I have decided (80% decided) to drop my climate change impacts class. It's not exactly what I thought it would be like. I like the lectures because it tells you things about climate change, how to observe data to determine if and when trends are occurring and stuff like that, but our assignments are about how to convince people climate change is occurring at certain ecological levels. These are not climate skeptics, but those who just have not been that involved with the news or science. I just find the assignments a little tedious when I already have my policy class that has similar assignments and a ton of reading for each class. I think it's a good class to have in the science field, I just don't think I really want to put the effort in this quarter for it. So I'm on the verge of dropping and just attending the lectures and not doing the assignments. We will also have to analyze data and show the climate change impacts. I don't know...I'm just not that jazzed about the class after I've sat in two lectures already. One part of me says, "This would be a good class to take so you can communicate climate science" and the other side of me goes, "I really don't need these tedious assignments to learn how to communicate climate science when this is not a communications class, but a climate change impacts class. So all I'm really saying is, "The snow will not last as long!" or something like that and that's just not as interesting." So...Yeah. I just may listen to the lectures to learn the impacts (my original reason I wanted to take the class) and skip the assignments.
In other news, I found out how to give Otis and Lotus their own FB link! You have to have a minimum of 25 people and their pages does! You can directly connect to their page without logging in at this link: https://www.facebook.com/Otis.Lotus. You have to be signed up with FB to be able to comment, but you can read everything and view everything. :) Of course, to see updates in your feed, you need to like them.
I also got my Oberon iPad cover today! It's amazing and so much fun to touch, smell, and look at. It definitely catches your eye when it's just sitting somewhere too. I should have told them no pockets, but it's okay. I know I won't use them because they're so small and they cover up the wool at the bottom, but it's okay having them too. Perhaps a business card will be placed into the pockets and they won't scratch the iPad either. Here are a few pictures: Creekbed Maple in fern - front; Creekbed Maple in fern - full. The cover is a "wrap around" cover so the front picture continues onto the back. When you look at it fully, it makes a full picture. They send you a little charm with your purchases, so I added it to the bungee closure of the cover. The charm is a maple leaf (think Canada's maple leaf on the flag). It looks better in person than it does in the photos too. The cover is a little stiff right now, but with use the leather will relax a little more (e.g., doesn't fold very well right now). I got my eye on a Moleskine in saddle now. :)
Anyway, with that, it's time to head out. I haven't done any policy reading and have decided to skip Monday's option for the written assignment (only have to do three and there are over 15 opportunities). I'm also thinking of maybe doing my paper on the bill going through the Senate (soon or now?) on harmful algal blooms OR something about shark fining. I'm still browsing websites. But...I will certainly enjoy my policy reading more with my new cover and having my iPad! (Thanks mom and dad!)
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
More movies and school
Soo...Two more movies watched:
Fair Game (Naomi Watts, Sean Penn): This is the movie about Valerie Plame Wilson and the scandal back in 2003 (I think it was 2003) about her status as a CIA agent being revealed. The movie is based off her book with the same title. It was an okay movie. The movie started in early 2003 (I think) and basically led up to the moment she testified. It was an odd combination of trying to chronicle her being a CIA agent (she does some convert things in the Middle East) and the moment she's revealed. So it starts off like a spy type film and then moves into a drama. I don't remember the whole trial and investigation (I remember hearing about it too -- who can forget a name like Scooter Libby!), but this movie was really before the trial and the investigation happens in the background as it goes through her martial struggles with her husband and all that. It was okay. I don't even know if I can really grade it, but for shear entertainment, here's my opinion. Grade: C/C+
Love & Other Drugs (Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal): This film was kind of weird because it's classified underneath a rom-com, but it migrates from a rom-com to a drama. It's definitely an adult film and there is a fair amount of cussing and nudity (saw Hathaway's breast a lot and Gyllenhaal's butt a few times). This movie is also based off a book called "Hard Sell" and it's mostly about a viagra salesman, which Gyllenhaal plays. However, Hathaway's character and story is thrown into the movie and (based on the book reviews) does not exist in the book at all. The movie has a feel of a true story since Pfizer is showcased and some other drugs. It was funny at points and it was a cute rom-com for itself, but it wasn't really that impressive. The love story definitely takes the forefront over the selling of pharmaceutical drugs and Parkinson's plays an interesting role in this too (Hathaway's character has early onset of Parkinson's). Other than that...eh. Grade: C
School started this week. My LAST quarter of grad school! I managed to make a great first impression with a prof because she thought class got out at 11:30, but the Bren schedule says 11:15. So at 11:20 I raised my hand and said, "Doesn't class get out at 11:15?" She said, "Does it? I have it written as 11:30. Oh well, I'll go ahead and let you guys out now." Weird. I have never been in a Bren class that lasts longer than 1:15 hours unless it's a lab and those are typically 1:50 hours. So...who knows. I guess I'll find out Monday who was right. LoL I have had a class with her before too. Although, I doubt she remembers me beyond facial recognition. :) That was my policy class...and I have to come up with a policy to do a case study on. I can't decide what to do...Anything I want to do isn't environmental or I've already done it if I know it. I guess I'll do some policy research. It can be anything too: state, local, national, international.
My other class that I might drop (can't decide) is climate change impacts. I want to learn in the class, but don't want to do any of the work! UGH! So...I don't know if I'll keep with it or drop it. We have to do a case study about some location, all the data, and determine if and how climate change will impact a location. It's interesting, but I don't want to do all the tedious work of the weekly writing assignments that are reflections on what we read. Ironically, climate change impacts has very similar assignments to my policy class and even requires us to turn them in 24 hours before the class. So weird.
My other class is the marine environment in a changing world and class was canceled on Monday. Supposedly it was going to be reschedule, but we still haven't heard about that so I wonder if we'll have class twice one week instead. I'm looking forward to that class, though. End of April is when my fisheries economics advanced class (1.5 weeks) starts. I'm a little intimidated, I must admit. Economics in 1.5 weeks...What was I thinking?! Oh well.
I ordered my Oberon iPad cover! I'm soooo excited! My "to buy/wish list" keeps increasing, though...Somehow when you buy things from it, it just manages to add a new thing on. :P I do really like their customer service, though. I ordered the iPad cover last night and this morning I got a call asking if I wanted it for the original iPad or iPad 2. They have been getting a TON of requests for them to do an iPad 2 cover so they wanted to make sure I knew it was only for the 1st version. It was very nice of them to double check.
Anyway, with that...back to rearranging the apartment and gotta do some school reading for next week. Trying to get ahead. Good intentions, but there's always "tomorrow".
Fair Game (Naomi Watts, Sean Penn): This is the movie about Valerie Plame Wilson and the scandal back in 2003 (I think it was 2003) about her status as a CIA agent being revealed. The movie is based off her book with the same title. It was an okay movie. The movie started in early 2003 (I think) and basically led up to the moment she testified. It was an odd combination of trying to chronicle her being a CIA agent (she does some convert things in the Middle East) and the moment she's revealed. So it starts off like a spy type film and then moves into a drama. I don't remember the whole trial and investigation (I remember hearing about it too -- who can forget a name like Scooter Libby!), but this movie was really before the trial and the investigation happens in the background as it goes through her martial struggles with her husband and all that. It was okay. I don't even know if I can really grade it, but for shear entertainment, here's my opinion. Grade: C/C+
Love & Other Drugs (Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal): This film was kind of weird because it's classified underneath a rom-com, but it migrates from a rom-com to a drama. It's definitely an adult film and there is a fair amount of cussing and nudity (saw Hathaway's breast a lot and Gyllenhaal's butt a few times). This movie is also based off a book called "Hard Sell" and it's mostly about a viagra salesman, which Gyllenhaal plays. However, Hathaway's character and story is thrown into the movie and (based on the book reviews) does not exist in the book at all. The movie has a feel of a true story since Pfizer is showcased and some other drugs. It was funny at points and it was a cute rom-com for itself, but it wasn't really that impressive. The love story definitely takes the forefront over the selling of pharmaceutical drugs and Parkinson's plays an interesting role in this too (Hathaway's character has early onset of Parkinson's). Other than that...eh. Grade: C
School started this week. My LAST quarter of grad school! I managed to make a great first impression with a prof because she thought class got out at 11:30, but the Bren schedule says 11:15. So at 11:20 I raised my hand and said, "Doesn't class get out at 11:15?" She said, "Does it? I have it written as 11:30. Oh well, I'll go ahead and let you guys out now." Weird. I have never been in a Bren class that lasts longer than 1:15 hours unless it's a lab and those are typically 1:50 hours. So...who knows. I guess I'll find out Monday who was right. LoL I have had a class with her before too. Although, I doubt she remembers me beyond facial recognition. :) That was my policy class...and I have to come up with a policy to do a case study on. I can't decide what to do...Anything I want to do isn't environmental or I've already done it if I know it. I guess I'll do some policy research. It can be anything too: state, local, national, international.
