#thoughtswithestephy

[estephyrosales]

My College Experience

Hello, girlies!!

Last week, I posted my study tips, and it inspired me to write about my college experience so far. I know college can be a very difficult experience for a lot of students, especially for first-generation students. I'm sharing my story in the hopes that someone will relate and not feel as alone.

Before I talk about my experience, I want to talk about the college application process. Quite frankly, I do not remember it. At all. It's something that I completely blocked out of my memory. (If any high school students are reading this, the process is honestly not that bad. I was/am dramatic in high school and full of anxiety.) The only thing I remember is getting into UH and people constantly being surprised I chose to be a business major. (Not to brag or anything, but I graduated #5 in my class. A lot of people were expecting me to pursue something in STEM... even though I let it be known that I did not like science. Anyways, the important thing is, don't major in something only because you're good at it. Choose something you're interested in. Also, don't listen to what people expect of you. Do what you want to do. Quite frankly, what you did in high school will only matter so much until it doesn't) They were also surprised I was going to UH, which I don't blame them since I kept talking about going to UT basically our entire time in high school. I now love going to UH, so jokes on them. However, it did take me a while to warm up to it. For example, I had a horrible time at my orientation. I could not stop crying on the way there because of how nervous I was. I also cried when I got back because I felt like I was in over my head. I was also panicking the entire tour because everything looked the same, and I thought I was going to get lost once classes started. Looking back now, my reactions to everything were a bit silly, but I still think they were valid. It was the first time I was completely on my own and making decisions without my parents. Mind you, this was also while having the mentality of not wanting to be there. I thoroughly believe if I had a better attitude, I would've had a better introduction to UH. It wasn't anything the counselors did, it was simply my nerves and attitude.

My first and only "normal" semester at UH was actually really good. Even though I was a commuter, I felt as though I was going to get that full college experience. I made friends, I liked my classes, and I liked my newfound schedule. Even though I could immediately feel the difference between college and high school, I loved it. My high school experience wasn't bad, per se, but I also didn't have the time of my life. But honestly, that's just high school. However, once I got to college, a lot of things became more flexible, and I felt as though I had more control of what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. It was such an awesome feeling. Sure, I still struggled. Not only was it my first semester in college, but I was also starting my first job, which meant it was also my first time juggling work with school work. I also have bad testing anxiety and that was horrible during my first finals season. It was so bad, I couldn't eat that week, and I had horrible headaches. I was also convinced I was going to fail my accounting class and cried when I saw that I got a B- (at least I'm pretty sure that's the grade I got. It was a B for sure). Not because I was sad, but because I was relieved that I was overreacting.

While my first semester was really good, there were many times when I felt that I bit off more than I could chew. That imposter syndrome was really kicking in during that time. Not only that, but I felt guilt more than anything. During that semester, my parents were the ones who were paying for the majority of my tuition and expenses. It felt horrible even though I knew I had their full support. There's also a lot of guilt and pressure about being a first-generation student. I've seen other people's stories on TikTok and Twitter talking about their experiences, and it was nice to see that those feelings are pretty common among other first-generation students.

However, things went bad during my second semester. Well, not at first. Since my first semester went pretty good, I had an optimistic view going into my second semester. (The one time I was optimistic about something, a pandemic happens and suddenly I'm in my 5th mostly online semester. Funny how that works, huh?) However, my classes were slightly harder this semester, things were piling on fast, and I was getting more responsibilities at work. Things were moving fast ...until it wasn't. Even though I had seen things about COVID on Twitter before the U.S went into lockdown, I wasn't exactly sure what it was. But then again, most didn't. All I remember was classes getting canceled the week after Spring Break, and they were planning on classes eventually resuming face-to-face in April .. only for them to be online for the rest of the semester. And then Fall 2020 was fully online again. I had hopes of in returning Spring 2021 .. but I somehow managed to get all online courses. It wasn't until Fall 2021 that I returned back to campus. It was so weird going back, but it also felt great. The thing that affected me the most during my sophomore year was the lack of a schedule. I didn't have a routine, and I had a hard time setting boundaries between school and personal time. Since I would be at home all the time, it felt as though I had to be doing homework all the time. Lectures felt like homework instead of class. My room was suddenly a classroom. It was horrible, especially that first fully online semester. However, it helped me learn more about myself. For example, I learned that I relied a lot on having a schedule, and I needed to know how to do things without an exact plan. I also learned that I'm mostly a visual learner. I also learned the importance of setting boundaries and making sure that others are aware of those boundaries. Most importantly, I learned that it's okay to not be productive every moment of the day. Sometimes the best thing for yourself is to close the computer and focus on yourself. While I wish I could talk more about more social experiences I've had, this is the best I can do given the circumstances. While sometimes I wonder how much different things would've been if the pandemic hadn't happened (or at least not last as long as it has), it's not good to dwell on what could've been.

