Stubbornness

 Most people laugh when I say that I enrolled at PUC because an admissions advisors gave me a Starbucks. But my choice, more than luck and persuasion, was due to my stubbornness.

As an immigrant, with no relatives in this country besides my parents and younger brother, I had decided I wanted to go to a school close to home for college. In my case that would have been Walla Walla University, just about four hours away from Portland, I would be able to visit my parents anytime if I were to enroll there. I had applied and visited the school multiple times, I was pretty much just waiting for my high school graduation, and my parents were thrilled to be able to visit me during the weekends once I went away for college.

I decided to ask for advice to a family friend, someone who received my family with open arms when we moved to this country, about different colleges since his daughter attended WWU. He started to tell me I HAD to enroll to WWU. His way of "persuading" me into enrolling to the school didn't feel like advice or guidance but rather felt as if he was ordering me to enroll to the school. Every single time the topic about college came up he would be more persisting on what school I had to enroll to and would be visually upset if I told him I wasn't completely sure about enrolling to WWU.

Unfortunately, my parents aren't fluent in English and didn't quite understand what the family friend was telling me to do, but I promptly translated what he was telling me to do and how uncomfortable he was making me feel. More than uncomfortable, he was making me upset. My own father wasn't forcing me to attend any school in particular, but this random man felt like he had a saying in my life choices? His poor soul had never meet a Colombian woman.

One evening I received a phone call from a PUC advisor, she wanted to meet with me to follow up my school application, which seemed strange since I didn't remember applying for this school. I was still mad at the family friend because of his rude behavior so I meet with the PUC advisor. Apparently, the summer after my sophomore year in high school I had meet with her and applied to the school after she bought me a Starbucks drink (something I would have definitely done), and she wanted to know whether I was still considering PUC for college. 

I still don't know if it was out of spite or because of the scholarships I received from PUC but I made up my mind I would attend this school. My parents were sad that I would be far away from home but were happy I had chosen a school I liked. I was also concerned about diversity, and PUC could offer that.

The family friend had invited my family for lunch after church service, and I decided that it would be the perfect moment to break the news for him. Hell broke down in that house, but I didn't care, neither did my parents. My dad knew that even though I wanted to be close home I would not let anyone force me to do something I didn't feel comfortable doing, my mom was proud that I didn't let that man disrespect me and my life choices. It is needless to say that my family isn't close to his family anymore.

Anyone could argue that I enrolled to PUC because of a free Starbucks and my stubbornness, and it is mostly true. Just to be clear, I have nothing against WWU, but here I have made priceless friendships and have grown a lot as a person. Stubbornness can be a good thing sometimes. 

Anna <3

CONCERTS!!!

They are so fun and one of my favorite hobbies! 

Last week my friend asked me how I always go to concerts, how I get those tickets, where I get the money to go to them, and more importantly how my parents let me go!  I laughed and could not tell if she was serious or sarcastic. Then it got me thinking of how I do it and my “concert journey”. 

I remember always wanting to go see my favorite artist growing up but my parents would not let me for a number of reasons. Then they finally did my freshmen year of high school, partially because it was only an hour away, I was going with my friend and the concert tickets were free. After that first concert, I knew that I would want to continue to go to more!

Fast forward to junior year of high school when I got my first job, I started splitting my paychecks, majority of my paycheck I would put into my savings account and the other part of it in my checkings. I am so glad that I did that because I started accumulating a good amount to start my concert fund.  

Throughout the years I have picked up a couple of tricks:

• Look out for any pre-sale information on your favorite artist 

• Make sure you have someone to go with and that you both have signed up for presale tickets/codes!! The more people you are going with the more chances you are of getting good seats

• Make sure you have transportation before you even buy a ticket 

• Have a job, it really helps!

