Another semester, another chance

The first two weeks of November signaled the start of the second semester. I was glad that the first sem was over and I unbelievably got through it with flying colors. I hope that that achievement will repeat this current sem.

I am satisfied with the courses I took, though they look more demanding (knock on wood). But I know that I can do it (think positive!). I'll just have to reduce the amount of time I spend lingering in Facebook and Twitter. As my theory professor said, "Facebook is dangerous for graduate students."

Well, I think the sem break got me enough Facebook rush that I need, that's why I was not able to do the tasks that I should have done during the break.Ha ha! First of all, I was not able to finish that Marvin Perry book, though I finished "Flipped". I'll write a review on that later. I failed to do the other sem break tasks that involved reading. Ok, so what does that say?

Nevertheless, it seemed to me that my experience during the first semester of grad school changed me in a way that is very much helpful in the future. In work, I now try to finish a task as early as possible so that I can have more available time to read. I also read faster now. haha

Let's see what this second semester will bring. I know it will be a better one. :)

Of bloggers and readers

         Enrollment in UP has always been a "wonderful" experience. Aside from getting sunbathed for hours, I get to meet and talk to different people of various backgrounds and interests. Oftentimes, I would able to talk with those people during the enrollment for the first and the last time. Of course, they belong to different courses or specializations, thus I would not be able to get past the first meeting with them. 

          This morning, when I was waiting for a professor to advise me on the courses that I enlisted to, a different case happened. Although it is more likely that I do not to get past the first meeting with this person, this encounter is a remarkable one. This morning, I met the author of a blog I've been following for quite sometime. At first, I was hesitant to talk to him. I was like a fan - but not so much of a fan. I just like his blog and follow it because it gives me a perspective of what's it like to be working in a larger-than-life institution, and I am at awe at how he writes. I admire how he seamlessly flow into thoughts without losing coherence, style and creativity.

             We were then introduced to one another by a mutual classmate. When I said that I read his blog, he did not seem to be pleased about it. He did not talk to me for the rest of the time I was with their company. I am not mad nor annoyed at him for doing that. I don't even know if that would be a natural response if you knew that someone is reading your personal-thoughts blog. Wasn't he proud of his writing? Would it be a shame to know that someone else is aware of your rants? I don't really know.

              This led me to wonder on how would I react if I met someone for the first time and got to know that he/she is reading and following this blog. I am sure that I would be delighted deep inside. On the outside, maybe I would say, "Oh you read that trash!", and then follow it with a laugh or a bright smile. But seriously, I would be very much grateful, and maybe I could ask that reader to critique my writing too. Well, I hope to meet that person someday. As for that blogger I just personally met, maybe I would not strike a talk with him again and I'll just wait for him to talk to me. For the meantime, I will still follow his blog.

UP

"Never think that you don't deserve to be here. Only those who doesn't deserve to be here are those who doesn't understand what it means to be in UP.

Being in UP means having to become extraordinary... And by extraordinary, we mean not having a GWA of 1. We do not mean perfecting your exams... By extraordinary, we mean, never giving up.

There will come a time that there will be walls against you and your dreams... Climb on it! Dig underneath it! Walk around it! Push through it!

Lastly, I know in a few years, you will forget to solve for parabolas or functions... But I will be proud as a teacher... When you walk out from this class at least you have learned to have courage, persistence, and strength to never giving up and keep fighting.

Grades are just numbers.

If it is worth dreaming of, then it is worth fighting for, and when it is worth fighting for, it is worth suffering through."

Sembreak

I have never been this excited for sembreak to come. The stress of working while studying makes me tired and long for some time-off. I have missed a lot of night-outs, concerts, movies and reunions because of my work and study load. Unfortunately, the coming sembreak will only be for two weeks. I have thought of a multitude of things to do while on a break. I do not know if I can do all of them since they are a lot. Nevertheless, I decided to list them so that I won't forget:

• Finish "A History of the World" by Marvin Perry.
• Read more on investing and mutual funds.
• Read on International Law and IR theories (assuming that I will pass this semester).
• Update wardrobe! (^_^)
• Research about Methods of Research.
• Declutter my closets, cabinets and e-mail. 
• Do a movie marathon.
• Exercise!
• Make the most out of the sembreak! Haha

I hope I can accomplish them all. :)

Hounded

Recently, I am having problems with my mouth. I have a big mouth, figuratively speaking. It gets me into trouble for the past few days. I don't know why. I'm not like this before. I don't know why I got into this state. Is it really in my character? Am I really a blabber? Shouldn't I have more sense? Or recently, I just don't think before I speak? Am I too confident that everything I say will have sense?

I need to change myself. Should I be quieter? Maybe I need to be really pensive before opening my mouth unless I want to suffer misjudgements from people.    

