I am now several days (and two finals) closer to break! Just about 48 hours left on campus and I am beyond ready to go home! So far, finals week has been super boring for me, since I only have two and they're spread out, so one was this morning and one is Thursday afternoon. Stupid schedule, I know, so that's why I'm bored out of my mind and ready to escape.
The title of this post seems kinda sad in a way, but trust me, it really isn't. It's just that in the past few days, there have been some good things mixed in with some not-so-good things, so I thought I'd recap them with you and spare you more finals talk.
Bitter: Getting an incidence report for marijuana smell (which I have never used, BTW)
Sweet: Signing a lease for an apartment for next year
Yeah, so I woke up Friday morning to a blue card slipped under my door that said someone had smelled pot coming from my room. Little did I know that half the hall got the exact same warning because the RA couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. I talked with her and obviously she knew I didn't do it, but I was basically freaking out all morning and wondering why it happened to me, when I wouldn't dream of doing drugs ever.
Bitter: Finding out I got a C on the stats final that my dad helped me with
Sweet: Getting a 99% on my newswriting final
Obviously, math is not my strong point, but this stats class was a requirement. My parents basically just said as long as I pass the class, I'm fine. I was kinda hoping to pull off a low B, but with this awful final score, I guess that won't be happening. I am really happy I got such a high score on my newswriting final, though!
Bitter: Having to come back to campus after a long weekend
Sweet: Getting to go home again in 2 days
Coming back to school after a weekend is always a let-down for me, but even more so after spending Friday evening through Monday afternoon at home, which is the longest ever! Plus it's so close to break that I almost felt like I was on break already, so it was a rude awakening to come back. But I'm so close to break, I can almost taste it!
Bitter: Still having one final (and packing, and cleaning, and...) ahead of me
Sweet: Being done with three finals,a project and an interview
Despite how much I'm looking forward to break, I was also dreading this week. Four long days of finals and an interview. But now I've just got one more final left, along with some last-minute things which aren't a huge deal. I'm just so ready to be home!
What's been bitter/sweet in your life lately?
Do any of you remember last year when I posted a few times about how far I was in to finals week? Ummmm yeah, I didn't think so, it's been basically a whole year since I last posted on a regular basis.
Basically, my first experience with college finals was hell to the acious and not because I bombed them or anything (I actually did quite well) but because the schedule was so whack. I originally had 4 finals on Thursday and one on Friday morning. Now, you know no one wants to still be on campus on Friday of finals week, let alone taking an actual final. In fact, my school only has two Friday morning times for finals, barely anyone has those times, and I was so lucky to get one of those. Thankfully it wasn't the 7:30 am one, but still. I was also a lucky duck (not!) with scoring 4 finals in the same day. While most of my friends were finished and headed home by Tuesday or Wednesday, I was stuck waiting around til Friday afternoon. Major bummer. Anyways, I was lucky enough to get one of the Thursday finals changed to Tuesday, so I only had 3 finals on Thursday, which was still a lot. Needless to say, I was super burned out by that night.
This year, my schedule is a lot better, at least in some ways. For one, I don't have any Friday finals. Sure, I'm still stuck here til Thursday afternoon, but that's one day less than last year! And I really only have 2 finals next week. I had no final in my PR class (but a stupid project that is now--thankfully--over with), my stats final is take-home and online (thank goodness!) and I did my newswriting one today. Why is it always the easiest one that we get out of the way first? Oh well, I'm way ahead of where I was last year at this time. So one down, 3 (ish) to go. I say 3 ish because the take-home one isn't like a traditional final. I know it will be super rough, but I will have my dad's help which is amazing. And I get to go home this weekend and escape the craziness that is the freshmen who live on my floor. Gosh, I can't wait for them to grow up. Of course, that'll be after I leave the dorms, of course.
I'm feeling way better about finals this time around, too. Sure, I am stressed about a couple of them, but overall I'm handling the stress in a good way.
I'll keep updating all y'all (if anyone still reads...) throughout next week as I countdown to Christmas break! I'm sooooooo close :)
Does anyone here like group projects? I thought not. You might think it's kinda fun to collaborate with others, but once you're knee-deep in the project, you probably hate it at least a little bit.
Some group members are total slackers. Or they just try to dominate the entire project, and think anything you say is useless. Trying to coordinate meeting times with everyone can be a nightmare and more likely than not, by the time the project is due, at least a few people totally despise each other.
