<p>simfish i looked at your online journal and i just can't help but to laugh</p>
<p>you compare yourself with nobel winning scientists and then say you need to get yourself motivated</p>
<p>if you have been playing computer games for the past month you aren't the next great scientist, you are a loser that needs to get outside and find a new hobby</p>
<p>sorry to put it in those terms but you need to grow up</p>
<p>ouch fae, did simfish attack you on another thread or anything?</p>
<p>Simfish, I have some free advice for you because I just read your blog and it was the most depressing thing I have EVER read. Previously, I felt bad for you because everybody was attacking you on that NASA SHARP thread, but I'm sorry to say I kind of agree with them. I will summarize my free advice for you into three simple points.</p>
<p>-Interact with people! Get a job, play a sport, volunteer, start a company. All of these activities would help to improve your lacking social skills.
-Get a new wardrobe! Sweatpants do not look good on anybody who is not working out at the gym or anybody over the age of three. They just look weird. And if what you said on your blog is true about now changing your clothes, that is really weird not to mention disgusting! Also, tucking your socking into your sweatpants makes them appear even more nerdier/geekier/weirder.
-Reconsider your early entrance program! Most students are not mature enough to start college at the age of 16. Even if the students are academically gifted, they often lack the social skills. If you read some of the papers published by Nancy Robinson (the head of UW Academy) even she admits that many of the students in the program drop out before they graduate and many males become obsessed with fantasy/computer games that interfere with their college work.</p>
<p>Also, I read the website about the early entrance program you mentioned. How are you living in the dorms your freshman year? It said that most of the freshmen are required to live at home the first two years.</p>
<p>juzam_djinn, simfish doesn't attack, he gets attacked. fae's words are nothing but detrimental, and it's crap like that that doesn't help at all. Now freeadvice on the other hand...</p>
<p>It's good that virtually hidden identities from CC care about you a lot simfish however, that doesn't stray from the fact that they are virtual identities. Even though I'm always giving advice to make others feel good on an internet forum, I am still a veiled identity who could potentially be one of millions of people on the internet. Take that into consideration before being so open on these forums.</p>
<p>I haven't taken a look at your blog until today and I must say, that blog must've taken hours to create. You have to break out of this internet/gaming addiction, it's simply not good for you. Take some of freeadvice's free advice (heh, sounds funny), especially the third point I was always concerned about: early entrance. Although I do not agree at all with the SHARP thread bashing (bashing is no way to help others), I really do not think early entrance would be such a good idea unless there're other 11th graders there to support your social fabric. I'm pretty sure there are other people but I'm more concerned about the entire University environment all poured onto the mind of a student 2 years younger. I'm not saying you lack social skills, I'm saying this experience could be detrimental in the long run.</p>
<p>CC can sometimes be that forum which makes people feel good by posting messages, such as the example of fae up there. Sometimes you feel good when you post your achievements and even your failures/rejections. Simfish, elaborating on your own failures is just no way to grow. It's like back in the 'Nam War when American soldiers were getting drafted: I knew a man who volunteered himself because he knew his time was coming. He met some other draftees who had college degrees. Yet, they complained about their situation because, "Oh damn the US government for taking two years of my life!" My point? Stay positive and see the better side of things. Even though justifying your failures on internet forums might make you feel good, it is infact, a harmful "feel good."</p>
<p>I have some addition steps:</p>
<p>1) Delete every game on your computer. Ideally, disconnect your internet or even throw your computer out of a window. It is your enemy.</p>
<p>2) Now take a deep breath. And exercise out all the virtual stuff embedded in your mind.</p>
<p>3) Take on an extreme sport or get acquainted with something else fun out in the sun. (Ok, maybe not extreme sports).</p>
<p>4) Make sure you never come back to CC or anything that's addicting your soul. Believe me, nothing happens on this website, or any other website you go to.</p>
<p>We are concerned Simfish.</p>
<p>
[quote]
simfish i looked at your online journal and i just can't help but to laugh</p>
<p>you compare yourself with nobel winning scientists and then say you need to get yourself motivated</p>
<p>if you have been playing computer games for the past month you aren't the next great scientist, you are a loser that needs to get outside and find a new hobby</p>
<p>sorry to put it in those terms but you need to grow up
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm not necessarily saying that I want to become the next great scientist - I'm only saying that I want to use Nobel laureates as role models.</p>
<p>
[quote]
ouch fae, did simfish attack you on another thread or anything?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This post kinda infers that I attacked someone in a thread in the past? Did I ever do that before? I never had the attention of attacking anyone.</p>
<hr>
<p>Thanks for the advice, freeadvice. Did you read all that just because of me?</p>
<p>
[quote]