Another distraction

https://twitter.com/ichaninja

I am now on twitter! :)

Hello July!

We are already at the second half of 2012. This is an opportune time to reflect on what I have achieved for the previous half of the year and how much time I still have to attain my wishes (refer to Wishlist for 2012). So far, I am proud to say that I managed to make one "wish" come true, which is Wish # 5 - to learn to play the piano/violin.

Last May, I enrolled in Yamaha's piano lessons so that I can pursue my affinity to playing musical instruments and grant my childhood wish of learning how to play the piano. I am delighted that Yamaha doesn't have a recital after every end of the session because if it has, I'm already dead. hehe Likewise, I am glad that my piano teacher and I get along well since he is also a student of French and a fellow iskolar ng bayan.

I already have completed two piano pieces - "Melody" by Schumann and "Minuet" by Bach. I am on the process of completing the piece entitled "Sonatina" by Muzio Clement.

Although I practice only with a keyboard, I hope to be able to buy a piano someday and have a space for it. Playing the piano is very relaxing and relieves me from stress. I now understand what music does to people.

New chapter

He who knows no hardships will know no hardihood. He who faces no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the characteristics in human nature which we love best grow in a soil with a strong mixture of troubles.
Harry Emerson Fosdick

Tomorrow will be the first day of class, at least for me. I will be facing another chapter, not to mention another challenge, in my life as I embark on graduate studies. I know it will be hard. I call it "self-inflicted suffering" since I believe I will be tackling a semester of papers, recitations, reporting, group works, etc., at the same time proving myself to be a good employee by not compromising my duties in the office.

But how hard it may be, I know that it will be worth it. May God guide me and give me wisdom in every class discussion, project or paper. I believe this challenge will not be given to me if I cannot handle it.

Snow White & the Huntsman - A review

Thanks to my sister's free advanced screening tickets, we got to watch Snow White & the Huntsman. The film 's cast is led by Kristen Stewart (Bella of Twilight), Chris Hemsworth (Thor of Avengers), and the South African actress Charlize Theron. 

The movie is a visual treat. It reminded me of The Lord of the Rings. Medieval ages is my favorite period in Western history and this movie made me desire once more to have lived in the said era. However, just like a failed product disguised in beautiful advertisement, what made up for the special effects lacked the depth of the actors concerned. Stewart is the same Bella I saw in probably the worst movie of the Twilight saga (and of Hollywood) - New Moon. I found Charlize Theron a bit of OA. You can be wicked and abominable without exaggerated shouting. Maybe I am just not used to seeing her a kontrabida. Chris Hemsworth's performance here is better than his Thor character. He is believable as a huntsman but I did not see that he was falling for Snow White until the last parts of the movie. 

Just like the recent box-office hit Avengers, Snow White & the Huntsman left me empty. Great movies make you think. Great movies make you say 'what if?' Great movies can send a significant message that can change one's outlook in life. Unfortunately, Snow White & the Huntsman failed to accomplish such.

Success!

Today is a Success! :)

Details will follow.. hehe

Wake-up call

From Those To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected

While on my way to work this morning, I reflected upon the problems that are besetting me: career, post-grad degree, the continuous search for a house of our own, my father's outrageous temper, my future. I constantly search for answers to those thoughts that linger in my mind from time to time. When I wake up every morning, I pray to God to help me solve those preoccupations. Thinking of them, with no clear solutions at hand, makes me feel that I am trapped inside a four-cornered room where no door is at sight. It seems like everything's blurry.

When I arrived at the office, I saw our cleaning lady and had some chit-chat with her. She confessed to me that she still has problems with her ex-husband who does not give their kids some financial support and how her salary can barely provide for the education of her children and their everyday expenses. She wept and expressed her disappointment over the current state she is in and wished that all of it is only a dream. Unfortunately, I do not know how to help her since I also do not have large amount of money to lend to her and help her cope with life's demands.

When I went into my room, my colleague asked a favor from me. She would like to borrow money because his lolo got sick and she cannot withdraw money from her account because it will suffer 10K worth of penalty. I know how hard it is to borrow money. Our family has been through that before. While she was telling me about her predicament, she sounded like she has a lump in her throat. It is obvious that it is difficult for her to make that favor.

I told myself, why have I been worrying on petty things when there are people whose problems are bigger than mine? Why should I be sad when life is really good to me? Maybe it's just that I have to open my eyes to see the good things and be grateful for what I have than continuously let self-defeating self-talk beat me.

Not that knowing how heavy are the problems of other people will make you feel lighter, but it is makes you wake-up to reality: that everyone in this world have their own set of problems and that you do not have the right to burden other people with your excruciating self-pity.

Life is good. It has been and is always good to me. I should not sulk and just be happy. :)