Sticking to previous commitments more important?

[elila]

Hey all. Wanted some opinions on a situation.

This Saturday (May 14) I have an art class I signed up for.

There's four classes during the month of May which cost $50.00 and about $20-30 in supplies. I signed up in April, and was excited because I thought I was going to meet other artsy teens. I wasted a few hours at two different stores looking for all the materials which were on a list given out to all students (and said,"Buy materials and bring them to first class") Both stores didn't have any of the items and said I should go toa n art store. (Which is odd because I went to Micheals which is an arts& crafts store, and I went to some other place that is an "arts supplies store") Anyway, I finally spent about $25 getting the supplies at some small art place and went to the first class. The turnout wasn't so good only one other student and the teacher was some college guy who didn't know what he was doing. He just walked up to a painting or vase in the museum and basically said "Uhh...what do you think of this one?" It turns out they had all the supplies that would be needed there, so I didn't have to spend money and search for those supplies. This surprises me because the museum usually has a great turnout for it's student classes and programs and wouldn't mess up so badly. The class is terrible and I'm not learning anything we basically doodle,and I'm really irritated at myself for wasting my money and time.

There's also a weapons class at my MA school this Saturday. I haven't been able to get feedback or practice my nunchakus in months. They've been so busy on Saturdays helping out brown-black belts on those days or having tournaments or it's near a holiday, or a banquet, or I'm busy, etcetera, etcetera.

My question (Sorry for the long rant) is, should I go to the Weapons class, or the Art Class? I feel kind of sorry for the young guy who's probably just trying to make some money and teach art, and one of the mental lessons we have to say at the end of each MA class is, "Always finish what you started!". I don't want to be a quitter I also was trying to save up money but I feel bad taking back the materials to a small store that probably doesn't get many customers. OK I'm being a wuss, I know, but can you all give me your opinions?

[Grenadier]

This is going to be a rather blunt statement, so my apologies if I may sound a bit callous towards the art instructor.

"Finishing what you started" works both ways. While you did take the initiave by signing up for the art classes, it seems that these art classes are poorly organized, and not being run effectively. If the organizers of this class would have at least given you a better situation, then I would have said to go ahead and stick it out, but in this case, they aren't holding up their end.

It's the same thing as a martial arts class; what you are going through in that art class isn't too far off from training at a not-so-stellar dojo. Let's suppose a student signed up for a 3 month contract, and was told that he would receive top notch training, and had to buy a uniform. Upon the first day of classes, the student, having already spent 40 bucks for a new uniform, finds that he didn't have to buy a uniform after all. No big deal, since he can always use the uniform after the first one wears out. However, he now finds that the instruction is shoddy, and the sensei in charge of the class is teaching with a lackidaisical attitude, and doesn't really give a flying fig about giving good instruction.

If I were the student in the above case, I wouldn't finish out the training, since they did not hold up their end of the bargain. If that meant eating the costs for the remainder of the contract, so be it; I would rather eat those costs, and pay more at another dojo that gave good instruction, than to be wasting my time with a poor training regimen.

In your case, I would simply return the supplies that you bought, and start attending the weapons classes. Business is business, after all. Those are your hard-earned dollars, and your precious free-time hours that are not to be wasted.

Good luck with your choice, and the best of luck to you regarding your martial arts training!

[aefibird]

I'd say go to the weapons class. Just because you want to finish what you started, doesn't mean that you should stick with something if it is bady run and poorly organised (which the art class sounds as though it is). There's such a thing as 'good' perseverence and 'bad' persevereance. Personally, I think that it would be 'bad' persevereance if you continued with the art class, because you could put your time to much better use at the martial arts school instead.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[elila]

Thanks for your replies Grenadier and aefibird.

I've decided to take the Weapons class- the art class is just stupid. As for finishing what I've started, I think I need to finish learning the

nunchaku form. Glad to see that others agree.

[aefibird]

Good luck with the nunchaku form! Glad you've come to a decision of what to do.

[swooshfinn]

If you decide on cutting out of the art class, I would consider calling the museum or whomever is sponsoring the art class and tell them politely that they need to take a look at the class and make some improvements....

As for the art supplies, keep them, unless you never plan on using them again, but who knows, one day you might find some free time and want to expirement (sp?) with your creative side.

This one is a tough one for me, being an artist and a MA, but I think I have to agree, go to the weapons class.

[elila]

The weapons class turned out great. Got to practice nunchakus, and I used the staff for the first time. So it was worth it. Pretty cool, never tried that staff before so now I want one.

Took the supplies back too. I'm an artist and a martial artist as well, so I know what you're talking about swooshfinn.

I've been drawing and painting for about 3 or 4 years and thought I was going to learn something new. These supplies were things I didn't need and can't see myself ever using.

The plus? I found a new art store. They have a lot of supplies that I can't find in stores that call themselves art stores but really only have glitter glue, scrapbook sets, and cloth. Rather than using child labor these pitiful craft stores do something worse- that's right, grandma labor.

Also, this art place has art classes which I might sign up for. Don't wanna find myself in another bad situation though.

Edited May 15, 2005 by elila

[swooshfinn]

If you ever are looking for art supplies, check out http://www.dickblick.com for a wide selection of art supplies, still know quite a few people that work in their distribution center from my days there.

[SaiFightsMS]

The weapons class turned out great. Got to practice nunchakus, and I used the staff for the first time. So it was worth it. Pretty cool, never tried that staff before so now I want one.

Took the supplies back too. I'm an artist and a martial artist as well, so I know what you're talking about swooshfinn.

I've been drawing and painting for about 3 or 4 years and thought I was going to learn something new. These supplies were things I didn't need and can't see myself ever using.

The plus? I found a new art store. They have a lot of supplies that I can't find in stores that call themselves art stores but really only have glitter glue, scrapbook sets, and cloth. Rather than using child labor these pitiful craft stores do something worse- that's right, grandma labor.

Also, this art place has art classes which I might sign up for. Don't wanna find myself in another bad situation though.

Sounds like you learned something in the process. I think having multiple interests is good for a person in that it makes one more will rounded. And it is not that uncommon for a martial artist to have an artistic nature.