Push it, push it.

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Back from a short vacation in New York…  first thing I do after arriving home at 3 am?  Check my marks haha.

Surprisingly, I did better than I thought.

2nd year was much harder than 1st year and my marks reflect that.  Strangely though, I mentioned it before, I feel very chill and almost apathetic when it came to studying and putting in any extra effort.  I think I’ve reached that point where I have accepted that I am not going to score in the top percentiles anymore, so why not just enjoy the other joys of life more and settle.

*Steve Job’s commencement speech pops into head: DON’T SETTLE!*

I think I’m still recovering from that “you’re no longer one of the smart kids” blow.  Sometimes I find myself pushing the limits of the minimum amount I need to study and still get above my minimum standard.  What happened to the me that chased ideals instead of heading backwards to my minimums?

I did it back in high school too, just not with my grades.  I did it with my wake up times.  How late can I wake up and still make it to school on time?  Then everyday I would wake up later and later until the day I was late.  Then I realized that showing up late wasn’t a big deal and my new limit became how late can I be before the teachers start caring.

Thank god for summer vacation.  I don’t want these mind sets anymore.

Still the best part of University: I feel like I’m growing up faster than ever before.  (which I probably would anyway but “University” is the title of this chapter of my life)

Watching History Unfold.

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UBC LipDub. If you haven’t seen it, well get a move on.  If you have, watch it again.  Every view contributes donations to the Make a Wish Foundation!

The epicness of this video, the whole fact that this video is all over my Facebook feed and the fact I’m seeing all this love for our community makes up for waking up at 9 am on a Saturday morning to dance in a rain poncho.

Okay fine, getting to see Marianas Trench for a brief second already made up for it. =P

I hope my remaining years at UBC will have moments like this again.  I passed by the launch party today at Robson square and I was planning to stay for a song or two, but there was that feeling of community hovering in the air.  It drew me in and I stayed out in the cold for two hours.  I hate it when people are all up in each other’s face with UBC/SCHOOL PRIDE and I can’t say that this video made me gain pride for being a Thunderbird (although I must admit I did chant that day.)  However, the video made me, for once, feel that we’re not just separate segments of people who happen to gather at the same 993 acres of land every week.

(Did anyone else notice the product placement for the Compass Translink cards at the end? =( good by old UPass system)

The only fair thing in the world: Time

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All the worries of my days in university so far have all been fixated around time.  There’s so much time spent on things like commuting, breaks that are too long but not long enough between classes, time spent on recovering energy from commuting too long (which by the way doesn’t make any  but I still do it.)  And the procrastination.  Oh my all the procrastination.  By the time the weekend comes along I still don’t feel like I have enough time and then the weekend passes like it never even came.

Yesterday Robert Herjavec, one of the Dragon’s from CBC’s The Dragon’s Den came to speak about what mostly seemed like inspiration.  He told us a story about a time when Arnold Schwarzenegger went to speak at a university and a student was upset about the tuition increase proposals.  The student said that a tuition increase would mean that he would have to get a job.  Arnold said so what?  The student then argues that getting a job means less time to study, and he’ll do bad in school and he won’t have any sleep (I bet that sounds familiar).  Arnold asks him how many hours he needs to sleep.  Boy replies 8.  Arnold says 6 is enough.  Boy says 6 is not enough for him.  Arnold says “sleep faster.”

Were you waiting for something deeper?

Herjavec’s presentation was indeed deep, that was just something he said that I really wanted to share.

Anyway, the majority of the presentation was about achieving success.  He said that if you’re poor, or if you’re ugly, or if you’re just stuck with some bad dispositions, of course it’s going to be harder for you.  And then the next point he made stuck with me so much, the only equal playing field we have is the fact that we all have the same amount of time.

Think about someone you admire, or someone you envy.  What are they doing with their time that you aren’t?  Why aren’t you?

That is so easy to say but it’s not like I’m satisfied with every action I make.  But I’m working on it, maybe it’s all a part of growing up.  (…Am I going to be 30 years old some day and still being saying stuff like “it’s a part of growing up?”)

Sauder Love Affair

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In the summer of 2009, before first year, I was at a party with my friends.   We were young and hopeful and talking about what we were going to be up to for the next 4 years.  We went around the circle and when it got to me some friends immediately told me about how business, especially Sauder, changes people.  People change everyday, but Sauder was going to change me into a cold blooded money and status hungry jerk of some sort.  I was told horror stories of fake smiles and false friendships that are made to screw you over.

