I'm baaaaack

Christmas Break was great, though it went by way too fast.

I think it was harder to come to Western again after this than to go in the first place.

I miss my family more than I realize when I'm here. I'm so busy that I don't have time to think about it, which is good and bad for obvious reasons.

Anyhow...

This semester seems like it will be a number of things:

1. Challenging

2. Time-consuming

3. Fun

4. Rewarding

because

1. I'm taking 17 credits, with relatively difficult classes

2. the homework takes forever to finish

3. My Psychology class/lab seems really great (see more below)

4. I'm prepared to do all it takes to do the very best and when I get awesome grades I'm gunna super happy.

So, about my Psych class/lab.

My professor seems really cool and she's definitely passionate, which has always helped me learn better.

While the work is the most time-consuming of all, it seems like it will get interesting (once I pass through the Biology portion of it).

The class is 19 people, so I'm hoping to make a new friend.

Plus, we have this things called Optional Activity Points, which we can get from writing out vocab, doing the in-text questions, and working extra labs--things like that. These points can exempt from quizzes, help us get points if we missed a day of class...but the best thing is that if you get at least 500 OAPs and you don't use them (get get an A in the class) you automatically get an A in Psych 3960, without ever taking an actual class for it. Of course, we still have to pay for the credit, but that looks awesome for my GPA and it will good that I took them. AND I can get a Super A (which means instead of getting the normal 3 credits for the class, I get 4) if I do really, really well on quizzes and such.

For the lab, I get a cute little rat--he was born November 15th. I get to watch him learn behaviors by using a Skinner Box to experiment. The experiments aren't cruel in any way. We teach them how to move to a certain place when they hear the dipper click, how to press a lever, when to pull on a chain, etc. Eventually, I get to make my own experiment. :D

I think the class I will dislike the most is Biology, just because I dislike science in general and Bio sounds horrendous. I know my Math class will be difficult as well, because it's not really math--it's teaching number concepts to kids. "Why is a number odd? What is odd? How do you add? If so and so wants to go 153 miles and has already gone 68, how much further does he have to go? Draw a diagram." Yeah.

Anyway,

History is boring, but Linds and Emily (not my roommate, a friend of ours who lives down the hall from us) say the tests are easy because they're based on vocabulary. I can do vocab. :)

My Communication Disorders class is scary AND exciting. It's my first Speech Path class, so I'm happy and I really want to do well, but I know there is lots of information and I want to be good at it. :/

I'll be fine. I am determined to do well. Very well.

So, the only tip I have for now is...

Tip #13: No matter how stressed/freaked out you are or think you will be, don't shut down! Just work hard and don't worry that your social life is limited for the time being. Everything will work out once you get used to the workload or challenge.

One last thing, I'm still all alone in my room. It's no big, I like being by myself a little--well, Lindsey is always in here, but I like that too. :)

So I've taken over and my stuff is everywhere. Haha. Not really. I just spread my clothes out in the closet, L'd the desks for more work space, and brought the second bed down so I don't have to climb up in order to go to sleep. :D