I was assigned a group project in my PR class back towards the end of October. At first, it seemed cool and not too stressful. I had gotten to pick my group members, and they were all girls I talked to in class every day. So we'd get along great, right? Not exactly. Once it came time to start meeting and working on the project, some snags came up on my end. They always wanted to meet at night--sometimes I'd have work right before and by the time I'd get back home, I was tired and hungry and had to work on homework, so nights were out of the question. Also, I have no car, so I was not about to haul my butt across campus in the dark and cold. I met with them once on a Sunday afternoon, but we didn't get much done. I've noticed that they claim that they've gotten a lot done at meetings, but obviously they weren't the ones I've been to. I've been to 3 (or 4 ish) so far and they've all devolved into just sitting around and not doing anything.
So why not do work outside of the meetings? Sounds fine to me, that way I'm not wasting my own time. But the group member claimed there wasn't much to do outside of meetings, and she passive-aggressively called out some members of the group for not always attending meetings. As far as I know, only 2 of the 6 of us have attended every meeting, so I'm not alone in my "ditching".
I met with them 2 more times, and felt like no one cared about my ideas. At this point, it's the end of the semester and I'm just done. So if they're not gonna listen to me, fine, I won't share any ideas. I dreaded going to the meetings, but I did anyway so no one could dock me points. Truth is, I feel like they're going to anyways. I think they secretly hate me and my partner, the girl I worked a lot with. We've both not been able to go to meetings, and we haven't done quite as much work as some of them, but only because our assigned part was pretty vague and hard to research. So...not our faults. Actually, I know they hate the other girl. They've said behind her back that she hasn't done any work, which isn't completely true. They've stuck up for my efforts somewhat, but who's to know what the heck they're saying about me when I'm not there? Girls can be so bitchy sometimes.
Okay but here's the thing--one (or really more like 2 or 3) group members have kinda taken control of the whole thing. I feel like 2 in particular are really anal, and don't want other people "screwing" them up. Fine, but then don't blame us if we aren't as big a part of the project. Plus, how about you actually listen to what other people have to say. Especially regarding meeting times. 6 members is a fairly large group--chances are, not everyone will be able to meet every time. I've tried saying I can't meet at night, but no one cares, and they still hate me for not making the meetings. I know everyone has a different class schedule, but cut people some slack. And, don't waste their time when they do go to the meeting. Sure, I love laughing about a funny story or swapping juicy gossip, but not when I took time out of my schedule to meet for some project. Save that for later.
Basically, I cannot wait for this semester to be over! Our presentation was today, and it went pretty well, but sadly, that's not the end of it (I wish). We might have to meet one more time to finalize the paper, because that's not due for a week. Oh gosh, just kill me now! Not really, but I'm so over working with these people. Not to mention, I'm so done with school in general and I'm kinda swamped this week. So if we don't meet in the morning or afternoon...well, tough luck for them, because I'm not meeting again at night just to regret wasting all that time. And if my grade suffers a little (because the peer evals are only one small part), then whatever. I've done well in the class so far, and I'm just done with trying to please people I'll probably never see again.
How about you--what do you think of group projects?
Hey guys! Soooooo does anyone still read this blog? I kinda forgot about it after second semester of last year. There's a ridiculous amount I could recap on, but I'm not going to do that because it would take forever. It's been almost a year since I updated, so let's just move on to the present. Basically, I'm a sophomore now (wooooo!) and still in the dorms, but in a much nicer, newer one. I have the room all to myself--no more pesky roomie to deal with--and a bathroom that's shared with only 2 other girls. I'm livin' the dream life, no? Honestly, I really do wish I was living off-campus this year, and I wish I had a car, but I'm hoping those things will come next year. This year is a HUGE improvement over last, so I'm thankful for that.
Anyways, by the title of the post and the day on the calendar, I'm pretty sure you know what time I'm talking about--the end of the semester. A student's most dreaded and most looked-forward-to time of year. As usual, I'm counting down the days (and hours!) til I can escape school for a month-long break.
Tomorrow is the start of my last week of classes, and I just can't wait to get them over with. Unlike the last week of classes of the past, this one is chock-full of a lot of other stuff, namely a project presentation tomorrow and my first final on Thursday. Eeeeek! I'm actually just excited to get one out of the way--this year's finals week is a LOT less stressful than first semester of last year's. On Friday, I'm hoping to head home for an extended weekend, mostly so my dad can help me with my stats take home final. I am totally stressing about that one, but we'll see what goes down. I can't wait to go home, even if it's just for 3 days. It might seem weird, going home for 3 days, and then coming back to school for 3 days, and then going home again for a month. But whatever, I miss my family a lot (having your own room in a hall filled with immature freshman can get lonely and boring) and hopefully this mini-break will refresh me for my last couple of finals next week.
Hopefully, I'll remember to update you guys on what goes down this week and next. It should be pretty hectic, but that'll hopefully make time fly, right?