My other class that I might drop (can't decide) is climate change impacts. I want to learn in the class, but don't want to do any of the work! UGH! So...I don't know if I'll keep with it or drop it. We have to do a case study about some location, all the data, and determine if and how climate change will impact a location. It's interesting, but I don't want to do all the tedious work of the weekly writing assignments that are reflections on what we read. Ironically, climate change impacts has very similar assignments to my policy class and even requires us to turn them in 24 hours before the class. So weird.
My other class is the marine environment in a changing world and class was canceled on Monday. Supposedly it was going to be reschedule, but we still haven't heard about that so I wonder if we'll have class twice one week instead. I'm looking forward to that class, though. End of April is when my fisheries economics advanced class (1.5 weeks) starts. I'm a little intimidated, I must admit. Economics in 1.5 weeks...What was I thinking?! Oh well.
I ordered my Oberon iPad cover! I'm soooo excited! My "to buy/wish list" keeps increasing, though...Somehow when you buy things from it, it just manages to add a new thing on. :P I do really like their customer service, though. I ordered the iPad cover last night and this morning I got a call asking if I wanted it for the original iPad or iPad 2. They have been getting a TON of requests for them to do an iPad 2 cover so they wanted to make sure I knew it was only for the 1st version. It was very nice of them to double check.
Anyway, with that...back to rearranging the apartment and gotta do some school reading for next week. Trying to get ahead. Good intentions, but there's always "tomorrow".
Monday, June 9, 2008
*passes out*
I thought when you graduated from college you're supposed to be LESS tired. I somehow have done the opposite. I feel MORE tired now than I did in the final weeks of college! I'm less stressed (that's for sure), but I'm definitely more tired. I'm sleeping well at night (or so I think) and I'm going to sleep before midnight and I seem to be waking up at a consistent time the majority of the time in a week (I can't sleep past 8:30am most days and if I can, I wake up then anyway). So...it's a bit baffling. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up on sleep sometime. Between MBARI, Borders, and the aquarium I seem to be having a hard time in finding a day when I have time to just, well, relax. Oh well. I just need to get through June and I'll have time to lounge while I'm recuperating from getting my tonsils removed and I have the half-week in Pismo too.
In the Fall MPC is offering Macro- and Microeconomics. They're back-to-back in the morning and afternoon (or afternoon) so I'll be taking both classes next fall. Might as well get 'em over with! It's $20 a unit and they're 3 unit classes each. So...I'm going to have to PAY for the tuition at $120. How weird is that going to feel? I'm used to getting money BACK from tuition. LoL That means between books and fees...next semester ain't gonna be "cheap." I was hoping for 1 day a week classes, but they're twice a week at 1.5 hours for each class. So that's 6 hours of class in a week. That's going to seem weird. CSUMB, in ESSP, rarely has classes that are 1.5 hours long. So those always seem short since classes are usually 2 hours, but there are 3 hour classes and those are EXCRUCIATINGLY long. So...It'll be interesting to see how 2 back-to-back classes that are 1.5 hours each feels.
October is when the GSP positions open. So I can start applying for that then and looking at what positions are even open. Applications end in January, so I have to have all my grad school apps in before Jan so I can send them off with the GSP application proving I'm applying to grad schools. Should be interesting. I need to start studying again for the GRE. I'm tempted to not take it again since Columbia doesn't require it and Judy's letter of rec (I'm sure she'll write me one) would probably be good enough for UofW since she knows the entire faculty/staff in the Marine Affairs program! But...You never know. So...I'll probably chuck out the $150 and go to San Jose and take the test again. Grad school ain't cheap and trying to get INTO grad school isn't cheap either! For a society that looks at Bachelor's as almost nothing these days, you'd think Master's would be either a) cheaper, b) easier to finance, or c) easier to get into. Of course, things don't work that way.
I am thinking, at least now, of getting my PhD. I'd like to teach in a college, eventually, when I think the government is completely hopeless. LoL Teaching has its rewards and I can grab impressible minds and mold them to my ways and send them off into the world easier then.
Of course, you never know down the line!
OH! I was so upset about my grades that I never mentioned Laurie, Kate, and Kate's family coming to see us on Sunday (a bit over a week ago!). Chris and I met up with them at the aquarium and toured the aquarium with them. Then they came to my house and they had dinner. It was a nice time and it was fantastic to see them! I was thinking about it and there's 11 Beanies (including myself) and by the end of this summer I'll have met all but 4 of them. Not bad for a year and having Beanies in Australia, all over the US (West coast, Central US (north and south), and East Coast), and Europe!
Well...with that. I think I'll head off, read, eat, and sleep.
In the Fall MPC is offering Macro- and Microeconomics. They're back-to-back in the morning and afternoon (or afternoon) so I'll be taking both classes next fall. Might as well get 'em over with! It's $20 a unit and they're 3 unit classes each. So...I'm going to have to PAY for the tuition at $120. How weird is that going to feel? I'm used to getting money BACK from tuition. LoL That means between books and fees...next semester ain't gonna be "cheap." I was hoping for 1 day a week classes, but they're twice a week at 1.5 hours for each class. So that's 6 hours of class in a week. That's going to seem weird. CSUMB, in ESSP, rarely has classes that are 1.5 hours long. So those always seem short since classes are usually 2 hours, but there are 3 hour classes and those are EXCRUCIATINGLY long. So...It'll be interesting to see how 2 back-to-back classes that are 1.5 hours each feels.
October is when the GSP positions open. So I can start applying for that then and looking at what positions are even open. Applications end in January, so I have to have all my grad school apps in before Jan so I can send them off with the GSP application proving I'm applying to grad schools. Should be interesting. I need to start studying again for the GRE. I'm tempted to not take it again since Columbia doesn't require it and Judy's letter of rec (I'm sure she'll write me one) would probably be good enough for UofW since she knows the entire faculty/staff in the Marine Affairs program! But...You never know. So...I'll probably chuck out the $150 and go to San Jose and take the test again. Grad school ain't cheap and trying to get INTO grad school isn't cheap either! For a society that looks at Bachelor's as almost nothing these days, you'd think Master's would be either a) cheaper, b) easier to finance, or c) easier to get into. Of course, things don't work that way.
I am thinking, at least now, of getting my PhD. I'd like to teach in a college, eventually, when I think the government is completely hopeless. LoL Teaching has its rewards and I can grab impressible minds and mold them to my ways and send them off into the world easier then.
Of course, you never know down the line!OH! I was so upset about my grades that I never mentioned Laurie, Kate, and Kate's family coming to see us on Sunday (a bit over a week ago!). Chris and I met up with them at the aquarium and toured the aquarium with them. Then they came to my house and they had dinner. It was a nice time and it was fantastic to see them! I was thinking about it and there's 11 Beanies (including myself) and by the end of this summer I'll have met all but 4 of them. Not bad for a year and having Beanies in Australia, all over the US (West coast, Central US (north and south), and East Coast), and Europe!
Well...with that. I think I'll head off, read, eat, and sleep.
Monday, June 2, 2008
What a week...
I can't even begin to describe my last week working the Ocean Science Summit that MBARI put on with some co-hosts, but let's just say my timesheet says I worked 30.5 hours in 3 days (Tues-Thurs)! It was lots of work, but it was amazing to see all these government workers and scientists from all over the nation coming to one spot. We had the Senator of Rhode Island come out, two state Legislators (our local Congressman Farr and Congresswoman Capps from further south), and Leon Panetta spoke. Lots of NOAA reps from different branches came too. Founders/Co-founders/CEO/Presidents of various conservation/environmental organizations/agencies came out (e.g. Peter Selligman (sp?) from Conservation International). Scientists from different institutions all over the nation came too. So that was neat. Being with them for 2.5 days straight made you feel like you were starting to get to know them as an everyday part of your life. LoL I never really got to speak to most of them, but everyone, after a while, knew who was apart of the Summit and it was kind of nice. I still feel like I'm exhausted from it, though!
On a topic change, grades came out today. *sigh* I'm a wee bit disappointed in them, but whatever.
