rockit.

Bitch, please...

... people have EXAMs to write at 8AM on Monday...

posted by Irene @ 11:40:00 AM 1 Comments

You know those days when you feel so low that retail therapy won't even help? When listening to the cheeriest of songs don't make things better? And when thinking about your future can be the worst remedy possible?

After all, no cute top from A n F, or Lipglass from MAC, or soft and warm ginger molasses cookie from Starbucks can change the fact that you might've taken a mandatory course for the last time... when singing to "ain't no mountain high enough" just makes that exam seem even worse... when the ticket to your main career option just might've gotten lost in a difficult 3 hours...

posted by Irene @ 8:20:00 PM 0 Comments

Free Tibet?

(In the @ office studying on an oozy Sunday morn)

S: Oi!
I: *looks up*
S: You! ... your people... !!!
I: What about them?
S: ... rallying downstairs at Yonge and Dundas square against Tibet! Gah!!
I: ... it was today?
S: ... ... YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS?!?!

I must say I didn't, and now I'll let my reserved voice take over.

posted by Irene @ 3:16:00 AM 1 Comments

Cracked my Mac!!!

Omgs!!

I broke my keyboard/wrist-rest right after getting it cleaned with the amazing Mr Clean magic eraser!!! :'(



I took a nap and woke up finding it broken... I think I fell asleep on it...

Poops.

posted by Irene @ 11:11:00 PM 2 Comments

Peak of a Daydream

We all have moments emails like these... right? 

posted by Irene @ 7:37:00 PM 3 Comments

Trip to the Graveyard

Today, we had our annual visit to my grandfather. Same as always, we performed the same rituals and traditions we've been doing for the past 17 years, nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary. I remember last year we coincidentally went at the same time as an old best friend... whose grandfather lay several rows behind my own. Awkward, unsure, and stubborn... we hovered around our own territory and pretended we didn't know each other. I hadn't seen or talked to her in years.

posted by Irene @ 11:49:00 PM 0 Comments

Summer In a Week

It's been quite a fitful few months regarding the state of my summer and the future of my AIESEC experience.

But after lots of patience and agitation, my distress has finally paid off!!! In the end, I actually ended up with everything I had really hoped for, and I actually have to push away some really awesome opportunities.

Thursday: Accepted for the Explore grant to study French in Chicoutimi for 5 weeks!!
Friday: (all in a computer lab, RBB)
1. Got a call telling me I'm going to the Southern Cone for a CEED this summer!!!
2. Finally finished my stats project! (it just adds to the craziness)
3. Before leaving, checked my email to find out that I got on the IAT!!

So it went from squealing, to high-fiving my group-mates, to reminding myself that whatever is in the email, it's all for the best and I will go on, go on with the day smiling because I've got a very promising year still... and then squealing and going crazy again... all in a computer lab full of people trying to do their work... and then jumping around in the hallway and running to the AIESEC office...

Now that things are in a more definitive state, I am finally able to let my little heart plan everything for next few months and school year... which would not be good for my exams! I can hardly study... too much of checking flight tickets to Buenos Aires and reviewing financial realities of LCs...

Although I will have to decline an awesome 5 weeks to improve my French and helping out AIESEC Chitoutimi as a semi-CEEDer, I will probably be able to get the grant again for next summer, and it would be even more beneficial that I'll have gained even more experience on an int'l CEED to aid them (or another LC). Yay!


What an awesome end to a long... long... second last week of school... yippee!!!

posted by Irene @ 10:21:00 PM 2 Comments

It's Official

A couple of years ago when the statistic came out I was relieved, though it doesn't necessarily mean that not being in the cut-off range of being in poverty doesn't mean that one isn't struggling just as hard to survive.

Today, it was quite dismal to find out, while sitting on the TTC going to school, that I am... living in poverty. It's not a sense of alarm that finds me, but just a reminder why I am where I am right now, the entire reason of my education and why I do what I do, working so hard each day. For many, education is naught but a step in advancing one's own knowledge, a stepping stone to get where they need to get to become that CFO or Chartered Accountant one day. For me, it's the matter of getting into the workforce as soon as possible to aid my family financially.

I never understood (since highschool) how any student would allow themselves to stay back a year in school; it was a year wasted in getting into university, then a year wasted in not working, and that much less money earned. Those that stayed back in university, I thought, were either a) delinquents or b) working. Those beliefs followed me until I joined AIESEC, and finally realized that those that stayed back actually had the freedom to embellish their academic careers by doing better in school... or developing themselves through extracurricular activities.

Now, I'm torn between having to graduate when I'm 21 and trying to enjoy my university career while following my dreams and passions by developing myself through AIESEC. I wish I had the time and ability to travel and explore to develop myself like so many of my peers have. I wish I had the time and flexibility to contribute more to the world through AIESEC. Most of all, I wish I had the liberty to get the experience I'll need to get into the workforce by doing a semester of co-op (or a few). Relying only on AIESEC to replace co-op is quite risky to achieve that goal; today in Finance we learned how diversifying one's portfolio would not increase your returns but instead decrease your risk, but I believe that AIESEC was the greatest investment I've ever put my time in. Whatever comes my way (or not) in the next few months and in the next few years, I know it will be for the best; I will make do with them and be the best I can be.

posted by Irene @ 1:20:00 AM 1 Comments