I'm trying to look at this situation with the "glass-half-full" mindset. Yes, I still have 4 more finals to go until I'm done. Yes, I did take the easiest one today, leaving all the hard ones for Thursday. But I have officially finished one college final. So I'm proud of myself, even though most of my friends on my floor have already taken at least 2 and are leaving on Wednesday or early Thursday. Meanwhile, I'm stuck here til Friday morning, because of one exam that has a common time. There are two large sections of the class, and to make things easier, the professors decided to hold them both at a special time, which happens to be Friday, the day that most people have no exams onand get to be home or are on their way there. Lucky me!
I'm trying to do as much as possible before then so I can leave ASAP. Who wouldn't want to, anyway? I've packed up as much as I can (mostly food, pjs, socks and camis) and I'm just anxious for Thursday to get here. Of course, I'm dreading it because I have 3 finals in a row, but I think I'm (almost) ready for them. Plus, that way, the day should just fly by and then I'll have one last exam bright-and-early Friday and then...I'm home! Of course, that's after a 2 1/2 hour drive, but at least I'll be spending it with my mom and looking forward to everything that Christmas break will bring. I. CAN'T. WAIT!
Tomorrow's a study-my-butt-off day, one last chance to make sure I'm totally prepped for my math, wildlife ecology and 20th century fiction finals. It'll hopefully be a productive day.
I'm more than ready to go home...just gotta get through these last 4 finals!
Most people go to college to "get more knowledge", right? Well, that knowledge isn't just found in the classroom--spend a decent amount of time on campus and you'll learn a lot of things you probably didn't expect to. Here are a few of the suprising life lessons I've come to realize in my first semester as a college student.
- If at all possible, try to schedule your classes later in the day. Of course, if you are a morning person (who is?) then it's fine to take that 8 am lecture on organic chemistry. But most of us, whether we stay up super-late or not, would prefer classes more centered in the afternoon. This semester, I was lucky enough to not have any class before 11. And even though that pushed some of my classes a little past 5 pm, I didn't really mind. Oh, except when it started getting really dark after daylight savings time. But it still wasn't a big deal for me. You'll probably concentrate better later, anyways.
- Make friends with people who have cars (if you don't). This year, I don't have a car on campus. Why? Because at all the orientations I went to before starting here, they said cars aren't needed unless you live off-campus. Not needed, no, but very very convenient. Like, say, you want to grab some Starbucks on your way to class, or hit up Chipotle on the weekend or drive home whenever you want to (if you live in-state like I do). So be nice to the people who have cars and they'll probably be willing to drive you around, especially if you reimburse them for gas. But don't just be nice to get a free ride!
- Earplugs, fans, iPods and sleep masks work wonders. An iPod of some sort is kind of a college essential, but aside from pumping you up before a night out or keep you awake on your early morning walk to class (see #1), it also helps when you want to block out noise if you're trying to sleep. People out in the hall can get kinda loud, not to mention your roomie might not keep the same sleep schedule as you. That's why the other three items also help you fall asleep faster.
- Take a break every once in a while. Especially with finals coming up (my first one's in 4 days...yikes!) you deserve a refresher with all that studying. So grab dinner with a friend some place you've never been (or an old favorite), catch up on missed episodes of your fave TV show and just take some time to chill. Even using this time to sleep will help your stress level stay down.
- Go to every class. Really. It's not that hard, actually. And really, if you don't go to class, what are you going to do? Probably not study. So just make a little effort and go to class--you'll get all the notes first-hand, not to mention the professor's side comments (which are usually pretty important) and you can catch up on the gossip of the day. If you're sure the class will be boring and pointless, bring along some homework, a magazine or your iPod. But most of the time, class is worth it.
- Getting dressed for class is always good. Yeah, I know that I haven't had to wake up before 9 this entire semester, but I've always taken the time to dress nice, put on makeup and do my hair. Showing up every day in sweats and a ponytail may be easy, but it shows everyone you don't care. Oh, and just think of the possible compliments you may get on your amazing sense of style if you take a few minutes to pick out a cute outfit. It'll really help you feel motivated in class.
- Communicate. With your professors if you're falling behind in class. With your RA if you're feeling homesick. With your roommate if any issues come up. For much of the semester, I struggled with voicing my opinions and it ended up not so good. Once the lines of communication were open, everything just felt better. So do it before it's too late.
- Be responsible. Yes, you're on your own, with no one to really tell you what to do. Does that mean you should party every night or never do your laundry or skip class or pig out every day in the dining hall. NO! It means that you have to start acting like the adult you are: taking out the trash when it gets full, doing the laundry occasionally, cleaning up after yourself, going to class and doing the assignments, having fun but not letting it mess up your future career plans.
So there's the list! Of course, there's tons more things I have learned, and will learn in future semesters, but these seemed the most important. If you've been in college (or are in college), what important life lessons have you learned outside the classroom?
