I am Charlton Heston, in "Omega Man."

Just as Chuck was the "renaissance man" among a hoard of "next generation" mutants in futuristic Los Angeles, I sometimes feel that I walk alone, among the masses of students that I hardly relate to.

Culture Shock #1:  Back from the Future

Unlike most of my peers in school, I know what life is going to be like, after all schooling is over.  I know what it's like in the dog-eat-dog world, where co-workers and superiors alike can all be valuable assets, and heartless motherfuckers (sometimes at the same time).  I know the cold, brutal reality of having to compete in the "real world," whether you want to or not, where there's no such thing as a letter grade, or a GPA to prove your worth.  I've lived in a place where, one minute you're on top of everything, and the next minute, you're in the gutter.

What does this have to do with school, you ask?  Well, for me, it means that I go into school with a clear, singular goal.  I go into school, not for the degree, but for the employment I will get with the degree.  It gives me focus.  It provides me with a simple purpose for me to constantly remind myself of why I am there, and what I must do in order to reach that goal.  Never in my life, have I ever been so focused on such a goal.  I've flown by the seat of my pants for way too long.

However, for many of my younger peers, this clarity simply eludes them.  Most are still stuck in "high school" mode.  They still see college as a "mandatory" requirement, that they don't take very seriously.  Yes, I know that they're only 18-20, but I can see it clearly in their behavior, as I attend my classes.  While I feverishly take notes in class, other kids are feverishly "thumbing" text messages to their friends, and chuckling to themselves, at the responses they get.  Some kids still act like class clowns, just as they must have in high school, which might have only been less than a year ago for them.

I try not to let their behavior bother me, but again...it's a culture shock.  I feel like the adult among children.

Culture Shock #2:  Generation X vs. Generation Why?

Damn, was MY generation like this when WE were all in school?  I mean...these kids are all CLONES.  Guys all wear track pants, hoodies and those "emo" caps (think "Stan" from "South Park," but without the little fuzzy ball on top).  ALL OF THEM dress like this!  Girls all wear sweat pants (with some word or acronym emblazoned across the ass), those absolutely horrid "Ugg Boots" (which, by the way girls...us guys HATE those.  We think they look ridiculous), and the same type of hoodie that the guys wear.  ALL the girls wear this.  I feel like I've been transported into some weird "Logan's Run" episode.  Again...I know it's just a generation thing, but I just don't remember back in '91, where everyone dressed exactly the same.

One of my classes syllabus implicitly says "no portable video games allowed in class."  These stupid kids gotta be told not to bring freakin' video games into class??  Good God.

Culture Shock #3:  Generation Why? (part two)

One of my classes is some bullshit humanities class called "Survey of Rock Music."  Yes...it's as easy as you think.  Regardless, I have to take it, so there I am.  Some observations from my peers, on the first day of class:

1.  "Rock" music apparently did not exist before Elvis Presley (or so everyone thought).