I'm done with finals and heading home to the Golden State! Whoot! California here I come!
I'm currently waiting in SeaTac's B11 Gate area - I'm here so early, there's a flight leaving my gate before mine. Haha. They're all going to LA. Pfft. Bay Area ftw. Had no trouble at security and now just have to wait.
In the three months I've been living in Seattle, I've completely fallen in love with the city. I love the green foliage, the rain and frost, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I love Seattle Pacific University and all the friends I've made. I loved my Jane Austen class and will miss it and the professor dearly. I love going to sleep bunked with my roomie Elayna, and waking up at 8 every morning. I even love the airport - SeaTac.
There's only one thing I love more: Mountain View, California!!! :D I'm so psyched to be coming home and getting to sleep in my bed for three weeks. I'm psyched to see my friends and stay out late doing crazy stuff until our stomaches hurt too much from laughing. I'm psyched to swing dance with my friends. I can't wait for Christmas with my grandma and brother and then New Year's Eve. I'm excited to hug my mom when she picks me up from SFO and to chat with my dad about what's going on at Google. So much excitement here!!
~~Transition~~
Recently I was with somebody (cough Tory cough) who told me I may be the only person she knows who would compliment a stranger out of the blue. I thought this was a strange observation because it seems so natural to me - and to the lovely girl at SeaTac who told me she liked my owl socks while I waited in line for security. Being nice to others is sorta self-serving because it makes me feel good, while making other feel good, so why pass up the chance to say something nice to stranger? Worst that can happen is they brush you off or give you a weird look. But it's worth it just to know you may make someone's day.
"No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes unresented
No good deed goes unpunished
That's my new creed!!!" - Elphaba ("Wicked")
(but not really, cause good deeds are good)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Dead Week
Hello folks. Yep, I'm still kickin', even after dead week!
For those who don't know (which included me until today) "Dead Week" is the week before finals. Not exactly sure why it is called that, but the week was extremely busy and stressful for me, so that's no fun.
I'd like to share an experience with you, so here we go:
I got an assignment a few weeks ago to do an individual presentation on a Jane Austen adaptation (I got Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel). I procrastinated a little, but the completion of the project wasn't what stressed me out - it was the actual presentation in class.
Each student was required to do a powerpoint presentation in under 10 minutes comparing and contrasting their novel and adaptation and critics' opinions. I wasn't the only one doing a presentation (the whole class of ~20 did this too), but I was the first to go on my day (today) and that really stressed me out.
The presentation was only supposed to be 10 minutes TOPS and the first time I practiced mine it took twenty-four minutes! I cut it down after practicing it again 4 times, but the fact that I might take too long freaked me out (my professor literally stopped people mid-sentence if they went over).
So morning comes (this morning) and I find myself shaking and nauseous in my room from anxiety. Now, I've always hated presentations, but this physical reaction was more intense than anything I've ever experienced. Looking back, I think it was a spiritual attack. Tears in my eyes, I'm thinking I can't go to class. I'm going to puke or faint or mess up or something.
This is where I realize that I'm not in this alone - God is with me and the power of prayer is infinite. I posted on Facebook asking for prayer for my presentation and almost instantly got encouraging comments promising intercession and peace. After taking a few deep breaths I decided to test a Psychological theory (yes, I'm done with that class for good, but hey, the topic is legit and usefull). Facial Feedback Effect: pretty much, if you smile when you're unhappy, you'll begin to think happy thoughts and then end up feeling happy. I was skeptical and felt pretty stupid smiling at my empty dorm room while blinking back tears, but it actually worked.
Almost instantly I felt better. I was praying, smiling, and wondering how the heck a stupid 10-minute presentation was getting me so down! (not that I was not still stressed, but I was no longer overwhelmed by it).
My presentation went well (I didn't even hit 9 minutes I think!) and it ended up being a blessing in disguise that I went first because then I couldn't psych myself out and I got a little more time to get my act together with my powerpoint. I'm surprised I didn't do a happy heel-click afterwards.
