Week 5 - Yep, you're quite the student, all right.

From twenty units to 13. Wee. I am a Student, Student I am. My mind is still locked on how the Mathematics department evaluates certain Professors. It is not fair that students drop a class just because they cannot understand a Professors articulation. Hm, I wonder, wonder, wonder...

Prospective transfers to UCI-- use these five resources for future UCI affairs. You should still visit a UCI Transfer Counselor for verification, but these resources helped cleared the transfer process confusion:

1. UCI Student Catalogue (basically your Guide to everything, Read It, Memorize It, Learn It, it's on paper, they can't argue with you..unless you have an old version of course)
2. Course Articulation - If you know your major and unsure what classes you want to finish at your college, use this database. Note: Sometimes admins. have not updated the current articulation agreement within the recent year...keep an eye out!
3. Transfer Student Services - A guide specifically for prospective UCI students, and transfer students. They even have a lounge devoted to Transfer Students!
4. TAG Agreement - TAG= Transfer Admission Guarantee, if you fulfill the requirements, you are eligible to be guaranteed for UCI Admission!
5. Application Process - This was probably the most difficult part of my transfer process. Everything you do after submitting your application will be updated through this website...check it religiously or you may end up having to pay a fee for Late paperwork!

And if I think of anymore, I will post. Email me if you would like any un-official advice.

Week 4 - Midterms around the corner, but it's social time on my book

As of this moment I am in a large lecture class that I haven't even signed up for. I asked a schoolmate next to me whether what class this was and apparently it is Stats9C. Let's see what I will learn today. Ops, shouldn't have volunteered in that class survey! Haha, good times.

I am studying for my midterms for Anthropology: Language, thought, and reality. And other midterms coming up for my classes in Anthropology of the Pacific Peoples and American History from 1900s. I have been bummed that I don't have math this quarter just because I can't understand the way the professor speaks. It's ridiculous and will go on my book of "things that UCI should fix."

OK, so this week I realize that there should be time to rest that head that reads too much or spends wayyy too much time on the internet... thus, SOCIALIZING hour should be included in a student's weekly schedule. Yes, many people join clubs to accomplish this...but excessively! Try to buy some time (figuratively 5 hours during the school week) to invest with the socialization portion. Socialization in a sense that one is in a group where they are comfortable with the people around them-- math major? Join the Math Club! Fashionista? Join the FIG(Fashion Interest Group) . There is always a place for all individuals at UCI. Which makes it such a great campus environment.
UCI's website is pretty user-friendly and you can basically find anything you want to know about the campus through it's website: click aqui(here) for a club/organization database.

All right it is now time to commute back to *outside-of-UCI-land* to the land of an economic instability (partially kidding). Post more insights soon.

Week 3: Update, work to be done, and leave some room for social time

Today I had to drop my math class because I do not and could not understand my Professor's methods of teaching. Along the sidelines of that, I've been taking an amazing history class on the twentieth-century with Professor Rosenberg, my TA is Shanon Fitzpatrick. This class is my creme de la creme for the semester...quarter.
I enjoy it because she engages us to analyze. FINALLY! A class that inspires people to question and dive into why things are happening. The only problem is, when I finally have a class like this, I'm at a point where I find myself--- dumbstrucked. In discussion classes, I can't seem to get myself to say anything! Maybe a joke here and there, but as far as an analytical remark...zilch. I wonder why this is so. I have so many thoughts to be voiced, yet I do not voice it. I will dive deeper as to why this is happening.
Note to self: you now have a project to do for Week 4!
More notes to self:
*Formulate a plan to maximize the amount of reading material to be completed

There is a lot of work needed to be done, which is why I'll keep this blog short.
I've learned:
Remember to spread out the work rather than allocate all the work to be done in one day. Keep a positive outlook in life, and find a social/hobby outlet you can escape to from the work you're doing. It helps to continue to be engaged-- and to achieve this, find different things that engage your soul.
Pull through, midterms are coming up!

Week 2/3 - Not two thirds; the end of 2, and the beginning of 3

Week 2 is not so bueno because aside from being a student, I also realize that I am human with human emotions. Now, I don't want to sway away from what this blog's purpose is so I won't go into detail of what is going through my "personal" mind.

I have learned on week 2 the idea of "Balance." And though I have said, "learned" I have yet to master and perfect it-- which ironically, doesn't even come close to perfect! Why? Balance is all about mediation, and for all you out there who are perfectionists like I am, it drives you insane! There are so many things on the to-do list that I would like to do, but the point is to prioritize what is the most important.
So when you pick up that piece of paper and create a checklist on what's needed to be done, put all of the things that don't need serious attention on hold and work on the things that need to get done! (Even if it's boring and there are other things you can do!) You'd be very glad in the future when you DO get it done. Think ahead, ahead, ahead! And keep your outlook at a positive stance.

