Goodbye, So Long, Fare Thee Well

Hey. I recognise how very vain it is to make a goodbye post, but I'm doing so anyway for multiple reasons. Number one is to clarify a few thoughts. Number two is to solicit some advice, where possible. But mostly, I'm doing it since this place constitutes a significant chunk of my life, and certainly means a lot to me.

I started this game back in April '04. It is now August '09. Wow, how time flies when you're having fun. I've seen this game come from its humble beginnings. I've seen it through all its twists and turns, its highs and its lows, its peaks and its valleys, its acclaim and its controversies, its most popular and its least popular. I've seen it change hands from one company to another. I've been with this game longer than a solid chunk of our current developers. I've borne witness to and participated in enough online drama to satisfy me for a lifetime.

I've complained bitterly and heaped praise. I daresay I'm more known for the former rather than the latter. I'd like to say that I'm not demanding.. but I'd be lying. I complain simply because I care. I care because this game is a very good game, despite what you may have concluded based on my countless rants and ravings. It is such a good game that it managed to save me a lot of money on its competition, simply because it's so superior. It has ruined any chance I could have to play another online game, I believe. But regardless, I'd like to say that my complaints at times were exaggerated. I wanted things to change, simply because I recognised potential where I saw it. When I see a good thing, all I want to do is figure out a way to improve it even more. When I figure out a potential path of improvement, I've been known to exaggerate its necessity. For that, I'd like to apologise for any misunderstandings I've created. I do enjoy this game. I don't spend my every waking moment complaining about it and never play it.

I'd also like to apologise to those who I've butted heads with in ages past. Internet drama is totally unnecessary and gives the moderators a headache. To Frostweaver, to Circuit Boy, to TOTALITY (if he's still around), to Philotic Knight (to some extent), and to many others - my sincerest apologies for my stubbornness and intensity.

I'd also like to thank very much the following three individuals in especial: james_joyce, redbone1 (I believe was the handle - I distinctly recall redbone or something to do with -bone) and Arcanaville. Why these three? I don't really know them, not as friends - but whether they know it or not, they have had a profound impact on my life.

I thank james_joyce for his extremely well thought out political views. Contrary to what many may think, occasionally a person's mind can be changed very substantially based on a powerful argument. Because of our rare (and entirely forbidden) debates, I feel my political views have changed only for the better. I feel I have become significantly more informed. My political views are highly unique and are no longer bound by party. Thanks once more.

I thank Redbone due to a long dead, entirely forgotten debate regarding UFOs, the supernatural and generally any other superstitious phenomenon. Back then (a mere ... two years ago?) I was much more gullible and willing to - as the X-Files might say - Believe. Redbone took that Belief and buried me under a mountain of evidence and logic. It was the most brutal humiliation I've ever had and shook me to my core. I never admitted it, but I lost that debate. Rather badly. Consequently, my standard of evidence and proof jumped about a thousand fold. I would not have my current fixation with logic were it not for that debate. Thanks once more.

I thank Arcanaville for two reasons: ( [3x - 3x^2 +1]^744 ) x ( [- 3x + 3x^2 +1]^745 ) *cough* Yeah, you guessed it. One is mathematics. Without her incredible ability to bury the opposition under a load of accurate calculation, my knowledge of mathematics would be significantly more feeble than it is today. As you'll see if you keep reading, mathematics is going to hold a very special place in my heart for the rest of my life, and especially the next four years. The second reason is that Arcanaville has one of the more unique writing styles I've ever seen. It is simultaneously highly professional, technical and concise without losing even an ounce of personality. You can sense the biting satire and dripping sarcasm oozing from the very pixels that constitute her words. However, one thing has always bugged me.. it's. friggin'. intrinsically. not intrinsicly. Just thought you ought to know! Anyway, I feel you've certainly contributed towards my expertise with the written word, although it is still far inferior. Thanks once more.

I'd also like to thank my in-game friends! Though many of those I've considered myself close to (which is to say, interacted with on a personal level) have moved on and severed contact, two have remained: Cybernetic Hobo and Tian. I haven't really gotten to know Hobo as much as I have Tian, but they're both still special. Hell, you spend four years with people, you're going to start enjoying their company. Hopefully I'll keep in touch with the both of you as I move on (though, I'm afraid I'll have to gut you if you don't, Tian - you said you would!).

