Category Archives: Dorie

How to Crunch When Things Get Crunchy

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It’s finally here: Crunchtime. Colloquially referred to as “hell week” on school campuses across the country, we’ve reached that point in the semester when it seems like literally everything that could possibly be due has suddenly made itself known to you–like the Murphy’s Law of due dates, if you will. Not only that, but it’s also that same time of year when students begin to hear back from all of the various opportunities they have applied for, such as jobs, grad school, spring/summer programs, etc., adding yet another thing to weigh on our already very occupied minds. Sometimes I find myself looking around at everyone around me doing all of these amazing things and working their butts off, and find it hard to believe that another whole semester has passed without even realizing it. It happens each and every year, but it always manages to catch me off guard.

This is how I feel when I think about how much I have left to do this week……slow zoom and all.

Obviously, not everyone is going to have the same “hell week” experience–it really depends on how many finals you have scheduled, how you’ve managed your time thus far, if you’re doing thesis, etc. But, from what I have gathered, the last few weeks of the fall semester are generally not the most pleasant of times for the vast majority of students. The worst part of all of this, for me, is that it’s not even that cold yet! Hello!?!!? It’s December! I just want to start busting out my various holiday sweaters I’ve been preparing to wear every single day of the week! But alas, not even a cold winter chill can assuage the end-of-semester funk I’ve been in the past few days.

Fun fact: Jimmy totally raided my closet for this segment.

A lot of this stems from the fact that, as a senior, I (still) don’t really know what I’m doing after I graduate. Many of my peers are just now receiving news–both good and not so good, as is to be expected–that will start them on their post-grad paths to becoming the accomplished, successful women and men that will change the world someday….or something along those lines. Point is, it can feel kind of discouraging to look around and see such great successes happening all around you, especially if you’re still waiting to hear back from wherever, you didn’t get the news you were hoping for, or if you just haven’t had enough time to focus on anything other than your school work this semester. This is not to say that all of these feelings aren’t valid things to be feeling. On the contrary! Take it from me, the queen of letting things pile up–these are all very legitimate concerns to have, and should be treated as such. Don’t lessen your own needs by comparing them to the needs of other people around you, because it’s not all that helpful for anyone involved.

Thanks, Most Interesting Man In The World. I believe in you, too.

As I’ve said, this time of year is when emotions can run particularly high, so the added pressures of “getting it all together” can often make you start to question a lot of things that you’ve done up to this point–have I taken the right classes? Should I have spent more time on that last essay? Did I apply for enough jobs? Could I be doing more? As far as the last question goes, the short answer is, yes, we can always be doing more. Long answer? We certainly can always be doing more, but the real question instead is: is do we need to be doing more? For example, there will always more opportunities to apply for, that’s for sure, but just because they exist doesn’t mean they are the right kinds of opportunities for you. Sure, there will likely be some disappointments as you start to hear back from internships, summer jobs, and even study abroad programs, but that doesn’t mean something else isn’t waiting for you somewhere else. That’s why resources like CP&R are so helpful, especially when the existential what-am-I-doing and how-do-I-adult kinds of questions start to come about, usually during stressful times such as these.

Ok but seriously, how do you adult?? Did I miss the instructional booklet that accompanies growing up?? Taxes?? Mortgages? What are THOSE???

The point is, when the going gets crunchy, you gotta crunch right back. This means working hard, taking care of yourself, celebrating with your friends when they get the good news they are hoping for, and consoling them if things don’t work out. Be excited for the cool things that your peers will be doing after they graduate, but don’t put yourself down if you’re not quite there yet. We’re all at such different places in our lives–be it in terms of our majors and intended fields of study and work, or emotionally and mentally–it wouldn’t make sense for us all to be doing the same kinds of things anyway. So, for now, focus up and finish up this semester the best you can. For my fellow seniors finishing up their thesis projects, we got this! It’s not like we have choice, but we’re almost there and its gonna be awesome! To everyone preparing for their finals and projects, and those starting to apply for jobs and internships next year, keep on keepin’ on–you got this too, believe me.

Just think: winter break is only a few weeks away, and then we can all sleep in as late as we want~! Talk about a great reward for all of our hard work 🙂

BRING ON THE CAT NAPS!!!

Breaking Break: How to Make the Most of Thanksgiving

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Ahh, yes, it’s that time of year once again. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping (well, at least it should be), and the end of November is within grasp. This also means that a lot has been happening since our last little break, back in October, and the end-of-the-semester crunch is beginning to rear its nasty little head. I know I’m not the only one wondering where this semester has gone–let alone the rest of this year. Time sure flies when you’re having fun, right?

