Run here, run there run EVERYWHERE. Yes that is right. First week back and you think you have it hands down, well not quite. I didn't exactly realize until the last minute that my classrooms had changed which caused a lot of running around today. Last semester I had quite a bit of time to get to my classes. However, this semester I over-booked two courses overlapping 20 minutes of each other. I had to inform my professor immediately (as it was a FYSM where attendance matters). Rule number one folks. If you find yourself in a similar situations instead of freaking out see if you can work something out with your professors or classmates. It does become an issue because the system will actually let you register for two courses at the same time and leave a little notice at the bottom saying time conflict (which you totally can't see). So even if you're 100% sure your schedule works, check again and even one more time just to be sure.
Another important note is BUY YOUR BOOKS NOW! First off, it's a pain to wait in line for hours just to find out your book is sold out (hasn't happened to me, yet). Also, don't be lazy scope out to see if people are selling your books! Treck to Haven's books and search for deals! Also, don't forget about your old books! Why not make some extra cash! Give your books to Carleton's Bookstore and they'll resell them for you. If you get lucky someone might buy it and any extra cash for a student is a good thing!
Don't party too hard and try to go to class the first week. I honestly was shocked to walk into my first Art History lecture and instead of getting the usual course overview I got a whopping two hour lecture. We jumped right into the material and yet throughout the whole class I noticed that half the students were absent. Don't just expect your first week to be all fun and games!
Lastly, print out your schedule and keep it on hand - enter in your profs name along with the T.A. Introduce yourself if they're new and make sure that they know you, and you're not just a number. It's also just easy for you to approach them if you have questions the first day.
For your benefit I will provide a link to re-create your schedule. This schedule was created by Carleton's Engineers, but it's for everyone. I remember hearing about it at Carleton's summer orientation and it was very useful and also very neat!
http://xperts.sce.carleton.ca/engsched/
They should make a "How to" University 101 class where all the answers to our questions rest and where we know what to all the time or even better a "how to" live easy. Wouldn't that be nice!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Back to Reality
After a nice long enjoyable three week vacation I have finally made it back to Ottawa relaxed rejuvenated and ready to jump back into things.
I must admit it wasn't easy shaking off the exam stress. It took a good two weeks to really realize I was on vacation. I think I could do with another week... or two. Like most students at this point, exam results were either a wake up call or a gift of achievement and hard work. Many are looking to hit there second semester with their best shot - this is a good idea.
What was your new years resolution? Keep it in mind. It will help you to achieve greater things this semester. You might even resolve things you never knew needed resolving. I for one, have made several new years resolutions that,like each year prior, will be left unfulfilled. In turn, however, I hope it will lead the to other achieved resolutions.
Moving back into Ottawa was actually a much easier feeling than the first move-in date in September. Everyone is cheerful to be at their what could now be called there "second home." I really never thought I could call it my second home because it was hard for me to get used to the fact that I was now living in Ottawa. It was really nice to see school friends, head down to the Byward market and have tea at the tea store, grab dinner at the cafeteria(which surprisingly I missed), and head to the floor lounge for a movie.
I realized, after months of stressing about school that my "reality" isn't so stressful after all. For those of you out there who devote your life to school - NO WONDER YOU'RE ALWAYS STRESSED. It's not the work that's stressful, it's the no-life policy that you're living by. You make it much harder for yourself when you focus solely on school and miss out on all the extras. My number one resolution is how to balance every aspect of my life... it's the key to a happy and healthy life.
I must admit it wasn't easy shaking off the exam stress. It took a good two weeks to really realize I was on vacation. I think I could do with another week... or two. Like most students at this point, exam results were either a wake up call or a gift of achievement and hard work. Many are looking to hit there second semester with their best shot - this is a good idea.
What was your new years resolution? Keep it in mind. It will help you to achieve greater things this semester. You might even resolve things you never knew needed resolving. I for one, have made several new years resolutions that,like each year prior, will be left unfulfilled. In turn, however, I hope it will lead the to other achieved resolutions.
Moving back into Ottawa was actually a much easier feeling than the first move-in date in September. Everyone is cheerful to be at their what could now be called there "second home." I really never thought I could call it my second home because it was hard for me to get used to the fact that I was now living in Ottawa. It was really nice to see school friends, head down to the Byward market and have tea at the tea store, grab dinner at the cafeteria(which surprisingly I missed), and head to the floor lounge for a movie.
I realized, after months of stressing about school that my "reality" isn't so stressful after all. For those of you out there who devote your life to school - NO WONDER YOU'RE ALWAYS STRESSED. It's not the work that's stressful, it's the no-life policy that you're living by. You make it much harder for yourself when you focus solely on school and miss out on all the extras. My number one resolution is how to balance every aspect of my life... it's the key to a happy and healthy life.
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