Joseph Natividad

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

A Tradition Worth Clapping For

I’ve completed all my lectures for the Fall 2007 Quarter and have come across a new kind of tradition here at the university: applauding the professors and TA’s for all the work they’ve done.

The effect is startling especially when a giant lecture hall is filled with over 300 students. It’s nothing raucous or spectacular but you feel the sense of respect and gratitude that students have for their professors. The applause generally lasts for almost ten seconds, ceases, and students begin to file out like they usually do.

I don’t have any more regular classes to attend until January but a grueling obstacle lies a few days ahead when I have to take my first batch of finals. The classes that I’m most worried about are Economics and Calculus. I already began reviewing last night and will continue to do so for the rest of the weekend.

Tags: applause, calculus, Economics, finals, lecture, professor

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

Ali G on Economics and the Stock Market

Alistair Leslie Graham, better known as Ali G, is best know for being?well?like Ali G. Shades of Borat and Bruno the gay news correspondent are seen in him, but that?s probably because all three characters are one and the same person: comic genius Sasha Baron Cohen.

It is worth noting that Cohen is a graduate of Cambridgesohe?s not as stupid or ignorant as any of his characters at all.

In this video clip, Ali G interviews Dr. George Schultz, the former chief economic advisor to both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson. Their conversation takes a dive for insanity even from the very beginning of the segment. It makes me wonder if these people that come on his show have any idea what they were getting themselves into.

The two of them exchange jabs and suggestions for the way America should print its money so that you wouldn?t have to carry any change in your pocket. Shultz tries to explain what PIN numbers are used for and the process of buying and selling stocks. In what I thought was the funniest moment of the interview, Shultz gives Ali G advice on what not to do when dabbling in the stock market: ?That?s a real rule. Don?t be high when you?re buying and selling stock.?

I was about to share a video of ?economic principles, translated? but I thought this was a hundred times more entertaining.

Tags: ali-g, borat, bruno, chief-economic-advisor, economic-principles-translated, Economics, george-shultz, hbo, jimmy-carter, joseph-natividad, lyndon-johnson, sasha-baron-cohen, stock-market, ucsd, youtube