“And yet a little tumult, now and then, is an agreeable quickener of sensation; such as a revolution, a battle, or an adventure of any lively description.” George Gordon Noel Byron.

The coming of finals week brings everyone to a state of chaos which we never thought possible previously. It doesn’t matter though, we all make it through and essentially, if you came into the week without hope, you won’t find peace in coming out of it. I have found solace in my workings throughout the semester and now is the time when I can use as much as I know to keep my grade point average at a reasonable level.

I’ve been counting the hours this past week since the chaos of it all was almost too much. I’m so ready to head off to Alaska for the summer. I cannot wait to see a place that I’ve only dreamed about. My whole thought process has been revolving around my dream job. I’ve been working my schedule around it. I’m making sure to tell people that I won’t be around because of “my job in Alaska over the summer.” I’ve begun telling people that don’t know me or even ask. It’s just such an amazing experience that I can only attribute to the amazing resources I’ve utilized here. If it wasn’t for my work here, I might still be stuck working in a place like Chicago. Now that would truly be a nightmare, working in a big city.

As the days pass and I notice that summer is coming closer and closer, I’m wondering what next school year will be like. Luckily, I’ve been able to stabilize into many positions that will be waiting for me. I’m still uncertain of a job, but that is because I’ve been putting so much focus on the paperwork and other work that has been going into my position in Alaska. A word of caution to those that are wanting a job from the university or from anywhere really, give them a lot of notice and a lot of time to look over your application. I have been slacking, but last year I was so ahead of schedule that I was able to pick out my job with simplicity. Choose wisely and keep your mind open. Your field isn’t the only one you’ll be working with. There are many things that overlap in life and job responsibilities is a large one. There is no one thing that you’ll have to know but a complexity of many things. Hone your skills with this undergraduate career. You’re the one that makes your education. Make it better than everyone else’s.

Buena suerte

“What can be expressed in words can be expressed in life.” Henry David Thoreau

It has come down to it more and more that I need to work a lot harder on keeping myself on track. I always do this and always say that it won’t happen again, but it does. I put off some things until it’s coming close to the deadline and then barely finish them. It seems to happen because of the amount of work that comes with the end of the semester. The scheduling is just terrible. Luckily my finals aren’t getting me too stressed. I only have four this semester and they only take up three days of the week. It’s quite nice. I have two on Monday which will be where my weekend goes to and then they’ll be over giving me another two days before my next final. With those two days I can study for the last two which will happen in two separate days. I’m sure that they will all be stressful in their own ways, but at least I’m sure I’ll have the time to study for each of them. Projects, papers, and miscellaneous homework must come first though and that is what this weekend has consisted of. By Thursday I’ll be home free and on my way to finals.

As you all should know, my comic of choice is always a DC, but sometimes you have to notice that a good movie might be in store and go to see it on opening night. I’m speaking of the new Avengers movie that is to hit theaters this Friday. I’m excited to see them in action and am hopeful of DC seeing that a Justice League or even a Justice Society of America movie is possible. This is all a shout out to all that think that you should stay in all the time and not have any fun. College is for being a little reckless and if you have all of your work done and you’re sure of yourself there is no reason that you should have a great time even during the week. I don’t usually go out because I do have work to get done most nights and most of the time it’s only one day of the weekend for me to really enjoy, but it works out. You have to take the moments as they come and really get excited about things to keep your life exciting.

I’ve been getting closer to my newest position as a federal employee in getting everything figured out with my paperwork and finally talking over start dates. It has always been my dream to go to Alaska and now I get the chance and it happens to be to follow my dream job. It’s amazing thinking back to starting out just a few shorts years ago wondering if I’d ever amount to anything and this wonderful place has given me the chance to become something I never thought I could be. I have mentors and professors of every kind willing to help me and to make everything I do count. I couldn’t ask for a better way of going to school. It has truly been my greatest decision to come to school here. It has opened so many doors, for work, for internships, for experiences, and for fun. I try to imagine if I had gone to a different university and not taken all the roles that I have and it makes me laugh because Southern has truly molded me into a better version of myself. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the amazing people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and befriending.

Buena suerte.

“And is the price for your acceptance for me to conform? To be as you would want me to be?… You must accept me as I am. Do not question…. If my behavior seems different perhaps it is because it serves a higher purpose than to find acceptance in this dull and useless world.”
Pat Fielder.