Wait, there are HOW many weeks left before winter break???

With final paper due dates looming in the not-so-distant future, different class projects that always seem to be due at the exact same time, thesis deadlines approaching far too rapidly, and this semester’s flex allotment nearing dangerously low levels, it is definitely the perfect time for a little break–from work, from stress, and from all the aforementioned factors that can really weigh us down this time of year. Enter: Thanksgiving break! The perfect blend of time off, relaxation, good food, and the last little rest before the final push of the semester. Whether you’re going home, staying on campus, or tagging along to someone else’s house for the holidays, the break is a great opportunity to take a mental break from the stress of school, but also finish up some of the work that can pile up before the end of the semester and finals time.

Me @ all of my assignments right now……yikes.

As someone who absolutely needs to do some work this Thanksgiving break, I’ve outlined some of the ways in which this Thanksgiving break can be the best one yet–getting the necessary time off that we all deserve, while making sure there is still some productivity happening during the days off. Have a look at some of the steps I will be taking to ensure I stay on top of things as I stuff my face with turkey and enjoy some quality cuddle time with my cat. Keep in mind, what works for me might not work for you. But, if that’s the case, then go ahead and design your own Thanksgiving to-do list!

See? You can be just as productive as this lil guy here.

So, without further ado, here’s my “Thanksgiving Break Productivity Cheat Sheet!”

(spoiler alert: it is very unlikely that I will be following all these steps to a tee, but at least the foundation for not completely sleeping through my entire break is on the table)

  • Before you leave (or before break “officially” starts), plan out the work, applications, or specific assignments that you want to get done, and make sure to bring whatever you need to complete it.

This is particularly important if you are going to be traveling over break–be it home or elsewhere. If you need a specific book for reference as you finish up a paper, or need that one notebook you scribbled down some notes in for that one class, make sure you bring it! There is nothing worse than remembering that somewhere, in the deep crevices of your backpack, is a small piece of paper that has a really bomb piece of information on it that will totally cinch your conclusion. If you plan accordingly for the work you want to do, it will make it that much easier once it’s time to sit down and start it.

  • Figure out a day (or days) that would work best for you to set aside for being productive, and make a plan for how you want to structure your working day.

For obvious reasons, the actual day of Thanksgiving might not be your best bet for having some time to get work done. I know that I will be waaaaayy too full of yummy food all day to even think about sitting down and writing–talk about a food coma. But, if that works for you, then go for it! Visualizing how you’re going to spend your break (whether it be with friends, family, or in bed snuggling with your pets) makes it easier to set aside some time for working, especially if you already know you have plans to work around.

  • Tell your family/friends/pets that you want some time to yourself to do what you need to do.

It can be very tempting over break to try and squeeze in as much time with your friends and family that are in town as possible. If that’s what you want to do with your time, then have at it! Seeing old friends for the first time in a long time is a great way to rejuvenate after a solid couple of months of school. But, if you have work that needs to be done, letting them know ahead of time can help you make more effective plans, without hurting anyone’s feelings.

  • Be realistic about what you want to/will get done! 

Look, it’s Thanksgiving break. If you get caught up in the holiday spirit, or take an impromptu trip with your family somewhere and spend less time on your essay or whatever, it’s not the end of the world. You deserve a little break! And, if you’re like me and know that you’ll probably get less work done than you initially planned, leaving a little wiggle room for some extra down time might not be a bad thing.

And, on that note……

  • GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK!

It’s been a busy semester, and this break is happening for a reason (besides a government mandate…..you know what I mean). It’s good for us all to take a step back and reflect on how the semester has been going so far, and sometimes that means just getting out of the school mindset altogether. Especially at this time of year, instead of worrying about everything that is coming up after break (and it can be a lot, don’t get me wrong), think about everything that you’ve accomplished at this point. For seniors, this is pretty wild–it’s our last Thanksgiving as college students! We’ve done so much in our 3.5 years so far! But even if you’re not a senior, try reflecting back on all the papers, all the tests, and all the hard work you’ve put into your education. Seriously, you deserve a break!

So, keeping this all in mind, go forth and have a restful, well-fed Thanksgiving break. If you get all your work done, then hey! That’s great! But, if not, no worries. You’ll figure it out.

Happy holidays, and enjoy your time off~!