One last thing, I want to talk about why I chose to attend the University of Houston. While 17-year-old me would've considered this an unideal situation, it was probably one of the best decisions I've made. (This post is #notsponsored) I've heard other first-gen students have a culture shock once they get to college, but that never happened to me. Being born and raised in Houston, I was aware of the diversity in the city. However, I never truly realized how diverse it was until I would talk to non-Houstonians. UH is such a diverse school, and I don't feel as though I'm not being represented. I see myself in a lot of the students, and they have a lot of resources to make you feel welcomed and comfortable. I wish I could say I had that "aha" moment in high school when I realized this was the school for me. I didn't. However, I am glad I had that moment once I was a student and got to have that college student experience. Even if it was just for a semester.

[estephyrosales]

Study Tips

Hello, girlies!!

So as y'all know, I'm currently a college student, which means finals are coming up within a month or so. If you're anything like me, you didn't need to study growing up because everything came naturally. Of course, this meant you didn't develop study habits, and that hit you hard once you entered college. Like Mr. Worldwide, I've been there and done that. However, over the past few semesters, I've been able to develop some study habits that have helped me. I'm not saying they're perfect, but they've helped me out a lot over the past few semesters.

1. Make Outlines of Your Notes

Making outlines of your notes can help you weed out the important things you need to study. You may take notes directly from PowerPoints, but not all the information is important or won't be tested on. The way that I like to make these outlines is to make one per chapter, and then divide each chapter by its respective sections. From there, I'll look for the things I think are most important to know, either from a study guide or by the emphasis the professor gave on the topic. I also like to do this with classes that are very textbook heavy. I like to do outlines while reading chapters, so when it's time to study, I don't need to read that entire chapter again.

2. Make Flashcards for Vocabulary

This tip is mostly helpful for introductory courses. Many times, these courses tend to focus on vocab, especially at the beginning of the course. Vocabulary is the basis when learning new material, and more likely than not, that vocab is then used to pile more material on top of it. I prefer to do my vocab cards by hand, using notecards and different colored pens, but you can also do them digitally. Some of my favorite methods include Quizlet and GoodNotes.

3. Crash Course!

This one is one of my favorites tips. Crash Course is a really helpful way to review a topic really quickly. I do want to emphasize though, that Crash Course is more of a supplemental resource rather than a replacement for lectures. (So watch your lectures!) Crash Course videos are pretty brief, but they're also entertaining and sometimes explain better than a textbook can. If for some reason you don't like Crash Course, or they don't cover the topic you're looking for, there are other educational YouTube channels. Some of my other favorites include the Amoeba Sisters, Khan Academy, Jacob Clifford, and The Organic Chemistry Tutor.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice!

I'm about to say something controversial. I love math. Well simple, really easy algebra and calculus. Maybe geometry. Anyway, the point is I started to like it once I started practicing, and I noticed I was actually good at math. Sometimes practice problems can be a pain, but practice can lead to better accuracy and speed. One of my favorite things to do, especially if I keep messing up on a certain type of problem, is to compare my work with the answer key. It can let you see what part of the process you're messing up with, or it can also show you other ways to answer a certain problem.

5. Explain to a Friend

I'll be honest, I hardly use this method, but I've had other people tell me it works. The theory behind it is if you're able to explain/teach whatever you're studying to a friend, then you should be good to take the test. This can also help see things from other perspectives since you'll have to be able to answer any questions your friend may have. This method can also help with discussion classes, where it's more about explaining your personal views on a matter.

