That's a Wrap!

Blogging to you live after the most stressful Final Exam day I have.... ever.... endured.

I hope you all did well on your exams and that you're not freaking out like me!!! Like I said before, this semester I took the hardest level and last English, Math, and Science Lab classes I will ever need to take (hopefully). English I'm not worried about because of all those on point papers I wrote *hair flip*, but Math and Science on the other hand....yeaaaaaahhh. Let's just say I've been living in the library this week and sleep walking at work. THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFT I COULD POSSIBLY RECEIVE RIGHT NOW IS TO KNOW I PASSED THOSE CLASSES. Actually...maybe a pug would be better (fyi I already got a pug gift from one of my roommates). 

Goodbye Statistics

Goodbye stress eating, Hello Gym

Goodbye pointless Gen Ed Notes

Goodbye Physical Universe

See ya later SBCC

Hello extra shifts at work

     During winter break for a week and a half time span  I will be visiting all the places I've ever lived before besides California (Illinois, Iowa, and Virginia). I will tell you all about it when I start my blogs again for Spring Semester! The plan this time around for Winter Break is to take advantage of time off school to improve my life. I will try to move up in position at work, start writing in my autobiography again, make a couple doctor appointments and go to the gym to keep up my health, and much much more. Becoming an adult I've realized I gotta put a lot of work into the things I want. Things don't just magically happen. I want to be healthy, I want to be successful, I want to inspire others, and most of all I want to find happiness in each day that I live because I deserve it. Well, now I'll have the time to focus on other things besides school for over a month and put my energy into more exciting, personal things. I encourage you to take advantage of your break too, it'll fly by fast! Happy Holidays and happy happy happy happy did I mention, HAPPY BREAK FROM SCHOOL!!!! WOOOO!!! 

Every Step Counts

Very busy. Much busy.

Gotta curl the hair and
dress up for the holdiays

In other words, I got a bunch of "schtuff" done over break till now. I...

• Visited my family, had a wonderful time and Thanksgiving meal
• Work Work Work
• Spent almost $900 and 5 hours at a local Firestone Auto Care (I know, terrifying) 
• Cleaned in the apartment (things get a little messy when you're stressed)
• Signed up for a gym membership and have been going just about every day 
• Met someone new who's inspiring and spontaneous and reminded me to be
• Got my first 6/5 on a quiz in my science class which I've been struggling with
• Wrote an essay for math.....yes, I said M-A-T-H
• Got accepted for in-state tuition at SBCC!!!

Now fellow students,

Find whatever your passion is and hold on to it. However tightly you hold on to it determines the amount of motivation you'll put into achieving it. If you don't know your passion and you're still figuring things out, just know you will figure things out and find that passion. This is the very reason to devote your Saturday...your Sunday to studying your batooty off for those final exams! EVERY STEP COUNTS!!! 

Also as I encountered in the bathroom in the Library building the other day, "Someone loves you. Don't give up :) ". 

12/03/15 IDC

Accidents (like a fire in the IDC) , mistakes (that question on the test you feel 

stupid for missing), and life... it all happens. If you try your hardest, you cannot fail. Remember that and study on!

If these therapy dogs help reduce stress, then my
dog must be a life saver.

Time to Catch Up

Nobody at school Wed 11/25 8:25am

It's Thanksgiving Break! You all know what that means... It's time to catch up with family, your studies, heck maybe even life itself! All I know is I'm writing this blog as I'm getting ready for work in 30 minutes. Woohoo! Busy busy busy. I hope each and every one of you gets the chance to go home and visit your families for Thanksgiving! I'm thankful that I get to go visit my family that's about an hour and a half away, but it'll just be for the day. I usually have work Wednesday nights and Friday mornings. I was trying my best to get off work so I could possibly spend the entire weekend with my family. I even put on Schedulefly, "I would be very THANKFUL is someone could cover this shift for me so I can go see my family for a few days". But ya know, everyone wants their shifts covered around this time. However, I was able to switch with somebody and work Friday night instead so I can spend my Thursday night with my family. I asked them if they would like me to bring anything for Thanksgiving dinner. I was told to bring my guacamole and chips, if not, a smile. I replied saying, "Is that a California thing? Guacamole for Thanksgiving?". But hey, that's my specialty! (For those of you who don't already know, I'm professional at making guac because I learned how to at a Mexican restaurant I used to work at. So I basically have to bring guac to any get together)
Everything happens for a reason though. When I think about it and when I try not to think about it, I think about how much stuff I need to get done that I never have time to do. Well, I will have time this weekend while I have the apartment all to myself.

