I see each semester as a mile race. After running many miles in my day, I find it an appropriate parallel. Okay undergrads, we are embarking on the bell lap, the final 400 meters of the semester.
If you are anything like me, by now you have hit the brick wall. Your quads and hammies are chock-full of lactic acid (aka. your brain would rather stare blankly into the infinite abyss than process anymore information). Ah, but you see, this is the most important lap. To give up now would be to sacrifice all of your effort in the previous three. It's time to turn on the jets and high tail it to the finish line, where hard work translates to endless glory (a great transcript). Starting to see the analogy?
There is good news. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Finals conclude in just three weeks time. Three weeks of dedicated hard work and we are home for the holidays. With the end in sight, I say, let your goals pull you forward. Let your dreams put wings on your ankles.
During your victory lap, make sure you sing "Celebrate Me Home." ;)
“No story is the same to us after a lapse of time; or rather we who read it are no longer the same interpreters.” ―George Eliot Life has a way of giving us perspective. It teaches us through time, through change, through what remains. And what remains? You. Everywhere you go, there you are. It seems so simple. But upon deeper contemplation, I hope you find the same comfort that I found. There is one thing that remains constant in the turmoil of life- you always have you. We continue to grow and change with each sunrise, with each breath. We look back and realize that not long ago, we viewed the world through different eyes. One thing is clear. Stories of the past mark important moments of our lives. But the second hand never stops, its rhythm is constant. And just as time moves forward, so do we. Keep an eye on the future, keep focus on the present, and enjoy the wisdom that develops from lessons of yesterday. But yesterday is yesterday, and we are not who we were yesterday. So be who you are today with who is here today.
The culmination of the presidential race is upon us- this coming Tuesday is election day.
Are you worried by your prospects (or shall I say lack thereof) for a stable job post college graduation? Are you concerned about how you will afford health insurance once you are kicked off your parent's plan? Under the Affordable Care Act, by the way, you have until you are 26 to figure that out. Are you concerned about financing your college education? Or perhaps, are you now faced with the challenge of working yourself out of debt accrued from years of sky high tuition?
Me too.
Fortunately, you have a choice on Tuesday. The outcome of this race will directly affect you, and you have a say in the matter! Each vote counts the same as the next and each vote adds to the total. The only voice that goes unheard is the vote not cast. Get to your polling place November 6th and make your voice heard.
That being said, for your voice to reflect your thoughts on the questions posed above, work must be put into your decision prior to election day. Contemplate your stance on these pivotal issues and research parallels between your thoughts and the platforms of each presidential candidate. I challenge you to search further than the super PAC ads constantly run on television. Pick up a newspaper, research reputable online sites, tune into news programs... engage in political debate with others! When you honestly open your ears to opposite viewpoints, you'll be surprised what you can learn about your own. Whether you switch sides on a debate or reinforce your own views, you will gain perspective on the extensive, divisive issues currently facing our nation.
As I walked into the giant lecture hall housing my physics class Monday afternoon, the real meaning of the school year finally sunk in. The beginning of school is exciting: friends, football games, parties. But we mustn't forget why we're here. It is the hard work behind closed doors, the endless nights of studying, the textbooks scoured time and time again, that will secure our respective degrees and propel us in our desired career paths.
At a school like Pitt, it can be very difficult to stand out. With over 26,000 students, how do YOU carve a unique place for yourself and make your way in the world as an individual? I walked into a similar giant lecture hall housing my Biology 1 class as a freshman feeling absolutely invisible. Shy and not knowing anyone, I was just another ant processing in trying to find an empty seat that had not been saved for gaggles of friends.
Three years later, I walk into my physics class, head held high, still knowing no one. Why did I not feel a wave of insecurity and panic of where to sit? As a senior here, I have carved my niche and feel comfortable within my own skin. It is an elusive topic, but how do you make yourself stand out in a crowd? One to be reckoned with, so to say?
1. Wake up everyday and treat yourself like a queen (king for the men out there). People innately follow your lead. If you put yourself down, don't value your own thoughts, or silence them for fear of ridicule, others will follow suit. Conversely, a confident and competent image will project outward reserving a sense of respect and value from peers.
