So, I've only read the first three chapters of WAITING FOR YOU that are available in this Susane Colasanti sampler, but I'm totally hooked on her breezy writing style, so I will have to get a copy pronto!Today I have Susane's second of ten myths about high school, three interview questions & answers, and a giveaway of a signed hardcover of WAITING FOR YOU. So read on...
Myth #2. You’re going to use this later.
As I’m sure you already know, you’re learning a lot of useless stuff. When are you ever going to have to know what endoplasmic reticulum is in the real world? Unfortunately, the curriculum for most of your classes is decided upon by people who don’t really have a clue about what’s best for you. It would be awesome if the topics you had to learn were both interesting and meaningful. Schools need to be improved in ways that most of the people who can implement those changes are ignoring. I worry that these improvements will never be made. It’s a disgrace that so many kids hate school.
The thing is, classes aren’t really about interpreting what some line of Shakespeare is supposed to mean, or determining the value of x, or memorizing all the state capitals because you already did that in sixth grade but no one can remember so everyone has to memorize them all over again. Classes are about acquiring skills. As you’re learning all of these random things, you’re establishing a skill set that will make you more successful when your better life starts. You learn about astronomy so when you watch I Love You, Man, you get the “Tycho Bro-he” reference. You learn about psychology so when someone refers to a “Pavlovian response,” you know what they mean. You can interact with society in a more meaningful way. You can also make sure that you receive the correct change at ShopRite.
So yeah. You don’t need to know most of the stuff you’re learning. But exposure to these things will help make you a functioning member of society. Which is, you know, a good thing.
And now for my mini-interview with Susane...
If you could pick any day of your life to relive, what day would you pick and why?
September 10, 2001. After many years of working towards achieving inner peace, I finally felt this overwhelming calm that summer. I felt better than I had in my entire life, like I could finally believe that anything is possible. Although I still believe, everything is different now. After September 11, that euphoric feeling of loving life to its fullest disintegrated. I’m sometimes cynical now in a way I never used to be. And I really miss feeling that pure happiness. I’d love to return to that blissful time in my life, even if it’s just for a day.
Your books are classified as realistic teen fiction. Do you ever think of trying your hand at another genre - say dystopian fiction or an illustrated book about birds?
Oh, I think I would suck at either of those! The fun part of writing for me is focusing on what I’m passionate about. I feel that my purpose is writing for teens because my goal is to improve their lives as much as I can. I want to reach out to my readers and let them know that they’re not alone, that things will get better. All of my ideas for books are exclusively for teens. Plus, I get to write about soul mates, which I find extremely fascinating.
I'm going to New York City this summer and I've already gotten great tips from Authors Jennifer Banash and Julia Hoban. What are your NYC recommendations?
I took a look at their recommendations and must agree with the Strand! It’s the absolute best bookstore featuring both used and new books you will ever experience. Luckily, the Strand recently renovated to include air conditioning, so you won’t swelter in there the way I have during many past summers Since summer is hot and humid here, I definitely recommend visits to lots of cool places in between your walks. Cones on Bleecker Street has excellent homemade gelato. The Angelika movie theater features all the hot indies, but you have to get there early for a good seat (which is fine since they have a nice café inside). Oh, that reminds me – you will find the ultimate cupcakes at Crumbs, which has several locations. They have buttercream icing and come in a wide variety of delicious flavors.
One thing I love to do is just walk around the West Village. There’s a lot of interesting history here and the brownstones are gorgeous. You can make your way west down Perry Street, Charles Street, or West 11th Street to Hudson River Park. It’s refreshing by the water. I love sitting there at sunset, watching the city lights blink on. If you go at night, look for a building across the river in Jersey City with a slanted top. It has cool light stripe shows!
Thanks Susane! I am so excited about my trip to NYC, especially now that I am signed up to go to Book Expo America for the first time.
