#also I just started my final semester at college!! hopefully the routine will kick into gear soon

[cardboardmoon]

Burger Saga part 17: Uncertainty

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[0ompa-loompa]

Assignments, final projects, try-outs, mock weeks, finals, college applications, these are what senior year is made of. Naturally, it’s the period of time when you most feel the urge to jump off a cliff. From the first week of school, I could already see the differences senior year brought to my school mates. People were starting to realize that they had to receive great marks, they had to get accepted into good colleges, they had to do this and that as ways to an accomplished future.

Over the years of being a high school student, every time there was a free period, or just any studying-free moment at school, we would watch movies, gossip, or simply be on our phones for hours. Now in every free periods, my classmates would take out these heavy-ass books that can be used comfortably as pillows and actually study. Or re-write their notes. Or revise a subject for next week’s quiz. Anything to keep them working (just curious, do these symptoms apply to all senior year students around the world?).

Since junior year were pretty traumatizing for me (thanks to student government), I had been planning all holiday to give my 110% for senior year. Long story short, I hit it off since day 1 and came out alive six months later. Although it resulted in me spending 3 days sleeping in after end-of-term exams were over, I’m really happy for having been very productive this entire term. I know there’s still 6 months left and the worst parts are yet to come, so I decided to share a few tips exclusively coming from someone *glares at myself* who did remarkably awful the previous year and somehow found a way to crawl back from death

1.       Know Where You’re Going

Getting to the very last year of high school, this is the MOST important part of surviving. Without having your long-term goal, it would be like taking down hundreds of obstacles without having a destination in mind. You don’t know where you’re going, but more monsters keep showing up on your path. Trust me, you’ll eventually get tired and stop trying midway. Losing motivation when you’re in the most vital part of your study can’t be a good thing.

Do research on the degrees you’re interested in taking, from their passing grades to job prospects. Make sure you actually enjoy the subjects needed for those degrees. For example, if you can’t stand Biology, better if you don’t consider attending medical school, and the same goes to other subjects as well.

2.       Maintain Productivity

The amount of school work you’re getting can be overwhelming, that is why you have to do them as soon as possible to prevent them from piling up. You don’t have to finish them all in one day, it’s impossible and careless. At least try to do them bits by bits until the night before due when you can go over what you’ve done and fix a few imperfections or cross-check your answers. Try doing this to multiple assignments instead of focusing on one or two assignments the entire week.

I usually bring unfinished assignments to school so I can get to work when I have free time, usually before after-school extras, or while waiting for an extra course. This way instead of going on Tumblr for hours, I’ll be figuring out math problems and (hopefully) have the homework done by ½ when the course starts.

3.       Gather Motivation

Take a look at that magnificent building, I will build tens of those once I become an architect. Have you seen the latest VSxBalmain collection? I’ll someday be working alongside Olivier Rousting .

It’s very important to keep being productive and use every free time wisely. While you’re at it, make sure to keep your motivate-o-meter at high level. Motivation and inspiration can come from anyone, anywhere and it doesn’t even have to come from anything relevant to your life goals. I usually get a boost of motivation after watching a couple videos of my favorite Youtubers (which has no correlation whatsoever to being an engineer), and I recently  got a huge inspo from reading Crazy Rich Asians. It seriously motivated me to work my ass off and be rich.

4.       Don’t Stop ‘til You’re Proud

Catch up on things you don’t fully understand. If you had a problem with certain subjects or materials, find the answers right away, don’t wait until the day before quizzes or mock tests when you will desperately need answers. Ask teachers, your friends, or our most trusty friend the internet. You can also download several applications to help you study, like Khan Academy and other similar apps. Once you put one problem out of sight, it will become easier for you to put more aside . This is what happened to me last year, I had problems understanding Chem but I refused to actually figure them out, thinking I would learn the materials later. 10 laters later, I got a 7 for end-of-semester test while my classmates received 9s and 8s.

So you have studied for this particular test and still got a bad mark. Shit happens honey, tough it up. Even while I’m writing this, I fully understand that the theory of ‘picking-yourself-up’ is much easier said than done. Give yourself some time to breathe, and start with “okay, where did I go wrong?”. Figure out the errors to make sure you’re not doing them the second time. Consider it this way: the subject has betrayed you and you’re getting a revenge. I planted this idea the very first day of senior year, the thought has driven me to never quit trying. It’s almost like Elle Woods to Warner, but instead it’s me and Physics.

5.       Get A Rest.

Senior year doesn’t mean you lose all hope of going on shopping sprees, watching the latest movies, or taking care of your Tumblr blog. If anything, I’ve watched more movies with my friends this year than I did previous years, simply because we have little time to relax so we made the most of one when we had the chance to. As long as you keep track on your to-do-list, stay discipline on your schedule, a little catch up on KUWTK won’t hurt.

