Advice from a Loser: Don’t Wish Your Life Away
There was a teacher at my high school who was … there’s no other way to say it … a loser. Because of his own indiscretions, his personal life was a mess and it spilled over into his work. He was frequently unprepared for class and was easily derailed by our dumb personal questions.
Nevertheless, he was such a broken individual that he didn’t try to act like he was better than his students. We took pity on him and treated him with the cheerful deference reserved for teachers who regularly dismissed class early.
We’ll call him Mr. Pitiful.
My school had a daily meeting period we called chapel, even though it was not a religious affair. Usually a few students would give their required chapel talks, but sometimes a teacher would address the group. If a round of talks went long, it ate into our lunch time. If it went short, we got extra time at lunch.
One day at chapel, we sat in silence after the announcements and waited for our speaker to stand and deliver. We waited. And waited. Finally, Mr. Pitiful popped up, said “Oh, it’s me,” and walked to the front.
He was clearly unprepared. He stood at the podium for at least 30 seconds, gathering his thoughts amid our uncomfortable laughter. Finally he spoke in an even, measured voice:
I’ve spent most of my life wishing I was somewhere else. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be older so I could drive. When I could drive, I wanted to be older so I could buy beer.
[Long pause.]
Don’t be like me. Don’t wish your life away.
Thank you.
The place erupted in a long standing ovation. Most were clapping because his short talk meant we got an extra 20 minutes at lunch, but I like to think some were clapping for the message.
More than 10 years later, his words come back to me when I’m stuck in an unpleasant situation. It doesn’t always work, but when I think of him, I try to live in the moment and not wish I was somewhere else.
How to be a Hip Freshman in Nashville: The Look
[Ed. note: Eileen and David teamed up on this 3-part series of posts. Part 2 is here and Part 3 is here. The photos in Part 1 are of them and their friends.]
This is our attempt to help college freshmen acclimate hiply to the supremely cool city of Nashville. In three riveting installments, we will reveal exactly what it takes to be the coolest kid in Music City. If you are a freshman, adhere to this advice with utmost seriousness. If you are not a freshman, print this out, pass it on, help a bro(ther) or sis(ter) in need.
PART I: THE LOOK
First impressions are uber-important, especially in Gnashville. This city is a quintessential locus of hipness. In order to fit in, you must understand that what you wear is who you are. You must look Nashville, you must dress Nashville, you must BE Nashville.
The overall look to emulate is the “thrift store chic.” This means buying clothes that look like they were purchased at a thrift store, but in reality, were bought at a faux-boutique, indie outlet. Think American Apparel or Urban Outfitters. Here are some suggestions, from the bottom up, to get you started:
The Shoes:
- Bros: Acquire for yourself some Vans. Multiple pairs. Various colors.
- Babes: Find some flats, or perhaps sparkly Jellies. Also, have at least one pair of pseudo-ankle-boot-things. Tell people you found them at Southern Thrift.
- Everyone: Buy some Toms. Forty dollars to look rad and be a good person.
The Pants:
- Bros: The skinnier the better. If you can squeeze into Levi’s 510s, buy them. Cuff them.
- Babes: Find some patterned tights or leggings to wear under a skirt or some shorts. Skinny jeans are also a must. It is good if they come up to your chest.
The Upper Half:
- Bros: Deep V’s to help you show off your rosary (also hip in certain sectors). A vest or two. No plaid; plaid is too hip right now.
- Babes: Also deep V’s. Baggy, awkwardly fitting dresses. Over-sized sweaters.
The Outerwear:
- Bros and Babes: Buy at least three Am Appy hoodies in varied hues. Everyone must also own a peacoat.
- Babes only: Rainboots with a fun/interesting pattern such as polka-dots, fishes, or umbrellas.
The Adornments:
- Bros and Babes: Buy a million scarves. Get a new piercing. Start saving for your first tattoo.
- Bros: Buddy Holly glasses.
- Babes: Your grandma’s glasses.
You must hurry. Outfit yourself now, because first impressions only happen once. And as a last though, consider choosing one iconic item that summarizes your personal outlook, like maybe a feather.
Check back soon for part two in kewlnezz: THE REC.
A Foolish Welcome to our Tennessean Friends
Hello, Tennessean readers! We subscribe to the venerable daily ourselves, so we’re glad to have you stop by.