2. Find one professor that you work well with and build a relationship. You do not have to go to office hours for every class and try to forge a relationship with every teacher. One sustained relationship can provide you with guidance, honest feedback, and help in more facets than the class at hand.
3. Do something for you, one thing that has little relation to your projected career path. We often get boxed into a certain dogma of thinking. This will open up your mind, fuse principles from multiple facets of education, and ultimately add a unique dimension to your skill set. For example, I chose to work with the oral communication department mentoring peers with public speaking anxiety. I do believe it was my best choice in college.
4. Somehow link this unique activity to your professional goals. For example, most physicians are extensively trained in the hard sciences. How many can communicate effectively and compassionately with patients to put them at ease and ultimately make a better diagnosis? This is how I will set myself apart in the field.
5. Dress well, test well. What is your mindset when you throw on a pair of sweatpants? Probably the same as mine: "I just need to get through fifty minutes of class then I can get back in bed." Is that any mindset to learn? To properly process and encode information, we must be in a mental state ready to soak in the information like a sponge. Sweatpants do not convey that attitude. Not to mention the first impression it can give others. Instead, take pride in how you present yourself.
6. A few close friendships can make this daunting period in our lives much easier to tackle. Find a few people that you trust and love, and open up. This can be a scary time, but you needn't go it alone. To achieve tips 1-5, we all need a support system. Family and friends are absolutely essential, rely on them. Trust me, if they are the friends they say they are, they won't mind. They might just surprise you with wisdom they have to share.
Are you ready to take on the world? Well maybe we'll start small. Are you ready to take on the next week of classes and make a place for unique, intelligent you?? GOOD! For the week ahead, I will sign off with a song that always pumps me up and gives me the confidence to take on the world. :)
Kidding! I actually love the start of school. It marks many new beginnings and offers promise for the semester to come. With school approaching in less than a week, I've decided to blog about a few ways to make this semester your very best yet.
So are you with me? Let's raise our virtual glasses to a fabulous school year. Afterall, this gal is graduating in the spring. Hello, senior year.
It is not unusual to find me cooking in the kitchen with unidentifiable items that may or may not appear edible. While originally skeptical and slightly concerned, my roommates have now become intrigued by my "culinary adventures" as we call them. My cooking is always quite the spectacle. It is not exactly traditional...
Today I set out with some odd looking vegetables... chiefly, celeriac and kohlrabi. Little did I know, I was in for a workout. As it turns out, chopping raw root veggies is quite the upper body work out. With olympic table tennis on in the background, I channeled my inner Olympic athlete and pressed on. After peeling and dicing sweet potatoes, celeriac, parsnips, and kohlrabi, I felt I deserved a gold medal. Instead, I was rewarded with delicious roasted vegetables over a bed of quinoa with a side of plums on the dinner table an hour later.
I have come a long way in the past year. The girl who couldn't cook a pot of rice is now making delicious, involved meals. I must add a disclaimer here: Delicious is in the eye of the beholder and I hope the beholder has an adventurous taste palette.... Nonetheless, I have come to enjoy my uninhibited time in the kitchen. Since I never follow recipes, each meal is a little experiment. I love creating something that will fuel my mind and body, allowing me to feel and perform at my best. It's merely a nice bonus when they turn out tasty!
If I ever offer to make dinner for you, I hope this post doesn't scare you out of it. If it turns out bad, I will call in pizza. :)
One of the pitfalls of living in Pitt (pun intended) is the utter lack of familiarity. Being the adventurous soul that I am, I chose to attend a school where I knew no one. Indeed, I had no family or friends in the area when I moved here (that is before I made new ones in my home away from home!). Tonight I was blessed to see some dear family friends for dinner. There is something irreplaceable and invaluable about being with the ones who have seen you grow up. In my case, the one who believed in my voice and even the one who baptized me!
We had a delicious dinner. I ordered a warm goat cheese and beet salad topped with wild caught atlantic char... amazing, to say the least. However, the best item I got tonight wasn't on the menu.... I was given a slice of home. Sometimes, the most beautiful moments in life are indeed in uncharted territory- new experiences, new places- but with long time loved ones. Ones who share a familiar smile, loving embrace, and truly caring thoughts and advice. I am a lucky girl.