Don’t push yourself to the point of falling down. Read books, paint, dance, even play games (Mobile Legend is the hype these days it’s getting annoying), anything to keep you sane and motivated. Never let the pressure of GPAs and prestigious colleges take positivity away from you.

6.       Don’t Over-Rest.

Yes, hun, I was just telling you to enjoy your senior year and now I’m telling you to not over-relax your way. Maintain a schedule, make agreements with yourself and stick to it. “At 8pm I will start on Math homework, and the rest is for tomorrow”. “I will work my butts off from 8 to 10 am then I can go on Tumblr”. “I will start on my History papers and take a rest after 2 pages”.

I’m not telling you to work 24/7 because that’s not healthy, I’m ALSO not telling you to spend all your weekend in bed and procrastinate because it would defeat the whole purpose of learning to be productive. Once you let yourself procrastinate, It’ll be easier for you to do it for the second, third, and fourth time.  Sometimes you just need to gather your will, get up and face those text books.

Well, there you go. These are all the things I have been doing to not only survive, but to do well in high school. I have been doing all these tips religiously for the past 6 months, it’s almost impossible not to feel tired or even want to just cut it off. But studying routinely makes me feel in control of what’s happening currently, what’s going to happen next, what I want to be doing in the future. So get up and let’s kick asses together.

[biopsychs]

What I Learned From University (1st Year)

FIRST YEAR

Everyone is super friendly, especially in the first few weeks → Introduce yourself to the people sitting near you for the first few weeks of lectures. Everyone is looking for a friend or at least someone to talk to!!

If you commute, make that time productive → My bus ride was an hour there and back each day. It sucks but I would try to be productive for at least half of the commute. I have a post about being productive on public transport here.

On that note, stay on campus as long as possible each day → As soon as I got back home I would procrastinate every little thing. Stay in an already productive environment for as long as possible.

Maybe don’t buy your textbooks used → I thought I was being smart by buying used textbooks (most schools will have a buy and sell facebook page for textbooks). I ended up having to pay for access codes in order to do my online homework – access codes that cost ~$70 separately and came included with new textbooks anyways. Email your prof or talk to someone who has recently taken the class to find out if you need an access code. If you do, your best bet is to buy a new version of the textbook (unless you can get a seriously cheap used textbook).

Print off your timetable and find all of your classes before the first day → This helped me so much! I found exactly where all my classes were before the first day of class. I wrote down little tricks to help me remember where everything was (i.e. my calc lecture is in the arts and science building which is also where the only subway on campus is).

Don’t knock living at home to save money → If you’re lucky enough to have a college or university close to home at least consider living at home. Getting your own place or living in dorms is expensive. (But if you have to find off campus housing on your own, don’t leave it too late or you might not find a place)

Figure out the best way to take notes for each class → You have to customize the way you study for each class, all depending on the prof and the content. I hand-wrote notes for some classes (chem, calc, and physics), but not others (psych and bio). If you’re writing by hand you can always just annotate your textbook notes or lecture slides (if they’re posted before class). If you fall behind while taking notes, just leave a gap and check out a friend’s notes after class.

Adjust your expectations → Don’t expect to get straight A’s, like you might have in high school. You can strive for straight A’s but be realistic as time goes on. For classes I struggled with, I expected to be near the class average. If I was a lot lower than the class average then I would know to invest more time.

Make time for physical activity → If we’re being honest I hardly exercised during uni. Go for at least a half hour walk each day and try to start a physical activity routine. Get a friend and join a sports team, go to a fitness class, or commit to some form of a daily workout with them! You’ll feel bad bailing on someone else, plus working out is more fun with other people.

Review content throughout the semester → Reviewing little bits of content will save you a massive content review right before finals! Look through old notes while you wait for your daily coffee or take 15 minutes to watch some khan academy videos on stuff you learned in the first month of classes.

Think seriously about how much you can handle → Don’t take on too many responsibilities at once and consider all of your options! I worked weekends and some week nights throughout the school year. Looking back I should have worked less because my stress levels were way too high. Also, quite a few people I talked to took 4 classes instead of 5, for their first semester of university. I don’t think I would have done it, in the end, but it’s always something to consider.

