Jesse Xu: Wise Words From the Panda
Here is the next interview in my "series" (I know it's 5 weeks late). I chose to interview one of my brothers, Jesse Xu. He's a junior majoring in finance, as well as the RA of 4th floor Pierce. Enjoy.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog. As the year comes to a close, I feel that I too have grown from constantly thinking about what to write every week (as corny as that may sound). Anyway, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach me via my school email address: kms161@case.edu. I'd be glad to answer your inquiries, whether they be deep and profound (like my blog of course), or small things that you're curious about.
Once again, thanks for reading my blog. I hope that you've enjoyed it and hopefully, it has helped give you a better view of what Case is like.
Posted by Kevin at 07:29 PM
Don't Sweat
As I sit in the stacks on the 3rd floor of the Kelvin Smith Library, I realized that I'm probably too sleepy to write my 10-page SAGES paper. Thus, I decided to do something else that's relatively productive. Originally I was going to interview one of my friends, but college kids are busy during finals, so you'll have to forgive me. I know I promised to interview more of my friends.
If I were to summarize my week into a single phrase, It would be "don't sweat the small stuff." Remember earlier I blogged about the incident involving my knee (which by the way isn't healed yet)? I got injured because I was afraid that I would be late for clinicals. Looking back, running on icy pavement at 6:30AM in the winter morning was not very smart. In the big scheme of things, being late to clincials would not have meant the end o f the world. But because I didn't see it that way at the time, I risked my health, got injured, ripped my scrubs, and probably need to get an x-ray. Was being on time worth it? No.
As it is finals week, I just wanted to remind everyone not to sweat the small stuff. Get a lower grade than you expected? Don't sweat. That single grade in your whole college career will not drastically change your life. There are so many more opportunities out there, like... finding happiness in the love of your life, or something gushy like that.
I say this because this week, I was sweating profusely about the small stuff. Every single class I'm enrolled in is on the borderline. For example, I got an email today from my English professor with my grade and his regards. This was his email:
Hi, Kevin: You fall into the category of “an A on the final paper means an A in the class,” so I’m going to put some pressure on you and encourage you to make this final essay your strongest piece of writing this semester.
How does that make me feel? Stressed. Is it good for my body? No. How many white hairs am I going to go home with? Enough to make me look 10 years older.
But something else happened today. I had lunch with my brothers. It helped me realize that there are so many things out there that matter more than a few grades: Things like brotherhood, friends, family, happiness, lasting memories. Those things cannot be changed or replaced. Grades, however, can. You can do better next semester and raise that GPA, whereas if you sacrifice those that are close to you, there's no guarantee that you'll get them back.
So, for all you who are sweating about finals, don't. Go out, breathe in the nice-fresh-Cleveland-air, hang out with your friends. Life's more important than grades.
Posted by Kevin at 02:56 PM
A Day in the Life of... Me
Before I came to college, I always wondered how college kids went throughout their days. That's what inspired me to show just exactly what constitutes a day in the life of a college kid, or more specifically, a nursing major at Case.
9:44 AM: I start off my day to the bright sun shining through my window blinds (a nice treat every now and then). Here's a general view of my side of the room. Excuse me for my messiness. Finals week is coming up and cleaning my room is pretty much on the bottom of my to do list.
After I get ready to head off for another wonderful day of learning, I head over to Leutner, our dining facility. The two-minute walk proved to be extremely refreshing as the trees and flowers are in full bloom. Thank you spring, I've waited too long for you.
10:03AM: Breakfast: English muffin, a side of ketchup, and a nice cold-glass of orange juice. The north dining facility is actually under construction. If you're lucky enough, this will be all brand-new next year.
10:19AM: The walk to class: On your right hand side, you can see the Peter B. Lewis building. Made possible by a donation from Peter B. Lewis, it is where the majority of the business classes are held. I regret not exploring the building earlier as they have a very nice dimly-lit lower level which is wonderful for studying.
10:30AM: Ah.. yes... Class. NURS 122. The lecture component where we learn about various assessment skills. Today, we learned about the eyes, ears, nose, and throat: how to examine each one, features to pay attention to, and how to identify what we see when we peer into these bodily-caverns. I must say, the lecture covered a lot of information, yet the material that we learned was extremely interesting. Classmates are just starting to trickle in. As a nursing major, the majority of your lectures will be held in large rooms like these.
11:26AM: The walk back. TULIPS! Did I mention how much I love spring?
12:01PM: Studying. Much of the time you spend away from class is spent eating, sleeping, or doing homework. I chose to utilize my time doing the latter with my classmate Kayla in the Taft common room. Each dorm has a common room that allows people to congregate, do homework, have a nice coffee conversation, or just hang out.
