Let's Make Another Year to Remember
Trying new things is always a scary thing for me. Ever since I was little any change in my normal schedule was nerve wracking. The first day of high school and the first day of university my stomach was twisted into so many knots I'm not sure how I managed to get my breakfast down. Of course, new things always carry a bit of excitement as well.
This year seemed like the year for trying new things. For the first time in eighteen years I spent New Years away from my family and with my friends instead. I traveled by myself from the Ottawa area and into Windsor (another first ). As I mentioned in my last blog, I took the train. The trip was not too bad. Even though we were delayed departing, I arrived in Windsor early. I got to spend quite a bit of time with my best friend Megan, and she and her boyfriend helped a lot with getting ready for the New Year's Eve party I was hosting. I doubt I would have been able to do it without their help.
I consider the party a success; I enjoyed myself, and I believe everyone else did as well. It was really nice welcoming in the New Year with all my friends. I think it had to be one of my favourite New Years ever. I just know 2009 is going to be excellent with such a great start off. ^_^
Second semester begins this Monday. I am not looking forward to going back because I've really enjoyed relaxing, but at the same time I miss the university atmosphere. I really want to do well this semester and I'm looking forward to being able to apply the study habits I learned in the fall semester to make this semester that much more successful.
I still have only received one grade, and I have not made it into the class I was on a waiting list for. My schedule is not looking appealing to me at all, but I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.
Happy 2009 everyone!Monday January 5, 2009
Winter Semester: Day 1
Yesterday I spent a good hour coming up with this week's schedule. I included class times, review times, homework time, study times as well as all the other non-school related things that take up time in my day. The hours filled up pretty quickly. It was more than a little disheartening to watch all my free time disappear, but hopefully a more detailed schedule will help me keep better study habits.
Today is the first day of classes. I bought my books this morning expecting a long wait in line but the bookstore was practically empty. I recommend buying your books earlier in the morning, even if it means waking up earlier. Twenty four hours may seem like a lot of time, but those hours can easily be wasted. Save time whenever you can.
This semester's schedule contains courses from various fields. Last semester I had two French courses, three English courses and an education course. This semester I have two French courses, a woman studies course, a history course and an English course. It should be interesting taking courses that aren't necessarily my favourite area of study.Thursday January 8, 2008
Witty Title Related to Blog Subject Goes Here
I guess it's good that all these incidents keep happening to me because I can share it with anyone who reads this. Not handing my final essay in on time really sucked, but it was a learning process for me, and hopefully for some of you. Now I've just begun to receive my final grades and one of them was highly unexpected.
And when I say unexpected, I mean lower than I originally believed it would be.
And when I say lower than I originally believed it would be I mean a B.
When you're trying to maintain an A average a B is kind of low blow, especially when you got an A on the first paper and a B on the second assignment and realize that you must have done poorly on your final paper to have received that mark. So, I did the thing that I had been told to do since the beginning, I emailed my professor. I was polite and sincere and simply asked to go over the final paper with her so I could improve for future classes. My professor was extremely helpful; she contacted me promptly, asked for some information (like the grades as I knew them) and then got back to me with interesting news: my grade had been a mistake. It is now an A-, a large improvement and relief.
So, the lesson is don't be afraid to talk to your professors. They are human beings just like everyone else and can make mistakes. They are here to help you and as long as you approach them in a pleasant, polite manner they are sure to help you however they can. Also, it can and will happen to you. ALWAYS check your marks because it's up to you to make sure they are correct. If they're not and you don't do anything about it you have nobody to blame but yourself.Monday January 12, 2008
Road Rage
Have you ever noticed that when someone gets behind the wheel of a car they suddenly think they are invincible? Many also seem to lose the common courtesy they would have if they were, say, walking down the street. You don't cut people off when you are walking. You don't shout rude things or blare a horn when you get angry at someone you're walking beside. Or maybe you do, but I certainly don't.
So why is it when they are in that metallic encasement suddenly all these normal ways of acting disappear?
I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fan of driving, likely because I'm not all that great at it. I've never killed anyone or anything, but I've had an accident or two in my time on the road. Today I was involved in another one. I wasn't driving, and it was nothing but a fender bender, but it just really brought to my attention how careless other drivers can be when it comes to the laws of the road.
Basically, I place the blame of this small accident on two things: the icy road and the fact that a driver decided to ignore the law that you cannot change lanes in the middle of an intersection, not to mention the unwritten rule that you should not cut people off. Now, you may think that this driver is an idiot for breaking a driving law...but really, people do it every day.
How many of you drivers can say that you've never sped, even a little over the speed limit? Or made a right turn when the left turn signal was on? (That's how I failed on my first driving test, by the way.) How about making a turn or a lane change without turning on your signal?