 

 

The Beginning of the End

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Normally, I wouldn’t really consider myself to be an overly sentimental person. I don’t like to dwell on things, and try my best to look towards the future rather than stay rooted in the past or the present. As senior year draws on, however, and the end of this semester seems only a few short weeks away, the sentimentality attached to this being my final fall semester at Scripps has started to permeate all of my interactions and experiences–both here and at the rest of the 5C’s.

For example, I have started categorizing a lot of what I do, see, and feel as “The Last _____” or “The Final ______.” This has become a sort of mantra in relation to specific events on campus (“The Last Toga Party,” or “The Last Halloweekend with Suite Group Costumes,” etc.), but can absolutely be applied to a lot of other experiences on campus, as will definitely be the case in the next few weeks when the dining halls start rolling out their Thanksgiving menus (aptly titled “The Last Thanksgiving Crawl 2k15,” in which my friends and I vow to hit every single dining hall that serves Thanksgiving food, even if we have to flex ourselves in to a second lunch or dinner to accomplish this feat).

This is about as accurate as it gets. Thanksgiving Crawl 2k15 is not for the faint of heart.

As I find myself labeling things in this way more and more often, I’m still trying to decide how I feel about this bittersweet attachment to the finality of this year. On the one hand, acknowledging that it is indeed the last time that I will be able to do a group costume with the wonderful gals that I live with, or go to one of my favorite themed parties on campus, gives a sad sort of tinge to the experiences as a whole; but, it also incentivizes me to make the most of what I have here at Scripps, and enjoy every last moment that much more. I don’t want to look back on my last two semesters here with any regrets about things I could have been doing or involving myself more in, but I also have to maintain a balance that will allow me to devote the necessary and important time to cranking out my thesis, as well as succeed in my other classes. It can feel overwhelming at times, what with the “But it’s the last time you’ll ever _________!” argument always weighing in the back of my mind, but figuring out how to maintain a harmony between the work and the play is very important in creating a memorable and productive senior year.

I know I said I’m not a sentimental kind of person, but I can’t deny that I am pretty comfortably attached to Scripps and the 5C’s, in more ways than one. Unlike my senior year of high school, when I couldn’t wait to get out of there and head right to college the second I graduated, some of the apprehension about leaving that naturally accompanies the ambiguity of my next steps post-Scripps (unlike in high school, where it was pretty heavily assumed that the next step was a good college or university), stems from the fact that there is no “set” place for me to go. I have talked about this before (in case you missed a previous post of mine–shame on you!) but all this sentimentality and nostalgic longing to return to my first year at Scripps and never, ever leave has brought these thoughts back to the front of my mind. So much for not being sentimental……

If these past few weeks (and the reflection on all I have said above) have taught me anything, it’s that giving into a little sentimentality isn’t a always bad thing. It’s senior year! Why shouldn’t I get a little misty-eyed thinking about how this will be the last time I get to bust out my sweater collection for the Claremont autumn weather I have been waiting for ever-so-patiently? Or wistfully look forward to my last Holiday season here with festive foods and decorations in every dining hall? Remembering to savor these little, last times–but balancing this appreciation with other work and responsibilities–is what I would consider a key factor to making the most of my last year at Scripps.

Besides the sentimentality, what do you think is important and necessary in creating the best senior year ever?

Under Pressure

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If there’s one thing I know I am absolutely qualified to talk about, it’s procrastination. In fact, just to prove my point, I procrastinated writing this post–for a little ‘method blogging,’ if you will–and I am now awake much earlier than I had hoped in order to finish it. Procrastination, especially on college campuses, is a pretty common method of study and operation, and although it may work for some, it definitely doesn’t work for others. There are many signs that might indicate someone is a procrastinator: excessive intakes of caffeine, late night signs of activity on Facebook and Instagram, a cheerful disposition on the outside as jokes are made about how much work is still left to be done by a quickly-approaching deadline, etc. However, if none of these traits are applicable, there is one sure-fire way to tell if you or someone you know is a procrastinator–an age-old expression that has withstood the test of time to consistently and accurately predict a procrastinator, even in their earliest stages of putting things off.

Does the phrase, “I work better under pressure” ring a bell? I can tell you from personal experience that this idiom has almost become a kind of mantra to me, allowing me to better justify the hours of YouTube videos watched in rapid succession, as the hours tick away and my deadlines loom closer and closer with every Buzzfeed clip I finish. Although senior year isn’t quite halfway over yet, I have already learned a lot about myself and the kind of student I am by really examining how I have approached my assignments this semester so far. To be blunt, I have some pretty bad procrastination patterns–like, really bad–which, to me, signals a need for a long-overdue reorganization of my priorities, time management, and motivational strategies in order to successfully get me through this last push and prepare myself for life after Scripps. Here’s a little mood music to play while you read the rest of this post–hopefully it motivates you to take my advice to heart.

