How to set goals for 2012

2012. Wow. I am still stunned. How did time pass by so quickly? I was in high school just a year ago. I was waiting to hear back from universities and scholarships. I was trying to finish off high school on a strong note. It seems like so much has happened since then. I have grown up, become more responsible, become an independent young woman, and learned a lot about myself. Now with my first semester behind me, I am making goals for this semester as well as for the rest of the year.

I am always thinking about the future. I know I will be applying to medical schools in a few years so some of my goals are to start working on looking like a great candidate. That is why one of my goals this year is to start volunteering at a hospital near campus or work at a research lab. These are definitely feasible goals for me. I am not working at a job on campus this semester so I will have extra time to do pursue these things I want. And it is crucial to set goals that you know you will have time for and that you actually want to do; I mean, you need some kind of motivation to drive you, right?

So far, I have already applied to a summer program. This summer program offers a look into the medical and dental field to students of minority descent (although ANYONE can apply). The program is hosted at different university campuses. I applied to three. Hopefully this summer I will either be at Columbia (cross your fingers for me! Its my first pick), U of Washington, or UCLA. Whichever one would be awesome. Thinking about spending my summer at one of these universities makes me really excited. I am a nerd and what!! J

Besides these goals, I also have other simple goals that did not start in 2012---they are more like works in progress than anything else. I want to continue being a centered, at-ease, healthy, and kind person. I want to lead a balanced life.

Writing my goals down has actually been very helpful—I will reference this article every time I need some kind of motivation! I recommend that you write down your goals! Last but not least, share your goals with your family and friends. They love you so they want to help you accomplish these goals. And do the same for them!

Until next time,

Karina 

Home for the holidays!

It feels so good to be home! After four months of being away, there is no better Christmas present than being with my mom, dad, and my three brothers (aka three of my best friends ever. They are the best!). There certainly is something about going to college across the country that makes you realize how much your family actually means to you.

I honestly did not think I would have missed my family as much as I did. I was excited about the real world and being independent but being back home feels so right and awesome. I really love being back home, on my favorite couch, with my favorite blanket draped on me as I write this. I would not want to be at any other place.

I also realized how much of a family person I am. I love my family. I love the idea of families. I can’t wait to have my own family. Family. Family. Family. There is nothing better than individuals who love you no matter what. You can annoy them, or get them mad as much as you want but you always know that they will forever be there for you because they are family.

For the next three weeks, I will indulge in the warm San Diego weather, in my mother’s cooking, in the laughter and unconditional love my family has to offer, in all my beautiful reunions with friends and prepare my mind for another great semester off at college. Sitting here and reflecting about my life, I really do not have a thing to complain about. I am so fortunate to have the great people that I have in my life including my beautiful family and friends. It is more than what I could ever wish to get for Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Not “Mexican” enough

           Growing up, I always felt like people were easily able to distinguish that I was Hispanic. No one ever guessed wrong. But now that I am older, people have a hard time believing that I am Hispanic, more specifically, Mexican. Is it my lighter-than-most Hispanic complexion or that I speak perfect English? Or maybe that I am 5’9 and not shorter?

            Yesterday, I had someone tell me that I did not look Hispanic at all and that I was simply “too tall” to be Mexican. And then he began to speak Spanish with an American accent slowly to me so that I could understand. And that hurt me. It hurt me a lot. I answered his questions in complete Spanish to show him that I understand and could speak Spanish. I tried to answer with a confident tone even though I was trying my best to hold back my tears.

            It feels like I am being stabbed in my heart when people question or doubt that I am Mexican. It is MY identity. I LOVE BEING MEXICAN. It irks me to the point of extreme anger as well as sad tears when people cannot recognize my ethnicity and respect that I do not fit the stereotype of a “Mexican”.

            How dare anyone question who anyone else is? I am disappointed in myself for letting comments like that get to me. But I cannot help it. I want to be identified for who I am, for the country that my parents come from and ancestors thrived in, for the traditions that my culture has, for the ethnicity that I am proud of and love so dearly.

            After having some time to think about those hurtful comments, I have realized how important it is to use this motivation to get through hardships and through moments when I need an extra push. YES, I am MEXICAN. I AM light-skinned. I AM educated. I AM 5’9 AND A HALF! What do you have to say about that? I break stereotypes wherever I go.

What are some great snacks?