• Always remember to set aside some money for concerts

• GET ON TICKETMASTER OR WHATEVER LINK THE PRESALE CODE SENDS YOU TO AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE SO YOU HAVE A BETTER SPOT IN THE QUEUE 

With these things, I have found it easier to get concert tickets and be sure that I am able to go. With regarding my parents….I think they understand that I am old enough to go to these things, especially since I always go with my older cousin. 

Part of the reason why I like going to them besides listening to my favorite artist live is that it makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger, it kind of gives me a sense of community. There are so many awesome memories that I have created like meeting new friends, making eye contact with my favorite artist, and the car rides there with my cousin when we are jamming out. 

I think another big reason why I love going to concerts is that it heals my inner child. Listening to music was always a kind of a safe space for me, I would just pop in my headphones when my parents were arguing, or when I was scared, or things like that. I would get transported to a happier place than the place I was actually at. 

With that said, I am happy to report that so far I will be going to five concerts so far this year! Hopefully more and please keep me in your thoughts so that I get Twice & Agust D tickets in these next few weeks. 😎

To spend or not to spend...

 Hi guys, I can't be the only one who struggles with this issue of deciding whether or not to spend money.

 As a college student who streams on twitch, yes shameless promotion (ttv/miniishan hehe), and I think overall a lot of people joke around saying, please donate and support a broke college student. Some say this as a joke but most say it because it's true. 

Personally, I find it quite difficult to save money especially since I work on campus as only a teacher assistant. So I don't really work too many hours hence I only get paid enough to support my day-to-day life -- kind of -- but not enough to save. I'm not really complaining because I love my job since it makes it manageable to be a student and work at the same time. With that said, it is quite hard to save and I am considering getting another job on campus but I don't really know where to start. Do any of you guys know places that are hiring or recommend spots on campus to work? 

To add on, I find it so hard to save money especially since to be completely honest the food on campus as we all know is not that good and sometimes I question what we are even eating. Along with that everywhere we go all the nearest places that are open late are all over 30 minutes away...

So, here are a few tips that have helped me and my fellow friends: 

1. Pack food from home or go to the places that sell homemade food... kind of like meal prep.
•  (especially if you are a picky eater)
2. Set a dedicated budget per week and try not to spend more than that.
3. Share your meals with your friends when going out to save money.
4. Carpooling! (Helps a lot since everything is so far) 
5. Limit how often you go out to eat 
• (so buying groceries and making your own food helps a lot.)

But yeah, I try my best to follow these rules but its also quite hard especially since sometimes you just need a break from campus. One thing to always keep in mind though is remembering and thinking about whether its a want or a need. 

chat/rant later shannea x

I Miss Home… A LOT

 Being homesick is okay

Growing up I always dreamed of being as far away from my home as possible. There were many factors that made me have this mindset. As much as I loved spending time with my parents, I was always looking forward to leaving my boring hometown, and being more independent. 

My mom would always describe me as an independent child, that I could take care of myself, and that I was ready for whatever the world threw at me. When my mom described me like that, it is funny to me because it did not feel like that sometimes, if anything I felt like my parents were constantly babying me, and wanting me to become someone who I was not.

Time jump to when I was moving into my dorm room freshman year, I was so excited to be living on my own, making my own schedule, and having that sense of independence that I didn't feel like I had at home.

However as the quarter went by, I realized how much I actually missed home, how I missed seeing my parents coming home from work and catching up, and especially my mom’s food. I hated to admit it, but I was homesick. Maybe it was because I  moved in during the fall quarter of 2020 when there was hardly anyone on campus, or maybe it is because I actually realized how much I didn't value my time at home as I should have. 

I ended up moving back home for the rest of my freshman year and that was so much better especially for my mental health because it was not the best during that fall quarter. Even last year (sophomore year) when I was on campus for the full school year I was constantly homesick, I found myself missing my parents, my room at home, and how things were so much more accessible (grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment like theaters, etc). I had an established group of friends but I still missed my parents. I didn't get to go home as often but when I did I made sure to make it count and spend time with my parents. 

