Free Advice #4
Dear Jessica,
Do you have any advice for a freshman going to Cooper next year?? I'm pretty blank on what to expect/look out for. Anything I need/don't need?
Success to you,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
First--congrats! The most important thing to remember about Cooper (or really any art school), is that it is just art school. Don't get caught up in whatever hype you have heard and just try to treat it like you would anything else in your life. Just let yourself be open for any and all experiences (both academically and socially) that present themselves to you and you will be okay. Even though there may seem to be an overwhelming amount of work, Cooper kids work hard and play hard. Traditionally, we stay in our studios until midnight on a Saturday and migrate en masse to whatever house party is that weekend. Also it's good to remember that NYC is both small and vast. You will learn it quicker by staying open to things. Really, that is my only advice. Enjoy your time there.
Also (a side note): I personally never like to know too much about anything I am getting myself into..in life and in general. I think is is mostly because it forces me to have little or no expectations of a place, so essentially I cannot be disappointed. For example, the last two movies I really loved in the theaters, I knew absolutely nothing about beforehand. Those two movies were Star Trek and Wendy and Lucy: both amazing. Also, before I moved to Sweden in 2007, I refused to research anything about the town I was moving to. I knew it was small and slightly industrial, etc--but I made no effort to find out cool places beforehand. My boyfriend at the time actually researched it a lot more than I did. I think my logic at the time was "well, I'm going to be there for 6 months so I'll have enough time to figure it out there.." That same logic kind of applies to you, too, if I may: you have at least 4 years at Cooper to figure it out! :)
--
Dear Jessica,
I used to be this really outgoing person when I was growing up. In fact, my report cards in elementary school used to read "great student, very enthusiastic, needs to stop being so chatty." I took acting classes, had lots of friends, and never second-guessed myself. As I've grown older, I have grown more and more insecure. Once the center of attention, I now find myself grasping frantically to even be on the outskirts of the crowd. I can't quite figure out when I lost my confidence, but I'd like to get it back. How can I make myself feel and get others to believe that I am truly a one-of-a-kind human being I know I am?
Desperately yours,
Small fish in a big New York pond
Dear small fish,
We come from very different places, but I think I know almost exactly how you feel. When I was growing up I was not shy per se, but I never had any friends. I moved around a lot and I was painfully too smart for my own good, hated authority, etc. I essentially didn't like people telling me they knew better than me because I was a kid. I had important thoughts and feelings, too. Yep, I was that kid.
However, as I got older, I lost more and more faith in myself--even though more and more opportunities opened up to me and good things were happening. I think its actually a really normal thing, especially for girls living New York. There are just so many people here its overwhelming, and thus so easy to compare yourself to others--which is a big no-no! You can't compare yourself to anyone but yourself and even then, only to what you have actually done and not insane expectations you have of yourself. Also, since there are so many people, its good to only surround yourself with people who lift you up and who you can share a mutually positive experience with. Its not only good to have people who make you feel good about yourself around you--its essential. Because, most likely, you do the same for them.
Also--I just realized this recently: but in the past I know I have been in really unhealthy co-dependent relationships where both parties rely on each other completely for their happiness. That is no good, either. While close friendships/relationships are important, it is also good to hang out with a wide variety of people and spend time alone for clarity. I know this seems daunting at first, but you always have more friends than you think. Call up a girl you had class with in college but haven't talked to in a year. Or message that friend of a friend you keep seeing around and like and ask them to see a movie or something. Everyone feels shy/insecure sometimes and hesitates to contact new people or people they haven't seen in awhile to hang out--mostly only out of either forgetfulness or nervousness. In reality, these other people will probably be really grateful you contacted them. And finally (this is a no-brainer): if you believe in yourself and know only for yourself that you are a special person with lots to offer the world--that is what you will be. You are special and have lots to offer. Don't let any one person/group of people make you feel otherwise.
--
Dear Jessica,
Last week I weighted my cat Katzen and she's 6,6 kg, which means that she's only 400 g. away from being obese. What can I do to make her lose weight?
Elo
Hey Elo,
At first 6,6 kg did not sound so big--I did the metric conversion on Google and 6,6 kg is 14.5 lbs! Katzen! That is pretty big..
Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind is that maybe you are feeding her too much. And after some research online, I think that is pretty much it. I found some pretty good websites with lots and lots of information here and here. The first one is actually amazing because the author of the page is hilarious. For example, on the subject of overeating he writes: "Unless your dog or cat is sneaking into the fridge and making ham and cheese sandwiches late at night when no one is around, the only way they get to eat is when YOU place the food in front of them. " True story.
However, putting your cat on a diet can be dangerous--just like when humans go on diets. From the same website as the other quote, comes this one: "Cats do not mobilize fat reserves for energy very efficiently and, in fact, break down non-fatty body tissues for energy. This upsets the internal chemical factory and can lead to a very dangerous feline disorder called hepatic lipidosis. Never put a fat cat on a starvation diet, it might just put the entire factory out of business. (I’ve had occasion to relate this personal fact to my wife!)". This is very good advice. A sudden, drastic diet change is not good for any creature. Let's say you feed Katzen three to four meals a day and some treats--maybe you can make each meal slightly smaller (like 75% of the normal portion you feed her) and cut out the treats completely. Slow, gradual changes are good--it is both healthier for her and she will be less likely to pout/be sad over getting less food.
--
P.S. Congrats to Nick (another Cooper alum) on his first solo show in Paris! Have a great time and send me lots of pics, please!
Do you have any advice for a freshman going to Cooper next year?? I'm pretty blank on what to expect/look out for. Anything I need/don't need?
