Hello everyone, hope you have all had a great week and weekend! Now that I've finally sat down to write this, I've realized that it's already been another week. I don't know where the time has been going. I wish there were more hours in the day. Last week was a bit disappointing to put it simply. I got some grades I wasn't happy with, and I had a number of assignments that stressed me out. But I made it to the weekend! I caught up with a friend on Friday and then got to cheer the Spartans to victory at Saturday's game. Sunday was homework day...somehow I wasn't as productive as I'd hoped to be but my roommate keeps telling me that I expect too much. She's probably right. It doesn't help to burn yourself out...
I'm typically a pretty motivated person, but I have to acknowledge when I need a break. I do my best to set weekly goals to keep me working hard. It's so much easier with something to look forward to in the future. Turning in my Study Abroad application was one way to keep me motivated. Even though it meant actually finishing the application, it doesn't seem like such a chore when I remind myself that it means I get to spend four weeks in Brussels this summer! I've also set times to go to the gym. I finally kicked the cold I had, so I can enjoy an escape from studying and work at our awesome Intramural building down the road.
Another interesting aspect of my week was the reception I went to last night. JMC is awesome about holding speakers and discussions. Last night we had a James Madison Alumni, Lawrence Scott Sheets, come back and talk to us about his new book, 8 Pieces of Empire: A 20-Year Journey Through the Soviet Collapse. He talked to us about his book but also his life after graduating from Madison and MSU. It was really interesting, and I can't wait to read the book! Here's a link to the book, if you're interested!
But tonight it's back to business. The small distractions have helped, and now I'm ready to buckle down again. I'm meeting my French study group soon to review once more for our exam tomorrow. Wish me luck! Bonne nuit! (Good night)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Never Fear, I'm Still Here...
Hello Friends,
I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. The collective 2-3 weeks that should be dubbed "Midterm Season" can really be killer but we all make it out alive, just severely sleep deprived...I suppose I was lucky that all my exams weren't the same week, but that also allows for the never ending stream of assignments. This week should be a little less stressful, or at least once I finish my Socrates paper and study for my French quiz. In retrospect this week will really just be like any other: busy. Very busy. But I'm counting down for Thanksgiving and then shortly after the calm of winter break!
Amidst my crazy schedule I did enjoy a wonderful Halloweekend. It was nice to unwind and hang with some great friends. I dressed up as Catwoman for one night and then a dinosaur the next. Then last night my roommate and I got to see a bunch of cute costumed children stop by the dorm for trick-or-treating in Case Hall. So overall not a bad weekend, and I even managed to accomplish a good amount of work.
Now to take you on an almost entirely random tangent, I have to confess that I have been one of those strange people who chooses to listen to Christmas/Holiday Music almost 2 months prior. Usually I would never even consider listening to it before the week of Thanksgiving, let alone before Halloween...and yet this year all I've wanted to do recently has been listen to Christmas music (and I definitely had it on while studying last week). Oh well, I refuse to apologize for my enthusiasm :)
Another thing that has been on my mind a lot has been my plans for next summer. I'm getting ready to submit my Study Abroad application for the James Madison program to Brussels in Belgium. I had the opportunity to study in Ireland through MSU as an incoming freshman on a Freshman Seminar Abroad and ever since have been itching to get back to Europe. It'll be amazing to spend over a month there next summer...and if my plans work out I may be able to spend another month in Turkey on another Madison program. So in order to turn my study abroad plans into reality I've started the scholarship hunt and am trying to increase my savings in any way possible. Next summer's memories should make it all worth it!
Hope you enjoyed the update...now it's back to the books and paper drafting for me! I'll report back soon with something more exciting hopefully! Happy November!
I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. The collective 2-3 weeks that should be dubbed "Midterm Season" can really be killer but we all make it out alive, just severely sleep deprived...I suppose I was lucky that all my exams weren't the same week, but that also allows for the never ending stream of assignments. This week should be a little less stressful, or at least once I finish my Socrates paper and study for my French quiz. In retrospect this week will really just be like any other: busy. Very busy. But I'm counting down for Thanksgiving and then shortly after the calm of winter break!
Amidst my crazy schedule I did enjoy a wonderful Halloweekend. It was nice to unwind and hang with some great friends. I dressed up as Catwoman for one night and then a dinosaur the next. Then last night my roommate and I got to see a bunch of cute costumed children stop by the dorm for trick-or-treating in Case Hall. So overall not a bad weekend, and I even managed to accomplish a good amount of work.
Now to take you on an almost entirely random tangent, I have to confess that I have been one of those strange people who chooses to listen to Christmas/Holiday Music almost 2 months prior. Usually I would never even consider listening to it before the week of Thanksgiving, let alone before Halloween...and yet this year all I've wanted to do recently has been listen to Christmas music (and I definitely had it on while studying last week). Oh well, I refuse to apologize for my enthusiasm :)
Another thing that has been on my mind a lot has been my plans for next summer. I'm getting ready to submit my Study Abroad application for the James Madison program to Brussels in Belgium. I had the opportunity to study in Ireland through MSU as an incoming freshman on a Freshman Seminar Abroad and ever since have been itching to get back to Europe. It'll be amazing to spend over a month there next summer...and if my plans work out I may be able to spend another month in Turkey on another Madison program. So in order to turn my study abroad plans into reality I've started the scholarship hunt and am trying to increase my savings in any way possible. Next summer's memories should make it all worth it!
Hope you enjoyed the update...now it's back to the books and paper drafting for me! I'll report back soon with something more exciting hopefully! Happy November!
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