One down, three to go..

Ok now that I have a little bit of time, I'd really like to finish my thoughts from my last post because, like I said, it was almost an "a-ha!" kind of moment...

You have to be confident in your abilities. You have to finally cross the line from using words/phrases like "perhaps," "maybe," "I think.." to "I know," "It is certain that," and "definitely" because these introduce doubt to your audience (whether it's an auditorium full of people or yourself). I can definitely say ( <-- see? More certainty..) that I may be ( <--still working on it, haha) discovering this later than others because I grew up with 3 older siblings who just loved to tease me and play jokes and call me stupid, etc. 

So I'm explaining the difference of impacts between being given instructions/standard solutions versus being assigned a bin of glassware and given raw chemicals. My main point was that the labs allow students to be as precise and accurate as they want to be, and those who really do have an interest to pursue more lab work have opportunity surrounding them! There are x million dollar research experiments going on all over the place! All you have to do is talk to people, be diligent, and apply (you have to choose which faculty and which of their research projects you want to work with; they don't post positions like a job website).

Me, personally, I'm using the tactic of sticking with the same Gen Chem professor because he is currently doing research in nanomedicine. Also, I'm always nice and say hi to my lab TA because he is part of a research group intensively studying proteins. Making your presence known, becoming a familiar face, and showing interest in further study never hurts.

Okay now that one test is done I have three more finals to go plus two papers are due. Getting back to work!

As my math professor likes to say, "happy studying!"
>.<

Forever and a half...

Sorry dudes, slacking over here.

Not much new stuff to report! Spring registration begins in a few weeks, and it looks like I won't get lucky enough to go to school for two days each week. Serious bummer.

One thing that sucks about taking higher level courses is the less availability of sections.. all the general classes have plentiful scheduling opportunities. Yet one polisci course is going to ruin it since there is only 1 section open (in the phys ed bldg, how weird is that?).

Otherwise, all is good. Except the general election but I'm sure you're tired of hearing about that. I had the opportunity to work the polls (insert stripper joke here) for both the primary election and the general election. I seriously recommend this to anyone! Voting is the foundation of our democratic republic, and to be able to take part in making it happen is a great feeling (and you get paid, too!). Plus I'm being promoted to either clerk or assistant clerk (clerk is the "head honcho" of each precinct) for the next election! Super stoked =)

Rush/Recruitment, Round Two (Day Three)

So today we learned which houses wanted us back for more conversation. Although we started with 8 or 9 chapters, I was only invited back to 3. At first, it was kind of a bummer because I didn't feel like I clicked with two of the three that were listed on my schedule-of-the-day.

BUT! Now I understand why our Pi Chi's kept reiterating the fact that we need to keep our minds open, because although we (most of the time) didn't get picked by the houses we had hoped for doesn't mean that our home isn't with another house.

On Spirit Day (yesterday) one of the houses I talked with I didn't have a good conversation.. the girl was like on a different planet, not really paying attention and being really vague and just not an open and/or welcoming personality.. So instances like this explain why you speak with more than one member during each conversation session.

I ended up talking with a sorority member today who I spoke with in Round One (Spirit Day), so that was kind of cool. I know it sounds weird but seriously after talking to probably 30+ girls it was nice to see a familiar and friendly face.

I keep reminding myself to keep an open mind, stay positive, and be myself. The first two are a little harder than it may seem especially if you don't get picked by your "ideal" houses (i.e. the one's you had your hopes set on). Yes, it's a bummer.. but, again in the words of the almighty wise Pi Chi's, "Trust the process! Be honest and truthful, and you'll find your home. Because who knows, maybe that house you had your sights on wasn't what you thought it was after all..."

After thinking about it, I wouldn't want to form a life-long bond with a house that I thought seems great, but they may not see me in the same way. Or rather, they're inner ideals aren't compatible with what they saw in me. With the mutual selection process, you have to remember that as a group each of these houses are talking with each other at the end of the day about who can carry on their organization's mantra, legacy, ideals, etc. and who they will feel comfortable opening their hearts and home to you (practically as a stranger!).

