Everyone who knows me has had to deal with my quasi-extreme hypochondria. I'm like the medical student who diagnoses himself with every disease he learns about, only I do it perpetually. In any case, either because my hypochondria causes a good amount of paranoia, or maybe I also am paranoid (I'd rather not have two neuroses, so I like to think my hypochondria kind of bleeds to affect other perceptions...), I have a tendency to come up with bizaare scenarios in my mind.
For example, my new paranoia is that my bungalow room (not necessarily the whole bungalow) in England will be haunted. My ghost encounter aside, I've always been terrified of the supernatural. My best friend growing up had parents who either loved ghosts, or loved to terrify me, because it seemed as though every time I went over they would be watching Poltergeist. Murderers, rapists, tax evaders--fine. Ghosts? I'm over the moon terrified.
And England, as Eddie Izzard so aptly put, is where the history comes from. Therefore, everything there is old. Including dorm buildings? They must be. Although that brings up another question, why do we assume that all ghosts are from the 1700/1800s? Can't there be new ghouls?
Either way, as long as I don't know for sure that the rooms are supposed to be haunted, I should be fine. My imagination will run wild, yes, but as long as my fear isn't confirmed, I should be able to sleep through the night in my room.
Alternately, it looks like they have some pretty comfortable couches in the library.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A Mission Statement... sort of.
I was lamenting to my mother the other day about my probable future as an academic. I think most people view academics as teachers who are pretty ineffectual in their field of study. And even if they do contribute to their field, what of it? Who reads their articles? Cynical and insulting? Yeah, it is. So lately I've been thinking about my career goals. And then I remembered that awhile back I actually wrote down my career goals.
Yes, that Personal Statement actually turned out to be more than just a complete pain in the patootie. And so here it is, not only so you know what I hope to do, but also to remind myself of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Or will be doing... in a month(ish)! aaaaaaaah!
I am applying to the Masters of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology program because I have always been fascinated with the theory of evolution. I have written research papers on animal cognition, animal self-awareness, animal altruism, and took a class titled Darwinism and Its Critics. In the class we discussed the development of Darwin’s theory, counter-theories and discoveries which substantiated evolution. In my Introduction to Physical Anthropology course we discussed adaptations to different environmental pressures which I was able to observe in India. My father is a professor of behavioral neuroscience, and we often discuss human behavior in relation to evolutionary pressures. In all of these ways, I have fostered an interest in the human body’s evolution, social and behavioral evolution, as well as the cultural, physical, and environmental pressures that caused it to evolve.
I want to pursue my Masters of Science at Durham University because it is one of the few universities I have found with a specific Evolutionary Anthropology degree and also the subdisciplines in the Evolutionary Anthropology program really appeal to me. Human behavior and evolutionary psychology as well as cultural evolution are the two subareas I am drawn to. Understanding how and why humans think and live the way they do is as crucial as understanding the lifestyle itself. I am very interested in the evolution of culture. It is easy to see how cultures are different, but much more interesting to discover why they have developed in that way. I think this understanding of “how” leads to better understanding of the culture. I like the program’s pairing of theoretical classes as well as classes that develop research skills. I want to continue to shore up my foundation in Anthropology as well as learn how to do productive research, so this pairing is ideal. Because of my various research papers, the option of taking courses in Primate and Human Behavior is very appealing, especially as it concerns the evolution of social behavior. In looking over the list of research projects currently active at the University, I see many that I am interested in aiding. I am excited to see the large number of projects which focus on social evolution. I would love to study the development of traditions and how they permeate society.
Well let's try to keep this in mind for the next year or so, shall we?
Yes, that Personal Statement actually turned out to be more than just a complete pain in the patootie. And so here it is, not only so you know what I hope to do, but also to remind myself of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Or will be doing... in a month(ish)! aaaaaaaah!
I am applying to the Masters of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology program because I have always been fascinated with the theory of evolution. I have written research papers on animal cognition, animal self-awareness, animal altruism, and took a class titled Darwinism and Its Critics. In the class we discussed the development of Darwin’s theory, counter-theories and discoveries which substantiated evolution. In my Introduction to Physical Anthropology course we discussed adaptations to different environmental pressures which I was able to observe in India. My father is a professor of behavioral neuroscience, and we often discuss human behavior in relation to evolutionary pressures. In all of these ways, I have fostered an interest in the human body’s evolution, social and behavioral evolution, as well as the cultural, physical, and environmental pressures that caused it to evolve.
I want to pursue my Masters of Science at Durham University because it is one of the few universities I have found with a specific Evolutionary Anthropology degree and also the subdisciplines in the Evolutionary Anthropology program really appeal to me. Human behavior and evolutionary psychology as well as cultural evolution are the two subareas I am drawn to. Understanding how and why humans think and live the way they do is as crucial as understanding the lifestyle itself. I am very interested in the evolution of culture. It is easy to see how cultures are different, but much more interesting to discover why they have developed in that way. I think this understanding of “how” leads to better understanding of the culture. I like the program’s pairing of theoretical classes as well as classes that develop research skills. I want to continue to shore up my foundation in Anthropology as well as learn how to do productive research, so this pairing is ideal. Because of my various research papers, the option of taking courses in Primate and Human Behavior is very appealing, especially as it concerns the evolution of social behavior. In looking over the list of research projects currently active at the University, I see many that I am interested in aiding. I am excited to see the large number of projects which focus on social evolution. I would love to study the development of traditions and how they permeate society.
Well let's try to keep this in mind for the next year or so, shall we?
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