Surprisingly, I kind of enjoyed writing in this blog. I don't really keep a journal... so it was nice to kind of have an outlet for some of the things that I'm thinking.
I think time kind of speeds up as you get older. Back in Elementary school an hour seemed like an eternity but now you blink and an hour goes by. I think this is one reason why it's so important to catalogue one's life because it really does fly by without waiting for you to write it down. I can't even remember half of what I did 3 years ago, much less 12 or 13 (not that I was doing much writing when I was 5...). Writing things down is kind of the only way to retain them.
I also really enjoyed the classes where we stayed home on our computers and commented on each other's blogs. I liked the comments taht fellow classmates made on my blog posts and I liked to be able to see what was going on with everyone else. I like college a lot and I think my BYU experience has definitely been amplified by my keeping of this blog so I won't forget my experiences and what I was like when I was just 18.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Medical School - Blog 20
Why do I want to be a doctor?
It seems like a lot of high school graduates who don't know what they're gonna do with their lives decide they want to be doctors. Why? Well why not? They get paid a ton and have loads of respect within their communities. However, once these students realize how much work it is to actually become a doctor, their perspective changes somewhat along with their majors.
With me I think it's a little more than just an infatuation with the idea of being respected. I have lived all over the world and I have always felt as if there is more that I can do to help others. And what better way to do this than to learn how to heal them. I really would like to do humanitarian work overseas sometime in the future and I feel as if becoming a doctor would really facilitate the execution of this desire.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to actually acheive this dream and I think I'm up to the challenge of the work it involves. I think this is the kind of work I would really feel satisfied doing. I wouldn't have to sit behind a desk all day, bored out of my mind and I would constantly be able to challenge myself mentally.
Of course, the money and prestige is a nice bonus too, and if I can help other people at the same time... well then it's kind of a no-brainer.
It seems like a lot of high school graduates who don't know what they're gonna do with their lives decide they want to be doctors. Why? Well why not? They get paid a ton and have loads of respect within their communities. However, once these students realize how much work it is to actually become a doctor, their perspective changes somewhat along with their majors.
With me I think it's a little more than just an infatuation with the idea of being respected. I have lived all over the world and I have always felt as if there is more that I can do to help others. And what better way to do this than to learn how to heal them. I really would like to do humanitarian work overseas sometime in the future and I feel as if becoming a doctor would really facilitate the execution of this desire.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to actually acheive this dream and I think I'm up to the challenge of the work it involves. I think this is the kind of work I would really feel satisfied doing. I wouldn't have to sit behind a desk all day, bored out of my mind and I would constantly be able to challenge myself mentally.
Of course, the money and prestige is a nice bonus too, and if I can help other people at the same time... well then it's kind of a no-brainer.
Working Out - Blog 19
Working out. Pumping Iron. Going to the gym. Exersizing. All of these terms can mean only one thing: Being totally manly.
There are a number of types of people that you see at the gym. There are the heavy lifters, who go there to grunt and lift ridiculously heavy weights, there are the casual gym-goers who just kind of go through their routine and leave, and then there are the people like me: the noobs.
I started going to the gym with my friend mark about a month ago whereupon I strained my biceps doing some lame amount of weight and we didn't go again for another 2 and half weeks. Basically what people like me do is walk around looking at weight machines while contemplating whether or not they want to look like total fools and attempt to learn how to work them. Once they actually make the decision to take the risk and try to lift something because, after all, why else are they there, they inevitably have to go through the humiliation of adjusting the weight about 100 pounds to the lighter and still struggle to push or pull or do whatever they end up feeling like the will of the machine is.
Admittedly, this is a bit of a hyperbole, but in essence, it's quite accurate. Being an inexperienced gym-goer is rather lame. But, oh well. At least no one else really cares... or notices haha.
There are a number of types of people that you see at the gym. There are the heavy lifters, who go there to grunt and lift ridiculously heavy weights, there are the casual gym-goers who just kind of go through their routine and leave, and then there are the people like me: the noobs.
I started going to the gym with my friend mark about a month ago whereupon I strained my biceps doing some lame amount of weight and we didn't go again for another 2 and half weeks. Basically what people like me do is walk around looking at weight machines while contemplating whether or not they want to look like total fools and attempt to learn how to work them. Once they actually make the decision to take the risk and try to lift something because, after all, why else are they there, they inevitably have to go through the humiliation of adjusting the weight about 100 pounds to the lighter and still struggle to push or pull or do whatever they end up feeling like the will of the machine is.
Admittedly, this is a bit of a hyperbole, but in essence, it's quite accurate. Being an inexperienced gym-goer is rather lame. But, oh well. At least no one else really cares... or notices haha.
