This is it.

This is my last semester towards my first college degree (one of, who knows how many).  Aside from the usual stressed yet excited feeling I always get, this is the first time in a while that I really feel inspired.

It’s about freaking time I’m taking classes that make me feel like I’m learning something.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been grateful for my education.  But I’ve been extremely cynical when it comes to seemingly important classes that are supposedly necessary for graduation.  I understand that being well-rounded in my education is crucial—but it’s the shitty material the irks me.  I could go on about this for hours, but I won’t.

For so long, I’ve dying to get my hands dirty for real-world experience and quality material that can’t be found on Google, to speak with accomplished and nurturing professors, to be with peers that motivate and challenge me.  That’s what school is about.  And I think I’m finally getting what I wanted.  It’s going to be a busy four months.  And I won’t be grinding without a cause anymore, because now I feel like I’ll willingly drown myself in school (let’s see how long this lasts…) because the skills I’m learning will be more applicable.

 I’m starting a “What I Learned Today” journal (#nerdalert). Who knows if I’ll use it every day, but I’ll be able to collect my ideas better.  I plan to fully immerse and apply myself during my last semester.  I want to enjoy school.  And to network.  And to use my resources.  I want seven damn letters of recommendation from this semester alone.

Here’s a glimpse of what my semester will be like:

PR Case Studies:  Research.  A lot of really important research.  I like research, though. 

Professional Event Planning:  This class has no textbook and we’re graded on how successfully we implement three events.  I have this awesome Australian lady that we have to call “Moss” as a teacher, and she reminds me of my old Aussie friend, Sarah, that I met in Italy.  Moss is awesome and hard core.  And more importantly, I’m getting real-world experience, yo.

Sketching for Fashion:  I’m learning about technical fashion design and specs.  I learned that there’s a difference between promotional drawing and production drawing.  I must learn both.  And I need to buy lots of cardstock.  I’m literally back to the drawing board again and I’m stoked.

Bateman Team:  I need to make some kind of difference in children’s lives about being health conscious.   Again, real-world experience.  

Media Effects:  This is weirdly nostalgic of my communications class at community college, mixed with my media law class last semester, mixed with my media ethics class that I took abroad. Since I loved all three of them, that’s good news.  I’m continuing to learn about media obligation/responsibility.  The power of the media has always been incredibly exciting to me.  

Chemistry:  I’m stupid for dragging out this GE, but I’m taking this class with a ridiculously quirky and attentive professor—Tom Gufrey, for all you present and future CSULB students.  His entire syllabus (20 pages) consists of covers of popular songs that he changed the lyrics to (relevant to chemistry).  Today, he blew up balloons, made a girl sing, and we all popped party poppers.  He did this all because he wants the students to enjoy chemistry.  I admire this kind of dedication to students more than ever.

Intercultural Communications: I’m still figuring out what this class is going to entail in depth.  However, my friends have highly recommended this class because of the in-depth discussions.  Done deal.  

It’s all so weird to me, but this really is it.  I’m excited, motivated, and I’m making it really count.