Fish, birthdays, and technology.

Well, I successfully completed everyone's favorite week of school: syllabus week.  I can't tell you how glad I am to have fired up my car's frosty engine and exposed myself to the conditions of the second "polar vortex" so that I could have a syllabus read to me.  I think I got this down, but correct me if I'm wrong: don't cheat, don't plagerize, don't sexually harass one another, turn in your homework, and try to show up as much as possible.  

However, as the week warmed up my creativity followed suit by the time I got to my last class of the week.  After literally reading the syllabus word-for-word on Wednesday, today we graduated to icebreakers (another favorite among students) in my Media, Advertising, and Society class.  We went around the room telling the class our name, where we came from, what our major was, what we are passionate about, our most memorable advertisement, and our favorite app or technology.  I noticed three things as I listened to the first few introductions.  1)  I had only one thing in common with the majority of the class, a Communications Studies major, 2) I am not passionate about fashion, cooking, or working out, and 3) apparently I know nothing about new apps or technologies (not a huge shocker, but worth noting).

One girl rattled on about a wristband that documents her sleep patterns, another talked about an app that allows you to link and review old and new posts from different social media sites.  Now, call me crazy but I'm not so sure I would want to review what meal I posted to Instagram on May 10, 2012 and what emotion-laden status I followed it up on Facebook that same night after my boyfriend dumped me for being 'that girl' that Instagrammed my food.  In addition, I must be more frugal than I thought because I think spending $130 on a bracelet that informs you that you had a shitty night of sleep is kind of a waste of money.

Here is essentially how my introduction went: I'm Jaclynn Hanson.  I'm from Eagle Grove, Iowa (I'd imagine this invoked some confusion, as I did not list off a "suburb of Chicago" like the others).  I'm a Communication Studies major.  I'm passionate about birthdays (I'd couldn't take myself seriously if I said I was passionate about dogs, fashion, cooking, or working out).  The most memorable advertisement to me is the Filet'o'Fish commercial from McDonalds <<silence, blank stares>>  At this point, I go into panic mode...and start half singing half mumbling "gimme that filet 'o' fish.."  in a desperate attempt to get at least one head nod.  More silence. Well, I'm glad it only took two class meetings to have officially solidified my role in the class as the L-7 weenie (think Sandlot).  

So I have one last shot to redeem whatever is left of potential coolness by bragging about this cool app I know everything about.  I  thought about saying the navigation app on my phone but I'm guessing the majority of my class had a GPS as infants attached to their strollers.  Okay, my next favorite app...'calorie counter'. Real cool, Jaclynn.  What about my Packers app?  I rationalized that due to the fact that most of my class is from Illinois it was probably a little early  in the semester to make those kind of enemies.  I was stuck.  I simply could not compete with magical sleep bracelets or a social media embarassment-creater.  Preparing for the enivtable crash-and-burn of my introduction, I shrugged and spoke truthfully.  "My favorite technology is...Netflix."    

Minds: blown.  

Guess what three people after me listed as their favorite technology including the teacher?  Netflix.  I think I have redeemed myself and the Filet 'O' Fish anthem.

Jaclynn Hanson, Communication Studies major, not from Illinois, technology guru, lover of birthdays. Nice to meet you, class.  I hope this semester brings me knowledge of new and innovative technologies like Netflix and moves me to song like a singing fish nailed to a plaque.