Almost End of First Year of College - A Rundown

Haven't posted anything in forever and yet to design this site a little more aesthetically. But on to the main topic. I've survived college along with many of my peers. It was something, I'll tell you that. I'll give you a lot of tips, but there are far too many of them to address. Let me remind you of a few things to keep yourself of the game.

Stay on Track
Wherever the course of life takes you, the number one concern is the effort you put forth to ensure your future. Take note of everything that is suppose to go your way. Make your self organized and presentable to others. You can't slop around like how I have, so stay on track on the goals, short and long term.

Learn Something New Everyday
Information is very important. Seek out colleagues, peers, advisers, TA's, professors, family, etc. for helpful advice about college. Anything will help indefinitely. The internet is one source you can rely on for contacting the aforementioned.

Think of Yourself, It's Okay to be Selfish Sometimes
This is college. You don't have time to waste around. For me, I thought attending UCR for 5 years to complete the whole 180 credits and such was too much time and money. I figured getting shit done early is better. As long as you can handle it, manage your time, sacrifice time for studies for a large amount of your time, then you are set. When friends invite you, sometimes you have to take initiative and be selfish about your current situation. AND if you can't take the packed schedule, then I recommend taking it slowly and still enjoy the college experience.

Money Bitches $$$
Throughout the year, I had problems financially. I managed thanks to friends and family. It was a pain and it stressed the f**k out of me. I couldn't concentrate on my studies with this pain in the ass money problem. So here's my tip. I would say work on campus or off campus jobs at the first quarter of your first college year. I know you'd have to be situated and rather not take on any jobs, but trust me on this that money was a big issue. It might affect your studies, but if you believe that you are a capable person with excellent time management, then it will work out in your favor. That hard earned money is yours to use. Use it on paying off unsubsidized loans, going out with friends, buying textbooks, etc. Use money wisely. Luckily, I didn't need to spend money on textbooks but if I did, oooooohhhhhh boy, would I be in trouble. (Thank you friends and family for everything)

Find Your Support Group
Form your permanent clique that will always have your back. Join clubs, make friends in there, and they will be your homies for life. These people care about your education while you care about them back. It's a win win situation.

Develop Positive Habits
Go to bed early, do homework early in the morning, eat a nutritional, healthy diet everyday, etc. All these things matter nonetheless. Stay on task, don't get distracted too easily. It's only good for like 30 minutes for every 2 hours of study.

Lets see....what more can I say, oh I have a hell of a lot more to say. I'll end it here because I still have finals and studying for biology right now, so I wish those entering college for the next academic year to have the best time of their lives. It's going to be hell. Its going to be fun. Its going to pay off.

The mindset of having determination and achieving a dream only takes 4 years. Extend that dream into reality and extend all the things that'll make you go to the top!

Winter Quarter and A Week In and A Friendly Message

The most homework I've done my whole life. No joke. Enough of my complaining, now's the time to focus on academics and short term goals. Looking at my schedule, I have to settle down some time for clubs, program visits, leisure time, job seeking/applying, and other important struggles. Classes are becoming more difficult. Papers were being passed around for extra lessons on tutoring and I thought how it would all go if I did. Spending one or two hours may be beneficial to my learning, but I felt like I would miss out many things. I try to go to the gym every other day, but I mostly become a lazy person and skip out.

Its been tough and I want it to be easy. "If you think life is easy, you're doing it wrong." When I read this quote somewhere, I reflected my life, looking back in the past about the things I've done that were easy. I thought that the easy things were only satisfying for two seconds. The harder things I've done and accomplished were much more satisfying. There were times where I thought the harder things I did and dropped them were disdainful. But I regret those decisions. They have affected me in many ways. Future-wise, they impacted everything I had the future.

After the fall quarter, I've realized my level of academic work. I consider it the same as high school, which no one wants. I want to see my self improve. I need to the earn the approval of improvement. Adult life too has taken the toll. Money is a big problem. Sometimes, I think I spend too much on useless things. I saved some money in some way or another. Paying for housing....Gosh, that's what got me the most.

Well, I want end this post with a positive message. Do well in everything that you can do exceptionally well. If what you see is useless in your eyes is not useless in everyone else's. Someone in this world appreciates what you do and where you go. Even if they don't tell you they do, they mean they do in their hearts.

Week 3 of UCR

According to the academic calendar, it is week 3 since classes have begun. I've been here for 4 weeks now and it's been super fun. Super noisy in the dorms, but I got used to it (sadly...). But all in all, college is a totally different experience. There's no way to explain what goes on during college. Ironic statement if you didn't catch it. The things that happen are on the course of people's schedules, deadlines, upcoming events, socials, and just about everything else. Its to get the feel of everything around me. Right now, I'm dealing with a financial predicament, especially when you get the feeling that you regret not applying for scholarships back in high school. Don't get me wrong, I applied to a few scholarships, but I was forced to based on grades. I was a pessimists back then and probably still am if I don't act quickly. I'm looking towards my resources, trying to stay in school. I love learning, I don't want it to get taken away from me because of money.

I've thought different;y about where my life is going. I need to change my habits. Reading the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective College Students, made me rethink the way I should be proactive and control the time I use in an effective manner. I'm writing down short goals for this year so that I won't neglect it the following year. I'm sticking to what I know will take the lead in life properly. I get self-conscious about everything too. When I'm in trouble, I try not to ask family for help because I asked too much already, but it doesn't hurt to ask personally.

Observing the universe as it goes forward while I'm trailing behind won't get me anywhere, so initiatives, personal strength, friendly advisable resources/people are simply there to get me on the right track.

First Day in College

It is the first day of college. I'm living here in a dorm with a pretty chill roommate. The people around me are pretty cool too. It's a totally different environment living here, especially alone away from home. It does sort of feel like high school for the first few days, since the introductions are of that of welcome week. But everything is different. A lot different. Enthusiasm - woot woot. Yeah, not really a loud yeller with radical screams, but I do enjoy the spirit. It was funny because everyone in the A-I building had to congregate for a spirit rally. Everyone in the front looked like they were forced to prep up, but everyone in the back was like, "What the f*** is going on?!" So I just headed with my hall buddies to play some pool and ping pong games in the lounge. It was a fun night most definitely. Classes don't officialy start until the 24th so I'll have to do other things prior to official instruction day.

Freshman Orientation Day Review

Super, super fun orientation day for incoming freshman. Had a fantastically, awesome orientation leader who made orientation feel so much more of a college vibe and overall radness! Writing this a few days after my orientation has finished, I can say I'm expecting a lot of college experience to be special. It's going to be day one, starting from scratch, starting from nothing but the new kid on the block. When I already registered for my classes for fall quarter, I see to my paper that I'm already a sophomore. Thanks to taking those AP exams and passing them, all those credits transferred in to fulfill my college breadth requirements, electives, university wide requirements, and major requirements.

As of now, I've gotta prepare myself for advanced level math that goes beyond Calculus BC and relearn chemistry with my brother (since he's going to take AP Chemistry his senior year). Had to fill in a slot for full time student by taking a class based on dances of Mexico, so I'll check that out. Checked out Pentland Hills, dined in Aberdeen and Inverness (A-I) dining hall [great food], and slept for one night with the introduction of one room mate. So yeah, it was really fun and can't wait for more college adventures.

Once I Start

September 20 is instruction day, meaning first day of school at UCR. It's gonna be a toughie, but I think I'll give it my all and never back down. I'll fail and make mistakes as what I've done in the past, but no one said that their unfixable.