Hecticity. (Pronounced like the word "hectic" with "ity" added to it). Actually, that about sums up that word. All the word is is adding -ity to hectic to change the part of speech it is. Yeehaw. That was fun.

Want to know why that's the word of the day? ( Hecticity )

By the way, I went a total of 6 days without Gmail. I survived.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw. Thanks everyone for the congrats in my last post. It turned out to be a delicious cake, by the way. Chocolate frosting, marble cake, and raspberry filling.

It was an interesting ceremony yesterday. First, the people who were in charge of lining up the graduates (at least in the College of Arts and Sciences) didn't know what they were doing. It meant moving around and changing orders several times. It somehow worked out. Once the ceremony actually started... well... there was one point, where a speak was asking those getting diplomas to stand. It took a few minutes for any graduates to actually stand. "Gee, is that us?" Finally, after I walked and went back to my seat... a little while later, I saw a few graduates get up and leave. Then the guy sitting next to me and a friend left. Yeah, that soon spread as people realized they could just leave. What do you expect? With 1300 graduates and an outdoor ceremony in New Mexico...

( Four years in review )

My "Congraduation" cake.

( Pre-graduation pics )

Congraduation(s)- A combination of the words congratulations and graduation.

My mom doesn't like that word, however. She refused to put it on the cake to celebrate my graduation because she'd feel weird/embarassed asking for it. Instead, my cake will read, "Welcome to the world of tomorrow!"

Update: My mom has given into my demands. My cake will read: "Congraduation, Scott! Welcome to the world of tomorrow!" (if the cake can fit that much text).

Today, I actually felt that... you know... stuff... uhh... excitement about graduation. I went to pick up my cap and gown. :-) Before this, it was almost something I was dreading- since it just marked the day I'd be out of college (unless I choose to go to grad school)... and of course, making some really big decisions. Today, it was more of a, "Hey, I'm almost out of here!" A joyous day. Plus, I'm down to the last little bit of homework (although one bit of homework is a 10-page research paper... I should start soon...)

In some random bit of news, I'm going to actually register for classes for the fall. In order to keep my on-campus job, I need to be a student... or confirm that I won't be a student and apply for temporary employment... but then if I do stay at the university, it might be difficult to get the job back. So I'll just register for classes next semester so I'm still listed as a student. As long as I withdrawl from the university before classes begin, I won't be charged with anything (hopefully).

21 days, 20 hours until I am a college graduate. I have no clue what I will do with my life. Anyone have any dice?

I guess I forgot to make a post saying what I did over spring break. Drats. The most exciting thing that happened to me was getting my mom's car stuck while geocaching. I was driving on a dirt road- seemed okay... but then I pulled off the road. Bad idea. Lots of sand. I had to get to get it towed out- very expensive. I still went geocaching after that, despite the multi-hour delay.

In fact, geocaching is probably the most exciting thing happening at the moment. I'm currently at 89 caches and am going to try for 100 this weekend. Oh, I guess graduation's coming up soon, too. I'm still not sure what I'll do afterwards. I have a lot of schoolwork for this last week- many final projects, lots of work on my language... so I'll be busy. After I hit 100 caches, I'll probably take a break from it to actually do some homework. I can't wait until I graduate. Then I'll be able to do lots of geocaching.

Cosmo: The good news is I named my nickel Phillip.
Timmy: Uh, what's the bad news?
Cosmo: It's a girl nickel.

( Serious good news about jobs, schools, and other neat opportunities )

I don't think I will be applying to UAS for their Master of Teaching program. The deadline is March 17 (I believe). Two and a half weeks from now. I don't think that's enough time to apply, since I'd need to include an impromptu essay... plus, I'd need to send Praxis scores (although that might not be needed for admission). I e-mailed the school asking for more imformation (especially how to do the impromptu), but I haven't heard back.

I decided this when I was somehow awakened at 3 this morning. I don't know why I was awake. I just remember being awake at that time and had trouble sleeping. I was also thinking about how I might not be ready for grad school. I don't feel ready for it... whatever program "it" may be. So... going to grad school doesn't sound too good right now. It's still very open as to what I'll actually end up doing after I graduate.

This will be my last post of the day. Honest. I know three posts in a day is a pain.

