D'ya know what? I actually feel like a live, honest-to-God human being this morning! I've been sick for 2 weeks but it would appear that I'm turning the corner. And... it's sunny! This is a good day to get stuff done.
It's a good thing that I keep getting emails from my department about summer internships, because I've only applied to two so far, and one of those already rejected me. I'm also trying to find a job for the rest of the semester, now that I'm done with my hospital job. Also on the list is deciding what classes to take next semester. Somehow, I need to find time to do my homework and study for Tuesday's prelim, and celebrate my birthday!
Speaking of birthdays, it's that time of year again in my family. My grandpa turned 86 yesterday, one sister had a birthday over break, and my mom's is a few days after mine. I'm really looking forward to homemade cheesecake with fresh goat's milk ricotta for my big day.
Speaking of goats, we have 23 kids this year, including a set of quadruplets. They sure made break interesting! We took some of them to a local nursing home and they made the residents' days. There's nothing like a cute baby for bringing smiles.
Speaking of smiles, I'll feel a lot better once I get some work done. Over and out.
29 March 2008
16 March 2008
Lost and Found
Last week, I misplaced my Global Ecology and Management textbook. I couldn't find it anywhere in my room, at work, or my parents' house... so I started visiting all the lost-and-founds in the buildings I frequent. I didn't have any luck at Helen Newman, Noyes, or Mann, but both Ag Quad eateries directed me to the campus-wide lost-and-found in Barton Hall.
Of course, I'd waited until the day before break to make this mad dash in search of a book I'd been missing for a week; to be fair, my initial thought was that it was at work, and I had waited until my next shift to look for it there before exploring campus. In any case, the more I searched, the more I felt like I was looking for a needle in the Hundred-Acre Wood. The woman at Barton told me that some campus locations send her lost items and some don't, and Willard Straight Hall (the student union) has FIVE lost and found locations! I knew there was no way I'd make it to all of them before I had to leave, so I borrowed my professor's copy of the book for the duration of break.
Turns out that my book was in the one spot in my room that I hadn't checked. (It always works that way.) My lesson for the day: don't lose anything! I'm also going to double-check all my possessions and make sure they have my email address on them so that, if lost and found by honest people, they'll be returned.
Of course, now I have a week's worth of reading to catch up on...
Of course, I'd waited until the day before break to make this mad dash in search of a book I'd been missing for a week; to be fair, my initial thought was that it was at work, and I had waited until my next shift to look for it there before exploring campus. In any case, the more I searched, the more I felt like I was looking for a needle in the Hundred-Acre Wood. The woman at Barton told me that some campus locations send her lost items and some don't, and Willard Straight Hall (the student union) has FIVE lost and found locations! I knew there was no way I'd make it to all of them before I had to leave, so I borrowed my professor's copy of the book for the duration of break.
Turns out that my book was in the one spot in my room that I hadn't checked. (It always works that way.) My lesson for the day: don't lose anything! I'm also going to double-check all my possessions and make sure they have my email address on them so that, if lost and found by honest people, they'll be returned.
Of course, now I have a week's worth of reading to catch up on...
13 March 2008
Almost to Break
I have one more test to take and two homework assignments to turn in before I am, finally, free for a week! In the interests of sharing the not-so-good as well as the wonderful, I'll let you all in on a little secret: right now, I'm really tired and really cranky. The thought of a nap and the light at the end of the mid-semester tunnel are about all that's keeping me going.
But you know what? It's definitely better than being a working stiff with very little to stimulate my brain. Ultimately, that's why I'm here: I'm learning information and skills that are useful now and that will help me find satisfying work and continue to challenge myself in the future. Sounds cliché, I know, but take a few years off from school and let me know how you view the situation after that.
It's not all about the future, though. School affords me plenty of opportunities that I'm not likely to have post-school, like this upcoming break, access to world-class resources of all types, time in my life devoted to studying what I really care about, and of course awesome opportunities to socialize. I'm not necessarily an academic over-achiever, but the term definitely applies to how I live my life. My cup might be running over a little bit too much today, but for the most part I thrive on craziness.
Not to say I couldn't use some time off, of course. Over break I plan to catch up on some reading, hang out with my family, celebrate my sister's birthday, and play with the baby goats. Friday night, here I come...
But you know what? It's definitely better than being a working stiff with very little to stimulate my brain. Ultimately, that's why I'm here: I'm learning information and skills that are useful now and that will help me find satisfying work and continue to challenge myself in the future. Sounds cliché, I know, but take a few years off from school and let me know how you view the situation after that.
It's not all about the future, though. School affords me plenty of opportunities that I'm not likely to have post-school, like this upcoming break, access to world-class resources of all types, time in my life devoted to studying what I really care about, and of course awesome opportunities to socialize. I'm not necessarily an academic over-achiever, but the term definitely applies to how I live my life. My cup might be running over a little bit too much today, but for the most part I thrive on craziness.
Not to say I couldn't use some time off, of course. Over break I plan to catch up on some reading, hang out with my family, celebrate my sister's birthday, and play with the baby goats. Friday night, here I come...
10 March 2008
Cornell Beats Dartmouth 6-0!
My aunt called me an hour before the game last night with two extra tickets, and my friend Mollie and I jumped at the chance to see the Big Red in the ECACHL playoffs. I needed to study for a quiz in my AnSci 160 class, but I just couldn't pass up free hockey tickets. As it turns out, I made the right choice. (Erm, actually, ask me about that again after the quiz...)
Not only did we beat Dartmouth, we wiped the floor with them! I don't know quite what happened out there, but Dartmouth just couldn't skate, and their goalie let in one after another. I love hockey for the fast-paced action, of which there was plenty, and the fans, who were in a great mood. We were seated behind the goal in section G, which meant that we got a clear view of the puck each time it got past the goalie... priceless. For those of you who require a bit more detail and statistics in your athletic reports, please see the official story.
