*cue freakout*

Now, if only I could get post-graduate employment squared away and sorted in the near future. But, I’m hopeful on this front.

Also, graduation is in 12 days.

HOLY. CRAP.

Even at the peak of my Chinese language study career, I have never written a critical analysis of anything in my life. My Chinese paper writing experience is much more along the lines of a personal narrative, or opinion, or an extensive summary. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or dumbstruck that seemingly overnight, my Chinese writing ability is expected to be that of a level to write a critical analysis.

I foresee a lot of #chinesesayings tweets during the course of this week as I consult my Chinese dictionary extensively. Tweeting these sayings will keep me mildly entertained as I struggle with the process of writing my paper. Hopefully, it will keep me from banging my head against the desk repeatedly.

Highlights of the semester:

• Interning at Amnesty International. It was a very awesome internship, and I will really miss AI’s media relations office
• Writing a kick-ass case study paper for my Censorship and the Media class
• Writing an academic research paper in Chinese for the first time ever… and doing a pretty good job of it, if I do say so myself
• Working in the Career Center as the lead peer adviser. Words cannot explain how much I love that job
• Becoming a master at basic accounting, like knowing how to balance a balance sheet and calculating the cost of goods sold and the components of an income statement for 24 hours (aka the amount of time I took to study and then take the exam that covered this material)
• Becoming way more social. Although this really should be part of its own list…

Lowlights of the semester:

• Always being busy with class or work or interning. I’ll probably be just as busy balancing all my responsibilities next semester, but I think I have a better schedule in terms of what hours I’ll be busy, so at least there’s that
• Having to finally finish my science General Education requirements, because if I put it off any longer I wouldn’t be able to graduate on time! At least I was able to take the first of the two requirements pass/fail (and I will be taking the second one P/F too)
• Not always being able to hit that balance between student/intern/employee. I’ll need to work on this for next semester

At any rate, the semester is D-O-N-E. I “celebrated” yesterday by enjoying a glass of sangria and then making peanut butter oreo bars to share with friends. Both were excellent choices.

(Now to wait for my grades to come in…)

Thanksgiving break can’t come soon enough. Seriously.

Conquering this lists includes starting my research paper about Coca-Cola’s PR tactics in World War II, submitting my first job application (!!), writing a cover letter for an awesome internship I found for next semester, taking an online exam, and making a powerpoint presentation, among other things.

I am awesome. Now, if only I can continue this burst of productivity throughout the week so I can have a stress- and guilt-free Halloween weekend!

(Some of the few that remain look a little funny because the baking tray didn’t fit properly into the oven. The tray was tilted slightly so some of the cookies squished together. Either way, they still taste awesome.)

Let’s ignore the fact that registration dates haven’t even been announced yet and I have papers to write and exams to study for between now and the first possible date I can register for classes. (My friend’s reaction to discovering I already have my classes picked out for the spring was, “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT CLASSES FOR NEXT SEMESTER ALREADY YOU’RE STRESSING ME OUT.”) If everything goes according to plan (famous last words?) I’ll have a kick-ass schedule this spring!! So, so stoked.

And now, back to writing papers and studying for exams. My life is so exciting, isn’t it? Just got to get through this week and next till my academic life will regain some semblance of normality. Although I’ll leave the definition of “normality” up to you.

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My computer was getting fixed the last week, so I haven’t been keeping up with correspondence as well as I have been. I have a ton of emails in my inbox to reply to, as well as other online things to attend to. However… this week is finals week, and I have two huge finals to prepare for as well as a research paper to write. To top that all off, I have to pack up my things in my apartment and prepare to go on an adventure in southern China and vacation in southeast Asia. This all has to be done by Saturday. (Let’s not get into how much of this I have already done, or have yet to do – that would just be depressing.)

So, this is a long and roundabout way of saying that I haven’t forgotten this blog, nor have I forgotten the awesome people who have emailed me. I’ve just got a lot going on and am trying to juggle everything at once, with the hope of at least getting a little bit of sleep each night. ‘Tis the life of a student during finals week!