I hesitate to write today because I feel as if it is fueled by hatred and disrespect. The ravings on a certain book that seems to be on the lips of all has disappointed me greatly. All three of my roommates claim that it is an amazing novel and completely captivated them throughout their journey of reading it. I picked up the book to finally found out what they could not cease to exclaim about. To my taste, I was satisfied in only the fact that the book ended. I would hardly call it a novel. This is not an attempt to say that I could write a better book because I could not. I don’t claim to be a writer and this blog is only to increase the knowledge of “a day in the life” of a college student. This book was easily the worst book that I’ve read. I don’t have a long list of novels under my belt, but I have read many classics and some great contemporary pieces. I guess as they say, to each their own, so I hated the book and just wanted to vent. Luckily the book only took me an afternoon to finish. My point being here is that reading should be a part of your life at college. I’m not saying read every night before you go to bed, but at least attempt to read a novel each month. It can be exciting and rewarding. Keeping your reading speed high is a very helpful tool. It can improve your language, and keep you sharp. Grab something fun at our awesome library that we have full access to.

I’ve officially registered for class this coming fall. It was exciting to see what classes I needed for my last year of my undergraduate career. It is going to be a less relaxing year than I planned, but at least I got into all of the fall semester classes that I was planning on taking. I’m hopeful that the new year will bring a lot to the table and will continue to give me more knowledge on the subjects I require help on.

I was hoping to take classes over the summer and take a smaller course load over the last two semesters, but I can no longer do that. I was accepted into the Student Career Experience Program with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. I try not to gloat, but I am so overly excited for this experience in Alaska. I am also hopeful that the experience turns into more opportunities. I just registered for a class to become certified in CPR and first aid. I have been in the past, but was lazy about it and never bothered to get it renewed. I luckily have this experience to get me active and certified again. It should be something fun to do when everyone else goes home for Easter. With all luck, I’ll be coming back to school in the fall with a whole bunch of certifications. Just reach out to things and they’ll come back to you in one way or another. I’m now proof of that.

Buena suerte.

“There is not a subject in which I take a deeper interest than I do in the development of Alaska, and I propose, if Congress will follow by recommendations, to do something in that territory that will make it move on.” William Howard Taft.

Although this quote dates back to 1909, it brings a smile to my face to type it today. I just this evening, spoke with the representative for the National Wildlife Refuge System of Alaska. It’s my junior year and I’m already beginning to search for a career to start. This interview might not have been my greatest feat in the world, but I feel good about the way I spoke and how I answered most of the questions. I’ve been stressing for a while on what I want to do with my life, but more recently what this summer will hold. I went over the schedule that I’ll have to keep next year and it scares me a bit, but I’m willing to do what it takes to graduate and do well in all that I accomplish. Whatever this summer holds, I’m ready for it. I applied for a technician position with a graduate student in hopes that if I stay in Carbondale, that I can get some good research work to further excel my skills. Either way I feel like I’m in for a great summer.

Yesterday I work for the Humane Society again for a celebration at the local store, Castle Perilous. The people there are great and they really have whatever a gamer needs from comic books to Dungeons and Dragons, there is so much for the nerdy mind to take in. I showed off a cute little mutt named Noel that was absolutely amazing with everyone there, especially the children. It was fantastic. I didn’t get a whole lot of interest in her, but I tried to get out the word for the Humane Society and that was the whole point anyway, so I would say that yesterday was a success.

I’m still working on myself and how I approach the semester, but off the bat, I’d have to say that this semester I am much more on top of things. It’s helpful when you don’t allow yourself to fall behind. I have made it a habit to do something that I’ve been given on that day or at the latest, the next day. It takes two days for me to completely put off something and usually forget it completely. It stinks to come to a class and hear everyone talking about how the homework took them five hours and you hope that it’s due by midnight so you can get a swing at it, it almost never goes like that though. Usually, you’re S.O.L. and all you can do is try to stop that habit, but it’s hard to break that habit within a semester. So what if a semester went bad, you can change it immediately as the next semester starts, but be your own bully. Tell yourself that you’re only allow to sit for five minutes instead of watching a show for an hour. Most things are on the internet the next day, that’s my motto.

Buena suerte.

“Nature is the symbol of the spirit.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I was lucky enough this weekend to embark on a journey of a magnitude that I was far from expecting. I was able to go up to Sullivan, IL with some members of the SIUC Wildlife Society and help at Ph.D. student that it working on a white-tailed deer project. His study works through the basis of the deer populations of that area and how they disperse and how they cooperate with one another. The part that we, three other undergraduates and I, got to help out with was the trapping and tagging, and even collaring of these graceful animals. As we made our way up there, it was very evident that the weekend was going to be fairly mild in the way of weather and very interesting by way of the project we were about to help out with. Our small group wasn’t very talkative on the way up, but we began to talk about how excited we were in regards to the project and some conversation began to flow.

