Academic Steroids
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I do not use drugs.
But a Javalanche has to come close.
Javalanches are $4 drinks made by Java City that contain espresso, vanilla, milk and whip cream. I discovered them as a way to stay alert during my classes, which all take place from 6 to 9 pm this semester.
I enjoy my classes, but after studying all day it is sometimes difficult to stay awake and maintain the attention span necessary for a three hour class. Javalanches work, but I am trying to decide if they are a good thing.
The drinks make my heart race like nothing I've ever had in my life. I get an "A" for participation in my classes on these "academic steroids," but I also stay wired until about 3 am.
In one class last semester, the professor divided the students into two groups and had us debate whether or not the removal of the Cherokee Indians could have been avoided. I was in the group that argued removal did not have to happen.
The debate became a little heated as the professor wrote down our various points and counter points on the dry erase board. High on a Mocha Javalanche (which has added chocolate syrup), for some reason I slammed my hand down on the table and said loudly, "Every man dies. Not every man really lives. We stay and fight!"
The class went silent. The professor gave me a befuddled expression as though he thought I had lost my senses. "Is that from Braveheart?" he asked.
"Yes, that's from Braveheart."
He went to the board and wrote down "WWMGD?" for our side of the debate.
"What does WWMGD mean?" I asked.
"What would Mel Gibson do?" he replied.
I don't have outbursts like that when I'm not drinking a Javalanche, but I earned an "A" in the class.
If I do drink one, after classes I continue to feel like I'm on top of the world as my mind zips through all sorts of great emotions. But the drinks also make my head and chest feel tight for several hours.
So I don't know. Class is a lot more fun with these drinks in my system, but I wonder if they are really unhealthy.
These are just some idle thoughts of mine on a snow filled day. WCU received a great accumulation of the white wet stuff last night. I enjoyed walking back from the library when it was falling. Several years have passed since I last saw snow on the ground.
Until next time,
Nathan Marshburn
But a Javalanche has to come close.
Javalanches are $4 drinks made by Java City that contain espresso, vanilla, milk and whip cream. I discovered them as a way to stay alert during my classes, which all take place from 6 to 9 pm this semester.
I enjoy my classes, but after studying all day it is sometimes difficult to stay awake and maintain the attention span necessary for a three hour class. Javalanches work, but I am trying to decide if they are a good thing.
The drinks make my heart race like nothing I've ever had in my life. I get an "A" for participation in my classes on these "academic steroids," but I also stay wired until about 3 am.
In one class last semester, the professor divided the students into two groups and had us debate whether or not the removal of the Cherokee Indians could have been avoided. I was in the group that argued removal did not have to happen.
The debate became a little heated as the professor wrote down our various points and counter points on the dry erase board. High on a Mocha Javalanche (which has added chocolate syrup), for some reason I slammed my hand down on the table and said loudly, "Every man dies. Not every man really lives. We stay and fight!"
The class went silent. The professor gave me a befuddled expression as though he thought I had lost my senses. "Is that from Braveheart?" he asked.
"Yes, that's from Braveheart."
He went to the board and wrote down "WWMGD?" for our side of the debate.
"What does WWMGD mean?" I asked.
"What would Mel Gibson do?" he replied.
I don't have outbursts like that when I'm not drinking a Javalanche, but I earned an "A" in the class.
If I do drink one, after classes I continue to feel like I'm on top of the world as my mind zips through all sorts of great emotions. But the drinks also make my head and chest feel tight for several hours.
So I don't know. Class is a lot more fun with these drinks in my system, but I wonder if they are really unhealthy.
These are just some idle thoughts of mine on a snow filled day. WCU received a great accumulation of the white wet stuff last night. I enjoyed walking back from the library when it was falling. Several years have passed since I last saw snow on the ground.
Until next time,
Nathan Marshburn
posted by wcugradstudent at
12:08 PM
3 Comments:
Hmmm.... probably better than what I used once when a friend whose wife had just left him visited me in Charlottesville. I discovered Red Bull and Vodka and spent 2 hours singing along to Pearl Jam albums and trying to convince him that if he just listened to the words, he'd come to love Eddie Vedder.
I think you own me a new laptop. I nearly spit my drink out all over the screen.
Were you wearing blue face paint when you said this by any chance?
Natahan! You are an awesome writer! I'm still laughing! I will tune in on weekly basis now to read your blogs!
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