Which brings me to the final portion of my long, rambling farewell. If I love my game, reach new heights of personal advancement, and greatly enjoy the company of my friends, why am I leaving? Well, as strange as it may be to say..

AC is going to college on August 24th, a mere week from today. I will be going to a small community college in central Texas in order to acquire some credits cheaply (along with a host of other reasons, but that's the main one), and after a year, I'll transfer to one of three universities (UT Austin, UT Arlington or Texas A&M) to complete a degree program focused on Aerospace Engineering. Yup.. AC's going to be a freakin' rocket scientist, if he's smart enough and can hack it.

The game, however, must go. I cannot sit idly by and be sucked into a game when education demands my concentration. I realise I will not be that busy during college, especially the first year, but I am not going to run the risk. I have heard too many horror stories of people trying and failing at college because some other pursuit demanded too much of their time. The game will be gone at least a year. I will not return until a) I'm kicked out, b) I fail miserably at schoolwork and kick myself out, or c) (ideally) I'm adjusted to life in a large University and have loads of idle time.

It's not about just completing the coursework, either. Engineering, especially the subdiscipline I'm entering, is easily one of the most technical occupations known to man (or so I'm told). It will demand all my concentration and intelligence - and that's assuming I have enough to begin with.

You may have been wondering when I'd be soliciting advice... well, this is it. I'm a first generation college student. None of my friends are college graduates (except for the two I've mentioned by name above), none of my family are college graduates, and in general, I am completely and totally alone in my desire to pursue higher education. I know nothing about it - nothing. If anyone, anyone has any tips they wish they'd known, or habits they wish they'd gotten into, or just anything you can think of... please, let me know now.

This last request is why I'm making my farewell post now instead of on the 21st (the eve of my account deactivation). I doubt I'll refrain very much from posting, although my post frequency has dropped significantly as late, so it's not my last post by any means. But I felt like I needed to get it out in the open now.

Anyway... thanks, everyone, for making my time on this game something special. This game would be nothing without its tight-knit community of gamers and developers. You're truly amazing.

Aww Cya AC. We'll miss the anger

I think GR might tempt you back - even if it's just for a reactivation weekend

I know we've not always agreed, A_C... in fact, we've banged heads on a couple of occasions. Still, I wish you all the best in college, and as a gal who's completed two BAs and an MA, if you want some advice on surviving college and graduate school, drop me a line sometime.

Clear skies and safe landings,
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

peace and love a_c!


peace and love

Granted this is coming from someone who has only taken art classes in college but... make sure you dont take on too large a load. Start off a little slow if you can until you get used to things otherwise you will have problems. Take it a little easy and dont let yourself get too stressed out and you should do fine.

Wow AC.
I'm definitely going to miss you on these boards.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, never forget that you helped bring about a change.While getting Stalkers buffed may not seem like much, it was bringing about a necessary change to something that resists change. That is an accomplishment worthy of remembering and being proud of.

As for advice,well you're already doing the smart thing by eliminating a big distraction. Remember to pace yourself. Try to avoid overloading on classes if you can and always do your best and give things your all.

Take the fight to a new arena. Hang on to the ability to challenge the status quo.

Good luck with the education.

What a well written and thoughtful goodbye.
I've been around a year less than AC but can still recall some lively threads with his name stamped on them.

Adios amigo, may the aerospace field show you the love you desire!

Thanks Angry as the grognards pass I am one step closer to being the "old man" in the game. Ultimately I plan to be the last guy out the room when they shut off the lights!

How old are you AC? Is this a belated education here, or are you really that young?

Anyways, probably a wise decision, especially in the first year at least before you get a handle on things and learn how to re-adjust your life. Then once you've got a handle on things you can come back.

P.S. no u!

(I'll respond to the rest of the thread tomorrow, but I got this particular snippet pointed out to me so I figured I'd answer before I went to bed)

Wow... I'm gonna miss your snark, AC. The forum's gonna be a little different without you around.

Take care, though, and best of luck!

Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize

From what I have read, you are smart enough to do well in anything you take on. School and CoH can be done at the same time. Come back soon.

