Pre-Accounting Sensation

Music: A Dios Le Pido- Juanes
Mood: Calm

So my ACC 312H (Managerial Accounting) test is today at 7pm. I didn't go to class at all today; rather, I woke up at 10:30, studied a bit, had lunch, studied a bit more, went to gregory gym to lay out and soak up the sun for a bit, and now I'm here just relaxing, ready to take the test. I'm not really too worried, but maybe I should be. Oh well, I'm pretty calm, given the fact that this test is 25% of the grade and the only other test besides the final exam.

I just feel that I've studied so much and know how to do all the material that I have nothing too much to worrie about, so we shall see how I do tonight at 7. Yesterday, I studied Accounting for a bit and then went to go see Bill Clinton speak. Let me tell you, it was so exciting, I was about 30 feet away from him, got tons of good pictures, and got his closing on video too. I almost got to shake his hand but didn't rush up close enough after he stepped down from the podium. Oh, and I almost got his used waterbottle too.. Yes, kind of creepy, but I was hoping to snag it. The secrect service guy wouldn't give it to me though. Haha, maybe that's a good thing, because if I made out with it, I don't know what I'd do with it.

This week has been pretty chill. Group cycling is back (thank goodness)! Oh, and my old school (non-color screen, 20GB) iPod is about to die. I hope it doesn't. It skips and sometimes freezes when I'm working out at the gym, but then after I let the batteries drain, it turns on just fine. I'm just worried it's going to die because I drop it and shake it so much while working out. So I decided to get an iPod shuffle (1GB) just for working out. Then my 20GB will just be for cars, airplanes, and generally low-movement activities. I got the green one, and according to UPS, it's sitting in my dorm waiting for me... Too bad I won't be able to marvel in its glory until after my accounting test. Oh, and I still have to study for my spanish test too which is tomorrow.

Well, I'm off to dinner at J2 before my test. A Dios le pido que me de una buena calificacion. (I'm in a Juanes mood right now because we listened to Juanes in spanish class the other day.) Adios!

1st Place

Music: Closing Time- Matchbox Twenty
Mood: Elated!

My team and I, Driva Consulting, got 1st place at the BizIt Case Competition this weekend!!! =)

Time to relax!

BizIT

Music: Beatles- Hey Jude
Mood: Calm

My team just finished presenting, and now we're waiting for results. After two weeks and countless hours spend working on the case (for fun), we're done. Hopefully we advance to finls so that we have a chance at winning the $4,000 grand prize. This week, there wasn't that much work to do at all, but I was still very busy-- research, classes, psychology paper, case competition, and clubs. I always have too much going on for me. I was talking to my mom about how busy and I am and how little sleep I'm getting right now, when my mom asked me why I keep doing, I really counldn't tell her why. The canned answer I have when people ask me why I do so much during BHP info sessions, I say that's what keeps me busy. Right now, however, I'm ready for a day to do NOTHING. NOTHING at all. That isn't possible at all. There's just too much going on, and I have so many commitments that I can't quit now, and I don't want to.


So this is what I have to do this weekend:

- More BizIT (if we advance to finals)
- research
- accounting review (for test on Thursday)
- relax?

Busy Busy Busy

Music: Witchy Woman- The Eagles
Mood: Overextended (literally and figuratively)

This week (and last week) have been so busy. I didn't even have a weekend because I was working on the BizIT case competition. The written part was due on Monday, and now my team and I are working the actual presentation.

I realized I have way to much going on in my life right now. I've in several extra curricular clubs and am working three jobs here at UT (Blogging, BHP recruiting, and Undergraduate Research Assistant). On top of that, I've got to study for classes and keep my grades up. I had a psychology paper due Monday, but the prof. gave us until this Friday to turn it in, so I just finished it today and I need to do some edits tomorrow before I send it in.

On Monday, I have 5 different obligations/meetings to go to- BHP info session, meeting with my professor for research, blogger meeting, speaking at SIP, and finally a BHP sophomore transfer info session. It was hectic. Today, I didn't get back to my dorm until 10 and thus, didn't get to start my homework until 11. Hence I'm still up right now. I've got a Spanish quiz tomorrow and I'm not ready at all, y espero que la prueba no sea dificil. It's over some vocab and subjunctive.

