Burton Simmons’s “Adventures in Business School”

One thing that really sucks about the first year at Willamette (I won’t go into the comprehensive list) is that all the classes are core classes. Since there are roughly 55 people in their first year of the program, they shove us all in a room for 5 hours a day (Monday through Thursday) and talk at us for huge blocks of time. The problem is this room is a nightmare.

First, the seats are are attached to the tables via swing-arms, which makes getting in and out rather awkward. Secondly, they have minimal back support which makes them painful to sit in for as long as we’re expected to. Finally, with 10 minute breaks between classes (we have one 20 minute break on Tuesdays and Thursdays) I spend a huge chunk of my day sitting down typing on my laptop. This starts to really, really hurt after a while.

So imagine - if you will - my absolute frustration when the rest of the class votes to have an bonus Finance class immediately after our normal Finance class (which goes from 11:10 to 12:30 Mondays and Fridays.) The majority of people want to have a class immediately at 12:30 for another hour and half. So the net result is that I will be sitting still (with no significant opportunity to move or eat lunch) from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

To be honest, I’ve gained about 15 pounds since starting this program. There’s a variety of reasons for it, to be honest. One is that I barely have a kitchen in my apartment so cooking isn’t very effective. But the biggest problem I see is that my life has become VERY sedentary in this program. I spend several hours a night doing readings for class. More time doing homework. And even more time sitting still in this goddamn room. When do I have an opportunity to move? When do I have the chance to get some exercise, which is very helpful in health, well-being, and clear thinking?

It’s frustrating.

Edit:  Please see the following OSHA recommended ergonomic seating positions.  I’m guess that having to look up, then down for my laptop, then up, then down again while I sit hunched over in these miserable seats for hours and hours with no breaks to walk around doesn’t meet their recommendations.