They say old habits die hard, but I don’t necessarily think that’s true. Sure, the habits you’ve picked up over the years, likely starting in your youth and solidifying in high school, have had a huge influence on how you operate as a student and in your day-to-day activities, but these old habits are not set in stone forever. Instead, I say that while old habits might not die hard, they can certainly be shifted around enough to be retrained (or at least, attempted to!). Readjusting your study habits and such is not always the easiest of endeavors, but if it will help you out in the long run and make you better prepared as both a student and an adult once you move beyond the realm of higher education, why not try to better yourself in whatever way you can? After all, isn’t that kind of the point of coming to college in the first place?

Last week, I was lucky enough to see the honorable Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, give a wonderful talk at Pomona College. Her wisdom and advice for all of us in the audience was incredibly inspiring, and a lot of what she had to say has really stuck with me. She helped remind me why it is that I am here at college: because I came here for an education in order to grow as an individual and learn more about the world so I can strive to help make it a better place–not just to help me get a job once I graduate. I know, that all sounds kind of silly and romanticized, but it’s still true–and something that is often forgotten here amongst the pressure of grades, the vibrant campus life and social events, and everything in between. Sotomayor acknowledged how the expectations and the pressures of getting good grades has hindered the passion and the drive that students should be motivating themselves with, but also stressed the importance of reciprocity, even with the added expectations of high achievement: what you put into your education is what you get out of it, plain and simple. Her words forced me to evaluate my priorities as a student and reflect on the kind of education I was allowing myself to receive here at Scripps: was I pushing myself to take classes that sounded interesting, even if they were supposed to be hard or a lot of work? Or was I limiting myself by taking “easier” classes that I knew would boost my GPA and not require a lot of effort on my part–even if these classes weren’t useful to me or were things I had already learned?

While I’m sure we have all probably taken classes in both of these categories at one point or another, I found myself looking back over my time here at Scripps; not with any kind of regret, but with a sense that I absolutely could have pushed myself more. I procrastinate because I know I can and will get things done on time–as I have been doing for years. But, I have now realized that knowing I will somehow manage to finish all my work on time shouldn’t be what motivates me to actually do the work. For the rest of this semester, I want to try and change my mindset about my classes and start shifting my study habits in order to better prepare me not only for my last semester of college (which is approaching WAY too quickly, if you ask me), but also for my life after graduation, as I move into the job sphere that the cumulation of my education has equipped me to handle.

Now, of course, this change in mindset and reevaluation of habits is not for everyone. If you’re not of the procrastinating variety, then perhaps you’ve already developed the kind of mindset about your education and bettering yourself that I am striving towards. That’s awesome! Keep up the good work. Or, if you are a procrastinator, but are pretty happy with where you are in terms of what you’re doing and learning, then by all means, keep on keepin’ on–whatever works best for you. I am merely presenting some advice that I wish I had absorbed much earlier on in my educational career–because it is definitely something I had heard before, but never really understood till now, as I’m on my way out of the educational circuit–in the hopes that someone else might take it to heart.

Has this kind of epiphany ever happened to you? If you have any advice for how I should start my change in priorities and move away from using procrastination as a crutch, then by all means, please let me know! Or, if you’ve had a similar revelation at any point in your life, I’d love to hear about that as well–I’ll gladly listen to anything that will help me put off actually changing my procrastinating ways….

(Just kidding!)

(Mostly)

 

Aloha Fridays: Not Just For Friday

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I have a confession to make. Not anything scary or worrisome, mind you, but definitely something that needs to be addressed, especially at this stage of my life (where I am–somewhat reluctantly–becoming the professional young woman I am ~destined~ to be). If you know me at all, or have ever seen me from a distance at some point or another, this might not come as a huge surprise, but I still feel like I need to come clean.

I am addicted to wearing (and finding, buying, and collecting) printed, button-down shirts. My stockpile of these shirts, constantly growing, consists of all kinds of patterns and styles, mostly of the loud, colorful, and Hawaiian print variety. I can imagine you might be a little skeptical here–how can someone be addicted to a kind of shirt? Well, dear reader, let me lay it down for you.