I had to.

So my fellow SBCC students,
Spend some quality time with your families. Stuff your face full of warm, home cooked meals. Finally before Monday, catch up on any school work and anything you need to get done. Winter Break is around the corner, but first we gotta make it through our finals. Don't get behind and stay on track! To be honest I'm slightly off the tracks, but I will be catching up this weekend, that is.... after I stuff my face. Happy Thanksgiving! And please....please stay sane on Black Friday. Thanksgiving day isn't the only day we should be thankful during the year.

My Major is...

JOURNALISM!!!

UCLA vs. Washington State Football game 11/14/15

It's sort of silly actually...all along when I would change my mind thinking I should do something else with my major, I would always go back to writing. Ever since I was 10 years old and my aunt told me I wrote such expressive emails and after I was awarded with the best creative writing in my sixth grade class, I knew. I still know to this day because whenever I finish a piece of writing including schooling, blogging, anything, I feel complete. I feel accomplished and content after I get back to the real world, after being lost in this writing zone I get into, and that's how I know. At least journalism is the basic foundation of my major. I might minor in something. I might head a graphic design route or maybe even a broadcasting route. Who knows! College is the time in our lives where we are start to figure out important things that set us up for our future. Figuring out what my major was going to be took a long time. Better safe than sorry and extra schooling and tuition though!  I knocked out a lot of General Education classes along the way to keep myself in the school zone. However, after Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Summer Session II 2015, and Fall 2015 semesters of nothing but General Ed classes with a touch of Ocean Swimming, I've realized I need to start schooling on the things I love. I was and am still sort of losing my mind with these Gen Ed classes. You know, the ones we've been taking since Kindergarten? Let me tell ya as a writing major, these high college level math and science lab classes are testing me...literally. Gen Eds... hate 'em, gotta do 'em. 

If you need help figuring out your major I have some tips and tricks for you that I've done myself! 

• Go to the Career Center. They are the specific place in the student services building that is meant to help you decide on you major and your future career. There are all sorts of tests to take that can help you realize what you're good at or may enjoy as well. Surprisingly they aren't usually busy, but you can make an appointment or just walk in! If you go in, ask for the eureka.org code, it's a website that can help you for further information at home. (PS: Keep in mind that a lot of people get jobs in which they didn't have a background major in college for. This was what stressed me out on settling on a major this whole time.)

Helpful looking book I found in the library today!

• Narrow down what schools you want to go to (but don't be too picky). I've always wanted to go to either UCSB or at the very top of my list (my dream school) UCLA. However, as life has taught me, things don't always work out the way you want them to. There's this website that's help full to visit called assist.org. It has a list of UC and CSU schools and it tells you which schools have what majors. It also informs you on what classes you'll need to take at SBCC to be considered to transfer to their school. I had visited this website knowing that I for sure only wanted to look at SoCal schools. Turns out only CSULB (Cal State Long Beach) and SDSU (San Diego State University) have a journalism major as an option. Both areas I'm pretty unfamiliar with which is kind of intimidating. However, I've let it process in my mind and I've come to realize that it is more important that I go to a school that has the major I want instead of one that doesn't. Your career is the rest of your life until you retire, the college you go to is only a couple years of your life. I'd rather have the job I want for 30 plus years rather than the school I want for just a couple!

I hope this was helpful. There will be many more updates on my transfer process as time passes by. In the mean time, I'll keep on studying on at SBCC!!

What a Week!