I'm homesick. There, I said it. Not that I'm ashamed of it or anything. Yes, my family is only 2 1/2 hours away (on a day with good traffic, which is rare through the Denver area), so it's not like I'm across the country from them, but sometimes it sure seems like it.
The stress around here is building, just like that annoying zit that pops up when you've got a first date with a hot guy that night and no time to make it disappear. It's mostly due to finals, which for me start in exactly a week. Gulp! Oh, and it also has to do with the tension that just seems to be increasing between me and my roommate. It only seems to be me that's annoyed, though, which is just so convenient. Of course, I'm not the one bursting into the room not even ten minutes after she's gone to sleep or the one who spends many waking hours completely plugged into the computer, ignoring the rest of the world. Or the one that refuses to wash my sheets. I know, I've mentioned these problems before but it doesn't look like they're going away any time soon, at least not for 9 or 10 days when I get to (finally!) go home. I don't care how bored I get during the month I have off, I'm not taking it for granted because I know that if I weren't there, I'd be somewhere much, much worse (such as my dorm room).
So hopefully you can understand why I'm homesick. Not to mention, I've always been close to my family (not much teenage rebellion around here) so being this far away for this long (a little over two weeks, but I've made it through three weeks before, so I can do this) makes me miss them. Oh, and with Christmas in a little more than 2 weeks (!), I'm not really feeling too much in the holiday spirit, since I'm not enjoying the season with my family. I'm planning on making up for it in the week I have at home before Christmas, though. So it's been hard, and end-of-the-semester stressage hasn't been helping.
I'm trying not to wallow in it, though. I've been doing some things to get my mind off my anger, stress and little bits of sadness. Like tonight, me and a few of the other girls from my floor went to a hall program, where we made Christmas cards for kids in the hospital and watched The Santa Clause. Oh, and all the glitter was just an added bonus! I'm not sure I'll ever get it all out of my clothes! On Thursday, me and a close friend from just down the hall are planning on going out to eat. We do this a lot on Thursdays and it just really helps to get away from the dorms for an hour or so and enjoy some good food for a change (not that microwaved meals and cereal aren't good, they just aren't doable every day). Yesterday, I stopped by my campus's student center after my first class and picked up lunch: vegetarian bean chili with a side of foccaccia bread. It was really good and a nice change from my usual lunches, which are pretty much whatever I can scrounge up from stuff in my room, since the dining halls have weird hours and long lines. I'm planning on getting dinner tomorrow from the same place--it's convenient that I can get fast casual food only a few minutes away from my classes and it's a nice treat.
So I'm gonna try my best to make it through this week, do something a little special every day and continue to count down the days til I can go home again!
1 week left of classes. 5 days left of my first semester of college. And then finals. How final is that?!
I've gotta tell you, this semester has gone by pretty fast. Of course, I say that now, looking back. I'm pretty sure back in August, I was both dreading and looking forward to school starting. On the one hand, who wants to go back to a schedule, to having to actually do something, after summer? But I was pretty ready to start college, to start a new experience. Boy, it's been an experience. Now I'm eagerly anticipating the end of this semester, so I can go back home (to a new house, no less), spend some much-needed time with my family (I've been missing them so much, especially since Christmas is right around the corner) and just chill. I haven't had tons of time to just relax, take it all in, and forget about all the worries that school brings. It doesn't help that the weekends, when I don't have much to do, have recently been spent on campus, so I can't really escape it. My Christmas break is a month long (a month--that's like twice as long as in high school!) so it really should give me the mind-clearing time I need. Only 11 days left, and I can finally leave!
But before I can do that, I've got to get through this last week of classes and of course, the hated final exams. I can already feel the stress building! Maybe it's because none of my professors have posted their finals study guide (um, get on that!) or maybe it's finally hitting me that it's not Thanksgiving break anymore and if I want to get out of here in one piece, I've gotta haul my way through five final exams, two of which are cumulative. Gulp!
So what's a stressed out girl to do? Well, caffeinate, for starters. Since Thursday, I have not gone a day without a coffee drink, be it a frappuccino from Starbucks (the caramel light frap with 1 pump gingerbread syrup--yep, I invented it and it's delish) or mixing up a cup of instant Starbucks Via in my room. I've gotta tell you, though, a Vanilla Via mixed with half a cup of chocolate peppermint soymilk really helps me push through my day. So am I addicted? Talk to me in a week! No, seriously, though, a lot of college students rely on coffee to help them get through finals and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be one of them.
