"It's All Happening!"

Just finished my 500-word essay that goes along with my application to study abroad at Manchester Business School! The nervousness I was feeling a few months ago is gone, replaced totally by excitement and desire. I'm only a little worried about getting in! I might apply to this new, unannounced program to a school just outside of Paris as a backup. I'll have to wait 2 weeks for it to be added to submit my application if I want to do that. A talk with my adviser is due to see if it's worth waiting for!

Drained

I've been up since 6:30 and I'm just now about to go to bed at 11:30. I have not stopped doing things that I am required to do (physical therapy, classes, work, homework) since I woke up. Exhaustion doesn't even come close to describing this. I am completely overwhelmed.

And I'll be up at 7:30 to start it all over again.

Kick It Up A Notch?

I was invited to be in the University Honors Program for my junior and senior years, something I declined when I was first admitted to the U of M. I don't know if that's something I want to do! I certainly haven't struggled too much in the classes I've taken so far, but do I really want to increase the difficulty level and workload with Honors classes? I would also have to complete a project to graduate with honors. I work two jobs already though, so I don't want to completely kill my social life and turn into a bona fide geek over the next two years. Plus, I don't know if it's possible to get enough honors credits in if I study abroad in the fall.

Overall, my mind is made up towards not joining the program right now. The kinds of jobs I'm interested in won't really care if I graduated with a couple Latin words behind my degree. However, I've been contemplating working for a food giant like General Mills after graduation. My uncle who works there said I should really consider a big company, even though I've rejected that idea from the start. He could put in a good word for me as well. I think I'll just need to talk to him about careers within General Mills that would intrigue me. A company like that would definitely be impressed with honors.

I guess I have until August to decide.

Grades Grades Grades

I didn't think I would get the grades I was hoping for this semester, but I ended up getting all A's with one A-!!! My term GPA is 3.9, which boosted my cumulative GPA to 3.83. I was so excited when I found out 5 minutes ago that I abandoned my gift wrapping and ran around my house telling my family. I couldn't be happier that everything came together in the end. What a great Christmas present from school, especially since I've been thinking about the importance of grades in college and if it's really worth it to keep mine up. Judging by today's satisfaction, I'll definitely keep aiming high.

Study Abroad

I've been talking about it all semester but still haven't figured out for certain where I'm going next year. I have to apply in February, but I won't be back to school until January 20. This gives me 11 days to bring it all together with the help of counselors and advisers. I started thinking about it early so this wouldn't happen!

I wish I was going next semester instead.

Finals

I'm glad the two hardest ones are over, but they were absolute murder. My accounting final was about 84 times harder than I was planning on. It was terrible. I'm hoping the rest of my class struggled just as much, so it will be curved to my advantage. I struggled for 4 hours to write a 6-page paper that I could normally pound out in 2 and a half. I just need to focus on how there's nothing I can do now & I did the best I could.

I'm ready for a month of a brain full of mush.

Running Around

Yesterday:
- Chiropractor
- French listening final
- Find birthday card for Dad/deposit paychecks
- Physical Therapy in Eden Prairie (skipped 3rd world lit)
- Mentorship meeting
- Bus to Edina for Dad's birthday celebration at Fuddruckers
- Home for cake & presents
- Target for necessities

I wasn't home between 9 am and 9 pm.

Tomorrow:
- Stats final 8-10 am
- Accounting final 10:30-12:30
- Leave final asap to catch 12:18 bus to Eden Prairie
- Physical Therapy
- Bus home
- Massage

Won't be home between 7:30 am and 7 pm. Ugh.

Can't wait to take a break for a couple of days. It's off to Chicago at the end of next week for 3 1/2 days. Then I'm going to try to go back to Gopher Grocery to work over break! Hopefully my back doesn't mess up my plans; I can't stand laying around for 30 days until spring semester starts.

Procrastinator

I woke up 20 minutes ago. Got 12 hours of sleep. I guess it will enable me to be up until all hours tonight studying. I have to write a 6-page paper for Third World Literature today, as well as study for my Statistics and Accounting exams tomorrow morning. I don't know how I'm going to do it but I am. I'm just focusing on how as soon as I'm done with these things tomorrow, I'm basically done with the semester. I have a French final Monday but I'm not stressed about that at all because it's my most favorite and easiest class.

Wish me luck!!

University Of Manchester?

Looking at testimonials from people in study abroad programs through Carlson tonight, I really started to freak out. Put that on top of the fact I can't get many credits from studying in Belgium or Bordeaux, France, and I became terrified. Leaving everyone behind for a program and culture that's so completely different from my own would really stretch my limits. I was contemplating not going.

Despite my desire to study abroad in the French language, I think I am going to check out the Manchester Business School. The students who left testimonials online for me to read really,really liked it. I might like it, too! They have so many classes that look like they could transfer to my major courses. My good friend from Kentucky is currently studying in England, so I know I can lean on her for tips & support. I was really looking forward to immersing myself completely in a different world with a different language, but my reluctance to deal well with changes around me will probably make me a better fit for a university in England. I did look at Scottish and Welsh universities, but none have the business strength I need. I am getting more and more excited about this opportunity as I write about it. I also feel like a bit of a traitor, too. I have been so excited to talk to people about studying in Belgium, and before that Bordeaux, and now I will be talking about England. I'm not fickle, but adapting to the changes I am presented. I thought Bordeaux would work out, and then I thought Belgium would work out.

Yes, I do get swept up in grand ideas without sometimes following through - a doggie day fundraiser for the Eau Claire Humane Society, buying only organic clothes (which I would do if I had money from working at Gopher Grocery instead of having to go on hiatus for the semester), etc. But studying abroad has really been a main goal for me since before I can remember. Traveling burns a fire in my heart, and the curriculum of many European universities will allow me to do that, if I save like mad over winter break and the summer.