-Interact with people! Get a job, play a sport, volunteer, start a company. All of these activities would help to improve your lacking social skills.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's what I did - and two profs are now offering me research projects. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Reconsider your early entrance program! Most students are not mature enough to start college at the age of 16. Even if the students are academically gifted, they often lack the social skills. If you read some of the papers published by Nancy Robinson (the head of UW Academy) even she admits that many of the students in the program drop out before they graduate and many males become obsessed with fantasy/computer games that interfere with their college work.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I also read those papers - those were actually papers on students in the EEP program, different from the UW Academy. The EEP program admits 7th/8th graders whereas the UW Academy admits 10th graders. Also, it was published a long time ago, perhaps before EEP had some support services.</p>
<p>
[quote]
-Get a new wardrobe! Sweatpants do not look good on anybody who is not working out at the gym or anybody over the age of three. They just look weird. And if what you said on your blog is true about now changing your clothes, that is really weird not to mention disgusting! Also, tucking your socking into your sweatpants makes them appear even more nerdier/geekier/weirder.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thanks for that advice - it is interesting how no one in real life criticizes me about that but I suppose it's true. I never really care about how I appear but it will be important in university next year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, I read the website about the early entrance program you mentioned. How are you living in the dorms your freshman year? It said that most of the freshmen are required to live at home the first two years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm hoping to get a spot in the Honors dorm so that I won't have to suffer hour-long commutes (also I would love to relax in the library or bookstore in the evening hours). According to some Academy students, there are some who live in the dorms the first year.</p>
<p>wow, a lot of posts.</p>
<p>ugh...these posts have to stop
the thread isnt called "Let's try and help a guy who never asked for our advice"
its friggin ssp, so everyone not affiliated or who does not want to type ssp-related posts should just stop posting here</p>
<p>Like RSI, and Telluride...</p>
<p>Like Prep School and all those glorious conversations before them.</p>
<p>Let this thread die.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, jthecanadian. </p>
<p>
[quote]
It's good that virtually hidden identities from CC care about you a lot simfish however, that doesn't stray from the fact that they are virtual identities. Even though I'm always giving advice to make others feel good on an internet forum, I am still a veiled identity who could potentially be one of millions of people on the internet. Take that into consideration before being so open on these forums.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've been really open on CC as I felt that even if I made an incredibly stupid faux pas, I could simply leave CC without any further harm. So for one thing, CCer's can criticize me on points that people in real life are unwilling to criticize me on. This is a good point and I should evaluate posts solely on the basis of content, not necessarily on trying to be very nice to the person. And sometimes being too open can be detrimental if I intermix my real life identity with that on the Internet in which case people who know my nasty side over the Internet interact with people in real life.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I haven't taken a look at your blog until today and I must say, that blog must've taken hours to create. You have to break out of this internet/gaming addiction, it's simply not good for you. Take some of freeadvice's free advice (heh, sounds funny), especially the third point I was always concerned about: early entrance. Although I do not agree at all with the SHARP thread bashing (bashing is no way to help others), I really do not think early entrance would be such a good idea unless there're other 11th graders there to support your social fabric. I'm pretty sure there are other people but I'm more concerned about the entire University environment all poured onto the mind of a student 2 years younger. I'm not saying you lack social skills, I'm saying this experience could be detrimental in the long run.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'll be entering a formal program with 34 other students. And yes, I must question if I am really mature enough to enter such a program like this. What I do witness is that a lot of students mature at a very high rate in such a program. Being preoccupied with computer gaming is a serious concern but if I study in say, the bookstore or in an empty classroom, then I will be able to study without distractions. In fact, the opportunity to study in an empty classroom was a major factor in my deciding to enter the university early because there is no such opportunity at home, full of distractions. Before this though I really do have to break out of my Internet addiction. As for CC, my activity will definitely decrease when this year ends and when I can no longer relate to most people here. </p>
<p>
[quote]
