learning lots over the break

My particularly rocky experience at Queen's has moulded me into a person who is better at handling enormous stress levels on a daily basis. Thank you university.

goatee

I just learned what a goatee was.

goals

On wednesday, I attended a workshop where this woman (who was a creative director) came to talk to us about setting out goals. It was fantastic.

Basically, she told us that no goal was too big, too unachievable.

And she taught us the steps on how to get where we want, and when we want to get there.

I wrote down what I want yesterday; a 1 month plan, a 1 year plan, and later extended into a 10 year plan of where I want to be.

It makes so much sense to do this, you know where you want you're life to be headed when you plan things out, and once you know, you work to achieve those specific goals. You make your future.

An example she showed us was this:

• lose weight
• lose 10 pounds
• lose 10 pounds by Easter

The last is the best goal to create; you give your self an exact figure, and a due date.

stumbleupon

The greatest site EVER. You basically "stumble" upon great/strange/fascinating web pages. It's so much fun, but you can also pick up some interesting information too.

...and also waste a bunch of time.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/

asexuality

Today, I found a website about asexuality and thought it was super interesting.

squash

Can you guess what size a squash ball is?
I thought it was like a tennis ball.

Well, today I learned that its about the size of a golf ball.

I was pretty stunned.

studyin'

It feels good to actually study continuously for days, because it pays off.
I then have confidence for the test.

This is a new development.

studyin'

I have 9 minutes until this post will be considered part of "tomorrow."

Must think.....what have I learned?

Well, I've been studying all day, after three consecutive days. And....and...

I can totally get brain-fried.

tennis

I forgot how fun playing tennis was until I played today. Best choice of my life. XD

banana

Today, I learned that you can send a banana in the mail. All you do is write the address on it, put on a stamp or two, and off it will go.

I'm definitely trying this.

i survived!

Every week I think, how am I going to survive this week? But somehow, I manage to get through it in one piece and I treat myself to a nice saturday brunch with my floor mates.

I was chatting with (my-Canadian-born-but-lived-in-Nigeria-for-most-of-her-life-but-went-to-boarding-school-in-the-UK-but-now-is-going-to-Queen's) floor mate, Krysta. I told her I wanted to be done with my undergrad and my masters and get a paying job because I sincerely want to start compensating my mother for all the money she spend own my school and other expenses --- I feel obliged. Krysta's view was radically different from mine, but I could understand where she's standing as well, she said: "well, I wouldn't feel obliged to pay my parents back because I would be doing the same for my children and then my children would do the same for their children... it's just how it is."

maybe my mother brainwashed me ... it's possible. hahaha

memories

Today, in psych class, I learned that people's memories in fact, are subject to change.

People change or distort their memories based on what other people might tell them, or what they prefer to have happened.

Our teacher asked us today, "If you could go traveling anywhere, for as long as you wanted, without worrying about any expenses, would you go with one exception?" This exception was that you would have no memory of your trip.

This scared me, to be honest. Not being able to remember your experiences? Sure, we all have things we'd love to forget, but the benefits of having a memory are so much more precious.

Also, I was wondering, since people can distort their memories, basically, you can create any life you wish to have lived...

ticking

Time seems to be passing by faster than I've ever realized before.

teacher

One teacher, who I first glanced at the beginning of this year, seemed to be the strictest of them all. She's not.

I talked to her about my marks and how low they are.

"Don't worry. We'll make sure you get kick ass marks on the next assignment and test."

......she said "kick ass".

That's pretty kick ass.

happy

when people come together and help one another, it's what makes my time here at Queen's worth it.

=)

crisis

why am I at a hard school like Queen's? because I believe that challenges will make be a better person in the end.

I have been working harder than ever because --> Hard work will be rewarded~!

That is the mantra that keeps me sane.

stars

I didn't know that there were so many stars you could see from the city.
The island is surely the best place for viewing them.

randomness

(My internet failed yesterday)

So...today, I have learned that a lot of people know about the Flight of the Conchords. And...people love a little randomness in life.

Today, along with some friends, we created cardboard robot costumes for Halloween. (Inspired by these guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvrva8NoMLM) We then walked around the entire school and out in the rain and wind wearing these silver cardboard boxes.

People were confused, but it does brighten someone's day, because it's just so strange. It sure brightened mine. Basically, don't be afraid to stick out a little. You find people. It's so much more fun sometimes.

giving

I believe that giving (helping someone, showing appreciation, etc) will somehow lead to good things, maybe in a year, or after ten years. It won't go unnoticed.

So give. never stop giving.

avoiding

I've got this one class that I can never pay attention in. And...I'm not the only one. I glance at other student's computers, someone's playing Bejeweled, someone's on thisiswhyyourefat.com or awkwardfamilyphotos.com, and one girl across from me was playing Tetris.

