Home Again, Home Again, and a little about me...and Tate

I went to Minnesota for the long weekend. I hit the twin cities, Carleton college, and Rochester. I didn't realize how many people my family knew in Minnesota. We stayed at a friend's house and then traveled all over from there. I saw my best friend from childhood, who goes to Carleton College in Northfield. Tuition is a grand 54k a year and no one chooses majors until they're finishing their sophomore year. I suppose that's what happens in liberal arts colleges. I go to a state university where tuition is less and they want you to know everything you want the moment you step in the door, a philosophy that I find to be utter bullshit. No one knows what they want at the age of eighteen. I wish they gave us more time to explore and decide what we like, but if I want to do that I have to pay $54,000 a year, so I guess I'm stuck making uneducated decisions about my future. I just hope I don't end up suicidal at 40 because of my choice at eighteen. Also in Northfield, is a store that sells very good olive oil and vinegar. 

This week has been a lot of visiting with older relatives, something that is sometimes fun at most of the time just is really awkward. You have to laugh, or you'll end up crying, right? I really don't want to get old. Maybe life can take me out at 60 and I don't have to do the whole dementia thing, or if I do I hope I at least get to keep my sense of humor.

Either way, Minnesota was fun. It's nice to get away from Ohio for a while, even if they're pretty much the same place.

In a previous post, I wrote a biography for my friend Madison, and she so graciously wrote one for me as well.

Noelle is now a Biology major at the University of Akron. If you had asked her two months ago, she would have answered she was a Biomedical Engineer, part of the 80% of other Honors students who are studying engineering. However, Noelle decided to buck the trend and try something new. Since Noelle is no longer an engineer, she is not a member of any engineering clubs such as Eureka Honors Engineering or Women in Engineering. She enjoys procrastination, playing guitar, doing stuff on her computer, writing blog posts, and taking bad pictures of her friend Shirali, among other things. Noelle 'Wonder Woman' is known by other names, including 'The Asian,' 'Yun, and 'No Wiser.' To learn more about Noelle, visit her at her blog, her home, or her dorm.

Due to the popularity of the Madison post, I promised my friend Tate I would write her a bio too.

Taylor, or more often known as Tate, grew up in the harsh suburban streets of Massillon Ohio. As a child she enjoyed Star Wars, playing pretend, and running away from home with macaroni & cheese boxes in hand. Through her angsty teen years she enjoyed such bands as My Chemical Romance, and more My Chemical Romance. She also enjoyed a hippy phase, courtesy of a seventh grade English teacher. She has just finished her first year of college at the University of Akron. She is unsure of her major and has thought of everything from education to law to social work. In her free time Tate enjoys writing, reading, more writing, and watching Netflix. She currently splits her time between the city of Akron and her family home in Massillon. She has one brother, one boyfriend, and two dogs. 

~Noelle

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Well it Had to Happen Eventually

My grades finally came in. I got an A in everything but Chemistry, where I got a C. A C that sent me into a five minute freak out, and question my whole college life, because that's what I do, I freak out. This is a side that people outside of my family rarely see from me. I am always referred to as the calm one, the one who doesn't freak out, the one with the least amount of emotion to show. But, I still have my moments.

Getting this C has made me reflect on the way things have been for me the last 14 years. This is first C I've ever gotten, ever, since kindergarten, unless you count the minus I received in skipping, but I don't think anyone does. My kindergarten teacher might. She pulled my mom in for a parent teacher conference about it and my mom just laughed and taught me how to skip at home. I was a bit of a Wiz kid in elementary school, but the people I was up against weren't anything worth comparing too. Not offense to them, but it was an inner city school and there was none of that Kumon crap or any of those montessori kindergartens. My parents read to me as a kid, and I liked books, as all my friends know from a trip to Books-A-Million where I pointed out every book in the store I read as a child. Basically, I could have just pointed to the whole children's section. I had a lot of free time when I was a kid. Then, I went to a high school where someone with a 3.8 could be ranked in the hundreds. That's a rich suburb school for you. Now, the kids I go to college with honors students. Students that have never even gotten a B before. That were valedictorians of their high schools and have won awards. For the most part, I've always been in smart company.

But, anyway, its my first C, and its in a class that actually matters for my major. I got A's in all my engineering classes but the only biology related class I got a C. This freaks me out, this makes me wonder if I am doing the right thing. This sends my head into a tilt, but then I get talked down. Usually by my mother. She's always the one who does it. I hardly ever cry anymore, but for some reason when I'm with my mom I just lose it. It's always been that way. She is also the person I can get the angriest at. I guess if you feel like someone is going to love you anyway, you can just let loose and not worry about the consequences. The people you love the most are always the people you treat the worst, because you know they will still like you when you've calmed down.

Well, thats my rant, turned awkward. I just wanted to write something.

~Noelle

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Meet Madison

So last night my friend Madison sent me a text asking me to write her a biography for her blog. So I took it upon myself to write one. I think it's pretty spot on. So I decided just in case she doesn't actually use it on her blog, I can post it here to be saved for all eternity.

An award winning cheesecake baker, published author, EMT, and honors student, Madison is one of many talents. Her schooling began at her kitchen table and today she is a student at the University of Akron studying biology with minors in both chemistry and dance. She hopes to one day be an emergency room physician. Madison is active on campus and is a member of honors club (free food club), honors delegates, the AK Rowdies, Phi Delta Epsilon (medical fraternity) and campus focus (bible/rock band church club). Madison loves Jesus, but tries not to be too in your face about it. When she is not doing this weeks homework, she does the following weeks homework, attempts to play soccer, hangs with her friends, and goes to bed by 9 pm.