Once we arrived, it was clear that this was going to be an awesome weekend; I was right on the money with that prediction. After a quick run to the store to grab food for the weekend, and getting on our layers, we set up the rocket nets that we were going to be using and waited for our furry friends to arrive. We got lucky and the technician that was on the firing of the net snagged two. We were able to tag and take details from them. The next night was even better. We were able to snag three and one happened to be a deer that we wanted to radio-collar. The whole experience was amazing and jumping on deer is exactly as fun as it sounds. It is a spectacular experience that I am able to both say that I’ve done and I’m able to put onto my résumé. I cannot wait to participate in next year’s deer trapping season.

The other things that I’ve been worried about are surrounding jobs and school. I’m pretty certain that I’m going to be spending my summer here and working a likely two jobs. I also will be taking a couple of classes to finish up my requirements for graduation so that my senior year isn’t so ridiculous. The classes are looking to be easy for the summer, but finding another job and possibly keeping the one I have right now is going to be the challenge. I’m excited for what it holds and I cannot wait to be the best that I can be.

Buena suerte.

“A language does not become fixed. The human intellect is always on the march, or, if you prefer, in movement, and languages with it.” Victor Hugo.

It seems that for a while now I’ve been chasing my tail around and giving into the stress that I’ve made for myself. I don’t blame the schooling or even the clubs that I’m a part of, but I do blame the fact that I take everything to mind. My thoughts are crammed. I know you’re supposed to use them to motivate you to keep moving forward, but it becomes too overwhelming at times. I’m also not saying that my life is unbearable even in the slightest best, but I am saying that finding a way to deal with myself is a continuous battle. I’m so glad that I’ve got a lot of outlets and a lot of great things to be involved in to keep my hopes high and my head on straight.

Last night was a really great time, but it wasn’t full of partying, it was full of studying and a meeting. Ironically, this was one of the best nights I’ve had in about a week. I was relaxing and it was fulfilling. It’s hard to find something like that especially when you just want to sleep half the time. I started off working on some studying with two great friends that I don’t keep in touch with as often as I would like. As we studied for the physics test we’re not looking forward to, we talked and got a healthy portion of the way through the study material. It was nice to see them and to get some work done and ask questions between the three of us. Study sessions are really great, especially when they’re with people you enjoy being with and are able to work through a problem with you.

My meeting was for the Pre-Veterinary Club. I have strayed away from the idea of going into veterinary school more recently, but it is a club that doesn’t discriminate from other majors and will be happy to tell you about anything without having to decide. The club is a majority of women too, which is interesting, but in a good way. I find myself meshing well with everyone and being able to give and receive input from everyone including the club president who is fantastic. They talked about veterinary school and the application process. It was extremely informative and perfect for understanding the applications and what to do and not to do. I also spent a good portion of time talking with the president and secretary afterword which was great. It’s amazing to talk to other students about classes they’ve taken or are taking. It leads to a lot of laughs and bonding. I’m so glad that I’ve found my niche on this campus. It wasn’t hard either, it was a matter of finding out what I wanted. My parents always did say that I know what’s good for me, my father just always followed it up with “but I know what’s best.” That’s him alright.

Buena suerte.

“The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.” Albert Einstein.

A man of many talents and various admirers around the world, Albert Einstein was a lot of common sense in a scientific mind. He brought us the reality that no one is perfect and no one knows it all, but if logic prevails, you will triumph every time. I went this evening to see the guest lecturer speaking for Darwin week which if you didn’t already know is this week because in fact, Charles Darwin’s birthday is this Sunday. His work looks pretty good for this being his 203^rd birthday. The speaker, a Dr. Massimo Pigluicci, was absolutely spectacular. Not only were his points excellent and his speaking brilliantly done, but the ideas he brought forth were perfect for starting the gears to move in my head, along with everyone there.

I enjoy doing things for myself like go to these types of lectures, but I often get caught up in something else and miss out. It’s my own fault. I’m usually doing something that doesn’t make sense or that I can easily do later. It makes all the difference when doing homework if you get it done immediately after class or wait until after dinner or something. The moment I come in the door I do something that needs to get done. It helps me feel accomplished and I continue to do it. It might not be right after the first thing, but it definitely gets done before the night really sets in. I kick myself every time I let homework go until after watching some show because my mind doesn’t work if I let it shut off from the rest of the day.

I guess Friday is a great day because I’m looking forward to getting a lot done and having some good work to do in lab. Life doesn’t get any more exciting because when you live life on the edge, you have the constant fear of falling off your seat. Now that’s exhilarating.

Buena suerte.

