Curve-Killer

Despite a long day of class, followed by hours of writing a research paper on orchids, and a long night ahead of me as I babysit 3 kids...today was a good day. This is because, for the first time in my four years at UCSB, I received the highest grade on a very important midterm...in a science class. This is not easy. Usually, every class has that one person who always gets the highest grade on everything, setting the standard for the rest of the class to follow. My friends and I refer to this person as the "curve-killer." We are usually "frenemies" with this person.

Today, I was that person! I didn't tell anyone in the class that I receive the highest score. I decided to take my seat on the curve-killer's throne with grace and not toot my own horn. Bad karma would have definitely followed if I had let everyone see my huge cheesy grin upon getting my test back. Instead, I sat it the corner and basked privately in my moment of triumph. It was wonderful.

I don't think I've clearly explained my school situation on this blog, so let me digress from my awesomeness for a moment :) I just 'graduated' from UCSB, however I was missing one class I needed to officially receive my degree. I am currently taking this class during the summer session. In one short week from Wednesday, I will be done - "fo' real" - with my Bachelor's Degree and minor. Although I have awaited this moment for quite some time, I crazily decided to begin taking classes at the local city college for a number of reasons. Mostly, I want to get my Masters in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and need to take 3 lab courses as a prerequisite. I am taking my Anatomy and Physiology labs right now.

Anyhow, this is the last class I will ever take at UCSB. My time in college is quickly coming to an end. It's an amazing feeling, but also a frightening one...another reason I'm remaining a student at the CC. I'm still looking for a full-time job, since my CC classes are in the evening and I'm only getting ~12 hours/week at my current part-time job. I will really miss UCSB, but I'll be overjoyed to finally have my degree!!!

Seeing as this is my final course, I am determined to do well. The class I am taking is extremely tough and everyday I am bombarded with more information than I can handle. However, I have studied my ass off for this class. No, really, I have. I studied so intensely everyday for about a week prior to this midterm that I wasn't really eating because I was so focused and determined to cram every fact and figure into my brain. Because of this, the seat of my jeans are actually kind of baggy...I apparently lost a pound or two. Mind you, this is a sacrifice I am willing to make to earn an A in this class.

So, besides letting out my secret to people who aren't in my class, I wanted to write this blog to encourage all of you students out there. If you put your mind to something, you truly can achieve it! And, preparation for any big project will still allow you to get a reasonable amount of sleep (I am strongly against pulling all-nighters to study, btw. You can party all night, but studying all night is never as helpful as people think). I personally wouldn't recommend the I'm-studying-too-hardcore-to-eat strategy, but a little determination never hurt anyone, right?!