As I am in my third year here at PUC, I still get homesick, even more so now because I do not get to go home as often as I did in my previous two years. I only go home during school breaks and its so hard to not get the feeling of FOMO when my parents send me pictures of them and what they are doing

Sometimes I think about how I told my mom that I wanted to go to PUC because I wanted to be far from home, but not enough for me to miss home. I laugh and then start to think about how ironic that is, because even though it's only two hours from home, I find myself missing home and feeling so far from it. 

I hope to not fail my driver's test again and get my license soon so I can go home whenever I want and not just during breaks. I also have come to terms with the fact that it's okay to miss home and the feeling of being taken care of.

No Pain No Gain

 Yesterday I decided to work out for the first time since my basketball season has ended. I'm looking to grow stronger during my off season since I'm naturally petite, but I don't really have much experience on how to bulk. My friend Lilian regularly weight lifts and invited me to join her so she could show me the ropes. We decided to meet each other at the PUC weight room at 9pm to work out together. Once we both arrived, she informed me that it was leg day which gave me both feelings of anxiousness and excitement. We started off with hip thrust with 50lbs weight, and one-legged thrusts with 30lbs weights. We did 7 sets of these with 20 reps for each of these exercises. My legs and butt were on fire by the end of a total of 14 sets at this point, and while I thought by the end of these brutal sets we would call it a day, it was to my surprise to find out that it was only the beginning of many other exercises she had planned. 

After finishing, we moved on to biceps curls with 30lbs and duck walks with 40lbs. Again, 7 rounds of both of these exercises with 20 reps. I thought the one-legged hip thrusts burned until I had to do the duck walk. Not to be dramatic, but it was literally the death of me. While I was SUPPOSED to do 20 steps back and forth all-in-one go, I could only manage 10 at a time before my legs would start to literally shake to the point where I was slowly crumbling to the ground. It was one of those exercises where you know you're going to feel sore before you even leave the gym. 

With the help of God, I was able to get through all of my sets and finish strong. We ended off our workout with some decompressing stretching, which was much needed. Overall, it was a great workout with a good balance of challenging yet still manageable. Now that it is the next day, I definitely do feel sore when I walk up the many stairs of PUC or bend down to grab something. But I definitely plan on going back tonight because you know what they say, no pain, no gain.

- JAZ

hi, my name is jenica and i'm an addict.

 they say the first step toward recovery is admitting that you have a problem. so here I am shamelessly announcing my addiction to technology. 

should I be embarrassed? maybe. but my gut tells me I'm not the only one. I don't blame myself, and I don't blame you either. look at the state of the world! it's chaos and we should be allowed to take comfort on our phones in peace. 

besides, technology isn't all that bad. I learned a long time ago not to assign a moral direction to inanimate objects. that's not fair to them - they're just existing. we're the ones that use and abuse. (side note: they say that the only two industries that call their customers "users" are drug dealers and tech companies... oof). 

I'll stop dragging you into this and leave the word "we" alone. 

I have allowed my self-control to wear thin. I have signed over nearly all my time and attention to the many social media platforms.

The thing is, I don't think it's realistic or necessary to fully quit using technology. but I do think it's possible and necessary to establish a healthy balance, and here's how I've been going about it. 

first things first, I have to validate my excuses. 

hear me out - I have valid reasons for why I spend time on my phone. TikTok has a lot of educational and entertaining videos, Pinterest and Instagram are great for inspiration, and texting keeps me connected to the people in my life. Those are all valid desires so I'm going to honor them. 

What I won't honor is that technology is the only way to achieve those desires. What are some solid alternatives?

#1) Subscribing to a magazine. Listen, are we really surprised that the answer to avoiding technology is to revert back to the tools that people had before it existed? If magazines were good enough for ladies in a salon, they're good enough for me. And I'm not talking about trash tabloids. Vogue, Architectural Digest, The New Yorker: all are great magazines with educational and entertaining content. Plus, if you have an online shopping addiction (we can talk about that one another time) it'll feel great to receive something in the mail every month. 

