Today's exam was by far, the most dramatic final exam I've ever had. Just short of having a drum roll during the last few seconds, there had been a thunderstorm and a blackout (pity to those who were at the back of the REB, with the 2000+ seat numbers, who apparently weren't able to see anything for a few minutes). To top it all off, a supervisor announced at the end of the exam that trains weren't operating. How's that for drama? And before anyone begins imagining some bad-horror-teen-flick-scenario happening in there, Nope, we didn't get stranded inside the REB, get struck by lightning nor become carnivorous zombies.
Now then, 3+ months of freedom. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time, I know that I'll get bored after the first few weeks. It's just the way I am. Sure, it's not like I totally have no life and have nothing to do: there's my work (I can't imagine what the state of my back will be after the Christmas season... ahh, that's working in retail for you), community service for SALP, volunteering other than for SALP, possible work placement if I can get it (hey, it's my final year in 2010 after all), a choir 'boot camp', a couple of performances with my choir - MUCS, and so forth. Oh, and I might really consider getting into shape, since I just found out this morning that I can't anymore fit into a few of my jeans (or should I just become a convert to floaty dresses?). Does anyone have any suggestions of doing this that doesn't involve going to the gym? I just find gyms... intimidating, and full-on.
Anyways, I better get some sleep now, as I haven't been doing much of that lately. Have a happy holidays everyone, and I look forward to having the first year bloggers of '09 here at Back for Seconds next year.
Keep dreaming large :)
Almost there... one more exam to go...
a little rant...
This is the hardest exam, Biochemistry. I've had Monash friends give me a hand sending me their summaries (they finished last week) except I found out that they got a pathways booklet in their exam. YES.. A PRE-MADE CHEAT SHEET - BUT BIGGER. On the other hand we are expected to memorise these pathways. There are 2 more days left to memorize... getting it into the brain is one thing, then being able to get it out of the brain is another thing. I love learning about metabolism, oh yes, but it doesn't want to come out at appropriate times. For instance:
Exam question: 'name the hormone responsible for 'fed' feeling in the human body'
Answer: errr..
Dinner table: 'yum.. I love these lollies...'
'Oh no! Don't eat that! They probably contain fructose which doesn't produce leptin, the hormone responsible for you feeling full'
rant finished.
‘A leader is a dealer in hope’
~ Napoleon Bonaparte
How to describe the fantastic opportunity that was afforded to me when the Arts Faculty sent me to the National Student Leadership Forum? Phenomenal? Insightful? Tiring? Fun?
The truth is, it is difficult to properly explain the amazing experience I had at the 2009 National Student Leadership Forum (NSLF) held in Canberra in September. But, I shall try.
The NSLF is a four day forum that brings together 180 young leaders from across the country and focuses on faith and values in leadership, or to put it another way, what makes great leaders tick. Held in the nation’s capital, the Forum is hosted by over 45 Members of Parliament and we were lucky enough to be addressed by both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Yet there was not a great political focus. When Mr. Rudd and Mr. Turnball spoke to us, it was not of party policies and partisanship, it was of their morals, their upbringing and the reason they both strive to better Australia as a country.
We attended lectures on leaders and leadership and round tables with Liberal, Labor and Independent parliamentarians, but the true focus of the week was on small group work. Here we had in depth discussions on what our values were and were able to reflect on what it is that makes a truly great leader.
Servant leadership was also a topic around which there was great discussion, and this was put into action on the third afternoon when we engaged with the community through anything from baking scones and mending fences to giving free flowers and singing karaoke with the elderly.
The NSLF was inspiring, and not just because of the fantastic speakers and activities we were treated to, but because it was an event full of intelligent, creative and passionate youth committed to making the world a better place.
I would like to thank the University and specifically the Arts Faculty for supporting my trip to the NSLF, without which I would not have been able to attend.