In other news, I got my huge order of online shopping today! 8 new sweaters, shirts, and dress shirts from Perry Ellis = exciting. I have yet to try them on but they look pretty spiffy. I'm excited! That's how busy I am. I don't even have time to regular shop; I shop online. In fact, I just bought some socks online on Amazon yesterday because I needed some. It's pitiful. I could just go to a store along the drag but I don't even have time for that.

So the presidential debates are coming up, and I'm still hoping to score a last minute ticket. I haven't heard from UT or txdemocrats.org about whether I got selected, but the chances of that are slim to none. I had some friends who go to NYU and GW who are well connected in the campaigns and hoped to use their connections to get tickets, but even those aren't working out. We shall see. I got my absentee ballot in the mail at the end of last week. I know who I'm voting for for the presidential primary, but for all the other people on the ballot, I have no idea who they are, so I've been trying to research the different candidates during my (limited/non-existent) free time. Also, because of the debates happening in the RecSports Gym, all group cycling was canceled this week. I'm pretty upset about that because that means I have to either jog or lift this entire week and it just isn't as intense as group cycling is. Oh well, the price we pay for hosting a debate on campus but not even being able to attend. Shrug. C'est la vie.

Good night.

Oh, and a postsecret from this sunday. This was so sad.


Faculty Appreciation Week is coming up. Be sure you thank your professor for being amazing. Doing research with my professor this semester has really opened my eyes to what life is like as a professor. It's tough and a lot of work but really rewarding when they make an impact on their students. In summary, be thankful for your professors and faculty and express your gratitude to them. To all my professors and all the UT faculty and staff I work with and learn from, thank you for everything that you've done.

Claustrophobia

Music: New Soul- Yael Naim
Mood: Drowsy

So the Management Accounting homework took me about 2 hours, and I still didn't complete it throughly. I got the A= L + SE but the stuff concerning the loans was tricky. We'll see what I got right tomorrow, I guess. (I hope I can stay awake for it).

Today has been so busy! I literally had 5 commitments this afternoon. I was finished with classes at 12:30, went to the gym, ate lunch at the BHP office (they were having a feedback session and had pizza). Then I had to make an announcement at the BA 101 class about the blogs. Then, I went to my Claustrophobia psychology testing. (I'll talk more about that later.) Then, I had a Biz IT Case Coaching with some IBM employees at 5:45 and then again at 6:30. After grabbing some food at JCL, I arrived late to the Business Council meeting. Finally, after that ended, I was able to get started on my homework.

I have a LOT of BizIT work to do. The case is about using technology to help diabetes patients read their glucose levels and to market the new product to under-developed countries. You can read the case and find out about more BizIT case competition at http://misbridge.mccombs.utexas.edu/events/bizit/rules.asp. I need to do some research for the case. My group and I have decided to lock ourselves in Reliant Reading room for hours on Friday and Saturday to finish the case, as we all have the STAT 309H test on Monday. I also have a Psychology paper due.

In STAT, we were reviewing for the test today and if we gave correct answers, we could pick out prizes from the bunch. I got a talking UT bottle opener! It sings the Texas Fight Song when you push the metal opener! I'm really excited about it. It seems random and quite useless, but nonetheless, fun. I might end up re-gifting it. Opps, I didn't say that. Now if you get a talking bottle opener from me, you'll know I regifted it. D'oh!

So, in the Claustrophobia study, they actually locked me in a casket-looking box for 5 minute intervals for like 6 times.... i spent about 35 minutes total in a box.. eek.. it was very disturbing and creepy. At first, I could feel my heart racing and my anxiety. However, after the 4th or 5th try, I became accustomed to the box and accordingly, "overcame" my claustrophobia. Haha. So I did something today... Hopefully I'll never have to do it again though. It was strange and not something I enjoyed. The experiment was studying if one could overcome anxiety and realize that nothing would happen in those small places. It was tedious and interesting. As an undergraduate research assistant, I could relate to the test proctor. I'll have to eventually administer studies when I'm doing the management research with my professor in the coming months.

I have to start brainstorming for my psy paper due on Monday. One of the topics is about ecological validity for psychology experiments. I totally read a couple articles about that for my research assistance so I can definitely write about it for my psy paper.

Well, I'm off to bed. It'll be a long day tomorrow too. =(

The Song I am listening to right now is from the MacAir commercial. The music is catchy; the laptop, in my opinion, not so much.

