Wednesday. My class day. I actually got a phone call last night asking if I could come in to work today for a six hour shift because they needed people. I wanted to, but of course I couldn't because one class is from 8:30 to 12:30 and the other is 4-6.
In my morning class it was a girl's birthday. So the teacher had us sing Happy Birthday to her in each language that was spoken in our classroom. Because we have a lot of foreign people in my class. We ended up having Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin (the Chinese people I know actually call their own language Chinese, not Mandarin I've noticed), Korean and kind of Japanese. I say kind of Japanese because we have a group of Japanese kids, but they said that in Japan they sing the Happy Birthday song in English. I'm not sure if they were just getting out of having to sing it or if that's true. :) It was awesome, though.
The Asian group in the corner always completely blows away the rest of the class with assignments. I can now personally attest to the fact that Asian kids are crazy smart. With each of our class/group assignments they just go so far above and beyond on things I wouldn't have ever imagined doing. For example we had an activity where we needed to produce as many paper snowflakes as we could in a given amount of time with a set amount of paper and scissors. Our group figured out our design, and made an assembly line to keep things going and did, what I thought, was pretty well. We did in fact do a good job. The Asian group however, used internet research in less than five minutes figuring out designs online that were very efficient and then retrieved extra sets of scissors and came out with this elaborate design practically with glitter. Unbelievable. I conceded defeat from that point on with any and all competition from that group. And that's just one example. With another assignment the average score of the class was 200-300 points (you wanted as few as possible). Our group did second best on that one actually getting a score of 133. The Asians? 96.
How do they do it!?
So far this semester, ever since our first class only three of the five members of my group have been in class each day. One dropped today. We should be fine though. Our first real assignment is due in two weeks.
Then I had a break and I went to my 4pm class. Disney Heritage. Definitely one of the best classes ever. Our teacher is awesome, too. He basically spent almost the first hour of class just talking about his life. Which would normally be kind of weird, except that we all clung on to each word he said because he's had such an awesome life. His experience with Disney is so cool. Plus he showed us about his trip to Marceline, Missouri. Which I've decided I am definitely going to have to visit someday. Just sayin'.
Anyway, in other news our washing machines have been updated. We used to have washers where you got a card and put money on the special laundry card and then used that laundry card in the machines. Now they've gotten newer, nicer machines. These machines are credit card operated. You put your laundry in and then there's a credit card machine on the wall and you put your card in and it automatically charges you. If the machine breaks, malfunctions, or doesn't turn on, or if you choose not to use it, it will (supposedly) automatically refund you the dollar. Pretty awesome. Plus they're the high efficiency machines and they do the thing where is magically weighs how much laundry you have and determines just how dirty it is and uses just the right amount of time and washing. But then that means the time on the machines changes. So you can actually set up the machines so it text messages you when it's done, and you can look online to see what machines are available. Super, super cool. Kinda scary for me to be depending so much on technology, but still. Very cool.
Showing posts with label Classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Classes. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Online Classes
Being my final semester, I decided to take a bunch of easy online classes so I could finish easily. This plan has worked well, and I'm finding myself not in the least bit stressed right before finals week. All I have left for the semester is one exam and one presentation. I'm finished with four of my six classes, with an A in every single one. Thank goodness for online learning!
However, as I look back over my education, I think I've officially decided that online learning is inferior to classroom learning. I just plain don't learn as much, and I don't enjoy it as much. Sure, we have tons and TONS of discussion boards so we can "interact" with other students. But a lot of the discussion boards just feel forced. "You must post at least two new threads and comment on other posts." "You must comment on at least five other posts and each of your posts must be at least 250 or 500 words."
In class, this "interaction" is not "required" in any way. It just happens. In classes, it's fun to discuss ideas with the other students. I had so much fun in my little study groups and going to the library and searching through books with my group creating Powerpoint presentations and such. I liked that I knew at any time in any class if I ever had any sort of question all I had to do was raise my hand and BOOM, I'd get an answer or at least a "I don't know but here's something to think about as you search for the answer." Sitting on my bed trying to come up with some way to fake interest in some halfway attempt at a comment written by another student who couldn't care less about what they're doing either is just lame.
I've been studying for my Medical Terminology final today. It's also an online class. The lame thing about this is, there are questions I have that I just want to talk to someone who knows more. The problem with an online class is you're given the material you need for the test and that's all. But I'm reading about neurons and synapses and why injuries to the CNS are irreparable which totally fascinates me, and I'm coming up with all these questions that are too complicated to "just Google." And I feel too weird randomly emailing the teacher asking him to explain this random thing or answer a random question because it's the kind of thing I want to discuss in person with someone who actually knows answers and can explain things... and the teacher's not even in this state. I feel like my learning is slightly stunted.
Not that I think it's "bad" per se. I am still learning. A lot. I still LOVE reading my text books and many of our required discussion boards are good and fun. And I'm definitely learning the idea of "you get out of it what you put into it." It's definitely way easier to slack off and not try to learn in an online class than it is in a classroom class. But still. I've definitely decided, today, once and for all, that no learning can replace classroom learning. Online classes just aren't the same.
(Also, if anyone knows a lot about neuroglia, particularly oligodendrocytes and their functions and such, I would love to talk)
*steps off soapbox*
However, as I look back over my education, I think I've officially decided that online learning is inferior to classroom learning. I just plain don't learn as much, and I don't enjoy it as much. Sure, we have tons and TONS of discussion boards so we can "interact" with other students. But a lot of the discussion boards just feel forced. "You must post at least two new threads and comment on other posts." "You must comment on at least five other posts and each of your posts must be at least 250 or 500 words."