Let me tell you, so many things have happened within a week's time that I could blog about a million things. I wish I could've blogged a few times this week to keep you all up to date, however you will realize why I did not have time to after I explain....Since the last time I blogged I have had two midterms, joined a club, started working again after being sick so long, figured out my major, and started signing up for spring semester classes. Yeah, I know, what a week! I might just have to split this all up into a few blogs, but bare with me, I promise to start blogging more often!! Let's start off with the surprises that have occurred this week just so I can catch you up. I'm finally starting to get into the swing of things again after being sick so long, but this week just turned out to be a roller coaster instead of a swing. Trust me, I'm so excited to tell everyone about my major because it's a big step to my future, but that deserves it's own entire blog post! The roller coaster wouldn't let me stop it so I wasn't able to find a moment to relax and do one of my favorite things (blogging for you guys :)

Last Saturday I went out with two of my roommates to dinner because it was Sarah's 20th birthday. We decided to go eat at my work because my work has a gorgeous view at sunset of the ocean and Sarah could get a large sundae for her birthday. With my discount, we split the highest priced item on the menu (crab legs) with mashed potatoes (which I've been craving for forever and couldn't wait till Thanksgiving). It's nice to treat yourself once in a while, plus birthdays are worth celebrating! As we were finishing dinner, we see a bright light moving in the sky. It was on national news if you haven't heard about it but it was the strangest thing ever! It looked like a UFO and left a bright green light behind it. Everyone at the restaurant got up and was amazed! My favorite Yik Yak comment about it was someone freaking out about seeing it and saying "I swear I'm sober."

It's finally getting colder.
This means....
Bring out the scarves, leggings,
sweaters, and boots!

Yesterday at school I was walking on West Campus about to go to class when a guy stops me to talk to me. Yeah, I know right? What a miracle! That never happens these days. He asked if I had time to talk and I said sure. He then proceeded to say. "I was wondering if you wanted to Netflix and chill with me sometime?" I was like, "....Is this a prank or did someone dare you to ask me this?" He denied both things and I stared at his big blue eyes and said I would chill and Netflix with him but not Netflix and chill. He laughed, agreed to it, and asked for my number and typed in in without my name. After all that I was like...."So I didn't get your name?" He told me his name, I told him mine, and he told me I was "so beautiful" blah blah blah. I said I had to get to class and he said he'd text me. Two seconds after I left him, he stopped me from leaving and said "Hey Angela, I'm sorry to tell you, but this isn't real, I'm so sorry it's for a TV show, can we use this film of you?". See this is why I don't trust guys. I was smart and knew it from beginning and he lied! Trust your gut. That lesson applies to guys and multiple choice tests! Hahaha.


Today work was SWAMPED. I was so tired after my Wednesday night of 4 hours of sleep (science midterm probz) and my 8 hour day at school on Thursday. After sitting a customer at their table, I come back to the host stand, take a breather, look down a the reservation book, and THERE WAS A COCKROACH. My entire body jolted as my heart skipped a beat. I looked around and was worried someone saw my reaction but I didn't see anybody. I thought maybe a coworker was playing a prank on me like they do sometimes. I poked it with a pencil to make sure it wasn't real. It wasn't. I had seen so many cockroaches in my apartment recently before we got it sprayed that I did't trust it could be fake at first. A customer came up to me and told me he did it and told me to keep it!!! What? Why! I question what it is about me that people think they can mess with me. But they do!

Choices, Chances, Changes

College is full of them!

"If it doesn't challenge you it does not change you."

To be honest this whole semester I felt stuck. I felt stuck in this mindset of stressing and feeling like I just had to get things done. If I ever had any down time I would lay in bed or FaceTime my childhood friend to get the adult stuff off my mind. Well that was all fine until I got sick....again. For the first time since my tonsillectomy.