6. Baby Steps

It's easier said than done, but try to start the study process a week before the test. Just 30 minutes to an hour a day can ease the load on those crucial days before the test. Not only can it help you see what you may need to practice more, but it's a better practice than cramming the night or two before.

7. Wear Headphones

This one is more of a personal preference. For some reason, headphones help me focus better on whatever I'm watching or listening to. I think it's because I don't hear background noises as much, but either way, it does help a lot.

Honorable Mentions!!

- organize your notes the same way. For example, what each symbol indicates, whether that by a definition, the start of a new section, etc.

- color code your notes. Make sure that you assign a color to a specific thing and that it stays consistent. As mentioned above, this could be by vocab, section, or chapter.

- Use your study guide. It's obvious but some people don't do it.

- Ask Questions. Go to office hours, tutoring, or make a study group!

-Eat before your test and keep hydrating throughout your studying.

Okay so this final step is not necessary, but I'm also annoyingly superstitious. If you have a lucky anything, use it! Back when the Astros were in the playoffs last year, I had a lucky shirt that I wore every time they seemed to win. However, I didn't wear it during a game they were sure to win ... and they lost. From then on, the lucky shirt wasn't lucky anymore. Did they lose because of the shirt or because of their lack of starting pitchers? We may never know. Since I am superstitious, I will not be sharing what my item is (since last time I shared it was also during playoff seasons, and I sort of got blamed once it stopped working), but you best believe I use it at least once before a test. I understand it probably has nothing to do with my knowledge, but it allows me to have faith, which in turn helps me. In other words, if it doesn't hurt you or others, who's to say it isn't helping?

I hope you learned something from my study tips, and if any of them helped you, let me know! If you have any other study tips, go ahead and comment! I'm always open to improving.

[estephyrosales]

Spring Break 2022

Hello, girlies!!!

My last two blog entries have been a little on the serious side, so I wanted to switch it up a bit. Well, not much since I want to talk about my trip to Mexico once again. Now, if you've been following along on my other socials, you've seen pictures and tweets about my week. However, I haven't given much context about my trip. Sure, it was Spring Break, and it was the perfect opportunity to go, but it was much more than that.

For those who don't know, March 19 is Saint Joseph's Day. I'm not going to give a history lesson about Saint Joseph, but in summary, Saint Joseph (San Jose in Spanish. All my Catholic schooling has been in Spanish, so it's weird referring to him as anything but that) was Jesus's father. He is praised for his actions as a father, and he is the patron of carpenters. I know that last bit is a bit random, but most of the men who live there are carpenters. I just find it endearing, whether it was a coincidence or not. Additionally, El Tepozan is known for its artisanal chairs, and it's a big part of their work.

For further context, a lot of cities/neighborhoods/towns in Mexico have a patron saint. Essentially, it's a saint they decide to honor in their neighborhood/church. As you may have guessed, my mom's rancho celebrates San Jose, so they have their celebrations leading up to the 19th. The magical thing about this is that by chance the celebrations occur around the time schools have spring break. However, it's not always the case. The last time I was able to go was back in 2016 (It would've lined up perfectly last year, but because of COVID, the celebrations did not occur), so I had no hesitation about going this year. The celebrations are always beautiful, which is enhanced by friendly, caring people, and the place is such a beautiful, peaceful place to visit. Not only was I going to be able to celebrate San Jose, but I was going to visit family. The perfect match. Okay, now before I ramble any further, here is an outline of the festivities that happen on March 19. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I loved witnessing it.

Las Mañanitas

The day starts off with la tambora (the band) singing the birthday song to our saint that's located in the church. It's usually around 6am, so I've never been, but the videos I've seen are beautiful.

Mass

Mass on the 19th is usually reserved for kids celebrating their first communion. However, since the town is so small, and there are hardly any children left, this year's mass was solely dedicated to San Jose. It's a beautiful tradition, in my opinion, and it emphasizes our faith as a community as a whole.

