First Day of School (Blogging Again)

It's been over a month since my last post here (which was about the initial days of my "Great Social Experiment"). Since then, I've been up to quite a bit. They are, as follows:

• I picked up Shovel Knight from the 3DS e-shop.
• I made a trip to The Ghetty Center (also in Los Angeles).
• I saw American Psycho at the Autry in Los Angeles.
• I revisited a Zelda classic.
• I also picked up BlazBlue (thanks to my brother).
• And I (finally) bought a new (e.g. used) car that's better than Ophelia (sorry, Ophelia).

So, yeah, busy month and a half since my Social Experiment. All of these topics will get written up soon! Stay tuned for the details.

In other news, I've started up school again! Today (August 26th) is the first day of my (hopefully) final Fall Semester. I am simultaneously excited and nervous about the next few months. So much is at stake here, but I'm confident I'll pass with flying colors. Wish me luck, fellow readers. Until next time (and it won't be months from now, I promise!).

Quality Time With "Veronica"

Recently, I did something that I haven't done in such a long time on my university campus - I had quality time with a friend and we spent almost 2 hours just talking, making lame jokes, and just having some bit of fun. Considering we're down to the wire (our final week of the Spring Semester), I was somewhat surprised that we somehow made some time to just talk and develop our friendship together, and getting to know more about each other.

Spending time with "Veronica" (not her real name, but she did request that I use that pseudonym for her) was quite an exquisite respite from the inexorable pressures of these remaining few weeks. I haven't had this type of quality time with a fellow friend and classmate in months. It seems that I have spent just about all of my free time studying and conducting research for two demanding essays and reading the text for four classes in our campus library. Now that it's all behind me (for the most part), it was a nice change of pace to be outside, enjoying the gentle breeze, the flora, the fauna (just some squirrels, really), people watching, and the company of a friend. I hope to have more experiences in the future. I can't help but feel these little moments create those defining "college moments" that many of us fondly recall as we age over time.

A Small R&R

Finally, after this past month and a half, I can actually write for my personal delight again! I spent all this time researching, outlining, and then madly writing two separate term papers - one as a class assignment and the other as a sign of things to come (it was a mock literature review designed to prepare us for the lengthy research process of our undergrad Senior Thesis). Now that both of these assignments are complete (and awaiting corrections/revisions by my professors), I can finally rest easy for this week (before I'll have to adjust my paper to reflect the evaluations my professors will impose upon me).

Unfortunately, this small break from my demanding school schedule is simply insufficient. I'm burned out from almost a whole straight year of juggling work and school, and how I'm holding up is beyond me. I'm afraid of how this Spring will end - I fear this will be my weakest semester thus far in my stay at this university. I know more there is more to life than good grades, but sometimes I forget that, and I end up placing a great deal of value upon a simple 5-letter grading system.

Anyhow, I hope to resumify my writing soon - there are things that I want to write about and try new experiences, hoping for positive feedback and results (more on these later, of course). For now, it's sufficient to say that I'm trying to be mindful to write more, for my sake. Until next, fellow readers!

Come Learn French with Me!

One of my classes this Spring Semester is elementary French (or FR100, as some refer to it). This was, unfortunately, the only basic foreign language course available this semester. All other languages were either level 2 or above, and I didn't have the prerequisites (the beginning classes) to add those to my current schedule. Besides, French is one of the handful of languages that I do want to learn (among German, Russian, Japanese, and American Sign Language), so I'm quite content with taking this course this semester. When I talked to my sister about this language course, she reassured me that learning French is quite easy, since a good handful of vocabulary and grammar reflects its Spanish cousin (which I already know - ethnicity for the win!). This simply means (in theory) I shouldn't have too much difficulty learning this romantic language.

However, just like anything new, learning a new skill (or in this case, a new language) relies heavily on repetition, comprehension, and understanding. So I got to thinking, "What if I post my progress here? I can review the material thus far and I can pass on (somewhat) what I've been learning onto others." It's been three weeks, but I've already got a good grasp on basic numbers (0-70), reciting the French alphabet (same letters as the English alphabet, but with different pronunciations), and basic colors, phrases and greetings (and such). Essentially all of chapter 1 in our class textbook. I'm ecstatic to know just how much I'll learn before the semester is over. Until next time, fellow readers!

Hiking

Now that the Spring Semester is underway in university, my convoluted schedule has finally allowed me an entire free day to do whatever I please. Unfortunately, this means that I have a whole free day to spend studying (or conducting research, whichever is more important at the time), but I'm sure I'll have a day every week or so to do something...right? 

Well, since these are the early weeks of the Spring Semester (we started quite early, actually), these next Wednesdays are free for me to do whatever I please. So, I spent this past Wednesday hiking. This hike will be the first of many and I hope that I can continue to do such leisurely activities like this in the future. Incidentally, this makes it a new trail that I've trekked, so now I've only to explore 2 more! Finally, I'll just post some photographs that I took along the way - Enjoy!

The Beginning of the End...

In the First Day (as well as the Second Day), I had expressed some nervousness (as well as some excitement also) at the prospect of being back in university after a year-long hiatus. Now, this semester is over and I'm quite enthusiastic as to know that this semester has been quite successful! I'm quite confident that I've completed all of my classwork with at least 2 A's and 2 B's (though the hope is that it's 3 A's and a single B and if I got all A's, it's a frackin' Christmas miracle of sorts). I say "at least" because I've yet to see my final grades! I've been too nervous to take a look ^_^" 

After meeting with my academic adviser to discuss the remaining courses and plans for the upcoming January Term/Spring Semester, I've deduced that I'm approximately only one year away from graduation! I couldn't believe (and I still can't) that this is my circumstance - although for this to be possible, I must keep overwhelming myself with 16-unit semesters and 32-hour workweeks! Still, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of this academic tunnel! 

I'm excited to make new progress and continue press forward with my academics - it seems that there is much more pressure, now that I feel that my life is finally coming together with a steady job, a soon-to-earned Bachelor's Degree, and even active love life of sorts! Life is finally starting to become more engaging and even fun now! :-D

First Day!

Right now, I'm approximately 40 minutes away from my first class for this new Fall Semester. I'm ecstatic and nervous about this. I've been talking about being eager to go back, and now that I'm in... I want out! 

Not really :P

If anything, I'm just nervous that I'll be taking on 16 units' of classwork along with 32 hours' of work at my station. It's gonna be quite a busy semester for me this Fall. Wish me luck! =D

In Two Weeks' Time...

...School begins anew for me. I am pretty excited and nervous. I will be taking on 16 units' worth of class materials, all the while juggling work, some social life, and sleep (if any). It's just not this upcoming Fall semester that will be like this. If anything, my remaining semesters will be like this, pushing myself to the limit in hopes of accomplishing and meeting all the requirements for my undergraduate degree. 

So, while school is not in session, I'll be trudging along with work and life, before the black hole that is my academic life sucks me in and drags me down to oblivion. I'm feeling quite happy now, but I don't think I'll so optimistic at the end of December. But, to end on a happy note, I now know how to handle and reduce the murkiness of the upcoming semester =D