Crash and Burn

I thought I was ready for this biochem midterm, but apparently I wasn't.  I think I passed, but not with a great mark.  Pretty discouraging because I put a lot of effort in studying.  Now for the 3 bio midterm and my lab report...

On the bright side, I got Gritz (my phone's name) a new home today.  I got an iPhone on Wednesday and to my surprise, it didn't really distract me from studying.  I absolutely love it and I get wait to do more with it during reading week.  I debated whether to get the white on or black one.  In the end, I decided to get the white one because it's more unique and it's Apple's "signature" colour.  Also, white phone on a guy is pretty sexy ; D.  This weekend is going to be a tough one as I have labs to cram, midterms to study, and a curling tourney.  At least not everything is academic related!

Chilled-ish week before midterms.

Even though I have all my labs this week, I realized that it's pretty chilled because there's no quizzes to study for.  Other than the Biochem midterm on Thursday, there's nothing much going on.  Next week will be the death week...

Biochem's been making me feel really stupid.  I lose all of my common sense and make stupid mistakes.  Like the quiz this morning, I flub up an amino acid code, and didn't use common sense for one of the M/C. This is not a good sign for the midterm...

Anyhow, I'm trying to get things going in terms of studying for midterms.  I haven't really started (other than biochem) and I just realized that I don't know when one of my midterm is.  This is not good...

Okay, midterms on the 14th, 15th, and 16th.  All of them are biology courses. NOT GOOD x3!  Looks like I'm screwed for next week!

Totally not compatible with biochem.

Again, I stayed up late last night to finish my biochem lab report.  I totally underestimate the amount of 'details' that I have to complete.  Now I'm exhausted and could barely think properly.  On the bright side, I don't have anything major due.  So, I can start studying for my biochem quiz and midterm next week.  I realized that besides my biochem midterm, I don't have to do anything for my labs, which is pretty amazing.

I'm going to change my phone plan because it's getting quite expensive.  I am thinking of getting a new iPhone, without data plan.  That means I have to buy an unlock phone at regular retail price.  It may be a lot of money all at once, but in the long run, it'll be worth it.  Pretty stoked!

Sick again, WHAT?!?!

So I've came to a conclusion that I'm sick again.  My nose won't stop running during class and I forgot to bring a pack of tissue this morning.  I took a nap when I got back to class hoping that I'll get better.  Nope, still have stuffy and runny nose, though it was not as bad as this morning.

I have to start pulling my weight for my courses.  I feel like I'm getting behind.  This week is pretty bad since I have a lot of labs to prep for. It would've been better if I wasn't sick...

Pretty bad day.

Not finishing my biochem quiz this morning was a bad sign.  I went to the library and got scolded by this old crazy asian man, just because we're sitting too close to his cubicle.  To be honest, I wouldn't have sat there if i say his head.  It's not my fault that he's too short.  He went on and on, telling us (Ryan was there too) off.  I even said sorry, but he still continue blabbering his mouth.  I was really pissed, but whatever, bad karma is gonna get him.  I have the right to sit anywhere I want anyways, it's a public place.

The lab quiz was a bit easy, but I still struggled with it (sadly).  The lab went more smoothly, thank god.  After the lab, I discovered that my sink leaks a little bit.  So, my bag and part of my jacket ended up being soaked with unidentified liquids.  Good thing it wasn't leaking a lot or else my laptop would be dead.

After all these episode of crappiness, I decided to take some time off school this evening, and do nothing.  Can't wait for the weekend to come!

Double Whammy Biochem

Human anatomy lab wasn't as bad as I thought, but it was pretty intense studying those skeleton bones.  Thank god I have two good looking TAs (both female, just like back in zoology in first year!)  My partner and I signed up to go second, but the last group decided to add another number at the end of the list!  Cheeky bugger!  So the TA came to me and asked me if I wanted to go first.  Obviously, I agreed to it because I didn't want to be a pain in the ass.  (And the fact that I want to earn some brownie points with the TA)  Luckily, I picked 4 easy questions, but I had to BS my way through for one of the "function" question.  I must admit, my heart sank when I realized that the question is asking me to provide the function of the bone.  The other students asked me how it was, and I told them that I got a "function" question.  Obviously, they freaked out, and of course, that was part of my devious plan. =P

Next up, biochem x2!  I really don't know what to expect for the lecture quiz as everything is fair game.  I kinda got through some questions and kind of understand it (which was a miracle).  The biochem prelab quiz is open-book, so I'm not too worried about it.  This is gonna be pretty stressful because I really need those extra marks for biochem...

