Reading Text Books

Yep, that's what I've been up to... reading text books. As a result, I adding improving my reading speed to my list of goals for the semester. All of my assignments thus far have been to read the book. It's a good idea to keep up on the reading for a class, and it wouldn't be much of problem if I only had one class to keep up on. However, I'm take 5 courses, three of which require excessive amounts of reading. I've never been a very good or fast reader, I usually read something at turtle pace, and then forget everything I read in a week. I like reading books for fun, but often times I forget the characters names if I take too long in between reading sessions or if the character doesn't appear very often. I wish they had videos with all the information I needed... I could just sit back and watch, maybe take some notes. It wouldn't seem nearly as tedious, and I'd probably remember more too. Then again, maybe not, I have the same forgetting characters names issue when watching movies too.

I guess I have no choice, I just have to read the textbook. I should start timing myself and see if I can improve my reading speed, that way it might be a little more fun. Or get up and stretch after every paragraph, or practice juggling for 30 seconds, or do some sit-ups, or tell myself I'm an excellent reader and I have an excellent memory. Maybe if I change my attitude I can reduce the pain of receiving a reading assignment?

I've recently come to realize how much of life is dependent on my attitude towards it. I know, duh, right? In the past I haven't really committed to improving my attitude though; I would change what I said, but not how I thought. Recently, I've begun to stop the negative thoughts right in the middle of them, and replace them with more positive ones. It's been challenging to change the way I think. However, I've noticed how it's impacted my outlook and enjoyment of life, and how when other people around me have a bad attitude about anything, it's really draining. In contrast, when I have a good attitude about something, others seem to latch on to it. So, there's the real goal of the semester: to improve my attitude about reading, school, work, the sorority, the boyfriend, family, and myself. Wow, that sounds... corny! Although, corny as it is, that's what I'm holding myself to for the semester.

Open a Book,

Waha

Ready or Not, Here It Comes

Classes have begun and the art of balancing life has once again demanded my attention. Gripping my student planner, I'm trying to figure out how on earth I'm going to manage my time this semester. It's going to be a demanding course load, so I've decided to create an action plan:

1. Write EVERYTHING in the planner.
2. Sit in front row. (forces me to stay awake)
3. Visit all professors office hours once within first month (developing relationships is key)
4. Keep a list of priorities for reference
5. Schedule exercise & fun
6. Use creative study techniques to lighten load
7. Laugh often
8. Enjoy classes, find something interesting about the course
9. Get adequate sleep
10. Take daily multi-vitamin
11. Develop crisis plan for stressful moments
12. Develop reward plan for successful moments
13. Maintain a positive attitude & outlook
14. Just keep dancing
15. If all else fails... call Mom.

It's a good start,

Waha

Project Runway IIT Style

Last night the Project Runway Challenge took over the Kappa house. The girls only event turned into an explosion of creativity with crazy costumes, outrageous makeup, and intense hairstyles. My friend, Karen, planned the event to be as much like the Project Runway reality TV show as possible. When I get a hold of some pictures I'll share them, but here's the breakdown.

5:30pm--Food, come on... what Kappa event wouldn't have food?

6:10pm--All 8 groups received a bag of items to work with, and were instructed to select a model and a commentator

6:30pm--One group member was chosen to select one additional item from the jackpot table. Jackpot table items included a phone cord, a feather boa, a leopard print shower curtain, a velvet scarf, fake flowers, gold animal pins, and one more item I can't remember.

7:00pm--Groups reported to the dining room for hair and makeup

7:30pm--The models hit the runway to show off their wild creations!

7:50pm--Prizes were awarded to teams in each of the following categories: Most Wearable, Most Creative, and Best Overall.

Needless to say, it was reality television, only about 100000^3 better!

Waha

Giant Operations

TASTE of the QUAD

...is a huge event the Monday night after all the new students move in. The Greek Quad is filled with students and food. This year, there was ribs, peanut butter chicken, spicy potatoes, fruit, salad, root beer floats, and ice cream Sundays! Furthermore, there were several large inflatables ranging from "jousting" to "rat race," a Frisbee decorating station, and a giant game of Operation. Yeah, Operation like the board game... but imagine it the size of a pool table. I personally met tons of new students, and did some recruiting from my sorority (Kappa Phi Delta). I'm excited for this incoming class; it seems to be filled with lots of diversity, personality, and smarts. ;)

GOOD LUCK TO ALL NEW STUDENTS!!!

Waha

Is that a brownie sandwich?!?!?

Yesterday was MOVE IN DAY!!! I decided to volunteer to help move students into the dorms for the occasion. I always feel like super woman when I sign up for those things, but that feeling seems to lack presence the day after I accomplish the task. It was a fun day though, and it was topped off at the block party... with a fabulous dessert!


BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE
BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE
BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE
FROSTINGSPRINKLESFROSTINGSPRINKLES
SPRINKLESFROSTINGSPRINKLESFROSTING
FROSTINGSPRINKLESFROSTINGSPRINKLES
SPRINKLESFROSTINGSPRINKLESFROSTING
BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE
BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE
BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE*BROWNIE


yum.

Are We There Yet?

With new students arriving on campus today, I begin to remember back to my first day at IIT...

nerves

excitement

longing for my old college

wondering what was in store for me here

getting lost because every building looked the same

not being able to find food wondering to the greek quad

meeting Kappas

touring the sorority house

my roommate telling me all about growing up in India

buying books and t-shirts

getting sweet freebies all the upper classpeople were jealous of

Worrying about classes wondering what organizations to join

*a fabulous feeling of having the world at my finger tips*

it was fun,

Waha

a big sigh of relief

It's over. The test that haunted me all summer is over. It feels... fabulous. So, fabulous I could write a poem...

Like a weight that's lifted,

Like a burden laid down,

Like rising from a ton of bricks,

That smashed me to the ground.

It's good.

Waha

36 Hours

Me vs. the MCAT