As we enter into 2013 (albeit a bit late), I have to take a minute to remember the highs-and-lows of 2012.
2012 was certainly extremely eventful. I had the opportunity to do some pretty amazing things and meet even more amazing people. The first few months of the year, I experienced my last year of high school and decided to attend my current college. I had applied to many schools on the East Coast and because I lived in Arizona, I had no hope of actually visiting them. Early in my senior year of high school, I applied to an all-expense paid prospective students visit program for Williams College and was accepted and before I knew, I was on a plane to Massachusetts. Later on, Cornell and Duke reached out to me for their Diversity Programs and I was flown (for free) to their campuses. Dartmouth offered a similar program but by then I had already decided on Penn. These experiences were enlightening as I had spent much of my time believing that I would have to choose a university without actually visiting its campus first. I developed my love for flying (and airports)!
Strangely enough, I did not end up at any of the schools I visited. I chose to attend Wharton without first visiting the campus and knowing absolutely no one in Philadelphia, but I could not be happier with my decision.
The second half of the year after high school graduation, I was invited to and attended a summer program at UPenn right before NSO (new student orientation). The semester started and boy was I in for a huge surprise. I had always heard that college was ‘different’ and that I would need new study habits to cope. However, like the arrogant high school student I was, I believed that these standards did not apply to me. I was very wrong. It was an upward struggle trying to recoup during finals week but those experiences have prepared me better for my second semester.
Moving into 2103, you might wonder “What are my New Year resolutions?”
I have and don’t have resolutions. Unlike other years, I chose not to create a list of impossible resolutions like ‘start exercising every day’ or ‘learn to speak Mandarin’. Rather, I chose to live everyday conscious of the changes I wanted to make in my life and gradually tackle them day by day.
I started by:
1. When I returned home for winter break, I discovered that I had abandoned many of my creative pursuits like drawing, writing and photography. I brought my sketch pad and camera to college and am now trying to include them in my busy life in college. It is very important for me to have something other than school work to stop myself from descending into insanity.
2. I have also made a commitment to becoming more organized. Last semester, I often found myself unaware of midterm or project dates and disregarded the importance of little quizzes. I soon recognized my error but too late at the end of the semester. Now, I have everything written on my desk calendar and inputted on my phone and on Google calendar.
3. A little but important resolution I have made recently is to simply go to sleep ‘early’ every night. By early I mean latest at 1AM. Doing this allows me to wake up early the next day and accomplish tasks to get myself organized for the day ahead. I did this yesterday, and I woke up two hours before class and sent several emails, went over my school work, ate breakfast, took a brief nap and then woke up again to get ready for class. It was amazingly productive and I am amazed by how effective a little habit like going to sleep early can have one’s life. P.S. I also applied for and got a work study job, finished my housing application and applied for a campus club.
4. This next resolution is linked with my last one and it is simple. Be proactive because at this point in my life (and likely in yours) I have absolutely nothing to lose. Over the weekend, I had received an email about applying to a committee for a club at 11:30pm but the app was due a few minutes later at 11:59pm. I was devastated because I knew there was no way I could possibly complete the application in that short time. When I woke up the next day, I emailed the club contact asking for an extension (what could I lose?) and she said yes. Of course I had to go to class but when I got back I wrote my essays and submitted the app. I won’t know the results for a while but at least I reached out and tried.
5. Try new things! I randomly decided to rush for some Greek organizations on campus. I had no previous interests in them and was absolutely sure that I would not want to be a ‘sorority girl’. Turns out that I was right, but I do not regret going through open and closed rush.
6. The usual ones like lose weight, start exercising, eat healthier, and make more friends and finally GET AN INTERNSHIP!
For all my regrets and disappointments with 2012, it was one of the best years in my life.
Hope you are all having a good year so far!
~ keep calm and carry on ~