Joseph Natividad

The Hardest Part Is Over

I had quite an intense Spanish final last night. I had two and a half hours to write a two page essay, translate sentences, remember random vocabulary and other grammar rules, as well as jotting down all the countries and capitals of South America for a minuscule five points of extra credit . I’m glad I got this final over with first because it was the one I was most worried about. I don’t think I got an A in the class but I’ll be completely satisfied with a B grade or even a C something. I plan on taking LTSP2B next quarter, the next step up from this course. Hopefully my plan stays the way I’ve drawn it out but that depends on whether I end up passing this one first.

I had a Computer Science final this morning, which wasn’t too bad. It turned out that all I had to do was review the practice final on the course website and remember all the right answers because the ACTUAL final contained about 80% of those very same questions. I wouldn’t be satisfied with myself if I don’t end up receiving something in the B+ to A- range as my overall grade for the course. CSE3 is a joke and I really want the last laugh to belong to ME.

I have one final left on Thursday for CAT2B, my college’s core writing course. I still have to write a few essays to turn in during the test day, when I’ll have to write another in-class essay based on watching a scene from a film of the professor’s choosing. From that, I’m supposed to relate all the relevant material I can into an essay that spans five pages in a matter of three hours. It won’t be too bad as long as I’m allowed to use my notebook. My constant note-taking during every lecture will finally come in handy.

Tags: CAT, computer science, cse, finals, ltsp, peter john, spanish, ucsd

Ready for the Quarter to End

I’m more than ready for a respite from studying and working here at school. This quarter has turned out to be a lot better than my first one, as I continue to survive my classes and probably won’t end up failing a single one of them. I’ve found interest in attending my writing and intermediate Spanish classes. Too bad I can’t say the same about CSE3 (Computer Science). That’s the only trace of math I’ve experienced for the past 3 months and I can surely say that I still don’t enjoy it.

These past few days, I have begun to yearn for something I’m not too sure about. I don’t want to say that I’ve become drained by my college experience. Classes are hard, but they are bearable. Work isn’t too tiring; it’s tedious at its worst. Maybe a change of scenery for just a bit will do me good. I get back home next Friday to the Bay Area. I can already smell the food on my plate that doesn’t present an aroma reaking of the UCSD dining halls. Seeing old friends for a week and driving a car again — coming back home brings back people I never see or things I never do here at school.

I have a feeling that next quarter is going to be even much better than this current one. My schedule will be even better because I don’t have to wake up too early for my 11AM classes. I’m looking forward to becoming more involved and meeting even more people on campus than I already have. I have a lot of ideas in my head that I don’t want to give away just yet. I just know that everything will work out in the end. In some crazy way, it will. And before I know it, summer has arrived and my first year at the university has come to a close.

Tags: bay-area, CAT, classes, dining hall, ltsp, quarter, ucsd

Surviving Through Finals

Finals are over and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been a stressful week for me — probably one of the most demanding I’ve had so far this schoolyear. I tried so hard to review and prepare myself for each exam and it worked out for me just half the time.

I breezed throught my Music&Film and CAT1B finals but I knew I definitely bombed Calculus when I couldn’t figure out four out of the eight total problems I was staring at on paper. I’ve never failed a class in my life but I think I’ve finally ended that streak. Worst case scenario: I’ll have to retake the class over again next quarter and finish off the last third of the Math10 series over the summer at Cal. That would definitely spoil my plans to apply for seasonal employment after my freshman year is completed in June.

Yesterday, my Economics final didn’t go too well either, though probably not as badly as I did with Calculus. The thought crossed my mind about whether this major isn’t a perfect fit for what I’m capable of. I have doubts and am feeling unsure about my future, but I’m deciding to go through with things for now. I’ll have to wait for my grades after Christmas and then I’ll get a clearer perspective on things. But I’m not feeling completely bothered by this situation. At this rate, I’m still on pace to graduate in four years, which doesn’t sound bad at all.

For now, however, I’m hoping for a miracle that comes in the form of a passing math grade.

Tags: calculus, CAT, Economics, failure, finals, math-10, music-and-film, sixth-college, ucsd

Finals Are Underway for Fall Quarter

I just got out of my Music&Film final less than 10 minutes ago and my self esteem has shot way up as a result of feeling confident that I did pretty well on it. So now the easy part is over and done with and it’s time to come back to earth. I’ve got Calculus and Economics finals within 10 hours of each other starting tomorrow evening and those are keeping me in a mild state of panic.

I’ve been hitting the books, reviewing my notes and slaving through old finals from previous years since last Saturday. I don’t think I’ll ever be completely ready for what lies ahead of me these next few days. My sleeping patterns have been adjusted dramatically but I feel like i have enough energy to last me through the night as long as I end up waking sometime before noon.

Tags: calculus, CAT, Economics, finals, music-and-film, panic, ucsd

It’s About Time I Get Back Home

I love college life, but I miss the place I really call home. It’s just over a day and a half left before I’m back in the Bay Area and I’m eager for a short change of scenery.

I just came back from my Econ1 lecture this morning and was a little frustrated with myself. I’m starting to get annoyed with all the graphs I’ve been drawing into my notebook and shifting them left/right or up/down. I guess what’s really bugging me is the score I got on my last midterm. I’m simply not used to taking a test and getting below the class average. I looked at myself in the mirror while I was brushing my teeth and a dejected look was still present on my face.

What did I do wrong? The Indifference curves were sloping in the wrong direction? Did I make a stupid miscalculation because I got confused with the difference of reading subsidies instead of taxes on the supply and demand curve?

Ahh noooo!!!!

I know I’ll go back to enjoying my Econ lecture by the time school resumes next Monday so there’s no need to worry about my sanity.

I’ll be home by tomorrow night until Sunday afternoon. I’ll probably try out some practice Calc. exams during the long car ride there and back to keep my mind fresh when the midterm pops up next Wednesday night. I’ve got one more class today to get over with and it’s not one I particularly enjoy: CAT1B. It’s basically my college’s writing requirement in which we discuss or argue about the relations between Culture, Art and Technology. But most of the time it’s a bunch of fluff. The occasional student comes up with a really convincing argument while others state their opinions in broken sentences in which the majority of their reasonings containing the words “like…like…like_____…like.”

I’m in need of a break.

Tags: bay-area, CAT, Economics, sixth-college, ucsd

Warriors Win; I’m Happy Again

Finally.

The school week is over and my basketball team has finally broken into the win column. Woohoo!

Ever since the three day holiday, my workload has gone bonkers. I’ve been feeling a bit stressed but I’m glad the storm has finally calmed down for the time being. Some big-time projects and essays are looming right after Thanksgiving break so I’ll have to manage my time well if I plan on getting things done on time and feeling more relaxed the night before they’re due. (Maybe then, I’ll have time to sit down and blog more often)

I really want to come home for the weekend even though my break is only four days long. Finding a ride is hard to come by. I’m hoping my roommate keeps my hope alive if he plans on driving back up on Wednesday afternoon and dropping off his girlfriend in Mountain View. Then I could probably take BART home from there. I’m crossing my fingers. It’s about time I headed back to the Bay Area. I’ve been missing it for awhile now.

Tags: BART, basketball, CAT, essays, golden-state, Mountain-View, thanksgiving, ucsd, warriors