Moved into Dorm; Ready for a Third Year!

Just moved into my new dorm and unpacked, which only took about 5 hours! Each year I tell myself to bring less things, and I really tried to, but somehow I still came to Penn with a huge amount of stuff (mainly clothes XD). But anyway, I'm in a double with my very good friend, and I have a fantastic view of the entire Philadelphia city. It is so beautiful, and what's even more convenient is that on top of one of the buildings, is a scrolling bar which gives both the time as well as the temperature in giant flashing numbers. Thus, I only have to glance out my window to see it! Unfortunately, a good portion of my view is blocked by the Huntsman building (Wharton's most famous building). Not cool.

Still, it feels great to have moved back in officially on campus. For the latter half of the summer, I've just been living off campus with the dear old mice in an old smelly house. I quickly moved out of there today, and the final thing I have to do is return my keys! Living on campus feels amazing.

So I'm not a great decorator so my walls are pretty bare. Waiting to see an awesome poster while walking around the city to decorate my room. I'm also thinking about getting these little lantern-lights!

Aren't they pretty? I like lights are dim and soothing, especially when it nears Christmas and the holiday seasons. You just feel so warm and safe inside.

Anyway, I'm going to talk a little about the goals I have this coming semester. I know that the one thing I feel about being back, is how fast time is going to go by. Just as the other two did, and my college career will be over. Back in high school, kids always wanted to finish as soon as possible. I know I did. Man, four years with a small group of kids you knew since middle and elementary school could get a little boring. And then once you found out you were accepted, all you could think about was getting to your college. But in college, I haven't heard of people wanting to "get out of here," in fact, I keep hearing of recent grads really missing college and complaining about the real world. Hehe, I'm not in a rush to grow up and face the realities of the real world. Although I really don't like exams and the stress, I have to admit, I definitely like school vs. working in an office for the rest of my life.

Thus, this year (well let's start with this semester), I want to increase my G.P.A and do the best I can in all of my classes. It's definitely going to be a challenge but I'm up for it! This year, I won't let anyone guilt trip me into doing something I don't like. Here's a great quote that I found:

“As you proceed on your path you will find that you just can’t make everyone happy. In fact, you can’t make anyone happy because happiness must come from within and is always a personal choice. This can be difficult to accept as so many of you were raised and conditioned to put your focus on pleasing others and because of this, have a great fear of negative judgment. Do your best, stay focused on your own unique path and understand that judgment from others comes through the filter of what would be best for them, and not at all from knowledge of what would be best for you. Ironically, by the time a person would have the vantage point to truly understand your unique path, they would have long evolved beyond the energies of judgment. So, stay true to your path, give yourself permission to be the expert on you, and stand firm in what you know is your truth.”


I know that sometimes we get swayed by what we think others want us to do, and it feels selfish to put our "needs" above theirs by tending to our studies or personal well being, but this is different from reaching out to someone who is in need and temporarily putting their need before your own. Oftentimes, it's just that the person either judges you for studying too much, or not studying enough, or not doing something they think you should, or pressuring you. But no, when it comes to these petty things that you don't REALLY want to do, then don't give into the pressure and waste your time. You have bigger goals and dreams that you must tend to and focus on. Minimize other distractions. This is my goal for the semester.

What are yours?