Also, I'm trying to celebrate the season as much as I possibly can. I have a mini Christmas tree, a cute holiday tee my mom bought me from Hollister and I created a playlist of great Christmas songs on Pandora (one of my new addictions). Is it the same as coming home after school to see the big tree all lit up in the living room and watching cheesy holiday specials with my family? No, definitely not, but I had to compromise. It's not all bad, really, and it just makes me that much more excited to get home in less than 2 weeks and actually start celebrating.
I'm hoping all these little things help me survive this boring week of classes and the tough week of finals ahead of me. Oh, not to mention, actually studying :)
I'm really looking forward to next school year, because I'll finally be out of this difficult living situation I'm in now (see previous post) and I'll be one year closer to graduating. And my parents said that hopefully they will either get me a car or pay for me to live in a single dorm room. Hmmm, that's a really hard decision!
Upsides to having a car: I can drive home any weekend I want to without having to make my mom drive up and get me (definitely going to take advantage of that); I can go out to eat more often (believe me, the dining hall gets old); I can get to off-campus events more easily/safely (especially in the winter); I can escape the dorms if I want to (which I probably will).
Upsides to having a single room: no annoying or rude roommate to deal with (like I am now); more like a home-away-from-home; won't smell (another roommate issue); can go to bed whenever I want (there are a lot of upsides to not having a roommate).
This is such a difficult decision that I'm glad I have a couple of months to decide. Well, I have at least til February, when next year's housing applications are due. Both options have their upsides (and pretty much no downsides, as far as I can tell) so it's a really tough thing to decide on. If I had a car, and ended up with an annoying roommate, I could go home every weekend or just spend most of my time elsewhere (Starbucks and the mall, maybe?). If I had a single room, the roommate thing would never be an issue but if I still missed my family, I couldn't go home whenever I wanted to. So I'm still not sure. Help!
I've put off writing about the roommate for so long, but I figured it's time to get it out there: I'm not best friends with my roomie. Many college articles in magazines and online will try to convince you that you'll become besties and want to hang out together all the time and what not, but the sad truth is that you probably won't. I sure didn't.
Let's just say that me and my R (short for roommate, of course) have a lot of differences. Among the most major of them are 1) I like to turn in around 11 pm on school nights, so I can get at least 9 hours of sleep; R prefers going to bed at the ripe time of 1. I'm talking a.m. So many nights I don't get to go to sleep until she finally shuts off her computer and crawls into bed. 2) In addition to staying up way too late watching stupid YouTube videos (umm, yeah, and that includes weird awkward under-the-breath laughing that I can still hear!), there are always a few nights a week where instead of returning from dinner, she goes off and does who-knows-what and doesn't return to the room until about 15 minutes after I've tried to go to sleep. So I wake up again, pissed off, and of course, then she has to go and take her 40 minute shower. So I don't get to sleep until at least 1. Thanks. 3) She is in the room a lot. Especially on weekends. Now that Christmas break is in a little less than 2 weeks (!), I'm forced to stay on campus, so I have to deal with her. If I want to spend any time in the room, I feel all awkward if I try to play music or watch TV. Oh, and she doesn't wake up til noon, so I try my best to stay quiet and put on my makeup in the dark (and it's not like I wake up ridiculously early--I usually get up around 9:30 or 10 on weekends). Can you say, unfair?
Basically, I'm getting more and more stressed out as finals loom (who wouldn't?) and this whole roommate issue is just making it worse. And these aren't the only problems I'm experiencing with the R--a weird smell coming from her side of the room, the fact that she won't talk to me unless I address her first (and even then she isn't really responsive or considerate) and more. Really, it's safe to say that my R and I just tolerate each other.
I do wish I had a good relationship with my R. Some of my friends from my hall have much better relationships with theirs, and I'm definitely jealous. I'd just love to have someone close by to confide in (my parents don't count, since they're too far away, but they are truly amazing), to trade fashion advice (since her sense of style is nonexistent, it would kinda be a one-way street) and just have a place I wouldn't mind coming back to. Because your dorm is kind of your home-away-from-home, but right now mine's a slowly crumbling dysfunctional family.
I'm not someone who could never get used to living in a small room, or being with someone I'm not related to for a long, long time--I really could, but in this situation, I can't. If I had a single room, or shared with a good friend, I really think I could stand the whole dorm room experience. Right now, I'm just trying to find the good things in every day, and even if they're small, I try to appreciate them. Because I need all the little things I can get.
Dear School,
Oh, school. You aren't usually my friend, especially not this close to Christmas. I have exactly a week left of you this semester, and I'm not sure I can make it. Not to mention the finals that always seem to arrive when you go away. So maybe I should be more friendly to you. But I can't help wanting it to be break already. Coming back to you after 9 days off is rough. Don't blame me for being annoyed with you; you have to admit you like time off, too. This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's usually more like the most stressful time of the year. I remember being a little elementary-schooler and the last few weeks before Christmas break were always fun--holiday parties, making cute but cheesy crafts that our parents would hang on the Christmas tree, playing outside in the snow during recess. Now the last three weeks revolve around professors jamming the last bits of information they can down our throats and then major stressage over final exams. So, school, I hope you can see where I'm coming from when I say I don't like you very much right now. I almost wish the week after Thanksgiving break would just be finals so we could skip over the two weeks of classes and just get right to the point and then have a break. But nooooooo!
