I measure the moments in my life that take my breathe away or make me just stop by music.
Category: Wellness
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Perspective.
Life, it can be a none stop roller coaster ride of friends, love, drama, school, fun, and everything else in between. Something I’ve noticed this year, is that it’s so easy to get caught up in it all, and forget to take those little moments out of your life to just stop, evaluate and be truly thankful for where you are and the life you have.
I understand, that not all of us came from the best backgrounds, I get that, trust me. But, for those of us who had less of a stellar start and for everyone else, this is the time in our life where we can decide how we want our lives to go. We are, for many first years, out on our own for once and now we can start making decisions that will shape a better, healthier, happy life. Now that being said, it’s easy getting caught up in being a first year… especially if you live in dorms. The realization that there is life beyond first year is astounding. It’s like that feeling you got in highschool… there’s life beyond it. It doesn’t matter how much fun you are, or are not having right now in your dorms… there is life beyond the cement walls. And this life, unlike the life we had last year, is pretty much completely blank. And it’s amazing.
So, essentially, what I’m saying in this short, long overdue blogpost is…
Don’t regret doing what makes you happy, put your life in perspective, and take moments out of everyday to just stop and find beauty in any situation you’re in.
Peace, love and all that stuff,
Sam.
PS.
I already broke one of my new years goals… But hey, I’m taking six courses.
Sam’s Totally Guilt Free New Year’s Resolutions*
1) Pull up my socks in the academic sector of my life. You see, this winter break as I got my exam marks back I didn’t do so swell in the academic portion of my life. I thought for a while that I was not joining the rest of everyone’s shinny faces in the second semester. I had a break down and a bit of a panic attack. I felt that this thing I had worked so hard for was slipping away from me. You know, it’s true that you never really appreciate something until it’s almost gone. I couldn’t imagine my life without UBC, and all the opportunities a post secondary education would bring me. This lesson of a horrible first semester academically helped me renew my drive for what I want to do with my life and also helped me really see why I’m at UBC and what I need to do to keep my dreams a live. It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget what passions really drive you to become that person you strive to become. I’m starting out this new year and this semester with a whole new vigour.
2) Seek balance. Balance in social vs. academics, health vs. indulgence, ect. ect. Just be a more balanced person.
3) Be more organized!
4) Start really working towards what I want to do with my life after my degree.
5) Keep this blog updated weekly.
*Disclaimer: Sam’s Totally Guilt Free New Year’s Resolutions are kept guilt free by the fact that if I don’t complete one or two it’s not the end of the world. Minus #1, there’s no NOT keeping that one.
So yes, there you have it folks. New Year’s from yours truly. As this semester gets rolling more and more I’ll have a more in depth blog post. I hope everyone’s winter breaks were fantastic and that you’re all ready and rested for a new semester. I hope exams went well for you all! See you in class!
Peace, love, and epiphanies,
Sam.
Hey all you beautiful people!
So, as of late I’ve been up to my ears in piles and piles of homework. Philosophy, Economics, French, Political Science, so much bloody homework, and studying. Because of, you guessed it, MIDTERMS!
I apologize for my MIA-ness, I have been super busy with life and such. It’s funny how much time life actually takes up.
But alack alas, I give you this list of things that help you survive midterms!
Sam’s Super Cool List O’ Things That Helped Her Survive Midterms!
- Friends! Okay, so studying is super important, but giving your brain a break is also super important, and friends are a great way to help relieve the studying headache. Even if it’s a fifteen minute study break in someone’s room, it’s worth it. Not only does studying in intervals help you retain more information (ie. fifteen minutes on, five minutes off) but having a laugh in between studying opportunity cost and the gains from trade makes life just that much better.
- Five Hour Energy Shots! Sometimes, studying can run really late into the night and it’s hard to keep your eyelids from dropping south. Five Hour Energy shots (purchased from Magdas) help like a dream. Please be aware though, too many = bad things happening to your body.
- Set Goals! Don’t overload yourself. Make a study schedule. Time management my friends! And when you do make a schedule, stick to it! Try and make an even, balanced schedule, and schedule time for breaks. Start studying early in order to avoid cramming at the last minute.
- Find your study place! The UBC campus is huge and full of places where one can get away from the crazy and find a nice place to study. If you’re like me, and like a little noise while you study, but don’t want to be distracted by people? Goto the Starbucks on Agronomy. If you like absolute solitude, check you the library, either one. Third floor Irving K. is beautiful and quiet, though be sure to show up earlier in the day as it tends to fill up quickly. If you live in Totem and you don’t want to wander too far from home, goto the reading room in the commons block, it’s located just behind the mailboxes. It’s quiet and open.
- Goto Academic Counselling if you’re concerned! I say this from experience… if you’re seriously stressing about a course and you’re on the brink of freaking out, goto academic counselling and ask for some advice. The wonderful thing about campus is that if you need help, you can always find it. I was super stressed about my science midterm, and went to academic counselling and talked through my situation with one of the amazing advisors. As great as it can to be to talk to your friends about your issues, think about it like this: your friends are in the same boat you are, and they are wonderful, wise amazing people, but sometimes you need a professional’s opinion on what you should do. Don’t be afraid to go, ask for some help and get your problems sorted. I ended up dropping my class, and am going to take a different science next year. When you’re paying for your schooling, and planning your career, using all that your campus has to offer is very much worth it.
- Call home and say Hi! So, picture this: It’s eleven at night, you’re sick, you’re tired, you have three midterms and a paper due… you’re sitting in the library alone… sometimes in these situations, it’s nice just to call home and hear a familiar voice.
- If the stress is getting too bad, talk to someone! Sometimes, stress can get the best of us. Getting overstressed can lead to sickness and other things you don’t want to deal with while writing midterms. Talk to a friend, or your parents or someone. UBC has some great resources to help you deal with stress management. Just don’t let it get the best of you.
- EAT HEALTHY FOODS! Healthy body = healthy mind. As tempting as curly fries can be after a long study session, avoid them and eat something high in nutrients! The more you nourish your body, the better you’ll feel and be able to fight off the midterm flu.
- If you’re going to procrastinate, do it in the best way possible! Okay, so if you’re going to procrastinate, get something else done in the mean time. Do your laundry, clean your room, update your UBC blogsquad blog (okay, so that only applies to me), trust me, it’ll help in the long run.
- Lastly, remember that you got into this school for a reason! You were accepted into university because you’re a bright, smart person… you can do this! Go into an exam positive, optimistic and confident. I know you can do it, you know you can do it, and your momma knows you can do it. Don’t worry!
Peace, love and studyface,
Sam.
Just thought I’d let you all know that I am alive and that I can navigate Buch successfully. Aww yeah!
I wish I could say I was a rock, that I didn’t cry often. Or ever. But the truth is I cry, a lot. Not like, I stubbed my toe and now I’m crying… not like that. Or like I’m overtly emotional and cry one minute and hysterically laugh the next… I’m balanced. But, you know that commercial where Michael Buble is doing a PSA for the children’s hospital… I cried during that commercial, and the one where Sarah McLachlan is talking about abused animals. Now, it’s not like big alligator tears and bawling, but just shedding a couple tears.
This past two days saying goodbye to family has been like a never ending string of Canadian PSAs.