I am terrified of coming back a completely different person that no one will love like they did before. I don't want to alienate the people who are the most important to me. And I don't want those people to change and move on while I'm gone! That is my biggest fear. What will I do without the rocks I have come to depend on every day? What will I do when I can't go home to snuggle with my mom after a difficult week? I will have to change and grow and hope it's in a way that will bring me closer to everyone.

Conundrum

None of the classes I need to take while in Belgium have been petitioned successfully for credits/as a substitute for classes here. I don't know what to do! I really really really really really need to go, despite my fear of leaving MN for so long. I'll find a way.

Oh, Heck Yeah

The French 1004 class I needed to take had one seat left as of yesterday morning. Guess who got that seat today at 7:45 pm, after spending all day trying to get a hold on her account lifted?

Pro of Carlson:

Everyone has the same laptop, so if mine dies because I haven't been home for 3 days for more than 10 minutes at a time, someone has a charger I can borrow.

Classmates

My mom just applied to reopen her credits at the U of M. She wants to get her Bachelor's in Finance... meaning we'll be taking a lot of the same classes. I guess that's cool of her. Maybe she can help me with my finance and accounting classes. I'm proud of her, but how can our family afford this?

Follow-Up

So my adviser basically told me today that I have plenty of room to play around with classes during my 2 1/2 remaining years here. I've been dying to take an art history class & a sculpture class. I might even look into food science courses that have no pre-reqs. There's plenty of breathing room & plenty of time for fun abroad. Maybe I'll lighten my course load over there and spend a lot of time traveling - and enjoying Oktoberfest. I know of one friend who will hopefully be in Germany all year and a friend who will be coming to Spain spring semester, so I'd like to see them in a completely new world. My family has also talked about visiting me at the end of my stay.

Figuring out - or at least pretending to figure out - my future really puts my mind at ease and lowers my stress level. Things could change drastically for all I know, but for now I feel like I've just poured the concrete and am waiting for it to set.

Future Schooling

I realized tonight I can really have fun in Belgium. Even if I major in Entre and minor in OMS, I will only be taking 4 credits my final semester of senior year. Maybe I can use that opportunity to engage in Entrepreneurship in Action. I am just relieved to see that even though I feel behind my classmates, I could graduate early! I'm less stressed about making things work overseas, although I'm going to try my best to squeeze out every last credit. I would really like to minor in nutrition, but it would add way too many classes to my schedule and I would end up graduating late, I think. I thought about a minor in French, but would that really help me at all? I also thought about an International Business co-major, but I don't see that coming into play in my future plans. I will talk it all over with my adviser tomorrow!

The Mess Maker Baker

Busy at work tonight. By work, I mean my kitchen, doing what I love the most.
Made: ginger cookies, cookies & cream cupcakes, more granola, and popped some popcorn by hand. Tomorrow I'll be frosting more cupcakes, making rocky road brownies, and turning that popcorn into candy corn popcorn balls for a party on Friday.




I really am the mess maker baker:


...This is after I did most of the dishes.



That quote from my last entry really applies. I'm staying up late but I'm making $$$! And I couldn't be happier to be losing sleep on this.

Today in Entre Club I was introduced to the president of Granite City Restaurant & Brewery, who graduated from the Culinary Institute of Arts (aka my dream culinary school that will cost me $50,000 for 2 years). I asked him if it was worth it to go there and he replied that it was his best decision in his career. He is going to be putting me in contact with a recent graduate from their baking program. I'm so excited!

My aunt, also my massage therapist, offered to set me up with a session to pick her boss's brain - she also works for a "candy lady". She also said I could probably work there part time, but I don't know if candy is the avenue I want to go down. It wouldn't hurt to see how she operates her business, though! I also can't wait for that. I also NEED to go to Cooqi and check out the scene and see if I want to apply there.

Everything is starting for me! I think this is really what I want to do with my life. Tonight I learned how to make great icing and put it on a cupcake properly. I also experimented with some cookies and got great feedback from the guinea pigs, aka my roomies. Every time I bake a new thing, I love challenging myself and teaching myself new skills. This is all a learning process, so don't hate me if I mess up your order a little bit!

Today was a horrible day physically (I now have to sit in a chair to put on or take off clothes & shoes.), but all my baking and inspiration from Entre Club & the Entre major info session at Carlson really overcame that and made this one of the best days in a while.

Sweet Success

Doing well in my classes really puts me at ease. I often forget that academics is my strong suit & it's nice being reminded of that. I've been doing really well on all my French tests, papers, & oral exams. I just found out I got a 99% on my first Accounting midterm & 100% on my first Stats quiz. I'm pretty sure I did well on my first Stats exam as well! It takes a load off my shoulders knowing that my hard work is paying off & the amount of studying I can fit into my schedule is still enough.

In other academic news, I think I am going to minor in nutrition. It's something that I've always wanted to do & have a passion for. (People are often amazed I know so much nutrition information off the top of my head.) It won't take too much work and hopefully I can get it all done in 4 years, since I haven't even taken the prereqs yet! I have to start taking even just the prereqs the second semester of next year because I don't think I'll be able to do any of those things abroad in the fall & I don't have room to take them next semester if I do the I-Core of 4 classes for Carlson. I wish I had taken a physical science lab last semester so I wouldn't still have to fit in that requirement. Biogeography of the Global Garden was worth it, though. I love/loved that class. Take it if you can!


I'm really really not trying to brag (I'm always paranoid of people thinking this), this is just something in my life that's actually going well.