Read the rest of the myths on these blogs:
Friday – 5/1 Myth #1
Taylor – For the Love of Books
Tuesday – 5/5 Myth #3
Khy - The Frenetic Reader
Wednesday – 5/6 Myth #4
Kristi – The Story Siren
Thursday – 5/7 Myth #5
Carol – Bookluver-Carol
Friday – 5/8 Myth #6
Kelsey – Reading Keeps You Sane
Monday – 5/11 Myth #7
Lauren – Shooting Stars Magazine
Tuesday – 5/12 Myth #8
Alea – Pop Culture Junkie
Wednesday – 5/13 Myth #9
Laura – Laura’s Review Bookshelf
Thursday – 5/14 Myth #10
Tirzah – The Compulsive Reader
Win a hardcover of WAITING FOR YOU signed by Susane Colasanti herself!
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you learned in high school that you have used later/think you might use later (because you know, you DO use SOME of it). Or, if you don't want to do that, leave any comment that relates to the myth or Susane's interview. Just so I can tell you read it and didn't scroll down only for the giveaway ;)
Contest ends May 19th at 11:59 PM CST as is open to US and Canadian addresses only.
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66 comments:
Omigosh. I learned so much in high school that I use today, however the majority of it were life lessons and not taught to me by my teachers. I was part of a big group of friends, and I definitely learned that the friends you have in high school are not the ones you are going to have your entire life. With the exception of my best friend who goes to school across the ocean, I hardly talk to ANY of my closest friends. Some of the even go to the same college as I do! The biggest life lesson was just don't take for granted that your friends are always going to be there for you, and that things can change in an instant.
=)
Well, what I think I'm going to learn in high school is how to be strong. From what I've seen and heard, high school is like... really really really really really tough. With all the gossip and tons of other stuff. So if I can survive that, I think I could survive anything :)
Great post, BTW! Have fun in NYC!
Well right now I'm still in high school, but so far what I've learned that I'm pretty sure I'd remember in the future is that situations can change in an instant. You can be best friends with a person for years but drift away ten times quicker. You can talk on the phone with a person for hours but not say a single word to them the next day. I'm sure in the future I'll need to remember that life changes oh so very quickly.
Well, yes of course I have used things I've learned from high school now but I must say, those things are what's making things worse, ironically, such as procrastinating and cramming. Despite that, though, my high school days are still the most memorable.
sylvia_uy4@yahoo.com
One of the things I learned in high school was a bit of a life lesson. I was in the nineth grade and at a dance. I really wanted to go home and a guy friend of mine named Anthony asked me to dance, and I let a biotchy side of me out and snapped "No!" Immediately afterward I felt like the biggest A$$. I learned from that moment on that life is not just about me and that it is always more important to take a moment to be kind to someone else.
Thanks for the giveaway. :)
kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
One thing I learned in high school that I definitely use today is geometry. You don't think you'll use it, but I find it actually comes up all the time.
gypsyrover21(at)yahoo(dot)ca
I'm sure that I'm going use a bit of my biology knowledge. Haha, I already did! Sometimes when I do something (like digesting lol), I start thinking of how the process happens. Yep, I'm weird.
One of the things I've learned in high school (wasn't taught this, but..) is how to deal with my anxiety in different ways. With having to keep the responsibility of a schedule and being on time, and getting all of my work done and keeping my grades up, it's really hard for me sometimes. Not because I can't do it, but because I have severe anxiety. I've had to learn to find ways to deal with it though, or else I'd never make it through high school.
One thing that I learned in high school is that you will have your times where you want to please everyone: make sure you made good grades or did what your friends were doing. The first thing you have to do is please yourself because outside those doors is a whole different world.
Amber
sammyjones57(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a high school teacher, so OF COURSE I perpetuate the "you'll use this" idea. Actually though, I really do think you use the THINKING and reasoning skills that are set in motion in school. Also, for anyone who's ever done a remodel, or worked on building a home, that geometry stuff really does help!
mjmbecky(at)gmail(dot)com
I learned that it takes a lot of hard work to be popular. (I was never popular, but had a friend who was.) milou2ster(at)gmail.com
I can't say for certain if I have used what I learned in high school (or even college) in real life yet, but I plan to use it all on Jeopardy someday and become a Jeopardy champion!