You know that feeling where everything stressful hits you all at once? Yeah,it's possible to stress yourself SO much that you literally can make yourself sick. It was either that or my poor immune system. The other Thursday (a couple days after my flu shot) I was in class and felt light headed and sick. The teacher had asked me in front of the entire class. "Are you okay?" Of course I'm not gonna say no! But in the mindset of Angela, I had to be in class because not going can be just as stressful. I went to the doctor for a regular physical later that day with a bunch of questions. All those questions seemed to raise the doctor's attention, having me worry about everything I had questions for. Having been told I once had cancer makes it hard not to question every single thing that seems abnormal. Next thing I know she feels around my neck/ upper chest/ underarms for lymph nodes...and there one was. Painful and feared.

I only had let family and friends know because I needed some positive thoughts and prayers. Nothing is harder than fighting a battle you've already fought so hard against multiple times before. The reason I haven't blog for awhile is because I didn't want to worry you all along with me. Also, a lot of changes are about to happen in me and my life. Today, minutes ago, I was just informed about my CT scan results that prove I'm still surviving. Thank you to everyone who has been thinking of me and praying for the best. I'm still fighting off a sinus and ear infection, but hey, that's easy ;)

"Surviving doesn't just mean staying alive...it means LIVING to your potential."

That quote basically explains what I mean when I say a lot of changes are about to happen in me and in my life. I have come to the realization that enough is enough. I HAVE to start living to my potential, this cancer scare really woke me up. I really think it happened for a reason. I fought so hard to get to where I am today and I just needed to be reminded of my self-worth. Updates will be coming your way. At the moment I'm working on moving out of my apartment once someone is able to take my lease. It's something I know I think I need to do to be able to move forward in the direction I deserve. A positive, healthy, passionate one.

Shots! (EVERYBODY)

"Shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots shots EVERYBODY!!!! If you don't want the flu, get a flu shot!" That's my fabulous new remix to the song Shots by LMFAO. You're welcome.

But seriously, I'd be an adviser to say, please get a flu shot. You can bet your bottom dollar that no one including yourself and I would not want the flu. If you take a look back to one of my blogs last year, "Sick at College", you will see that I ended up being that person who didn't get the flu shot and therefore- got the flu.

Trust me, I'm not a fan of needles. Nor am I a fan of spending money on things like doctor's bills (ya know, adult stuff). However, I can guarantee that getting the flu shot would be worth it. Why? SBCC has the cheapest price you can find around to get it at just $10. In my opinion, dropping $10 on preventing the flu instead of experiencing what I did last year which was: caught the flu (along with my swelling tonsils) during finals, I dropped big bucks on soup, cough drops, medicine, and an emergency room visit. Not to mentioned the sickness and pain from it all was just not worth it. The nurse informed me about the shot, asked if I had questions, stuck me with that needle, put a band-aid on that boo-boo, and quizzed me to make sure if I was listening afterwards (fair warning). Overall, still, worth it.

As you know this year my goal is to get healthier. No more sickness for me! Yes, I had to go to the nurse for the first time after my tonsillectomy treatment. Yes, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow. But it's all for prevention. If you put in the effort to be a responsible adult, the stresses of being an adult may not be so hard on you....I'd like to think.

(Here I have put together a video collaboration of an ironic google image and the song I talked about earlier. What kind of time do I have on my hands you might ask? Enough time to make this and giggle about it until I was done.)

Secret Spot

Sometimes when you've got that break in between tasks at school, you want to find that secret spot on campus that you can rely on; a spot that will always be there whenever you need to set your tushy down. You want that spot because first of all it's yours because you "claimed it" and second of all it's a pretty good spot! Well I finally found mine.

No, no, no, I'm not going to tell you where it is. However, I will say it's a pretty "cool" spot because it's one of those rare places on campus where you can find shade. (Although, I will tell you there is a better chance you'd find shade on East Campus). I have a name for my spot. It's called, the Secret Garden. Since I did take a video, you might be able to find it, but I'll take the risk because my SBCC readers are worth it! ;)

As we all know, it's been hot AF here for the Fall. Last year it wasn't as hot as it was this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the warmth, but you see, us poor Santa Barbara residents don't have this thing called aaaaaaiiiiir conditioning. Yeah, I know, hard to believe with how much we pay for rent right?

