I'm a second semester freshmen in Computer Engineering. I'm on a scholarship that mandates that I need to keep a 3.5 GPA or better to stay eligible. I had a 4.0 all through the first semester (minus a mishap where I wrote an essay but forgot to turn it in, and lost 15% of my grade in a class haha) up until finals. I had had a few mishaps along the way, most notably the one I just mentioned. I was choking in physics tests - I got a 77 on my second one despite tutoring a friend who then got a ninety. I studied my ass off for the third test, overthought it, and ended up with a 64. Fortunately, my first test (a 98) coupled with replacing the lowest test grade with your final still left me in good position to keep an A in the class. Calculus had gone similarly, with two A's and a low B. Going into finals, I put in a good bit of work, although I was pretty annoyed with physics. I had already finished one class with an A, so all I had to do was get a B on my finals to keep my grades intact.
Needless to say, everything fell apart in a pretty spectacular way, and really quickly. After finals week, when my grades came in, I realized that I had missed an A in 3 classes by a combined average of less than a point (effectively 3 89.X's in 3 different classes). My math final had gone horribly - I studied a ton and again overthought things and couldn't focus properly. Physics went well, but I had still barely missed my mark. I essentially went from a 3.88 to a 3.2 by less than a point.
That's part 1. Part 2 is a lot shorter... I hope. I met my girlfriend for christmas, but didn't see her much since we were vacationing in Canada. She's still a senior in high school, trying to figure out where she's going (no word yet). We've been going strong with long distance for about eight months (she was gone all summer) but I'm really hoping that she comes to my school. (It makes sense in a way - it's a state school, and a very very well respected engineering school. she's looking to be a chemical engineer). She has a few choices, and while I think I'm around the top of the list, if not at the top, there's a bit of tension and I don't like bringing the topic up; partially to avoid any potential argument, and partially because I'm scared she'll not end up here (I shouldn't get hung up on a high school relationship but we've been dating for 2 years and I'm starting to think she's a little special ) So going forward, I'm starting to think of ways that I can just be better with her and be supportive wherever she ends up.
Part 3 is even shorter I think. I was pretty fit in high school - I ran cross country for 4 years on a team that finished second in state my senior year (I was injured and wouldn't have made varsity anyways, but point being that it was a hard program!) but I haven't had a chance to run much in college. Part of it is lack of time - academics is way tougher now, and the other part is just laziness. I love running and I liked being fit, but getting up sucks sometimes. I'm not exactly out of shape now, I'm still technically underweight (I never had much upper body strength) but I've lost my 6 pack and I probably can't run anywhere anymore
Finally, I managed to actually go to mass (yes, I am a catholic :O shocking) for most of the semester, but I haven't started again this semester.
SO, the point of me giving a mini life story to Team Liquid is because I hope that writing it all out will help me motivate myself to be the person I want to be in 3 months. I don't expect one of those featured blogs (honestly it would be embarrassing if friends on TL recognized my name ) but hopefully whoever reads this will post a word or two of encouragement (or negativity, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger right?) that I can look back on in the coming weeks. I'll even try to update this blog just as a method to keep myself motivated throughout the months.
My goals for the next 5 or 6 months are:
1: Study hard and get a 4.0. Hard work, or no play (My sc2 nooooo)
2: Keep the girl I love, and with any luck see her here next year ^.^
3: Go work out at least 4 days a week for at least an hour each day so that I can get in shape again. (Cardio, upper body, abs)
4: Start going to mass every Sunday!
Thanks for reading, and any encouragement will be greatly appreciated