Marine cons: B+
Marine cons discussion: B (saw that one coming! LoL)
Capstone: A- (all 6 units *cries* and because of ONE POINT)
Grad class: A-
Physics: A
Physics lab: A
Semester GPA: 3.65 <--- That's my 2nd to worst GPA at CSUMB.
So...My FINAL GPA for my bachelor's is a 3.83. I dropped 0.02 with this last semester, which I blame on the A-'s, but I think I'd still have dropped 0.01 with the B+ and B from Marine cons. I can't be really bummed about it because it's a good final GPA, but it's not perfect.
Oh well. GPA is high enough to make me an eligible candidate for the Graduate Sciences Program at NOAA and my semester GPAs are high enough for some other stuff too. Time to start really looking at grants, fellowships, and scholarships for grad school!
On a topic change, grades came out today. *sigh* I'm a wee bit disappointed in them, but whatever.
Marine cons: B+
Marine cons discussion: B (saw that one coming! LoL)
Capstone: A- (all 6 units *cries* and because of ONE POINT)
Grad class: A-
Physics: A
Physics lab: A
Semester GPA: 3.65 <--- That's my 2nd to worst GPA at CSUMB.
So...My FINAL GPA for my bachelor's is a 3.83. I dropped 0.02 with this last semester, which I blame on the A-'s, but I think I'd still have dropped 0.01 with the B+ and B from Marine cons. I can't be really bummed about it because it's a good final GPA, but it's not perfect.
Oh well. GPA is high enough to make me an eligible candidate for the Graduate Sciences Program at NOAA and my semester GPAs are high enough for some other stuff too. Time to start really looking at grants, fellowships, and scholarships for grad school! Monday, May 19, 2008
Post-Graduation
Graduation was hot, but went really well. It was a lot of fun seeing all our family and friends who came to celebrate my graduation. The food at the luncheon was fantastic! Everyone worked so hard and I'm very thankful for everything that was done in honor of me. Other than being tired (okay, exhausted from everything), I enjoyed myself immensely.
Sunday I basically lazed around. LoL Chris and I went out and it was kind of nice to just be able to sit and not have to socialize, worry about school, or anything. In fact, at one point in the day I was beginning to think, "what am I going to do with myself?! I don't have to do ANYTHING." So...I'm trying to get used to the fact I'm not required to do anything. I don't have to do anything. I'm sure that'll wear off as I gear up for summer as I'm working and all that and get some things I've wanted to get done, done. I also need to start organizing all my grad school stuff if I plan to apply as early as I possibly can. I don't want to procrastinate on that stuff!
Today my mom and I went to the ENT to ask about my tonsils. It's been decided I'm getting them out on Friday, July 11th. Joy. He also said I have a slightly enlarged thyroid too and when they do my blood work before the surgery, they'll also test the thyroid. It's probably nothing (no nodules or anything), but wants to just make sure. He also asked if I snore and if I'm tired a lot. Everyone (and even myself) always says I'm ALWAYS tired. There's actually a possibility it's because of my tonsils and whatnot that I'm so tired! He says even with all I do, I shouldn't be that tired so much. So...maybe after this I won't be so tired!
He also cleaned my ears out. All doctors who check my ears always says I have a lot of ear wax in my ears, but I've never done anything about it and neither have they. Dr. Block actually did something about it. I had like "tubes" of dark ear wax in my ear. It was impressive and rather disgusting at the same time. My ear drums look fine he said after he got the ear wax out, but my hearing seems funny now. I feel like I hear the higher pitches better, but my ears almost feel like they're "full." So it's kind of a weird feeling.
As for my potential trip to Australia. I actually got enough from graduation that I could actually think it's financially feasible to go to Australia. So I checked airfares. Airfares have gone up. :( They're at $2.7k to $3.1k. I just can't justify spending that much on airfare. $1.6k or $1.7k was already pushing it for me, but I figured with the grad money I got, I could do it. Now I can't.
So...With my surgery, not going to Australia, Terminus, two weddings, my MBARI final day being extended...My summer is basically planned out. I'm working all of June at MBARI. July 2-6 is Pismo with the family. July 9th is my pre-surgery appointment. July 11th is my surgery. I'm taking at least a week off for recovery for my tonsils. That leaves only two open weeks left in July. August 2nd is my friend's wedding in Carmel. August 4-12 is Terminus and Chicago. August 22nd is my cousin's wedding in SoCal. Sometime the end of August or beginning of September Fall classes start at MPC and I need to take macro- and microeconomics. So...Yup. Summer is all planned out basically.
With that, I'm off to relax some more. I stayed up late last night finishing a book I could finally read! I've got a chiropractor appointment at 2:30 for my back. I'm tired of waking up in the morning because my back's hurting.
Sunday I basically lazed around. LoL Chris and I went out and it was kind of nice to just be able to sit and not have to socialize, worry about school, or anything. In fact, at one point in the day I was beginning to think, "what am I going to do with myself?! I don't have to do ANYTHING." So...I'm trying to get used to the fact I'm not required to do anything. I don't have to do anything. I'm sure that'll wear off as I gear up for summer as I'm working and all that and get some things I've wanted to get done, done. I also need to start organizing all my grad school stuff if I plan to apply as early as I possibly can. I don't want to procrastinate on that stuff!
Today my mom and I went to the ENT to ask about my tonsils. It's been decided I'm getting them out on Friday, July 11th. Joy. He also said I have a slightly enlarged thyroid too and when they do my blood work before the surgery, they'll also test the thyroid. It's probably nothing (no nodules or anything), but wants to just make sure. He also asked if I snore and if I'm tired a lot. Everyone (and even myself) always says I'm ALWAYS tired. There's actually a possibility it's because of my tonsils and whatnot that I'm so tired! He says even with all I do, I shouldn't be that tired so much. So...maybe after this I won't be so tired!
He also cleaned my ears out. All doctors who check my ears always says I have a lot of ear wax in my ears, but I've never done anything about it and neither have they. Dr. Block actually did something about it. I had like "tubes" of dark ear wax in my ear. It was impressive and rather disgusting at the same time. My ear drums look fine he said after he got the ear wax out, but my hearing seems funny now. I feel like I hear the higher pitches better, but my ears almost feel like they're "full." So it's kind of a weird feeling.
As for my potential trip to Australia. I actually got enough from graduation that I could actually think it's financially feasible to go to Australia. So I checked airfares. Airfares have gone up. :( They're at $2.7k to $3.1k. I just can't justify spending that much on airfare. $1.6k or $1.7k was already pushing it for me, but I figured with the grad money I got, I could do it. Now I can't.
So...With my surgery, not going to Australia, Terminus, two weddings, my MBARI final day being extended...My summer is basically planned out. I'm working all of June at MBARI. July 2-6 is Pismo with the family. July 9th is my pre-surgery appointment. July 11th is my surgery. I'm taking at least a week off for recovery for my tonsils. That leaves only two open weeks left in July. August 2nd is my friend's wedding in Carmel. August 4-12 is Terminus and Chicago. August 22nd is my cousin's wedding in SoCal. Sometime the end of August or beginning of September Fall classes start at MPC and I need to take macro- and microeconomics. So...Yup. Summer is all planned out basically.
With that, I'm off to relax some more. I stayed up late last night finishing a book I could finally read! I've got a chiropractor appointment at 2:30 for my back. I'm tired of waking up in the morning because my back's hurting.
Friday, May 16, 2008
YAYAY!!!
I'm finished with school!
I did my capstone presentation today that went really well. So...with the completion of that...I'm FINISHED!!!
Okay. Time to go relax with the fam, have the graduation ceremony tomorrow, have the luncheon, and hang out with friends tomorrow night.
Before I do that all, though. I need to go lay down. I managed to fall down the stairs yesterday night and have tweaked my back. Go figure. I'm okay, though! I just have some lower back pain when laying down and sitting certain ways, but I'm not like in "must rush to the doctor - NOW" pain or something. The proof of my fall lies with the scrapped off paint on the railing on the stairs. LoL My poor cell phone :( It has paint on it and some of the pain on it got scrapped off. No holes in the wall either, considering my other hand (without the phone) had my keys in it and stopped me from completely smashing into the wall. My bad instincts don't let me drop things, but I have enough of instincts to think (the entire time) "don't bash your head on anything!" That's what was going through my head. LoL
Okay...time to RELAX!!!
I did my capstone presentation today that went really well. So...with the completion of that...I'm FINISHED!!!
Okay. Time to go relax with the fam, have the graduation ceremony tomorrow, have the luncheon, and hang out with friends tomorrow night.