La Carrera De Burros

Now this event was my favorite as a little kid. La carrera de burros (donkey races) take place usually an hour or two after mass. It is exactly like it sounds, grown men on donkeys racing. I don't know why they do it, but it's so funny to watch since usually the winner is the only person who managed to not fall.

La Cera

I don't really know how to describe la llegada de la cera other than a parade. San Jose is carried and paraded around the whole town with the band following. Since the town is a little big, people usually join once they pass by their street. They have a cera the 17th-19th, but the 19th's is special since it includes floats. Nothing too fancy, just tractors decorated with San Jose's colors and kids dressed up as San Jose. From there, those who walked in the parade and spectators go into the church for the final mass.

El Teatro

El teatro (theater) goes on after mass. It's usually kids from the neighborhood preparing skits or dances to show the town. Again, this used to be one of my favorite things growing up, but now it's more like background noise. This is also an indicator of how long people have to eat, mingle, and visit any of the posts that arrived to town. Once this ends, the final "show" begins

La Quemada de la Polvora

La quemada de la polvora is a huge fireworks show that can go over an hour. It begins with los toros (bulls), which are bull-shaped outlines that have various fireworks attached to them. There are usually 6 small ones, which only require one person, and one big one, which requires 4 people to hold. They are kind of dangerous, but that's what makes it fun.

Once they're done, the towers happen. I'll include pictures at the end, but it's basically a big tower full of fireworks and they tend to have different shapes and colors. Two towers are usually burned on the 19th.

At the very end, it's the traditional fireworks show. There are many different types of fireworks, some that I haven't even seen in the U.S, which makes it more special. Again, I'll include pictures at the end.

La Despedida

Once the fireworks end, la despedida (the goodbye) begins. This is where the band plays one last time for San Jose and essentially says goodbye and pays their respects to him. It can get very emotional since it indicates the festive days are over.

As you can see, the day is packed with activities. My description is nowhere close to the experience, but I hope it helps you understand why this trip means so much to me. I don't know when I'll be able to go again, but I hope it's soon. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed reading!! Have a great rest of your week!

If you want to see more pictures, check out my Twitter and Instagram (links on my bio). I even made a TikTok!! Check that out @estephyrosales

[estephyrosales]

Being Mexican American

Hello, girlies!!!

I hope y’all are having an amazing spring break! In the spirit of being in Mexico this week, here’s my take on what being Mexican-American means to me.

First of all, I want to clarify that I take pride in my culture. I don’t want to offend anyone or have anyone take anything the wrong way. This is just my personal experience being Mexican-American, and everything I say comes from good intentions.

I think it’s interesting how Mexican-American is hyphenated. I’m sure there’s some grammatical meaning to it, but to me it shows the relationship between both cultures. I’m neither fully American nor fully Mexican. I mean, technically, I am American, but that’s only because I was born in the U.S. However, I was raised in a Mexican household with traditional food, music, customs, and celebrations. On the other hand, I learned how to speak English by watching cartoons. I love burgers, I say y’all, and I know more about U.S History than about my roots. Just one little detail, changed the way I was raised.

I think my experience is best represented by that one scene in “Selena” where Selena’s father, Abraham, tells her that her family has to be “more Mexican than the Mexicans and more Americans than the Americans, both at the same time”. When I go to Mexico, I stick out like a sore thumb. I may look like the majority of people there, but it’s obvious I wasn’t raised there, and I get perceived differently. For example, I speak Spanish fluently, but I struggle from time to time, and I don’t understand some of the vernacular. However, when I’m home, my accent comes out when saying certain words, and my childhood experiences are different from the fully American kids. It’s one of the things I struggled with the most growing up, but I learned that it’s not a bad thing.

Like Hannah Montana said, I get the best of both worlds. I got exposed to two cultures at the same time (which has its own challenges that are a completely different story) and basically got to pick and choose what I liked most. While sometimes I wonder how life would’ve been if I was raised in Mexico, I’m grateful for the way I was raised. It played a big part in shaping my character and personality. I know there are some people who struggle or are still struggling with their culture, but I just wanted to say that that’s okay. I struggled for a while too. Take your time. Nobody has the right to tell you what you are and what you aren’t. Just be nice to yourself and others, and the answer will eventually find you.