Hmm...I would say that I learned a lot of things in high school that I still use today. How to peel an orange in one piece, how to drive, how to pull endless allnighters...all the important little things that you don't think about anymore.
Nora
wishonstars13@hotmail.com
One thing I learned in highschool is it's okay to be rebellious sometimes. I was always stiff and harsh to myself that I couldn't breath. Then someone told me to loosen up a bit to have fun and surprisingly, I did. What was more surprising that I felt so much better than before.
I thought it was great on the first day of geometry my teacher said " You guys probably wanna know when you'll use this stuff. The answer is never. I just teach it cuz I wanna coach football and its the one subject that doesnt matter if I teach you wrong." lol
We have this hokey class that's required for everyone. It's called Life Management Skills, and it's basically your average boring anti-drug, anti-smoking class. But I did learn how to balance a checkbook, which is pretty much the only practical thing I learned in high school.
pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com
So true. I can't remember much of what I actually used later. Education classes maybe. Lit because I loved reading the books, otherwise, not so much.
Well, I did take a photography class in high school that taught me how to develop black and white film. Mind you, I haven't had an opportunity yet to use this skill again :) Let me see, what else? English classes helped sharpen my non-fiction writing skills, so I guess I can say I use that when I'm freelancing!
Ok, I learned something in high school recently that I use pretty often even though it doesn't help me out that much, it's officially stuck in my head. You know the 3 types of columns, right? Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian? Well, I've been going around town, and I swear everytime I see a column I'm immediately classifying it. That has solicited a few comments from my friends when I call the columns at the gas station Doric.
Wait, they didn't have air conditioning at the Strand? How old is it? Lucky! I can't wait till I get to go to NYC. O.o
*SIGH* I wish I knew about the Strand before I went to New York. Now, after the fact, that's all I hear about.
I've learned how to get along with a roommate (I go to a boarding school) and how to manage my time.
Beth (Nathan's m.i.a. again)
bnbookblog@gmail.com
I did take a communications class where the teacher taught us how to write resumes! I've used that!
Hubby teaches high school Chemistry. His students are always asking him when they will have to use this this! I have to agree with his students that I never used Chemistry after I left high school!!!
What have I used?? English grammar has served me well....
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I mostly learned not to judge people, and to have faith in people because they might surprise you sometimes.
bball11kt@sbcglobal.net
I learned the person you are in high school is not the person you have to be forever (or maybe I learned that later!!).
Honestly I think US high school is much better than UK - you get loads more options here, from what I can tell anyway.
I haven't read anything by Susane but as she writes about soul mates I'm sure I'll like her :)
Enjoy NY it;s a fabulous city.
I'm still in high school and one thing that I've learned is that everyone stops trying. You'd think that everyone would try harder because it's almost time to step into the real world...but no one really tries anymore. Sad, really.
behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com
One thing I learned in high school was to enjoy the time! My mom always told me that high school and college would be the best times of my life. During high school I was so busy that I didn't believe it, but when I got to college I realized how much I had enjoyed high school and really learned to enjoy my time in college
I took art in high school for one semester (was busy the rest of the time with the 'important' courses), and learned how to silk-screen on fabrics. I still customize a t-shirt now and then. Useful future skill imparted!
celialarsen (at) gmail (dot) com
Great interview. Lots of food for thought.
This might sounds odd but the one thing that I use a ton, though not always correctly, is Spanish! My husband and I will "try" to carry on a convo in Spanish. It really is very funny.
Great interview and contest. Loving the blog tour!
I learned to read French in high school (as for speaking French--well, not so much). I used it in college when I had to read L'Étranger d'Albert Camus.
Breyers17@hotmail.com
~from Brooke :)
I spent high school in foreign language classes. Because of the way my high school was set up, I was able to take all four years of Spanish, all four years of French and a year's worth of German (that was all the German they offered; I would've taken more if I could!).