Before I do that all, though. I need to go lay down. I managed to fall down the stairs yesterday night and have tweaked my back. Go figure. I'm okay, though! I just have some lower back pain when laying down and sitting certain ways, but I'm not like in "must rush to the doctor - NOW" pain or something. The proof of my fall lies with the scrapped off paint on the railing on the stairs. LoL My poor cell phone :( It has paint on it and some of the pain on it got scrapped off. No holes in the wall either, considering my other hand (without the phone) had my keys in it and stopped me from completely smashing into the wall. My bad instincts don't let me drop things, but I have enough of instincts to think (the entire time) "don't bash your head on anything!" That's what was going through my head. LoL
Okay...time to RELAX!!!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Capstone Presentation - *sigh*
So...
I did my capstone presentation practice today. Various things went wrong...I had the powerpoint on my e-mail - didn't work. So I luckily had a back-up, which worked. My presentation was 10.5 minutes long (not bad), but I talked WAY, WAY too fast (I was worried about time) and I stumbled over a lot of words (oops). Then Dan, Judy, and I were going over my powerpoint and I never explained what a HAB is (oops) and some other things. It got down to the point where I was just frustrated with my powerpoint (I don't like it...) and we were going over it and I felt like I was just going to cry. I'm just so OVER this. I got over the urge, though, and we finished. Dan had to leave eventually and Judy and I kept at it a bit longer. I feel better about my practice tomorrow and I feel better about my capstone presentation, but I'm just...I'm tired. I'm just ready for this to all be over with. I just need to rework some of what I say and add in/change a few slides. But the powerpoint, overall, wasn't bad.
On the good news side...My end date with MBARI was supposed to be tomorrow (the 15th), but has been extended to June 27th. I'll be working on the Florida report (they're almost finished). So...that's nice.
I did my capstone presentation practice today. Various things went wrong...I had the powerpoint on my e-mail - didn't work. So I luckily had a back-up, which worked. My presentation was 10.5 minutes long (not bad), but I talked WAY, WAY too fast (I was worried about time) and I stumbled over a lot of words (oops). Then Dan, Judy, and I were going over my powerpoint and I never explained what a HAB is (oops) and some other things. It got down to the point where I was just frustrated with my powerpoint (I don't like it...) and we were going over it and I felt like I was just going to cry. I'm just so OVER this. I got over the urge, though, and we finished. Dan had to leave eventually and Judy and I kept at it a bit longer. I feel better about my practice tomorrow and I feel better about my capstone presentation, but I'm just...I'm tired. I'm just ready for this to all be over with. I just need to rework some of what I say and add in/change a few slides. But the powerpoint, overall, wasn't bad.
On the good news side...My end date with MBARI was supposed to be tomorrow (the 15th), but has been extended to June 27th. I'll be working on the Florida report (they're almost finished). So...that's nice.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
No more finals - Yay!
So...
I've finished all my finals. I've just got capstone presentation practices and capstone presentation to get through along with my physics paper.
It's such a nice feeling...
I've finished all my finals. I've just got capstone presentation practices and capstone presentation to get through along with my physics paper.
It's such a nice feeling...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Welcome to Finals Week
Finals week it is. Ugh.
I made it through these past two weeks sick, but I went to the doctor's yesterday and was prescribed antibiotics. They seem to be working. My throat doesn't hurt as much, though my ears are still a bit plugged and it still hurts to yawn. At least I'm not coughing a whole lot and I can eat perfectly fine now. Now if I can only go to sleep before 2:30am...
This last week will go by quickly, but also be stressful. I need A's on all my finals or super high B's to maintain A's or to even have a glimpse of getting an A in classes. So a lot is riding on finals right now!
My grad class final is 150 points...That's about 35% of our grade. It's cumulative too. I got a 47/50 on our last quiz, but I've got a 90.64% in the class. He letters a bit off (I think I can get an A- all the way down to an 87%), but I SO want an A or A- in this class! 92% and higher is an A.
Marine cons I'm basically getting a B in if I don't pull out an A on this final. I got...what...an 87% on the midterm? So I need an A on this final to get an A- in the class.
Physics I'm pretty much getting an A no matter what. LoL Homework extra credit really helped me a load. I'll be REALLY surprised if I don't get an A in the class.
I got my capstone back last night from its final assessment. I got an A-. *sigh* The bummer? I was ONE POINT away from an A on it and an A makes me eligible for distinction in ESSP! So...No distinction in my major and no A in capstone. :( I'll get an A-, though, which I can't snub, but...ONE POINT?! 2+ points I could handle, but ONE?! Just seems like cruel and usual punishment...
My coming week is thus:
Saturday, May 10th: studying
Sunday: Aquarium
Monday: 10am-1pm - MBARI; 2-5pm - Physics final and Physics practice demo; 6-8pm - Grade class final
Tuesday: 10:20am-12pm - Physics demo at elementary school; 4-6pm - marine cons final
Wednesday: 2:30-3pm - capstone presentation practice
Thursday: no sure yet (MIGHT do my 2nd capstone presentation practice or on Monday at MBARI)
Friday: 1:30pm-1:45pm - Capstone presentation
Saturday, May 17th: Be at the soccer field at like 8:30am; graduation starts at 10am!!!!!!!!!!
Really, I just need to get through Tuesday and I've got some HUGE breathing room. With all my capstone practices and then my own practices...I should be really good for Friday. Which is the best way to do it because I'm going to be NERVOUS at my capstone presentation. It's nerve wracking enough to have Judy there, but then a TON of other profs will be there too and some of our "trouble" people will be there to ask you those questions you ABSOLUTELY hate because you know that was a problem in your research or you have no clue. Luckily, speaking doesn't normally scare the daylights out of me. After my first few slides I should be golden (as I normally am).
Okay, with that...back to my powerpoint making...
I made it through these past two weeks sick, but I went to the doctor's yesterday and was prescribed antibiotics. They seem to be working. My throat doesn't hurt as much, though my ears are still a bit plugged and it still hurts to yawn. At least I'm not coughing a whole lot and I can eat perfectly fine now. Now if I can only go to sleep before 2:30am...
This last week will go by quickly, but also be stressful. I need A's on all my finals or super high B's to maintain A's or to even have a glimpse of getting an A in classes. So a lot is riding on finals right now!
My grad class final is 150 points...That's about 35% of our grade. It's cumulative too. I got a 47/50 on our last quiz, but I've got a 90.64% in the class. He letters a bit off (I think I can get an A- all the way down to an 87%), but I SO want an A or A- in this class! 92% and higher is an A.
Marine cons I'm basically getting a B in if I don't pull out an A on this final. I got...what...an 87% on the midterm? So I need an A on this final to get an A- in the class.
Physics I'm pretty much getting an A no matter what. LoL Homework extra credit really helped me a load. I'll be REALLY surprised if I don't get an A in the class.
I got my capstone back last night from its final assessment. I got an A-. *sigh* The bummer? I was ONE POINT away from an A on it and an A makes me eligible for distinction in ESSP! So...No distinction in my major and no A in capstone. :( I'll get an A-, though, which I can't snub, but...ONE POINT?! 2+ points I could handle, but ONE?! Just seems like cruel and usual punishment...
My coming week is thus:
Saturday, May 10th: studying
Sunday: Aquarium
Monday: 10am-1pm - MBARI; 2-5pm - Physics final and Physics practice demo; 6-8pm - Grade class final
Tuesday: 10:20am-12pm - Physics demo at elementary school; 4-6pm - marine cons final
Wednesday: 2:30-3pm - capstone presentation practice
Thursday: no sure yet (MIGHT do my 2nd capstone presentation practice or on Monday at MBARI)
Friday: 1:30pm-1:45pm - Capstone presentation
Saturday, May 17th: Be at the soccer field at like 8:30am; graduation starts at 10am!!!!!!!!!!
Really, I just need to get through Tuesday and I've got some HUGE breathing room. With all my capstone practices and then my own practices...I should be really good for Friday. Which is the best way to do it because I'm going to be NERVOUS at my capstone presentation. It's nerve wracking enough to have Judy there, but then a TON of other profs will be there too and some of our "trouble" people will be there to ask you those questions you ABSOLUTELY hate because you know that was a problem in your research or you have no clue. Luckily, speaking doesn't normally scare the daylights out of me. After my first few slides I should be golden (as I normally am).
Okay, with that...back to my powerpoint making...
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The light, the light!
HAPPY MAY!!!
I turned in my last lit review today. I took my last grad class quiz today. I had my 2nd to last physics quiz today.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I can't believe I'm going to graduate with a bachelors in science in about 2 weeks. I can't believe it.