In class, this "interaction" is not "required" in any way. It just happens. In classes, it's fun to discuss ideas with the other students. I had so much fun in my little study groups and going to the library and searching through books with my group creating Powerpoint presentations and such. I liked that I knew at any time in any class if I ever had any sort of question all I had to do was raise my hand and BOOM, I'd get an answer or at least a "I don't know but here's something to think about as you search for the answer." Sitting on my bed trying to come up with some way to fake interest in some halfway attempt at a comment written by another student who couldn't care less about what they're doing either is just lame.
I've been studying for my Medical Terminology final today. It's also an online class. The lame thing about this is, there are questions I have that I just want to talk to someone who knows more. The problem with an online class is you're given the material you need for the test and that's all. But I'm reading about neurons and synapses and why injuries to the CNS are irreparable which totally fascinates me, and I'm coming up with all these questions that are too complicated to "just Google." And I feel too weird randomly emailing the teacher asking him to explain this random thing or answer a random question because it's the kind of thing I want to discuss in person with someone who actually knows answers and can explain things... and the teacher's not even in this state. I feel like my learning is slightly stunted.
Not that I think it's "bad" per se. I am still learning. A lot. I still LOVE reading my text books and many of our required discussion boards are good and fun. And I'm definitely learning the idea of "you get out of it what you put into it." It's definitely way easier to slack off and not try to learn in an online class than it is in a classroom class. But still. I've definitely decided, today, once and for all, that no learning can replace classroom learning. Online classes just aren't the same.
(Also, if anyone knows a lot about neuroglia, particularly oligodendrocytes and their functions and such, I would love to talk)
*steps off soapbox*
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Group Dynamics
I have been dreading taking this class since a year ago since I first enrolled in it and then dropped after being killed by the workload the first week (it was the semester after I took 21 credits, and I didn't feel like pulling that off again).
Our group of 6 had a meeting set for yesterday at 3pm. The meeting time had been planned for almost two weeks in advance. It was absolutely vital that every single member of the group be present for the meeting. Nothing could happen if we weren't all six there.
One girl forgot... happened to be the same one who didn't respond when we all gave each other our phone numbers. Another had an emergency where her car broke down and she couldn't make it.
I'm not the group leader, but for some reason everyone was calling/texting me wondering what to do. I got in touch with the group leader and asked her to send an email telling everyone to meet during out backup time, which was 8pm.
Except another person in our group had planned something during our backup time assuming we would all meet at 3pm as planned.
So now we're all scrambling around at the last second figuring out times and having issues with people not responding, answering phones, being unavailable, and generally being frustrated with one another. I passed the scheduling of the meeting off the Jessica, the group leader, and let her know that I have 100% availability (one of the good things about having only online classes). I really hope she can figure this out and I'm extremely glad that my two weeks of leadership is over and went smoothly.
Gotta love group projects! Especially when dealing with people across the country!
Our group of 6 had a meeting set for yesterday at 3pm. The meeting time had been planned for almost two weeks in advance. It was absolutely vital that every single member of the group be present for the meeting. Nothing could happen if we weren't all six there.
One girl forgot... happened to be the same one who didn't respond when we all gave each other our phone numbers. Another had an emergency where her car broke down and she couldn't make it.
I'm not the group leader, but for some reason everyone was calling/texting me wondering what to do. I got in touch with the group leader and asked her to send an email telling everyone to meet during out backup time, which was 8pm.
Except another person in our group had planned something during our backup time assuming we would all meet at 3pm as planned.
So now we're all scrambling around at the last second figuring out times and having issues with people not responding, answering phones, being unavailable, and generally being frustrated with one another. I passed the scheduling of the meeting off the Jessica, the group leader, and let her know that I have 100% availability (one of the good things about having only online classes). I really hope she can figure this out and I'm extremely glad that my two weeks of leadership is over and went smoothly.
Gotta love group projects! Especially when dealing with people across the country!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Story of My Life
Why is it so easy to write on here, and yet so impossible to write college papers sometimes...
I found this while procrastinating writing a college paper--
How to write a paper in college/university:
1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well lit place in front of your computer.
2. Log onto Facebook and Gmail. Check your email.
3. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.
4. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some chocolate to help you concentrate.
5. Check your email.
6. Call up a friend and ask if he/she wants to go to grab a coffee. Just to get settled down and ready to work.
7. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place in front of your computer.
8. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.
9. Check your email.
10. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.
11. Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.
12. Grab some mp3's off of itunes.
13. Check your email.
14. Facebook chat with one of your friends about the future.
15. Check your email.
16. Listen to your new mp3s and download some more.
17. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if she's started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your professor, the course, the college, and the world at large.
18. Walk to the store and buy a pack of gum. You've probably run out.
19. While you've got the gum you may as well buy a magazine and read it.
20. Check your email.
21. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing something truly worthwhile on TV.
22. Play some solitare.
23. Make sure you're sitting in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.
24. Wash your hands.
25. Call up a friend to see how much they have done, probably haven't started either.
26. Look through your roommate's book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.
27. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.
28. Check your friend's blogs. Check your email again, just in case.
29. Do some light cleaning of your room to help you focus.
30. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.
31. Read over the assignment one more time, just for heck of it.
32. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.
33. Lie face down on the floor and moan.
34. Punch the wall and break something.
35. Check your email.
36. Mumble obscenities.
37. 5am - start writing on the paper without stopping. 6am - paper is finished.
38. Complain to everyone that you didn't get any sleep because you had to write that stupid paper.
39. Go to class, hand in paper, and leave right away so you can take a nap.
....Maybe I should get back to that paper I'm supposed to be writing. Well, all three of them, actually. :)
I found this while procrastinating writing a college paper--
How to write a paper in college/university:
1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well lit place in front of your computer.
2. Log onto Facebook and Gmail. Check your email.
3. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.
4. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some chocolate to help you concentrate.