Anyways, I encourage you to find your "secret spot", preferrably one with shade. Unless, you for some odd reason prefer to fry your skin as well as your brain at school.

Doing a Good Deed

One night last week I was lying in bed not able to sleep. All of a sudden I heard this girl outside crying. I looked outside and saw she was sitting in the middle of the parking lot and I thought a boy must have done her wrong. Because we all know girls can do crazy things when that happens! Anyway, I was not completely dressed because it was about to be 100 degrees the next day and we don't have AC. So I got dressed, grabbed my keys, and without any doubt of shyness in my mind all I could think about was that I needed to help her. Hearing someone cry never sits with me well.

"Let me read your mind with my head against your kneecap."

I walked down the stairs and she kind of walked away in embarrassment. I asked her if she was alright. She shook her head no and I asked her if she needed a hug. Of course when someone says that to someone upset, they kind of let loose and get more emotional. I asked her what was wrong and she said she lost her kittens. I smirked because I thought it was cute, but sad at the same time! I remembered the times I had lost my dog and I could totally empathize with how she was feeling. So even though it was late at night I tried to help her find them for about an hour. We looked behind the fridge, in the fridge, in laundry baskets, closest, and under beds, you name it we couldn't find them! I exchanged numbers with her in the hopes I'd be able to find her kittens!

"I'm guilty and asleep."

A couple days later, yesterday, I texted her in the morning asking if she had found them. She did, and I was so happy for her! She said, "Yes I did :) Thank you so much for your help, you are so sweet!". The thing was, I didn't do it for the thank you or the compliment, or even to make myself feel better. I helped her out of pure consideration of her happiness. She had told me she found them not in the drawers we already looked in, but behind them. Later that day I went over and visited her kittens. I'd actually never seen on before, I've only seen older cats. I didn't think I liked cats, but to be honest her kittens were just so cute and silly! Out of a simple good deed I made three new friends. Two cats and a neighbor. I do good things often for other people. However, it was nice to get good "karma" back from it for once.

:)

Makin' Mula

It's not easy...
Having a job and going to school all while trying to be an adult and take care of yourself. But hey, at least I work at a sweet spot! I never thought I'd be going to a school right on the beach, never mind working right on it as well. Maybe even next year I'll live in a home on Oceanside for the thrill of it!

Currently I work at Beachside Bar-Cafe. It's a seafood restaurant right before the UCSB entrance. Anywhere you sit in the entire restaurant has a view of the ocean. It's an adorable, beach restaurant with hanging surfboards, island map place-mats, and an oyster-bar. I've been working here since the end of July this summer. It took me basically the entire summer to find a job. Through trial and error and multiple let downs, I got a call from the place I wanted to work most; here.

It's not what it looks like.

For right now I'm a hostess, like I have been since I was seventeen. However, in a couple months I think I will be taking that big leap into becoming a server. I might as well make more money while I'm working! This restaurant is a busy one. Hosting basically pays off what I spend on basic necessities during the month. To be honest I don't necessarily need to be making money right now, and I'm very blessed to be in that position. But seeing a family member of mine go downhill financially overtime has scared me. I'm more precocious compared to someone else in my position because I know what it's like to not be in this position as well.

My school and work schedule goes like this:

Monday: Work in the morning

Tuesday: School ALL DAY

Wednesday: School in the morning, Work at night

Thursday: School ALL DAY

Friday: Work in the morning

And my weekends are free! Unless I pick up an extra shift. I like to save my weekends to travel or go see family. I try to relax to but...those of you that know me know I'm not so professional at that skill. During the week let me tell ya, I'm EXHAUSTED. After my health-related past I'm very proud of myself for making it this far on my own. Going to school, working, doing everything on my own. I read this quote recently that states "Be who you needed when you were younger." I think it's very inspirational. It makes me want to become the best version of myself possible and push towards being successful!
PS: Also I get to wear cute outfits unlike the other restaurant I used to work at where I had to wear a "man's outfit". I definitely feel more confident in a dress rather than a buttoned up shirt and tie! It makes my job of portraying happiness and welcoming vibes a little easier, even when I am stressed.

