#academicstuff

[asouca]

Why It's So Much Better Than the Glossy Brochures

Today for one of my classes, Alexander Nehamas, a world renowned philosopher and public intellectual, came and gave a lecture titled “I would rather fashion my mind than furnish it.” It was fantastic. He was fantastic. He said a lot of things that really resonated with me, but one in particular was “college gives you opportunities to fall in love with things.” In the six weeks that I’ve been at Stanford, that is precisely what it has done for me. I’ve fallen in love with classes, teachers, friends, ideas, books, pieces of art, and just being here. Here are a few of the things I’ve come to love about college: The freedom to sleep (or not): No matter where or when you fall asleep, you won’t be judged. Everyone is just as sleep deprived as you. They understand. Sometimes you really just can’t help falling asleep at your desk/on the couch/at the dining hall/in the library/during class. College may be the one time in your life when you can adopt a really weird sleep schedule. Example: The past few days, my average bedtime has been after 4:00 am. Last night, I fell asleep at 7:30 pm and woke up at 12:30 only to go back to bed at 1:30 am. In college, you have freedom to choose when you want your classes to be and can schedule them around your sleep schedule. Also, you can take naps with reckless abandon. The Opportunities There are awesome things going on every second of the day (or at least that’s how it feels). There are even multiple awesome things going on at the same time. It’s awesome. There are lectures from world renowned professors, entrepreneurs, scientists, authors, artists, politicians and more. There are workshops on belly dancing, making sushi, architecture model building, love letter writing. Being at college makes you realize how much is going on in the world, and you’re in the thick of it all. Spontaneous Adventures Sunday hikes. Steam tunnelling. Farmer’s market trips. Breaking out of the “Stanford bubble.” Midnight bike rides. Frolicking in the rain. Stargazing on a turf field. The People Last Friday, a pack of sixteen girls from my dorm and I biked out into Palo Alto to celebrate the birthdays of two girls in our dorm with deep dish pizza. It was awesome. Afterwards, I went to a party at the Russian frat on campus. It was awesome. After that, I stayed up until 4:00 talking about street art, Battlestar Galactica, politics, the purpose of education, and climate change. At one point, we sang “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys and ate animal crackers. It was awesome. In my classes, in my dorm, and in my dining hall there are Olympians, science fair winners, company founders, inventors, movie stars, Spelling Bee Champions, authors, and true geniuses. It’s pretty awesome, but what’s even better is the fact that I can count some of them as my friends. The Classes To quote Ben Jones of the MIT: “This is the only time in your lives when your only real responsibility is to learn.” My classes and professors are interesting and just amazing. It’s wonderful just reflecting on just how much I’ve learned and grown here already, and there’s even more awaiting me. Conclusions: College is wonderfully terrible and terribly wonderful, like all things, it has it’s bright sides and dark sides. It’s nowhere near as glamorous at you may have imagined it to be in high school. In the beginning, it all may seem ridiculously awesome, but eventually it all just becomes just another part of your life. I just try to remember how lucky I am every day

[asouca]

I just made a post about studying for The Finals of Doom. 

Telling people to get sleep before the take their exam. 

Telling them not to procrastinate or panic.

When these are all things that I do. 

[asouca]

Because Maybe You'll Be The One to Save Me

I went to a Study Tips and Time Management lecture on Friday night with Craig-- he works in the Student Affairs office, and he's hilarious-- and he told me three things that I'm going to have to deal with while in college. I thought I'd pass on these things to you all.

The Three Inevitabilities of College: 

You will have to do things that you do not want to do, when you don't want to do them. Yes, I know, it sucks. But it's true. You're going to have to go to class in the middle of that video game. You're going to have to write that paper instead of party. You're going to have to take a break during your Harry Potter Marathon to finish up those math problems due at midnight. It'll happen. 

Crap is going to happen and you're going to have to struggle through it. I'm not talking about going to a class after you just found out your mom or dad has died. I'm saying that you're going to get a parking ticket, you're going to fail an assignment, and you're going to have the entire world be against you some days. And you're going to have to deal with it. Don't worry, though, it'll get better tomorrow. 

You're entire life is going to change during your time at University. It's the most you'll change in your entire life-- not including that gross period where you couldn't control anything between ages 0 Months and Two Years Old-- and it's going to be scary. You're going to grow. You're opinions will change. You'll make new friends. You'll learn new things. It's going to be drastic, but that's okay. That's what's supposed to happen in college. Don't be scared. I believe in you.

So, those are the Three Inevitabilites. But a lot of other stuff will happen too. All you need to do is remember that you've made it this far-- you can make it even further. Believe in yourself, work hard, and triumph. 

And then party hard. 

[asouca]

I'm extremely disappointed. I love history. I love it so much that it's probably gonna end up being my minor. History is awesome. 

But this semester? My history professor? Sucks. 

Every time I'm in that class it's just like--

I fall asleep. 

Advice for others who must deal with something similar: Bring a snack, or coffee with you to class. Take really detail notes. Rely mostly on the textbook. It'll save your life. 

[asouca]

Resolutions for the College Soul

Cut back on beverages-- reduce to only water, milk, coffee, and hot tea. Coffee is essential. I am a college student. I need it.

Cut back on sweets-- reduce to only Twizzlers/Red Vines and chocolate (of any kind because really chocolate doesn't fall under candy in my brain; it falls under freaking delicious). 

Finish up a script by the end of February. Show my mom what's what. IN YOUR FACE MOM. 

Get straight A's. Because I get something special if I do. Something special and important and YES. (Not a car or anything. Why would you think it's a car? It's totally not.)

Get a significant other. Because I'm tired of being alone and inexperienced and I have desires, people! 

Have a blast during my college experience-- GO, IDAHO!

[asouca]

Ky: Happy Belated Canadian Thanksgiving!

Holy frak, the quarter system goes by really quickly. I've been at Stanford for 3 weeks, and I already have my first midterm tomorrow. Despite the inherent stress of schoolwork, I'm loving it here. I love my roommate. I love my classes. I love my dorm.

My dorm is absolutely amazing. We have 5 Canadians residing in it, so on Sunday we celebrated CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! We gathered around the ping pong table in the lounge, ate mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, Olive Garden salad, and pretzels, sang the Canadian national anthem (well the Canadians did), and went around the table saying what we were thankful for. We expected maybe 10 people to show up, but at least half of the dorm was there if not more. While sitting there, talking with my dormmates and eating good food, I realized that I really did feel like they were my family.

[asouca]

i've been trying to do homework all day but i keep straying to the weird side of youtube SOMEONE HELP