Senior Slide

The senior slide. According to urban dictionary, this slang's definition is as follows: "That magical part of your senior year when things get a little easier and nothing you do matters."

Now for me, I never thought I would succumb to this phenomena. Slacking just isn't in my nature; I'm an over-achiever to the core. So why, then, do I find myself struggling to do any of the "required" readings... or waiting until 11pm to start a paper that is due the next day?

Senioritis... and freshman level classes. My classes are all 1000 level (aka Beginner level) liberal ed. requirements. Although I do enjoy the challenge of thinking outside of the "Carlson" formula for success, these classes just simply do not have the rigor of the Carlson classes that have consumed my life for the last 4 semesters.

What do you mean not every week has a 100pt exam, 3 presentations, 300 pages of reading and two 5-page papers due? There is only 50 pages of reading, a quiz worth 5 points and flamenco dancing to practice... Who wouldn't take it easy?

The only problem with this is: I feel guilty! Why am I not insanely busy, barely keeping my head above water? Why am I not trying hard in my classes? Why do I end up watching 3 tv shows every-other night? Answer: Because I can. Is this what college is like for other students not in the business school?

How do I cure this sense of guilt? I put my energies into other things. Recently I have started running again with the goal if participating in some up-coming races and a triathlon. I have also decided to try my hand at rock-climbing and bouldering. Next up: Yoga. Who knows what hobby next month may bring...

The Art of Making Time

I believe this motto whole-heartedly. It was one of my goals for 2011, and I have been diligently trying to uphold this mission... the only issue is time. And for that matter, the lack of it. It is not that there is a lack of enough time in the day, but rather the proper allocation of time. Let me explain.

If something is important enough to you, you will make time; no matter what. No exceptions.

Instead of checking my email 30 times daily, or checking facebook 50 times daily, or watching a crappy TV show, I could be allocating my spare time (hours really) to maintaining and nurturing my friendships! And on Wednesday, I did just that.

Wednesday was a busy day from 10am-10pm... not stop running around, and one of the best days I've had in a while. You may be wondering: How can you be so happy when you had no time to relax, no time for yourself? And my answer is simple. I am happiest when I am giving back, helping others, making time for friends, or just being productive in general. The perfect example is Wednesday...

Wednesday started with working from 10am-12pm. Promptly at noon, I ran across the river to meet up with Molly for lunch (we both have the same break from 12-1:15). Molly and I have been roommates for 4 years, but that doesn't mean that we can just ignore our friendship and expect it to take care of itself! Friendships take time, commitment and energy, constant up-keep (no-matter how long you have been friends).

After lunch I had to run back across the river to my Music class. I slid into my seat just as the TA was handing out the quizzes. Class whizzed by, and before I knew it, I was following suit and zooming to my next class (marketing channels). As class drew to a close, I sprinted across the river (again) to Ben & Jerry's to meet Monika for our planned ice cream date. Monika is a girl (recent-grad) who had been in DSP with me. We had almost every class together last semester, and she has been a very loyal friend when I needed her most.

Example 1: last semester when my car was towed, she was the only one to offer to drive me to the impound lot.

Example 2: When I got in a horrible, screaming fight with Molly, she was the only one to answer my phone calls and take me in for the night.

So, needless to say, she is a great friend, one that I don't want to lose just because we've graduated!

At 6:15, I promptly left Monika (with the promises of meeting up for a grown-up date this weekend... one involving drinks instead of ice cream) and ran (back across the river) to my Flamenco dance class. Attendance is mandatory, and necessary if you want to keep up!

After class (7:45pm) I ran to the bus stop, and was home by 8pm. I grabbed Grandma's car keys, and went to pick-up Jordan. We have been friends since she lived next-door to us in the dorms, and also a great friend. She is always there, gives great advice, is non-judgmental, and is always down to try something new. I drove her to Roseville to pick up her recovered hard-drive from Best Buy because she doesn't have a car.

Despite all of the running (literal and the metaphorical representation of being busy), Wednesday was a great day. I was able to spend time with 3 GREAT friends, nurture our friendships, and help a friend in need. Days like this are what keep me going. I love my friends, and I love the art of making time. If it's important, you'll find a way.

January Update

I want to take a quick break from the inspirational posts (but will continue the "This I Believe" series later).

As January is quickly coming to a close, I want to re-cap before a new month arrives.

This month has been one of adventures and eye-opening experiences. My first adventure was heading out to Park City, Utah with the Ski and Snowboard Club. Jason, Lynn and I endured a 24 hour bus ride to have 4 days of excellent skiing.

We skipped the bunny hill, and taught Lynn to ski on the green runs. By her second full day we had her going down single and double-blue runs. Lynn and I skied together while Jason hit up some more difficult runs periodically.


After each tough day of skiing, nightly events were planned. For the most part, we hit up the pool and hot tub first, made dinner, played some cards, and had a few beers to relax. Day two of skiing was cut short for me; my ski broke. The inside edge of my right ski was completely torn out. I had two choices: rent the rest of the week, or check to see if they had a pair of skis on sale.

Luckily, I found a pair of two-year old demos for sale for only $99! What a deal! They were a little longer than my other pair (158cm vs 150cm), but at that price, how could I pass it up? So I spent the rest of the week riding 158's, which proved to be exhausting. Longer skis require a lot more strength and concentration to control. By the end of the last day, I was exhausted and could barely hold my skis together going down a blue run... time to call it a day.

When we got back from our trip, the rest of January & winter break consisted of watching to Packers dominate their way to the Super Bowl!