The thing I have to do this weekend is write my marine conservation biology paper and create my 10 minute powerpoint presentation. They're both due on Tuesday.
My final two weeks:
Monday, May 5 - Last physics lab
Tuesday - Physics lecture, marine cons paper is due, marine cons presentations
Wednesday - ASAP for last physics HW, capstone is returned
Thursday - Last physics lecture, last physics quiz, marine cons presentations (I present on this day), grad class final review
Monday, May 12 - Physics final, grad class final, capstone presentation practice to Judy?!
Tuesday - Physics demo at elementary school, marine cons bio final
Wednesday - capstone presentation practice
Thursday - capstone presentation practice
Friday - Capstone presentation, physics final paper (based on demo) is due
Saturday, May 17th - GRADUATION!
Light at the end of the tunnel...I tell ya! I'm FINALLY feeling like I CAN get excited about graduating and being finished. I just couldn't till I got past capstone. 2 weeks seems perfectly fine for me now.
On a random note (and exciting one for me)...The KENTUCKY DERBY is THIS Saturday! I'm excited. Should be a really interesting race as this year's crop of 3-year-olds have been racing pretty interesting. My heart's favorite is Big Brown, but he's breaking from gate 20 AND is the favorite...pessimism in me says "bad". My other favorite is Colonel John, because he's a CA prep runner. I'd like any of the CA prep runners to win, to be honest. Of course...Michael Matz has a runner (he trained Barbaro) and Barclay Tagg has a runner (2? can't remember...He trained Funny Cide). I have no "logical" favorite, though. I think they're all about equal.
Anyway, I'm excited. I've spent about half the year reading about the Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Not to mention 1.5 months of Triple Crown talk (Preakness is two weeks after KD, Belmont is 3 weeks after Preakness). So...I'm excited. I like the Breeders' Cup (at end of Oct), but nothing beats the TC and, particularly, the KD.
I turned in my last lit review today. I took my last grad class quiz today. I had my 2nd to last physics quiz today.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I can't believe I'm going to graduate with a bachelors in science in about 2 weeks. I can't believe it.
The thing I have to do this weekend is write my marine conservation biology paper and create my 10 minute powerpoint presentation. They're both due on Tuesday.
My final two weeks:
Monday, May 5 - Last physics lab
Tuesday - Physics lecture, marine cons paper is due, marine cons presentations
Wednesday - ASAP for last physics HW, capstone is returned
Thursday - Last physics lecture, last physics quiz, marine cons presentations (I present on this day), grad class final review
Monday, May 12 - Physics final, grad class final, capstone presentation practice to Judy?!
Tuesday - Physics demo at elementary school, marine cons bio final
Wednesday - capstone presentation practice
Thursday - capstone presentation practice
Friday - Capstone presentation, physics final paper (based on demo) is due
Saturday, May 17th - GRADUATION!
Light at the end of the tunnel...I tell ya! I'm FINALLY feeling like I CAN get excited about graduating and being finished. I just couldn't till I got past capstone. 2 weeks seems perfectly fine for me now.
On a random note (and exciting one for me)...The KENTUCKY DERBY is THIS Saturday! I'm excited. Should be a really interesting race as this year's crop of 3-year-olds have been racing pretty interesting. My heart's favorite is Big Brown, but he's breaking from gate 20 AND is the favorite...pessimism in me says "bad". My other favorite is Colonel John, because he's a CA prep runner. I'd like any of the CA prep runners to win, to be honest. Of course...Michael Matz has a runner (he trained Barbaro) and Barclay Tagg has a runner (2? can't remember...He trained Funny Cide). I have no "logical" favorite, though. I think they're all about equal.
Anyway, I'm excited. I've spent about half the year reading about the Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Not to mention 1.5 months of Triple Crown talk (Preakness is two weeks after KD, Belmont is 3 weeks after Preakness). So...I'm excited. I like the Breeders' Cup (at end of Oct), but nothing beats the TC and, particularly, the KD.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
It's finished!
I turned in my FINAL capstone assessment tonight - 5 minutes early! I couldn't believe it. I think I sat there for like 5 minutes just staring at the "send" button and staring at the short 3 sentence message I sent with it. I sat at my computer paranoid for about 10 minutes too. I kept thinking "did I remember to do this?" "add that?" "did I make this sound better?" etc. But, you know, it's gone. It's all up to Judy now on how good it actually is. I feel sort of at a loss...I've got a week to make my presentation and then on finals' week I will be practicing it like mad (2 required ones for the class and probably at least once for Judy/Bonnie). Friday at 1:15pm is my time slot for the presentation. 15 minutes (including Q&A session). Wow...gotta learn how to consolidate well!
Anyway, I am feeling perpetually behind schedule right now. Getting sick this past weekend was NOT in my plan and it has knocked me for a loop. It's 12:40am right now and I'm blogging instead of writing my marine cons lit review (last one!!). Tomorrow during my 4 hours in between class, I have to study for my last grad class quiz. That thing is 50 points and is worth 10% of my grade! I'm pulling a 91% in the class right now. I don't even want to think about what my grade will end up being if I don't do well on this quiz. Quiz is only two questions too.
Anyway, with that...I just wanted to say my capstone is FINISHED. Judy e-mailed me saying "relax and enjoy the rest of the term." Relax?! Hahaha...right...
Anyway...off to do my lit review and hit the sack. I'm running on 4.5 hours of sleep right now.
Anyway, I am feeling perpetually behind schedule right now. Getting sick this past weekend was NOT in my plan and it has knocked me for a loop. It's 12:40am right now and I'm blogging instead of writing my marine cons lit review (last one!!). Tomorrow during my 4 hours in between class, I have to study for my last grad class quiz. That thing is 50 points and is worth 10% of my grade! I'm pulling a 91% in the class right now. I don't even want to think about what my grade will end up being if I don't do well on this quiz. Quiz is only two questions too.
Anyway, with that...I just wanted to say my capstone is FINISHED. Judy e-mailed me saying "relax and enjoy the rest of the term." Relax?! Hahaha...right...
Anyway...off to do my lit review and hit the sack. I'm running on 4.5 hours of sleep right now.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Well, there went that idea...
Okay. I'm NOT reorganizing my capstone. It'd be better (easier for the reader to follow along), but would simply take too much work to reorganize it at this late of a date. I interwove some sections too tightly to be able to just cut-paste sections to where they need to go. I'd have to restructure entire paragraphs, rewrite some other paragraphs completely, etc.
So I e-mailed Judy to let her know. We'll see what she says. She did say in the last e-mail if it wasn't too much trouble. It is. Thus, it's not happening. LoL
So I e-mailed Judy to let her know. We'll see what she says. She did say in the last e-mail if it wasn't too much trouble. It is. Thus, it's not happening. LoL
Is it over yet?
It's a quarter till 2am right now as I right this. My final capstone assessment is DUE in...*counts*...about 18 hours. I'm feeling pretty good about my capstone and actually not feeling rushed to the last possible minute.
I've gone through all the prelim edits from everyone whose read my capstone. Those took a few hours. I'm moving around the order of my capstone now. Once I do that...I've got a list of things I need to do.
Once my capstone is in...I have to write my marine cons lit review (last one!), study for my grad class quiz on Thurs, start writing my marine cons paper (due on Tues), and create my marine cons pres (for Tues). That's what I have to do in a week. After that...I need to create my capstone pres (need it in 1.5 weeks), do my physics demo/paper, study for finals, and get through my last two physics hws and quizzes.
Is that seriously all I have left? Wow...I also need to sleep, eat, get better, and address my grad announcements.
Okay...Time to finish this capstone junk for tonight and SLEEP!
I've gone through all the prelim edits from everyone whose read my capstone. Those took a few hours. I'm moving around the order of my capstone now. Once I do that...I've got a list of things I need to do.
- Fix last paragraph in abstract
- Add "systems approach" to intro (worded and then appendix actual diagram)
- Make clearer my accomplishments and limitations through my paper so others know where to make this paper have statistically significant results (Judy sort of did that for me in my conclusion, but the rest of the paper needs a bit of work)
- Move methods part from intro to beginning of methods (debating that move)
- Start with research questions/hypotheses at the beginning of methods (debating that)
- Write an intro to my results and discussion section
- Check tense of results
- Eliminate first-person writing (wherever I have it left)
- Read over results/discussion sections to make sure they flow and don't repeat too much
Once my capstone is in...I have to write my marine cons lit review (last one!), study for my grad class quiz on Thurs, start writing my marine cons paper (due on Tues), and create my marine cons pres (for Tues). That's what I have to do in a week. After that...I need to create my capstone pres (need it in 1.5 weeks), do my physics demo/paper, study for finals, and get through my last two physics hws and quizzes.
