Decision Day

So I know today is a big day for many people in hearing back from Emory. There are many things to remember about college -- it's really what you make of where you go. There are SO many things to do at different schools and each school has their own flavor. 

I hope that everyone who applied made it into Emory, but the reality is, we can't take everyone. Every year the application pool gets harder and harder, and while it may seem rough not making it into Emory - it's not the end of the world. There are many other amazing schools out there, and like I said you can do big things everywhere. 

This isn't the end of the world just another decision we have to make. Being a senior now and not having heard back from Medical Schools is tough. I have not heard a yes or a no, so no news is good news at this point - but it's frustrating. Take what you can get and have the most fun with it as you can.

My favorite quote is the following:

LIFE HAPPENS - enjoy and make the best of what comes your way!

Busy Days

WOW! This is the first time in a while that I've had the opportunity to write.

Sure, I may have a schedule that consists of two classes, Tibettian Buddhism and Golf, but it doesn't mean that the school's Deans and other organizations don't keep me on my toes.

I just got back from Dallas, TX for a dance competition. I am apart of the dance group KaRMa (yes, that is the way it is officially spelled on our governing documents) and we just brought home 2nd place and $1,000! Not bad I'd say.

ALSO, we just had Ralph Nader speak at Emory too! That was really exciting to have him come and speak. Since I am on the programming board that brings many speakers to Emory, I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to meet and talk with him.

Other than those things, life here has been fun! I'm coming down to my last few months -- scary thought to be honest, but I'm enjoying it. I'm sure many of you all are coming down to the end of your high school careers, and I hope you are making the best of it. Make as many friends as you can, do the things that you always wish you had done (within reason of course), and step out of your shell! It'll be fun!

Any exciting news from anyone out there? Email me or keep me posted

January... already?!

WOW! How is it January already?! Didn't my senior year just start? Am I really half way done?

I don't want it to end.

Anyways, I'm still here in Florida doing a lot of nothing - which is one of the best feelings ever. I am just so busy at school, so when I get some time off, I really like to capitalize on it. Things are good here - nothing to stress about, food is made for me, and hell, sometimes my mom even cleans my room! HAHA

In a whole nine days it all comes to an end - an end I'm not looking forward to - but life moves on...


Anyone working on applications this break? How are they coming?

Are you nervous yet?

Nervousness is a key part of life - and more importantly for a student, a key component to the application process.

I know, why does the application process have to exist? Can't we all just get in? Hell, if the application process has to happen, why can't we find out right away!? I know, it's no fun.

About four years ago I was in the same position of many people who read this blog. I know, it's tough. What makes it probably even tougher is the fact that I know many of the people who are reading your essays and applications.

I know it's getting later and later and the second semester of high school is on its way, but you have to be patient in the process. It's easier said than done, but you really have to be. During this time, remember that you have time to get in. Just because you haven't heard back yet, doesn't mean you have not gotten in.

Also, don't forget about your other schools. I'm sure many of you applied to many schools, and there are a lot of great schools out there, but with Emory getting harder and harder to get into, we don't always get our top choice. Don't forget your back ups, and work on those. Life tosses us some interesting curve balls - just go with them.

Stay calm, and just wait it out. The anticipation sucks right now, but the more it builds up the better it feels when you get that goal.


You wanna talk anticipation? I sent out my application for medical schools in the beginning of July - I've had a few interviews, but no "yes". I have not gotten any "no" responses, but no "yes". You maybe have been waiting a whole 2 or three months, I've been waiting almost half a year. :)

Friends?

Anyone out there? I would love to hear back from people who read this thing. I don't mind posting up more frequently, but I would like to know if people are reading and what they would like to hear about. I have some fun and interesting stories on many different topics that surround college life and well, life as we know it.

Let me know and I'll cater it to the masses (or the 1 other person who reads it).

-rb

Food? Home? Home? Food?

What's the difference? I really don't know.

My buddy Thom just sent me an Instant Message (an IM as us kids say it these days) that said, being at home is great - the food is amazing.

I sat there and thought, HM - Thom's probably right. Not that Thom is usually wrong, but rather, I don't know if I would take his word 100% of the time.