Have fun but be responsible at parties → Always go to parties with people you trust!! If you didn’t do much partying/drinking during high school (like me), remember to pace yourself when drinking! Eat before you go out and have some water between each drink, till you find your limit. Don’t let yourself be peer-pressured into anything but also don’t be afraid to have fun! And check out if your uni has a safe walk program (someone will come and walk you back to your dorm or your car if you feel unsafe or nervous for any reason)

When procrastination hits, aim to be productive in some way → The only reason my biology mark was so high was because I would study biology whenever I got sick of studying for physics and calculus. If you know you need to study but just can’t do it, start by being productive in some other way – study a subject you do like, do your laundry, organize your study area, etc. Get your brain to start thinking productively.

Labs are difficult so be prepared → I had so many labs first year. Some tips: eat and hydrate before labs, never assume you can finish your prelab last minute, be nice to your lab partner, always remember lab safety (don’t be the person trying to wear shorts in the lab, TAs will not hesitate to kick you out), don’t rush through an experiment but be efficient, and ask for help (even if you feel like you’re bothering your TA).

Please go to bed early. Sleep affects everything → I was so dumb and would never go to bed early even though I had to be up at 6 am almost every day to catch the bus. Lack of sleep will catch up to you eventually!! Also, all nighters are not necessary, unless you make them necessary. I prioritized and never had to stay awake too late. And never pull an all nighter the night before an exam (you’re better off getting sleep and resting your brain).

Bring a water bottle everywhere → Buy a decent water bottle and always carry it with you. Even though my uni is small there are still tons of spots around campus where I can refill my water bottle!! Stay hydrated my friends!

A practice problem a day keeps the F away → This saying probably works best for science classes, but I guess a reading a day will get you somewhere too. Do something for every class each day, even if it’s just a practice problem or a quick reading. Develop a routine!

You’ll have lots of midterms → I was under the impression that midterms happened just once a semester (I thought I would have one week where I had a midterm for each class). That was not my reality. I had 2 or 3 midterms for each of my classes scattered throughout the semester. Study really hard for your first set of midterms till you get used to the high expectations!

Don’t worry about what other people are doing or thinking → This is mostly in regards to social media. I was bummed when I looked back on my first year of university, because I felt like I hadn’t done anything fun compared to other people. You only see the image that other people want you to see. You don’t know how hard someone worked or how hard they didn’t work. Just focus on you and how you can affect positive results in your life.

Other people literally don’t care about your appearance → My friend’s little sister visited campus and asked us “Why is everyone wearing sweatpants?” People literally don’t care. Dress nice and put lots of makeup on one day, because you feel like it, and wear sweats the next day.

Start essays and reports as soon as possible → You never know what might come up so be prepared for the worst! Outline your essay or graph your data as soon as you can.

Eat healthy and do meal prep → You can eat healthy during university! Set aside a couple of nights each week to do meal prep. Cook food in bulk to save money and don’t eat out too much. Try to have at least 1 serving of fruits or veggies with each meal or snack you eat!

Find a good study spot on campus → Explore your campus and figure out your favourite places to study. I had a couple of spots where I would always meet my friends to study and quiet spots where no one would bother me. Studying outside or in an area with natural light is always good.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your profs and TAs → This is the number one thing I’m going to try to do more of in my second year. TAs are chill to talk to and they can tell you tons of useful information on what upper year classes are like, which professors are good, why they chose to go to grad school, etc. If you’re struggling in lectures or labs, talk to your prof or TA! Make an appointment and be sure you can tell them exactly which concepts you’re struggling with or at least where you got lost. One of my profs told us he just waits hopefully during office hours for someone to come in. (Also profs love it if you ask them about their research or any topics they seem passionate about during lectures.)

Explore all the resources your university has to offer → My university has a program that is basically people bringing their dogs around for students to pet, in order to relieve stress. It actually works and gave me something to look forward to! Just be aware of your options so that if something in your life changes you know where you can go to ask for help.

Get a planner and utilize it → There’s no excuse not to have a planner of some sort. Use your phone, get a bullet journal, or buy a cheap planner. Have somewhere where you can record important deadlines and make to do lists. I also recommend back planning all of your studying at the beginning of the semester. Write down your midterms and finals dates and write down how much you’re going to study each day leading up to the exam. This way you’ll be able to look ahead at each month and figure out what needs to be done (i.e. getting an essay done early because the due date falls during a busy week of midterms)

This post ended up being a lot longer than I expected whoops. Take the things I said into consideration but remember that everyone’s experience will be different. Good luck to everyone heading to university!

