I miss the Blackhawks.......can't wait till September!

But in the meantime: Go White Sox!!!

:)

Hello Dear Xanga readers. It has been quite a while since you last heard from me, but I tell you I am alive and well on planet earth. I am much relieved to proclaim that I have completed my second year of college. It was a hard year with many new things to learn--not just class-wise, but about myself and my own priorities (I realize my avid readers are wondering about that last sentence...."priorities, you say, what does that mean?", though I hate to disappoint, I am simply not one to pour my heart out to a computer screen and therefore will leave it at that). I found myself wishing the year away many many times, but now that it's over I can look critically at my shortcomings as well as my successes. And so, dear readers, this post is dedicated to college students, but  more particularly those soon to be sophomores. I do not believe my experiences are universal to all sophomore students, though I would like to share some tidbits of what I learned throughout my year:

-The second year is harder then the first. (and though I am no expert, I suspect the third year will be harder then the second). It'd be a good idea to grasp that now.

--For those in biology: you will learn things you'll wish you never knew about the little specimens such as bacteria and fungi. And yes, you may even have nightmares.

--For all of you who don't eat mushrooms because it's a fungus: It is my pleasure to enlighten you that without fungus we would be without antibiotics. So I dare you to refuse penicillin from your doctor because it came from a fungus.

-When your instructor offers you extra credit do the right thing....TAKE IT!!!

--When classes are canceled for two weeks due to flooding don't rejoice; you will pay for it in the end. Believe me. (yes you will be struggling to catch up ALL semester long).

--If a boy who is generally very nice to you (though somewhat a jerk to everyone else) asks you out in front of all his friends (such a low tactic) you, my dear girls, have every right to refuse him--in front of all his friends (don't let the circumstances or the pressure get the best of you!!) ;)

--If said boy thereafter refuses to leave you alone and wonders why you won't give him a chance, it never hurts to remind said boy that you were quite content and not looking for a relationship before he came along and that, though you're sorry to admit it, you have no choice but to be completely honest: he would be sorry to be in a relationship with you in the end because, afterall, you are a pre-professional student and said boy would not be your priority. Sorry said boy but the truth hurts.

--When in doubt choose chocolate. It will never fail to brighten your day.

--If you choose chocolate don't forget to take the stairs. Besides, exercise gives you endorphins; endorphins make you happy and happy people just don't kill their husbands--they just don't! (so if looking for a long and happy marriage please, for your sake as well as your present or future spouse's: take the stairs!)

--When you have a friend who is just like you in most respects and who is quite the kindred spirit, suffice it to say that said friend will never be far from your side. When you and said friend happen not to be in the same place at the same time disregard the strange looks and the comments about how pitiful and "unwhole" you look without your "other half".

--Believe me when I say you will most definitely need a friend such as the one mentioned above in all your sophomore endeavors.

--when super stressed out and feeling the pressure don't freak: take a deep breath crack open those fifty pound books and study till your eyes pop out. Then go to the movies.

--It never hurts to take an hour or two out of your week to watch American Idol!!!! (Yay!!! Kris and Adam!!!)

--It's test day. Everyone around you is talking about the exam and doing some last minute cramming. Go outside with your two friends and don't talk about the exam. Don't let other people talk about the exam to you. And don't do any last minute cramming. Either you know it or you don't.

--When an hour before a test approaches it's okay to get a little crazy and sing and dance in the middle of campus (thank God my friends have the same way of releasing some of their nervousness!!).

--If you can survive Organic Chemistry you can survive just about anything.

--When the cafeteria starts charging for silverware you know you've made the right choice in totally boycotting the cafeteria and bringing your own lunch.

--Make a CD (or a playlist) full of positive songs and pop that in when the going gets rough.

--Fish are friends not food.

--If you ever have to dissect a pig and bring it home (to study), it might be a good idea to warn your dear mother ahead of time.

--When all else fails buy something pretty and remember that Jesus loves you (even if nobody else does).

--Earplugs are amazing.

--When you just want to give up and become a wandering hippie traveling the world with a tamborine,  remember that there is (eventually) an end to this grueling torture.

--If you've had a particularly bad day just visit fmylife.com and your day won't feel so bad compared to the rest of the world.

--School books are insanely expensive: shop amazon and ebay before you even look at the bookstore prices.

--Though you really may not have a life outside of school don't forget that there are other people out there who love and miss you.

--Just know that coffee, the legal stimulant, will not solve all your problems.

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I could go on forever with little tidbits from my year, but I believe dear friends that I shall leave you with that.

Au revoir.