5. Check your email.
6. Call up a friend and ask if he/she wants to go to grab a coffee. Just to get settled down and ready to work.
7. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place in front of your computer.
8. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.
9. Check your email.
10. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.
11. Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.
12. Grab some mp3's off of itunes.
13. Check your email.
14. Facebook chat with one of your friends about the future.
15. Check your email.
16. Listen to your new mp3s and download some more.
17. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if she's started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your professor, the course, the college, and the world at large.
18. Walk to the store and buy a pack of gum. You've probably run out.
19. While you've got the gum you may as well buy a magazine and read it.
20. Check your email.
21. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing something truly worthwhile on TV.
22. Play some solitare.
23. Make sure you're sitting in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.
24. Wash your hands.
25. Call up a friend to see how much they have done, probably haven't started either.
26. Look through your roommate's book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.
27. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.
28. Check your friend's blogs. Check your email again, just in case.
29. Do some light cleaning of your room to help you focus.
30. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.
31. Read over the assignment one more time, just for heck of it.
32. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.
33. Lie face down on the floor and moan.
34. Punch the wall and break something.
35. Check your email.
36. Mumble obscenities.
37. 5am - start writing on the paper without stopping. 6am - paper is finished.
38. Complain to everyone that you didn't get any sleep because you had to write that stupid paper.
39. Go to class, hand in paper, and leave right away so you can take a nap.
....Maybe I should get back to that paper I'm supposed to be writing. Well, all three of them, actually. :)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Trickery
Every week in my Photojournalism class, we have a quiz. Well, every class day but class is only held once a week. Anyway, this last Wednesday I got to class and started asking the students about what we learned last week because, as far as I knew, we didn't learn anything new, really and I was definitely in class. We mainly reviewed what we had already gone over and then went outside and took pictures. We were all trying to figure out what questions he would ask and then finally decided maybe there wouldn't be a quiz since there was no material to quiz on.
The teacher entered and told us to pull out a piece of paper for our quiz. I pulled out my paper and put my name at the top hoping that they were just simple review questions of what we had already learned. He asked something about lenses. We haven't gone over lenses! Every question on the quiz was completely foreign to me. I didn't even understand the language he was using! All the students were looking around at each other completely confused. Finally, one of the students called out, "Are we really supposed to know this stuff? Cuz I'm so lost!"
The teacher chuckled, "Oh, oops. I forgot to tell you. This is the pre-quiz to what we're going over today. We haven't discussed any of this yet, I just wanted to see how much you knew. Pass in your papers with your name on them and you'll get attendance credit today."
That was sooo not funny. And they wonder why we have heart attacks young!
The teacher entered and told us to pull out a piece of paper for our quiz. I pulled out my paper and put my name at the top hoping that they were just simple review questions of what we had already learned. He asked something about lenses. We haven't gone over lenses! Every question on the quiz was completely foreign to me. I didn't even understand the language he was using! All the students were looking around at each other completely confused. Finally, one of the students called out, "Are we really supposed to know this stuff? Cuz I'm so lost!"
The teacher chuckled, "Oh, oops. I forgot to tell you. This is the pre-quiz to what we're going over today. We haven't discussed any of this yet, I just wanted to see how much you knew. Pass in your papers with your name on them and you'll get attendance credit today."
That was sooo not funny. And they wonder why we have heart attacks young!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
What Do You Mean By "Text?"
I'm taking several online classes this semester. This week, being introduction week, has felt very overwhelming. But then again, the first week of school always feels overwhelming because you're introduced to the insane workload that will be posed all semester but it always feels like I need to get everything done right now. Especially since I'm going on a vacation next week.
Anyway, most of my online classes (and by most, I mean all) require me to take a syllabus quiz proving that I've read through the syllabus. Two of these classes had the same question on their syllabus quiz and that's why I'm writing here today.
The question was: This class requires text. True/False
Simple question, right? WRONG!
Neither class required a textbook. However, both classes had text within the course that needed to be read. Things like articles, bits from other books, stories, etc. etc.
On the first quiz, I interpreted "text" just as it is and answered "true." Because there was indeed "text" written on my page at that very moment. The answer was false.
So I went to the other quiz with the same exact question. I even checked the syllabus to see if it said anything about text. Then I took the quiz and answered "false." The answer was true.
This is just plain not fair!
Anyway, most of my online classes (and by most, I mean all) require me to take a syllabus quiz proving that I've read through the syllabus. Two of these classes had the same question on their syllabus quiz and that's why I'm writing here today.
The question was: This class requires text. True/False
Simple question, right? WRONG!
Neither class required a textbook. However, both classes had text within the course that needed to be read. Things like articles, bits from other books, stories, etc. etc.
On the first quiz, I interpreted "text" just as it is and answered "true." Because there was indeed "text" written on my page at that very moment. The answer was false.
So I went to the other quiz with the same exact question. I even checked the syllabus to see if it said anything about text. Then I took the quiz and answered "false." The answer was true.
This is just plain not fair!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Video Follow-up and Storytime!
Only one final left! In Chemistry. Tomorrow at 7:15pm. What kind of sadistic teacher made up a time like that!?
Also, that movie I made? Yeah, I got an A. Not trying to brag, but compared to some of the other students... well, let's just say many of them didn't really try that hard. One video taped himself snowboarding. Another videotaped himself interviewing some judge guy for like ten minutes. Just talking. Another didn't even use any film. He just took random pictures and made a slideshow. Anyway, I'm proud of my work! But mine definitely wasn't the best either.
My favorite of the class was this girl who did a Charlie Chaplin rendition with her roommate. They did an excellent job! Hilarious! Another guy did a hilarious "candid camera" type of video using students around campus. Absolutely hilarious AND he used a microphone which probably gave him extra kudos! There were some extremely well done movies. I'm soooo glad I took that class! And funny thing is, I added late. I wasn't originally going to take it... ever!