My Other Posts:

AP lit tips

high school biology

organization tips

physics doesn’t have to suck: how to enjoy and do well in your required physics classes

recommended reads

reminders for myself

using your time wisely on public transport

what i learned from high school

[jquinnthings]

break the ice.

a/n: so i was pretty inspired after the pics of shawn at the hockey game came out cause shawn and hockey are my two favorite things and thus you get this. it’s pretty rusty cause i haven’t written anything non-school related in a long time and it’s my first rodeo in the world of shawn but i just had to get this out into the open, if only for myself. i have a few other ideas for cute little blurbs with hockey shawn but we’ll see what happens with those. hope you enjoy! :]

Shawn was the new kid in town and everyone knew it despite the fact that it had already been a few months since he moved out here. After a long conversation with his hockey coach that saw “a world of potential in him” and his parents, he made the decision to transfer to the university before their next season because of the esteemed hockey program it ran. It was common knowledge that they had trained a few pretty well known players, a couple of whom even went on to play in a professional league or two around the country. Shawn knew that if he even wanted a shot at playing hockey beyond the college level then this was where he needed to be. And he also knew that his life needed to revolve around the sport (and his education of course), with absolutely no distractions. He was here for business not pleasure which didn’t exactly make him the most popular new kid on the team.

Things were difficult for Shawn at first. He was extremely close with both his family and all his friends that he left behind in Toronto. Not getting to see them often or hang out was rough. He was lying if he said that there wasn’t a period of time when he thought that he wouldn’t make it. That maybe he just wasn’t cut out for this. But things got better. He loosened up a bit, especially when he got to know some of the other guys on the team. They got him to break a little out of his shell and to not be so serious all the time, only when it was required of him. He was starting to feel a little more like he belonged and just a little less homesick. Routine kicked in quickly with the start of the semester and things got even easier. Class, practice, schoolwork, sleep, repeat. Throw in the occasional team dinner or party at the hockey house and that was his life. Not that he was complaining though. This was exactly that he had wanted. It was why he was here.

It was another long practice after a long day of classes for Shawn. Normally he wouldn’t complain but with the first set of games coming up this weekend, the coach had been on their ass all week long. All he wanted to do was go back to his place and crash but he couldn’t think about that. Not when Shawn still felt he had to prove he deserved to be here to his coaches, his teammates, and himself.

After finishing one of the drills, Shawn skated over to where the rest of his teammates where already positioned. He tried to catch his breath as he grabbed one of the water bottles and took a long drink before scanning the arena. The rink was basically empty save his teammates, the coaching staff, and the few employees scattered around trying to prepare the arena for this weekend’s games. That was until a small figure sitting a few rows behind the player’s bench caught his attention. He had seen her linger around practices occasionally which always threw him off because they were generally closed to the public. She couldn’t have been a worker because she wasn’t wearing a uniform and if she was one of the athletic trainers or worked for the team, she wouldn’t just be sitting around; she’d be engaging with the coaches or players. Shawn sure as hell wasn’t complaining though cause she was gorgeous. He noticed it almost immediately and despite the fact that she was bundled in a heavy sweater, scarf, and beanie with her face in a book, she was still stunning. He needed to know who she was. Knowing his luck though, she was already taken by one of his new teammates and that was why she was bumming around during their practices.

“Dude,” He started as he nudged the shoulder of Cole, one of his buddies on the team, before nodding in her direction. “Who’s the girl over there? I’ve seen her around a bit.” Shawn was a little taken back when Cole patted him on the shoulder with a laugh and a shake of his head.

“No. Don’t even think about it man. Don’t go there.” Cole warned. Shawn couldn’t tell by his tone whether he was being serious or joking since he seemed pretty amused by what he thought was a pretty innocent question.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Confusion was written on Shawn’s face as he tried to discretely glance back towards the girl. There was clearly something that he was missing here. Obviously she came with a warning for a reason. His teammates had warned him about girls that liked to linger around the hockey players, but she didn’t give that vibe. Especially since it appeared that she wasn’t really paying all that much attention to practice.

Deciding to throw the new kid a bone, Cole leaned in as he joined Shawn in looking towards the girl. “That would be Sophie Brooks...” Cole paused to allow his words to settle with Shawn.

Brooks. Brooks? Why did that name sound so damn familiar to him? It took a couple of seconds for it to actually sink in, letting out a loud groan when it finally did. “Fuckk, you’re kidding right? Brooks? As in Coach Brooks? You mean to tell me that’s-”

“The coach’s daughter. That’s exactly who that is.” Cole answered, confirming his response with a sad smile. “Don’t worry bro, we’ve all been there. But like I said, spare yourself the trouble and drop it right now. Especially if you want to actually have ice time during any games this season. Last kid who tried that ended up getting benched for a couple of games.”

Trying not to seem too bummed, Shawn adjusted the visor on his helmet before giving Sophie another quick glance. Of course that would be his luck. Sure, she wasn’t taken but she might as well be. It was practically an unwritten rule that she would be off limits to him, especially if he ever wanted his skates to touch the ice during a game which was the entire reason he was here.

