This way to the stars

Surprise, surprise!

It seems that fate has suddenly taken a liking for springing unexpected stuff on me all this week.

First, I guess that I'm not the only one pressured to be a DL this sem. Blockmates of mine who need to take extra units during the summer (because of taking basic subjects during the first sem and/or failing subjects in the first sem) need to be on the dean's list this sem so Ateneo could let them take the subjects that they missed during the summer, else other subjects for the next years would be dislodged or pushed forward. Also, my scholar blockmates really need to be on the dean's list for this sem in order to maintain their scholarship, else they would have to transfer schools (or so I hear). I guess fate has an extremely cruel sense of irony; the laid-back and free-loading attitude during the first sem would have to be paid for by living in bloody, brain-wracking, and social-life-obliviating Nerd Land.

Actually I'm one of those who need to be a DL this sem. If I want to take Math 195 (which I hear is going to be taught by Fr. Nebres, Ateneo's very own Dumbledore), I'd need to be a DL to justify overloading during the summer. However, not taking Math 195 is perfectly fine with me; the pressure of having to be a DL comes from continuity - I'm already characterized as "the DL person" by my family, my friends, my blockmates and my teachers, and I guess I'm gonna have to live up to their expectations no matter how much effort is required of me.

However, if you think that's bad, others have it worse off than I do. I totally sympathize with Mia, who needs to be a DL this sem in order to take her Lit subject in the summer. The fact is putting real pressure on her, especially since her QPI last sem was 1.7; to be a dean's lister, a QPI of at least 3.35 is required. If she doesn't make it now, her schedule in the future might get messed up. Worse off still are my scholar blockmates, who might have to leave Ateneo if they don't meet the expectations required of a scholar. Good luck to you guys; you can do it!

Also, I got my advisory marks yesterday. Surpise, surprise, I got an A in Chem! I really didn't expect that because my quizzes really suck. Luckily I got an A in the first long test because the prof reduced the overall test score by thirty points; plus, I got a lot of bonus points (Bonus question: name four Christmas songs with names of elements in their lyrics. That was the most unusual bonus question I've ever encountered in my life). I got an A in Zoology too (a 96, actually...was that really me?!?), with which I was really, really, REALLY overjoyed (yeah, Steph, it's your birthday!). The real work would have to be in maintaining the grade. Yeap, my brain is up for a real bout of memorizing (Zoo + Chem = Brain Freeze).

Speaking of Zoo, we had our long test on Protists, the Phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nemertea, and Gnathostomulida today (God, I feel like such a genius just typing that!). I think...I hope I did well. I got three bonus questions (favorite bonus question: Who is the lead singer of Green Day?). I really have to aim for an A in the subject.

I think I need to go home now. I'm in Ateneo's CTC Computer Lab and I've been waiting for the rain to stop so I can commute home. I think it's stopped now.

Mental note to self: I need dissecting equipment. That's the final surprise: we're gonna dissect the frog on Thursday for zoo lab (finally, some REAL lab work!). Poor frogs, though. Oh well, it's all in the name of science anyway. :D

Cheerios!

posted by steph @ 7:49 PM