I’m not saying that Sauder doesn’t do these things, but I’m not saying that they do either.  Like everything, it just depends.  (Don’t you hate that answer?)  Honesty, because I am a business student myself it’s hard to tell.  Every faculty has their stereotype.  Engineers are supposed to be nerds that hang VWs on bridges, Arts are probably on a Mac in a Cafe dressed in skinny jeans, Science is in the library so I don’t know what they look like and Sauderites go to class in suits (actually this point is true.) Everyone else?  Actually, I can’t think of any good ones, let me know if you have any.

Once I bumped into a friend that I hadn’t seen in 6 years at UBC and she asked me what faculty I was in.  I said business and she immediately made a face and then a smirk.  “Oh… you’re in Sauder…”

But I make that face right along with her.

I can’t figure out why.  There is just a bad aura floating around Sauder.  For one, we separated ourselves from the UBC community with our own name, but that is just how business schools roll these days (ie. Rotman.)  I am whole-heartedly thankful for this Mr. Sauder who is making my education possible and he does deserve his name on it, but you can’t deny that it builds a little wall.

I believe I am “doomed” to be changed by my faculty.  Just hanging out with friends in other faculties feel different.  Especially after those days where school, work, home and study is life, suddenly talking to someone who isn’t going through the only things you are exposed to feels extremely foreign.  Actually, it can be quite refreshing too though.  However I do worry if I have “changed” in a bad way.  Stereotypes do come from somewhere…

Fun thing: If you are ever on Granville Island and are passing by Emily Carr, try to find a student in their library on anything that is not a Mac! Good luck!

I must admit, Sauder is helpful in making sure we won't embarrass ourselves in the wrong washroom though =)

Going Global Part 2: Post Application Thoughts

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I posted a post a few weeks ago about applying to Go Global (exchange) where I was debating between Manchester University in England and Keio University in Tokyo. In the end, I actually applied to, in order of first choice to last, Hong Kong University, Keio University and a Shanghai Summer Program.

Let’s just say, at the time of that earlier post, I hadn’t done enough research as I should have yet and didn’t realize a few set backs and almost missed out on some amazing opportunities. So I have  some tips:

Start your application early.
Early as in December, and if it is something that you really want do, at least have it in the back of your mind (which it probably will if you’re dying to go like me.) I had ideas in my head, I thought I would be able to fill out the forms in max two weeks and it’ll be a breeze.  If you’re in commerce, it’s not as much of a breeze because you will have to make a rough plan of all the courses you will take until you graduate.  I was actually kind of surprised other faculties don’t have to do this because it felt like like something they would have to consider too.

Despite the point above, It’s never too late.
I know some people who decided they were going the night before the deadline.  At the info sessions there were 4th years who were going to go on their last semester which isn’t usually allowed.  If you want it, go get it =)

Advisors aren’t scary.
I don’t know this for a fact because I am always too scared to talk to them, but I don’t know else is going to be able to help you more.

Don’t forget why you’re going.
Don’t lose that fire just because you stayed up crafting that beautiful “why you want to go” essay and didn’t get any sleep and forgot what you wrote it.  For schools with limited spots or an excess of applications, there may be interviews.   I went to one today and I walked out of that room feeling pretty bad.  Nervous, as always, I couldn’t say the things I wanted to.  When I started replaying the events, I realize I didn’t mention the fire, there were these special classes that I really wanted to take, the reason why I chose that school first with a solid “yes this is it.”  And the feeling of having a fire and not letting it burn for others to see feels like you set yourself in ashy flames… let your fire shine!  (man that’s lame sounding)

You will need two references that are teachers or TAs (at least one a teacher) but all you will need is their name.
Another reason to start earlier…

There are paper AND online components.

It’s not as hard as this post is making it sound.
It’s an easy process once you know what you want to do.

Hands down the most important class.

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Hands down the most important class I took in high school that has helped me the most in succeeding in university…

English.

Ok, so it’s more like a subject than a class but you get what I mean. Seriously though, those reading and writing skills… boy do they mean a lot.  There were times where I thought, “whatever man, I’m in business, reading and writing? Pfft! English is my first language, I did great in English 12, I’m fine with what I got.” Even though there isn’t a huge requirement for writing and comprehension skills in the business faculty, they have seriously been a huge asset.

1) Get through questions faster because I can read them faster.

2) Spend less time constructing sentences and more time constructing sentences for answers.

3) Study time is cut shorter because I can read the book with less re-reading.


And even with English as my first (and for the most part, only) language, being in university has made me realize how much I am still lacking in it.  Looking back, I wish I had read more and conversed with people more.  Well, life is a continuous learning circle.

I often think the point of elementary school was to do well in high school and the point of high school was to do well in university.  So what’s the point of university?  To do well at work?  Is that what we are all aiming for?  I know I am looking at it in a very black and white way, but it seems almost too… soulless. I could very well be wrong.  What do you think?