#2) texting is out, hand-written letters are in. Of course, I still utilize texting when it's most convenient but I've tried to make it a practice to spend more time sending hand-written letters to the people in my life. I even went so far as to create personalized stationery. It makes the experience all the more magical. With it, I'm no longer a modern-day young adult, I'm a woman from the 1800s writing a poetic letter to my betrothed who is away at war!! talk about romanticizing your life. 

#3) Scrapbooking and printing out photos: What more can I say? There is something so satisfying about holding a book filled completely with your own creativity, thoughts, interests, and little mementos from your life. Plus, it'll be something I can pass down to future generations which will feel so much more special and treasurable than texting them a link to an iCloud album, let's be real.  

Okay, okay... I have so much more to add to that list but I'll stop before this gets any longer.  

Takeaway: technology isn't awful and neither am I. I've just gotten a little carried away and have failed to uphold my boundaries. but rediscovering that balance is possible and likely even enjoyable. 

- jenica nieto

blog #3

 

I Choose Me

 When I first came to school at PUC, I was determined to make the most of my college experience. During the pandemic, I had taken a gap year and worked in the adult world so I was convinced I would be able to handle whatever college threw at me. As such, upon my arrival at school, I became involved in everything from the Honors course to working a job to shooting videos for the Student Association. Academically, socially, and occupationally, my life was locked in the highest gear.

As a result, I didn't spend much time sleeping, and even less time in my room relaxing. During this time, I averaged 2 meals a day and most of my cafeteria points went toward coffee and energy drinks. As you could expect, I quickly burned out and spent much of my winter and spring quarters dragging my feet.

This is a common occurrence in college, young people are expected to juggle coursework, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and maintain a social life, all while trying to plan for their future. The constant pressure to perform and excel in all areas can be overwhelming, especially when combined with the pressure to fit in and make friends.

But what can college students do to prevent burnout? The first step is to recognize the symptoms of burnout and take action before it becomes too severe. They can also prioritize their time and set realistic goals for themselves. They can also practice self-care by getting enough sleep, eating well, taking breaks when needed, and spending time outside in the sunlight. This can include engaging in activities they enjoy, such as reading, watching movies, or spending time with friends.

It's also important for students to seek support when they need it. They can talk to friends, family, or a mental health professional if they feel overwhelmed. In particular, along with counseling services, our school also provides other resources to help students manage stress such as the TLC.

For me, the solution to my problem was as simple as cutting down on credits each quarter, quitting the  Honors program, and taking an hour or two each week to do something for myself. Since making these changes, I have been able to approach school in a more calm and more organized fashion. Though I am still working several jobs and juggling many tasks, I feel better and more capable of getting everything done.

Oftentimes, the hardest choice in college is to choose yourself over the deadlines. But if you don't give that time and respect to yourself, you won't be able to go far in your academic journey. So, my advice to you in your college experience is to choose yourself and let school take the backseat every now and then.

I'm rooting for you!

Marguerite :)

College Drama and Friends...

Making friends in college is harder than I thought it would be. I went into college with a set of friends coming from the same high school. At first, I loved this idea because I never felt alone and we all had similar classes because we had the same major. 

Things were great and it was a blast. We made lots of memories and walkways hung out, we were the group that was so loud in the cafeteria. Fast forward a couple months and I go through a lot of changes and realize that I had a lot of fake friends. In March of 2022, my ex and I broke up and I also lost the majority of my friends with him. Some said that I was different than I was before, which didn't makes sense at that time because of course I wouldn't be the same, I was sad.... but that was beside the point. 

Going through a relationship breakup and losing the majority of my friends left me in such a difficult situation where I did not know anyone and had to start fresh again. It also did not help that I changed majors last minute and it was already almost the end of my freshman year, so everyone had their own groups already.

It was hard especially because fresh out of a breakup I wanted to be surrounded by people I knew and wanted nothing to do with new people. But luckily while I did not make many friends, I ended up realizing the importance of focusing on myself and I rediscovered my love for reading and writing. I also learned who my true friends were.