However, if they’re speaking with us, it’s clear their standards for sources have slipped! But seriously, we’re honored to be included in Jennifer’s article, especially if it helps students find another option for cheap textbooks. As I said there, “If we can’t give you the best price, we’ll show you who can.” This is a core tenet of our Mission and stems from our desire to put students first.
Jennifer and I had a discussion about textbook rentals as well. We Fools think textbook renting is an interesting idea that works for a certain kind of student. However, we still believe that most students will come out ahead by buying their books used and then selling them back at the end of the semester. Consider this example:
Let’s say Joaquin can buy his Chemistry textbook new at the bookstore for $100 and used online for $60-70. (These are pretty standard figures.) That book would rent for around $50, and Joaquin appears to save $10-20 on the book by renting.
However, there’s a really good chance Joaquin can sell that used textbook to us at the end of the semester for $50 or more. The used book that cost him $70 puts $50 back in his pocket, which means he effectively “rented” that used copy for only $20. And what if he really found a deal when he bought it and paid only $50 in the first place?!
It all comes down to a calculation like that. If the numbers make sense for renting a book, we say go for it.
We do not currently rent our textbooks, though we are watching the trend closely. If we could find a way to rent books that served students’ long-term needs, we would start renting them tomorrow!
About BookFool.com
We love what we do and don’t take ourselves too seriously. We’re happy when students are happy. Read more About us. And why not sign up in the sidebar to receive occasional updates from the Fools?
For more information, consider some of our recent blog posts:
- HUMANKIND Thrift is Ready to Serve: The Rados are changing the world, one school uniform at a time!
- How to Find the Cheapest Textbooks, Vol. 1: A few thoughts from the cheapskate masters.
- 7 Tricks to Score the Job You Want: Part 1 (and Part 2). Advice from a Foolish perspective.
- Photographic Tour of United Record Pressing in Nashville: A Foolish field trip.
- The results of the 2009 Hot Tomato Haiku Contest: An East Nashville favorite.
- And finally…We’re hiring! Our first Customer Care Fool.
Thanks for stopping by! We hope to hear from you.
HUMANKIND Thrift is Ready to Serve
[We sent intrepid explorer Eileen to visit our friends at East Nashville's newest thrift store, HUMANKIND. Here's her report.]
As of last week, all you funky, fashionable Nashvillians, there is a new thrift shop in town. Owned and operated by Ryan and Christina Rado, HUMANKIND Thrift had a supremely successful launch last Wednesday. Located on Gallatin Pike, not far from 5 Points, HUMANKIND is the kind of shop that’s worth the drive if you’re outside of East Nashville and worth stopping in several times a week if you’re in the area. It’s the kind of place you walk in and immediately know you’re going to find great, perfectly one-of-a-kind items that won’t break the fragile piggy bank.
Preparing the shop for its grand opening.
Though it is a small store, HUMANKIND houses an extensive array of vintage and modern apparel, all marvelously trendy and in excellent condition. Tastefully arranged on interspersed display tables and hanging racks, HUMANKIND’s selection of attire is easy and fun to peruse. Say goodbye to the super-thrift store days of prying apart hangers on overstuffed racks in hopes of finding a gem of an item lost in between.
Everything on the racks at HUMANKIND is not only easily accessible but also sports a personality all its own. In all of 3 minutes I happened across a light-weight beautiful blue, white, and brown flowing floral skirt ideal for summer, a 60’s reminiscent polka-dot top with a stylish loose tie at the neck, and a multi-colored, textured scarf that would be a perfect accent worn as a belt or around the neck. Furthermore, many of the items can be easily dressed up or down, providing the versatility essential to the college student or young professional’s wardrobe.
The Rados
Not only this, but the racks are full of brand name clothing for a fraction of brand name price. A chic vertical pink and white striped, cap-sleeved women’s vest was all of $4.50, where it originally must have cost at least $30. Men’s attire is equally fashionable and well priced. A large shelf of trendy jeans in various washes stands against one wall, framed by racks of sturdy T-shirts and classic button-ups.
And as if it couldn’t get any better, HUMANKIND Thrift even offers in-store alterations in case the otherwise flawless item you’ve found needs a little letting-out, bringing-in, or hemming-up. In short, Humankind is chock-full of wardrobe must-haves for men and women, and not an item in the store is over $20. Not even the pair of vintage white roller skates.
