Scavenger

As freshman, we take pride in being "poor college students" for some reason, even though our room and board is paid for one way or another and we have all we ever need. We still stock up on ramen noodles, organizing them in a huge drawer by flavor. We are excited by free food because we are sick and tired of Slate. We buy rice just in case, but the only thing we really ever run out of is laundry detergent.

As sophomores living off campus, we now realized that was a huge pathetic joke. Now, life is real. We are adults and have to hunt and gather for our meals, while furnishing our houses with the necessities of living. Ramen is a great meal- not a snack anymore. We become less picky, willing to try anything as long as it contains sustenance. We become less embarrassed, for staying alive is more important than socially acceptable behavior, and then show up to the most random places as long as there's free food.

Free food. Those two words captivate me. Almost as much as my other favorite two words: green boxes. But gosh, I love free food. Organizations are a power feeding tool: SWE, the MEP groups, SSG, and other professional societies have weekly or bi-weekly meetings which have free food. I mean, really- who goes to hear the talk? Alright, maybe we do, but it's so mind-easing to know you have a lunch coming on those days. Random BBQs are good too. In fact, BBQs are awesome because they most certainly have meat, and my diet needs meat to supplement all the carbs I intake all week.

I bought cereal, but my milk went bad. I guess I should eat breakfast more. But the thing is, I can afford to skip a meal I guess. Today for dinner, I ate one slice of pizza, along with some cheese and humus left over from an info session at The Oredigger meeting. It's not an all-great feeling, but I feel like a scavenger. And scavenging is more time-efficient than making dinner myself, which I do in fact do sometimes.

I'm such a poor college student.

Science Nerd Writes: Satiring Maple; Challenge Kids Reflect

I returned to The Oredigger staff this year, despite knowing I'll be swamped with school and life. Each week, I'll link to any relevant articles I wrote because I did in fact write them, and you probably don't get the paper copy of The Oredigger, and our desire is for everyone to read our exceptional writing (that last part's a bit of a joke). But yeah. As if you need more of my writing to read...

"Syrup Hall plans in progress" 9/09/12

I made fun of Maple in a light-hearted way, while also making fun of the people who make fun of Maple. You know, haters gonn' hate and whatever. So Syrup will be pretty much the opposite. I admit, I had a lot of fun in this piece.

"Challenge program offers freshmen head start" 9/3/12

I asked the Challenge kids for a few quotes, and I was overwhelmed by their eagerness and gratefulness to have gone through Challenge. It was such a huge blessing for me to hear how positive the experience was for them. So again, thank you all.

All articles from oredigger.net The Oredigger is the student voice of CSM.

Pure Madness

Three possible straight semesters of 18 credit hours. As opposed to two straight with 16. What drives a person to such self-infliction? Madness, I say.

Its contrast: astounding. How quickly my once free hours become occupied now that I have more class to prepare for and attend! The material: intriguing. I don't mind sitting down and focusing for hours on end, and begin academic and such. My hours spent sleeping in class comes out to a grand total of zero. My notes: as extensive as ever. The professors: quite the characters, from Humphrey getting whoa! excited about sea level changes to Switzer and the darndest things he says, including showing us absurd Youtube videos in class, leaving us to ponder "wut?!" Young is the coolest, but of course he is, being the department head of the coolest major on campus. Flammer is cool, and normal (as opposed to the other physics II professor....so I hear). And Houser is just Houser, and it's just economics after all. And I suppose I must mention me being the nerdiest and most unathletic of the students in volleyball class, glasses crooked and everything.

My free hours (minutes)? Nonexistent, for the most part. If there is time, then there is time to do homework. Time spent sleeping: reasonable, with 7 to 8 hours every night.

I long for quiet time sometimes, away from the people and their noises. Maybe a nap on a hill or by the creek. Where frantic pleas for help on physics won't reach me. Grumbles about lack of sleep don't carry. Meals aren't crying to be made, or rather my stomach not crying for food. And I can hear myself think, for I have forgotten to think, but rather move before the madness overtakes me and my futile attempts to stay ahead become for naught as the exams cloud my nightmares.