Success to you,
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
First--congrats! The most important thing to remember about Cooper (or really any art school), is that it is just art school. Don't get caught up in whatever hype you have heard and just try to treat it like you would anything else in your life. Just let yourself be open for any and all experiences (both academically and socially) that present themselves to you and you will be okay. Even though there may seem to be an overwhelming amount of work, Cooper kids work hard and play hard. Traditionally, we stay in our studios until midnight on a Saturday and migrate en masse to whatever house party is that weekend. Also it's good to remember that NYC is both small and vast. You will learn it quicker by staying open to things. Really, that is my only advice. Enjoy your time there.
Also (a side note): I personally never like to know too much about anything I am getting myself into..in life and in general. I think is is mostly because it forces me to have little or no expectations of a place, so essentially I cannot be disappointed. For example, the last two movies I really loved in the theaters, I knew absolutely nothing about beforehand. Those two movies were Star Trek and Wendy and Lucy: both amazing. Also, before I moved to Sweden in 2007, I refused to research anything about the town I was moving to. I knew it was small and slightly industrial, etc--but I made no effort to find out cool places beforehand. My boyfriend at the time actually researched it a lot more than I did. I think my logic at the time was "well, I'm going to be there for 6 months so I'll have enough time to figure it out there.." That same logic kind of applies to you, too, if I may: you have at least 4 years at Cooper to figure it out! :)
--
Dear Jessica,
I used to be this really outgoing person when I was growing up. In fact, my report cards in elementary school used to read "great student, very enthusiastic, needs to stop being so chatty." I took acting classes, had lots of friends, and never second-guessed myself. As I've grown older, I have grown more and more insecure. Once the center of attention, I now find myself grasping frantically to even be on the outskirts of the crowd. I can't quite figure out when I lost my confidence, but I'd like to get it back. How can I make myself feel and get others to believe that I am truly a one-of-a-kind human being I know I am?
Desperately yours,
Small fish in a big New York pond
Dear small fish,
We come from very different places, but I think I know almost exactly how you feel. When I was growing up I was not shy per se, but I never had any friends. I moved around a lot and I was painfully too smart for my own good, hated authority, etc. I essentially didn't like people telling me they knew better than me because I was a kid. I had important thoughts and feelings, too. Yep, I was that kid.
However, as I got older, I lost more and more faith in myself--even though more and more opportunities opened up to me and good things were happening. I think its actually a really normal thing, especially for girls living New York. There are just so many people here its overwhelming, and thus so easy to compare yourself to others--which is a big no-no! You can't compare yourself to anyone but yourself and even then, only to what you have actually done and not insane expectations you have of yourself. Also, since there are so many people, its good to only surround yourself with people who lift you up and who you can share a mutually positive experience with. Its not only good to have people who make you feel good about yourself around you--its essential. Because, most likely, you do the same for them.
Also--I just realized this recently: but in the past I know I have been in really unhealthy co-dependent relationships where both parties rely on each other completely for their happiness. That is no good, either. While close friendships/relationships are important, it is also good to hang out with a wide variety of people and spend time alone for clarity. I know this seems daunting at first, but you always have more friends than you think. Call up a girl you had class with in college but haven't talked to in a year. Or message that friend of a friend you keep seeing around and like and ask them to see a movie or something. Everyone feels shy/insecure sometimes and hesitates to contact new people or people they haven't seen in awhile to hang out--mostly only out of either forgetfulness or nervousness. In reality, these other people will probably be really grateful you contacted them. And finally (this is a no-brainer): if you believe in yourself and know only for yourself that you are a special person with lots to offer the world--that is what you will be. You are special and have lots to offer. Don't let any one person/group of people make you feel otherwise.
--
Dear Jessica,
Last week I weighted my cat Katzen and she's 6,6 kg, which means that she's only 400 g. away from being obese. What can I do to make her lose weight?
Elo
Hey Elo,
At first 6,6 kg did not sound so big--I did the metric conversion on Google and 6,6 kg is 14.5 lbs! Katzen! That is pretty big..
Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind is that maybe you are feeding her too much. And after some research online, I think that is pretty much it. I found some pretty good websites with lots and lots of information here and here. The first one is actually amazing because the author of the page is hilarious. For example, on the subject of overeating he writes: "Unless your dog or cat is sneaking into the fridge and making ham and cheese sandwiches late at night when no one is around, the only way they get to eat is when YOU place the food in front of them. " True story.
However, putting your cat on a diet can be dangerous--just like when humans go on diets. From the same website as the other quote, comes this one: "Cats do not mobilize fat reserves for energy very efficiently and, in fact, break down non-fatty body tissues for energy. This upsets the internal chemical factory and can lead to a very dangerous feline disorder called hepatic lipidosis. Never put a fat cat on a starvation diet, it might just put the entire factory out of business. (I’ve had occasion to relate this personal fact to my wife!)". This is very good advice. A sudden, drastic diet change is not good for any creature. Let's say you feed Katzen three to four meals a day and some treats--maybe you can make each meal slightly smaller (like 75% of the normal portion you feed her) and cut out the treats completely. Slow, gradual changes are good--it is both healthier for her and she will be less likely to pout/be sad over getting less food.
--
P.S. Congrats to Nick (another Cooper alum) on his first solo show in Paris! Have a great time and send me lots of pics, please!
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1 Comments:
maybe they should rename their cat "Katze" (=German for cat) instead of "Katzen" (German for cats). As long as the cat believes they are multiple cats, they might continue to eat accordingly. (Hopefully the cat is not shizophrenic yet.)
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