Then summer came and I reconnected with old middle school friends and became the happiest I have been in a while. But sadly that had to end when school started again and I still realized I was in the same predicament. I was determined to make friends and I still am but it's hard to think positively when everything seems to not work out.

My old friend group spread rumors about me or told people things that made me look worse and made it hard for me to make friends. I guess that's the disadvantage of having a small school. 

This time around though I'm not alone, I now have my boyfriend, and his friends and I also have made a couple of friends myself from my classes. Sadly though I would love to hang out with them but none of us have a car on campus and they also all have their own individual groups already but it's okay one day.

To this day I am trying to make friends but it's hard to put myself out there. But right now I am happy with the people I surround myself with. Though its just its weird in a sense because I am such a social person but I suddenly have so much trouble finding the right people at this school and I don't know I think covid really hindered my social skills. 

But yeah, does anyone have tips on making friends on campus? I joined clubs but my old friend group was also part of those too;c 

Ps. I know this is such a sad post-LMAO but I hope someone can relate and yes I have friends but barely any of them go here T^T

chat/rant soon, shannea x

my therapist is a library

I went to the library today. 

Not the school library where students go for a quiet place to study or to frantically print out their articles before class while crossing their fingers and praying that the fossil computers won't lag or that they'll select the right printer on the first try. Not that library. 

I went to the St. Helena Public Library. I used to go to the library all the time as a little girl. My dad would take me and my sister and we'd be so excited to find all the best books. My personal favorites were Katie Kazoo Switcheroo, The Magic Treehouse, and Nancy Drew. I would read for hours and hours.

Then I bought myself a Kindle Fire for my 11th birthday. At first, I used it to read books, but once I realized I had access to games and youtube... my addiction to technology replaced my love for reading. 

10 years later and not much has changed. I'm glued to my phone for hours on end, scrolling through TikTok and searching for some kind of... satisfaction? Over the years I've tried to get back into reading but unfortunately, college has the ability to make good habits seem like torture and self-sabotage seem like self-care. A professor assigns 20 pages of reading? I will protest by reading nothing at all. 

The thing is, I'm going through the most challenging and confusing time as I unpack the last few years of my life and try to comprehend the next few. College is coming to an end and soon I'll be permanently released from the boundaries of academic life. Who am I as an adult and how do I choose to spend my time?

How am I caring for myself? What are my interests? What am I learning that I'm not being taught?

So, I went to the library today. An attempt to rekindle the curiosity and admiration I once had for an "acoustic" life: to get a reminiscent whiff of the air that I used to obsessively breathe as a little girl, full of imagination. 

It was refreshing, to say the least, and - best of all - cheaper than therapy. (Side note: I think libraries are one of the last institutions that haven't been infected by capitalism. 100% free. No lie, no catch.)

I went to the library today, and perhaps I'll go again. 

- jenica nieto

blog entry #2

Bilingual or bye-lingual?

 Five years ago my family emigrated from Colombia to the USA, my parents wanted for my brother and I to be bilingual and have different experiences in life. At first everything was a challenge, my first language is Spanish and even though I had previously been homeschooled in an American academy and took tons of particular English courses... I could not understand a single thing people said to me when I first arrived to this country!

My first year and a half in a American high school was crazy. I had no idea what many words meant, and could not pronounce many others because of my accent. I did crazy things in high school to be able keep good grades. For the English class, I memorized a whole chapter of the book we had been assigned to read just so I could pass a 5 question quiz. For bio class I memorized words I couldn't pronounce and most certainly did not understand. Even though I didn't know what the words in my brain meant, or why I was supposed to know them, I would memorize anything in front of my eyes. 

Finally the dreaded day arrived when the words I had memorized gained a meaning and I was able to think in this new language. I finally started to dream in English! I know it sounds awesome that I was finally becoming more fluent in English, but this was a dreaded day because everything I had done at school to keep good grades stopped working. Suddenly I wasn't able to memorize whole paragraphs of information, instead I had to understand what the paragraph meant if I wanted to do well in a test. But the worse was yet to come.