Isn't it fantastic that the libraries have extended opening hours during swot vac? Does anyone know whether these hours are the same on cup day? That is, considering the university has decided to remove staff's melbournian right to a day off on Tuesday.
Edit [8/11]: One more full day to go before EXAM. Yea, faaaantastic. Who else is so-not-ready for it? Gorgeous day today, totally spent the time by the pool, pretending to be learning about connective tissue. (wow. that looks like a tweet, maybe I should get stuck on twitter)
yesterday was 7/11 day. Did anyone get a free slurpee?
There was FREE Ben and Jerry ice cream in Union Court today - need I say more?
Sweet!
On other news: I've just finished with German orals, so that's one thing out of the way. NOW, I just have to finish my resort design for Wednesday and an almost-non-existent sketchbook by next Monday, and I'm good. I can't believe it's already the last week of Uni for the year! Next year would already be my final year - it gives me the shivers just thinking about it. That thing called the 'real world' is inching closer and closer.
In an entry all about me...
I have had a few 'I hate uni' moments in the past week or so. This has resulted in no study, lack of sleep and not turning up to classes. In fact - I have skipped five lectures and yet another one of my (compulsory) labs this week, which may manifest itself in the form of no marks. Being realistic, I'm not worried about failing (I don't do 'asian fails' either... fail means fail), there is a driving force inside of me, which when awoken, may mean that I will sacrifice everything to just get information into my brain in hope of it being regurgitated onto the exam at an appropriate time. What I am (without any reasonable grounds) concerned about is the external pressure in obtaining a 70% avg required to go on exchange. Of that - I'm not sure. Unless get some fantastic mark on my breadth subject, I suppose, which could even things out a bit. A possibility. Hmm.. I see light.
Other news; I have however gotten a letter today saying that I am accepted into McGill.. how fantastic! (Does this mean I still need a 70 avg. people who know?), our (Mum's) car got written off the other day (that's what its called yea?) by being in an accident... no more car. Mum is alive and well, which is good. I've been procrastinating by sorting out subjects for majors and the like next year - added to that, there are two 3rd year Marine subjects that are held early Dec that I REALLY REALLY want to do. But that means that I'm going to have to get a variation on my major (more signatures from important people) because there is no such thing as a half marine bio/half plant cell bio major ... YET. Either that or try and get exemption from prerequisites. sure.
The uni has been great though with this whole freaky stress study/life thing - I've seen the student centre, they recommended me see the uni counsellors- which is good to get the mess that is up in my head at least out and somewhat filed before retaining it again. There is the academic advice people and study skills and all that. For those that may sometimes cross the 'freak out' line, I highly recommend it, as long as you can get over the fact that you don't have to have maniac depression before seeing one. In terms of theory, I've think I've got this study thing down pat. It is different in actually DOING it.
Yep, this is a plug. - Free food/drinks in campus this Friday, so read on...
Many of you might probably be unaware of this, but this week is Mental Health Week so -
HAPPY MENTAL HEALTH WEEK!
In order to celebrate this year's Mental Health Awareness Week (4th - 10th October), we ALG 21 from the Student Ambassador Leadership Program would love to invite you to our "BBQ the Blues Away" event on this coming Friday.
FREE Sausage Sizzle (HALAL) and blue slurpees are provided!!!
Student life can be heavy sometimes, especially during October when all preparations for exams and assignments are due in a month!
So lets all "BBQ the BLUES AWAY!"
COME and ENJOY the FREE food, chat to the University Counselling service and pick up some info and freebies to celebrate the end of Mental Health Awareness Week!
When: Friday, 9th of October, 12-2pm
Where: North Court, Union House, University of Melbourne
Please mark the date and time, and see you all on Friday!
