The first two days of school have been great. I am taking five classes consisting of world civilizations 2, spanish 2, algebra 2, composition 2, biology and of course the mandatory biology lab. I guess that actually comes out to six classes... It is a big responsibility and I am nervous for the transition. Luckily, I have three teachers who I had during first semester and they seemed to be happy that I chose them as my teachers for the second sequence of the courses. The other two teachers that I have seem really nice. My math teacher is very funny and out going. She makes math fun. I never thought I would use the words "math" and "fun" in the same sentence. Unfortunately, my biology teacher is in Kenya directing a foundation she founded that helps children with disabilities. She left us a video introducing herself and I really appreciated the fact that she took the time to do that. She has one of her old professors that she had in college substituting for her. The substitute was polite to us and was honored that my teacher asked him to take over for her until she comes back (which should be by next week?) He introduced us to the basics of biology and gave an interesting and intellectual lecture about human life and nature. I never thought college would interest me as much as it does. I am so glad I chose to come to North Shore. :)
I want to know how everyone else is doing and how their past two days have been so far. (Positive or Negative...PLEASE leave out names as I have done. No need to hurt feelings!)
On Sunday, I was getting ready to leave my job at Walgreens and head down to the South Shore with my boyfriend for his mother's birthday. Before punching out, I noticed a piece of paper taped onto the wall next to the office door. I walked towards it, curious of what it said. The title was "The Mayonnaise Jar and Coffee". I thought to myself, "Hey, that is a funny title for a story" and I began to read it. It stated...
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
I thought that this was true, and I began to think about it. Why not let go of the little things and focus on what is important to us most? Things that family, close friends and your beliefs. Do not let the little things like stress get you down. Life is too short to fill your jar with sand.
Finally a new year has come! 2009 was a hard year for me, and I am really glad it is over. A new beginning is on it's way for this spring semester. I am looking forward to meeting new people and doing more scholar events. I hate that my life is so busy and hectic because it is hard to fit in events and keep on top of work, school, my social life and my sanity. I get stressed out very easily, and expect myself to keep up with everything and maintain being good at what I do. One thing that has helped with my stress is my new boss at work. My old manager was mean and miserable but the new manager is really out going and helpful. She is a great addition to our staff! I am actually looking forward to working with her to see how things play out.
I am nervous for school, as always. I have faith in myself, and I am looking forward to seeing what I can achieve. The more I look into UMASS Boston (the school I plan on transferring to when I graduate from NSCC), the more excited I get about my future. I consider myself to be a fairly lucky girl. I am young and have the world in my hands. I have been focusing on my writing and reading more books. I have also been doing research about career choices for my major which will be Social Psychology when I go to UMASS Boston.
For 2010, I have chosen to look on the bright side more often. Instead of freaking out and giving myself a panic attack, I am going to logically figure out the tasks at hand. Nothing in life is perfect, so I have to deal with it and get over it. All I can do is live for today and hope for tomorrow. I might get stuck along the way, but I know there will be better days not too far away.
Enjoy your vacation folks, it will over sooner than later!
During this winter break, I decided to go through some old "rubbish" I had laying throughout my disaster of a bedroom. Within my room I found things from my previous years of high school. Old projects, homework assignments, pictures and letters from friends (and exes) that brought back many memories, good and bad. While rummaging through the clutter I realized that high school was a truly grueling experience for me. For the four treacherous years that I was at Stoneham High School, I went through hell and back. Whether it was with teachers, friends, stress or just the overwhelming realization that what I did in high school would ultimately have a huge impact on the rest of my life. I struggled with my acne and self esteem, confiding in writing and music. I found comfort in friends who turned into enemies and realized that life is not always fair. I no longer let these memories haunt me. Instead, I learn from them and I decided to move on from it by discarding some of these items...
Although I got adequate grades in high school, I never felt that I was smart or somewhat of a good student until I got into the Presidential Scholars Program at NSCC. The effect the program has had on my life has been amazing and I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world. I feel like I have finally felt a place where I can be myself. I had a big personal break through at the last meeting when I came out as being bisexual, something I have struggled with for many years because of not being accepted for it by certain friends and family. The encouragement and feeling of weight being lifted off my shoulders was enormous and a great life changing experience.
I wish I could be flawless, perfection at its greatest. But I know that I am just a girl who grew up in a small town twenty minutes north of Boston with the perfectly good heart full of love and a back bone stronger than concrete. I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished. NSCC and the people I have met have made me see how much I am able to accomplish and overcome in such a short amount of time. I am a hard worker and believe that as a person I have changed for the better. I am on a road to better and greater things. My first semester of college has taught me to leave the bad and grab onto the good. Your past should not make you into who you are going to be. I get to choose who I want to be and who I want in my life along for the journey into my new beginning.
The views and opinions expressed by the students on these blogs are strictly those of the blog authors and are not necessarily those of North Shore Community College.
It is a big responsibility and I am nervous for the transition. Luckily, I have three teachers who I had during first semester and they seemed to be happy that I chose them as my teachers for the second sequence of the courses. The other two teachers that I have seem really nice. My math teacher is very funny and out going. She makes math fun. I never thought I would use the words "math" and "fun" in the same sentence. Unfortunately, my biology teacher is in Kenya directing a foundation she founded that helps children with disabilities. She left us a video introducing herself and I really appreciated the fact that she took the time to do that. She has one of her old professors that she had in college substituting for her. The substitute was polite to us and was honored that my teacher asked him to take over for her until she comes back (which should be by next week?) He introduced us to the basics of biology and gave an interesting and intellectual lecture about human life and nature. I never thought college would interest me as much as it does. I am so glad I chose to come to North Shore. :)
