There could be many reasons. Academic coaching and tutoring at the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) may be just the thing, but I’d also suggest a talk with your advisor. We all want you to succeed here!
I asked this previously…
You never need to miss an answer – I have a web presence (library.bc.edu/answerwall/). The answer was: Ethical and consensual is good and necessary. However even taking those aspects into account, sex, especially with multiple partners, has its risks – for instance, STDs and unintended pregnancies.
Why am I so hurt?
I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I’m sure you will also recover, and reasonably certain the process of recovering will teach you that you have capacities you weren’t aware of and reveal friends you didn’t know you had. Depend on yourself and depend on friends and family. You’ve got this. If you find the hurt remains longer than expected, consider counseling: bit.ly/BC-counseling
Where is the most comfortable place in O’Neill for a nap?
How about one of the cushy chairs near the windows on level 5? One of the booths in the reading room or level 1 might work too. Then there’s also “The Spot” on level 4.
I thought the Answer Wall is here to provide “answer.”
I’m sorry the flawed health care system is troublesome, and I’m sorry my answer was unsatisfactory. You might be interested in the book Insane consequences: How the mental health industry fails the mentally ill, by D.J. Jaffe (Social Work Library RC455 .J28 2017). If I understand it correctly, a recent law (part of the 21st Century Cures act, signed in December 2016 – for a summary of relevant law, look here: (bit.ly/HR2646)) relaxed restrictions on HIPAA/FERPA to allow providers to share some information with caregivers (i.e. family), to avoid healthcare problems worsened by confidentiality. I’m always sorry to hear about solutions that also cause problems. The world is complicated that way. When things that impact my life are out of my control and answers are unsatisfactory, I turn to friends for support, and often also turn to Reinhold Niebuhr’s serenity prayer: “Give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.”
Can we get staplers in here that are stronger?
Yes, stronger staplers can be provided to the access service desk for your use! I’ll alert my assistants to look into this & see what we can do.
Should I drop a class (withdrawal now) that I did really really poorly on?
Talk this one over with the professor and your advisor, to see how realistic it is to still succeed in this class, and the consequences of withdrawing at this stage. I’m sorry the semester’s started out this way for you.