On a similar note, I see where stereotypes come from.. I mean really, there wouldn't be a stereotype if there wasn't some truth to it. The houses that I saw myself in before this whole process started were based on what I could find on the web... because really I didn't know anyone from any of those houses (except for one, and she was super nice which is kind of what lead me to like her house before this process began) to base my decision on. So talking with these women over and over throughout the span of a week gives you a more realistic idea of who they are, how they feel about their chapter, and what they have to offer you (as well as what you have to offer them).

I trust the process. I feel at-home at one house in-particular already... so let's hope that I can concentrate on school during the week and wait patiently for Friday's next event, Sisterhood Day (round three). Then Saturday is Preference Day (round four), followed by the much anticipated Bid Day (the day you learn which chapter has extended you an invitation) on Sunday!

Ahhhhhhhh!!!! So antsy. Who knew I'd get this involved? I just wanted to see what it was like and how far I'd get, and what chapters would be interested in me... but really, why go through all of this only to say, "ok that was fun, bye girls!" ??

Why I decided to go through: It took me two years after high school to get into college because I thought that it was unnecessary in terms of finding a good job. When I decided to go I attended a community college and commuted. After getting my AA I transferred to a university for the 4-year degree (by the way, the year count is inaccurate. I was at a 2-yr community college for three years, and my boyfriend/fiance was at the university for five years. No doubt you can get it done in four/two, but you have to take a full courseload each semester, excel, and leave zero room for error). Anyway, yeah.. I feel like I never had that genuine college experience because I never lived in a dorm, didn't start at a university from freshman year, and started late. Joining a sorority, to me, will give me that wholesome experience I'm craving. I only have three years left, and I want them to be memorable, insanely fun, and have a lifelong bond with those that experienced it with me.

Greek Update

Thanks Gina for the comment :)
I did, in fact, finish my application and paid the fee... recruitment is official!

I'm excited to be surrounded with other ladies who have big plans in life and aim to be successful. If there has been anything that I've learned over the years it is to surround yourself with like-minded people. Those who are unmotivated with neither ambition nor plans will more-often-than-not bring you down in more ways than one. By going through recruitment I hope to find a sisterhood that keeps me aiming high even when I find myself tired and drained.

The organizations are, w/(nicknames):
AΔπ - Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi)
AOπ -Alpha Omicron Pi (Alpha O)
ΓΦB - Gamma Phi Beta (Gamma Phi)
XΩ - Chi Omega (Chi-O)
ΔΔΔ - Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta)
ΔΓ - Delta Gamma (Dee-Gee)
KΔ - Kappa Delta (Kay-Dee)
ΣΔT - Sigma Delta Tau (Sig Delt)
ZTA - Zeta Tau Alpha (Zeta)

They gave me a book explaining recruitment, so here are the events that are scheduled (some is transcribed verbatim, with credit to USF Panhellenic) :

-Friday, 8/31: Orientation Night @ 7pm. Mandatory orientation; meet Pi Chi's (recruitment counselors) and the Panhellenic Executive Board; answer all questions and distribute final schedules for the week of recruitment.
   [What to Wear: casual]

-Sunday, 9/2: Spirit Day @ 9am. Consists of (9) 25-minute events where potential new members (PNMs) will visit all Panhellenic chapters in a meet-n-greet.
   [What to Wear: casual, simple tops with shorts or pants]

-Monday, 9/3: Philanthropy Day @ 9am. Consists of (6) events lasting 40-minutes each. PNMs will participate in an activity (usually making a craft) that will support each chapter's philanthropy.
   [What to Wear: casual clothes, nothing expensive due to paint and/or glue in crafts]

-Friday, 9/7: Sisterhood Day @ 1pm. Consists of (4) events lasting 50-minutes each. Sororities will show PNMs a video displaying their chapter's sisterhood, philanthropy, activities, and other highlights.
   [What to Wear: slightly formal, wearing outfits you would wear to a nice dinner or church]

-Saturday, 9/8: Preference Day @ 9am. Consists of (2) events lasting an hour each. Sororities welcome PNMs for a deeper look into their sisterhood, traditions, and/or rituals.
  [What to Wear: formal dresses, such as cocktail or semi-formal events]

-Sunday 9/9: Bid Day @ noon. The day PNMs fins out which sorority has extended them an invitation to join their sisterhood!
  [What to Wear: the recruitment t-shirt provided, and comfortable shoes and bottoms]


There is other useful information in the booklet they provided, such as "What to Talk About" during each day of recruitment.
Suggestions like: Why did you join a sorority, and what is your favorite part? What are some requirements for your chapter? What is your best memory with your sorority? What other types of events do you participate in, and which are your favorites? Ask about social, time, and financial commitments... Open up towards the end to those you felt a stronger connection to... 