“Hey! Mendes!” He heard the coach scream from across ice, snapping him out of his little trance he was in. He quickly shifted his gaze to his coach, who didn’t seem too pleased that he missed his cue. “Would you like to join us in practice? Or want to divulge whatever conversation you’re having with your buddy here that’s more important than listening?!”

Shawn quickly shook his head and diverted his gaze down to his skates, grateful that Sophie was far enough away to see his cheeks turn red from being called out. He hoped she didn’t hear it, but that was only wishful thinking.

“Didn’t think so, now run the damn play!!”

Shawn spent the rest of practice trying to actually focus on hockey and not the girl that was sitting a few rows up, watching on. The last thing he wanted was to be embarrassed in front of everyone and to get on the coach’s bad side so early in his first season with the team. For the most part he was successful. The rest of practice was uneventful and after a quick shower and gathering all of his equipment into his hockey bag, he was bidding his teammates goodbye and heading to his Jeep to go home for the night.

Readjusting the bag over his shoulder as he got closer, he spotted Sophie loading a few things into her own car. Popping open his hatch, Shawn tossed his equipment bags into his Jeep before slamming the door shut and glancing over at her. “You need any help with that?” He knew he was playing with fire but offering a friendly hand wasn’t off limits. Shawn was just being the gentleman that he was raised to be. His mother would be proud.

Sophie smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before she politely declined. “Oh, thank you but it’s only a few more bags so I think I can handle it.”

He had to admit that he felt a little bit defeated by her dismissal and he tried his damnest not to show it, just offering her a simple shrug before starting to turn back to his car. So much for playing it smooth and trying to at least make small talk with her, but maybe it really was for the better. Shawn certainly perked up though when he heard her soft voice again.

“Wait, you’re the new kid right? The transfer from Toronto? You play, uh, right wing! It’s Shane right?” Another chuckle fell from her lips as she glanced away from him. “Sorry. It’s how I keep all of you straight.”

Shawn wanted to be upset or at least a little bummed that she hadn’t quite gotten his name right but she seemed to at least know a little bit about him so that had to mean something. It definitely had to be good, or at least that’s how he was going to take it. Even if she made the off-handed comment that she did it with all his teammates too. Rubbing the back of his neck nervously, he let out a small chuckle before nodding. “It’s actually Shawn, but yeah. That’s me.”

“My bad, Shawn. It’s nice to meet you.” She repeated. Suddenly he was very okay with correcting her after hearing her say his name with a quiet giggle. God, he was screwed if after only a few words, barely even a conversation, he was giddy and clinging to holding onto their conversation for as long as possible. “And you’re Sophie, right? Coach Brook’s daughter.”

Laughter escaped her lips as she pulled her jacket closer to her frame and rocked back and forth on her heels a few times. “Ahhh, so the boys have already warned you about me. Interesting. Hopefully it’s all been good things.”

“No! No! I mean of course they’re good things. Not that much has been said really. It’s nothing like that though. I was just curious was all.” Shawn scrambled to try to explain himself but was failing miserably. He could feel his cheeks heating up and could only imagine how red his face was slowly turning. This was not going well. He should have done the smart thing and just hopped in his Jeep and drove off instead of embarrassing himself in front of her. Quite the first impression he was leaving with her.

“Curious, huh?” She asked with a raise of her brow before switching the subject. “It’s good that they warned you though. It’s probably needed. Everyone thinks that it’s the coach that you have to impress but it’s actually me. I’m the tough Brooks. I’ve heard a lot about you though listening to my dad ramble on and on after he heard you were officially joining the team. You have a lot to live up to. Let’s hope you’re up for the challenge.” She sent him a small smirk before loading the last of her things into the car and wandering to the driver’s side. “I’ll see you on the ice Mendes. Better be bringing your A game.” She said with a wide grin before climbing into her car and pulling out of the spot before he could even respond.

Shawn could only stand still as he watched her drive off. Oh he was gonna be in a lot of trouble. So much for no distractions.

[stacks-reviews]

New Releases 11/7/17

Happy New Release Day!

In Books --Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju Volume 4 by Haruko Kumota “After Sukeroku’s expulsion, Kikuhiko’s path to stardom seems clear, but the idea of inheriting the Yakumo name is a cold comfort. Sukeroku, disgraced, makes the heartbreaking decision to put his art aside and take responsibility for his new relationship with Miyokichi. As years pass and distance grows, Kikuhiko decides it’s up to him to bring his friend back to the theater. His determination takes him to the country, where Sukeroku now lives with his spirited young daughter. Kikuhiko is ready to stay as long as he needs to convince Sukeroku, but old wounds may come back to haunt them both.”