All I'm asking for, really, is that you give us a break. We have another whole semester with you after Christmas, so cut us some slack right now. I don't know one person who wants to go back to school after Thanksgiving--they should just start Christmas break then. I know, I know--finals are important...or so they say. Just give all of us stressed-out college students out there a break and not make our lives too hard between now and Christmas break. We'll thank you for it later, I promise.
Sincerely,
One of the hardest days to go back to school is the day after Thanksgiving break. Of course, it's harder after Christmas break and also after summer vacation, but coming back after Thanksgiving is pretty difficult.
For me, the break was the first time since summer that I have been home for more than a weekend. I have been grateful for all the weekends I got to go home or see my family but having nine days with them was a true blessing. Among the many things I did over the break, here are just a few: going to an organic all-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich place (they have all kinds of different nut butters and jellies so it's never boring), getting my Starbucks fix twice, running some errands, watching Fantasia 2000, baking all kinds of Thanksgiving treats, game nights, getting yummy gelato and enjoying a Pei Wei dinner on my last night at home. Pretty much everything I did involved my family, and I'm so thankful to have such a great one.
Of course, that just makes it that much harder to go back to Fort Collins (2 1/2 hours away) and face school again. Really, who wants to go back to school when it already feels like the holiday season is in full swing? I'm refusing to listen to any music but Christmas music (on my iPod and streaming a station from back in the Springs that's been playing the stuff since Halloween!). I brought a mini Christmas tree back to my dorm that's all decked-out in ornaments that match my bedding. I have quite a few food items that are holiday-related, from the chocolate peppermint soy milk to an Iced Gingerbread Clif bar. There's a chill in the air, and despite the lack of snow on the ground, it still feels like winter. Basically, I'm just ready for it to be December 18, the first full day of my Christmas break. The best part is, it lasts exactly a month! So I'm extremely anxious for that, I'm ready for classes to be over and to finish my final exams. After my last two classes today, there are only 9 more school days, which doesn't seem like a lot, but if you've ever lived through those last few weeks before Christmas, you'll know the feeling.
So I'm counting down the days (and maybe the hours, too) until I can get out of the dorms, away from my roommate and go home. Because to me, it doesn't seem like the Christmas season til I'm spending it with my family.
Thanksgiving break is less than 24 hours away...can you believe I'm super-excited? Tonight was more fun than usual since I went out for dinner at Panera with one of my friends from my floor and afterwards we got frozen yogurt even though it's freezing outside! So I had a fun night and now I'm back in my room trying to pack (I only have a duffel for now but my mom's bringing up a huge suitcase when she picks me up tomorrow so hopefully that'll fit all the clothes I need for the next 9 days).
I'm more tired than I thought I'd be, considering how excited I am to go home. It might seem like not such a big deal, but when you've been miles away from your family for nearly 3 weeks, it feels so good to be back home. For one thing, I'll have my own bathroom and I won't have to wear flip-flops to take a shower. The food will be so much better (and not just on Thanksgiving either), my bed will feel so good and I won't have to worry about someone keeping me up when I want to go to sleep. And of course, there's the whole no school thing. That will be amazing! I really just can't wait to be back with my family again, and spend as much time with them as possible. I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and start cooking again--that's something I really miss at college. I can't wait to play board games, to watch the Macy's parade with my fam, to just spend time with them and appreciate the comforts of home.
It's gonna feel so good to get out of the dorms. Now all I've gotta do is figure out how to stuff my clothes into this tiny bag!
Ever notice how the days drag on right before a big break? Like those last few days before summer vacation begins, every hour seems to last a day. That's how I feel right now, just a couple of days before Thanksgiving break officially begins. It feels even slower now than it ever has, since I'm also eagerly anticipating seeing my family and going home, which I haven't seen in almost 3 weeks.
The school days themselves seem to go by as usual. It was the past two weekends here that really dragged. I know, I know, the weekends usually fly by. Not when you don't have anything fun to do.
Now it just seems like I'll never get a break from school, never get to sleep in my own bed and have my own bathroom, never get to play board games with my family and go out to eat with them. I know that Friday afternoon will come but I can't help wishing it was Thursday. Since my classes are on a block schedule (I have three of the same classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday--minus one of those on Friday--and two other classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and today's a Tuesday, I just want it to be Thursday. Not that Wednesdays are bad, it's just one more obstacle in my dash to the finish line. Of course, it's not the 'actual' finish line--that comes in about a month when finals are over and Christmas break begins (and I'm really looking forward to that, a whole month of no school--college is way better than HS!) But it is a 9-day break from school and I am definitely thankful for that.