Great Weekend

Music: What You Own- RENT Soundtrack
Mood: Relaxed

This weekend was amazing. I'm not sure why. I'm still very tired and have tons of homework, but I really enjoyed the weekend. Saturday night, I had a nice dinner with a BC (Business Council) friend at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. It was really tasty, and we got these things where you could make your own rolls. Also, BC Texas Revue tryouts were this saturday as well. I totally butchered the dance because I freaked out and messed up my dance moves. Hopefully we made it! Then, a friend in the MPA program who is in Dallas doing his accounting internship came down for the weekend and had a get together at his house, so I went to that.

Sunday, I woke up, went to group cycling (which was intense.. I was debating whether to wake up or not, but it was worth it because I ate lemon meringue pie for dessert afterwards). Then I had a case competition meeting with my group. I'm not sure why I signed up for case because I'm so busy and honestly don't have time to do it, but I guess it's much more fun than doing regular homework. Afterwards, I worked on some statistics homework for a bit before going to a "family dinner" with my "family" from HBA (Honors Business Association). My family won the family challenges last semester to HBA treated our whole family out to a restaurant of our choice. I ate WAY too much, but it was delicious and now I have tons of work to do.

Tomorrow, I have to wake up early to make to an 8AM BA 101 class to make announcements about the blogging website. I still have to do philosophy, finish statistics, work on my study abroad essay, psychology paper (due next Monday), and try to do a study abroad scholarship due next Monday but needs 2 letters of recommednation.

Sleeping in Class

Music: Satellite- Dave Matthews Band
Mood: TIRED

Wow. This week has been INSANE. I started writing this post on Wednesday after the career fair but never got around to finishing it. Although I'm in less classes this semester (15 hours), and I have less school work to do, I feel that I'm constantly meeting with others and busy. I never have time to myself, and when I do, I don't want to do anything. I find that I don't even have time just to hang out with friends. I'm SO busy. I scheduled my classes so that I'd have my afternoons free, but since I have my afternoons free, I'm also meeting for my orgs or at the gym. On a normal day, I leave my room around 9 or 9:30 and don't return until 6. Even after I get back, I grab dinner with friends and then head off back to do meetings, homework, or work for BHP recruiting or my new research job. Similar to last semester, I going to the GYM is my favorite part of the day.

These past few days, I've gotten NO sleep. On top of that, I haven't really had time to hang out with friends. I mean, it's not terrible, my life, but it's constantly busy. Sometimes, I realize how simple it was to intern (or work full-time). Just go to work from 8 to 5, occasionally have to take work home, but I find that there's a work-life balance (at least when I was interning). Being a full-time students, I find myself living and breathing college. It's my life and what I dedicate my energy to. Of course, being a student, that's my job. That's why I'm paying to go to UT and why I'm working so hard--my future. =)

So let's breakdown my week:
Monday: Same old, same old.
Tuesday: The company I'm working for during the Summer took me and a couple other interns out to dinner, which took the whole night, so I didn't start my homework until like 11.
Wednesday: I went to career fair from like 1 to 3. Had BHP recruiter meeting, went to the gym, ate a quick dinner, had the BC meeting, and then met with my case competition team to discuss ideas. I don't know why I keep going to career fairs. Okay, I admit it. My name is Eric and I am a career-fair-holic. Something about career fairs has me energized. Perhaps it is the free goodies, or maybe it's talking with industry professionals. I think it's because I am a recruiter for BHP, so I'm used to talking to new people and enjoy it. I hoped to get good contact from potential companies I'd work for during Junior year and possibly full-time, but I didn't find any companies that interested me. I did, however, get an 8 pack of mini-boxes of cereal, binoculars, some pins, a bag, and a laundry bag.
Thursday: I had class till 3:30, went to group cycling till 5:30, then rushed to get dressed to go to the Interactive Diversity Forum. This dinner was well worth it. I sat with the diversity recruiter from an Investment Banking company. I told her about me working in Dallas this summer and studying abroad in Hong Kong in the fall. She said that she'd put me in touch with recruiters in Dallas and Hong Kong so I can meet them when I'm at those locations. I'm not sure if banking is for me, but I'll entertain the idea.
On Friday: I had one class at 10, but stayed up the previous night reading articles to prepare for my meeting with the professor I'm research assisting with. I also stayed up doing online shopping, which is a problem for me. It's so easy to just generate a one-time use credit card number through my credit card and purchase things online. This one clothing website was having a huge sale, and I nabbed some fashion polos, dress shirts, and sweaters. I also had Texas Revue practice with BC on Friday.

