The Christmas Spirit

I mentioned in a previous post how I really felt like getting into the holiday spirit. Now I've realized that I lost that feeling. Maybe it's because I'm so caught up in writing papers and finishing projects, but I haven't even listened to Christmas music recently. I've only heard a few songs while I'm in the coffee shop. This is a definite change for me; usually I'm listening to Christmas music from the beginning of November and continue straight through New Year's. I haven't even put in a Christmas cd this year so far. I'm hoping that my Christmas spirit will regain its usual steam after all of my exams are over. Hopefully decorating my room and baking cookies will help get me in the mood. I kind of miss all of my Christmas music, but I honestly have no desire to listen to it. I much prefer my normal music right now. It's just plain weird and has been making me wonder.

Crunch Time

Well this is almost the end. Thankfully my insanely crazy crunch time will be over with in four days. Sadly, I have a bunch to do before then, but at least I know that I can relax soon enough. I'm not quite sure why but my exams don't really frighten me all that much. All of my friends at other schools across the country are completely freaking out about their exams. I know that they count for a significant portion of your grade, but I really don't think that I'll need to do all that much studying to prepare for them. I've paid attention during the semester so it shouldn't take me long at all to review notes and such. My biggest concern has been all of these massive papers that are due this coming Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully, my concern hasn't been misplaced. I don't want to all of a sudden realize that I'm not ready for my coming exams. Oh well, I'll just have to see how the rest of this week goes. At least I can chill out on Tuesday while the majority of my friends are going insane with all of the studying they have to do.

Coming to a Close

This semester is finally coming to a close and what a semester it has been! I didn't realize until this morning that I only have about eight more days of classes before exams begin. That really blew my mind. Seeing how few days we have left has really given me the motivation to finish all of these big papers and assignments that I have left. It may be crazy right now but at least I know that in two weeks I'll be done. Then I can truly relax and enjoy my winter break. It will be the first time that I have off without any sort of homework. Not that I ever did my homework in the past until the last day of break, but this year there won't be any voice in the back of my head tormenting me about all of the work I'm putting off.

On a somewhat different note, lately I've felt like really getting into the holiday spirit this year and I'm not quite sure why. Recently, family seems to be a lot more important to me than it ever has been before. That doesn't make much sense since I'm still living at home. Maybe it's because I don't really see my parents as much anymore. Or possibly because I know that I'll be moving out in another year or so. I don't know but I don't plan on ignoring this new feeling in the coming months. I'll try to embrace my family this holiday season.

A Time for Family

Thanksgiving is almost here. It's coming much too quickly if you ask me. I honestly cannot believe that the semester is truly coming to a close in the next few weeks. It really blows my mind. Even though the majority of my Thanksgiving break will be spent working on papers and presentations, however irritating that may be, I will also be spending a lot of time with family. Although many people seem to complain about their families and how they hate being forced to spend time with them around the holidays, I actually like being with my family. I don't hate them. I never have. They might annoy me at times, but they're still family and I think people need to remember that. I'm definitely looking forward to all of the delicious food in the next week, but I'm also excited about spending some quality time with people in my family who I haven't seen in months. These times during the holidays should be treasured because they truly are precious. We always get so caught up in the material things that we forget how important the people around us are.

A Loss of Community?

This morning when I was driving to Carroll I passed my neighbor and we waved to each other. That got me thinking. I realized that in our neighborhood each house is like its own individual island. No one really talks to their neighbors all that often, let alone actually invites them to a party or something. I think American communities have come to a really sad situation. I know that not all neighborhoods are that way; some still have block parties and get togethers quite often. But in my neck of the woods, we all seem so isolated. I think that's what the internet has done to us. We get so caught up in our own lives and in news from faraway places that we don't even speak to the people who live right next to us. I mourn the loss of community that everyone used to share. Maybe someday we will abandon this isolation but I doubt it.

My Little Sister

For my spanish class we're all required to do some sort of community service within the hispanic community. Our teacher allows us to work with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program at one of the local elementary schools to fulfill this requirement. When I first heard that we had to do this I wasn't very happy but then I met my little sister for the first time yesterday. Her name is Paula and she's in the third grade. She's so adorable! We're only required to do one hour per week but I decided to stay until Paula's parents picked her up for trick or treat. The time flew by! Now I can't wait till next Wednesday afternoon.

My teacher and the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Site Coordinator kept insisting that the time we spend with our little will be the highlight of not only their week but our week as well. I originally thought they were just saying that to get us to join but now I know it's totally true. I have a feeling I'll be keeping my little at least until I leave college and possibly even after that. They only ask us to stay for at least a year but I don't think I'll be stopping anytime soon. It's an amazing feeling when you know that you're impacting the life of another person. Fulfillment can't get any better than that!

Balancing Act Update

I'm pretty sure that I'm missing a weekly blog somewhere so I'm doing another one today to make up for it. So, earlier this semester I wrote a blog entitled "The College Balancing Act;" in it I wrote about trying to balance my workload and different jobs among other things. I'm returning to that topic today and giving an update on my progress. I'd like to commend myself so far. No mental breakdowns yet! Just kidding. Anyways, I now have the Kohl's job situation under control; no more working there every single weekend. The history department job and my possible Site Monitor position for Big Brothers, Big Sisters are quite manageable. They don't require too much time so I don't feel so bogged down. When it comes to actual academics, I think I'm handling it fairly well. This is by far my toughest class so that's a relief. Life is still a balancing act though. At times I'm completely overwhelmed (see previous blog) but I think I'll be able to make it through the rest of the semester without crashing. Only seven or eight weeks left to go. Let's hope that my optimism isn't in vain during the remaining weeks and it doesn't get pummeled anytime soon!