Annnnd now for the story of the day. I was going to campus a couple of days ago, minding my own business, when I saw a familiar face walking towards me and staring at me. I soon recognized it as my old roommate Jenna whom I worked with last semester at Disney. But I wasn't totally sure it was me. We continued walking towards each other, both staring at each other with confused looks on our faces. Just as it got to that moment that we were going to totally bypass each other without saying a word I finally spoke up. "Jenna?" "DIANNA!!!! I knew it was you! I knew it!" And then we did the whole run and hug happily thing.
Turns out Jenna went seasonal and wants me to rent an apt when I do the CP again so she can come down and stay with me so she doesn't have to spend money on a hotel. This probably won't happen until at least January, though. Anyway, it was very fun to see her and to exchange our lives. I had completely forgotten that she was here on campus and that we're NEIGHBORS! We live in complexes that are literally right next door to one another.
Another interesting story also relating to Disney (sorry if you're reading this Ashley, but you sooo deserve it!) is that I went to a dance competition last night. One of the girls dancing was a performer I knew in Disney, too. It was so strange to have seen a girl dancing and singing with Mickey in front of the famous castle, now dancing here on a tiny stage at BYU-Idaho. So. Stinkin'. Weird. She did a fantastic job though. In both places.
And that's all I have to say. 24 hours til I'm officially a Super Senior!
Also, that movie I made? Yeah, I got an A. Not trying to brag, but compared to some of the other students... well, let's just say many of them didn't really try that hard. One video taped himself snowboarding. Another videotaped himself interviewing some judge guy for like ten minutes. Just talking. Another didn't even use any film. He just took random pictures and made a slideshow. Anyway, I'm proud of my work! But mine definitely wasn't the best either.
My favorite of the class was this girl who did a Charlie Chaplin rendition with her roommate. They did an excellent job! Hilarious! Another guy did a hilarious "candid camera" type of video using students around campus. Absolutely hilarious AND he used a microphone which probably gave him extra kudos! There were some extremely well done movies. I'm soooo glad I took that class! And funny thing is, I added late. I wasn't originally going to take it... ever!
Annnnd now for the story of the day. I was going to campus a couple of days ago, minding my own business, when I saw a familiar face walking towards me and staring at me. I soon recognized it as my old roommate Jenna whom I worked with last semester at Disney. But I wasn't totally sure it was me. We continued walking towards each other, both staring at each other with confused looks on our faces. Just as it got to that moment that we were going to totally bypass each other without saying a word I finally spoke up. "Jenna?" "DIANNA!!!! I knew it was you! I knew it!" And then we did the whole run and hug happily thing.
Turns out Jenna went seasonal and wants me to rent an apt when I do the CP again so she can come down and stay with me so she doesn't have to spend money on a hotel. This probably won't happen until at least January, though. Anyway, it was very fun to see her and to exchange our lives. I had completely forgotten that she was here on campus and that we're NEIGHBORS! We live in complexes that are literally right next door to one another.
Another interesting story also relating to Disney (sorry if you're reading this Ashley, but you sooo deserve it!) is that I went to a dance competition last night. One of the girls dancing was a performer I knew in Disney, too. It was so strange to have seen a girl dancing and singing with Mickey in front of the famous castle, now dancing here on a tiny stage at BYU-Idaho. So. Stinkin'. Weird. She did a fantastic job though. In both places.
And that's all I have to say. 24 hours til I'm officially a Super Senior!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Chem Class
My Chem teacher is very negative about us students sometimes. I think since she's been sick lately she's been more frustrated with us when we don't know the answers. The other day she put some problems up on the board and then began to wait while we "figured it out."
After a few minutes she said, "Well, I'm just going to start. I hope that at least some of you were able to find at least part of the answer here. But judging from experiences I often hope in vain."
Buuuuurrrnnnn!
And yes, in this case I actually did have the correct answer.
After a few minutes she said, "Well, I'm just going to start. I hope that at least some of you were able to find at least part of the answer here. But judging from experiences I often hope in vain."
Buuuuurrrnnnn!
And yes, in this case I actually did have the correct answer.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Electives!
For some reason people have been thinking it's a good idea to tell Dianna horror stories of all the people who thought they were graduated and then found out six months later that surprise! they actually had like five more classes to take.
This is no good because we all know how horror stories freak Dianna out.
So I've been checking my "Degree Audit" and my Catalog book like crazy making sure that I've planned in filling every single requirement. But I was still freaked out I'd run into the issues my sister had or something... even though I've never transferred schools (yeah, logic doesn't take place in my brain when I'm freaking out).
So, anyway, I went to talk to an academic counselor yesterday for the first time since Freshman year when I first changed my major. They said I'm perfectly on track and I brought up every problem I could possibly think of and they calmed each of my fears.
And that's when I realized I had everything figured out correctly from the beginning! So, as of next semester, I will only have 7 more credits worth of classes required for my Major.
Except that since I'll only have 109 credits, I need to take at least 11 credits in order to have enough to graduate.
Except that at that point, tuition is cheaper if I go full time and get my scholarship. But in order to get my scholarship I have to take at least 14 credits.
Which means I have 7 credits of FUN to take next semester! So I've been wasting my time NOT studying for that Chemistry test tomorrow morning, nor working on my big Humanities presentation that's also tomorrow afternoon, but figuring out my fun schedule for next semester!
I have a super long list of electives now that I can't narrow down. I'm thinking most of my classes will be online. In fact, the way I have it planned now is my only class day will be Wednesdays and that's it. Class one day a week! I can't wait! Although I may end up doing T/Th classes as well... but still, gotta love four day weekends!