Subway - Blog 18
So I've eating Subway for lunch practically every day this year and I'm therefore pretty much an expert on what is good and what is really not a winner. As such, I would feel remiss if I didn't try to somehow impart some of this knowledge to my fellow freshmen.
To begin, my highest recommendations are primarily on the 5 dollar menu. This is mainly because of my frugal nature and the fact that I buy my brother lunch everyday and buying anything other than what's on this menu would break my bank. Also, bear in mind that in my opinion the best bread to use in these sandwiches is 9-grain honey oat. Although the type of bread is not a huge deal, I have found this type to maximize deliciousness.
Let's go through the options shall we?
Black Forest Ham -- A staple of the 5 dollar menu, this offers a rather basic sandwich if you're not looking for anything too fancy. I get this one quite a bit.
BLT -- I really like bacon on my sandwiches and the BLT is one of my favorites. Despite the fact that it's a little on the meagre side when it comes to actual quantity of meat, it's pretty good if you're not ravenous.
Spicy Italian -- This may be the best 5 dollar footlong with a great deal of meat for the same price as other less meaty sandwiches. With a spicy zing to it, it's really good with southwest chipotle or ranch dressing.
Cold Cut Combo -- Not a bad sandwich. The meat is rather low grade but hey it's just a sandwich right?
Meatball Marinara -- Bleh. This sandwich actually makes me rather sick to the stomach to think about. Idk. If meatballs are your thing then go for it, but i found the vast quantity of meat juxtaposed with its low quality rather disgusting. I had it once or twice but never again.
Tuna -- never had it personally... I guess if tuna's your thing then go for it.
Veggie Delight -- Meh. Not really my thing. May as well get a salad if you're not gonna bother with meat. Never tried it personally.
This might not be all of them but these are the main ones that i remember. With respect to vegetables, I usually get olives, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers. Any more condiments than this and I think you run the risk of overpowering the meat in the sandwich and then all the sandwiches end up tasting the same which is rather lame to say the least.
Well, there you have it. There are a lot of other good sandwiches at subway not on the 5 dollar menu (Subway melt, chicken teriyaki, philly cheese steak, etc...) but these are the ones that I can speak with the most authority on. Eat fresh everyone.
To begin, my highest recommendations are primarily on the 5 dollar menu. This is mainly because of my frugal nature and the fact that I buy my brother lunch everyday and buying anything other than what's on this menu would break my bank. Also, bear in mind that in my opinion the best bread to use in these sandwiches is 9-grain honey oat. Although the type of bread is not a huge deal, I have found this type to maximize deliciousness.
Let's go through the options shall we?
Black Forest Ham -- A staple of the 5 dollar menu, this offers a rather basic sandwich if you're not looking for anything too fancy. I get this one quite a bit.
BLT -- I really like bacon on my sandwiches and the BLT is one of my favorites. Despite the fact that it's a little on the meagre side when it comes to actual quantity of meat, it's pretty good if you're not ravenous.
Spicy Italian -- This may be the best 5 dollar footlong with a great deal of meat for the same price as other less meaty sandwiches. With a spicy zing to it, it's really good with southwest chipotle or ranch dressing.
Cold Cut Combo -- Not a bad sandwich. The meat is rather low grade but hey it's just a sandwich right?
Meatball Marinara -- Bleh. This sandwich actually makes me rather sick to the stomach to think about. Idk. If meatballs are your thing then go for it, but i found the vast quantity of meat juxtaposed with its low quality rather disgusting. I had it once or twice but never again.
Tuna -- never had it personally... I guess if tuna's your thing then go for it.
Veggie Delight -- Meh. Not really my thing. May as well get a salad if you're not gonna bother with meat. Never tried it personally.
This might not be all of them but these are the main ones that i remember. With respect to vegetables, I usually get olives, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers. Any more condiments than this and I think you run the risk of overpowering the meat in the sandwich and then all the sandwiches end up tasting the same which is rather lame to say the least.
Well, there you have it. There are a lot of other good sandwiches at subway not on the 5 dollar menu (Subway melt, chicken teriyaki, philly cheese steak, etc...) but these are the ones that I can speak with the most authority on. Eat fresh everyone.
Rescheduling Exams - Blog 17
Don't leave halfway through exam week. It's not cool to have to reschedule exams. As it is i'm only missing two but now I have a lot more work to do a lot sooner than I was hoping to have to do it.
Not only do I now have to come up with a creative presentation idea in English by Friday's class, but I also have to take my Chinese final on Wednesday. This means I'm really gonna have to hit the books studying since most of my Chinese character learning is extremely short term. Not to mention I also have to do everything else that my class has to do this week such as my final oral exam also to be performed on Wednesday.
Sigh... This week is gonna be a lot more busy than I thought it would be.
