And my last semester at my university is now fully underway...
My allergies have been so bad the last couple of days that every time I step out side, my nose starts to tickle and my face feels like it's puffing up. Inside isn't a whole lot better, as I still sneeze and constantly have to blow my nose. I can't wait until this season is over!
School is going pretty well so far. The first couple of weeks were pretty easy, but this week my classes started to pick up speed. The rest of my semester is going to be insane. Not only am I taking seven classes, but I'm also trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing after I graduate. So far, I've applied for Teach for America (and I've made it at least to the phone interview stage!), and I'm also applying for a Fulbright to teach English in Korea. Speaking of the Fulbright, does anyone know anything about Korea that they want to share? Or do you have links to articles or videos or anything else that would help me learn more about Korean current events, history, or culture? I'm doing my own research, of course, but it's always interesting to hear the thoughts and opinions of others.
I may also apply for the Peace Corps. At this point, if I don't get into any of those three programs, I think I'm going to go for my teaching certification. I'm still not sure if I want to be a teacher, or even if I'd be a good one, but that's the career I keep coming back to, so we'll see. It's also difficult, because I'd like to teach elementary school children, but I'd have a better chance of getting a job (especially if I move back to California) if I go for a secondary school certification in math (and I'd probably get certified in social studies as well, because I am majoring in history). So, we'll see how things turn out. I still can't believe I'm a senior in college!
I'm enjoying most of my classes, even if they do combine to give me a lot of work. The class that has surprised me the most is Linguistics. I had decided to take it only because it sounded interesting, not because it had anything to do with my majors or minors. And it's even much more interesting than I expected! I love learning how language works, and comparing the English language to other languages.
On the other hand, my least favorite classes are in my major and minor subjects. My history class on the early American Republic has been rather boring so far, as it's mostly been a rehash of things I already know. About a week in, I found myself wishing I had chosen another course. It has started to become a bit more interesting this week, though, so hopefully it will continue that trend. My least favorite class of all is my computer science one that has to do with computer systems and assembly languages. I understand that the things we're learning are important for me to know, but all the details of how a computer works isn't what interested me in computer science. It's a required course for my minor, though, so I just have to hope that it'll get more interesting as I learn more.
I turned in my deposit for next semester's study abroad program today. At this point, I'll be going to Maastricht, in the Netherlands. I'm getting pretty excited about the program, even though I'm also wishing I could do all the other programs as well. This one will be quite a different experience from my first study abroad program, as I'll be a bit less immersed in the culture (not that I was quite as immersed in Spain as I perhaps should have been). I'll be going with a group of Baylor students, and taking classes both from a Baylor professor and through the international center at the University of Maastricht. I'll also be living in a dorm near other Baylor students, and not with a host family. While in some ways I would prefer more immersion, the way this program is set up, I'll be able to focus less on my classes and more on exploring Europe. As none of the classes I'll be taking are necessary for my degree program, this is definitely a plus. But I'll need tips from you all and others on what I should do with all my free time in Europe! What places should I make sure not to miss, and what should I do in those places? I'll definitely be going back to Spain, to revisit Madrid and my friends there, but for the most part, I want to see the many parts of Europe that I've not yet seen. As a EuroRail pass is included in our fees, travel should be pretty easy!
School is going pretty well so far. The first couple of weeks were pretty easy, but this week my classes started to pick up speed. The rest of my semester is going to be insane. Not only am I taking seven classes, but I'm also trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing after I graduate. So far, I've applied for Teach for America (and I've made it at least to the phone interview stage!), and I'm also applying for a Fulbright to teach English in Korea. Speaking of the Fulbright, does anyone know anything about Korea that they want to share? Or do you have links to articles or videos or anything else that would help me learn more about Korean current events, history, or culture? I'm doing my own research, of course, but it's always interesting to hear the thoughts and opinions of others.
I may also apply for the Peace Corps. At this point, if I don't get into any of those three programs, I think I'm going to go for my teaching certification. I'm still not sure if I want to be a teacher, or even if I'd be a good one, but that's the career I keep coming back to, so we'll see. It's also difficult, because I'd like to teach elementary school children, but I'd have a better chance of getting a job (especially if I move back to California) if I go for a secondary school certification in math (and I'd probably get certified in social studies as well, because I am majoring in history). So, we'll see how things turn out. I still can't believe I'm a senior in college!
I'm enjoying most of my classes, even if they do combine to give me a lot of work. The class that has surprised me the most is Linguistics. I had decided to take it only because it sounded interesting, not because it had anything to do with my majors or minors. And it's even much more interesting than I expected! I love learning how language works, and comparing the English language to other languages.
On the other hand, my least favorite classes are in my major and minor subjects. My history class on the early American Republic has been rather boring so far, as it's mostly been a rehash of things I already know. About a week in, I found myself wishing I had chosen another course. It has started to become a bit more interesting this week, though, so hopefully it will continue that trend. My least favorite class of all is my computer science one that has to do with computer systems and assembly languages. I understand that the things we're learning are important for me to know, but all the details of how a computer works isn't what interested me in computer science. It's a required course for my minor, though, so I just have to hope that it'll get more interesting as I learn more.
I turned in my deposit for next semester's study abroad program today. At this point, I'll be going to Maastricht, in the Netherlands. I'm getting pretty excited about the program, even though I'm also wishing I could do all the other programs as well. This one will be quite a different experience from my first study abroad program, as I'll be a bit less immersed in the culture (not that I was quite as immersed in Spain as I perhaps should have been). I'll be going with a group of Baylor students, and taking classes both from a Baylor professor and through the international center at the University of Maastricht. I'll also be living in a dorm near other Baylor students, and not with a host family. While in some ways I would prefer more immersion, the way this program is set up, I'll be able to focus less on my classes and more on exploring Europe. As none of the classes I'll be taking are necessary for my degree program, this is definitely a plus. But I'll need tips from you all and others on what I should do with all my free time in Europe! What places should I make sure not to miss, and what should I do in those places? I'll definitely be going back to Spain, to revisit Madrid and my friends there, but for the most part, I want to see the many parts of Europe that I've not yet seen. As a EuroRail pass is included in our fees, travel should be pretty easy!