Of course that means a lot more homework and self motivation on my final semester of college which may be impossible, but hey! As a wise man once said: It's kind of fun to do the impossible! (that would be Walt Disney, by the way!)
This is no good because we all know how horror stories freak Dianna out.
So I've been checking my "Degree Audit" and my Catalog book like crazy making sure that I've planned in filling every single requirement. But I was still freaked out I'd run into the issues my sister had or something... even though I've never transferred schools (yeah, logic doesn't take place in my brain when I'm freaking out).
So, anyway, I went to talk to an academic counselor yesterday for the first time since Freshman year when I first changed my major. They said I'm perfectly on track and I brought up every problem I could possibly think of and they calmed each of my fears.
And that's when I realized I had everything figured out correctly from the beginning! So, as of next semester, I will only have 7 more credits worth of classes required for my Major.
Except that since I'll only have 109 credits, I need to take at least 11 credits in order to have enough to graduate.
Except that at that point, tuition is cheaper if I go full time and get my scholarship. But in order to get my scholarship I have to take at least 14 credits.
Which means I have 7 credits of FUN to take next semester! So I've been wasting my time NOT studying for that Chemistry test tomorrow morning, nor working on my big Humanities presentation that's also tomorrow afternoon, but figuring out my fun schedule for next semester!
I have a super long list of electives now that I can't narrow down. I'm thinking most of my classes will be online. In fact, the way I have it planned now is my only class day will be Wednesdays and that's it. Class one day a week! I can't wait! Although I may end up doing T/Th classes as well... but still, gotta love four day weekends!
Of course that means a lot more homework and self motivation on my final semester of college which may be impossible, but hey! As a wise man once said: It's kind of fun to do the impossible! (that would be Walt Disney, by the way!)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The... BIC
We had our first Chem lab of the semester yesterday. Basically, it was just going over safety. So the whole lab was basically our teacher lecturing us with things like, "Don't do this because something will blow, and you will die." "Try to do this, because stuff blows up, and you will die." Actually, a lot of her sentences ended with either explosions or death. I'm gonna like this semester!
The new building is open this semester and I'm super excited about it. It's called the BYU-Idaho Center and every single person I know doesn't like the name at all. What are we supposed to call it? The BIC? Really? Whatever. Anyway, there's an indoor track to go running on which is awesome! I way prefer running on a track than the treadmills I've decided because it's harder and I feel like I get more of a workout. There's a walkway (skyway? I don't know what the proper terminology is) from the old gym (the Hart) to the new gym (the... umm... BIC). So I can go to the locker rooms and change and not have to go outside to get to the track (we have to wear BYU approved clothing when we work out, and they just started charging for clothes this semester, too! Fortunately, I already had my own approved workout clothes).
Anyway, the BIC is an enormous building. It includes a giant conference hall thing that compares to the Conference Center in Utah. I think it's supposed to hold 15,000? I don't know how many the one in Utah holds, but I'm pretty sure ours holds somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 people. Biggest room I've been in in my life!
They hold Devotional there on Thursdays so I've actually started going again! The past few semesters I've just been lazy and listened to it at home and I even (I can't believe I'm admitting this!) skipped a few times! It's a lot more fun to go now that we all fit in one room and it's huge and I almost always find someone I know. It's actually kind of funny cause now every Tuesday around 1:45 every single student on campus begins migrating toward the same building. Awesome!
Anyway, back to the exercise part. Because of this building's size, there's a lot of stairs so today after running I went up and down all the stairs a few times. Ugh, it kills my calves but it's so good afterwards! I like this new building.
Also, they moved the weights room and you have to go through a turnstile to get there. Ahhh, reminds me of Disney!
And in other news, we went to see the new-ish Narnia movie today at the dollar theater. It was actually really good. But surprisingly scary for just a PG movie.
And I think my roommates just turned on the movie Spaceballs. I haven't seen that in years! So yeah, I'm gonna go now.
The new building is open this semester and I'm super excited about it. It's called the BYU-Idaho Center and every single person I know doesn't like the name at all. What are we supposed to call it? The BIC? Really? Whatever. Anyway, there's an indoor track to go running on which is awesome! I way prefer running on a track than the treadmills I've decided because it's harder and I feel like I get more of a workout. There's a walkway (skyway? I don't know what the proper terminology is) from the old gym (the Hart) to the new gym (the... umm... BIC). So I can go to the locker rooms and change and not have to go outside to get to the track (we have to wear BYU approved clothing when we work out, and they just started charging for clothes this semester, too! Fortunately, I already had my own approved workout clothes).
Anyway, the BIC is an enormous building. It includes a giant conference hall thing that compares to the Conference Center in Utah. I think it's supposed to hold 15,000? I don't know how many the one in Utah holds, but I'm pretty sure ours holds somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 people. Biggest room I've been in in my life!
They hold Devotional there on Thursdays so I've actually started going again! The past few semesters I've just been lazy and listened to it at home and I even (I can't believe I'm admitting this!) skipped a few times! It's a lot more fun to go now that we all fit in one room and it's huge and I almost always find someone I know. It's actually kind of funny cause now every Tuesday around 1:45 every single student on campus begins migrating toward the same building. Awesome!
Anyway, back to the exercise part. Because of this building's size, there's a lot of stairs so today after running I went up and down all the stairs a few times. Ugh, it kills my calves but it's so good afterwards! I like this new building.
Also, they moved the weights room and you have to go through a turnstile to get there. Ahhh, reminds me of Disney!
And in other news, we went to see the new-ish Narnia movie today at the dollar theater. It was actually really good. But surprisingly scary for just a PG movie.
And I think my roommates just turned on the movie Spaceballs. I haven't seen that in years! So yeah, I'm gonna go now.