Tonight is going to be the first rehearsal for choir.  I'm not 100% healthy yet, and my voice is kinda shaky. Hopefully we're not doing a lot of singing and just admin work because I don't think I can reach those high notes of tenor 2.

Sick and Sicker

Over the second week of school, I might've caught a cold from one of my friend.  I get really angry when I'm sick, especially when I have so many things to do during the week.  I feel like I need a nap right now, but I really need the time to start studying and do those stupid Biochem questions!

Speaking of Biochem, it's really frustrating that most of the material revolves around calculations.  I haven't even got down the applications, and now calculations?  There's a quiz soon and I am not looking forward to it.  Not to mention that I'm behind in all my other bio courses...

Curling has started again at UW and the first night was great!  It's kind of draining when you have to curl two times a day, but I need those exercise and some stress reliever.  Though, the second curling time doesn't involve a lot of exercise since I'm standing on the other side of the sheet of ice skipping (not literally skipping, but dictating moves).

It's only the beginning of the week and I already want it to end.  I have to prep for a few labs and study like crazy.  Friday, please come faster!

Fast-Forward. 4 Months Later.

I totally forgot about my blog during my co-op term.  I guess I only remember to blog when I'm suffer ing in school...

Well, co-op was great!  Met cool people, awesome supervisor, great jobs!  I never would have thought that I would be doing an analytical chemistry job.  Gave me some good experiences for the future.  I'm thinking (not really thinking, but for sure) going back to the same place for my next co-op term.

What made my co-op term better is the fact that I got a chance to join a curling club in Toronto.  The weekly curling session made weeks go by quicker.  Not to mention that I'm continuing to improve my skills.  I can't want to start playing at the curling club here in Waterloo.  It's been way too long!

First week of school has pass, and all I did was catching up on readings and working on my work term report.  I'm almost done my report, just have to get the details in and fix it up a bit.  It seems like a long way to go, but at least there's not much bs-ing involved.  I am not too fond of the science courses this term, but I really don't have a choice.  I hope it gets better because so far, it seems to be a hell of a term.

Last Long Weekend

So it's the last long weekend of the summer and I really haven't done anything special other than school and co-op placement.  Working at a chemical plant is definitely something different.  I would never expect to use the chemistry skills learnt at school.  It feels kind of weird going something that I hated so much in school for money.  The people at the company are very nice and chilled and the workload is not bad.  This is gonna be a good work term!

Finally Done.

This term was the longest term of my life.  I can't believe I actually survived this term, especially with all those lab reports and exams.  I'm just glad that it is over now and I can chill...for 2.5 days only.  My co-op placement starts on August 15th, sadly.  Looks like my summer is gone just like that.

I'm currently waiting for my roommate to move out so I can start moving some of my stuff to the living room.  He said that he was going to leave around 7-8, but it's almost 1am right now and he's just starting to clear out.  I still need to clean the washroom and and the living room so it doesn't look too bad for the inspection.  This is extremely frustrating as I am losing sleep at the moment and I will need to wake up earlier tomorrow to clean up the suite.  This is worse than studying, I swear.

Drained.

For the pass few days, I've been wanting to go to sleep ever time it the clock strikes 11pm.  I don't know it's because of the studying (to be honest I don't think I'm studying too hard) or the lack of coffee.  Exams are near and I really don't think I'm ready at all.  I'm physically in August 2nd, but mentally, I'm already in August 12 after 3pm.

P.S. I can't wait for the Korean to leave.

Two Weeks of Hell.

The two weeks of hell starts tonight as a mass cram all the materials for the upcoming exams.  I need to somehow find my motivation and make sure I have enough time to cover all the materials.  What sucks is that I'm not even thinking about the exams right now.  I'm worrying about the day after I finish my last exam and how much work I have to do (packing and cleaning because of the Korean asshole).  I already have a feeling that the Korean would just leave without doing any cleaning.  I think I have enough of this bad roomie situation.  Moving out with my friend next year for sure!

Classes Done!

As of now, all my classes are done.  Last week was a rough week as I have to cram to finish my lab report and study for my last term test for analytical chemistry.  I basically didn't sleep on Tuesday night and lasted 40.5 hours because I had to do a choir concert the next day.  It was pretty bad because that was the day where I finalized my co-op placement.  So I literally celebrated by staying up and doing my report.  On the bright side, I did better than expected on my chem test considering how little I studied.