If you're interested in visiting Beachside, click here. And tell them Angela sent ya ;) Heck, maybe that'll get your girl a raise! Haha...just kiddinggggggg.

Try New Things!

This is the time in your life where things can change dramatically. I say, go with the change! One cannot experience life to the fullest unless different or new things are added into one's life. I encourage you to go to a restaurant you have never been to before instead of the usual. I encourage you to try things you aren't good at so you get better. I encourage you to go places you haven't been before and soak up the view! From experience, it's been worth it.

Here is my experience of trying new things this week:

My friend Joseph and I were strolling around State Street thinking about where we should go to get some food because we were "fungry". Joseph suggested Panda Express. I suggested, "You know, I really want to go somewhere I haven't been before.....and you can never go wrong with Mexican food." So instead of going to all the Mexican food places I've already been before on State Street (Sandbar, Casa Blanca, etc.) Joseph mentioned a place right off of State Street called Los Arroyos. And let me tell you, that was the best Mexican food I've had in Santa Barbara. I wouldn't have known unless I took that oh so daring risk and tried it! 

Yesterday my English class was cancelled (for the first time). Thankful as can be, I started walking around to try and find a spot where I could do my Stats homework that was due later that day (I know, I know, I'm a procrastinator). I found this lovely spot on East Campus overlooking State Street and Shoreline Drive. What a beaut. Before my papers flew around everywhere because it was a windy day; I'd say it was a perfect, new spot.

Last night my roommate and I received some bad news from our town we used to live in back in the Midwest. Once things cooled down, to lighten the mood, Joseph came over with his new hoverboard. My balancing skills are the worst, and I was always too scared to try skateboarding...however, this, this I could try. It was so fun!!! Sure it takes a little practice, but hey, I'd choose riding this over a skateboard any day. Soon enough I bet we'll all start seeing people riding their hoverboards over the bridge on campus instead of their skateboards like they aren't supposed to! :) :) :) 

Escaping & Exploring

Yesterday morning I woke up to a phone call from my friend Rachelle asking if I wanted to go somewhere. Somewhere else, somewhere far, somewhere we haven't been before. I thought it was the perfect "get away" after the past week so I said yes and started to get ready for Pismo Beach. I usually feel like going up north, however, change can be a good thing.

Our first stop was at this little restaurant called Lil Bits. I saw it on Yelp and thought it looked decent and I liked the name. Once we got there it was just the cutest, family owned restaurant with those little touches you look for in a small, family owned business.

As soon as we were walking to the beach we saw swings and it intermediately brought me back to my childhood. When I was little I was on them all the time, but I have never seen them on the beach before! It's like we were swinging into the ocean (I wish)! Once I finally let the little kids have a turn on the swing, I started looking for a shell to take home like I normally do when I go to a new beach. I found a quarter. Next I found a SAND DOLLAR!! Haha, I didn't even care about the quarter worth economic value; finding the sand dollar made me so excited! I hadn't seen one of those since I had moved from California 11 years ago. Later on we were walking around the shops and guess what I stop to get? Candy :)

On our way home we rolled the windows down, and sang our hearts out to throwback songs that we once heard when times were easier. It's always the little things, isn't it?

Accidents Happen

I'm going to keep this post as simple and sweet as I can. My goal this year was obviously to keep things on a positive note. Well the good news is that that is still possible. By keeping my head held high, I am making it possible. Happiness is decided and controlled within yourself and your own thoughts, it is not controlled by the events surrounding you. The last thing I wanted to blog about was another event in which has caused drama in my life. However, I think that this post can be a good lesson towards college students who are ever in a dangerous situation or to those who are living on their own for the first time with a kitchen.

