"Lucy, you got some s'plainin to do"
I've been kind of quiet on LJ these days. Believe it or not, there's a good reason for that. I found out in September that in order to graduate on time, I need to turn in all of my credits on or before November 27. To be honest, instead of be relieved that graduation was right around the corner, I was angry. Angry and frustrated that my the institution of my education was so disorganized.
I still have lectures up until December 3rd. In addition to that, I'm supposed to finish my thesis, do two major projects (a service development project and my comprehensive portfolio about my nursing specialization) on top of a ten week clinical rotation in the hospital. No wonder no one in the nursing degree program graduates on time. How in the world is that supposed to be accomplished??
I know I only get into trouble with I compare Finland to the States, but seriously. The last semester of university studies are not supposed to be spent stressing out over 2 projects, a thesis, and clinical rotations. The rotation even shouldn't be in the last semester, much less a 10 week rotation. Back home, all of the work is done in the begining and the end is left finalizing the thesis, getting all your credits in order and shopping for a graduation dress. Not stressing out over projects and rotations and worrying if you're going to graduate at all. I wouldn't be surprised if I were the only one in my class to even walk across the stage not that they do that here anyways.
So, because I was so upset, frustrated and seething mad, I fell off the face of the earth for a while. I didn't want to have anything to do with anyone and I more or less sulked for three weeks, give or take. After my temper tantrum wore off, I relized that I had a shitload of work to do, if I indeed wanted to graduate on time. Both of my parents have plans to come here in December and I couldn't let them, nor myself down, no matter how angry I was and still am at Laurea. Originally, I was going to make this a huge rant and list everything about that school that pisses me off, but for the sake of sparing you all, I've decided against that.
So that notwithstanding, I got into study mode, locked myself in my apartment and worked my ass off on my thesis. It's been difficult, there's been a lot of things I've had to sacrifice for the sake of graduation, and a lot of things I did that I probably shouldn't have done (for instance going to my future brother in law's birthday brunch), but that's all in the past and it cannot be undone. I put myself to work and work I did. Human interaction became a part of wishful thinking and I've become closer to my laptop and textbooks than I would care to admit.
Through all of the toils, snares and hardships, I have to say that there has been a saving grace, besides the Lord, of course. That would have to be music. Anyone who knows me knows that I probably have the most eclectic music selection in this country and you probably won't find anyone else out there with a playlist like mine. As a musician myself, I know firsthand the soothing power music can have, not to mention the motivational power that comes as well. For me, I was in desperate need of music's allaying effects to aleviate the raging storm that was brewing inside of me. I put aside the groovin' Earth Wind & Fire, forwent the poppin' Shinhwa and other K-Pop and focused instead on the haunting tones of alternative indie music...yeah, somewhat hippie music, but you know what, it's nice so Eff you if you don't like it. Occasionally I listened to some neo-soul and lounge, but this selection dominated Winamp for the most part.
Those are just some samples to the type of music I've been listening to as of late. Though don't get me wrong, I'm still getting down with Marvin Gaye and I'm still playing my K-pop to motivate me.
Fortunately, now I can take a breather, as I've turned in that monster of a thesis. 58 pages, 20,417 words and countless hours of toiling have finally come to an end! I feel somewhat like I've given birth. It's kind of along the same process, months and agony and then finally you produce something out of all that pain, it's somewhat of a relieving feeling. I just wish I really could feel that relief. Somehow I've been feeling really apathetic, or something lately, I can't quite put my finger on it and it bothers me. I'm normally so self-aware that when I can't place how I'm feeling, it's very frustrating.
Anyways, graduation is right around the corner and it's time to send off my announcements and plan my grad.party! That is, if I can get motivated for it
I still have lectures up until December 3rd. In addition to that, I'm supposed to finish my thesis, do two major projects (a service development project and my comprehensive portfolio about my nursing specialization) on top of a ten week clinical rotation in the hospital. No wonder no one in the nursing degree program graduates on time. How in the world is that supposed to be accomplished??
I know I only get into trouble with I compare Finland to the States, but seriously. The last semester of university studies are not supposed to be spent stressing out over 2 projects, a thesis, and clinical rotations. The rotation even shouldn't be in the last semester, much less a 10 week rotation. Back home, all of the work is done in the begining and the end is left finalizing the thesis, getting all your credits in order and shopping for a graduation dress. Not stressing out over projects and rotations and worrying if you're going to graduate at all. I wouldn't be surprised if I were the only one in my class to even walk across the stage not that they do that here anyways.
So, because I was so upset, frustrated and seething mad, I fell off the face of the earth for a while. I didn't want to have anything to do with anyone and I more or less sulked for three weeks, give or take. After my temper tantrum wore off, I relized that I had a shitload of work to do, if I indeed wanted to graduate on time. Both of my parents have plans to come here in December and I couldn't let them, nor myself down, no matter how angry I was and still am at Laurea. Originally, I was going to make this a huge rant and list everything about that school that pisses me off, but for the sake of sparing you all, I've decided against that.
So that notwithstanding, I got into study mode, locked myself in my apartment and worked my ass off on my thesis. It's been difficult, there's been a lot of things I've had to sacrifice for the sake of graduation, and a lot of things I did that I probably shouldn't have done (for instance going to my future brother in law's birthday brunch), but that's all in the past and it cannot be undone. I put myself to work and work I did. Human interaction became a part of wishful thinking and I've become closer to my laptop and textbooks than I would care to admit.
Through all of the toils, snares and hardships, I have to say that there has been a saving grace, besides the Lord, of course. That would have to be music. Anyone who knows me knows that I probably have the most eclectic music selection in this country and you probably won't find anyone else out there with a playlist like mine. As a musician myself, I know firsthand the soothing power music can have, not to mention the motivational power that comes as well. For me, I was in desperate need of music's allaying effects to aleviate the raging storm that was brewing inside of me. I put aside the groovin' Earth Wind & Fire, forwent the poppin' Shinhwa and other K-Pop and focused instead on the haunting tones of alternative indie music...yeah, somewhat hippie music, but you know what, it's nice so Eff you if you don't like it. Occasionally I listened to some neo-soul and lounge, but this selection dominated Winamp for the most part.
Click to viewThose are just some samples to the type of music I've been listening to as of late. Though don't get me wrong, I'm still getting down with Marvin Gaye and I'm still playing my K-pop to motivate me.
Fortunately, now I can take a breather, as I've turned in that monster of a thesis. 58 pages, 20,417 words and countless hours of toiling have finally come to an end! I feel somewhat like I've given birth. It's kind of along the same process, months and agony and then finally you produce something out of all that pain, it's somewhat of a relieving feeling. I just wish I really could feel that relief. Somehow I've been feeling really apathetic, or something lately, I can't quite put my finger on it and it bothers me. I'm normally so self-aware that when I can't place how I'm feeling, it's very frustrating.
Anyways, graduation is right around the corner and it's time to send off my announcements and plan my grad.party! That is, if I can get motivated for it