Back to Work

Winter break is over. The Spring 2009 semester just started this Monday, on the 26th. I felt scared and nervous all over again, because this time there would be no such thing as a "block program." This time, there would be a whole new group of people who I've never met before. I guess that's just one of the things that I'll have to get used to from now on. You will never be with the same batch of people in each class, depressing and somewhat ominous as that sounds.

But on the bright side, I finally figured out how to use the library at Hunter. I think this semester I'll just throw myself into my studies. And hey, at least you can always borrow a laptop from the library for about 3 hours. So it can't be that bad, right?

And although I miss my high school friends and some of the new friends that I've made last semester, at least I still see some of them in between classes. Priscilla and I try to hang out when we can during our breaks. Though, sometimes we both feel like we don't want to make the effort to meet new people because it's hard and often awkward. But there's no harm in trying, right?

So anyway, here's the list of subjects that I'm currently taking this semester.

• English 300: Intro to Creative Writing
  - I think I'll enjoy this class. It has that warm, small classroom atmosphere, and many of my classmates are just as enthusiastic as I am about writing.
• History 151: Colonial Era to the Civil War
  - My teacher's funny, and he doesn't give out tests! All you have to do is read, write, and participate in class. The plus side is that I've taken enough American history classes (thanks to my high school, the Academy of American Studies) to know the basic material. Thank goodness I signed up for it.
• Anthropology (Physical) 101: Intro to Human Evolution
  - It has a sexy title - even my professor said so. It just drew me in. I've always wanted to find out about how humans came to exist, as well as what unites all of us and diversifies our species. And okay... the t.v. show "Bones" kind of had something to do with inspiring me to take this subject. The funny thing is that my professor was a little iffy when describing the forensic branch of anthropology because of television shows. She had a bone to pick with "Bones." She finds the main character, Dr. Temperance Brennan, annoying. I agree with her to some degree, but in other ways, I feel that Brennan just can't help being the somewhat socially awkward scientist that she is. Otherwise, the show wouldn't be the success that it is. But enough about that... Evolution in itself is fascinating. I might actually major or minor in anthropology along with psychology. I'm still thinking about it.
• Psychology 150: Human Development
  - I thought it would be interesting to see how we develop cognitively, emotionally, and physically due to changes throughout our lifespan. And it compliments what I'm learning in anthropology, to a certain extent. So far, we just reviewed the different theories that our out there on the human psyche - from Freud's psychoanalytic approach to the more recent and emerging Epigenetic Theory. If there's one thing I've noticed, it's that you can't learn anything about the human brain/psyche without applying a combination of all of these theories to your studies. This should be interesting.

I wish that winter would be over. I hate slushing my way to class in snow-covered, sub-zero feeling weather. I wish the warmth and comfort of spring would come sooner. In the meantime, here's to lookin' on the bright side.

Especially since I'm turning 2-decades-minus-1-year old on February 8th. I still don't know what I want for my birthday.