This morning, I walked 15km around Melbourne's south eastern suburbs as part of the Ampersand Walk, a yearly event for people who want to raise money for a cause, but aren't fit enough to do any running. So instead, they walk. Usually clad in Harry Potter costume or fluoro lycra outfits from the 70s. Well, if you can't run, might as well create pain some other way. I was part of the Melbourne Journal of International Law team, and we raised 1000 for Bahay Tuluyan, a charity which seeks to provide advocacy and child protection services for street kids in the Phillipines. If you'd like to help us raise even more, you can visit https://www.onlinegiving.com.au/pages/MJIL.aspx where donations will be open until 31 October. You can also click appropriately to learn more about Bahay Tuluyan or The Ampersand Network, who sponsors the walk.
Doing the walk, though, I realised how many of the participants were Melbourne University students - there was a Law Students' Society team, a Melbourne University Law Review team, an Edmund Rice Camps team with a heavy concentration of student volunteers, my own MJIL team, and a bunch of students whose names/organisations I don't really remember but whom I recognise from SALP and volunteer fairs; the Ampersand Network itself was founded and run by students.
Not surprising, really. Uni's the one time in your life you'll have both the time to volunteer and the skills to organise events; the former disappears as you grow older, the latter hasn't really developed when you're younger.
For I have returned with a new understanding of Australia. Of the land. Of its people. Will I now dare to call myself Australian?
Driving 2,400 kms in a week and having spent the past week travelling from Broome, through Derby, Looma, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Billiluna, Balgo and finally Mullen (I think that's what its called)... a closed desert community (i.e. no whites fellas allowed, unless with personal contacts)... with a youth mission team, its been a surreal experience in the kimberleys. No amount of discription or superlatives will ever give the right impression.
In that time we had the opportunity to hear stories of the leaders, to talk, to pray with, to minister to those who needed/wanted it.. to support the pastors and the social workers in the areas. We got to go roo hunting and eat what we shot, suck the bums off the green ants and make damper over the fire. Went by so fast. Sigh.
Tumbleweed...
*Nervous laughter* Uh, sorry for the disappearance from this blog for so long. Studying med has been keeping me slightly sleep-deprived and without a social life. But alas, all that is behind us so hopefully, I'll be back to stay...
Fourth semester (of twelve) has been... hectic to say the best. I know, I know, every semester, I say we hit the ground running but this semester just gave a new definition to the word hectic. I was desperately looking forward to having an awesome time studying neuro and got a rude awakening to the amount of work that's entailed. Welcome, my best friend, Kandel's "Principles of Neural Science," which is what has got to be the most wordiest longest textbook written by a Nobel Prize Winner who is obviously famous for his long windy explanations. I almost feel sorry for the lecturers who have to manually dump this truckload of information down our brains (which should, by the end of this lecture, make numerous new synapses due to your increased learning).
Study aside, I am also taking part as a student host of the campus. Basically, I get to lead secondary students around and give them an idea of what it's like to study at Melbourne University. It's fun although at times, thanks to the unpredictable Melbourne weather, we get caught out in the rain. So there I am, trying to get twelve shivering wet students excited about coming to Melbourne Uni and pointing out all the landmarks while all they want to do is get inside a building ASAP. But it's definitely fun!
Open Day, I assisted in the Anatomy Museum for a couple of hours. It was fun talking to students who were interested in studying medicine. But the majority of people are actually current doctors dragging their kids to the displays, which kind of makes me redundant :D
Tomorrow and the next day, I volunteered to tutor/lecture for SWOT (Student Welfare Outreach Team). Which means, instead of catching up on my work as I should be doing, I'm cramming all the High School Maths that have leaked out of my brain. dy/dx anyone???
Here's a quick summary of my life at the moment. Cramming for tutoring tomorrow - six hours. Started a new blog (http://escapinginfinity.blogspot.com/) which means I've just created yet another reason to procrastinate on the Internet - two hours. Watching the Apprentice Australia - one hour (I'm taking that one hour out of my sleep). Deciding to go back and redo all my notes *palms forehead for being so silly at such a late stage of the term* - two hours... and that's just for today.
Watching my sleeping time dribble away to almost nothing - priceless...
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