CC can sometimes be that forum which makes people feel good by posting messages, such as the example of fae up there. Sometimes you feel good when you post your achievements and even your failures/rejections. Simfish, elaborating on your own failures is just no way to grow. It's like back in the 'Nam War when American soldiers were getting drafted: I knew a man who volunteered himself because he knew his time was coming. He met some other draftees who had college degrees. Yet, they complained about their situation because, "Oh damn the US government for taking two years of my life!" My point? Stay positive and see the better side of things. Even though justifying your failures on internet forums might make you feel good, it is infact, a harmful "feel good."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, feeling good when being rejected kinda makes me feel more complacent which is never a good thing.</p>
<p>
[quote]
1) Delete every game on your computer. Ideally, disconnect your internet or even throw your computer out of a window. It is your enemy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have no clue why I sometimes reinstall games after deleting them (for the nostalgia lol) but yes I really really need to seriously take your advice. Unfortunately however, I cannot disconnect my Internet in today's Internet-dependent society. :( Or the computer, for programming skills are extremely important. When I think about it, almost all of my problems could be eliminated if the Internet were eliminated. So I should focus almost my entire efforts on eliminating the Internet (where I can download games too) and then my life would be so much improved./</p>
<p>
[quote]
3) Take on an extreme sport or get acquainted with something else fun out in the sun. (Ok, maybe not extreme sports).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I really should jog again.</p>
<p>
[quote]
4) Make sure you never come back to CC or anything that's addicting your soul. Believe me, nothing happens on this website, or any other website you go to.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, forums are places for advice, places where I can witness how people as motivated as I am respond to opportunities, and places where I can see if I can apply to more summer programs. CC is good for the time that it's useful here though I get so connected with CC that I feel that I want to improve my image here when it really doesn't matter. And sometimes it's difficult to refrain from posting my opinions. Forums are not a good place if I get too attached to them and it is still definitely possible for me to succeed if I don't go to them. I suffered from a 4 year addiction to heavengames.com which was cured, ironically, by a collegeconfidential.com addiction.</p>
<p>Going to university next year would really help solve my CC.com addiction. CC.com is only for advice on academic guidance but very few posts are made on actual academic topics unlike physicsforums.com. Once with university, I can ask profs for advice whereas in HS, I could only ask advice from other CCers as no one in HS knows of opps as much as I do.</p>
<hr>
<p>This thread has been going off-topic for a while now - before this it was all on AP exams. So yeah the purpose is lost so any responses would be more appropriate directly at my <a href="mailto:simfish@gmail.com">simfish@gmail.com</a> account. I really appreciate the advice you all have given me though and should post it in my personal "quotes.doc" file</p>
<p>Intel ISEF was so AWESOME!!!!</p>
<p>anyways...only 6 more weeks until SSP!!!!!</p>
<p>WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!</p>
<p>Correction....5 weeks (hehe) So how is everyone doing? I hope everyone is surviving those last few weeks of school until SSP. </p>
<p>Okay, Simfish and people who want to bash/help Simfish...please move to another thread.. (Do you see that extra period there??? Yes, it means move now...period. This has got to stop.)</p>
<p>And this thread will not die until June 26 I am sorry to say...</p>
<p>Hey where's the love? No love for SSP rejectees?</p>
<p>Haha. Much love, much love. Just that I hate to see this thread flooded with people bickering about pointless stuff not about SSP.</p>
<p>jthecanadian, what happened to ur old sn?</p>
<p>Yeah, you guys should leave simfish alone. I've met him and he isn't that bad a guy, this thread's purpose is NOT to bash him, and he never bashed you guys. </p>
<p>But, simfish I think freeadvice had a good idea about interacting with people and stuff. If you don't want to play sports, volunteering would be a great way to give back to the community and you could do something science/math related such as tutoring little kids at the elementary schools or middle schools.</p>
<p>P.S. SSP kids have fun at SSP and keep the CC community updated on what SSP is really like! I'm hoping to apply next summer:)</p>
<p>zpmqxonw, i read some of ur old posts, and from what i can see you are a sophomore who is going to nasa sharp?
if that is correct, then awesome and congrats! we'll keep u updated on ssp news so that u can get all of the info before applying next year
have fun at sharp while we're having fun at ssp!</p>
<p>two weeks, 6 days til school is out!!!</p>
<p>5 weeks, 5 days til ssp!</p>
<p>YIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the congrats juzam_djinn, I leave for SHARP in 12 Days:):):) </p>
<p>I'll try to keep everybody on CC updated on SHARP news and if you guys update on SSP news it might help others if they have to decide between these two great programs in the future!</p>
<p>27 days left until SSP Socorro! Will keep the updates going</p>
<p>Oh wow. It's so much fun to watch the excitement building. It's like I'm going to SSP all over again! For those of you who've forgotten me since a few pages back, I went to SSP Soccoro in 2004 as a sophomore. I'm still willing to answer questions if any more pop up as the date gets closer!
I actually just wanted to congratulate you all on the achievement of getting into SSP. I know you'll all have a wonderful, formative experience and I wish you all good luck.
SSP Power!
~Geeta</p>