A few days after returning from the trip, classes started up again. My schedule this semester is considerably lighter than the past ones have been. I am only taking 12credits as opposed to an average of 17credits. Not only that, but I only have one business class this semester (a marketing class). Besides that class, I am also taking Flamenco Dancing, World Music, Introduction to Sport Management, and Migration/ Immigration studies.

I really like all of my classes! They force me to think outside the box, and not rely on a textbook to feed me the answers. These classes require that I think more creatively, more musically, more critically, and have an opinion... something I have greatly missed the last few years as I focused on business.

The grand finale of January: I am headed to St. Cloud this weekend (for the first time!) for the Halsey invitational. This is a volleyball and basketball tournament with multiple chapters of Delta Sigma Pi. I will be representing the Alpha Epsilon chapter and kicking butt on the basketball court! :)

Ta-ta for now, more news to come in February

This I Believe: Part 2

No one likes to be uncomfortable. Sometimes people will even stay in crappy, horrible situations or settings just because its comfortable and they don't like change. I know quite a few people who tend to be creatures of habit; and every day of every year seems to be the same. I have made the conscious decision to make sure my life is the antithesis of this. I want adventure, I want change, I want a challenge.

I came across another excerpt from the book titled "This I believe" that describes this desire to constantly be growing, changing. Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they are supposed to help you discover who you are! So...

· They say life is tough enough. But I guess I like to make things difficult on myself, because I do that all the time. Every day. On purpose. That’s because I believe in disrupting my comfort zone. The answer is simple. Disrupting my comfort zone, bombarding myself with challenging people and situations, this is the best way I know to keep growing. And to paraphrase a biologist I once met, if you’re not growing, you’re dying.- Brian Grazer

Whether it's moving to a new state for college, selling books, studying abroad, or trying things that are certain to scare us, life gives us the opportunity to discover things about ourselves that we never really knew (you may just be stronger than you think).

So don't be afraid to fail. Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It is OK to fail. If you're not failing, you're not growing!

This I Believe...

One day, while working at the library, a woman returned a book that caught my eye. It was called "This I Believe" and was the compiled short stories of famous and common people simply about what they believe.

I immediately checked it out for myself, and began reading. Some of the stories struck so close to home, that I decided to buy a copy as a Christmas present for my mom. This one in particular, I think, can apply to many people and their everyday lives. Wherever you are, be there.

"Wherever you are, be there. But someone like me, who focuses on lists of the next day’s tasks and often reads a newspaper while walking outdoors, should remember also to look up at the sky and at the people around me. It is important to recognize and appreciate joy when you feel it. Every once in a while, and not just on special occasions, I’ve suddenly realized that I am truly happy right now. This is a precious experience, one to savor." -Elizabeth Deutsch Earle

It is too often that we focus on the negative aspects of our life, the things that went wrong today... and the good things are ignored. Does this seem backwards to anyone else?

So remember, savor the moment, be present, and celebrate true moments of happiness. Because I can honestly say, that right here, and right now, I am happy. And it is beautiful.

New Post Coming Soon

Hi all,

I know it's been a while, and I have a lot to write about... but I can't seem to get my thoughts together. I have had this little gray cloud hanging over my head the last few days and I can't figure out why.

Sooooo... enlightening posts to come once I ditch the gloomy weather in my thoughts.

Peace and love until then.

Saying good-bye, and hello

... It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life, for Me, and I'm feeling good...

2010 was a year devoted to a second chance with Zach-- everyone deserves a second chance-- and we had ours. It just wasn't mean to be. He will forever crop up in my mind when someone mentions the service, the navy, serving over seas, whenever I see a bumper sticker or hear a prayer said for those making the ultimate sacrifice for our country...

I have come to realize that I blamed the failure of our relationship on the distance, or the navy seals and how it changed him, or the new friends he had; I know better now. Those things just masked our real problems, our core differences and incompatibility.

With that said, I do not regret a single moment of it, I am not mad, not sad, and not longing for him to change his mind. He changed me, taught me to love; love with everything that I am, and to trust in that love. With that vulnerability came heartbreak and hurt, but I am one of the lucky few to have experienced both of those. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I now know what my heart is capable of and I want to wait for the right person to give it to, not just the next guy to come along.

With that said, in 2011, my goal is patience and trust in myself. I can be single and happy and I want to focus on proving that to myself. I want patience so I can wait for someone worthy of my heart. I have a lot to give, and I deserve the same in return. Respect myself and demand respect.

Goal number 2 of 2011 is to make fitness a priority. This coincides with goal 1 which is respecting myself... How can I be successful at that if I do not treat my body right? This is not going to be easy, but I owe it to myself to be healthy and fit. I will follow through with Insanity (no excuses).

Goal 3 is to read at least 1 book every month... and not a text book. I firmly believe that part of what makes us who we are is the books we've read. There are way too many classics and other works that can expand my horizons and make me a more well-rounded person. First step: Finish a Tale of Two Cities.

Goal 4: Be the BEST LSDP @ Polaris! I am starting my full-time job/ career in June and I want to prove to them that they chose the best candidate. I want to be successful, and give it everything I have. Nothing but the best.

Goal 5: Make time for long-distance friends. This means Maggie, Jake, Christie, Jamie, Teri etc. I have been promising for years "Oh yeah, I'll come visit you" and I never make time; and there is new excuse for that. They are important to me so I need to make them a priority in my life.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI --Feeling good- Michael Buble