Monday, July 19, 2010
It's the Little Things in Life
I'm getting free pizza for dinner tonight. And in one class tomorrow. And in another class on Wednesday.
I'm done with all classes except Spanish.
My teacher just switched the Spanish final so we can get it all taken and done tomorrow and not have to show up to class Wednesday! Now I get to be done with school a whole hour earlier than I thought in a class where I'll be eating pizza and finding out if my group won the $200!
I just got some free ringtones for my cell phone. Now I'm excited for people to call or text me just so I can hear them!
My friends want me to live with them in Cloud 9 next year. We talked to the managers. Cross your fingers!
I'm going home on Friday!
I'm going on a cruise!
I work at Disney World!
Okay, so maybe they're not all little, but still! I'm the happiest kid in the world!
I'm done with all classes except Spanish.
My teacher just switched the Spanish final so we can get it all taken and done tomorrow and not have to show up to class Wednesday! Now I get to be done with school a whole hour earlier than I thought in a class where I'll be eating pizza and finding out if my group won the $200!
I just got some free ringtones for my cell phone. Now I'm excited for people to call or text me just so I can hear them!
My friends want me to live with them in Cloud 9 next year. We talked to the managers. Cross your fingers!
I'm going home on Friday!
I'm going on a cruise!
I work at Disney World!
Okay, so maybe they're not all little, but still! I'm the happiest kid in the world!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Final Week-ish
It's that time of the semester.
There's only a week and two days left of school.
White glove sheets have been handed out.
People are running out of food.
Illnesses are being handed out more than exam papers.
Students have started cramming.
We've moved into hyper-insanity mode.
The wind is blowing hard than ever.
The paper chains counting down days in people's apartments are getting shorter.
Wish me luck! This is not the kind of roller coaster I enjoy boarding!
There's only a week and two days left of school.
White glove sheets have been handed out.
People are running out of food.
Illnesses are being handed out more than exam papers.
Students have started cramming.
We've moved into hyper-insanity mode.
The wind is blowing hard than ever.
The paper chains counting down days in people's apartments are getting shorter.
Wish me luck! This is not the kind of roller coaster I enjoy boarding!
Friday, July 9, 2010
I Hate Macs (Volume Five)
We have to create a book for one of my class projects. Carol had the book on her Mac because she was using InDesign and it was her job to compile the book.
Well, she titled the book on her computer as Wildhouse.indd. The name of the organization we're sponsoring is called Wildhouse. She saved it in a folder called Wildhouse.
Well, part of my job was to come up with pictures for the book. So I put a bunch of the files on my computer and titled the folder Wildhouse. I put that folder on my thumb drive and gave it to Carol.
She went to copy the folder to her desktop. She clicked and dragged as I watched, and a little pop up screen came up. As I asked her what it was and if we should rename it, she responded no. She said she knew what that was and was sure it wouldn't be a problem as she clicked OK.
Except that it was a problem.
Not only did it delete the entire book we've spent the last month creating and writing. It deleted the few pictures we already had, all the writing and pretty much anything and everything else linked to it. Because on Macs you can't just copy and paste. You have to create links.
By clicking OK we replaced the file with nothing but a bunch of pictures.
This is bad. Very bad. The book is due in less than a week. Very very bad.
I'll admit, a PC would have probably done the same thing.
Fortunately for me, I don't have any extra work to do since my writing part I have backed up on my computer and can simply send to her again. She's the only one who has to start over. But still, that stinkin' sucks!
Well, she titled the book on her computer as Wildhouse.indd. The name of the organization we're sponsoring is called Wildhouse. She saved it in a folder called Wildhouse.
Well, part of my job was to come up with pictures for the book. So I put a bunch of the files on my computer and titled the folder Wildhouse. I put that folder on my thumb drive and gave it to Carol.
She went to copy the folder to her desktop. She clicked and dragged as I watched, and a little pop up screen came up. As I asked her what it was and if we should rename it, she responded no. She said she knew what that was and was sure it wouldn't be a problem as she clicked OK.
Except that it was a problem.
Not only did it delete the entire book we've spent the last month creating and writing. It deleted the few pictures we already had, all the writing and pretty much anything and everything else linked to it. Because on Macs you can't just copy and paste. You have to create links.
By clicking OK we replaced the file with nothing but a bunch of pictures.
This is bad. Very bad. The book is due in less than a week. Very very bad.
I'll admit, a PC would have probably done the same thing.
Fortunately for me, I don't have any extra work to do since my writing part I have backed up on my computer and can simply send to her again. She's the only one who has to start over. But still, that stinkin' sucks!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
All Kinds of Random Stuff
Today was clean check. We did nothing. And we passed. I love my roommates!
The rice that I ate when I had lunch with Pres Clark was rice pilaf. I had just forgotten the word for it, but yeah. There it is!
Only 21 more days of school! And if you take out weekends that leaves only leaves 15! Actually, that's kind of scary considering all I have to do in that time.
I just got back from the pet rescue. Apparently they found out that their newest bird rescue has Parrot Herpes. Yeah, that's disgusting. But it's contagious to the other birds (not to humans, thank goodness, but I'm taking a shower anyway cuz I'm freakin' disgusting from all the cleaning we did!) so we had to clean everything.
Both my papers that were supposed to be due Friday were pushed back another week. I'm still planning on getting them done by Friday, though so I'll have more time for this one big project.
Tomorrow's Rabbit Rabbit day. Don't forget!
Did you know it's possible to sunburn your eyes?
The rice that I ate when I had lunch with Pres Clark was rice pilaf. I had just forgotten the word for it, but yeah. There it is!
Only 21 more days of school! And if you take out weekends that leaves only leaves 15! Actually, that's kind of scary considering all I have to do in that time.