I had been so focused on learning a new language that I had stopped practicing my mother tongue. I wasn't able to translate words like "accurate" or "support"  to Spanish. I couldn't have a conversation with my relatives back home without using "so"!

Even though I am happy that my English has improved a lot, lately I have been reading more books and watching shows in Spanish (more like soap operas if I am quite honest), I don't want to turn into a yo-no-sabo kid.

Anna <3

Making Friends is Hard

 Making friends in college can be both exciting and a bit intimidating. As a former homeschooler, when I first came to PUC, it was my first time attending school since preschool and I was really nervous. Because I was coming from Georgia to California, I didn't know anyone and felt a bit lost. But, in the end, I had to take the initiative to get to know others. With this newfound knowledge, I wanted to share a few tips and tricks with any students who might be feeling lost or confused.

One of the best ways to meet new people is to attend campus events. I'm not sure if you have already done that, but if not, it's a great way to start. You could attend a sports game, hang out in the campus coffee shop, or participate in the events provided by the Student Association and Student Life. These events are specifically designed to help students socialize and get to know each other. Even though they can be corny or uninteresting, they are a great way to get to know other students.

Another great way to meet new people is to get to know your roommate. You'll be living with them for at least a quarter, so it's a good idea to get to know them and find common interests. In addition to the obvious benefits of becoming friends with your roommate, they may introduce you to people you wouldn't meet otherwise. 

Joining a club or organization is also a great way to meet people who share similar interests. Whether you're into sports, music, or art, there's bound to be a club or organization on campus that aligns with your passions. You can have fun with your new friends while also participating in activities that you enjoy. 

In addition to clubs and organizations, you can also meet people in your classes. Participating in group projects and attending class can help you meet people who are interested in the same subjects as you. You can exchange contact information and organize study groups outside of class. 

Finally, don't forget about social media. It's a powerful tool to connect with others. Following accounts related to your interests or major can help you find people with similar passions. You can also use social media to organize meetups or events with other students. Remember, making friends takes time and effort, but it's worth it. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. With a little effort, you can make lasting connections and have a fulfilling college experience.

I'm rooting for you!

Marguerite :)

What's With College Professors?

 My Professors.  What are they Thinking?

I don't understand.  Some of my teachers this term totally get it.  But there are a few who seem to think my entire life revolves around their class.  Sure, what I'm learning in Important-Department-Name course number 146 is important for my future.  But, really . . . Three reading assignments, one paper, one presentation, two quizzes, and preparation for a section test?  All in one week.

How do I respectfully remind Professor Pompous that he's teaching a three-credit-hour course, not my entire academic load for the term?  I get that he worked tirelessly on his PhD in this field and that he's got years of experience behind him -- all of it centered on this subject.  But, I'm just trying to learn the basics and to understand the discipline; not prepping to write my dissertation!

I know, students have been whining about this stuff for hundreds or maybe thousands of years.  But back then in Athens, or Paris, or Heidelberg, or London -- they didn't have iPhones to distract them, and their car's "Check Engine" lights didn't come on.  Plus, their parents didn't discover their grades in real time by simply logging on. 

Maybe I'll go surf some dating sites after I check my Insta feed and make a new TikTok.  After that, I really need to get going on planning that presentation.

Going out is a lot of work

Social life is something that most people associate with the college life. This is the time where you're supposed to meet new people, make new friends, and just have a good time before your stuck at a job forever. But it's actually not as easy as people make it seem in the movies. There is the factor of school, class, and different schedules that the movies don't show. If you want to plan an outing with friends, there's a lot that goes into that. You have to line up your schedules and make sure it's at a time that everyone can attend without missing class. Then you have to get all caught up on your homework because this time out will take away from the time you have to study. Then you have to make sure you have enough funds for the outing and choose something that works with everyone's budget. Then last but certainly not least, there comes the factor of gas and figuring out who's driving and having everyone pitch in with gas money since everything is so far from us. There's so much work that goes into an outing with friends that sometimes just the thought of it makes me no longer want to go. But yet here I am sitting at a coffee shop with my befriend while writing this...