I figured since I have no Shirali eating pictures this week, I can at least use a picture of Madison with Shirali in it. (Madison is the one second from the left.)

I am also freaking out because I got an A in physics. I had to check it six times to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. I don't even know how that happened when I'm pretty sure I left a 9 point question blank on the final. There must have been a huge ass curve, but no complaints here. Now if only my Chemistry grade would post. I have a feeling I won't be as happy about that grade.

Summer so far has been alright. I'm basically just working, watching netflix and hanging out with my family. I leave for Minnesota on Thursday, a state where people only go if they have family. Weird part is, it's warmer there than it is here.

~Noelle

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Have a nice life

Well, this is my last post as a freshman. My first year at college is coming to a close. I took my last final and started packing up my room. I have so much stuff, and I dont know where I am going to put it all when I get home. I still need to wash dishes, take down posters, and return borrowed items. My roommate moved out this morning at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am, and checked out at 9:30. She left a bunch of random stuff here and didn't say a word to me. I'm sort of ticked I didn't even get a goodbye. Well, have a nice life.

I'm pretty sure I am going to sleep in my clothes tonight because I am fairly certain I packed my pajamas. I literally have a box of food, I am that big of a food hoarder. I drew a picture on a friends mirror that will be erased. I'm a little sad about that...

We walked the campus tonight. A little about our fair town of Akron, Ohio. Rubber. Well, thats the end of that story. It's really not too bad though, but its the only place I've ever known. 

Also, one last Shirali post for this school year, along with my last meal photo. No more Rob's for 3 months. Can't complain about that one.

Well, goodnight all

~Noelle

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Do it with passion, or not at all

I've been thinking about passion and avoiding studying for my final final. I am absolutely terrible at physics, and the fact that it is irrelevant, or at least this version is irrelevant, to a biology major isn't helping my motivation. I also have a group paper due for my biomedical engineering class and no one has sent me their parts. Well, if I don't have them Wednesday night, its not getting turned in. It's not my departments anymore, its not my major, and the class is worth nothing to me anymore

I really wish I had a passion. I watch all these people that know exactly what they want and have plans to get there, and here I am flailing around trying to figure it out. I switched my major and picked one based on an interest in high school and the thought that it could be useful. I have no clue if its something I can be passionate about. I've never had a talent that made anyone take notice, or make me think that I'm good enough to have a future with it. Maybe I can't be passionate about anything. My interests include messing around the computer and playing the guitar. Neither of things are any different than anyone else's interests and aren't passion. I think I think too much to find a passion. I'm over thinking it. Or maybe everyone with passion is under thinking it. Sometimes I would just love to go blindly into something I think will make me happy and not think about the money. But I'd need to find that passion first, and I'd need to shut my brain up.

"If you're suddenly doing something you don't want to do for four years, just so you've got something to fall back on, by the time you come out you don't have that 16-year-old drive any more and you'll spend your life doing something you never wanted to do in the first place."
 - Ewan McGregor

I don't want to pick a career and find out I have no passion for it, that I hate it, and that I have wasted all my drive on it. I feel like I'm beginning the process of settling. That we all are. Everyone is in everything for the money. Like engineering. I know very few people who actually want to do it for it for the right reasons. Everyone is concerned with the money and the title and the prestige of calling themselves an engineer. In the words of a 2nd floor friend, "When you become an engineer you get a lab coat and a false sense of superiority." I guess that's how a lot of jobs are. Doctors, lawyers, business people, everyone is into everything for the money and I don't want to be that person.

"There is only one passion, the passion for happiness"
- Denis Diderot

We all just want to be happy, right?

Now that I am done with that, time for the Shirali part of this post. She is not amused.

Tomorrow is my last final, and Friday I leave for home. It's going to be weird to be back, but I think its time. I'm ready to be done for now.

~Noelle

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5/09/2013

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The Craftsman

I've spent the whole week super fascinated by the Myers Briggs test. Well that and being miserable from allergies. At least the A/C finally kicked on so I can shut the windows. Hopefully the roommate doesn't mind but I'm about to lose of mind. I also have final exams coming up, so this week is going to be awful. However, it is the last week of my freshman year, so thats a good accomplishment.

Anyway, I tested a bunch of my friends because I've been trying to decide what I should do with my life. My result was ISTP - the craftsman. My traits include: Critical, Detached, Guarded, Independent, and Resourceful. I also am among the people who most frequently have cardiac problems, don't finish college, and are dissatisfied with their relationships. I'm not sure if I like this type...My career types include: skilled trades, technical fields, agriculture, law enforcement, and military occupations. I think its funny it wants me to be in law enforcement and the military. I have been thinking about forensic science again though.

My friends all got interesting results too. Most were pretty easily pegged. The "mom's" of the group got teachers and supervisors, the emotional types got healer and counselor, and the quiet ones mastermind and architect. We had a lot more visionaries and teachers than average, hardly any of the types that are supposed to have the most. I had a handy chart because yes, I am that geeky.

I also got another great pic of Shirali. This has become a weekly thing. I'm going to miss it when I go home for summer. I'm going to miss everyone, but I think we could all use a break from each other. We've seen a lot more of each other as the stress has piled on, and it's beginning to take its toll. But stress is the true test of friendship, right? I really like them all though. College would suck without them.

~Noelle

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