I just got back from the pet rescue. Apparently they found out that their newest bird rescue has Parrot Herpes. Yeah, that's disgusting. But it's contagious to the other birds (not to humans, thank goodness, but I'm taking a shower anyway cuz I'm freakin' disgusting from all the cleaning we did!) so we had to clean everything.
Both my papers that were supposed to be due Friday were pushed back another week. I'm still planning on getting them done by Friday, though so I'll have more time for this one big project.
Tomorrow's Rabbit Rabbit day. Don't forget!
Did you know it's possible to sunburn your eyes?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Exotic Pet Shelter
So as an explanation to those animals I posted a little while back....
I've been volunteering with a local exotic pet shelter. It's sort of for one of my classes. My persuasion class requires us to find a community organization and then work with them to win this $200 grant. We went to talk to the owners, and I just fell in love with the animals and can't stop going back.
Off the top of my head, these are the animals that they currently have and I've gotten to play with:
Seven snakes (one is missing at the moment... slithering somewhere in the house), a chameleon, two spotted geckos, a bearded dragon, two turtles, three sugar gliders, two chinchillas, three chickens, one other kind of chicken (not sure the exact name), two conures, one parrot, four budgies, four ferrets, one "normal" bird (one that you'd find somewhere outside... a family tried to house train it and they couldn't put it back in the wild), two dogs, a pygmy goat and one more animal that I can't remember what it's called but it can walk on walls which is freakin' awesome!
At least I think that's all of them. They all have names too, but I'm not even gonna try to go through all of those. I'm still learning their names.
Anyway, they're really nice people and I love helping them out. It's so much fun! I doubt I'll do something like this in the future, but for now it works out perfectly! And I've learned some really cool things about animals. More on that to come later. :)
I've been volunteering with a local exotic pet shelter. It's sort of for one of my classes. My persuasion class requires us to find a community organization and then work with them to win this $200 grant. We went to talk to the owners, and I just fell in love with the animals and can't stop going back.
Off the top of my head, these are the animals that they currently have and I've gotten to play with:
Seven snakes (one is missing at the moment... slithering somewhere in the house), a chameleon, two spotted geckos, a bearded dragon, two turtles, three sugar gliders, two chinchillas, three chickens, one other kind of chicken (not sure the exact name), two conures, one parrot, four budgies, four ferrets, one "normal" bird (one that you'd find somewhere outside... a family tried to house train it and they couldn't put it back in the wild), two dogs, a pygmy goat and one more animal that I can't remember what it's called but it can walk on walls which is freakin' awesome!
At least I think that's all of them. They all have names too, but I'm not even gonna try to go through all of those. I'm still learning their names.
Anyway, they're really nice people and I love helping them out. It's so much fun! I doubt I'll do something like this in the future, but for now it works out perfectly! And I've learned some really cool things about animals. More on that to come later. :)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Little Happy Update... With Nothing To Say
It's been beautiful weather lately. That always makes things happier. Me particularly. :) I love this kind of weather. I especially love waking up in the morning and walking to school listening to the birds chirping in the nice cool weather with blue skies going past the beautiful green trees and grass. I like this apartment complex because we actually have a yard. In a way we have two yards. But the second isn't really a yard. We just have this giant tree with a tire swing that random people like to play on. It's great!
I have officially started counting down the days to the end of the semester. I don't actually do this typically until we have like 5 or 10 days left. Right now there are 40. August can't come quickly enough.
I'm still frustrated with my teachers, but I have to say I have the best roommates this semester that I've had in my entire life. I don't think I've ever had a better apartment atmosphere in my entire life. Usually there's at least one of us who doesn't like another or one super messy person or one super clean person or one arrogant brat. But no. We all get along surprisingly well. We're all friends. And it's GREAT!
I can't wait to move back to Disney World. I feel like every day I'm reminded of it somehow! Oh sad!
And yeah. So there's my update on life. :)
I have officially started counting down the days to the end of the semester. I don't actually do this typically until we have like 5 or 10 days left. Right now there are 40. August can't come quickly enough.
I'm still frustrated with my teachers, but I have to say I have the best roommates this semester that I've had in my entire life. I don't think I've ever had a better apartment atmosphere in my entire life. Usually there's at least one of us who doesn't like another or one super messy person or one super clean person or one arrogant brat. But no. We all get along surprisingly well. We're all friends. And it's GREAT!
I can't wait to move back to Disney World. I feel like every day I'm reminded of it somehow! Oh sad!
And yeah. So there's my update on life. :)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Long Weekend
It's a three day weekend and I have hardly any plans. One of my roommates is going to IF to be with her mom and my other roommate is going to Provo to hang out with her family.
My friend, Ashley and I have been trying to do this canoeing thing since last summer and finally this weekend will hopefully be it. It was canceled other times due to Idaho's crappy weather (99% of the time Idaho weather is crappy. This is why I will absolutely never ever live here ever never never ever ever.). We got an email today saying it may be canceled tomorrow since it's been rainy and gray all day today, but they're going to try and meet anyway. They're gonna make us wear wet suits because it's supposed to be cold. Ah well, I'll just cross my fingers!
That's my only plan for the weekend, though. Unless you count that on Monday my friend and I are going to watch a movie that's required for my Sociology class.
Just gonna be me and Kiara all weekend. Unless of course Kiara decides to go home (she lives only two hours away). Then I get the apartment to myself.
I'm ready for a nice, relaxing weekend with lots of sleep and down time. (Except for the exam I have to take tomorrow and the two huge upcoming midterm projects and my mountain of Spanish homework)
My friend, Ashley and I have been trying to do this canoeing thing since last summer and finally this weekend will hopefully be it. It was canceled other times due to Idaho's crappy weather (99% of the time Idaho weather is crappy. This is why I will absolutely never ever live here ever never never ever ever.). We got an email today saying it may be canceled tomorrow since it's been rainy and gray all day today, but they're going to try and meet anyway. They're gonna make us wear wet suits because it's supposed to be cold. Ah well, I'll just cross my fingers!