//Jack

Good luck out there.

Good luck, and here's my advice for college.

By far, the most important thing you will need to do is to have a plan for getting out. Before you ever set foot on campus, sit down for a long session with your student handbook, the one that shows all the requirements for you to get a degree. Taking classes hoping that it all comes together in the end is a recipe for disaster, and you will 1) spend a lot of money you don't have to, 2) waste a lot of time, and 3) run the risk of getting extremely discouraged when you figure out that some of those classes you took don't count for anything, and you just missed the one class you need to graduate that's only taught once a year.

Make a detailed list of exactly what you're going to take. List each course, along with all of its prerequisites, and ensure that it lines up with what is required to graduate. Once you're done, make an appointment with your counselor and take your list to him. Make sure he's on board with your plan, and that there aren't any "gotchas" that you'll run into along the way.

Stay focused on the plan. When I was in college, my dean wanted all of his students to take a seminar that wasn't required to graduate. I declined. I found out way too late that he liked doing that, dragging out his students' graduation dates under the misguided assumption that everyone was there to eventually go into some academic profession.

If something comes along that varies your plan, such as having to drop a class for whatever reason (it happens to the best of us), the university stops offering a class, the requirements for you to graduate change (which you should strongly protest), you change your major, or god forbid you fail something (it's also been known to happen to the best of us), sit down again and come up with a new plan for going forward. Go to your counselor, and then set your sights on the new target. I'm serious, don't let up on that.

After every semester (or quarter, if your school is still on that system), write down the grade you got in each class and check them off the list of requirements to graduate. There's nothing quite like the feeling as seeing your progress represented on a sheet of paper filling up with stuff with lines through it.

As for day-to-day stuff...

Make an effort to meet each and every single professor you have. They all have office hours, make sure you go by at least once or twice a semester. Even if you understand what's going on, if you have to, make up a question you already know the answer to. This does two valuable things. 1) Most professors have a harder time giving you a bad grade if they know you, even a little bit, personally. 2) This is a clear signal to your professor that you are trying. Believe me, that has been the difference between several A's and B's that I've gotten or would have. Don't be afraid of being a "teacher's pet." In college, there's no such thing.

Unlike high school, in college, no one will make you get up and go to class. This has been the academic downfall of many students. If you don't go to class one day, no one is going to come get you. No one is going to call and see if you're okay. There will be absolutely no repercussions whatsoever. You'll get away with it scott free, because no one really cares if you show up or not. But it's a trap. Once you get away with it once, you'll try again. Then again. Then you'll miss two days. Then you'll tell yourself, "I just need to study for the test, I don't really need to go to class." Trust me on this, missing class is the single greatest reason I've known people to end up college dropouts and flunk-outs than any other, and NONE of them thought it was a big deal at the time. The single greatest factor that will determine whether you are successful is whether you bother to SHOW UP. Do not slack off on this.

Last, but not least, keep in mind that the end goal is to get out. Unless you're going to go for a PhD or you want to eventually get into an Ivy League school, there is absolutely no reason for you to feel like you have to get all A's. There's an old joke that goes like this: "What do you call the guy who graduates from medical school at the bottom of the class? Doctor." Another anecdote. A good friend of mine in college got straight A's. (He was going for his PhD, and with scholarships, he was actually making money by going to school.) I said something to him once about how he must get perfect scores on all of his tests. He told me that he doesn't; he studies just hard enough to get a 90% (for the A), and then stops. His philosophy was that anything over 90% was a waste of effort. If you're not going for a PhD or planning on applying to an Ivy League school, shoot for a mid-B average. Yeah, you'll get some C's, hopefully with some A's in the mix, but I guarantee you that in ten years after you finish, all that will matter is that you got the diploma, and no one will ever ask you what your GPA was.

So there you go, TonyV's college advice. Follow it, and hopefully you'll make it through without too much trouble and without it swallowing up your life and burning you out. I wish that someone had told me that stuff when I started.

One of the best reasons I've ever seen that one hangs up the game. Good on you, AC, and good luck on being a rocket scientist! I also hope that C) is the choice that winds up happening for you, and come on back soon!

/+1 for greatest 'see ya!' post ever in these forums.