Graduated from GPC and Going to OU

Hey, everyone! The summer is here!

My mouse is dying and my computer already spontaneously shut down while I was writing this so this is actually draft #2, but I am still writing lol!

A lot has happened since March. A lot of the bad and so much more of the good. My mom had a stroke in March and I was on an emotional roller coaster for several months. Despite what was going on in my life, I managed to graduate from Georgia Perimeter College with high honors (magna cum laude) with a 3.87 GPA. I reached out to my two professors and they were really there for me and helped me out a lot. I really want to visit them soon and tell them about all the good news.

My mom was transferred to a rehabilitation center where she received therapy. I really wanted for her to see my graduate from GPC but she was not able to make it. My dad passed away during my last year in high school and never got to see me walk. However, after the commencement ceremony, I went to the rehab center still in cap and gown to take photos with my mother. We had a lot of fun and I am going to work hard so that she will see me graduate again in two years from Oglethorpe University. Mom is doing a lot better and we brought her home in June. Life has come to some sort of a normal even though I feel like my mom is a little off. She doesn’t really get irritated or upset anymore and she doesn’t spit out sarcastic remarks anymore. I talked to her about it, about her being a little different and she told me, “When you nearly die, you see things differently. You don’t worry about the little things in life. You just want to live, be humble, and be with your loved ones.” I didn’t think of it like that, but it made sense to me after she said it like that.

In late May, I found out that I was accepted to Oglethorpe University! I had applied to them before, about a year ago, and I was rejected. I figured, why not try again since I am a stronger student now? So I did, and I got in! We all get rejected. We all fail and know what defeat tastes like. But it’s up to what you do after you’ve been told, “No,” or “You’re not good enough.” Make yourself even better and try, try, and try again. The worse they could say is “No,” right?

I actually wrote story about being rejected about what had happened since my father’s death and I posted it on Facebook. It’s really hard for me to open about my life because people generally never cared. They just want to know out of curiosity. Once they knew and their curiosity was sated, there was no mystery left and they were gone. However, it’s alright now. I’m not too worried about whether people will really read it because writing is therapy for me. People always ask me what my blog is about and I used to fumble to explain that it was about makeup and technology and a lot of things. Now, I can simply put it as, “It’s just about me.” People want you to belong to one group or be easily identified as one thing and not the other, but that not how it goes in life. If I want to write about my life, hell, I’ll write about my life all I want. So with all that said, I’ll be posting that story tomorrow apart from this post.

About Oglethorpe University

Most people my age think the same thing when they see it. Hogwarts! It’s not that I am a Harry Potter fan but I’ve seen one movie to know that this place looks like Hogwarts in a way. This school was named after the founder of the Georgia colony, James Edward Oglethorpe. Although this school was not around during the time that he was alive, the architecture is based on his alma mater, Corpus Christi College, Oxford. It’s very Gothic revival and was originally chartered in 1835. This is actually the third location and should hopefully be its last. It is home to the Crypt of Civilization (the first successful attempt to bury our culture for future inhabitants) and it’s not scheduled to be opened until 8113. Not sure if humans will even be around by then but why not? I have to say that I love the size of the school. The campus is over 100 acres and has roughly 1,000 enrolled students.

I attended this summer orientation session called OU Passport and it was fun. About 100 new students attended and we were able to pick up our student IDs, visit the bookstore, play games in the game room and mingle with the faculty. One thing I really find astonishing about this school is that it’s a small school and the faculty are not inaccessible. Everyone seems to be very friendly and even the President of the school will come by and talk to you during lunch. Speaking of lunch, lunch as great! They served hamburgers with whole chicken breasts. Not a patty, but like an actual chicken breast.

I was running around a lot and I signed up for my classes. It was a little different because most of the students I met were first year students but I did meet some students who were third year students and transfers, too. I even met a guy who was a junior and graduated from GPC like me. :D I met some people but as soon as our orientation session was over, everyone disbanded and disappeared. I ended up fixing a technical issue in the game room for the school lol and was offered a job with the IT team? They asked me if I was eligible for work study … I didn’t know so I should find out and work for them perhaps. After calibrating the XBOX 360, (they have several in the game room) I danced to Dance Central 3 and was somehow entered into a dancing competition. Once again … ? Well, I don’t think anyone else played that game so I guess I won by default. I don’t know what I won but I guess they’ll get into contact with me. They also had a scavenger hunt type of thing where you had to get signatures after going to all the different places that you needed to go to. There were different prizes but maybe I’ll win something. I never really win anything so it’ll be nice if I do. Before I went home, we got to enjoy fresh, handmade popsicles from the King of Pops cart.

About my Major 

So I graduated from GPC with a degree in Film. I’m going to be pursuing a degree in Communications and Rhetoric Studies with a minor in Business Administration. I am considering whether I should shoot for the double major while I am at it. :) I like to write and that is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Fortunately, I haven’t had to change my major and I am hoping to find work as a technical writer, a copywriter, or as a journalist. I’ll be writing novels on the side and that’ll be what brings me joy in life. If all goes well, I can write fiction full-time.