This is pretty much me at any given moment in the day, to be honest-silly faces and all.

At the very moment this post is being written, I have approximately 15 short-sleeve, patterned, button-down shirt hanging in the lower shelf my closet that I rotate through during the week. About 7 or 8 of those are regulars, and very likely ones that you might have seen me wearing around campus or in a photo of me on Facebook. But, I have been known to ‘switch it up,’ as the kids say, and throw one of the less-worn shirts into my weekly routine, just to keep things interesting.

You might be saying, “15 Shirts? Why, that doesn’t seem like that many.” But wait, my friends, there’s more. Hanging directly to the left of this small portion of my collection is my hoard of long-sleeve, patterned, button-down shirts–about 13 in all. These are just as patterned and fun, however, they are a little more subtle in the choice of color, and I sometimes wear the least-obnoxious ones to my on-campus job. As I get to know my office better (I only started working there at the end of September), I think I’ll get a little more adventurous in my choice of patterned attire, but for now, I’m trying to keep it as subdued as possible.

“Okay, so that is kind of a lot of shirts,” you’re probably thinking to yourself, “but not what I would call an addiction.” Now, my cynical comrade, comes the revelation that will put everything into perspective. Under my bed, folded in one of those giant, cobalt blue plastic bags from IKEA, is another 18 of these shirts–of the short-sleeve variety, naturally–that are just waiting to be hemmed and shortened (pro-tip: if you’re trying to break into the ‘fun, Hawaiian shirt’ market, be advised that almost all of the shirts you are going to find in thrift stores are going to range in size from Large to XXXXL, not kidding). I am trying to make myself sew one shirt per weekend, but so far, that hasn’t happened yet…but, then again, there’s always next weekend!

The point is, my wardrobe pretty exclusively consists of a mixture of all these shirts, as well as equally tacky and loud sweaters and t-shirts–and it’s been this way almost my entire life at Scripps, where I’ve really grown into my own sense of style. I would describe it as comfy, somewhat silly, and very effortless: I can just throw on one of these bad boys, and boom!! Instant outfit. So, naturally, when I think about what I’m going to wear once I re-enter “the real world,” I get a little apprehensive about giving up my preferred shirt-style of choice. Of course, my major being media studies, and my intended career path lying somewhere within the entertainment/media sphere, I am not really anticipating the need to wear a pant-suit, blazer, or anything as “professional” as that on a daily basis. But, on the other hand, I am realistic enough to realize that, at some point in the not-so-distant future, my days of rolling out of bed, throwing on a geometric-print, rainbow button-down, and walking out the door, will soon be over.

My clothes are a huge part of my personal expression, and learning how to compromise what I can and can’t wear in an appropriate work setting is definitely something that has been weighing on my mind as of late. Will it affect my job search? Probably–working in a huge corporate office where a strict dress-code is enforced doesn’t really sound all that appealing to me, even if they do allow for a “Casual Friday” every once in a while. Because I’m not yet sure exactly what it is that I want to do after I graduate, it’s both easier and harder to imagine the kind of setting I am envisioning myself functioning in–easier because the job field is pretty open ended at this point, but harder because I don’t really know what kinds of jobs or careers to look for that could possibly allow me more freedom of expression through my choice in clothes.

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Exhibit A: Solange absolutely killing the compromise game, showing off the perfect blend between fun and professional (ish) that I am definitely open to exploring.

Perhaps my desire to retain my personal style will steer me towards the right kind of job that is perfect for me–whatever that might be: hopefully something fun, interesting, and that will allow my creativity, passion, and and personality shine through. I’m trying not to stress about it that much right now, what with thesis drafts looming right around the corner, but I know that I’m not the only one thinking about some of the smaller details that accompany almost all post-grad plans. Focusing on getting a job is great, but there is so much more that comes with just finding “the job,” such as the dress-code, or the hours, or the kinds of sacrifices and negotiations that will have to be made once the job offer is accepted. It’s definitely helpful to keep these kinds of details in mind–but, this early in the job-search game, I wouldn’t recommend getting super worked up about it just yet.

All I know for certain is that wherever I go, and whatever I end up doing, I will definitely be bringing at least some (preferably large) portion of my shirt collection with me. But, as of right now, I know that I always have at least one go-to interview question lined up if I ever run out of more pertinent things to say:

“Does your workplace participate in Aloha Friday? Or Casual Tuesday? Or wacky-shirt-Wednesday? Or literally any other kind of day-of-the-week + fun-shirt combo? Just wondering…..”