Mission
Even more impressive than HUMANKIND’s selection of attire, however, is its mission. About a year ago, Ryan and Christina Rado began looking for a way to give back to their community and settled on the idea of a thrift shop. HUMANKIND is an entirely non-profit organization, with all the proceeds going toward providing clothing for the children of refugee families in Nashville.
Somali refugees with new clothes.
Beginning in 2007, the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools enacted a Standard School Attire dress code for the city schools. Although the specific dress code may vary slightly from school to school, the basic requirements are that students be attired in navy, black, or khaki bottoms (absolutely no jeans), and collared shirts in approved colors which must be fully buttoned and tucked in.
While this basic dress code may do well to better the learning environment as a whole, Christina Rado witnessed firsthand the difficulties such a code can cause for refugee families. As a former elementary school English Language Learners teacher, Christina saw what a struggle it can be for refugee families to settle into new jobs, homes, and schools on top of learning English and adapting to a completely new society. The last thing these families need to worry about is finding appropriate school attire for their children, especially given the intricacies of the SSA requirements.
From this desire to help stemmed the idea that HUMANKIND’s profits go toward providing dress-code appropriate clothing for refugee children. Here’s Ryan and Christina’s vision in their own words:
“We think that kids should go to school in clean, comfortable clothes. We think that kids should have a choice of what to wear in the morning – something they feel good in, something that improves their level of confidence. We think that families who are new to America and trying to acclimate should not have to stress over finding the right school clothes in the approved colors and styles. HUMANKIND refers to the fact that we are all human – all part of the human race, all with the same basic needs, one of those needs being clothing.”
Just recently, HUMANKIND provided 20 children with full school wardrobes, all completely SSA acceptable, in preparation for their first week of school. The gratitude of the children and families was amazing, Christina said.
Let’s help continue the great mission that the Rados have begun through HUMANKIND. Visit the store at the corner of West Eastland and Gallatin Avenue right across Regions Bank and Aldi. Look for the HUMANKIND Banner on the second floor at #206. Stop in, buy yourself some great new clothes or donate gently used clothes you don’t need anymore. It’s an unbeatable opportunity to grab some great new duds and contribute to the Nashville community at the same time.
Hours:
- Wednesdays: Noon – 5 pm
- Thursdays: Noon – 5 pm
- Fridays: Noon – 5 pm
- Saturdays: 11 am – 4 pm
Location: 604 Gallatin Avenue #206
Updates:
- Website
- MySpace
- Facebook: Humankind Nashville – Become a fan!
- Twitter: HumankindNash
David: Marketing Intern to the Stars
We have brought another capable, creative intern into our Foolish fold. David comes to us from Belmont U. and will be writing, researching, and much more. As with Eileen before him, I will let him introduce himself:
A long time ago, in the land of Kansas—a place where all things are flat, wheaty and magical, where houses fly in tornados and smash wicked witches, and where sparkly red slippers are valued over any other earthly possession—a mother gave birth to a son and named the child David, for she knew in her heart that one day he would become a king. That child grew up to be me. Not a king. Oops.
Sometimes I reflect on my childhood and realize that, well, I could have been a king if I had really wanted to. In fact, I’m fairly certain that everything about me—except for maybe my blood?—is indeed royal. The problem was that, around the age of eleven, I acquired something that got in the way of my kingship: a guitar. As soon as I began playing the “obnoxious thing,” I realized that I was meant to be a punk rock star. And to be punk rock, you have to be an anarchist. Go figure. I couldn’t be a king anymore.
As high school rolled around, I moved on from punk rock to hardcore (that’s “HxC” in shorthand). It was a step that made my parents really proud. High school also gave the little anarchist in me some much needed nourishment: dystopian literature. Huxley and Orwell became two of my heroes. I also began to realize that maybe—just maybe—books could be interesting. A novel idea, it was.
Since my early years, I’ve migrated all over the country, finally winding up in a college where I study Religion and English because I’m a nerd. These days, I play music, read books, ride my bike and keep a music blog. Also, my favorite of the cheeses is Brie.
Every Foolish court needs a king, right? Welcome, David!
