A few things I've learned so far...

I have just finished my last day of classes for third year. Yusssss.  It’s not like it’s the end of anything, really.  I have exams for the next month and start the summer semester in the first week of May.  But, even still, I feel like this is kind of a big deal.  I’ve learned a lot these past three years.  Probably more than I realize.  Not all of the lessons have come from the lectures or readings, either.  I thought I’d share with you a few of the things I’ve learned that might be helpful to any high schooler or person entering college/university.  

1. Take math 12.  It’s not a necessary class in high school, at least the one I went to, but it should be.  If you don’t know what you want to do and you’re just going to take a bunch of classes in your first year (precisely what I did) TAKE MATH 12 ANYWAY.  It is soo much easier to do right after math 11 when everything is still fresh in your mind than it is to do it 3 or 4 years after you’ve already graduated and haven’t taken a math class in as many years.  Just take it.
2. Think about the things you like.  Brittney and I were talking about this the other day.  As great as it was to get a taste of a bunch of different subjects it sucks to find out that the courses you’ve taken for the past three years either aren’t going to contribute to your degree at all or are taking up valuable elective room that could have been filled with courses that would contribute to a minor.  It’s not a huge deal, but it does feel a bit disappointing knowing you’ve put an effort into a course that didn’t really do much for you.
3. Use RateMyProf.  People warned me not to rely too heavily on it because the only students who post rating are those who have a gripe with the prof.  This is simply untrue.  I have read reviews for every professor I have ever had and never have I found the experiences of others to differ much from that of my own.  
4. Go see a counsellor.  The second you think you know what you want to get a degree in, talk to a counsellor/academic advisor.  Talking to people I don’t know kind of freaks me out... I put off going to see a counsellor and tried to use my school website so I could avoid talking to a stranger and risk looking silly.  This was dumb.  Counsellors have the most updated list of necessary courses for every degree and provide so much more information than a school website.  They want you to get your degree in the fastest way possible and show you all the ways you can do it.  They really are a great resource.
5. Ask for help when you need it.  This kind of goes along with number four...  There is nothing wrong with needing help.  Courses can be tough.  Life can also be tough.  Asking for help, whether it’s school related or life related, is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  There is no point in suffering through something when there are great people that can and want to help you.
6. You’re going to fail something.  It may be a test or it may be a course, and it may happen more than one.  And it’s going to suck.  But, it isn't the end of the world.  The professor isn’t going to judge you, your friends are not going to think less of you, and your family will not disown you.  
7. All-nighters are dumb.  Sure, you might have a huge test tomorrow or a paper due in the morning, but just go to bed.  Stay up as late as you can to get it done, but give yourself a break.  The work you’re doing at 3am is not your best work.  It’s not even your second best work.  Set an alarm to get up early and give yourself the chance to sleep for awhile.
8. “What is the least amount of work you can do to still get the best mark possible?”  This is something someone asked me to consider when I was in grade 10.  I was a classic over-achiever who thought that in order to get good grades I had to put everything I had into my work.  I didn’t think it was possible that I could do less work and still get good marks.  I was wrong.  Realizing I could do well without being completely consumed by the assignment really changed how I do my work.  This is not to say that I don't put much effort into my work and still expect to do well or don't proofread my essays.  All it means is that I do the best work I can until it's done, then accept that I did the best I could do and hand it in.
9. Grilled Cheese.  They’ll change your life.
10. Go to office hours.  I feel slightly hypocritical saying this because I am not one to usually go to them.  BUT, the few times that I have gone I’ve had great experiences.  Twice I’ve gotten grades bumped up just by going and looking over a test and asking a few questions.  Even if they don’t bump up your mark they want you to do well and if you show them you care they usually notice. 

That’s all I’ve got for now... :)

I'm Baaaack

Why hello there :)

It's been awhile... as in three months awhile...

I could go into a long winded explanation as to why I've been absent for so long but rather than dwell on the past I am going to jump right into now and the future!

I've started back at school working towards my psych degree.  Slightly different than what I had planned for in the summer but I think it's for the best.  I'm living in a great apartment with lots of windows, a huge improvement from where I was last year.  I'm working on making more friends but it can be tough.  I've made one really great new friend who is coming to visit me next weekend for Halloween!  Zoe came and visited this weekend and it was great!  We had so much fun together and I can't wait for her to come back again soon!

Which is what I will be doing too.  However, I want this blog to be slightly different than what it has been in the past.  I read a lot of other blogs and often find myself getting jealous of their picture perfect lives.  I'm 100% positive that their lives aren't perfect, that they're just sharing the great stuff but it can be harder to relate to.  Some of the best blogs I read are the ones where the authors talk about the bad stuff as well as the great stuff.  They don't have to go into detail but just by acknowledging that the bad stuff can be bad and life isn't always great and that they're working really hard to survive and provide makes them more relatable and enjoyable to read.  So that is my aim with this.  To share the good and the not so good.  I don't want this to become a blog about me posting things in a self-centred my-life-is-perfect kind of way.  I simply want to share what is happening in my life in a few photographs and sentences so I can look back and really remember what was going on.  Not the sugar coated version, but the real life version.

SO now that I have written my longest post ever I think I'll leave it there.  Hope you have a great week and I'll be seeing you again soon :)

Perspective

Things Could Be Worse - Phil Jones

Lately I've been feeling pretty unhappy.  I have gotten a few of my midterm marks back and they have been less than perfect. I know it makes sense that taking a heavier course load leads to not doing as well, but this is a hard thing for me.  I've always done well in school and this whole bad-grades thing is really getting me down.

Well not anymore!  I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about how these few bad marks are the worst things ever, but, newsflash, they're not!  Things could be going a lot worse and certainly are for millions of others.  Even though I didn't ace my tests I still get to go to home to warmth, food, love, and comfort, 4 things a lot of people don't have.

I am an extremely fortunate person.  I go to a great school, I have amazing friends and a supportive and loving family.  If there is ever something I need I almost always have a means of getting it. I also have abundant food sources, access to not only clean water but the best water on the planet and live in a country where I don't have to worry about getting in trouble for going to school, not being able to receive health care or being caught in the cross fire of a war.

In comparison to so many others my life is fantastic.  While I'm sitting here fretting over some bad grade other people my age are trying to figure out where they will be sleeping tonight or how they will take care of their 4 siblings, or where they will find food tomorrow.

So, whatever it is that is getting you down, although it may truly be sucky and upsetting, it could (almost always) be worse.