A College Update: Moving Up

Aloha Friends!  Long time no blog...  I honestly have no excuse other than the fact that I was super lazy this summer, but I'm back in school and excited to be posting again!

Did you catch that?  Yup, I'm back in school and starting my sophomore year!  I never posted anything about finishing my first year and I apologize, but here are some main points to bring you all back up to speed... (If you read my last college update [click here] then these points will make more sense but anyways...)

• I didn't take any 8 AMs and my brain thanked me for that.
• I definitely seeked out more help during my second semester, which led me to do better in my classes!
• I let more people get to know me, which resulted in me finding my best friend :)
• I was absolutely more assertive.  I didn't let people step on me like I did during my first semester and I think that led to gaining more respect from the people around me.  
• Lastly, I studied more.  I wasted a lot of time during my first semester and it hurt me, but second semester, I vowed to be different and doing so paid off!

My first year of college was a complete roller coaster.
From adjusting to dorm life, to learning to be responsible for everything I do, on my own, I learned a lot about myself and about life.  Now my second year is starting and I'm back in the dorms and even though it isn't what I wanted, I'm glad I have a place to live (even if the people around me slam their doors in the middle of the night...).  Also my view is HORRIBLE compared to my room last year, but again, I'm grateful.  I have wonderful friends and amazing classes and professors.  I originally had an 8AM class but someone is watching over me (whoever you are, THANK YOU), because there was ONE SEAT left in the 9:55 section of the class and I GOT IT.  I've never been more grateful for something in my life.  I also just applied for my first job and I don't know if I'm going to get it, but it's a major adulting milestone for me.
It's only the second week, but everything is going really good so far.  I'm looking forward to what the rest of this year has in store for me.  Like I did in my last college update [click here again...], I have goals for this year that I hope to achieve.

• Get a Job.  I need money because my wallet is crying, but also to gain experience and to expand my network.
• Go get help.  Even though I did get more help last semester, I still feel like my pride is keeping me from using all my resources.  I've always been the type of person to figure things out and do things on my own, but I know I can't always rely on myself.
• Work HARD.  One of my professors offered us a deal where if by the time the final comes around, we have a 95% or higher in the class, we don't have to take the final and my goal is NOT TO TAKE THAT FINAL, which will require me to work my butt off, of course.  You don't get what you want if you just sit there and twiddle your thumbs.
• Find a balance.  During my first year of college, I found that I was often bored when I could've been studying and that I was overly stressed when I was cramming for an exam that was the next morning, all of which largely affected my mental.  I would spend too much time in my own head, stressing, daydreaming, worrying, and it was all too much sometimes, so this year I really want to do my best to take care of myself and find a balance in my life.  
• Be more adventurous!  Because I'm so close to home, I went home A LOT last year, so this year I definitely want to do more exploring and see what other opportunities there is for me out in the world. I also want to learn another language because the more brain power, the better, right?

I have high hopes for this year and the fact that I survived the first year definitely says something.  I'll do my best to keep updating the blog, but school comes first!  Thanks for reading!

All the love,

Cat <3