There is a long orientation weekend coming up in August right before the first day of school. I am super excited. I am looking forward to making new friends and working myself to death at school. I’ll probably have to cut down to working about two days a week but it’ll be better for me in the long run. Here are the classes I am taking so far:

Elementary Spanish I (Even though I am on a higher level of Spanish, I have not used it in a very long time so it’s better to start from the bottom and brush up on my skills)
Historical Perspectives on the Social Order I
Journalism (this class is taught my adviser who is super nice!)
Principles of Management (for my minor)

So I’ll sign off here because I have to go to work. I hope to keep updating and writing more now that the summer is here. I hope you all are doing well and thank you for the continued support. I have a ton of reviews I have to upload but there aren’t enough hours in the day!

Nails, Video Cards, Zorro and the Frosty Caboose

I don’t always do my nails, but when I do …

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I went to LA Nails Supply yesterday because I’ve been wanting to do my own nails at home for a while. So I got the CND Brisa gel system to start. There are some items that are not in the photo and some things I own already. I admit that gels are a little harder than I imagined but I’ve gotten better at controlling the product in just one day. I applied Soft White sculpting gel to my whites and I did a coat of clear sculpting gel instead of using a pink (I bought two of the cool pinks though). I had used Brisa long before applying the gel coats and I used Brisa Gloss topcoat to seal the finished work. I opted for hard gels because of the staying power, durability, and versatility. I don’t like soak-off gels because they only last for so long and I like that I’m able to paint my nails as often as I like without losing the gel layers.

So far, I’ve done both my fingernails and my toenails and they look quite natural. I don’t have to worry about peeling or chipped polish and the gel coating helps to add strength to my generally thin nails. My nails grow easily yet they break just as easily, too. Here is a picture of my hands and these are my real fingernails after apply the gel coating. I forgot to get forms yesterday but the good thing about the sculpting gels is that you can add length to your nails without tips.

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I painted Red Nouveau by Essie onto my toenails but I’m not going to post a photo of those although they look really nice.

Two weeks ago, I got a new graphics card and a new power supply. I only needed something to be able to play The Sims 3 on the highest settings so I’m not going to listen to the bitching and moaning about how I could’ve gotten something better. I paid less than $150 after rebates for the graphics card, the power supply, and a mini HDMI cord from Micro Center so I’m not complaining. I tell you this, I am quite happy with how it turned out and I am happily playing TS3. Getting a dedicated graphics card has been on my mind for a few years so I decided to finally get it over with.

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It’s been a pretty jumbled post but better than no post. School is almost over and I’ll be taking the summer off.

I’ve been working at Guest Services lately and I have the next few days off (finally!). Overall, it’s been a great job and I’m happy that it gives me the freedom to do my homework simultaneously. I had my first meeting last Sunday and I got to meet everyone from Phipps Plaza as well. I’m still waiting for my extra shirts and my name badge. :)

The Sunday meeting lasted from 9-11 AM and I had to work immediately afterward until 5:30 PM. I had a play analysis due on Monday so I had bought tickets to see Zorro at the Alliance Theatre on Saturday. There was a stand set up in front of my booth and the Alliance Theatre representative and I were on great terms. So when I asked her to get me two tickets for the 7:30 PM showing of Zorro for Sunday night, she was delighted to get me great seats and a 45% discount. Peter agreed to go with me so I was delighted. Her computer was a bit slow (not slower than mine at work) so I left her my AMEX and told her she could bring me my card after she was done since I was located right behind her stand. I only asked for three things: tickets close to the front, two of them, and for them to be for 7:30 PM Sunday. Pricing wasn’t a concern as long as the criteria was met. She was so nice and she gave me tickets at group pricing.

After work, I had to go find an outfit for the play. I’ve only shopped at Forever 21 once before Sunday but I knew if I needed a place with a large variety. I bought a white sheath dress with a floral print, white and gold lucite heels, and a gold bracelet.  I was aiming for Spring meets Lana Del Rey. I got everything for under $75 and I’m quite proud I got it together for cheap within 20 minutes of time because I had to leave the mall with Peter at 6 PM. Here is a photo of the look for that night after work and after the play. My nails weren’t painted but of course (wish I had gotten the gel system before then), I didn’t have the time and my make up looks pretty washed out after the busy day.

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Zorro was great! The musical was so fun and Peter and I had a blast singing and dancing to the music. I’m really considering going again and spreading the word about it. Originally, it was so I could get my assignment done but I’m glad it turned out to be so much more.

We went to the Frosty Caboose yesterday. It was my first time! I got a scoop of chocolate and a scoop of raspberry sorbet on a waffle cone and Peter got himself a banana split.

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That’s everything so far. I’m a bit tired so good night for now!