The truth is some people are just lazy when it comes to driving. Or they're in a rush. Or they just forget that there is anyone else on the road. Or they just plain don't care. There are so many reasons why people do stupid things when they drive, and not all of them end in accidents or a ticket. So many get away with breaking the law, so why worry about following it at all? If you knew you had an 90% chance that your exam worth more than half of your grade was going to be canceled, would you study for it? If you knew you had a 90% chance that you speeding was not going to end with any consequence, would you speed? Those percentages are obviously completely made up, but the point is people will play the chances. They don't care about the small percent that they'll end up with a ticket or dead...because they're in their safe vehicle and it will never happen to them.
Problem is, I'm sure most people who have been in a car accident never believed it would happen to them either.Saturday January 17, 2009
The Road goes on...ever, ever on...
My first test of the semester is this Wednesday and I am definitely not prepared for it. Hopefully I'll get some major studying time in this weekend. Seeing as this is a continuation of the class I got my worst grade of last semester in, I think I'm going to need it.
Speaking of grades, all of mine are in. I've managed to pull off the necessary grade point average to keep both my Entrance and Outstanding Scholars Scholarships. Barely. The pressure is really on this semester because, I believe, the scholarships are renewed yearly. So, if my average drops below what it needs to be at the end of the Winter semester, the scholarships are gone until Fall semester of my third year (if I manage to bring my average up by then). Really, it's not even an option for me to lose these scholarships. They're comparing our current economy to the Great Depression. My father works in the car industry. You do the math.
On a lighter note, I saw Grand Torino last night. It was the first Clint Eastwood movie I've ever seen, and I'll admit I was pretty impressed. I won't say anything else about the movie because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
I also bought Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen as they were "buy two get one free" at Chapters. I'm really looking forward to reading them. Actually, my "to read" bookshelf is overflowing with books I'm looking forward to reading. I don't think I'm going to get the chance to read many of them until summer...Wednesday January 21, 2009
Sick...and I don't mean awesome
It's Wednesday, the half-way point of my week, and I'm exhausted and sick. I don't get sick all the often, so when I do get sick it sucks a lot. I got sick about halfway through Saturday and I feel like my energy has been constantly draining ever since. It makes it really difficult to focus on studying when you just want to pass out.
Today was my first test of the semester and I finished it in a half hour. I'm not sure if that's good or bad...but I felt like I knew the majority of the material. I really hope I did well. I probably could have used a bit more healthy studying time, but at the same time, I'm just really glad it's over as it's one less thing I have to worry about.
I got an essay question in my history class today and I do not understand it at all. I think that it's going to be my main focus of the next few days. I have a history lab this week (my first lab ever) in which we are supposed to learn how to write a proper history essay. Hopefully it will give me some insight into how I should prepare for this essay because I'm really at a loss.
Despite being sick and unable to focus on schoolwork, I somehow managed to read my newly purchased Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I realize that this was a poor academic decision...but I've missed reading for pleasure so much that I had devoured the book before I even realized it. I know I'll pay for it later, but it was so good while it lasted.Sunday January 25, 2008
What are the chances...
Well, I've done it again. Something incredibly stupid that you can all learn from.
Friday I had my first lab ever. I had specifically chosen a lab at a certain time as it was the same time as a friend of mine who is taking the same class. However, when we met up we discovered that despite our labs being at the same time, they were in different rooms (this was after I had already convinced my friend that our class was indeed in my room). Seeing as she was already in the room, she decided to stay and she planned to change lab sections after the class.
The lab passed with no difficulty. We exit class, head to the CAW centre and decide to have her change labs. Only problem is the lab section we both just sat through is full, so I decide to change my section. Of course, to do this I must first drop the section I am currently in. I do so and then try and register for the new section. It will not let me. Apparently, you can only register for classes before a certain time. So now I have to get an add/drop form and get it signed by...someone, probably my professor. It's just a big hassle that could have been easily avoided if I had known about the 'no registering after this point' thing.
Oh well, you live, you learn...Thursday January 29, 2009
Pokey Pokey
I got the mumps vaccine. I really hate needles, I don’t enjoy standing in line and I especially do not like having to stand in line to get a needle. I could not convince any of my friends to go with me, either because they were in class whenever I wanted to go, or decided that they were not getting the vaccine, so I was all by myself. It was a very lonely, long wait.
Personally, I don’t understand why some of my friends wouldn’t get the free vaccine. It’s been proven to work, the side effects are rare, and it protects you from a horrible virus. I seriously hate needles, but I got the injection because I know it’s the healthy choice. If you didn’t get the free shot on campus, then make an appointment to do so at a clinic. Protecting yourself from the mumps, measles and rubella is worth the few seconds of pain.
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