Spring Quarter: Let's do this Thing!

After the small hiatus that was Spring Break, I'm back with a bang. It's the third day of classes, and so far, so good. I'm down to 15 credit hours (a first for me... seriously) and the official countdown to graduation has begun (73 days.)

Yay Spring Quarter!! 73 Days til graduation!

Now is the final push. Now is my last quarter to truly do my best work. Now is my last quarter to sleep in, stay up late, take chances, and live my life out to the fullest. Many people have jokingly warned me that this is it, and I'll miss college after it's gone. They are probably right. Part of me is eager to move forward, but I know it's important to live in the moment and fully enjoy every second I'm here.

I'm taking Yoga for Stress Management (yes, a real class!) on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and it's one of the better decisions I've made this year. The first day of class our homework was to think about and decide upon an Intention for the quarter. My instructor explained that an Intention is sort of like a goal, but with more purpose (thus the Capital Letter.) I've put some thought into my Intention, and decided that the thing I need to focus on this quarter - especially in but not just in my yoga class - is to simply Be Me. Be Jenny. It's a concept expanded upon by Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project, and in a nutshell, it's accepting and realizing exactly who I am, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses.

I'm kind of a nut. I get excited easily, and sometimes I speak up when I should shut up. It's who I am. I can work on it, but at the same time, I have to accept the flaws and reality that is me and stop projecting others' desires upon myself. I'll let you know how it works out.

***

One last thing - Today my professors have organized a Career Day of sorts for all the senior interior design students. Professionals from Cincy, Chicago, Louisville, Columbus and Indianapolis are coming in to critique our work and presumably suss out the graduating class of 2010 for future job opportunities. Jeff Reuschel, Global Design Director of Haworth is giving a lecture at 5 pm, and there is a reception after the lecture for friends and family to come check out the student work from 6-8.

I'd really love if you could come to the DAAPWorks at the beginning of June, but if you want to see my stuff in real life, you're welcome to stop by. Just wander into DAAP and ask someone to point you towards the Grand Stair.

If you can't make it, no big deal. Look at this - it's another perspective of my space I whipped up last night. My professors wanted to see what my library space looks like outside of the Nook. Pretty snazzy.

Final Quarter Work!

So, exactly a week later, I am showing you my final quarter's work. There's still more to be done with it. This is more like a big midterm. I'm happy with what I've come up with, but I still want to push further.


And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Diary of a DAAP Kid: School / Life balance?

Is there even such a thing? My first four years of DAAP involved way too many late nights, tears, and frustrated outcries. I turned down a lot of social events, conversations, and potential memories to focus on my school work. I wonder now if it was worth it.

Because I officially now only have 98 days until graduation, it's important to me to make every moment count. I'm a lot more involved with my friends and my city now, and there are many options available to me for various entertaining ways to spend my evenings and weekends.

My mom told me that I have an option: I can spend 80% of my time getting 20% of my work done (by distracting myself along the way, or I can spend 20% of my time getting 80% done, by focusing like a boss and Taking Care of Business. Due to my generational lack of focus I feel like it's more 30/70, but I like the idea and am looking forward to implementing it (ya know, after this blog post.)

So far this quarter I've done a great job with not turning down opportunities to make great memories. I've gone dancing, imbibed great beer, played broomball, taken yoga, eaten great food, and more. Up until this week it's been a good balance, and I've gotten my work done to a degree that satisfies me.

Now it is Project Week... the week before Finals week, in which the studio classes in DAAP require the final work in the class to be completed. Basically, I have two final weeks. This week for studio, next week for the rest of my elective classes.

I am presenting my final work this coming Wednesday (are you excited? I am!), and I have a ton of work to do before now and then. So this weekend (the best weather of the year so far) I am entombing myself within Eisenman's four many faceted walls and not coming out until I have a product I'm satisfied with. It sucks, but hey... graduating is important to me.

I got to participate in the Bockfest parade yesterday, which fulfilled my need to be social and not feel like I was completely missing out on the weekend's festivities.

Okay. Here we gooooooo!!

 

yaaay Bockfest!!