Few days ago when I was in Toronto, I found out that my grandma from my dad's side had a stroke and is in critical care right now.  My uncle and aunt in China told my dad that there's no need to go back to China because no one could go into her room to visit her.  My dad believes that she's probably not going to make it since they had to perform the last resort to try and unclog the blockage of the artery in the brain.  He asked my brother to go with him, but my brother doesn't really want to go.  Since my dad asked him (he never really asked for such a big favour), he kinda has to go.  He was not too fond of spending his last month of summer in China, but family comes first I guess.

Finals are coming soon, so I have to start studying.  I really need to do well/decent on those exams (especially in chem and microbio).  This is the homestretch of this horrendous term. GOGOGO!

Science & Music

Yesterday, I had an interview with Peel Region's Health Promotion department (only got ranked, sadly) and they commented on the unique combination of science and music.  At first, I don't think it's that unique, but when I keep thinking about it, I don't know a lot of people who's doing that.

Music has been part of my life ever since I was little, so it's really important that I incorporate that aspect into my life right now.  I realized that I played many instruments in the past, though I'm not exactly the best in any of the instrument that I played.  After high school, I wasn't that musically involved since I didn't join a band and maybe that's why I didn't do as well in school.  Either way, I probably didn't have the time to do anything related to music anyways.

To be honest, I kinda miss playing the piano.  I just don't have the time and initiative to learn again.  Choir is pretty fun and it's nice to finally learn how to sing harmony.  Hopefully I'll continue to develop this passion in music and will carry me through the dreadful sciences.

Careers.

My brother just finished his grade 11 year and is already going into his last year of high school in the coming September.  He'll soon be choosing universities and programs to apply to.  Today, he said that he's gonna apply to Actuarial Science as well.  Hardcore.

It also makes me think of the different options that I could have taken when I was in high school.  Few weeks ago, my mom asked me if I chose the wrong path, I didn't know how to answer that.  To be honest, I don't DISLIKE science, but I do think it might be too much for me.  Plus, I never did an business related stuff (other than accounting) so I don't know if I have that kind of mindset to tank through a business program.  I'm almost finishing my Year 2 of this biology program, so there's no point of thinking and regretting.

Drifting Away

So, this so-called long weekend wasn't really a long weekend to being with.  I originally wanted to leave earlier on Friday morning (I had night class on Thursday...sigh) and take the 10:30 bus back to Toronto.  When I was about to leave, I realized that I forgot my keys in my room and locked myself out.  I promised a friend that I would lend my room for her and her boyfriend who came from Philly.  I was kinda upset with myself for being so stupid, but surprisingly I kept my cool.  I was able to get a hold of one of the management worker to get my door opened.  I had to pay 20 bucks, but it's okay.  I was just glad that she was willing to come all the way to the apartment on a holiday.

I ended up leaving at the usual time, 12:30.  It was already a rough start to this weekend, but I knew that it'll get better because it was Canada Day and there were fireworks.  My mom decided to go with my brother and I to watch fireworks.  We were supposed to meet up with some old friends, but ended up being late.  By the time we got to the park, the fireworks have started.  I guess it was a good mother-son bonding time.

After, we met up with my friends and went for bubble like last year.  It was not as fun as I expected, and shouldn't have gone at all.  It was pretty awkward and I felt like I was out of the loop.  If it wasn't for the guy who's visiting form HK, I don't think I would've stayed that long.  I was kinda irked because I actually tried to start some conversations, but they just indirectly shot me down.  I gave up in the end, so whatever.  Maybe it's a sign for me to find some new friends.  People change, and I can't expect them to stay the same forever.

Never-ending.

I have successfully finished 2 lab reports and 2 midterms that was due this week.  Now I'm pretty much drained, both mentally and physically.  I still have to study for my physio midterm and a lab report to write up, both due on Tuesday.  I really want to start working on it today, but my body won't cooperate.  Not to mention I'm yawning every 5 minutes.  I just want this term to end so badly.

Riots

Lately, there were a lot of news about the riot in downtown Vancouver as the Canucks lost their Stanley Cup finals.  I was never into hockey in the first place, though I still get updates from friends.  When I went on the internet to look at some picture of the destruction, they were pretty bad.  I think it was just as bad as the G20 protest happened in Toronto a while ago.  But honestly, it's just a hockey game.  Some hockey fans just don't think before acting.  I know it was a bit frustrating to see the Canucks lose to miserably, but have they ever thought about the aftermath and consequences?  Everyone would probably take their cellphones out and start recording and snapping photos of the whole situation.  As soon as those pictures and videos gets leaked out. you're outted.  It happened to a lot of people already, some are identified as an elite athlete in Canada (cbc.ca had an article about it).  It's sad because that athlete would probably cost him his future.