In the meantime, I will try to keep busy doing homework that's due after break (so I don't have to waste my break doing HW), planning out the recipes I want to make when I go home (I haven't actually cooked in over a month, how sad) and packing. I know it doesn't take three days to pack but it will help me get in the Thanksgiving break spirit :)
How are you spending your last few days before break?
After having spent 4 months in college, I consider myself an expert on stuff you'll need to be successful and just all-around happy in college. Okay, I'm kidding about the expert part, but I do know a thing or two about things I've found to be very useful in college.
- A desk fan. The beginning of the school year was very, very hot so it came in handy when I was doing HW and even just trying to sleep through the hot nights. Now it's much cooler (well, at least outside) and I use the fan at night as white noise. It works wonders at blocking out all the noise going on in the hall.
- An ethernet cord. I still haven't figured out how to get my laptop to work on the wireless network, so I always make sure my ethernet cord is plugged in so I can get on the net. Even if you have wireless, make sure you stash one of these cords in case something happens to your connection. Otherwise, what will you do without all those dumb YouTube videos?
- Gum. Yeah, it sounds kinda weird, but it's great to keep you awake in class or just to freshen your breath if you're planning on meeting a hot guy later. Stick with mint or cinnamon flavors--my favorite is 5 Gum in cobalt (peppermint) or flare (cinnamon).
- Instant coffee. Starbucks makes some great instant stuff, Via, and it tastes pretty much the same as the coffee they make on-location. They even have flavored and iced versions. It's a great pick-me-up on a long afternoon or it you've gotta pull an all-nighter studying for finals. Plus, you don't have to have a coffee maker--just heat up some water in the microwave, pour in a cup and stir. It's perfect for dorms that don't have much room or if you're not close to a Starbucks (which, sadly, I'm not).
- Gloves, hat and scarf. Of course, this only applies if you live somewhere that gets cold during the winter, but most of the U.S. does so if you don't, consider yourself lucky. Stash them in your purse if you're planning on being out all day; you never know how cold it might get later on and it's always better to be overprepared.
- Microwave. Okay, this might be obvious to some of you, but it really is an essential. Maybe you don't want to get up early to grab breakfast in the dining hall (this is me) and you want to be able to heat up water for oatmeal or coffee. Or it's cold outside or you've had a long day and you'd rather make something quick in your room. You can make SO many things in a microwave it's not even funny. I use my micro on a daily basis, from making veggie sausages in the morning or heating up a noodle bowl for lunch or cooking a frozen burrito from the dining hall's express store for dinner.
- Food. Back to the whole convenience thing. Sometimes, you just don't feel like trekking to the dining hall or you're just sick of the food. This is when having a stocked 'pantry' really comes in handy. Stock up on basics and snacks so you know you'll be covered no matter what. I have so much food in my room but it definitely does not go to waste. This is where a mini fridge/freezer also helps; you can keep water cold, have milk for your cereal, store snack dips and maybe even some room for frozen stuff.
- Flats. I mean the shoes, of course. Unless you're a pro at walking in 5-inch stilettos, save those for parties. Ballet flats, flip-flops, moccasins and Ugg-style boots are all perfect for walking around campus, even if you've got a lot of places to go. And flats can be just as cute as heels :)
- Lighted mirror. Okay, in case you can't tell, this post is really aimed toward girls. Sorry, guys, but I know way more about girl stuff since I am one. This comes in handy if your roomie sleeps in late and you've gotta get ready for class in the dark. At least you'll be able to see exactly what color eyeshadow you're putting on!
- iPod. Or some kind of mp3 player. It's great for focusing on HW or studying because you can block out the sounds in the next room. If you walk to class alone, you won't be bored. Play it in your dorm using some kind of dock to liven up a boring night in your room (dance party, anyone?) Oh, and it can help you fall asleep on those loud nights. If you get one where you can play games, even better!
Of course, there's plenty more things I could list that are 'essential' to college life, but I wanted to keep it short and sweet so you're not overwhelmed. If you're headed to college next year or are already experiencing it, take note! Not everything on the list may be important to you, but just pick and choose what you think will be best for your lifestyle.
So this weekend's my last before I head home for Thanksgiving break! I can NOT tell you how excited I am for 9 days of my own bed, bathroom, delicious food (and not just on Turkey Day), free time and getting to be with my amazing family. Some days, the 132 miles (yes, I looked it up, thank you Mapquest!) between us just seems like so many more, especially when I'm counting down to a weekend at home. For some reason, they always go by way too fast though, since I'm usually going-going-going. Plus it probably has to do with the whole "time flies when you're having fun" thing.