Is that seriously all I have left? Wow...I also need to sleep, eat, get better, and address my grad announcements.
Okay...Time to finish this capstone junk for tonight and SLEEP!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Capstone First Assessment
OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!! I got a 28/36 on my first assessment of my capstone. That's an A-! (I know, technically that's a C+, but the grading scale for capstones is different.) I almost passed the first time around, except I missed an entire section (oops) so I got a zero and that automatically disqualifies you from passing your assessment. This is an amazing relief that I'm so close now. LoL I seriously thought I wouldn't pass a few sections all together. So I'm so excited I ended up with an A- my first go-around. I thought it'd be a B or less.
I just need 3 more points to get an A (31-34 points) and be eligible for distinction in my major!!!!!!!
Sections - points:
Cover letter - 3/3
Abstract/summary - 2.5/3
Systems approach to environmental decision making - 0/5 (oops!)
area of depth in policy competency - 4/5
Natural science competency - 5/5
Clarity of writing - 3.5/5
Project originality, complexity, and student initiative - 5/5 (I better have gotten a 5 on this section!)
Real-world application - 5/5
I just need 3 more points to get an A (31-34 points) and be eligible for distinction in my major!!!!!!!
Sections - points:
Cover letter - 3/3
Abstract/summary - 2.5/3
Systems approach to environmental decision making - 0/5 (oops!)
area of depth in policy competency - 4/5
Natural science competency - 5/5
Clarity of writing - 3.5/5
Project originality, complexity, and student initiative - 5/5 (I better have gotten a 5 on this section!)
Real-world application - 5/5
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
*rant*
People are idiots.
[Disclaimer: I apologize to anyone who does this and reads this, but I have to say it somewhere and there is NO way I'm responding to this listserv like others have.]
I got onto this listserv from Penn State because of the GRE. They sent this e-mail about a new degree to probably hundreds of people and the e-mail address is a listserv from Penn State. These STUPID people keep responding saying "please remove me from your list." Of course it sends the e-mail to EVERYONE on the listserv. So I've been getting like 20 e-mails a day from people asking to be removed. If they just didn't RESPOND no one would keep getting these e-mails! A few people have responded saying "don't respond to this e-mail because it fills up everyone's boxes," but of course no one is listening. How stupid are people? Really! It annoys the heck out of me that I keep getting all these emails with "please remove me." I simply delete them so it's not that big of an issue, but people just don't get if they don't respond, they won't get e-mails. It makes me want to bash my head into my keyboard or something. Stupidity I tell you! Stupidity!
[/rant]
This Saturday is the Award Convocation. I will be getting my cord!
I found out tonight my grad class final is on Monday the week of finals instead of Thursday (when our class is) because our professor is leaving early for the summer. Lovely. That means I go from 2-5pm for my physics final and from 6-9pm for my grad class final. Woohoo! Of course, both profs don't think either final will take 3 hours, but they give us the entire class time. Tuesday, the week of finals, is my physics demo and my marine conservation bio final. Wednesday and Thursday will be capstone presentation practices (not too bad). Friday is capstone presentation. Saturday is graduation. AHHHHHHHHHH
3 weeks from this Sat....Oh.my.gosh. I am SO not ready for the semester to be over with. I need another week or two! Capstone assessment two (and the final assessment) is due next Wednesday. I still haven't received my first assessment back, yet. *raises eyebrows*
Okay, with that. Time to sleep
[Disclaimer: I apologize to anyone who does this and reads this, but I have to say it somewhere and there is NO way I'm responding to this listserv like others have.]
I got onto this listserv from Penn State because of the GRE. They sent this e-mail about a new degree to probably hundreds of people and the e-mail address is a listserv from Penn State. These STUPID people keep responding saying "please remove me from your list." Of course it sends the e-mail to EVERYONE on the listserv. So I've been getting like 20 e-mails a day from people asking to be removed. If they just didn't RESPOND no one would keep getting these e-mails! A few people have responded saying "don't respond to this e-mail because it fills up everyone's boxes," but of course no one is listening. How stupid are people? Really! It annoys the heck out of me that I keep getting all these emails with "please remove me." I simply delete them so it's not that big of an issue, but people just don't get if they don't respond, they won't get e-mails. It makes me want to bash my head into my keyboard or something. Stupidity I tell you! Stupidity!
[/rant]
This Saturday is the Award Convocation. I will be getting my cord!
I found out tonight my grad class final is on Monday the week of finals instead of Thursday (when our class is) because our professor is leaving early for the summer. Lovely. That means I go from 2-5pm for my physics final and from 6-9pm for my grad class final. Woohoo! Of course, both profs don't think either final will take 3 hours, but they give us the entire class time. Tuesday, the week of finals, is my physics demo and my marine conservation bio final. Wednesday and Thursday will be capstone presentation practices (not too bad). Friday is capstone presentation. Saturday is graduation. AHHHHHHHHHH
3 weeks from this Sat....Oh.my.gosh. I am SO not ready for the semester to be over with. I need another week or two! Capstone assessment two (and the final assessment) is due next Wednesday. I still haven't received my first assessment back, yet. *raises eyebrows*
Okay, with that. Time to sleep
Friday, April 18, 2008
Grad School Stuff
So...I was informed of this totally cool thing that NOAA does. It's their Graduate Sciences Program. A classmate told the class about it when we had a speaker come in.
The GSP is for graduate students (MS or PhD) and NOAA pays your tuition, fees, health insurance, and gives you a housing allowance to get your MS/PhD as long as your MS/PhD fits into NOAA's "mission-related occupational fields." The way you get this is you actually become a full-time employee of NOAA and you have to work 16-weeks in a year. You get a salary, benefits, travel expenses paid, etc. The 16-weeks of work is basically as a trainee in a particular area. So that's the cool part - degree paid for and full-time NOAA employee. The catch is for every year of university level training you receive, you have to give 3 years of federal service. So if I got my MS in 2 years, I'd have to work for the federal government for 6 years.
Luckily for me, I've always wanted to work for NOAA anyway (in some capacity) since I've decided to go the Federal route than NGO. I don't want to do state because it's unstable in my field. But...6 years?! That's a LONG time. 3 years I'd have no problems doing, but 6 years is a bit long. I wonder if I could get my PhD paid for during those 6 years...
Anyway, I'm thinking of going ahead and applying for it. They get about 40 applicants a year and, on average, have accepted 5 students a year (most is 7, least is 2). I'll probably try applying before I accept at a college and if I don't get in, I'll try again for my last year (if I end up doing a 2-year MS). Applications for the GSP open in October (when you know what departments want/need a GSP). I'm going to try to do early application deadlines for grad school, so I'll know by Dec-Jan what colleges have accepted me. That'll give me some breathing room on the GSP since they'd like you to already be accepted to the college and the deadline for applications for the GSP is Jan 31st. If all else fails, I can just send with my GSP application where I've applied. I need to take the GRE again, which means I should take it sometime this summer if I'm going to try for early applications to grad school (need to pad myself about 1 month for official scores).
So...yeah, that means my summer is going to be packed with grad school stuff. I also need to make a timeline...so, anyway, that's my current ambitious goal in regards to grad school! I'm also going to look at other grants/scholarships, but some of them I won't be able to do until I get accepted to a college since lots of those send the money TO the school. NOAA does some other scholarships/grants, but if I end up getting the GSP, I can't accept those since I'll be an employee of NOAA. So, we'll see!!
My current post-graduate plans (assuming I didn't get a job at the college I graduated from or somewhere else) was to come back to Monterey and try to get an in with the Sanctuary since that's run by NOAA. So, who knows, maybe if I get the GSP I can figure out a way to come back to this Sanctuary anyway! Or, I could end up anywhere else in the country. LoL
Off of that....I turned my capstone in for the first assessment on Wednesday. I expect it to get torn apart again. I didn't manage my time well enough and ran out of time, once again. It went to my 2nd reader, so that's why I think it'll get torn apart again.
Anyway, with that. I should be off. 29 days till graduation!!
The GSP is for graduate students (MS or PhD) and NOAA pays your tuition, fees, health insurance, and gives you a housing allowance to get your MS/PhD as long as your MS/PhD fits into NOAA's "mission-related occupational fields." The way you get this is you actually become a full-time employee of NOAA and you have to work 16-weeks in a year. You get a salary, benefits, travel expenses paid, etc. The 16-weeks of work is basically as a trainee in a particular area. So that's the cool part - degree paid for and full-time NOAA employee. The catch is for every year of university level training you receive, you have to give 3 years of federal service. So if I got my MS in 2 years, I'd have to work for the federal government for 6 years.