            Food makes our taste buds happy and brings us comfort. Food brings people together. Food is always at celebrations. To say the least, food is delicious. And, it is also very tempting. Since being at college, I have been exposed to foods that I never tried in the past and foods that were not common staples at my household. College has also introduced a new definition of junk food to me. It has been very hard to stay away from all the sugary yummy goodness that brownies, chips, soda pop, and cookies have.

            So, how can you stay away from all this (pleasing to the taste buds but not good for your figure) food?

Well, try to balance your snacks. And by balanced snacks I mean healthy yet delicious snacks. For example, number one on my list is oatmeal. There are packets of instant oatmeal that come with different flavorings like Apples & Cinnamon and Maple & Brown Sugar. With each packet (one serving) of oatmeal, totaling160 calories, you could get the sweetness that you might be looking for, but also something much healthier than Oreos or chips. Oatmeal has proven to have serious health benefits like lowering blood cholesterol. And since it has fiber, you’ll be full for a longer time than if you were to snack on Oreos. I make my oatmeal with soymilk since I don’t like regular milk and its healthy as well! You should try it sometime if you haven’t!

Delicious hummus!

            Number two on my list of yummy AND healthy snacks is good ol’ hummus! Hummus is a dip made out of chickpeas, tahini (a sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. You can dip crackers, pretzels, and even vegetables if you want to have a snack. Most stores carry different flavored hummus. I currently have a Sabra’s Roasted Red Pepper hummus and if I do say myself, it is delicious!

            Number three on my list is nuts! I love walnuts! Nuts are an awesome source of fiber and antioxidants so do not be afraid of grabbing whatever nuts you prefer and snacking on them while you are working away on your laptop, as I am doing right now J. Snacking on fruits (maybe with some yogurt and granola) and vegetables (perhaps with some low fat ranch or hummus) are also great alternatives to calorie filled snacks.

            There are certainly other healthy alternatives, so I encourage you to try them out! But eating healthy doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge in a slice of rich chocolate cake once in a while! Practice good eating habits now so that you don’t have to suffer the repercussions of a bad diet when you are older.

            Remember: Enjoy everything in life! But remember to balance things out and love yourself! 

How to be a good roommate

Roommates. I’m sure almost everyone who has shared the same room with another human being has some horrifying roommate story. When I hear roommate complaints in the dining hall or on the bus, I can’t help but to thank the gods for blessing me with such a great roommate. And I guess it is rare for people to say that they actually like their roommate, but I really do.

The school year starts off with a “honey-moon” period, also known as the time when you get to know the person who will be living with you. Everything is going well because you’re so excited to be in a new situation. And then the real test comes along: the ending of the “honey-moon” period. Your true self comes out. You realize that college is not some kind of short summer program, but your home for the rest of your undergraduate experience. You’re not trying to be as nice as possible at every single moment like you might have done when you were still looking for friends; you act like yourself (we’re all very nice people but you know what I mean!). Your roommate could then either becomes a good friend or merely someone who co-inhabits your room.

Luckily, my roommate and I get along very well. I would even consider her one of my best friends, if not my best friend, at college. We have similar tastes in humor, share some interests, and have a group of mutual friends. It’s nice to have someone who I feel comfortable telling anything that might be on my mind—serious issues and funny moments (there is literally never a day that goes without some kind of deep discussion or laughter).

I think we have been able to forge a great friendship because we communicate well. We make our concerns known to each other. We also respect each other’s ideas, beliefs, goals and aspirations, and of course, personal belongings. I think all roommates should attempt to be open with each other, if your Resident Advisor makes you discuss rules for the room (i.e time lights should be out, visitor policy etc), take it seriously, it is very important that you are both on the same note. Also, be open to learning. My roommate and I are from different coasts of the United States, have different religious beliefs, different organizing preferences (you should see my very messy desk!), and academic endeavors (Me= History major (but still Pre-Med) vs. My roommate= Psychology and possibly German minor) and I have learned so much and gotten to see a different perspective on many topics and life in general.

The most important aspect to having a good relationship with a roommate is a positive attitude. My roommate and I get along despite our differences because we want to have a great college experience. So, I definitely encourage you all to be communicate as best as you can, be open to learning, and have a positive attitude. I guarantee that your relationship with your roommate will be much fulfilling if you do so!

Is it vacation time yet?