5 Note-Taking Tips

Along with textbooks being provided to you free of charge, GONE are the days of your teachers giving you class notes to copy.  YOU, dear friend, are now responsible for writing down notes from spoken lectures in your classes. Do you have good note-taking skills? Let me give you a few tips on how to efficiently write notes in college:

~~~

1.) If your professor repeats a phrase, or says it rather slowly or louder than usual (to ensure you write each word down), then write it down and highlight it! I've found that professors do this when students commonly miss questions on an exam relating to what they are saying.  *Note: Do not only write down these obvious hints from your professor! They alone will NOT get you by. You must actively pay attention and take notes throughout your classes.

2.) Always define terms (vocabulary) in  your notes. It is also a good idea to highlight defined terms in the same color highlighter that way you can easily spot them.

3.) Read the textbook section BEFORE coming to class (it will be stated in your syllabus)! If you have read the text assigned for that day, then you can more efficiently take notes by knowing what material will be covered, and how specific you should be when noting certain topics. Also, use chapter summaries to make sure you covered all the major learning objectives! For instance, in chemistry if you didn't read the text and your professor is explaining an example of how something works, more often than not you will hastily write down their elaborate explanation rather than the concise material via the text.

4.) Outline! Are you familiar with outlining? Check this out if you aren't: http://thatcollegekid.com/how-to-create-a-successful-outline/   Note!: Usually it is difficult to write a fluent, mistake-free outline while taking notes during lecture. The best outlines are made while you are studying with all the notes you took during class-time... that way you can organize your textbook notes, lecture notes, and examples in a clean and orderly fashion (and so they're all in one place for easy use when exam study-time comes around!)

5.) Abbreviate! This is a super helpful tip, just be sure to be consistent in your abbreviations. For instance, I use "b/c" for "because"... I use "para" (spanish, haha) for "in order to"... and in chemistry I use element symbols instead of writing out the whole word. Large annoying phrases like "significant figures" can be shortened to "sig figs," and "aggregate expenditure" can be "AE."

"20 Things I Should Have Known at 20" -Julian S.

I like Twitter.. having said that, I follow Chegg (that nifty online textbook rental company) and they posted a link to the following:
~~~
(theburiedlife.tumblr.com)