Luckily for me, I've always wanted to work for NOAA anyway (in some capacity) since I've decided to go the Federal route than NGO. I don't want to do state because it's unstable in my field. But...6 years?! That's a LONG time. 3 years I'd have no problems doing, but 6 years is a bit long. I wonder if I could get my PhD paid for during those 6 years...
Anyway, I'm thinking of going ahead and applying for it. They get about 40 applicants a year and, on average, have accepted 5 students a year (most is 7, least is 2). I'll probably try applying before I accept at a college and if I don't get in, I'll try again for my last year (if I end up doing a 2-year MS). Applications for the GSP open in October (when you know what departments want/need a GSP). I'm going to try to do early application deadlines for grad school, so I'll know by Dec-Jan what colleges have accepted me. That'll give me some breathing room on the GSP since they'd like you to already be accepted to the college and the deadline for applications for the GSP is Jan 31st. If all else fails, I can just send with my GSP application where I've applied. I need to take the GRE again, which means I should take it sometime this summer if I'm going to try for early applications to grad school (need to pad myself about 1 month for official scores).
So...yeah, that means my summer is going to be packed with grad school stuff. I also need to make a timeline...so, anyway, that's my current ambitious goal in regards to grad school! I'm also going to look at other grants/scholarships, but some of them I won't be able to do until I get accepted to a college since lots of those send the money TO the school. NOAA does some other scholarships/grants, but if I end up getting the GSP, I can't accept those since I'll be an employee of NOAA. So, we'll see!!
My current post-graduate plans (assuming I didn't get a job at the college I graduated from or somewhere else) was to come back to Monterey and try to get an in with the Sanctuary since that's run by NOAA. So, who knows, maybe if I get the GSP I can figure out a way to come back to this Sanctuary anyway! Or, I could end up anywhere else in the country. LoL
Off of that....I turned my capstone in for the first assessment on Wednesday. I expect it to get torn apart again. I didn't manage my time well enough and ran out of time, once again. It went to my 2nd reader, so that's why I think it'll get torn apart again.
Anyway, with that. I should be off. 29 days till graduation!!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Capstone Draft
This blog really should be titled "Bethany's School Life." LoL Obviously school tends to run my life.
Anyway...I got my draft of my capstone back last night from Judy. I made myself open it today and read over her comments. Good thing my Word is default to GREEN font for reviewing, else there'd be a LOT of red everywhere. All good points, lots of word changes, etc. She basically said it's a good start. A draft is a draft so it's nothing to get worked up over, but my results were torn up and down. Though, honestly, everything she pointed out (the large problems with my results) I already knew about (though forgot about). So it wasn't that big of a shock. It's just daunting and a bit of a downer looking at how much I have to fix on my capstone. This is the reviewing process, but...eh. At least I know it'll be good by the end of it. I'm also glad I learned not to become attached to anything I write with her. Things get changed and, most times, I'd say for the better. So I try not to take it peresonally (since it's not) and say it's good criticism and it'll be okay in the end. I just can't sit here feeling down and overwhelmed. If I did, I'd NEVER get this capstone finished and I do want a) it off my plate and b) to graduate. Anyway, enough of my pep talk to myself. LoL Her overall things were my grammar, precision (or tightening) and clarity. I also made some assumptions I shouldn't have and I had this one paragraph where I just used all the wrong words (e.g. "undereducated" instead of "not well informed" or "questionable" instead of "uncertain"). Small changes with large impacts in the paragraph and lots of PC terms. Oh well. Learning I am, learning!
I set-up an appointment with her for Monday to go over my capstone with her. I'm looking over what she wants me to change and making a list of things to talk to her with about. I won't actually start revising (the large stuff) till Monday after I've spoken with her. I just don't see the point. First assessment is due April 16th at 8pm, so that's a bit scary, but it is first assessment. Second assessment is the final version and no more re-do's. Least, this is what I'm trying to tell myself. First assessment we get graded on and it goes to our 2nd reader along with our 1st reader. AHHHH
So...I'll try and kick out the homework due next week this weekend. Should be doable. That'll make me less stressed come Wednesday night after I've turned my capstone in and I have two homework assignments due Thursday!
Okay, with that. I should finish eating and get back to work.
Anyway...I got my draft of my capstone back last night from Judy. I made myself open it today and read over her comments. Good thing my Word is default to GREEN font for reviewing, else there'd be a LOT of red everywhere. All good points, lots of word changes, etc. She basically said it's a good start. A draft is a draft so it's nothing to get worked up over, but my results were torn up and down. Though, honestly, everything she pointed out (the large problems with my results) I already knew about (though forgot about). So it wasn't that big of a shock. It's just daunting and a bit of a downer looking at how much I have to fix on my capstone. This is the reviewing process, but...eh. At least I know it'll be good by the end of it. I'm also glad I learned not to become attached to anything I write with her. Things get changed and, most times, I'd say for the better. So I try not to take it peresonally (since it's not) and say it's good criticism and it'll be okay in the end. I just can't sit here feeling down and overwhelmed. If I did, I'd NEVER get this capstone finished and I do want a) it off my plate and b) to graduate. Anyway, enough of my pep talk to myself. LoL Her overall things were my grammar, precision (or tightening) and clarity. I also made some assumptions I shouldn't have and I had this one paragraph where I just used all the wrong words (e.g. "undereducated" instead of "not well informed" or "questionable" instead of "uncertain"). Small changes with large impacts in the paragraph and lots of PC terms. Oh well. Learning I am, learning!
I set-up an appointment with her for Monday to go over my capstone with her. I'm looking over what she wants me to change and making a list of things to talk to her with about. I won't actually start revising (the large stuff) till Monday after I've spoken with her. I just don't see the point. First assessment is due April 16th at 8pm, so that's a bit scary, but it is first assessment. Second assessment is the final version and no more re-do's. Least, this is what I'm trying to tell myself. First assessment we get graded on and it goes to our 2nd reader along with our 1st reader. AHHHH
So...I'll try and kick out the homework due next week this weekend. Should be doable. That'll make me less stressed come Wednesday night after I've turned my capstone in and I have two homework assignments due Thursday!
Okay, with that. I should finish eating and get back to work.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Last weekend
Wow...has it almost been a week since I turned my capstone in? Bummer...that means I've got my draft coming back to me tomorrow. Assessment one is due a week from tomorrow. AHHHHHHHHH Means another stress overload for Sun-Wed. LoL
Last week really was a stressful week on many levels...In the end, though, it turned out okay and Tori and Andy came up on Friday!! When they got here, Tori, Andy, Chris, and I went to dinner with two old co-workers. Jen cooked for us and it was GOOD. We had a good time and many laughs. After dinner we went to Borders to say bye to Anthony because it was his last day. It was fun surprising him because Chris and I walked in first and then Tyler, Jen, Tori, and Andy walked in. He was surprised so that was nice. Then we went back to Jen's to have our finishing milkshake (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Saturday was the Aquarium's Volunteer Gala. That was a lot of fun! Tori and Andy came up for the gala (i got them in) so it was fun getting ready with Tori. Tori, Shae, and I went to the beauty college and got our hair done. Then Chris came over and we all 4 took pictures and took off in Tori's car. The food was fantastic at the aquarium (as usual). They had two salads (one was a "Farmer's Market" one that was butter lettuce, some other greens, strawberries, feta or bleu cheese, and some vinagerette dressing - excellent!), steamed vegetables, sourdough rolls, braised chicken with pickled red onions, carved beef tri-tip with some mushroom thing, pacific sable with something, avocado salsa (for either the tri-tip or fish, can't remember), and mac and cheese. I miss the multi-buffet tables they've done in past years (except last year) because you had SO many food options and the themes were always great, but the food quality hasn't gone down or anything so I'm okay in the long run. LoL Chris and I ended up not getting any of the dessert (long lines FOREVER and other stuff). It was tiramusu, some shortcake/raspberry thing, cookies, and the fresh fruit with option of chocolate sauce. I don't think I've ever seen so many people at the Gala too. I think this year made my 6th one and it was just PACKED. It was fun seeing everyone all dressed up and stuff. We sat in front of the Outer Bay Window, which I think are the best seats in the entire aquarium.
