After The Storm

It was a rather stressful week for me. I just finished two back to back tests today and I have to say it was rather brutal. I don't think I have done as much studying as I had done this week than I had, err, ever and I honestly almost broke down and had that why-am-I-doing-this? feeling again. However, I had a very meaningful conversation with two great people I have came to know very well this semester. They put some sense into me and really made me open my eyes. Yeah, this thing (college) we're doing now is only the smaller picture. What I will truly get from this college career of mine is the experience of having been here. The experience of having that opportunity of learning among the crème de la crème. The experience of getting to know these people. The experience of growing and learning more about them. About myself. About life. Preparing me for when I leave this place. You see, this semester was such a struggle for me, perhaps because I was thinking too much and caring way too much about doing well. However, it shouldn't have been way. The only way to be the best I can be is to take life as it comes and make sure it doesn't push me down. Yes, studying is one thing but it is not everything. I should have been kinder to myself and should have treated myself better a few months ago. Instead I kept pushing and pushing myself but one can only take so much. I cannot rewind back time neither can I make up for those bad tests I've done this semester, but for sure starting next semester, I will have a fresh new outlook on this thing they call college. Hopefully, by doing that, the best of me will shine and I'll grow up and become to become a version of myself I can and will be proud of.

My favorite pair of twins. I love them to death.

"Life is about doing what you really like even if it's doing nothing or just relaxing and reading your favorite book." - Kianmehr Ethiatkar

‎"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows, it's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is going to hit you as hard as life. It ain't about how hard you're hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." - Some very inspirational video I watched thanks to Mehr

So True!

I always do this to read articles that my friends read. You know, I wouldn't want my Facebook to know EVERYTHING about me, up to the very last article I read. Ridiculous, I know. Oh well. Photo from The Oatmeal.

This Song Will Make You Cry

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

Three weeks to my final exams. Take care everyone.
:)

Of Lazy Weekends And StumbleUpon

This weekend I was pretty much just lazying it off and did absolutely nothing. This was pretty much the second consecutive weekend I have been doing so. It isn't good but I need to regain that rest I have been needing since as long as I can remember. I feel much more well rested now and I think this is a good thing. Finals are in a few weeks and I guess starting tomorrow, I will be fresh and rejuvenated and will be more than ready to focus on studying for the final exams. I really need to do well in every test that comes my way. I haven't been doing well this semester but I am not too worried about grades now. After some self reflection, now my focus is more on life as a whole. I hope everything goes well though. Oh and I can't believe I've been here for almost 8 months now. In a little over 2 months I will be home again. I am extremely excited. Familiar faces. Familiar sights. Familiar sounds. Familiar tastes. I'll see you (very) soon.

Also, I discovered the magic of StumbleUpon. I recommend this site to anyone who is just bored out of their mind and looking for something to read on the web or just plain do something at home. Trust me, its a great site.

Of Homework And Gorgeous Days

I was caught in a dilemma today when the sun decided to give warmth to the world and provided for a perfect get-your-butt-outside-and-stay-under-the-sun-sitting-on-green-green-grass-and-read-a-book kind of weather. I have a bunch of homework due tomorrow and I honestly should have started working on it and finished it. Instead, I couldn't resist temptation and headed out to the mall (not that kind of mall OK) at the U and lay of the grass for a good 2 hours reading a new book I purchased off my Kindle. And boy, did it feel so so so so so so good! It was a perfect Thursday and days like this I will cherish forever. Thank you God for giving me a couple weeks of rest. Really appreciate it.

:)

A Realization

So basically for the past few months, I have been on a downward spiral. I wasn't myself. I was moody and I got all pissy at most of the people I encountered (though not on purpose). It was a hard time for me and I had a lot of support from my friends and family. It wasn't anything major. It was just the stress of college getting to me (and another slightly more major thing that I won't disclose to anyone). And I figured, I shouldn't let it eat me. I should be eating it (no, just kidding). So I woke up one day last week and just lay on my bed (yes under the warmth of my down comforter! So warm and comfy!) and stared at the ceiling and went into deep thought. At the end of it I figured, yes, I should care, but not to the point where it would affect my health. Yes, grades are important, but it was affecting me to the point where I was just angry (of course cause I wasn't doing well) and I was just tired and on the verge of giving up. After checking my status on each and every one of my classes, I discovered that I can still fare decently this semester. Hence, my new determination in doing the best I could do. Yes, I won't be the A student of last semester, but in the end I would have grown so much more by the end of this one and be more wise and mature with the decisions that I make. I've learned so much in my short 8 months here and I am sure there will be more to learn. I realize that that minor hiccup earlier in the year was just one of the challenges presented to me by Him up there to see if I make it or break it. And I am glad that I was broken and found myself again and I am slowly (but surely) climbing back up to that peak. I'll make it back up there I'm sure. I'll see all of you there.

Ps// Currently playing Bon Iver on repeat. If you hadn't discovered the wonders of them yet, I suggest you do thank you.

See, I told you so.

And He's Back!

Kris Allen released his first single off his second album Thank You Camellia a few days ago and I have to say I am happy. It's been a while since I last heard of him and this just shows that he isn't going anywhere just yet. Enjoy!



On a totally unrelated note, have you guys heard of that new tumblr page Texts from Hillary? If you hadn't, please do check it out! It is hilarious. I found it after a couple of people were posting about it on FB and I decided to click on the link and I was hooked. It's relatively new so there aren't many posts up yet, but I am sure there will be more hilarious ones to come! Again, enjoy!

I Found Myself Again

When I came here 7.5 months ago, I never imagined I would have been fortunate enough to be at this point of my life I am now. I was so timid back then, as I pretty much knew absolutely no one and had no place to stay. But I figured I'd go through this whole process one step at a time. And lo and behold, not even a year later I can say I am extremely comfortable here. The housing situation was pretty much settled a few days after I arrived here. And eventually when classes started, I slowly (but surely) managed to befriend a handful of people. I guess I am doing good for myself considering I came to this place and pretty much had to find my place here from scratch.

And boy did I have a grand time last year. Despite a whirlwind of a semester, it was great. It almost seemed like it went by a little too fast though. However, I didn't mind that cause that's a clear indication I was having a blast here. It was the semester that I surprised myself even. I never thought I would be as comfortable as I was. But I was. And it is a great feeling. Also, classes last semester were tough (no kidding) but it perhaps was the best semester of my college career thus far. If only U of M didn't put their Dean's list standard at a 3.67, I would have easily gotten on it. Just missed that mark by 0.07 and though I was sort of upset, I was overjoyed cause I did not expect the semester to be such a great one.

Now it's my second semester of college here and I have to say I love it here. The people, the environment, is just great. The young college crowd gives this place such a great young vibe. I recently went to Chicago for 6 days during spring break here and after a couple of days, I honestly started to miss home (Minneapolis). Not that I wasn't having a blast in Chicago, but it just dawned on me that when we (my friend and I) got back to the hotel, it wasn't my room I was coming back to, wasn't my bed. So yeah. I feel like I have an emotional attachment to Minneapolis now.

Alright, back to school. This semester has been going I guess. Albeit not smoothly, its going. I don't know how well I will end up doing this semester as a few weeks ago I was just out of it and wasn't myself. However, now, I feel more pumped than ever. I am determined to do the best I can for these remaining weeks and hopefully pull off great grades as well. I feel so much better knowing that in the end everything will be OK. With the support of my family and friends, I am in a much better place now. I really would like to thank everyone who has been there for me for the past few weeks. Faiz is back. Yeah baby!