I know without God's peace (and gift of smiling) I wouldn't have gotten to class without breaking down (let alone give a ten-minute presentation!).
In other news: I'm 100% done with General Psych (WHOOOTTT!!). I didn't like that class, so I'm really happy it's over. Took a psych midterm on Monday and then our comprehensive final on Wednesday (lots of studying this week!), but I did well on both, so YAY! The only school work I have left is to edit an essay and take two finals (Tuesday and Wednesday)! WHOOT! I'm almost done! Then I can come home!
Also, I really want it to snow (someone on my hall said they saw it snowing, but I think she was mistaken...), so pray for that? :D
If you're ever stressed or just unhappy - try smiling. No, seriously. It sounds SUPER stupid, but it works.
"Fellow Ozians - as terrifying as terror is, let us put
aside our panic for this one day: and celebrate!
Oh what a celebration
We'll have today
Thank Goodness!" - Glinda ("Wicked")
For those who don't know (which included me until today) "Dead Week" is the week before finals. Not exactly sure why it is called that, but the week was extremely busy and stressful for me, so that's no fun.
I'd like to share an experience with you, so here we go:
I got an assignment a few weeks ago to do an individual presentation on a Jane Austen adaptation (I got Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel). I procrastinated a little, but the completion of the project wasn't what stressed me out - it was the actual presentation in class.
Each student was required to do a powerpoint presentation in under 10 minutes comparing and contrasting their novel and adaptation and critics' opinions. I wasn't the only one doing a presentation (the whole class of ~20 did this too), but I was the first to go on my day (today) and that really stressed me out.
The presentation was only supposed to be 10 minutes TOPS and the first time I practiced mine it took twenty-four minutes! I cut it down after practicing it again 4 times, but the fact that I might take too long freaked me out (my professor literally stopped people mid-sentence if they went over).
So morning comes (this morning) and I find myself shaking and nauseous in my room from anxiety. Now, I've always hated presentations, but this physical reaction was more intense than anything I've ever experienced. Looking back, I think it was a spiritual attack. Tears in my eyes, I'm thinking I can't go to class. I'm going to puke or faint or mess up or something.
This is where I realize that I'm not in this alone - God is with me and the power of prayer is infinite. I posted on Facebook asking for prayer for my presentation and almost instantly got encouraging comments promising intercession and peace. After taking a few deep breaths I decided to test a Psychological theory (yes, I'm done with that class for good, but hey, the topic is legit and usefull). Facial Feedback Effect: pretty much, if you smile when you're unhappy, you'll begin to think happy thoughts and then end up feeling happy. I was skeptical and felt pretty stupid smiling at my empty dorm room while blinking back tears, but it actually worked.
Almost instantly I felt better. I was praying, smiling, and wondering how the heck a stupid 10-minute presentation was getting me so down! (not that I was not still stressed, but I was no longer overwhelmed by it).
My presentation went well (I didn't even hit 9 minutes I think!) and it ended up being a blessing in disguise that I went first because then I couldn't psych myself out and I got a little more time to get my act together with my powerpoint. I'm surprised I didn't do a happy heel-click afterwards.
I know without God's peace (and gift of smiling) I wouldn't have gotten to class without breaking down (let alone give a ten-minute presentation!).
In other news: I'm 100% done with General Psych (WHOOOTTT!!). I didn't like that class, so I'm really happy it's over. Took a psych midterm on Monday and then our comprehensive final on Wednesday (lots of studying this week!), but I did well on both, so YAY! The only school work I have left is to edit an essay and take two finals (Tuesday and Wednesday)! WHOOT! I'm almost done! Then I can come home!
Also, I really want it to snow (someone on my hall said they saw it snowing, but I think she was mistaken...), so pray for that? :D
If you're ever stressed or just unhappy - try smiling. No, seriously. It sounds SUPER stupid, but it works.
"Fellow Ozians - as terrifying as terror is, let us put
aside our panic for this one day: and celebrate!
Oh what a celebration
We'll have today
Thank Goodness!" - Glinda ("Wicked")
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