Now, I was watching her play. I didn't listen to what the teacher was saying, but I did learn that her Tetris skills are very poor.

Leaving class, another two students I talked to observed the exact same thing. "She sucks at Tetris!" "Did you see how she kept missing a square?"
_____________________________________

Today, I was going to study at the library with two friends for our psychology test. We ended up searching cool jack-o-lanterns, and crazy halloween costumes, and then proceeded to invent our own costume, which we're pretty excited for.

Basically, you can become so creative when you really want to avoid whatever it is you have to do. And I'm not the only one.

Interrupted

Fever of 40 degree.

I did not expect that to happen, especially with my Biology midterm and Math test and a long list of other academic related things approaching.

In the peak of my fever, I lost it. I desperately wanted to reverse time and let me go back to the time of high school, where I wouldn't be stressed if I had a fever because I KNOW that I could easily catch up.

Well, not this time.

Life is unplanned, it almost always gives you surprises, whether "I WON THE LOTTERY." or "FUCK, I'M PREGNANT".

I try to think positively and see this challenge as a growing step for the future.

sharing

I was once I super shy kid. Things I thought, I would just sort of keep inside of me. I've grown a lot this whole year, and part of it was realizing the benefit in sharing things with people.

I like talking to people, I mean, there are always certain people that you share things more easily with, but speaking with people about things you're worried about makes getting through it all so much easier. It makes it clearer.

I don't keep all the worries to myself anymore, I spread them out and they almost disappear.

stressing

My latest trend for working on assignments is starting them the day before they're due. I can't help it, it just ends up working that way. If I'm passionate about the topic, then I'll start early enough. Otherwise....work under pressure. I guess it's just my tactic.

Anyways, I was stressing a bit over the amount of time I had to finish my project, and was acting a little rough towards my parents, who only wanted to help. Once I calmed down, took things at a slower pace, my work was looking loads better, and I was getting along with everyone.

Basically, I need to take more time to spend on something and the better it will become, as well as the experience during my work on it. Does this make sense? All I need now is to stick to this plan. Oh dear.

grateful

This morning, after a night of partying --- I awoke with a strong sense of gratefulness. I'm glad that:

1. There wasn't some douche-bag creeper paying attention to me

2. I went with friends who looked out for one another

3. I was smart enough to drink liters of water to prevent a hangover

4. I didn't encounter anything slightly traumatic in that night of crazy

In retrospect, I realized that my mindset was of "the grass on the other side is always greener". Really, after last night, I beg to differ.

I'm happy that I went with what was given to me and lived a little in the "college sense".

working

Anytime an opportunity appears for when my friends are gathering, I make sure to attend. I just feel like I don't want to miss out on anything, and I leave my work behind.
"fun before responsibility" was my motto.

It always seemed to me like having a good time is so much more important than the time I spend on my assignments, because the good times in life are the times you'll remember. The work will be intense, and difficult, but it will pass. The times you enjoy are the times that create your life.

So, anyway. Today I think I learned the feeling of not having to hang out with people all the time. I don't mind so much chilling at home and finishing my work.

Relieved

Complaining relentlessly to my friend on SKYPE! until 4am was what alleviated my frustration last night. It helped because when I awoke this morning at 10am, my hormonal angst was gone, and I was glad that I thought rationally before acting on impulse.

moral: Know yourself and what you're comfortable with before you start something as tricky as a Friend-With-Benefits deal. (which I decided against doing. Thank Heavens)

=D

ttc speed

Man, the TTC is fast. I got on the train at Eglinton Station at 9:05.

Arrived at Dundas at 9:20.

I know this isn't too significant, but you gotta love public transportation. I'm a TTC junkie.

Horrified

Living in the comfort zone of North America, my daily stress links with academic self-expectations but for women living in Africa, they have to deal with things like Female Genital Mutilation.

one word about that topic: wack. total wack.

uno

We're trying a new thing. After being inspired by the movie Julie and Julia, the need for creating a blog seemed like an interesting idea...

and we're writing about one new thing we learn each day.

Just one.

It's possible.

I didn't think I would be able to update something every single day, but you know what? There are plenty of routines I go through the day, I can easily add another. I think wracking my brain to know something new I learned, will actually teach me something. So I'm giving it a shot. You try it.

And this lets us keep in touch with each other, over long distances. Leading new lives in college/university now.

My new thing:

Just now, thinking about a new thing I learned today....there are actually a bunch. Little things, facts, here and there. To be honest, I didn't think there were so many new things I could have learned each day...I'm at school, I go home. It's monotonous. But there are actually new things appearing in my life each moment.

...I did not know that.