Category: Involvement / Leadership

Academic Careers / Work Involvement / Leadership

Papers, Printers, and Procrastinating

Post author By Jennifer Ayala
Post date January 13, 2009
3 Comments on Papers, Printers, and Procrastinating

I have OFFICIALLY been to all of my classes for the new semester (excluding tutorials and discussions), and I must say I’m genuinely excited about each and every one of them. I think I have a small addiction to taking upperish level courses; last semester I took a 200 course, and this semester I’m taking two. Maybe next year I’ll up it and take a 400 level? 😉

Anyway I feel like talking about the classes I’m in, so here I go. If you have any classes with me don’t hesitate to comment on our intertwined destinies.

Introduction to World Archaeology (ANTH 103)
I’m excited for this class mainly because of the research paper.
Did I just say that? Did I honestly just say that the prospect of a research paper is causing me excitement?
…..

Introduction to Moral Theory (PHIL 230A)
After my first class I was hooked. I’ve never taken a philosophy class before, but after two lectures I’m seriously considering majoring in this. Also (le sigh) there’s a paper due in a couple of weeks that I’m anxiously awaiting to start. I’m such a freak.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 100)
I don’t think I’m excited about any papers in this class..phew! Right now we’re reading this book though, called “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman, and it’s REALLY good. It doesn’t read like an extra-long anthropological article (which I guess it technically is), so I highly recommend it!

Literature in English to the 18th Century (ENGL 220)
No clue why, but genius here decided to work backwards. Last term I took English 221 (Literature in Britain: the 18th Century to the Present), and now I’m in 220. I haven’t figured out if this switcheroo will help me out in the course. Oh but on to the actual class. So far the readings have been excellent, and the prof is literally a genius at starting class discussions and drawing ideas out of us. Good stuff.

Contemporary Global Issues in Historical Perspective (HIST 105)
I just signed up for this class and have therefore only been to one lecture (today in fact), but today’s class was so epic that I’m sure I’ll like it. The concentration this term is on global and local environments, which has me kinda nervous because hello, not a science person, but I think it will be fine.

Yessir, there is my courseload for the next few months. I must say that I’ve noticed a significant increase in the amount of reading I have to do; but then again the classes I took last semester were kind of light on reading and more dependent on exercises and online assignments. Baha!

In other news, I FINALLY BOUGHT A PRINTER. I’m almost positive I never mentioned my lack of a printer before so this news probably sounds trivial or lame, but I am SO EXCITED! I keep looking at it affectionately when I think no one is watching, even though it’s kind of an ugly shape and color. It’s grown on me though, so of course now I think it’s the greatest looking printer in the world. But I digress. This baby is a printer, scanner, copier, AND a fax machine! Not that I have any use whatsoever for a fax machine, but ya know, the option is there.

Now that it’s a new semester, I’m thinking of getting more involved in the UBC community. Last semester I took it kind of slow; I joined a sorority and acted in the Totem Park One Act Festival. I’m thinking I’ll try to join something to do with writing, start volunteering, and maybe even get a job (if anyone will hire me..I have a bad history with applying for jobs). I’ve even been toying with the idea of starting an online literary magazine or something..hmm.

Enough procrastinating, time to start the reading for my history class. (I fail. It’s barely the second week and I’m already procrasting on stuff!) Ah well. Adios!

Academic Involvement / Leadership Randomosity Residence Life

Goodbye 2008!

With the dawn of the new year approaching (quite literally..baha), I’ve found myself thinking about this past year, and if I’m happy with the way I’ve lived it. How would my life have been different if I hadn’t _______? If I had _____? If I had chosen to _____? I find it easier to organize my thoughts in lists, so here I go..

Things I Think I Maybecouldashouldawoulda Done Differently In 2008

1) I definitely wish I had worked harder in my college classes. This is UBC, so we all were pro at high school, but I wish back in September/October I had realized that I actually have to study to survive college. As it were, I realized this around finals time. 🙂
2) More specifically, oh what I would give to go back in time and not have been so epic fail in French. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.
3) My roommate and I should have called that stupid fridge company every hour on the hour (using several phones of course), DEMANDING our money back. Or hey, maybe even the FRIDGE! Thank God for Sears :’)
4) I would have talked to my grandma more before she passed away.
5) I would have done Grad Nite differently. I should probably explain American Grad Nites: at least where I live, every high school in the area goes to Disneyland on a specified night where Disneyland literally shuts down just for the graduating seniors. I think we have the park from 11pm to 7am? Sometimes this night coincides with the actual date of graduation, but not necessarily. Anyway so I shouldn’t have been such a loser, and instead paid more attention to what one of my best friends (Zoe) wanted.
6) Ooh I woulda stopped Zoe from dating this JERK that was only using her to get over the girl he was (and still is) in love with.
7) Upon reflection I wish I would have actually taken senior photos. Maybe. haha.
8 ) WHY didn’t I talk to the love of my life!!! Gah I hate myself sometimes! le sigh.

Things I Think I Did Right In 2008

1) So glad I got bangs. Best decision ever.
2) I’m so happy that I joined the sorority I did :).
3) Though sometimes I ponder what life would be like if I had chosen another school, overall I’m very happy that I chose UBC. In retrospect, I don’t think I would have fit anywhere else. 🙂
4) Relating to number 3, I’m sooo glad that I was so obsessive/addicted to applying to colleges that I was still looking for schools to apply to in like mid-February (even though I’d already gotten into..3 places?). See, if I had been a normal person and shut myself off from the college-application process after winter break, I never would have applied to UBC! Oh the greatness.
5) Okay I lied about number 1, buying a hamster with my other best friend Caitlin was the best decision ever. His name is Spunk Ransom. Google it.
6) I bless the day that I discovered Rebtel. Did I ever blog about Rebtel? Oh geez okay it’s still a draft. Fail. I’ll finish it up and post it later. Changed my life.
7) Soooo glad I saw Sex and the City and The Dark Knight on their respective opening nights! Good times.
8 ) Surprising my family by coming home for winter break a few days earlier than I told them..just might be my greatest work ever.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get better by tomorrow night! Huddled up on the couch is no way to spend New Years Eve!

PS: The word “would” looks weird to me for some reason right now. Don’t you hate when that happens?

Involvement / Leadership Recreation

Day of the Longboat 2008!

If you ever get a chance to jump into a boat with seven friends and paddle into the Pacific Ocean, DO IT! Some of us Blog Squad-ers signed up for Longboat, and on Saturday, we BROUGHT IT. Okay sure we brought it last, but it was brought nonetheless.

The day was a blur of sand, leg warmers, beautiful water, and life jackets, but it was completely unforgettable!

Oh!! And some media guy followed us around the whole time, documenting our experience. Apparently it’s going to show up on the LEAP website? Anyway I felt a sudden sympathy for real celebrities, because even though it was just one guy with a camera following us around, it still was odd to know that I was being shadowed. Any of the other bloggers feel the same way? Mind you it was pretty cool, though! I was sooo tempted to be like “Dahhhhling no pictures!”

I was able to take a few pictures of us before we got all sandy and wet, though. Yay!

Tamryn and Lindsay (or was it Lizzy? You guys confused me that first day at the tomato place!)

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Diggin’ the Strawberry Shortcake leg warmers.

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My leg with the amazing technicolor leg warmer

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I really wish I had taken more pictures, but alas..I didn’t. I took one with Synne but she asked me not to post it, and by golly I will honor my promise!

I went to bed at like 4:30 last night (I was reading) so I’m gonna go catch up on my lost slumber right now. YAY!!