(no subject)
So yesterday, I went to Borders with my brother and I picked up this book titled "The End of Poverty: Economic Possiblities for Our Future." I am so excited to read it -- I don't think I've read a book like this since "Mountains Beyond Mountains" last year. I think I've been needing this book.
But the thing is, I looked at the really short "About the Author" and it said that Jeffrey D. Sachs is the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Wow, I thought, I wonder what that is -- it's an incredible incredible institution with the purpose of contributing to and furthering the UN's Millenium Development Goals, aka to end extreme poverty within a certain time frame that I forget right now.
I went onto the website (http://earthinstitute.columbia.edu) and the best part, the part where I literally could feel my heart beating faster and my chest grow tighter, was when I clicked on the link "How Students Can Get Involved" and in the blurb it said:
Students of Columbia University and Barnard College have a number of opportunities to become involved in sustainable development, from courses and special events, to research assistantships and participation in student organizations. The Office of Educational Programs in the Earth Institute connects students with these opportunities and creates new ways for them to help developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
I cannot believe my luck!! I can just feel God working. Maybe I won't directly work in the Earth Institute. But there is no doubt that I will visit it and witness this incredible project that resonates so deeply with my passions!!!
I was talking about it with my parents over our Japanese/Korean lunch (I got a reallyyy good Katsu Don w/ chicken... mmm it was yummmmyyyy) and it's funny because when I was reading the page describing the institute in the book (b/c I obviously brought it with me in my purse to the restaurant..) and I read the part about how one of the five main initiatives is through public health, I was like "Ooh, I'm sorta interested in THAT, too!" and my mom was like "You're interested in everything!"
Which is pretty true. And I love it. I love how I am not set on... biochemistry. Or being pre-med. Or being pre-law. Or wanting to go to business school. I feel like I am being exactly who I need to be for college.
And as my University of Rochester interviewer noted after he said that his life lessons learned from college were that you could just sit back and relax and things will just happen to you, I "seem more like the type to seize opportunities and take initiatives."
It doesn't really feel like I'm going to New York City tomorrow and moving there for the next four years. It's probably because for almost all of the (almost!)18 years that I've lived, college has always been a GOAL. It's been an idea, or something that I've vaguely witnessed and knew that I needed to achieve in order to get there. But never really my very own reality. It will no longer be a compliment when people think I'm a college student because... I will be a college student. I am a college student.
I went by the high school yesterday and soccer pre-season was going on outside on the field. I felt so apart from that. So the thing is, it's not that I'm desperately holding onto my high school student identity. I have most definitely moved past that and left it behind. I think that I left that mentality after sophomore year, even. I just have not been able to fully grasp my identity as a college student. But it will. I think I MIGHT have to wait until I actually get there.. haa
Today I was on the phone with my roommate in the car and at one point during the conversation, my mom remarked from the front, "How are you already so chummy?" I don't know, I just feel incredibly blessed that even from the few interactions we've had, Annie and I have definitely gotten along and she sounds like such an amazing person. I can't wait to learn from her and all that she has experienced. I love that she is Brazilian, and that she considers Brazil to be her home. I'm so excited!!
When I was with my brother yesterday and I held his hand while we were walking on the streets and stuff... I just loved it so much. I really love my brother so much. I know I've already said this, but I can just feel how much closer we have gotten. And the reason why I'm so happy about it is because it's really what I've wanted to happen for a while. I even wrote a paper about it last year!
Okay, I think that's the basic gist of what I wanted to write.. there ar emor ethings, but I must sleeeep.
The next time I write in LJ, I will be in NYC already. Strange, but exciting!
Tomorrow night we are having dinner with Jon's family, which is a nice first-thing to go to in NYC. yaaay!
But the thing is, I looked at the really short "About the Author" and it said that Jeffrey D. Sachs is the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Wow, I thought, I wonder what that is -- it's an incredible incredible institution with the purpose of contributing to and furthering the UN's Millenium Development Goals, aka to end extreme poverty within a certain time frame that I forget right now.
I went onto the website (http://earthinstitute.columbia.edu) and the best part, the part where I literally could feel my heart beating faster and my chest grow tighter, was when I clicked on the link "How Students Can Get Involved" and in the blurb it said:
Students of Columbia University and Barnard College have a number of opportunities to become involved in sustainable development, from courses and special events, to research assistantships and participation in student organizations. The Office of Educational Programs in the Earth Institute connects students with these opportunities and creates new ways for them to help developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
I cannot believe my luck!! I can just feel God working. Maybe I won't directly work in the Earth Institute. But there is no doubt that I will visit it and witness this incredible project that resonates so deeply with my passions!!!
I was talking about it with my parents over our Japanese/Korean lunch (I got a reallyyy good Katsu Don w/ chicken... mmm it was yummmmyyyy) and it's funny because when I was reading the page describing the institute in the book (b/c I obviously brought it with me in my purse to the restaurant..) and I read the part about how one of the five main initiatives is through public health, I was like "Ooh, I'm sorta interested in THAT, too!" and my mom was like "You're interested in everything!"
Which is pretty true. And I love it. I love how I am not set on... biochemistry. Or being pre-med. Or being pre-law. Or wanting to go to business school. I feel like I am being exactly who I need to be for college.
And as my University of Rochester interviewer noted after he said that his life lessons learned from college were that you could just sit back and relax and things will just happen to you, I "seem more like the type to seize opportunities and take initiatives."
It doesn't really feel like I'm going to New York City tomorrow and moving there for the next four years. It's probably because for almost all of the (almost!)18 years that I've lived, college has always been a GOAL. It's been an idea, or something that I've vaguely witnessed and knew that I needed to achieve in order to get there. But never really my very own reality. It will no longer be a compliment when people think I'm a college student because... I will be a college student. I am a college student.
I went by the high school yesterday and soccer pre-season was going on outside on the field. I felt so apart from that. So the thing is, it's not that I'm desperately holding onto my high school student identity. I have most definitely moved past that and left it behind. I think that I left that mentality after sophomore year, even. I just have not been able to fully grasp my identity as a college student. But it will. I think I MIGHT have to wait until I actually get there.. haa
Today I was on the phone with my roommate in the car and at one point during the conversation, my mom remarked from the front, "How are you already so chummy?" I don't know, I just feel incredibly blessed that even from the few interactions we've had, Annie and I have definitely gotten along and she sounds like such an amazing person. I can't wait to learn from her and all that she has experienced. I love that she is Brazilian, and that she considers Brazil to be her home. I'm so excited!!
When I was with my brother yesterday and I held his hand while we were walking on the streets and stuff... I just loved it so much. I really love my brother so much. I know I've already said this, but I can just feel how much closer we have gotten. And the reason why I'm so happy about it is because it's really what I've wanted to happen for a while. I even wrote a paper about it last year!
Okay, I think that's the basic gist of what I wanted to write.. there ar emor ethings, but I must sleeeep.
The next time I write in LJ, I will be in NYC already. Strange, but exciting!
Tomorrow night we are having dinner with Jon's family, which is a nice first-thing to go to in NYC. yaaay!