I love hockey no matter what, but that was a really fantastic game. :)
Not only did we beat Dartmouth, we wiped the floor with them! I don't know quite what happened out there, but Dartmouth just couldn't skate, and their goalie let in one after another. I love hockey for the fast-paced action, of which there was plenty, and the fans, who were in a great mood. We were seated behind the goal in section G, which meant that we got a clear view of the puck each time it got past the goalie... priceless. For those of you who require a bit more detail and statistics in your athletic reports, please see the official story.
I love hockey no matter what, but that was a really fantastic game. :)
09 March 2008
Life on the Hill
Wow. An update here is long overdue. I'm halfway through my first semester at Cornell already!
First, a nod to last semester: I finished my TC3 coursework with finesse, earning a 4.0 GPA there. It was a challenge to keep work and school and life generally balanced; I'm glad I learned how to do it, but I also learned that I wouldn't want to do that again!
Being a January transfer has been another interesting balancing act so far. Most people secure housing for the following academic year in the fall, but I couldn't do that prior to getting to campus in January and figuring out what would work best and who I'd like to live with. In another year I'd start looking for summer internships in the fall or over winter break, but this semester I didn't have access to Cornell's resources and Career Development Office until I was here. In the last two months I've had to adjust to a new schedule/routine and new academic challenges, and worry about summer work and next year's housing on top of that!
Fortunately, finding an apartment turned out to be relatively easy. My friend Ana and I secured an apartment on North campus, right across the street from AGR (a frat that my dad, grandpa, and some other relatives are members of). It's surprisingly cheap for near-campus housing, fully furnished, and seems generally comfortable and cozy. I'm really looking forward to living off-campus and with Ana next year!
Since I mentioned it, the Career Development Office has some great resources online that are publicly accessible. The resume resource sheets have already been very helpful (see "Online Ready Reference Sheets")! The job/internship databases are only available to people with a Cornell login.
I seem to be getting B's on my prelims, which is satisfactory (not ideal, but...). I still have room to improve, which I believe I can do in future semesters. Lecture-style classes have taken some getting used to, and I'm finally getting the hang of the academic rhythm and expectations around here. I'm certainly doing better than my first Simon's Rock semester! Organizational skills seem to have sprouted in my head overnight, for which I'm thankful. Actually, I probably picked them up from my mom via osmosis, though I'm not sure why they make sense now when they never did before.
My credit transfer drama has been mostly resolved! The registrar granted me 59 credits with the promise of another credit for my AP US History if I had the official score report sent (it's in progress). They'll take a maximum of 60 transfer credits, so I'm maxed out. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but they seem to have come to terms with my classification as high school dropout with an Associates. That's a load off my back. Once my AP credit comes through, I'll get them to certify my transfer credits in writing so there won't be any nasty surprises before graduation.
Life at Cornell is generally wonderful. I'm a tad bit older than the average junior, which is odd since I'm used to being young for my academic level. I have several groups of friends among students and locals and there is always something to do before, during, and after homework. Assuming I keep up regular posting, there will be more about my social life in the future... for now I have to maximize my Sunday afternoon homework productivity!
First, a nod to last semester: I finished my TC3 coursework with finesse, earning a 4.0 GPA there. It was a challenge to keep work and school and life generally balanced; I'm glad I learned how to do it, but I also learned that I wouldn't want to do that again!
Being a January transfer has been another interesting balancing act so far. Most people secure housing for the following academic year in the fall, but I couldn't do that prior to getting to campus in January and figuring out what would work best and who I'd like to live with. In another year I'd start looking for summer internships in the fall or over winter break, but this semester I didn't have access to Cornell's resources and Career Development Office until I was here. In the last two months I've had to adjust to a new schedule/routine and new academic challenges, and worry about summer work and next year's housing on top of that!
Fortunately, finding an apartment turned out to be relatively easy. My friend Ana and I secured an apartment on North campus, right across the street from AGR (a frat that my dad, grandpa, and some other relatives are members of). It's surprisingly cheap for near-campus housing, fully furnished, and seems generally comfortable and cozy. I'm really looking forward to living off-campus and with Ana next year!
Since I mentioned it, the Career Development Office has some great resources online that are publicly accessible. The resume resource sheets have already been very helpful (see "Online Ready Reference Sheets")! The job/internship databases are only available to people with a Cornell login.
I seem to be getting B's on my prelims, which is satisfactory (not ideal, but...). I still have room to improve, which I believe I can do in future semesters. Lecture-style classes have taken some getting used to, and I'm finally getting the hang of the academic rhythm and expectations around here. I'm certainly doing better than my first Simon's Rock semester! Organizational skills seem to have sprouted in my head overnight, for which I'm thankful. Actually, I probably picked them up from my mom via osmosis, though I'm not sure why they make sense now when they never did before.
My credit transfer drama has been mostly resolved! The registrar granted me 59 credits with the promise of another credit for my AP US History if I had the official score report sent (it's in progress). They'll take a maximum of 60 transfer credits, so I'm maxed out. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but they seem to have come to terms with my classification as high school dropout with an Associates. That's a load off my back. Once my AP credit comes through, I'll get them to certify my transfer credits in writing so there won't be any nasty surprises before graduation.
Life at Cornell is generally wonderful. I'm a tad bit older than the average junior, which is odd since I'm used to being young for my academic level. I have several groups of friends among students and locals and there is always something to do before, during, and after homework. Assuming I keep up regular posting, there will be more about my social life in the future... for now I have to maximize my Sunday afternoon homework productivity!
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