This post was written as part of the Scintilla Project as an answer to the following prompt: What is the longest thing you know by heart (poem, speech, prayer, commercial jingle)? Why did you learn it?

In third grade, my class put on a concert where we sang songs about America.

I’m not sure if that’s a normal third grade thing or if my school was weird. Probably the latter, now that I think about it. At any rate, we sang and recited just about anything and everything you’d expect third graders to be able to perform, and then some. I don’t remember the entire program, but we sang songs including America the Beautiful, America (My Country Tis of Thee), The Star Spangled Banner, This Land Is Your Land, Yankee Doodle and Fifty Nifty United States. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and excerpts of the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

I’m sure there is more that we performed but I can’t even remember all of it clearly (although I do remember the whole thing being really, really long). However, the one song I do remember in full from that third grade (!!) concert is Fifty Nifty United States:

Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies;
Fifty nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautif’ly in the breeze.
Each individual state contributes a quality that is great.
Each individual state deserves a bow, we salute them now.

Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,
Shout ‘em, scout ‘em, Tell all about ‘em,
One by one till we’ve given a day to ev’ry state in the U.S.A.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut;
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana;
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan;
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada;
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio;
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas;
Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Al -a -o ming.

North, south, east, west, in our calm, objective opinion,
(name of home state) is the best of the
Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,
Shout ‘em, scout ‘em, Tell all about ‘em,
One by one till we’ve given a day to ev’ry state in the good old U. S. A.

I’ll always be singing “Delaware” as my home state in the last verse, even though I haven’t lived there in years. And the part where it lists all fifty states in alphabetical order? You bet I can recite that off by heart, without prompting, without queuing to the music of the song. I’m pretty sure that qualifies as the longest thing I know by heart.

As of today I am officially done with my undergraduate studies. In four days, I will have my diploma in hand.

*cue freakout*

Now, if only I could get post-graduate employment squared away and sorted in the near future. But, I’m hopeful on this front.

All I have standing between me and graduation is a final paper, a portfolio, an online exam and a final presentation.

Also, graduation is in 12 days.

HOLY. CRAP.

My midterm paper for my Chinese class is expected to be something of a critical analysis of a film or novel (or a comparison of the two).

Even at the peak of my Chinese language study career, I have never written a critical analysis of anything in my life. My Chinese paper writing experience is much more along the lines of a personal narrative, or opinion, or an extensive summary. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or dumbstruck that seemingly overnight, my Chinese writing ability is expected to be that of a level to write a critical analysis.

I foresee a lot of #chinesesayings tweets during the course of this week as I consult my Chinese dictionary extensively. Tweeting these sayings will keep me mildly entertained as I struggle with the process of writing my paper. Hopefully, it will keep me from banging my head against the desk repeatedly.