I haven’t had a chance to pick up volume 3 yet because we did not get a copy in where I work. And I haven’t had a chance to order it yet either. 

--Fantastic Beasts Illustrated Edition When I first head about this illustrated edition I thought it was going to be of the movie Fantastic Beasts so I wasn’t very interested in this one. But it turns out it is for all of the creatures mentioned throughout the HP universe. Now I really want this one. Just not sure when I’ll be able to.

--My Hero Academia Volume 10 by Kohei Horikoshi “The League of Villains has kidnapped Bakugo, and the resulting negative publicity has thrown U.A. into a huge uproar. With the public’s trust in heroes threatened, the faculty convenes to figure out what to do. But Midoriya and the students of Class 1-A have plans of their own - an operation to rescue Bakugo that could get them thrown out of school.”

Picking up right where volume 9 ended. Midoriya and his crew try to take back Bakugo but fail. And a few pro heroes are lost in the conflict. After their recovery in the hospital some of Class 1-A devise a plan to legally (meaning without using their powers) to try and save Bakugo. Which sounds like a bad idea all around. 

It’s a really good volume that ends on an evil cliffhanger. I need volume 11 but that won’t be out till 2/6/18.

--Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks “Gaelan Starfire is a careful, quiet, simple farmer. He’s also an immortal, peerless in the arts of war. Over the centuries, he’s worn many faces to hide his gift, but he is a man ill-fit for obscurity.

When Gaelan must take a job hunting down the world’s finest assassins for the beautiful courtesan and crime lord Gwinvere Kirena what he finds may destroy everything he’s ever believed in.”

I HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR THIS MOMENT. I love Brent Week’s Night Angel Trilogy so when I heard there was a prequel novella I was pretty excited. Until I noticed it was ebook only; after a brief limited printing run that I found out much later on. But after waiting and waiting, it is back in print. Right when I was about to break down and buy it digitally. I am ecstatic to finally have it to go with the others. Now I just wish I had the trilogy in hardcover. I just have them in the mass market paperback box set. 

It includes the novella Perfect Shadow and a Night Angel short called I, Night Angel. 

--Renegades by Marissa Meyer “The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies - humans with extraordinary abilities - who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice - and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.“

From the author of the Lunar Chronicles series comes a new series. I really like the Lunar Chronicles. I recommend it a lot at work. Though I still need to finish it. Cress (book 3) has been sitting on my shelf for a little while but I’ve been trying to focus on the arcs I have. And have been failing. Anyway, I really like her other series and am excited to try out a new series by her.

--Twinkle Star Volume 4 by Natsuki Takaya “The second semester of school is starting, and Chihiro's kinder attitude toward Sakuya is making her heart race! When he recommends her a book to read, she's positively overjoyed. But on the way home from a night of stargazing with the Star Appreciation Club, Chihiro suddenly approaches her! What does he want to talk about...?”

After this just one more volume of this series should remain. I still haven’t had time to go past volume 1 of this series. I’ve had to put a lot of series on hold while I tried to cut back during the second half of this year. I will pick it back up again someday. Hopefully by next year.

In Movies/TV Shows --Cheer Boys “Catch an exciting new take on the high-flying team sport, inspired by a real all-male squad in Japan. When Haruki Bando and his friend Kazuma leave judo martial arts, no one would have guessed they would turn to cheerleading! Rocking the college campus with a killer routine, these amateurs manage to draw in a crowd and enough new members to compete in regionals.”

I started streaming this on Funimation during its season. I watched about half before I got into another gaming kick and haven’t picked it up again yet. I did like what I saw of it but it probably isn’t my favorite sports series. But I think it is still worth checking out. 

--Project Ito: Genocidal Organ “In Genocidal Organ, while developed countries rely on advanced surveillance to free them from the threat of terrorism, other nations are plagued by genocide within their own borders. Strangely, these massacres all link back to one American by the name of John Paul. Special agent Clavis Shepherd is sent to capture the target, but nothing can prepare this soldier—or the world—for the truth behind humanity’s darkness.”

The third and final Project Ito film. At least for now. I have been waiting on this one ever since the films were announced. I did watch Empire of Corpses and enjoyed it. Though I need to rewatch it soon because when I first watched it I was exhausted from work and kept having to rewind cause I kept nodding off for a few minutes at a time. I finally picked up Harmony a few months back but haven’t had time to start it yet.