20 Things I Should Have Known at 20.

1. The world is trying to keep you stupid. From bank fees to interest rates to miracle diets, people who are not educated are easier to get money from and easier to lead. Educate yourself as much as possible for wealth, independence, and happiness.
2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you. By the time they build the curriculum, it’s likely that the system is outdated– sometimes utterly broken. You both learn and get respect from people worth getting it from by leading and doing, not by following.
3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention. Emerson Spartz taught me this while I was at a Summit Series event. If he reads 2-3 books a week, you can read one.
4. Connect with everyone, all the time. Be genuine about it. Learn to find something you like in each person, and then speak to that thing.
5. Don’t waste time being shy. Shyness is the belief that your emotions should be the arbitrators of your decision making process when the opposite is actually true.
6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.
7. Have as much contact as possible with older people. Personally, I met people at Podcamps. My friend Greg, at the age of 13, met his first future employer sitting next to him on a plane. The reason this is so valuable is because people your age don’t usually have the decision-making ability to help you very much. Also they know almost everything you will learn later, so ask them.
8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too. This and the corollary are both important: “don’t attempt to be average inside your group. Continuously attempt to be cooler than them (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.).”
9. You will become more conservative over time. This is just a fact. Those you surround yourself with create a kind of “bubble” that pushes you to support the status quo. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW. Later on, you’ll become too afraid. Trust me.
10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible. I mean it. This creates a safety net that will allow you to do the crazier shit I mentioned above.
11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences. In other words, a trip to Paris is a better choice than a new wardrobe. Studies show this also boosts happiness.
12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem. Use the internet, because it’s like a cool little machine that helps you do your bidding. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck, extend that to three weeks instead of two. Then, as you get better, you can think a month ahead, then three months, then six, and finally a year ahead. (The goal is to get to a point where you are thinking 5 years ahead.)
13. Learn to program.
14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young. Your hormones are in a better place to help you do this at a younger age. Don’t waste this opportunity, trust me.
15. Learn to cook. This will make everything much easier and it turns food from a chore + expensive habit into a pleasant + frugal one. I’m a big Jamie Oliver fan, but whatever you like is fine.
16. Sleep well. This and cooking will help with the six pack. If you think “I can sleep when I’m dead” or “I have too much to do to sleep,” I have news for you: you are INEFFICIENT, and sleep deprivation isn’t helping.
17. Get a reminder app for everything. Do not trust your own brain for your memory. Do not trust it for what you “feel like” you should be doing. Trust only the reminder app. I use RE.minder and Action Method.
18. Choose something huge to do, as well as allowing the waves of opportunity to help you along. If you don’t set goals, some stuff may happen, but if you do choose, lots more will.
19. Get known for one thing. Spend like 5 years doing it instead of flopping around all over the place. If you want to shift afterwards, go ahead. Like I said, choose something.
20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone. Instead, look for someone who isn’t broken.
(Written by: Julian Smith inoveryourhead.net)

 ~~~
I completely agree with most of these..they each have a lesson we will need to learn at some point, but the ones I list below I have more experience with (and I'm just going to skip over the money ones because we all know how bad I suck at handling money.. luckily I'm getting better though!) :-)

 -number 1 speaks volumesssss. If you aren't educated to some degree you will eat up what everyone else says, whether it's true or not. Take for instance, economics. I've always been intimidated by the subject... well I finally had to take a macroeconomics course and not only did I become less afraid of money markets and their jargon, but my professor said something along the lines of, "now that you all know this, you will constantly see misinformation on major news networks when they speak of the economy," and she is totally right. I'd give you an example but then I'd need to explain subsidies, GDP, and media bias which will definitely take more than a paragraph LOL.

-number 2 makes a great point... educational institutions are bound by state legislatures (for public schools). Coming back to economics, they need to make our education as cost effective as possible. So what's the next best thing? If you said EXPERIENCE, then you win! Get out there and find an extra-curricular group who's mission is something you are interested in. Whether it's politics, environmentalism, money management, swing dance, foreign language... 98% of the time there is a student group out there of others who are interested in the same thing.. and the best part? You as students get to decide what you want to do as a group (if your group is part of your student government, then you get funds to budget and further your cause, whatever it may be). The other 2%? If your group isn't on campus, you can start your own! See your student government for more details.

-for number 8 I would use a different word than "cool" because really, that all depends on who defines that slang term. How about, people that are better than you? Now I don't mean that in a derogatory way, but a mentor of mine taught me how to really shoot pool (billiards) and his number one advice is, "always play someone better than you, otherwise your skills don't get better."

-number 15 is great advice not only for your own health, but so many people rely on box meals (Hamburger Helper, EasyMac, and the like) for their nutritional needs. Big mistake, and it comes back around to number 14 because your body would much rather have simple foods compared to boxed meals loaded with unnatural preservatives.

-number 17 can be done in other ways. Me personally, I'm a list-maker. If I don't make a list, I don't get everything done (if at all!). Whether it's the grocery store, chores, my bills, or errands... if I don't have a list, I forget. Have a calendar, or a reminder app, use alarms and the like to keep your obligations to a minimum... besides, what happens when you forget to pay a bill on-time? Your credit score goes down and you get hit with extra fees (more money that should be in your pocket!)

-number 19 I can vouch for because my philosophy used to be, "why only do one thing when you can do so many?" I have a lot of interests, but the main problem with doing so many different things is that you never have enough time to dedicate your time and energy to just ONE of them so you can consequently excel at it.