What is the most-helpful-to-your-life-after-high-school high school class that you took?

The Monty Hall Problem.

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Does anyone remember the scene in 21 where Professor Keven Spacey is asking the protagonist about choosing behind three doors, two with a goat and one with a door behind it? Well in case you don’t…

3 years. 3 years ago I saw this movie on an airplane. 3 years later in a stats class I now finally understand this problem.  I’ve thought about this problem many times over the 3 years and now finally. I feel so enlightened.  That feeling of goodness at school would be second place right behind the last day of exams last semester. The sad part is that if I had wanted to know the answer enough, there are great explanations for how it works on YouTube.

The strangest thing that I can’t get over is that even though I know the answer, and cannot deny the proof that my professor showed us on the overhead, my head still makes it feel like it must be a 50-50 chance.  It just feels natural that way.  You’re a strange one, brain.

In case you were curious, the most easy to understand explanation that I came across was that when you first choose a door you have a 1/3 chance winning a car.  So, the chances that the host has the door with the car is 2/3 since he has two doors.  The fact that he shows you what’s behind one door doesn’t change the fact that his chances are still 2/3 while yours is 1/3.  So switch.



For another taste of stats, or COMM 291, I’ll describe another exercise the prof gave us.

He holds up 3 slips of paper.  The first one, pink on both sides.  The second, green on both sides.  The third, green on one side pink on the other.  The professor hides them behind his back and then asks the class what is the probability that if he randomly chooses one that it will be the double green.  The class is silent.  We all think it is a trick and no one wants to make a fool of themselves.  He reassures us that is it not a trick, although he also reassures us that half of the things he says are tricks.  A student says 1/3.  Correct.  Now he picks a card and shows us one side. A green side.  He now asks us what is the probability of the other side being green as well.




Care to take a shot at it?

Feeling Thankful.

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There’s some nasty virus going around that is leading to fevers, chills and headaches.  Strangely there are no runny noses or coughs.  I dealt with mine with a lot of rest, water, vitamin C pills and this weird Chinese point massage stuff my parents did for me.

If you’re going through it: I realize you might feel like you’re dying… but it will be over.  Eventually.

Being sick had one upside though.  I gained a new and sincere appreciation for my parents and for living at home.  Someday, I will grow up, be moved out and then one day I will be sick in bed with only enough energy to text one good friend about my miseries.  That day will be a grim one.

Actually, who am I kidding, I’d give up the loving attention for an extended curfew any day! Really though, I am thankful.  Thank you mom and dad.  I hope everyone has someone there, be it their roommate or sibling to care when they’re sick in bed.

I don’t know how I would deal with being sick and living on campus.  Good luck to those that are going through that! I can’t cook, but if you really want it, I offer to bring you a cup of hot water.

Blogging and my wellbeing.

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19 years young, seriously nearing 20 and going through that entering-adulthood-soon-who-the-hell-am-I stage and slowly exiting teen angst stage.  Perhaps I am just an emotional person and will never really leave the teen angst stage.

I started blogging since grade 7.  It was just a place for my thoughts that I wanted to share with someone and a place to practice HTML and photoshop.  As the years went by, I would post less and less in general and more and more only about my problems and other negative things of life. Occasionally there would be happy or random posts, especially happy things that I was hoping I wouldn’t forget with age.  But for the most part, when I was joyful, I was too busy to post and when I was sad I needed something to keep myself busy.  Although blogging proved to be a great vent, I really wish I had posted more happy things.

This winter break, I had a rough time with some stuff.  As a part of growing up, I learned things about myself that I really wish I had learned earlier and actively tried to change.  I learned about the things that make me a jerk and an idiot.  And I hated it.

It was New Years so I started looking at my 2010 posts (on my personal blog) and I came across a post where I posted about things that I loved about that day.  They were all simple things like singing along to songs with my friends in the car to a random hello text message from a friend.  These tiny little things from this long gone day made me so appreciative of life.  It cheered me up so much I couldn’t believe why I didn’t do it more often.

It made me think of Lillienne’s Things I Love Thursdays

It’s so simple.  It’s just the little things in life.  But it all makes such a big deal.

And then there is the joy of reading about other people’s joys… that’s a whole other deal.

Being happy is really easy sometimes isn’t it?  (Easy to say when you’re not down yet)  It probably is easy even when I am down, it’s just hard to realize.

Maybe I should start keeping track of daily joys somehow.

It’s the little things.  Do you agree?  (Or if you’re a fan of Catch Me If You Can too: Do you concur?)