My last year...

I'm 3 days into my 2nd to last semester at CSU-Monterey Bay. It's insane to think in less than a year I'll be done with my undergraduate degree and have a BS in Earth Science Systems and Policy with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Ecology! Course, technically, ESSP is now the new Science and Environmental Policy (SEP).

Anyway, I got my ILP (individual learning plan) signed off. Tomorrow I will have submitted and paid my $40 fee for my application for graduation for the Spring of 2008! I'm excited! And scared! LoL I'll have to join the "real world" then.

Two of the classes I was hoping to take (undergrad classes) look like they won't be offered next Spring (though according to the prof teaching one of them I want, it's supposed to be) and I have to finish a MLO (major (as in my degree) learning outcome) that has been giving me troubles. A lot of it is science application and most of the classes don't really pertain to what I want to do. So it looks like I might be taking Physics I, Capstone II, and 2 grad classes next spring. Unless I can get one of the undergrad classes (probably Conversation Marine Biology) than I'll be taking that, Capstone II, Physics I, and 1 grad class (environmental economics). So we'll see. Either way, I may just die by the end of the semester or something. :P

My water law class is quickly becoming my most boring class that has the potential to also be interesting. The first two days, though, have been dreadful snoozers. We'll see as the semester progresses. Reminds me, I need to read chapter 1 and start on chapter 2. *sigh*

Marine Bio looks to be my best class. I know most of the class and the prof has some pretty neat labs set-up that are either things in the field, going to the aquarium, or staying in the lab. We're actually going out on a boat twice, going snorkeling one day, and going to the aquarium twice! The snorkeling should be interesting since we have to be positively buoyant and we're supposed to be doing some type of transect or something in the water. I'm not sure to be honest. It should just be interesting in general. Lol That happens in two weeks, actually.

212 will be a snooze too. It's basically "food ethics." I'm only taking the class for my speech and ethics requirement, but it has a TON of writing in it. It'll be like my service learning class last semester in the assignment style and set-up, but not the topic. I'm one of a few seniors in the class too. The class is really for sophomores, but there are some juniors too.

Capstone I has started interestingly enough. They've decided to start a "standard capstone" in Spring of 2008 along with the current thesis capstone style. I'm sticking with the thesis capstone for a number of reasons (grad school, my capstone advisor would frown upon me taking the standard route, and my project will be the basis for a peer review paper, I want distinction in my major, etc), but the standard capstone is SO much less work than the thesis one. Most of my friends are taking the standard route, but I'm set on the thesis one. I'll have to take 2 semesters of capstone (I is for writing the formal proposal, II is for the paper). The standard capstone is much less formal. Here's a chart noting the differences.

With that, I'm off to read this chapter for 212 and write-up my 2 page thought piece on it. *groan* At least I don't have any marine bio homework! Though, I probably need to read the book chapter. *sigh*

Welcome back to school...

Coming Semester

So, tonight I was called "Hannah" by one of our regular customers at work who isn't a favorite customer of mine. I dunno. He's nice, but...*shrugs* He's older so do NOT get any ideas! I didn't correct him, said hi, asked him how he's doing (all automatic, btw), and I walked away because I was doing something. I hope it didn't come off as a diss....then again, I really don't like it when some customers try to know my name. *shrugs* Some customers I don't mind, but this customer I'm a bit hesitant on. Not sure why. He's not creepy, he's just...I dunno.

I start work at MBARI for NOEP on Sept 10th. I finalized my start date today. I'll be working between 10-13 hours a week there for my capstone and NOEP and 7 hours on Saturday at Borders. I'll also be doing every other Sunday for 5-5.5 hours at the aquarium for volunteer work. Not to mention my 14 units at college (that's, uhm, 16 hours of actual class in the week) and studying for the GRE. The Academic Planning Committee will have to take a definite backseat. As is, I can't attend the pre-semester meetings because of work and being out of town.

Life this semester, what life? Burnout? Uh...I'm going to try and avoid it as much as possible. I'm almost scared to burnout this semester (like I did last fall and had the worst birthday, Christmas, and new years). So we'll see how that goes. My order of letting things go: Leaky, Aquarium, Borders (4 hours instead of 7), NOEP (less than 10 hours, can't quit though). Hopefully I won't have to do any of that, but I at least have a priority list.

Now I must be off to write my cover letter for MBARI. My resume is up-to-date, but I need to write a cover letter.

Home and Stressed

HAPPY AUGUST!

I've returned from the UK (less than a week ago) and now I'm in Anaheim. I am a travelin' fool. :P

My stress level has increased, though. It's like I've returned to the real world once I came home from the UK and got the trip over with.

I have to start researching for my capstone again. I can't remember if I've mentioned my topic already, but my topic is on sea temperature rise and how it affects harmful algal blooms and domoic acid poisoning on marine life and humans and the economic impact it has on California's (specifically Monterey Bay) tourism and fishing. So I'm starting off with researching domoic acid and all that.

I also have to work the rest of the summer to make money so I can pay off my trip ASAP and get enough to pay for my textbooks. :P I only really have 1 textbook and 1 basic type book (haven't decided if I'll buy that one or not). I also need to save for the GRE classes and the test.

That's another thing! I've started to study for the GRE. I'm basically reviewing vocab words and math refresher. The math refresher is amazing because I haven't taken a basic math class in years and my last math class (Calc II) in general was 2.5 years ago!

I had another point in this post to make, but now I can't remember what it is. Oh well.

All for now. :P