Military/Grad school
It seems like the government would rather have me in the military than in grad school. Spending for the war/conflict in Iraq (and Afghanistan) is over $400 billion (as I heard on ABC news tonight)... and will keep going up. Where does the government get this money from? Oh yeah. Education. Particularly the whole student loans thing... which is something I'll probably need to pay for grad school (since I'm kind of an unemployed bum... err... full-time student. *cough*).

Diet
My mom got mad at me tonight after I made it clear I probably won't eat any of the three boxes of ice cream bars she bought at the grocery store (each a different flavor). Why won't I eat them? Each bar contains 70% of the daily value of saturated fat (using the 2,000 cal/day diet). That's a very high number. I'm trying to ween myself off of "junk food," but it's not easy while living at home- with my mom. She likes desserts. We almost always have some kind of dessert in the house- and not healthy alternative desserts, either. The junk food type. This is one reason I'm looking forward to being out on my own. I'll have much more control of my diet. I'll be able to control what food is in the house at any given point in time.

I wanted to do some work on my independent study in the student union today. I found a table and sat down. Shortly after pulling out my notebook, two guys come up and ask to have a few minutes of my time. (Uh oh). They ask something about how I feel towards Christianity. I explain it's not for me. More questions- what do I believe about god? A possible creator. That's it. May or may not exist. Then comes the question of morality- where does morality fall in to place. It's up to humanity to find it- to set certain boundaries that respects one another. Yadda yadda yadda. This goes on for more than 15 minutes. It's taking up more time than I'd like. He asked a very complicated question- does everyone have to be perfect in order to achieve a society where everyone contributes... eh, something like that (I have a bad memory). That seemed like a great time to just remind him I have work to do. He/they (there was a second guy, too- but he didn't talk much) kindly understood and left (even though I'm sure it looked like I was backing out of the question- eh). The weirdest part is that they never said what organization they were with- if any. They merely said they were trying to get students' opinions, as if taking some kind of poll. I thought that was odd. Usually religious individuals who confront the public about their beliefs have some kind of motive, or so it seems often.

The other day, in many seperate conversations, I was talking with some friends about what college is all about. Why do people go to college? My answer was that it gives hope to a better future. Of course, that's not a guarantee... and certainly someone doesn't need to go to college for a better future. It possibly increases the chances somewhat of getting a job, especially a "more desirable" job and/or better paying job... possibly a career (if there's really a difference between the two).

( What is the point of going to college? )

I signed up for a PE class, but I'm thinking I might drop it. The way it's set up, it's basically "do your own thing." In many other classes, I'd like that. For PE? Eh... not really. I need structure- or at least more advice in what to do. There is a military fitness class I might try to get into. One section meets at 6:30am three times a week (but that one is full) and the other meets from 4-5pm. That section only has 18 out of 80 students... so it wouldn't be a probably getting in, except I have lab on Wednesdays at that time. I could probably move to the Tuesday lab, however.

Oh, right. That's rambling. The point: I don't like the PE class I'm in now. Because I don't really know what to do, it makes it hard to work out. I did just get a few workout books... but it hardly seems worth being in a PE class if I'm just going to be making up my own routine, anyway. I think I'd almost feel more comfortable working out at my house. Then again, I could use this time to workout and get any assistance if I need it. I guess that's the point of this class. Hmm... maybe I'll still try the military one.

I think last night, I had a dream where I got my GRE results back. I can't remember what they were... 700-something for some part of it... and 800-something in math. Well, I can't remember my scores, but I remember I did really well in math and I was surprised.

Of course, that was a dream. Today, in just a few hours, I'm going to take the real thing. It's supposed to be a four-hour test. I really don't know what to expect on it. I guess this is the kind of thing people prepare for. *nervous twitch*

This was the first week of classes in my last semester (as an undergrad). Horay! I've only had three of my... uhh... six? seven? ... of my far too many clases.

What am I taking?

Fundamentals of G.I.S.