While surfing on the web, I found this viral photo of a couple kissing amid of the riot.  I think whoever snapped this photo was a genius and it probably saved Vancouver's image a little (even though the guy in the picture is Australian).  This photo reminded me of the famous photo after WWII (I think) where a random sailor kissed a lady, except the kiss in Vancouver was probably more dramatic.  The photo will probably go down into history as one of the most unexpected event.

Well, back to my boring life.  I've been holding on and trying to finish all my lab reports as quick as possible so I can start studying for my midterms.  I already finished on lab report, but I realized that I won't have a lot of time to study for my midterms.  Looks like I might have to give up some marks here and there.  Time to tank on!

Little Ward Things

Someone made a tumblr page dedicated to little ward things.  When I first read it, it brought back many memories - the good, the bad.  So I decided to write a blog about some of those posts.

#49. Everyone's attraction to Mr. Mcalpine.

Well, the word "everyone" is pretty deceiving since I'm pretty sure most of the guys are not "attracted" to him (unless you're playing for the opposite team).  But I have to admit, he is pretty good looking (teacher wise at least).  I still remember all my female friends falling head over heels for him.  They even purposely plan to go to english whenever he's on the floor.  He was, well, pretty much the "Edward Cullen" of Mary Ward.

#27. When your unit tracker is full coloured in at the end of the year.

Thankfully, I was able to experience that for all 4 years.  It might not be a great deal to regular high school students, but for a ward student, seeing the whole page filled is a sense of great accomplishment.  In my opinion, even filling ONE box feels like it's Christmas all over again.

#26. Having that one friend with a locker near Science.

This one brings me back to grade 9, where Harry had a locker right beside science.  There is a rule where we cannot bring out backpacks into science for safety reasons.  For people who had their lockers in the basement (yup, that's me) and the first floor, it might become an hassle lugging your textbooks up the stairs.  Since Harry's locker was right beside science, we all ended up just using if whenever we go to science.  I still remember we once stuffed 9 backpacks in his locker at once.  Pretty epic, I must say.  After grade 9, his TA got relocated so we all had to suffer.  For my senior years, I ended up just leaving my stuff in french department (just across from science and that's one of the few perks of taking french).

#4. The staircase to nowhere.

There are 4 staircases in the building, but only 2 leads down to the basement.  Since my TA is in the basement, I have to take the stairs periodically.  For the first month or so during my freshman year, I always took this one staircase that seemed like it'll take you to the basement, but they really don't.  Pretty embarrassing.

#1. When you successfully survive June Rush.

I never finished all my courses early, so June Rush affected me every year in high school.  Those sleepless nights trying to complete those last few units were not fun at all.  What's more amazing is that you know you're not the only one suffering.  The amount of swollen eyes and heavy eye bags you see during May and June is ridiculously high.  No pain, no gain, I guess.

These were just a few of them and of course, I don't have enough time to comment on all of them (to be honest, I'm supposed to be working on my lab reports right now...).  Reading these posts makes me want to be a high schooler again sometimes, especially when I'm cramming for exams and/or lab reports (like now).  But I guess we all have to move on someday.

Procrastination.

I really should be studying right now since I have my exam in...exactly 1 hour and 40 minutes.  I can't help but procrastinate because if I don't, I'll end up falling asleep on top of my microbio notes.  Microbio has never been my forte and I don't think it'll every be.  No matter how interesting it is, I'll never be good at it.  It's simply brutal.  On hte bright side, I'm doing pretty good in my lab component, so hopefully it'll pull everything up.

It seems like the end of my stressful days in 2 hours or so, but in reality, it's still in its beginning stages.  I have 2 lab reports that I have to write up by next week - one I don't have the results for and the other one I don't get at all.  I also have 2 midterms to worry about.  I'm pretty much screwed for the next week.

Job search is not going as smoothly as I thought.  I probably didn't get ranked in any of my interviews.  Looks like I have to do some follow up on the nursing research position at TGH after all.  This term is just not a good term at all.

Alright, enough procrastination.  Time to get back at my microbiology (yuck!).