Monday afternoon as I was getting ready for work, I was thinking about how I have a meeting with the counselor on Tuesday morning, but that I didn't have anything to necessarily talk about because things were going pretty well. I'm ready for work in a great mood, say goodbye to my roommates, and go to work acting all happy with customers telling them that my day is great as well. Little did I know, a fire formed in our kitchen while I was at work. No missed calls or texts from my roommates, I grab some employee food and sit down on my phone and scroll through social media. I stumble upon Facebook to see that there was a fire at my apartment and I called my roommate right away and headed over there. By the time I got home the fire department, police, and apartment manager had already left. The accident was my fault. I never knew what a broiler was and I had never seen one in my life. I guess someone left a sheet pan in there from another set of roommates before us, so I thought that the broiler was a storage area for the oven. There is not much storage in our apartment, especially the kitchen, so I put a couple more sheet pans, including a cutting board in there. NEVER DO THAT!!!

I took off a full day of school on Tuesday to work on cleaning the apartment because the kitchen was covered in dust from this happening. I sort of felt like a hard-core Cinderella. The good news is that nobody was hurt, the oven is being replaced, and all of our important belongings were safe in our rooms. Talking with the counselor and the apartment manager, they both informed me that accidents like this happen all the time and that they themselves have done something like this before. EVERYTHING IS OKAY! I feel horrible for the accidental situation I put my roommates in and am just so thankful of the helped we received.

Negative situations will surround you, this world is full of them. However, it is possible to separate your right to happiness from them. Everyone deserves happiness. This world can be so positive and so beautiful if you let it be. Example A: This is the view of the sunrise from my bedroom window the same day the fire happened.  I'm usually not up that early to see it but I got up early to take my roommate to the doctors. The beautiful thing about that was I was able to help someone and for once it wasn't me having to go there for myself . #thatwassolastyear

Organizational Tips

THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN YOUR CLASSES IS BEING ORGANIZED!!!

Following these steps will help you to organize your classes and paperwork for each one, making it easier to locate things (therefore you won't stress out as much)!

Start by separating all your paperwork into different folders,binders, or sections. I like to separate them by each class and add a section for homework so I know what to focus on or what's due for the next class date!
Next separate each class's category section/folder/binder into a few other sections including: notes, old quizzes/tests, old homework, and any other paperwork you think you might need.



Flashcards help me memorize things easiest for studying!

Organizing flashcards can be the easiest organizational tip I can give you. Not organizing flashcards can also be a nightmare. The best thing you can do to organize your flashcards is separate them into chapters. I like to write the chapter number in one of the top corners so, that way if I mix them up, I can easily notice and put it back with the right chapter deck. 
Another tip with flashcards is to use the ones that are blank on both sides. If you get the ones that are blank on one side and have lines on the other it may become distracting. It can also prohibit you from writing as much words or writing them where you want to.
When studying your flashcards make two separate piles. Set down Pile 1 and keep Pile 2 in your hand. Keep going through pile two until you memorize them all. Now, before you go back and study the entire deck again, make sure to take a break! Sometimes taking a break can be a good thing. Give yourself time to possibly forget some of the definitions so you know for sure if you have truly memorized them into your long-term memorization, instead of the short-term.
Pile 1= The Known Pile: the definitions you already have memorized
Pile 2= The UnKnown Pile: the definitions you are confused about or have a hard time memorizing

Color-Code Your Notes!!! 

Again, being organized is the prevention of stress. Color-coating your notes can make it so much easier to find what you are looking for in your notes without having to read the entire paper. No one wants to do more reading than they have to! 
You can color coat things by definitions, titles, formulas, examples, questions & solutions, and even highlight or underline things to make the words you choose stand out more! 

On another "note", the reason I have become so organized this year is because my general ed classes are really difficult. Getting organized can make it that much easier to go back, study, and earn a higher grade. To be honest it's almost 1 in the morning as I'm writing this because I've been studying so much and I got inspired to "procrastinate" and write a blog about studying and being organized. I've got my LAB class this morning, then I have to go home to study and do more homework, and burnout my energy and the rest of my day at work. Tomorrow I've got a project, an essay, and a midterm due. This shall not be the death of me, but it'll sure make make my eyes dry. Oh, the college life!