Not that weekends on campus aren't fun, they just aren't nearly as fun. And they seem to drag. Last weekend was pretty long and dull, because I had a lot of homework to do and other stuff like laundry. Plus my friends from the hall went back to the Springs, so I was kinda lonely. Oh, except my roommate was there (as usual...she lives only about 30 miles away, and hasn't been home once except for one night!) but that's not really thrilling, since we're not friends. We talk occasionally, but she pretty much is hooked to her computer or leaves way late at night, interrupting my sleep. So yeah, we're not that close.
This weekend should be a little better...maybe. It's only supposed to be in the upper 30s and possibly snow tomorrow, so there's not much of a chance I'm gonna go outside to get away from my room. I might get to go out for dinner, but otherwise I'm going to the study lounge just down the hall so I can escape my room which is plagued with germs (yes, my roomie is sick with a cold, constantly coughs and spends most weekends completely in the room besides meals and bathroom breaks...so I'm not going to get much of a break from her this weekend, especially since she's sick :[ ). Maybe I'll brave a short walk, but only with coat and gloves.
And I do have more homework to do, not to mention laundry, just so I can give my mom a little break when I do go home. I have a math paper to write (really, a paper in math?), an essay to start (it's due the day after break, so if I don't want to be a slave to my laptop during break, I need to start it soon) and possibly study for a wildlife ecology test right after break. What is up with these teachers scheduling tests/papers for right after break? Couldn't they push it back a week to give us a chance to actually enjoy our free time? Oh, and spring registration officially begins for me at 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, so I'll frantically be trying to get into the classes of my choice at that time.
Another 'must-do' is watch SNL on Saturday. It's one of my favorite shows, and it really helps me unwind after a long week. It's new this week, too, so it's going on my weekend checklist.
Other than that, not much. I really hope I can do something with my friends, though, even if we just grab a frozen yogurt (crazy in this cold weather, I know, but there's a really good place that's only a ten minute walk from our dorm). I hope your weekend goes well too and is more exciting than mine. But I'm not complaining too much...less than a week til I go home :)
After my rant yesterday about how I really don't like rain in November and how it was definitely time for snow, it finally did snow. Just a few inches on the ground--the streets were clear and by the time I went to class, the sidewalks were, too. But it really put me in a holiday mood and now I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas even more.
The first snow always feel so refreshing. Like, even though it's below freezing outside, you want to be out there just to feel the chill. It made me feel so alive. I had a lot of walking around to do today, from coming & going between classes to visiting my advisor so I could get all squared away for registering for spring classes. Once I got that out of the way (not to mention my math exam), I felt like this huge weight was lifted off of me. The cold air and snowy ground also helped me feel much, much better.
Of course, I know that come January or February, when it snows at least once a week, I'll be sick of it but I'm going to enjoy the remaining snowfalls of 2010!
According to my Facebook news feed last night, it seemed like it snowed everywhere. Everyone's status was about how much they love snow, how it was so great that it finally snowed, blah, blah, blah.
Why was I mad? Do I hate snow? No, actually, I've been looking forward to snow since October, the first month when in usually snows in Colorado. No, I was mad because in Fort Collins (where my college is), it decided to rain. HARD! And of course, I wasn't expecting this so when I get out of my wildlife ecology class and see that it's pouring, I get a little upset. Because I have to walk halfway across campus to take a math quiz and then walk all the way back to my dorm. Did I mention I was wearing just a button-down shirt with a bandeau top underneath, jeans and leather platform shoes?
So basically, I got soaked. All in the name of math.
Later that afternoon, when I had to go to my math class, I was smart enough to actually put on a jacket. Suprisingly, it stopped raining but it was still freezing. (Here's my question, though: since it was below 40 degrees all day, how could it have possibly been raining, instead of snowing? Just asking.) By the time my math class got done at a quarter to 5, it was nearly dark and colder than ever. This is why I hate daylight savings time.
When I logged onto my Facebook page back at my cozy dorm, I was shocked at how many people's statuses involved snow. Most of my FB friends live somewhere in Colorado, and from Denver to the Springs to Boulder there was snow. But not in good old FoCo. In fact, most of my FB friends who also attend CSU has posts complaining about the lack of snow. So I wasn't alone.
Basically, I want it to snow. Really, really bad. I'm hoping that when I go back home to the Springs for Thanksgiving break that it actually snows. Which it probably will, since my house is in an area of Colorado Springs where it snows pretty much twice as much as anywhere else. I think I've got a pretty good chance of a white Thanksgiving.