Not only do I now have to come up with a creative presentation idea in English by Friday's class, but I also have to take my Chinese final on Wednesday. This means I'm really gonna have to hit the books studying since most of my Chinese character learning is extremely short term. Not to mention I also have to do everything else that my class has to do this week such as my final oral exam also to be performed on Wednesday.
Sigh... This week is gonna be a lot more busy than I thought it would be.
Freeze Fest - Blog 16
So on Friday, BYUSA held an event called the "Freeze Fest." This event entailed going down to the peaks arena skating rink, drinking (rather diluted) hot chocolate, decorating cookies, dancing, skating, broom balling... lots of stuff to be honest.
It was actually really fun. Mainly cause I went with a bunch of friends and we ended up skating for 2 of the 45-minute skating sessions where in reality were were only allotted one time-slot... no one checked our colored wristbands...
The hot chocolate, as previously mentioned, was rather disappointingly dilute, although the condiments were many and varied, and I grabbed as many as I could to stick in to try and bolster the taste. It kind of worked.
All in all, a pretty fun night. Even though my skates very painfully chafed my legs.
Finding this poster on google images was rather frustrating as it appears this event used to be free. I want my 3 dollars back.
It was actually really fun. Mainly cause I went with a bunch of friends and we ended up skating for 2 of the 45-minute skating sessions where in reality were were only allotted one time-slot... no one checked our colored wristbands...
The hot chocolate, as previously mentioned, was rather disappointingly dilute, although the condiments were many and varied, and I grabbed as many as I could to stick in to try and bolster the taste. It kind of worked.
All in all, a pretty fun night. Even though my skates very painfully chafed my legs.
Finding this poster on google images was rather frustrating as it appears this event used to be free. I want my 3 dollars back.Christmas Broadcast - Blog 15
I don't even remember the last time I saw one of these. I think I may have seen it in 10th grade but if I did then my recollection of it is about as lucid as looking through a vat of molasses.
I was pretty satisfied going to this one though. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was amazing, as usual and the messages of the first presidency were enlightening and uplifting, also per the usual. President Monson's stories are always really good and I particularly enjoyed the story yesterday about people waiting in the Atlanta Georgia airport, hoping to fly home for the holidays. Having spent countless hours waiting for delayed flights in airports, I could definitely relate.
The only problem with this being a CES fireside was how it caused the Cannon center to close 30 minutes early. Waking up from a 3 hour nap at 5:30 pm, I had narrowly missed my opportunity to satisfactorily break my fast with real meal. I therefore had to settle with a quick prayer and some gummy worms and goldfish crackers. Oh well. I guess it was worth it.
I was pretty satisfied going to this one though. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was amazing, as usual and the messages of the first presidency were enlightening and uplifting, also per the usual. President Monson's stories are always really good and I particularly enjoyed the story yesterday about people waiting in the Atlanta Georgia airport, hoping to fly home for the holidays. Having spent countless hours waiting for delayed flights in airports, I could definitely relate.
The only problem with this being a CES fireside was how it caused the Cannon center to close 30 minutes early. Waking up from a 3 hour nap at 5:30 pm, I had narrowly missed my opportunity to satisfactorily break my fast with real meal. I therefore had to settle with a quick prayer and some gummy worms and goldfish crackers. Oh well. I guess it was worth it.
Rules - Blog 14
I get rules. I understand that some rules are necessary to keep the world from anarchy. Rules such as: no vandalizing, no smoking/drinking on campus, no food in the library, no cheating, lying, or stealing. These rules, I get.
Other rules however, seem to be little more than an arbitrary exercise in petty control. Rules such as no watching movies in the lobbies at the dorms/outside, no throwing snowballs on campus, no riding your bike during class breaks, or no girls in the lobbies past midnight I just don't quite understand.
Ok let's take a look at this first one. Honestly, how is watching a movie in the dorm lobby with a bunch of friends ANY different from watching it in the basement of your home with a bunch of friends. Copyright laws are ridiculously stupid sometimes, but not nearly as ridiculous as BYU's inexplicable need to scrupulously enforce every single one of them. Sure it may count as a public place but srsly, who cares? I doubt even the people who made the laws would enforce them as rigorously as RA's, campus police, and other officious BYU busy-bodies do. I've been kicked out of so many places trying to watch movies with friends it's beginning to exceed the number I can count on one hand. Ridiculous.
And then the next rule. No throwing snowballs on campus? I can see no other explanation for this than that the rule-makers here simply want to suck all the joy that we could possibly bring into our sad existence. Seriously. Killjoy.
No riding your bike during class breaks? Ok this one has a tiny tiny bit of merit. But honestly, I think we, as college students, have enough coordination and intelligence not to run into people milling about between classes. Honestly. Not that I even have/ride a bike to class... but still.
I understand why the "no girls in the lobby past midnight" rule is in place. But I still think that the campus should trust that we, as students who signed the honor code, will not do anything inappropriate just because girls are in the lobby past midnight.