I also encountered some enlightenment on the area of diligence. Prior to joining the UC system, I was a professional performer-- it took up most of my time but boy was I in shape. Ever since I entered the University, I haven't been getting much exercise. I realize that diligence has to do with the motivation to get up and start a great day-- so far, with the lack of exercise and (overstudying/oversnacking) I'm doing, I'm not so motivated to go to school! Nooo! So, I've devised a plan to wake up early and go for a thirty minute jog, or wake up early to practice basic techniques I used to do when I was a performer. Let's see if this works...

On the whole, it is crucial to understand what it is that can interrupt you from moving forward. Know thyself. Really old proverb (where I can't recall it's origin...sHh!), but it is so true. A strong internalized sense of self = happy chipmunk ready for adventure. Cool. All right, so let's do it!!!!! No more insanity. Bring it on Week 3!!!!

Week 1 - Start Swimming at a managable pace

All right, I managed to survive my first quarter at UCI. With a decent GPA as well: 3.8. I was jumping for joy because of the grade I received for Math2D. A(-), baby! FYI readers, take Gregory Knese if you plan to take Calculus courses. He is definitely one of the best instructors I've taken for my calculus courses. Also, if you encounter Jacquelyn Rische around campus, she is the go-to woman if you're unfamiliar with concepts being explained to you. Ahh yes, Calculus class 2D of the Winter2009 quarter was the best class, I must say.

Back to business. This quarter, I'm taking twenty units. 20!

• BioSci38 - Mind and Memory
• Math 2E - Multivariable Calculus
• History 40C - 20th Century US History
• Anthro 139 - Language, Thought, and Reality
• Anthro 163A - Peoples of the Pacific

Thus far, I'm bummed that my calc class isn't my most favourite subject. I'm not clearly apprehending the instructor's ways of teaching. He uses a lot of funky notation, and his writing....oh boy. Or maybe it's the cavern-esque room the class is assigned in? I feel like I'm taking a calc class from the 1800s! Adventurous, but I'm crossing my fingers once we dive into vector fields. Gives me something to plan for the near future. Note to self: find a way around this.

That's one word of advice for us students. If it's not working out with your instructor, but you're stuck with them-- seek out some help. I'm seeking out my previous instructor's help because they taught me well. I'm going to the tutoring center because that's another outlet of help. In all fairness, my instructor for calc right now isn't horrible. There is just a barrier in a sense that his way of learning is through formal notation. I'm not so great with notation so it gives me a challenge to keep up with it. Another word of advice-- keep up the optimism and seek challenges as ways of bettering yourself!!

The class I'm most excited for is History 40C. It's 20th century American history and my Prof. is AMAZING! Emily Rosenberg is her name, and making you appreciate the past is her game. Thus far, it is working. Within two class lectures I've come to appreciate racial barriers between "whites" of the 20th century. Who'd thought? Italians, Germans, American, and Russians had angst against each other. The TA, Shannon Fitzpatrick is also motivating. They're asking students in this History class not to memorize dates and events but to speculate the positioning of the individual, the choices they were given (opportunities that arose), and the way money and power circulated. All fascinating concepts! My mind is blown away.

The ideas presented recently from the class doesn't stray away from the present, however. We can find so many dynamics in US 20th century history that deals with almost the same issues as we do now. Racism, gender identities, so much! I also enjoy the fact that every week we're required to write a short analytical/argumentative paper. It'll help me with my writing and easen up my frustrations with writing essays.

Last quarter, that is what held me back from progressing to other projects. Darn essays! It is well worth to say that doing it as early as possible is the right way to go about the pains of writing essay. Had I started an outline on essays a couple weeks early than the scheduled date, I wouldn't have spent 6am conjouring up rubbish. Lesson learned, file it in the corpus callosum (don't know if the cc is the storage area in the brain, will know once I finish my biosci38 course). Going off on what was previously said, another piece of advice, reflect, reflect, reflect! Reflect on the pains and gains from the previous quarter and use that data to better yourself for the present quarter. Quantify your observances! Always measure and strategize ways you can achieve your goals using the least amount but most efficient efforts that you must undergo. That is why I titled this blog "Swimming at a managable pace." During the first 3 weeks, it is a duty for the student to observe and plan out his/her quarter. They should do so in a way that work does not end up piling up during the end of the quarter. Spread tasks out, be familiar with the courses syllabi, and move at a continuous and progressive pace when doing your work. Working under pressure (procrastination) may seem like a feasible option, until you find yourself scrambling for a solution at 6am. More later, back to work! Ciao.