Yours Truly,

Jaz

Opposite Roommates

Eat. School/Homework. Game. Sleep. Repeat.

This has always been my daily routine ever since the 2020 pandemic hit. I have never had any issues with this routine except for the fact that when I started playing games I noticed I procrastinated more, but honestly who doesn't? I only really started to have an issue with this routine after I moved into my dorm and had to learn to adjust to living with a roommate. 

With that said I was lucky enough to room with my high school best friend, and I know many say that one shouldn't room with a friend, especially their best friend, because it ruins friendships... but this is not the case for us. Though, something to note is that we both have very different hobbies and schedules. So to put it into simpler terms my best friend mainly watches dramas and studies, which don't get me wrong I also do, but I also play games, and the best time to play games ーof course is at night. 

At first, things were fine but after some time as the school quarters went on, she started to complain about me staying up late and being too loud, so I had to adjust. We had to find a middle ground and it was pretty hard to do, especially since she is a morning person and is sensitive to light when she sleeps. While I personally am a night owl and sleep pretty late. 

To compromise, last year we agreed on 12 AM being our quiet hours, meaning no gaming, lights off, and if I have to talk, I have to be really quiet. This was fine for the most part but it did take some time to adjust to because I, at that time would call my then-partner every night because we were doing LDR which is not one for the weak but that's a story for another time.

Now though, we are both in our 2nd year of college and she got into the nursing program. Due to this, she has to wake up at 8 AM every day and 3 AM on her clinical days. This year we still decided to stick to our original quiet hours and it has worked perfectly fine... for the most part. We faced issues whenever I noticed that she would come back to dorm exhausted and asleep by 8 PM which is when we started to have our issues again.

We addressed it and figured out that the best way for both of us to live comfortably is for her to wear earplugs and an eyemask, as long as I promise to also stick to the 12 AM quiet hours rule and not be too loud in general. We also agreed to have the fan on at all times to help drown out the noise and to have my lamp facing as far away from her as possible. To add I also don't play games as often or call my partner much at night and if I do, I am usually just typing to them or whispering to communicate. 

I have no regrets about rooming with my best friend but I can't deny that it doesn't get hard and slightly frustrating at times, but it is what it is.... these were the boundaries and rules we set. My question is though what would you guys suggest?

chat/rant soon! shannea x

NEED MORE TIME

Time.

Why is it that college students seem to have the least amount of time on their hands. We are tasked with the impossible of getting a million and one things completed with the restraint of time. I in particular have struggled this week with making time to clean my room. It's a disaster really. I start my days at 5am, have practice till 8am, then depending on the day have shower really quick to head to class or work from 10am-8pm. Not to mention the homework required to do once you do get a second of free time as if their class didn't already take up enough of you day. There really just aren't enough hours in the day, it feels like. Finding the time to clean my room has been near impossible, and not to mention daunting. It just progressively continues to get worse and worse, and the days continue, and I repeat the daily cycle that is my life. We are leaving for our basketball trip tomorrow to San Diego and will be back Sunday. So, I pray then, that my room can get the love and attention that it needs...

 

Yours Truly,

Jaz

Getting a Job on Campus

After my first full quarter back on campus with in-person classes last year,  I realized I was going to need a job on campus to keep funding my outings with friends.  I was not sure if I would be able to handle an on-campus job along with classes & homework. However, getting a job on- campus helped me with scheduling my time, not just for the job but also with my homework.

I love that on-campus jobs are flexible and understanding of your class schedule. They make sure that you are putting your classes first & will work around them, so you can still get some hours in. 