Sophomorey-ness

I write this post physically exhausted, though not emotionally...yet. Classes have been good; homework alright. Other stuff crazy and mostly good. But it leaves me with no time to get ahead on homework and a desire to go to bed before midnight (which I mostly have). I know, crazy, right?

It's crazy being a sophomore. First, I have to make my own food. I miss having munch money to get Starbucks and get Naked, and I don't feel like spending money to continue that habit. I miss coming back to Maple and seeing the floor in the study room, like clockwork. I'm sad that I can't meet new people in Slate. I miss midnight conversations with my roommate, as I am currently in a single room.

But it's good being a sophomore. I can make fun of freshman and their happiness yet insecurity and freshness, while the juniors still  make fun of us. I don't have to carry my keys everywhere. Most of my classes are interesting and relevant. Living at the Enchanted Palace, my practically on-campus house, is pretty sweet too. And I don't know- I just feel cooler, yet jaded now.

But so far, everything's fine, we're all fine here.

Dear Younger Self: Things to Know Before Freshman Year

Why hello there, freshman me (and new freshman eavesdropping). You have just completed the M-Climb and Orientation blather, but school starts and stuff gets real. Get ready to lose your time, sleep, mental health, hygiene, and anything "normal" about you (except normal forces! Gotta love those). Below is a non-exhaustive list of things that would be pretty nifty to know going in, although some will have to be learned the hard way. Some things are things that just work for me, some things are past advice given by older students, some things are facts of life at Mines. It's gonna be difficult, but it's gonna be a blast!!

***
Getting ahead isn't the most important thing anymore.

People who think they know it all will try to tell you stuff. Wise people will try to give you great advice.You have to figure out who's full of good advice and who's just full of it.

Don't get behind. It takes one week to go to living homework assignment to assignment. And it's impossible to get ahead once you're behind, so take each semester and stay on top of it.

Choose Geophysics as a major because it's awesome and you are awesome, not because you don't want to take Chem II. Although that tidbit certainly makes it more attractive...

Have a test routine. Maybe you don't take tests well, or maybe there's one subject with an exam coming up that will make you shake. But find out ways to focus and relax. My routine is: study until two hours before the exam, pray for focus and help, maybe play the piano, eat a good meal, maybe listen to my iPod as I'm walking to the room, chew gum throughout the exam, and switch pencils if I'm on a problem.

Don't wait 'til midnight to start homework or studying. Just please, don't.

Wearing a suit to Career Day as a freshman = winning. They'll probably think you're a junior or grad student.

It's okay to cry. Just pull yourself together and focus on what you have to do next.

You're gonna hate EPICS as a class; you'll think it's stupid and useless. Hope to get a good team- although many people will complain about their teammates after they reviewed them and before the final report is due.

You'll probably either hate Chemistry or Physics. Or both.

Attitude is everything. If you think a class sucks, it will. If you think writing papers is dumb, your grades will reflect it. And if you keep muttering that you hate physics to your studio partners...you're gonna have a bad time.

Units! Remember to put them. Small things like these add up on exams.

Try everything, meet everyone, do everything, get involved, and put yourself out there first semester! This will be the perfect time to have fun and make friends before you can buckle down with harder classes second semester.

If you're on the 14 meals a week plan, you should take your books to breakfast, eat, study for a few hours, then eat lunch. Two-for-one meal swipes!

There are good and bad things about being on a small campus. Mostly good. But try to remember people's names who apparently know you. And try to be reasonable when something is suddenly changed, and don't do or say anything impulsive because you think it isn't fair, because it is a small campus.

Living in the dorms is awesome. Take advantage of the opportunity this year and become friends with a bunch of different people.

The food's okay. But after a few months (weeks?) you'll find that "stale" is an anagram for "Slate", which also will count for their music playlist.

It's impossible to watch an action movie without it being dissected from now on. Embrace it, or never watch movies with engineering students.

Don't be afraid to change, but remember who you are.

Don't go to EPICS on Fridays. Well, most Fridays.

If you bring a stapler to class the day the worksheet's due, everyone will love you.

There is no such thing as an easy A here.  If you want a grade, you'll have to do the work for it- and more. And you might not end up with the grade you want even if you work hard.

Work hard, have fun, relax.

Swag.