Let's Get Started

Hi everyone, I'm back!!!! I was hoping I'd be able to blog again for you all this year because last year I loved sharing my experiences with you! Those of you who read my blogs last year know that as much as I tried to progress my life in a positive direction, it was very difficult since I was sick all the time last year. BUT now the tonsils are out and I'm smiling with four less teeth (which is a good thing), I'm not in pain anymore, nor have I been sick since I last blogged! If you'd like to take a look at one or sixty-one of my posts from last year click here! Because I know you want to read all sixty-one of them ;)


This year I hope to share some amazing experiences with you, here are my two main goals for this year:
1. Focus on me. Happiness is a choice and is well deserved. Develop a positive, strong mindset and stay in good health!
2. Figure out what my major is going to be before I sign up for Spring Semester Classes! Spring Classes I should start getting in-state tuition :)

This year is going to mainly consist of figuring out where I am headed in my life, and to start heading there. By the end of this semester I should be pretty close to finishing up my general ed classes. That's all I've really been taking lately because I didn't want to change my mind on a major (and end up wasting thousands of dollars as an out of state student). Currently I'm taking: Math 117, English 111, and the Physical Universe LAB class. These are the most difficult general ed classes I will have to take, but I will finish them and I will pass them!

To every student attending SBCC,
You see those signs everywhere that say we're the "#1 Community College in the Nation" ? Well it's true. Take in the view everyday and learn as much as you can from your compassionate teachers. Before you know it, you'll be transferring on out of here!!!

See Ya Next Year!!!

Today is the final Friday at SBCC! It sounds cheesy, but times flies...really fast, even when you think it's going by so slow. This year has been a journey (like every year of mine), but it was an oh so special one. I final reached my dream of coming back to California after a decade of wanting to. A decade is a long time for someone so young! That's how much I wanted this though. It's not the only dream of mine and my story is definitely not finished yet, so I really hope to have the opportunity to share with you more of my life next year! I'm pretty confident I won't get sick and much and have to go through toooooooo many surgeries next year ;) Haha. Well, I gotta get packing to fly back to Virginia for my wisdom teeth removal and to Illinois to see my best friend graduate. I'll be back for Summer Session II if any of you will be around! If not, I'll see ya next year and have a GREAT SUMMER!

Sincerely signing off, Yours truly,

Angela Rose Bickmann

PS: Here is a video I put together of my entire year here, enjoy! :)

Goodbye Freshman Year!

Today was my last day of of Spring semester! I can finally say I conquered freshman year of college and boy was it a journey (to be written about in my next final blog).

This week is crazy busy and about to get even busier! Today I finished my last final out of the four I had to do and I changed my mailing address (for now). Then I went to the DMV because I got a weird letter in the mail about my car, so that was just another thing to do! Tomorrow and Friday I will be constantly packing. I might be meeting a future suite-mate for next year. It's funny because I haven't met her yet and she lives at Tropicana Gardens as well. I also need to try to turn in my California residency papers to SBCC's admissions office before I leave. It would save A LOT of money when I can be considered "in-state". Saturday I will be moving out of Trop and staying with family until I fly Tuesday to Virginia and then Wednesday get my wisdom teeth out. Following a little over a week later flying to Illinois to see my best friend, Allie,  who is a senior in high school graduate because she came to my graduation a year ago. Time flies! After my visit in Illinois for two weeks I will fly back to California and move into my new place mid/end of June. If you didn't know, I will be taking the second semester of summer session to get an English class out of the way and to possibly find a job. Yes, I will still be living in Isla Vista.

To everyone stressed out about finals, just be glad you're not in this position anymore. This is my friend Allie who I mentioned above who is also in the picture above. As we were facetiming, she was trying to apply for college. It was so funny to me because she didn't know half the questions on the application (like how I used to be) and was asking her parent what it meant. And then there's me...wearing the Santa Barbara City College shirt judging her for it haha :) #illneverbeafreshmanagain