--Revolutionary Girl Utena Set 2 “Utena and Anthy have become close during their time as roommates. So when Anthy casually mentions she has a brother, Utena can’t help but feel shocked. She thought she knew Anthy, but the longer she and Anthy are friends, the more she discovers she doesn’t know. What other secrets could Anthy be keeping? However, Utena won’t have time to dwell upon such matters. A new group of duelists has emerged from the shadows. These new challengers wear black rose signets and also seek revolution, but their methods are different than those of Ohtori’s Student Council. They don’t wish to possess Rose Bride. They are want kill her.”

Set 2 of the 20th Anniversary is now out. Contains episodes 13-24 of this great series. I have only seen it once all the way through. It is one of those series that you’ll have to watch over and over to get all the references and to catch all the imagery it contains. 

--Westworld S1 “Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged without consequence.”

Season 1 of this series is out today. I don’t have the channel that it is on so I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet. I’ve heard nothing but great things about so I can’t wait to try it out sometime. Though I would like to watch the movie it is based on before I try out the show. I have heard the soundtrack before because we used to have it as an in-store-play where I work. It is an awesome soundtrack. It was a staff favorite and we played it a lot.

--Your Name “Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives until they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This occurrence happens randomly, and they must adjust their lives around each other. Yet, somehow, it works. They build a connection by leaving notes for one another until they wish to finally meet. But something stronger than distance may keep them apart.”

Was very disappointed when this came out in theaters because it never came anywhere close to where I live. I don’t think it played anywhere in my state for that matter. I did pick up a copy because I want to know if it really is worth the hype. I haven’t watched it yet because I decided to wait till my friend and I could get together to watch it together. 

There is a standard version (DVD and a combo pack) as well as an LE. The LE, “contains two-piece double-sided collectible chipboard box with rainbow holographic finish.” Like what they did for Death Parade’s LE. Which both are nice but makes me nervous that it would fall out if I picked it up wrong. It also comes with a 60 page art booklet, an art digipack, and a two disc OST. The second OST is shorter. It has five songs; if I remember correctly, that are sung in English by RADWIMPS.

[youranxiouslyconfidentstude-blog]

Tips I Think Are Useful for Your Freshman Year of College

School move in is less than a month away, and I will be back for yet another year of higher education. I’m not going to lie, freshman year kicked my ass and kicked it hard. It was a definite eye opener on so many different levels and so many things no one even warned me about. So today, I’m here to hopefully help someone either get more comfortable with moving away from home for the first time, for even just finding something relatable.

Here are my tips that I think are useful for your first year of school.

You don’t have to be friends with your roommate

I wish someone would’ve explained this to me. I thought you were either best friends with them or your both hated each other, no mutual understanding kind of middle. First semester seemed to be alright between my roommate and I. But sometime during the beginning of second semester, my roommate’s true personality began to show and I saw that I really didn’t want a friend like that. While I tried to be civil with my roommate, they did not see anything wrong with the way they were treating me and other people who were considered friends. For my sophomore year, I have a new roommate who I got to know better before agreeing to room with them. I have a much better feeling about this year than my previous situation.

Decorate your room to make yourself feel at home, not to look appealing

When looking up ideas on how to set up and decorate your dorm room, many pictures look very ‘tumblr’-ie. Fairy lights, tapestries, mandalas, and other things you’ll see if you look anything up. One thing I’ve learned is to decorate it in a way that makes you feel at home and not necessarily pretty. Bring pictures of your friends and family. Bring a stuffed animal or throw blanket you might have had on your bed. Bring a perfume or candle (if it’s allowed) that reminds you of your loved ones. Anything that makes you feel less homesick is for sure recommended.

Respect your RA

It’s an RA’s job to be in charge of you and the other people living on the floor. Do they want to get you in trouble? No. Do they want you to hate them? No. In reality, they just want you to follow the minimal rules that they set up and maybe even become their friend. They’re only a few years older (maybe only one year) and are students just like everyone else in the dorms. Just listen to them and be respectful. You’re an adult now, act like one.

Find an organization system that works for you

Whether it’s a bullet journal, an Erin Condren Life Planner, or just one on discount you found in the bookstore, it is so important that you find some way that works for you in order to stay organized. I started in a bullet journal for the first semester, and while it was a really relaxing process for me, it just took up too much of my time and didn’t let me see far enough ahead. Second semester, I bought an Erin Condren Life Planner to use and that worked much better for me. For sophomore year, I plan on finishing out my planner and then just using a regular one that I can find at Target or Walmart. Anything that will help you stay on top of things is something useful.

Join at least one club/organization

This is super-duper important. Try things that sound interesting to you. If you like what you’ve joined - fantastic! However, if you don’t like what you’ve joined, no one is forcing you to stay. Clubs and organizations are especially important for resumes. Employers like to see that you’re doing things around campus other than school. I’m not saying to join things just for your resume, but it is for sure a plus. Also, joining things is a great way to make friends. People with similar interests all doing things that they enjoy is a fantastic way to make future friends and connections.