That's my only plan for the weekend, though. Unless you count that on Monday my friend and I are going to watch a movie that's required for my Sociology class.
Just gonna be me and Kiara all weekend. Unless of course Kiara decides to go home (she lives only two hours away). Then I get the apartment to myself.
I'm ready for a nice, relaxing weekend with lots of sleep and down time. (Except for the exam I have to take tomorrow and the two huge upcoming midterm projects and my mountain of Spanish homework)
Monday, May 24, 2010
I Think I'm That Kid Everybody Hates
I have a class this semester that I don't like. It just annoys me and I disagree with some of the stuff we have to learn. I haven't read the book all semester. Well, no I tried to read the book but it annoyed me.
We had our first test last week. I hardly studied because I'd get frustrated with the material. The teacher gave us this diagram in class and said, "Memorize this. It'll be on the test." So I memorized it but didn't care what it meant or why all the arrows pointed in the directions they went.
I went to take the test and obviously knew almost nothing about what was on it. To make things worse it was all short answer. Only two of the questions were multiple choice. It asked about some theories that I remembered hearing about but didn't remember much of what they were. I faked almost all my answers.
The final question asked about Jonathon Turner's Theory. Who the heck was Turner? I had no clue. I stared at the question trying to at least come up with a funny or witty answer. Nothing.
So just as I began to write "I have no clue who this dude is. Sorry." I happened to look down at the diagram I had to memorize. And there was Turner's name. His theory was that chart thing. So I quickly scribbled out "I have no clue" (I was using pen because my pencils are all broken) and made up an answer with that.
We got our test scores back today. I got that question right. Also, I got a 94% with "Excellent job!" written across the top in red ink. At first, I thought he just curved the grades. A lot. But the class average was 84% and the lowest score was a 40%.
How does that even happen!?
We had our first test last week. I hardly studied because I'd get frustrated with the material. The teacher gave us this diagram in class and said, "Memorize this. It'll be on the test." So I memorized it but didn't care what it meant or why all the arrows pointed in the directions they went.
I went to take the test and obviously knew almost nothing about what was on it. To make things worse it was all short answer. Only two of the questions were multiple choice. It asked about some theories that I remembered hearing about but didn't remember much of what they were. I faked almost all my answers.
The final question asked about Jonathon Turner's Theory. Who the heck was Turner? I had no clue. I stared at the question trying to at least come up with a funny or witty answer. Nothing.
So just as I began to write "I have no clue who this dude is. Sorry." I happened to look down at the diagram I had to memorize. And there was Turner's name. His theory was that chart thing. So I quickly scribbled out "I have no clue" (I was using pen because my pencils are all broken) and made up an answer with that.
We got our test scores back today. I got that question right. Also, I got a 94% with "Excellent job!" written across the top in red ink. At first, I thought he just curved the grades. A lot. But the class average was 84% and the lowest score was a 40%.
How does that even happen!?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Is It Just Me?
Maybe it's because it's almost 2am.
Question: What is a "prediction" of a scientific hypothesis or scientific theory?
Answer: b. An observation we ought be see if the theory is true.
Does that answer make sense to anyone else? I know what a "prediction" is. That's like, fifth grade. But this answer makes no sense in my mind. Sometimes I really think I'd do better without the multiple choice.
Maybe it's, "An observation we thought we'd see if the theory was true." That's still poorly worded but...
Question: What is a "prediction" of a scientific hypothesis or scientific theory?
Answer: b. An observation we ought be see if the theory is true.
Does that answer make sense to anyone else? I know what a "prediction" is. That's like, fifth grade. But this answer makes no sense in my mind. Sometimes I really think I'd do better without the multiple choice.
Maybe it's, "An observation we thought we'd see if the theory was true." That's still poorly worded but...
Monday, May 3, 2010
Today Is The Day
I have to give a presentation in my persuasion class today. This is one of those assignments that I totally dread and don't want to do and procrastinate it to the last possible second and then when it's over I feel like a gigantic weight has been lifted off of me.
The presentation is about this TV show "Intervention" where they film people who are drug addicts. Unfortunately it's a partner project and when we began the project I was totally comfortable with everything and my stance and our question and all. But then she decided to change it and complete her outline in a totally different way than I did. It basically forced my stance to be, "I believe doing, and encouraging others to do, recreational drugs is perfectly ethical." Which, obviously, I totally do not believe at all. I was able to convince her that I didn't want to stand in front of the class and act like I actually believed this. So we changed it to a slightly better question, but one that I still disagree with the stance I'm being forced to take.
My friend took this same class from the same teacher though and said she's not a super hard grader. I'm sure I'll be fine. My partner's not freaking out, but then again she doesn't have to stand in front of the class and be the "bad guy." I wish we'd have chosen a different question. Too bad I'm a pushover. Blech!
The presentation is about this TV show "Intervention" where they film people who are drug addicts. Unfortunately it's a partner project and when we began the project I was totally comfortable with everything and my stance and our question and all. But then she decided to change it and complete her outline in a totally different way than I did. It basically forced my stance to be, "I believe doing, and encouraging others to do, recreational drugs is perfectly ethical." Which, obviously, I totally do not believe at all. I was able to convince her that I didn't want to stand in front of the class and act like I actually believed this. So we changed it to a slightly better question, but one that I still disagree with the stance I'm being forced to take.
My friend took this same class from the same teacher though and said she's not a super hard grader. I'm sure I'll be fine. My partner's not freaking out, but then again she doesn't have to stand in front of the class and be the "bad guy." I wish we'd have chosen a different question. Too bad I'm a pushover. Blech!
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