This weekend, Honors Business Council had a camp-out in cabins Friday night. I went to that and got back Saturday (today) around noon. That was a lot of fun, but now I've got so much homework, and the sad thing is that I haven't even started yet. We had BC tryouts at 5:30, and I spent the entire afternoon preparing for that and warming up for the skit. And I forgot many of the moves during the actual audition. Oh well, at least that's done, for now at least.

Okay, since I haven't blogged in a week, I feel like I have so much to say. I started working on my PHL paper last weekend, but I ended up spending an equal amount of time on it during the week to have it ready by Friday. I'm still worried about the paper. Philosophy isn't like normal paper writing. You have to think and keep questioning what you write and then defend your claims. It's challenging, and I'm afraid that I've made a fatal leap in logic or there might be a flaw in the paper.

This weekend, I plan to work on my psychology paper (which is due on Friday) and also finish my study abroad application! Additionally, since I'm working on the BizIT case competition, I've got to work on that as well and make sure our group puts tons of effort into the case. It's just hard to find the time to do extra work. I'm already doing extra work as a research assistance. For me, that's like another class (another 3 hours, putting me at 18). However, it's such a unique experience, but I read the articles and understand them and then chat with the professor one-on-one about the content and how the experiments in those articles will impact our study. So I'm not just studying and reading to prepare for a test or for some group project, rather, I'm actually doing work for academic reasons and for my understanding, and that's such a shocking change. I love it! =) Related to my psychology paper, one of the topics is about the accuracy of laboratory experiments. I just read a couple articles about that same subject for my research, so I might write about that.

Also for my plan II psychology class, I'm required to participate in 5 hours of experimental studies. I took a pre-screening test and was contacted by a researcher who is doing work on claustrophobia. Apparently, I'm pretty claustrophobic, so I'm going to participate in their experiment and get full credit for the hours I need for the psychology class. I'm sort of worried. On Wednesday, I'm supposed to go into the psychology building to take some tests and essentially be a lab rat. Hopefully, I'll be okay. They better not lock me up in a closet or elevator. Ekk.

I'll try to keep ya'll updated more this week on what's going on. My week is already pretty booked, so I'll be BUSY, but what's new?

Burning Street Light

Music: The Dolphin's Cry- Live
Mood: Peaceful

This week was good. I've been pretty busy, but overall it was a great week. I've been trying to get lunch and dinner with different people I haven't talked with in a while. Yesterday, I had dinner a Moonshine, which was pretty good. I thought it was strange that instead of giving us bread to start off with, they gave us popcorn. But it was nice. Today for lunch, I ate at Foodheads (Guadalupe and 34th). They have really good sandwiches, and the setting is really nice. It's in a home that's been turned into a restaurant.

This week, I've been busy not only with school but also practicing for Texas Revue. Undergraduate Business Council is putting on a skit to try out for Texas Revue, and I'm going to be a dancer! I've been learning the dance moves and really getting to know the other members in the skit better. 

Oh, the company I signed with for an internship this summer will be in Austin for career week and invited me to dinner with the recruiters and other summer intern on Tuesday. Wednesday is the career fair, which I plan on attending. I also signed up for the interactive dialogue forum which is on Thursday. I'm so glad I don't have the stress of finding an internship or recruiting. Seriously, recruiting last semester was like an extra class. 

Ok, so to explain the title of my post. Today, I was walking back to my dorm, at 24th and Whitis, when I saw a lamp post burst into flames. It was going for a good 20 to 30 seconds before the flames went out and the light remained out. Being concerned, I called UTPD and reported that there was a small flame and that it went out. While I was on the phone, the light randomly went back on. I was really confused, but UTPD sent a cop out just to take a look at it and make a note of it so that maintenance could fix it. I bet the cops thought I was strange because the light was on and appeared to be working all right. But I promise, the light went up in flames for a bit, and some other people saw it too. Maybe it's a sign... whatever that could mean.

Well, it's really late right now, so I suppose I'll go to bed now. I've got to write a philosophy paper this weekend, check my stat homework due on monday, do a philosophy report, work on my study abroad application, and do some other chores as well. I planned to go to spinning class Saturday at 12 to 1, but all spinning classes got canceled both Friday PM and all of Saturday, so instead I plan to go on Sunday instead. Hope everyone has a great weekend!