Find a studying system that works for you

This varies class to class, at least for me it does. I found that in my lecture classes, if it was allowed, typing my notes was the best way for me to go. After class, I would re-write my notes in a notebook and use the textbook for anything that wasn’t super clear to me. Classes that were very number-based were in a notebook. I found that graph paper was the best just to keep my numbers in line and organized.

Also, finding out when you need to start studying for quizzes, tests, and final exams is a learning process. You might feel alright taking a quiz that isn’t worth very much by only studying right before the class. You might need a whole month in order to feel prepared for a test. Maybe a study group works best for you. Perhaps you need to study on the no-talking floor. Pulling all nighters might work for you, or you may need as much sleep as you need time for studying. As long as you find a system that works, you’re preparing for success.

Talk with your professors

This is especially important when it comes time for picking classes. These people want you to be successful, even if you think they are not helping you. They can lead you in directions you didn’t even think of going and open up so many doors for success. Even if it’s just asking a simple question, it’s still another connection that can help you in the future.

Try and expand your friendship horizon

Make new friends. They don’t have to become your best friends, but I strongly believe that you should at least find people you’d talk to in each of your classes that you’re in. Not only does it give you someone to work on homework with or to study with, but if something comes up when you can’t go to class, they’ve got your back with homework and notes that you may have missed.

But the friends you make don’t all have to have the same classes as you. Make friends with the people in your clubs, make friends with the people on your floor, make as many connections as you can. These people will most likely become the friends you end up spending the rest of your life with, so choose wisely.

Take classes that you want to take

At least at my school, we are required to take classes that are not necessarily in our field of study in order to keep us well rounded individuals. If a class that sounds interesting to you is available around the time that you can sign up for classes again, talk with a professor and see if it meets any of your requirements or would benefit you. Hopefully it fulfills some kind of requirement that you need in order to graduate on time. However, if the odds are not in your favor, you can either trust the advice you’ve been given and choose another path to take, or trust yourself and take it. College decision are really up to you.

Clean regularly

You’ll thank yourself later, trust me. Cleaning is not only hygienic, it helps to keep germs away that makes you sick and illness spreads like no tomorrow at school. Make sure you wash your bedding and towels at least every other week. Cleaning the floor of your room at least once a month is a good idea as well. If you have a fridge, make sure you empty it once a week, especially if you had take out.

Please, for the love of any higher being, take a shower regularly. If you went to the gym especially. I’m not saying to wash your hair everyday, because some people’s routine involves them washing it every other day or so, but I know that you need to wash your body everyday. Please just trust me on this one.

Crying is normal

While I probably cried more than all of the people I knew at school, I quickly found that crying is 100% normal and an okay thing to do. It can be because of stress, frustration, homesickness, or just because you need a good cry. I’ve cried in the hallways, the library, in lecture, even at the gym. Crying is a normal reaction to have, but if you’re feeling like your emotions are getting out of hand, I would recommend talking to a professional. This happened to me during the first semester and I would talk with a counselor every other week and just check in with her. She was super nice, really understanding, and gave me tips on how to cope and deal with my problems.

Pack your bag/backpack wisely

In school, you’re going to be out of your room more often than you think. I would suggest investing in a bag/backpack that you will use for your whole time at school that is big enough to carry around your belongings as well as comfortable enough for you to bring around. Essentials I would include in your bag other than your school supplies would be a phone charger, water, snacks for the day, and other hygienic products that you would use throughout the day.

Call home at least once a week

Not only do your parents and loved ones want to hear from you, but if you get homesick, this is the perfect cure. During my freshman year, I called home around the same time everyday and talked to my parents. Some nights it was just while I was walking back from the gym and other nights it was long catch up about things that were going on.

Even if you can’t call home during the day, at least shoot them a text message. They definitely want to hear from you, even if you’re busy or they’re busy.

Don’t chase after ‘love’

I found out quickly that people have no shame going on Tinder during class and hooking up with random people during the weekend. While you should be able to do whatever you want to do without being judged for it, finding romance should not be a priority while you’re at school. If you find love, good for you! However, a lot of boys your first year are not really looking for any kind of romance. Besides, you’ve got plenty of time to find love.

Enjoy yourself

These four years should be some of the most memorable of your life. You’re finally an adult, but also still like a child. You’ve got tons of freedom, but are gaining more and more responsibilities piling on top of you. Make new friends, new memories, and take opportunities you thought you’d never do. Enjoy yourself during these years, but make sure you’re taking care of yourself and doing the best you can in school while you’re there.