“You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish.” Anita Brookner.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think that I’m going to be facing more stress next year. I hadn’t originally planned on taking 17 to 18 credit hours my senior year, but since the year is slowly coming closer, I’ve noticed that I have quite a bit more to go. I guess that the more that I thought I could lay back, the more I had to realize that I have a bunch of class to take. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should keep a tally of your classes more early on so that you’re not blind-sided into not seeing the 30+ hours that you need to be taking.

I’m debating between some of the classes that I need to take, but one of the biggest problems that I’ve come across is one that faces the majority of students when they begin to come up with the classes that they’re going to take for the next semester. I have noticed that there are quite a few of my classes that can only be taken in either the fall or spring. It’s extremely important that you find this out sooner than I have. I still have the time to plan for this, but it doesn’t mean a whole lot to me since I wasn’t planning on taking some hard courses during one semester and take the other semester full of easier courses. It may be the way I have to do it though. For a while I wasn’t worried, but when I found out my last semester might be my hardest, I tweeked out a bit. I’m just going to have to trust my mind and my judgment on this one.

When it comes to the future of my collegiate career I’m trying to stay hopeful. My parents don’t really understand, but are still supportive and my mentors have been there the entire way. I’m really glad I have a great base of people. As far as my classes go, I’m working on it, and dependent on if I stay here this summer or not, I’ll be finished with more or less stress. There is nothing to stop me now but myself.

Buena suerte.

“Learning starts with failure; the first failure is the start of education.” John Hersey.

For lack of a better way to put this, my fall semester did not go so well. I dug myself a bit of a hole to climb out of this semester. It shouldn’t be too bad since I’ve been in pretty good control the rest of my undergraduate career. I have been under the assumption for a while that my career path would lead to an eventual position as a veterinarian. More recently I have found myself pushing myself further and further away from this idea. I’ve only been slightly happy when working with veterinary clinics and animals of the veterinary practice.

This summer has really made me rack my mind into thinking thoroughly about what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have always been at peace when outside. It has been an absolutely wondrous event any time I step into nature. There is a special part of me that has always been tied to the beautiful greenery. I haven’t fully embraced this though. I’ve kept it under wraps in order to fulfill a more acceptable role within the confines of the place I grew up. I thought the only way to find peace in a town is to find a suitable career. This is not the way I should have been looking at it. I should have been thinking about where I want to be to fulfill my life’s goals and ambitions. There is nothing greater than experiencing nature at its finest.

Working at a national wildlife refuge is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my entire life. It made me a more interesting and more traveled as well as more knowledgeable person. That’s why it was so hard this semester to decide what I wanted to do. It was great to finally talk all of this out with my mentor. He made it clear to me that I had decided for myself already and that I needed to do what I knew I was capable of. It was the decision that made my classes essentially choose themselves this semester. Everything seemed to fall into place because of me taking a slower pace at this semester. I’m ready for this semester to hit me head on because with this new take on life I’m ready.

With the new tracks that are meant for the zoology major it was a difficult decision to find if I wanted to completely switch to a different track and forget about veterinary school all together. What I’ve finally decided to do is to put off applying for veterinary school until next fall instead of this coming one. It’s given me a lot of room to figure out what is important what I really want to do. I’m looking forward to the future with a new optimism and a note to all:
Figuring out what you want to do with your life comes with time and failing a couple of times. Jobs don’t fall into your lap. – Boy that’d be nice.

Buena suerte mis amigos

“The test of a man’s or woman’s breeding is how they behave in a quarrel. Anybody can behave well when things are going smoothly.” George Bernard Shaw.

It slips my mind often enough that I try not to let it phase me, but I am being ruled by the classes I’m taking this semester. I’m not quite sure if it’s my mentality or the course load itself, but I am truly bogged down with work and study. My courses next semester hopefully won’t be as intense. I’m only taking fourteen hours in the spring which will be a welcomed break from heavier course loads of the past. My mind and body are screaming for the end of this semester in order to finally rid myself of the difficulties and work on cleaning up my GPA as it is likely to be taken down a bit due to the courses I’m enrolled in.

I’m waiting to hear back from an employer that I interviewed with earlier this month. I was supposed to have heard from them around the end of the month. Now that it’s the last day of the month, I’m a bit worried. Usually when I interview I’m told a time of getting back to and if I get the position I’m reached earlier than said time. When I don’t get the position I get an email or letter about a week late telling me of the bad news. I guess when I’m stressing about classes it just takes one more thing to toss me over the edge. I’ve taken up meditation recently to try to calm and center my mind. I really wish I could master it, but monkey mind strikes at the worst of times. Shutting out thought is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Buenas suerte y salud mis amigos