Still Winter...

I guess I was wrong a few weeks ago when I thought a little warm weather meant that spring was coming. It snowed again last night, and we got at least 6 inches last weekend. Some friends and I had fun playing football in the snow, and then participated in the tradition of going sledding on lunch trays from the cafeteria. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time!! I can’t believe it’s still so cold and snowy. Usually by now the weather is consistently warmer and we’ll have a few days that are nice enough to study outside on the diag, in the arboretum or on the field behind my dorm.

Last weekend was also Easter. In college, I have never gotten to spend the holiday with my family. We don’t get any days off class so there wasn’t enough time to go visit. I got to do some of the usual Easter traditions anyways; I attended Good Friday and Easter Sunday church services and dyed eggs with friends. I haven’t dyed eggs since I was a kid, it was so much fun!! I liked making maize and blue ones.

It seems like I’ve hit the quiet spot before finals set in. There are only 2.5 weeks of class left, but I have almost a week between the end of classes and my first final so there will be lots of time to study. I’ve had a little extra time lately to read some books for fun, hang out with friends, and just do the regular work at a relaxed pace. This weekend I’m looking forward to attending a Women’s Conference at my church.

Looking toward the finish line…

There’s just a month until finals, and I’m busy trying to gain momentum to finish up the semester strong and figure out what I’m doing after graduation. I’ve been pretty relaxed since spring break, taking it easy. But this week I’ll have 2 exams, one in biomechanics and the other in programming. I’m not too worried about them, but have a lot of studying to do this weekend and some end-of semester group projects to work on. I guess I won’t be doing much more relaxing until the end of April!

Today the weather was beautiful, it’s not quite spring yet but it’s finally starting to feel like spring might actually be coming. There’s a big field right behind my dorm—Palmer Field, which includes tennis courts, basketball courts, a ¼ mile track, and a nice big open field on the inside of the track. The grass isn’t the greatest, and with all the rain we’ve had lately, the field is still patchy with ice and very soggy. Usually when the weather gets nice students from the surrounding dorms pack the field to play sports games, go jogging, and study outside. I was really excited to toss around a frisbee for a while even though the ground is still too treacherous to play a game. I love playing ultimate frisbee and as it warms up I’m looking forward to squeezing in some time to play.

This is the busiest time of year, it seems like most people have exams and projects every week all the way up through finals. Plus, this is when students have to solidify their summer plans, by looking for jobs or internships and a place to live. I’m still waiting to hear back from graduate schools before I make my summer plans, which puts me at a distinct disadvantage in the job market. I’d like to know where I’ll be in the fall so that I can look for jobs around that area. Usually a lot of internship programs are only looking for students who have not yet graduated, so that narrows down my search quite a bit too. I should be hearing back from schools in the next week or two and then can get to work planning my summer. It’s a bit stressful right now, not knowing where I’m going to be or what I’ll be doing after graduation. I tend to like having things all planned out.

Well, I should start studying for those exams next week. The weather is supposed to stay nice this weekend, so if I’m diligent about studying I’ll have some time to play outside.

Spring Break!

Right now I’m in Arizona enjoying spring break with my family. The weather is beautiful; it’s nice to be away from the cold for a bit. I’ve been spending my time shopping, learning to golf, and seeing relatives. I miss my friends, but it will be hard to go back to Michigan at the end of the week because of the cold and all the school work I have to do.

Last week things were really busy with an exam and lots of assignments due before break. Fortunately I don’t have too many things due right when I get back so I don’t have to study while I’m on vacation. Spring break marks the half way point in the semester so there will be lots to do as the semester comes to an end.

I found out last week that I was accepted for a study abroad tour. In May I will spend two weeks studying the culture and history of Russia while staying in Moscow. We will have lectures both by the University of Michigan professor who is leading the trip and professors in Moscow, as well as excursions to see many of the historically significant sites. I love traveling, and this is a very unique opportunity. I’m so excited to go!

I’m going back outside to enjoy the sunshine!