Anyways, I got to thinking and Home and food are the same things. Right when you come in, food is there. I think this is a universal thing. From there, your parents just want to feed you. I love it. No more having to go out, no more having to find food yourself, no more looking for the best deal around, no more of any of that. It's great. It really is great.

And another cool part -- you can just have the look of 'what should I eat next' on your face, and everyone knows. During that time - you get questions like 'what do you want for dinner?' That's when the magic happens, because for the most part - whatever you say goes.

NOTE: this only happens for the first week to two weeks. When you're home for a month - yea right. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like....

FINALS!

So we are currently in the middle of finals -- only about three more days to go. The way finals usually works is as follows:

Monday & Tuesday: Normal Classes
Wednesday: Reading Day (no classes at all -- a day off)
Thursday & Friday: Finals
Saturday & Sunday: Weekend (no classes/finals -- days off)
Monday through Wednesday: Finals.

All in all, there are 5 days of finals. I've already had two, and I have one more that is in a classroom (tomorrow, Monday at 4:30pm) and then one that is take home for 24-hours.

I can't wait for them to be over, but to be honest, it's kinda weird. This is going to be my last true set of finals. Next semester I'm juts taking 5-credits (a religion and a PE course) - that's it! Religion classes usually don't have exams that are in class, maybe a paper if anything.

The end is coming, I don't know if I'm ready, but it is coming none the less.

Being a senior is great - but the idea of leaving isn't the warmest feeling ever... I WANNA BE IN COLLEGE FOREVER! :)

Talking

So I'm here in the library with what seems like the rest of the school trying to study for finals... you can feel college-final-tension in the air for sure.

Anyways, I'm a guy that likes to study in complete silence so I take an extra long time to find the perfect place to park myself for the days. So today I went to the 4th floor to the Media Library, a place a normally don't go, and I find a table with a girl sitting at it. I scope it out - it seems like it's a quiet area. She is doing her work, the table next to her has people doing there work - the only sound are typing keys, people walking, and a printer. I can deal with that.

Just as I finally sit down and open up my notebook to start doing work comes her friend. Awesome. They sit in front of me, even now as I write this, and decide that they need to recap their entire Friday night (which both of them were seemingly present). Yes, I'm sure your Friday night was great - but you were there! Is it necessary for you to recap it all with each other?!

I mean, don't get me wrong, if you're going to do it, do it. But at least make it interesting for those that are having to listen to it... :) haha.

Enough of a study break for me... back to Atmospheric Chemistry! YEY!

The Close of a Semester

It's a Saturday night, and there's already the academic rush in the air. December just started, and when you look at a calendar, you know finals are right around the corner.

The dreaded feeling of having to study for finals - no matter how well you are doing in a class, or how easy the class may be, no one enjoys finals [I don't think].

Only 19 more days until I'm done with this semester. Kinda crazy, kinda exciting, and kinda scary. I only have one semester and 19 days left of my college career. THAT'S

I'm off to FSU tomorrow (Sunday) to talk to their medical school on Monday morning. I'm kinda nervous -- I hope it goes well! :)

WOW!

Time flies when you're a senior! I'm sure that a lot of people can relate. Whether you're a college or a high school senior, senioritis kicks in, and time moves fast!

I have been a busy guy on campus these days while I wait on medical schools. The medical school process is a long road - but I'm enjoying the ups and downs for now. I'm sure at some point, I'll want to just know if I got in or not, but the roller coaster is good as it stands. :)

As far as my day-to-day life goes, I've been working really hard on putting on THE largest Blood Drive that Emory has seen. Currently, there is a record for 98-pints of blood, and I really feel that can be blown out of the water. :) My goal for this coming Spring in a single drive is about 150 pints of blood. I don't think that should be TOO hard to do.

ALSO, I'm making great headway on my hybrid parking initiative. Just to recap, there is a great push/desire to get specified parking for hybrids on campus. I'm in talks with the parking office now, and hopefully that will be up and going by the Spring.

Life other than that is good. Moving a bit fast for me as it is senior year - but I guess that's what they call 'Life'.

More to come!

-Rajiv