Here are some of the ways you can get a job on campus

1. Use Handshake, and if you don’t know what that is, it’s a website PUC and other employers use to post job listings. Just use this link https://app.joinhandshake.com/stu/postings?page=1&per_page=25&sort_direction=desc&sort_column=default&job.job_types%5B%5D=6 and log in with your PUC email info :D

2. Look for job openings on the Campus Chronicle, they are usually on the last page at the end

3. If you excelled in a class, ask the professor or TLC tutoring coordinator if they will be needing a TA for the next class

4. Look out for the job fairs that happen in the cafe

5. Ask your friends if they know of any on-campus jobs

Laundry Room Etiquette

 When moving into college, there are some things that students are expected to know and understand. One of these bits of common knowledge is laundry room etiquette. While doing laundry may seem like a small task, it can quickly become a source of friction in communal living spaces if not done in a respectful way.

Here are a few tips people should keep in mind:

1. Clean up after yourself: Make sure to remove any lint or debris from the machines after use and clean up any spills or messes. This shows respect for your fellow students and helps keep the washroom in good condition. 

2. Respect machine time limits: The washing machines have time limits to ensure everyone has a chance to do their laundry. Make sure to keep an eye on the clock and remove your clothes as soon as the cycle is finished. 

3. Don't leave clothes in the machines: If you can’t remove your clothes from the machine immediately after the cycle is finished, make sure to take them out as soon as possible. Leaving clothes in the machine for extended periods of time can be frustrating for other students who may be waiting to use it. 

4. Use laundry baskets: When carrying dirty laundry to the washroom, use a laundry basket or bag to keep your clothes contained and avoid any spills or messes along the way. 

5. Label your clothes: To avoid mix-ups, make sure to label your clothes with your name or initials. This will help ensure you get your clothes back and prevent any accidental swaps.

By following these simple tips, students can help create a pleasant and efficient washroom environment for everyone. Because after all, a little effort goes a long way in ensuring that college life is enjoyable for all.

If I see one more dirty load sitting in the wash for four hours I will scream!

Marguerite :)

College Weather?

Question:  Is it harder to study when the weather is gorgeous outside or when it is pouring rain?

Sometimes, the great-weather days are just too much.  The outside lands beckon, the mountain bike or the snow slopes call.  We must go.  But then, when it is raining, we just want to sit by the fire, sip on a hot drink and let our minds wander.  

So, which is better for getting that paper written or those Statistics assignments caught up?  

Or, do we just study at night and play during the daylight hours?

Is sleep deprivation what college is all about?!

About Me: Hannah Park

 Hi Everyone!
I am Hannah Park and I will be helping out with the course this quarter. I am a Health Communication major, Chemistry minor Pre-Dental student. This is my last year at PUC and will be attending Loma Linda School of Dentistry next year. One fun fact about me is that I am a licensed California Real Estate Agent!

Midnight Ramen Cravings

 Being a student can be stressful. I often find myself wide awake late at night finishing assignments I have procrastinated on getting done but since I have dinner early in the evening I get horribly hungry at the time I am supposed to be sleeping. My to-go midnight snack is ramen, but since I am also a horribly picky eater  I always make Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Ramen, the white chicken broth type. If possible I like to add vegetables to the ramen. This is my easy 10 min Ramen recipe:

In a tray I will chop very finely green onions, cilantro and celery. Then in a pan I will lightely fry them with mashed garlic (not minced) and then add it to a pot where water and the noodles boil together, this way the noodles don't get soggy but soak the flavor of the vegetables. Once everything starts to boil I will add an egg and wait for it to harden. The most important part of the cooking process comes after the noodles are done. Once the noodles are served in a bowl I will put leftover cilantro on top on the ramen and add sesame oil on top of everything. It tastes delicious. If I feel homesick I will add lime juice to the mix, but that is an acquired taste of mine.

Eating ramen at midnight isn't the healthiest thing a college student can do, but it tastes good, so I don't think I will ever stop eating ramen at midnight.

Anna <3