Month: November 2012

Oh how fast time goes by when you’re having fun. Almost three school months have already passed and finals are already here. This semester I’ve taken  5 courses –all of which I can say that I’m quite satisfied with. For those who want to know a survival information about my first semester at UBC, hopefully you will find this useful.

As we are now already nearing the end of the term, there are some key things that personally produced academic results for me in my classes. The first thing to do is to always be engaged during lectures. Being able to feel engaged in classes gives you motivation to listen, understand and better memorize the concepts that were explained which will contribute to better results on assignments and tests.  Another major key element to staying applied in classes is to be organized. It is important that you know your due dates for assignments so that you can maintain a stress free mentality. Last but not least, get a reasonable amount of sleep. I know that many UBC students would laugh at the word “sleep” in all of its ironic glory. However, sleep is important! Even if you’re not getting the amount of sleep you need per day (realistically speaking), at least give yourself a little napping break on the weekend. The least it could do is relieve stress for you — a stressful mind decreases your brain’s ability to work at it’s full capacity.

These are just some of the techniques that  helped me through my first semester. Feel free to comment about some techniques that have helped you in your experiences!

Recently, I’ve been asking myself why I’ve grown so accustomed and addicted to my Iphone.  I purchased my first Apple product nearly about 1.5 years ago and since then, I still haven’t the slightest desire to replace my Iphone with any other cellular product anytime soon (unless it were the Iphone 5, of course). After realizing the spontaneous loyalty I’ve subconsciously developed for my Iphone, I discovered that Apple must be some strong points of difference in comparison to their competition.

1.  Apple was the first of their kind
2. Apple products are available to a wide consumer base
3. Apple products can be accessible to people of all ages
4. Apple uses very clean and organized technology
5. Apple products are visually appealing/stimulating
6. Apple products are fast and efficient
7. Apple products have all types of resources that are useful for everyday life
8. Apple products are compact and have great battery life
9. Apple knows how to utilize their products in order to promote their uniqueness
10. Apple stores make it easier to purchase or fix apple products

In my opinion, these are some of the key points in why I think Apple executes the diversification of their product line. I’ve become a loyal customer to Apple for almost all of these reasons. Therefore, it is easier to connect Apple to their impeccable success in the electronics industry.

Being a person who is indubitably conservative about spending money, Ecoki’s “How to save money in 11 easy ways sustainably” post struck my attention quickly. Little did I know, instead of learning new and easy ways I could save money, the post became just an overview of the current things I do to save money. Here’s my top three favorites from Ecoki’s list along with personal suggestions from me.

Get refills from local coffee shops instead of repurchasing another cup.
My suggestion? If you’re a fellow Sauder Student, bring a mug to school and get yourself some coffee at the Sauder Student Lounge! It’s accessible during school hours, there is a pretty sweet selection and most importantly, it’s free!

Give store branded products a chance
Customers have assumptions that store brand products are low quality. However, many of them are above industry standard quality.    In fact, if you’re skeptical, first replace products where quality concerns you the least. That way you won’t have to lose much in giving a generic brand a try.

Make the Bookstore your last resort
There are many alternate ways you can find textbooks instead of buying them at full price. Do your research on websites and in local community forums before your classes start!
Simply switching the little things in life could make a big difference. As your savings add up, these little initial changes will become routine. And before you know it, you’ll be able to save up for that new game in stores or the new winter collection purse you’ve been eyeing at the mall.