Despite the throngs of people who came out of the woodwork to tell me about how French is USELESS! You'll NEVER use it! NO ONE speaks French, NO ONE!, I use French every day. My husband was born in Belgium and speaks French fluently. It's what we switch to when we want some conversational privacy, and it comes in very, very handy. :)
What a great question. :)
stephaniedekeyser (at) gmail dot com
I learned to write in High School - that was useful. Otherwise, though...yeah, definitely not so much with most of the rest.
I'm not an author, but I am a New Yorker, so while the subject is at hand, I will add that if you have time you should check out boroughs other than Manhattan, which out-of-towners rarely do. I think Prospect Park in Brooklyn is nicer than Central Park, plus the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is beautiful. And there are fun neighborhoods and great foods all over Brooklyn and Queens. The other things you should do are eat a lot, and just wander around a lot.
The thing I thought I was least likely to use that I actually have used is the math, particularly trig. I worked in a scene shop (building sets for theater) throughout college, and I used a surprising amount of sines and cosines and arcs and angles.
Never use flower scented conditioner in summer. That's what I learned :P
Laina1312@gmail.com
I use the algebra and trig I learned in high school to help my daughter on her math homework. Course she's only in 7th Grade!!!! But it was useful!
most of the things that i still use in HS i learned while playing sports. I never cared so much about classes but I definitely learned about teamwork and how to control emotions while playing sports in HS
sports dot erikalynn at gmail dot com
What I learned in high school that I still use today didn't come from any books, or even teachers. It was from (or at the hands of, I should say) other students. I learned how to weather any storm, stay strong through any situation, and to not give the bullies the satisfaction of a response. I learned a lot about human nature in high school.
Margay
I actually feel like I learned quite a bit in high school! True, I did spend far more time thinking about boys, auditioning for random school plays and generally acting ridiculous, but I focused a lot in my history classes and actually learned a lot about the U.S. in the sixties. I had a great teacher who really focused on the Kennedy administration... and many of those facts can still be recited today, ten years later! Great news if I'm ever on "Jeopardy"! :)
Thanks for the chance to win! Enjoyed this post and the book sounds great.
I am definitely using those recommendations next time I am in NYC. I wish I had had them before!
I am still learning but so far I have learned that life sucks...end of story lol just a min I think I just made that sound too emo. Ok let me have another try, life can be great...but you have to work hard to get to that level!
Wdebo :)
electricalbookcafe@yahoo.com
I learned a lot of things, but the most important thing I learned was that no matter what anybody else says, be yourself and be proud of who you are. In the end the people that said and did things to hurt you, won't matter unless you make them matter.
HarlequinTwilight@gmail.com
Wow, what I learned in High School. Well since that was back in the middle ages I'll have to rely on my long term memory. Ha!
Really I hated High School, I wasn't with the "in crowd clique" and it was a very confusing time for me because of the recent divorce of my parents. One thing that really stands out at that time is how mean teens can be to each other and often don't realize what that ostracizing can do to a very fragile individual. I felt very alone in that time of my life and as a result try never to do that to any one else. And in raising my daughter tried to instill in her what it felt like to be on the outside looking in and hopefully made some inroads there at least.
I was trying to think of something I learned in school that I use, but I got so sidetracked (and excited) by the mention of homemade gelato that it's all I can think about!
One thing I learned in high school was to type. I took two years of typing classes, and since I use a computer I use that typing every day. The book sounds great. Love to read it. Please enter me.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
What I learned in high school.
I use English the most.
tsslug7@yahoo.com
Well I learned that its better to be accepted for who i am rather than for who i am not.2ndly not to give in to peer pressure and 3rd,have fun with my friends b/c high school/college is the experience we remember for life.Oh and i also learned not to mess around with the Principal's cat ;>
ozairamhin@gmail.com
I've been dying to read this book! Please enter me.