Urban Geography

Aerial Photography Interpretation

Creating Writing

Linguistics Independent Study (my conlang)

Computer Literacy (an extremely easy class to teach the basic computer thing-a-ma-bobs... knowledge)

Beginning Physical Fitness

I might drop one of those classes to take a class in contemporary Islam (religious and legal aspects).
( Reviews of the class I've had so far )

I finally sat down this morning and wrote an incredably rough draft of UAF's statement of purpose letter. It was actually fairly easy. I tried to do the same for UAS and NMSU, but found it much more difficult. The letter to UAF almost came out effortlessly. I'm taking this as a positive sign for UAF. The way I see it, the more I hesitate and have trouble writing a SOP, the less reason I have for going to that school. If I can't come up with a viable career pathway through a school's program and write about it, it might mean that's not quite right for me.

Then again, I have a good idea of where I'd want to go by applying through UAS's M.A.T. program. That's to become a teacher. I guess I'm having trouble finding the words to say that in a way that will sound good in a letter with the idea expanded upon.

Aside from that, I'm also looking at schools for linguistics programs I could get into. UAF has a program in applied linguistics. I don't know if that's what I'd want, however... plus, it might be difficult to apply to the same school for different programs. I've been thinking it might be a good idea to find a school that has a program in Arabic language/culture, since Arabic is highly demanded at the moment.

I'm attempting to finally get started in my applications. I let one deadline slip past me in December, so I won't be applying to the University of Wisconsin Madison. I've started on three other schools- the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), and New Mexico State University (NMSU). Started?. Yes. Started. I've literally filled out the applications, but of course that's only the beginning. I have to write a statement of purpose (SOP) for each school- why do I want to go to that school, what do I have to offer, why is that school the right choice, etc.

That's going to take some time. I've been reading some tips for writing a SOP, and it makes me wonder if I'm actually even ready to go to grad school. I don't really have any goals or ambitions for the future in mind at the moment. That's... errr... kind of a problem for applying to grad school. I'm sitting here in my room trying to think about what it is I want to do, and... hmm... oh yeah, maybe that's it. My mind's going blank.

I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown now... or hide under a desk for no apparent reason...

I went to NMSU's graduation today. I'm not sure if I'm going to walk or not when I graduate next semester. I don't know if it seems worth it- paying money for a robe I'm going to wear once, sitting through a ceremony I don't care about, having an audience who mostly don't know me basically suffer through this ceremony... yadda yadda yadda... It just doesn't seem like a big deal to me. On the other hand, it's a great photo op or something and it's supposed to be a big honor.

In more tasteful news, I made pancakes tonight- some with blueberries, others with raspberries in them. They were pretty good, actually. Now, I'm off to watch more Lost season 1. *burp* Mmm.. good pancakes.

Edit: Raspberries is annoying word to spell, but fun to say... Razzzzzzberries!

...for this semester. Today was my last day of class for the semester. I finished my last 2.5 finals (half because I had to finish a final I started last week). I was surprised, but I got an A on my peace studies final- a 91%, but still an A. On all of the other essays I wrote, I got B's. I also managed a 98% on my nutrition final (which was open book). I'm hoping for all A's... but I'm thinking there's a good chance of a B for peace studies... and possibly biogeography.

With all of today's walking around campus (including walking from the east side lot to Corbett/Breland 3 times and 2 times between Branson and the honors building), I walked 14,574 steps... 5.09 miles. Add in another couple of hundred steps for the rest of the day not wearing my pedometer. Go me!

This week is finals week. I took two finals today- probably my hardest ones. My peace studies final was to write an in-class essay. That wasn't too bad... once I actually got there. Getting to the final was a bit of a challenge. My truck decided to not start for me this morning- possibly because it was "cold" out (not Alaskan cold... but... for New Mexico, yeah). I called my friend jacyl who was kind enough to give me a ride. (Thanks again! I owe you!)

I then spent the next few hours studying and generally loosing my mind for my biogeography final. My teacher has a hard time narrowing things down to basic concepts and generally makes the test very difficult with lots of specific details- mostly short answer, too (with some matching and fill-in-the-blank). I didn't think I did too bad, but I know I didn't too very well in the fill-in-the-blank. At least I know I got the 10 extra credit points by naming the scientific (Latin) name of species. The only bad thing was that she put a limit of 10 possible extra credit points. I at least had 17 scientific names listed. I'm sure at least 10 are correct.

I have 2.5 more finals this week (I say half because I started one final last week, but need to finish it). One of them is an essay, but we have the question in advance. Plus, I only need to get a 50% to get an A in the class. The other final is open book, multiple choice, and online.