I've been doing a really good cleaning on my room the last two days. Basically because I'm procrastinating. LoL Cleaning lends itself to a great excuse because it's something that needs to be done eventually and if you're in the mood, you're in the mood! I've cleaned my sheets, towels, clothes, vacuumed, uncluttered, and even did a little dusting and cleaning out of old clothes. I also cleaned my bathroom before Tori and Andy arrived. So my room is CLEAN! It's a nice feeling and it's nice to be in now. LoL I suspect with only 6 weeks left of school, I will be doing a lot of sitting/thinking/writing in my room.
With that...enough procrastination. I need to rewrite my abstract, intro, and discussion of my physics lab.
Laters!
Last week really was a stressful week on many levels...In the end, though, it turned out okay and Tori and Andy came up on Friday!! When they got here, Tori, Andy, Chris, and I went to dinner with two old co-workers. Jen cooked for us and it was GOOD. We had a good time and many laughs. After dinner we went to Borders to say bye to Anthony because it was his last day. It was fun surprising him because Chris and I walked in first and then Tyler, Jen, Tori, and Andy walked in. He was surprised so that was nice. Then we went back to Jen's to have our finishing milkshake (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Saturday was the Aquarium's Volunteer Gala. That was a lot of fun! Tori and Andy came up for the gala (i got them in) so it was fun getting ready with Tori. Tori, Shae, and I went to the beauty college and got our hair done. Then Chris came over and we all 4 took pictures and took off in Tori's car. The food was fantastic at the aquarium (as usual). They had two salads (one was a "Farmer's Market" one that was butter lettuce, some other greens, strawberries, feta or bleu cheese, and some vinagerette dressing - excellent!), steamed vegetables, sourdough rolls, braised chicken with pickled red onions, carved beef tri-tip with some mushroom thing, pacific sable with something, avocado salsa (for either the tri-tip or fish, can't remember), and mac and cheese. I miss the multi-buffet tables they've done in past years (except last year) because you had SO many food options and the themes were always great, but the food quality hasn't gone down or anything so I'm okay in the long run. LoL Chris and I ended up not getting any of the dessert (long lines FOREVER and other stuff). It was tiramusu, some shortcake/raspberry thing, cookies, and the fresh fruit with option of chocolate sauce. I don't think I've ever seen so many people at the Gala too. I think this year made my 6th one and it was just PACKED. It was fun seeing everyone all dressed up and stuff. We sat in front of the Outer Bay Window, which I think are the best seats in the entire aquarium.
I've been doing a really good cleaning on my room the last two days. Basically because I'm procrastinating. LoL Cleaning lends itself to a great excuse because it's something that needs to be done eventually and if you're in the mood, you're in the mood! I've cleaned my sheets, towels, clothes, vacuumed, uncluttered, and even did a little dusting and cleaning out of old clothes. I also cleaned my bathroom before Tori and Andy arrived. So my room is CLEAN! It's a nice feeling and it's nice to be in now. LoL I suspect with only 6 weeks left of school, I will be doing a lot of sitting/thinking/writing in my room.
With that...enough procrastination. I need to rewrite my abstract, intro, and discussion of my physics lab.
Laters!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Magna Cum Laude
I got the letter today! It is official! I am going to graduate Magna Cum Laude from CSU-Monterey Bay. :D I'm a wee bit miffed I'm so close to Summa (0.06 points), but whatever. LoL
Cum Laude = 3.5-3.74
Magna Cum Laude = 3.75-3.89
Summa Cum Laude = 3.9-4.0
They're doing an Honors Convocation on Saturday, April 26th. So that's when I'll get my honors cord I get to wear at graduation. :) Yay!
Capstone draft is due on April 2nd. April 2nd is quickly becoming too full of a day...I have ASAP from 11-12 and Academic Planning Committee meeting from 12-2pm. It's also the Grad Fair (caps/gowns/rings/pictures/info/etc) for most of the day. My capstone draft is due by 8pm. My Physics hw is due by 11:59pm. See? Full day.
Aquarium gala is next Sat, though! I'm SO excited for that. I'm seriously going to need the break after turning in the capstone draft. LoL Tori and her boyfriend Andy are coming up on Friday and I'm also taking them to the gala (got someone else's tickets). A few of us are getting together on Friday night. Tori and I are getting our hair done on Saturday and the dinner starts at 7:30 (we'll probably aim for like 7, need to be there early to nab good tables). Award ceremony (volunteer awards, one of the two people is my co-shift captain!!) starts at 7, but we'll probably skip that. I'm still slightly on the fence. I may have the others reserve spots and I'll go. I feel like I should since I feel like I should honor Sally since I've known her the entire time I've been at the aquarium and she's great.
Anyway, time for me to pass out asleep. I'm dead tired. Laters!
Cum Laude = 3.5-3.74
Magna Cum Laude = 3.75-3.89
Summa Cum Laude = 3.9-4.0
They're doing an Honors Convocation on Saturday, April 26th. So that's when I'll get my honors cord I get to wear at graduation. :) Yay!
Capstone draft is due on April 2nd. April 2nd is quickly becoming too full of a day...I have ASAP from 11-12 and Academic Planning Committee meeting from 12-2pm. It's also the Grad Fair (caps/gowns/rings/pictures/info/etc) for most of the day. My capstone draft is due by 8pm. My Physics hw is due by 11:59pm. See? Full day.
Aquarium gala is next Sat, though! I'm SO excited for that. I'm seriously going to need the break after turning in the capstone draft. LoL Tori and her boyfriend Andy are coming up on Friday and I'm also taking them to the gala (got someone else's tickets). A few of us are getting together on Friday night. Tori and I are getting our hair done on Saturday and the dinner starts at 7:30 (we'll probably aim for like 7, need to be there early to nab good tables). Award ceremony (volunteer awards, one of the two people is my co-shift captain!!) starts at 7, but we'll probably skip that. I'm still slightly on the fence. I may have the others reserve spots and I'll go. I feel like I should since I feel like I should honor Sally since I've known her the entire time I've been at the aquarium and she's great.
Anyway, time for me to pass out asleep. I'm dead tired. Laters!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
It's a beautiful day; I feel like I'm FINALLY getting better; I shall be eating excellent food soon; and it's Easter!! Life's pretty good right now. :)
My Physics teacher extended the last homework for ALL students. Wasn't that nice of him? So I immediately did all the problems and turned them in. LoL
Yesterday a bus's brakes failed and smashed into the aquarium. The aquarium is at the bottom of a hill and the bus smashed into the back wall of the main gift store and into the aquarium's logo they have on the wall on the outside. No one was hurt.
Today I booked our hotel at the Chicago Hilton for 6 nights with our arrival date August 5th! The lady who helped me book the room was really nice too. We were joking a lot and it was a pleasant experience.
I also bought my ticket to one of the keynote speakers (one of my favorite authors Tamora Pierce). So I'm all pre-planned or set-up for Terminus!!! I'm excited to be going to Chicago!
I also RSVP'd for the gala! Since I haven't been in a month, I haven't been able to RSVP at the aquarium so I called today to RSVP. I nabbed Jack's tickets so I'm bringing a friend and her boyfriend too. Should be lots of fun. :)
Well, today concludes my spring break. I go back to school tomorrow and have about 8 weeks left of school until I graduate May 17th!! Let's hope I did well on midterms. *cringes* After completing all of them, I didn't feel too good about any of them.
With that...I must be off, but I leave with this link of photos from Chris and I going out tidepooling.
My Physics teacher extended the last homework for ALL students. Wasn't that nice of him? So I immediately did all the problems and turned them in. LoL
Yesterday a bus's brakes failed and smashed into the aquarium. The aquarium is at the bottom of a hill and the bus smashed into the back wall of the main gift store and into the aquarium's logo they have on the wall on the outside. No one was hurt.
Today I booked our hotel at the Chicago Hilton for 6 nights with our arrival date August 5th! The lady who helped me book the room was really nice too. We were joking a lot and it was a pleasant experience.
I also bought my ticket to one of the keynote speakers (one of my favorite authors Tamora Pierce). So I'm all pre-planned or set-up for Terminus!!! I'm excited to be going to Chicago!
I also RSVP'd for the gala! Since I haven't been in a month, I haven't been able to RSVP at the aquarium so I called today to RSVP. I nabbed Jack's tickets so I'm bringing a friend and her boyfriend too. Should be lots of fun. :)
Well, today concludes my spring break. I go back to school tomorrow and have about 8 weeks left of school until I graduate May 17th!! Let's hope I did well on midterms. *cringes* After completing all of them, I didn't feel too good about any of them.
With that...I must be off, but I leave with this link of photos from Chris and I going out tidepooling.
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