Overwhelmed

So I feel as if a ton of bricks just hit me going about 50 miles an hour. I was all refreshed this morning and ready to go. I figure that I relaxed over Fall Break and now I'm ready to hit the books as they say. Well my optimism didn't last all that long. First I realized that our rough draft is due next Tuesday. That was blow number 1. Then I find out that our Spanish workbook may or may not be due tomorrow; plus our composition is due monday along with our midterm. There's another hard hit. After absorbing all of the assignments I have to do tonight and this weekend, I feel as if I just want to pass out and never wake up again. The worst part of all this is that I still have two more classes to go today. Who knows how much more will be added on to my already huge workload. Yahoo for this weekend!! I will officially have no life whatsoever. I'll be stuck in my room with books and papers stacked around me in towering piles. Let's just hope that next week I'll be able to fare better. If only I hadn't been so optimistic this morning. I don't think I'd feel so let down right now. Oh well, that's college for you. I hope the rest of you aren't so bogged down!

A Mid-Term Realization

Since I've been told by every teacher that it's mid-term time, I came to realize that the semester is pretty much half over. I don't know where in the world the time went. It feels as if the semester just started a week ago or something. They weren't lying when they said that it would be over before you know it. Today it dawned on me, I have a ton of work to do before the semester is over. Almost all of my classes have some sort of long paper due on the last day of class. That's only about 2 months away!!! I really really need to get started so I'm not freaking out at the end of November. I thought that this long Fall Break would be my time to relax but it looks like that's going to change a bit. Don't get me wrong, I won't be working the whole weekend. That would be absolutely crazy. I just need to motivate myself to get in gear within the next few days. That will probably be easier said than done. Whenever I'm not in class or on campus (since I commute) I seem to lose all of my motivation. It's so hard to persuade myself to accomplish anything. Well this weekend I think all I'll have to do is look at a calendar to remind myself how little time I have left. Hopefully that will push me to actually do some homework!

Full Appreciation of My Mother

Last week my mother broke her right leg. Since then, my responsibilities have increased about ten-fold. I now have not only my homework but everything else that my mom normally does. Before this I never realized how much my mom does around the house. She not only takes care of the dog and rabbit but does all of the cooking, dishes, cleaning, etc. I'm not complaining. This experience has been a lesson. It has shown what life will be like once I live on my own. In the end, I've come to truly appreciate my mother and all that she does for me and my family.

Life in the City

This past weekend I discovered that I could never live the life of a "country girl." My parents and I went up to the Warrens Cranfest in central Wisconsin. It's a town of approximately 300. The three-day Cranfest is their liveliest time of each year. Simply spending a day in that small of a town made me realize how much I appreciate the city. Living in a place where there's not even a movie theater or fast food restaurant would drive me completely 100% insane. I thrive on movement and action. I need to hear an occasional ambulance or fire truck. The silence of the country would suffocate me. I'm sure after quite some time I would get used to it but I have a feeling it would take a really really long time. Don't get me wrong, a vacation to the lake every few years is fine. I can appreciate the quiet and lack of activity for a week or so but permanently moving out there isn't my idea of a good time. Living in the country, I'd feel completely shut off and isolated from the rest of the world. An internet connection and a television definitely wouldn't cut it. I need the bustle that defines a city.

Abandoning the Structure

While writing my first draft, I realized the extent to which the typical structure of an essay (intro, 3 body paragraphs, & conclusion) has been beaten into my head. I constantly have this urge to divide my body paragraphs into three topics and three topics only. Then I realize that I’m finally allowed to break free of that specific structure. I can write four body paragraphs or five or six even. I am not used to freedom when it comes to essays. It’s definitely going to take some time before I feel completely comfortable with this new found independence. Old habits truly die hard. That’s what I love most about this class: The topics are broad and a specific construction isn’t enforced. I can choose what I really want to write about and how I want to write it. This class will give me the chance to not only improve my writing skills, but it will also help me create my own personal style and methods. By examining other authors’ materials I can more easily determine what I like about each and what I might choose to emulate. I’m pretty sure this will be my toughest course this semester but I have a feeling I learn the most from it.

Oh, For the Love of Music!

When I was contemplating which medium I was going to use in my paper, I came to fully realize how important the art of music is in my life. I’m not the one with enough talent to create music; I’m the one who enjoys the fruits of that talent. My taste in music spans all genres. I’m quite the eclectic listener. My collection includes everything from Sevendust to Los Kumbia Kings to Josh Groban to Eminem and pretty much everything in between. Although, I have to admit that my two ultimate favorite genres are metal and Broadway, however strange a combination that may be.

Music brings meaning and enjoyment to my life. I guess that’s the true purpose of art. If so, then music is definitely my favorite way to express one’s self. A few notes can radically change my mood and often gets me thinking. Without my music I would merely suffer through each day. Music truly is the love of my life and I think it always will be.

The College Balancing Act

There is truly an art to balancing one’s life while in college, especially when one is a commuter. I always thought my parents and the rest of my family were just worrying unnecessarily about college but I was wrong. Besides the school work (which would be quite enough in itself), I have to balance my job at Kohl’s with my new work study job. Plus, I still have to make enough time to be with friends (“old,” new, and those from work). I don’t want my fear of losing my best friends from high school to come true. Nor do I want to become so stressed out that I’m constantly on edge. I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew, but I think I may have already done that. This will definitely be an interesting, if not somewhat stressful ride. Here’s to hoping that I master the balancing act soon. Semester One at Carroll here I come!