Anyway, just thought I'd rant a little about the state of campus strictness. Mostly the movie one bugs me.
Other rules however, seem to be little more than an arbitrary exercise in petty control. Rules such as no watching movies in the lobbies at the dorms/outside, no throwing snowballs on campus, no riding your bike during class breaks, or no girls in the lobbies past midnight I just don't quite understand.
Ok let's take a look at this first one. Honestly, how is watching a movie in the dorm lobby with a bunch of friends ANY different from watching it in the basement of your home with a bunch of friends. Copyright laws are ridiculously stupid sometimes, but not nearly as ridiculous as BYU's inexplicable need to scrupulously enforce every single one of them. Sure it may count as a public place but srsly, who cares? I doubt even the people who made the laws would enforce them as rigorously as RA's, campus police, and other officious BYU busy-bodies do. I've been kicked out of so many places trying to watch movies with friends it's beginning to exceed the number I can count on one hand. Ridiculous.
And then the next rule. No throwing snowballs on campus? I can see no other explanation for this than that the rule-makers here simply want to suck all the joy that we could possibly bring into our sad existence. Seriously. Killjoy.
No riding your bike during class breaks? Ok this one has a tiny tiny bit of merit. But honestly, I think we, as college students, have enough coordination and intelligence not to run into people milling about between classes. Honestly. Not that I even have/ride a bike to class... but still.
I understand why the "no girls in the lobby past midnight" rule is in place. But I still think that the campus should trust that we, as students who signed the honor code, will not do anything inappropriate just because girls are in the lobby past midnight.
Anyway, just thought I'd rant a little about the state of campus strictness. Mostly the movie one bugs me.
Snow - Blog 13
It is snowing. Hard. Having grown up primarily overseas in Beijing, South Africa and Hong Kong, as well as spending a little time in Virginia, snow is like a magical substance that rarely graces me with its presence. To me, snow is a herald of a day off, the streets too icy to consider driving on.
I have always loved snow. The most snow I ever saw in Beijing was about 6 inches with an average of about one. Lame. Hardly enough to even have a decent snowball fight with. Not that BYU rules really allow such hooliganism. I hear there's a 50 dollar fine for snow ball fighting. Rather ridiculous if you ask me. Snow is meant to be enjoyed. Otherwise it would just become something of a nuisance. Then again, check back with me in six weeks, I'm sure this captivation with snow won't last and i'll get tired of slipping everywhere to and from class and constantly having to step through snow drifts...
I have always loved snow. The most snow I ever saw in Beijing was about 6 inches with an average of about one. Lame. Hardly enough to even have a decent snowball fight with. Not that BYU rules really allow such hooliganism. I hear there's a 50 dollar fine for snow ball fighting. Rather ridiculous if you ask me. Snow is meant to be enjoyed. Otherwise it would just become something of a nuisance. Then again, check back with me in six weeks, I'm sure this captivation with snow won't last and i'll get tired of slipping everywhere to and from class and constantly having to step through snow drifts...
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Green Writing and Rhetoric Booklet - Blog 12
I actually don't mind reading this green booklet. Even though I haven't really picked it up in a while, it seems like the only course reading I could really respond to and check off that little box on the rubric. Luckily, I do have some stuff to say about it.
First of all, everything in here makes sense. It really does. I seem to understand all these points intuitively, as if I've already kind of figured out on my own but not really described it as this book tries to do. I feel like I utilize a lot of the stuff in here but I don't know what I'm doing when I'm doing it.
The only problem for me is the terminology. I mean, heck, if I know this stuff already, then why do I need to learn fancy words like Kairos and Ethos and Logos just to describe timing, credibility, and logic of an argument. It's not rocket science or anything and I think that sometimes this book likes to throw in fancy words just to make the reader think the writer is really educated and intelligent.
Good job man. You wrote a book. Hooray.
But really, I think a lot of the stuff in this book is really obvious, but I guess a lot of formal education is learning big words to sound smart...
To improve ethos... or something.
First of all, everything in here makes sense. It really does. I seem to understand all these points intuitively, as if I've already kind of figured out on my own but not really described it as this book tries to do. I feel like I utilize a lot of the stuff in here but I don't know what I'm doing when I'm doing it.
The only problem for me is the terminology. I mean, heck, if I know this stuff already, then why do I need to learn fancy words like Kairos and Ethos and Logos just to describe timing, credibility, and logic of an argument. It's not rocket science or anything and I think that sometimes this book likes to throw in fancy words just to make the reader think the writer is really educated and intelligent.
Good job man. You wrote a book. Hooray.
But really, I think a lot of the stuff in this book is really obvious, but I guess a lot of formal education is learning big words to sound smart...
To improve ethos... or something.
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