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com
An important lesson that I have learned from high school so far is that I don't need to impress anyone. There's no point in buying expensive purses and clothes that I'll only use for a year or two, and that probably won't even be in style after a while! I need to just be myself, and not care what others will think about me.
Thanks! :)
Believe it or not, taking typing in school was as extremely valuable.....
I learned true friends will stick with you forever.
I learned that the best things are the hardest!!
I think I learned in High School that if you tackle anything head on even if it is something you totally suck at (in my case it was math), that you can master it. I became like the little engine that could in high school when anything seemed tough snd never gsve up. This actually carried over in my adult life in relationships and in jobs.Be it a person or a job I couldn't quite understand I just put my little blinders on and focused to find the good aspects.
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
One thing I learned in high school was what a teacher used to tell us all the time: "never assume"!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Maybe the most useful thing I learned in high school is that your friends are really your friends, and that really matters... since I'm still friends with a lot of my high school crowd!
What I wish I'd learned in high school -- because it's taken me until graduate school to start -- is that it's worth doing things you can't do well. Partly because it's the only way you might learn to do them well, but mostly because they might be worth doing even if you never get good at them.
Since, I'm still in high school,I guess I'll say I'm learning instead of learned. Anyway, I'm learning to not listen to gossip because it's not usually true and I'm finding out who my true friends are.
One thing I learned in high school is the importance of constantly trying - sometimes what I studied or read in the wee hours of the morning end up being critically important.
Pls count me in - this sounds like a fun read!
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
I learned a lot in high school that I didn't think I would use later. I took 3 years of Spanish that I thought would bite the dust the minute I left, but I actually use it quite a bit. I even find myself saying y instead of and. I took a trip to Mexico and it was really cool being the only one who could speak the language. I joked with the cab drivers about my mom's gringo-ness and she had no idea. But really the life lessons I learned in high school probably are what I use the most. You incounter all kinds of people in high school, some great, some not so much. That's how real life is, so it's nice to have a little test ground.
By the way I didn't know you were going to BEA! So am I! We really need to meet up! Email me if you want to get together for lunch or coffee.
One thing I learned in high school and have used many days of my life is that as long as you try your best, even if it isn't perfect, that's what is most important. This can go from schoolwork to sports, and I'm trying to instill it in my children today. :) I had one teacher who drilled that thought into my head and I can't thank her enough for it!!!
One thing I learned in high school is to not give up all of your friends for your boyfriend, because if they leave you will have no shoulders to cry on.
lovejessicamarie [@] gmail [.] com
Well in high school I learned to keep my mouth closed and it has helped me in my adult life. You really dont have to be right all the time. Please include my name in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
My favorite is gym teachers, and their threats that you'l need this later and colleges won't want you if you don't pass gym. Except for the fact it pulls your GPA down, colleges I doubt could care less unless you're going to be a GYM TEACHER!
:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com
I really can't remember high school! I turned forty and it's all a blank. My 14yo is starting 9th grade next year. We shall see.
I wanted to comment on Susane's take on 9/11 and how our lives have changed. I too have been affected by that day as I'm sure we all have. I think we in the US were at a place of, not us. That all the bad things in the world, all the violence that we hear about in the Mid-east and else where, would never happen here. 9/11 changed all that. It really is just luck that I was born here, in this country, with all the privelge that comes with that. I guess what I'm saying is, after 9/11 I realized how lucky I am that what happened that day was not something that happens everyday. Many people in this world live under a threat of violence every time they walk out of their homes. I am so lucky.
Debbie
I learned:
#1 mean girls don't exist once you leave high school
#2 percentages are fantastic when shopping and you encounter mark-downs!
#3 You are responsible for your acts, no one else is
clenna@aol.com
still right smack dab in the middle of high school so far is that backstabbing is something i want to stay FAR away from and that i can now balance a checkbook :D
SarahChistine
pinktooth2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I learned while I was in high school that it really doesn't matter what people think of you, as long as you stay true to yourself and true to those who care about you. That is as true for me now as it was then.
joannarenee (at) mail (dot) com
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you!
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