This week, I feel like school stresses have culminated and have reached to a point where I feel exhausted. Receiving a not so good first Chemistry test back, writing an essay stating the difference between biological essentialism and social constructivism when it comes to sexuality to explain why human beings want what they want, and reading a ton of pages has pushed me to the edge. I need some kind of opportunity to rejuvenate myself.  So, that is why I ask:  is it vacation time yet? Luckily, I have a fall break in a week so I am happy to finally be able to sleep in, relax, and give myself a dose of therapy to calm me down.

Work -.-

I think being on-the-go eventually causes everyone to feel “burnt out” or like they need some kind of break to rejuvenate and gain back the motivation they initially started with. And that is why I think the reading I did for my writing class came at such an opportune time. In this class, we focus on civil engagement to try to identify our motivations and why we should even care about volunteerism. We read a chapter from Robert Cole’s book The Call of Service titled “Hazards”. In the chapter, Coles talks about the moment when you have invested so much of yourself in a specific project that you are left feeling “burnt out”, depressed, cynical and/or exhausted because you do not see any results or feel like you’re actually making a difference. 

I think what Coles was talking about also applies to life in general as well. One gets so fed up and so debilitated from everyday small stresses that they end up burnt out and needing time to recharge, similar to what I am feeling now.

Sometimes, you have to sit back, relax, and reflect.

So how to you get out of this slump? What are you supposed to do to “recharge”?

I connected with this quote because it reminded me that feeling exhausted and “burnt out” are mere temporary feelings. It helps me realize that it is indeed not the end of the world and to do one thing at a time and be happy that I was able to do that one thing.  Life is constantly changing and I must enjoy every single moment of it even when it is not going well or if I am stressed.

So to those who recognize what I am going through or are going through the same, please know that you are definitely not alone. It is important to enjoy life in all of its glory. Take a break to reignite that passion within you.  

First week of college: Disorientation Week

Friday marked day five of me being at college. I arrived in Durham on Monday afternoon extremely excited to get onto my campus. On Tuesday morning, I took a taxi to campus and moved into my dorm. With enough space for even a third person, air conditioning, massage chairs located in the first floor of my building, I quickly fell in love with the place I am to live for the next school year.

My roommate, a student who I had met at a Latino recruitment program, welcomed me to Durham and made me feel a bit more comfortable. We walked around the campus and I was truly and deeply surprised at how my life has instantly changed and how much change I must now adapt to.

Although I had anticipated college oh-so- much and could not wait to leave, I began to recognize that California, my home state, is an absolute paradise, especially my hometown of San Diego. Why? Well, don’t palm trees, clear blue skies, warm weather, and a breeze sound quite attractive to you? They sure do to me! By the first few days of orientation week at Duke, I was definitely overwhelmed by the differences of the west and east coast. I felt extremely homesick and yearned to be back in my sunny state known as California.

My workspace for the next year

All the different cultures, faces, wardrobes, and interests of the many people I have met these past few days have overwhelmed me. Although the freshman class here is quite small, not even a mere two thousand students, I feel like I am almost lost in a sea of students. I come from a relatively small high school where the majority of the students had known each other for as long as seven years. Trying to find my place here at school has definitely been a challenge. Trying to seek out people who think the same things are funny and have the same way of thinking has actually been a real difficulty.

To be completely real and honest, I began to doubt my decision of being so far from what I knew. I began to think about what college would have been like to stay close to home. The transition might have been easier, I wouldn’t have missed my parents, brothers, and friends as much, and maybe I might have felt more at “home”. I began to think that maybe my parents did have a point in trying to convince me to stay closer to home.

Classes start Monday and I am one of the few who are actually ready to begin the school year. Being in a classroom setting and talking to people on a more personal level sounds so appealing to me at the moment. I want to find more people who I feel comfortable and happy around. I want to find my identity in this place. And I am in the process of trying to do so.

Although I do miss home and being comfortable all the time, I am sure this is what going to college across the country feels like. You are unsure, awkward, scared, sad, but excited for the future.

My beautiful dorm!

I have always been an optimist and in this case, I have to be an optimist. I can’t complain about my beautiful dorm, campus, and sincerely nice people I have met here. Nor can I complain about the motivation my school has given me when it comes to academics. I must “springboard into my future with confidence” as my academic advisor said. I plan to do just that.

With orientation week not even over, I have already been challenged in many different ways but I know it’s just the beginning. Many more struggles await me but at the same time much more fun and excitement are also on the horizon as well.

So today, I will leave you with a saying: “Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win.” I have never been a quitter and I do not plan to be.

Please keep reading my blog as I continue blabbering on about my college experience! There will be plenty more to come!