12:28PM: Leutner round 2. Is that sushi I see? Leutner offers a wide variety of foods. On Monday and Wednesday's, Leutner provides a sushi lunch for students. Lunch at Leutner is also a nice time to catch up with your friends who don't have any classes with you.
12:56PM: The walk to the quad. Here are some photos I snapped while walking towards the quad. You'll be very accustomed to these sights as the path I took is the fastest way to the quad besides taking a Greenie.
Mather Quad: The "statue" which is actually a fountain, sometimes has water flowing from the top during the Fall. In the Spring, it becomes a nice place to hold class. I have yet to have class there though.
KSL: Kelvin Smith Library: The main library on campus. The library has 4 floors. Every single floor has a study area which makes KSL the place to go during finals week or a sanctuary from your music-blasting roommate. Whatever floats your boat.
Adelbert-Quad Entrance: You'll enter the quad from this walkway which is cleverly designed showing lines of binary. As a nursing major, it took me a while to figure that out.
Quad: Rockefeller, Bingham, Strosaker, Crawford, and the list goes on... Here's where the majority of your classes will be if you're a science major. Also located here is Yost (where you pick up your pay checks), Tomlinson (Subway), Sears (Grab-it), and Nord (Einstein's Bagels).
1:06PM: Work. Yes you heard me right... work. I work for the Office of Research and Development as an Office Assistant. My current project is to design, print, and stuff name badges for Research ShowCASE, one of the largest academic events held on campus. People come and essentially show off their research projects. This year, we had around 400 presenters. By the way, this is my cubicle (it's not as awesome as it seems).
4:00PM: SOCI 203, Human Development. This is one of my harder classes. We're assigned 10-20 page readings every other day. Useful? ehh... Interesting? Most of the time. I can, however, relate a lot of what we learn in this class to our daily lives and the social phenomenon that we often fail to see.
5:00PM: USSY 285Z: The Ubiquitous Frankenstein. This is the SAGES class I'm taking this year. SAGES, if you haven't heard already, is Case's equivalent of an English class. In my SAGES class, we learned about the original Frankenstein, and how the name shifted from creator to creature (I think that's the gist of the class). This is one of the most interesting classes I've ever had the pleasure of being enrolled in. Today, we are giving presentations on our final paper. The prompt: Write a 10 page research paper on Frankenstein.
6:18PM: The walk back. After a good 5 hours on the quad, the sight of Severance Hall is welcoming. Severance Hall is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the "Big Five" prominent and accomplished ensembles of the U.S. As a Case student, you can get discounted tickets to the concerts.
6:34PM: Dinner; Underneath Leutner is L3: Lower Level Leutner (clever right?). Here, instead of a buffet style, you can order specific entrees from the menu. Personal favorites include their grilled chicken cesear salad wrap, chicken quesidillas, and their philly cheesesteak (which is apparently discontinued-- sorry if I got your hopes up). L3 is often quicker than sitting down and dining in Leutner as you can get your meal to go.
7:23PM: Homework. Sometimes, I head over to Wade Commons to get my studying done. It's located in the middle of the freshmen dorms. There, you can print, pick up packages, get replacement keys and what-not. These study rooms are an awesome place to meet for group projects. Groups can also reserve these rooms for their meetings and practices.
And it was here that I stayed until 1:00 in the morning.
So that's it, a day in my life from my perspective.
(As a little disclaimer: You'll notice there's hardly anyone in my photos. It's not because Case is deserted or anything like that. It's mainly because I go/come from the quad at really odd times. At the time these photos were taken, the majority of people are usually in class or already back at the residential villages.)
Questions? Need me to elaborate on my classes? Leave a comment! I'll blog about it.
Posted by Kevin at 12:22 PM
Wise Words, Haircuts, and... Case?
During Chapter (weekly fraternity meeting) this weekend, one of the brothers gave valuable advice. He said to try everything, no matter what. I guess this week I really took it to heart. I submitted my first letter of intent to run for the Vice President of Media in my AAA club. I asked one of my brothers to nominate me for social chair in my fraternity. On top of all that, I think the singular action that embodied these wise words of wisdom was letting one of my best friends cut my hair. That ended not as I planned, as now, I'm typing this entry with a buzz cut that's much too short for my liking. Yet, we only live once and college only lasts for four years, so what the heck. However, those were my thoughts during the haircut, before I looked at my calendar, which clearly indicated that I had to take my fraternity photos (kind of like yearbook photos) this Thursday. Ah, the decisions we make as teenagers.
This week's events allowed me to reflect on how far I've come because I was able to step out of my comfort zone and expand my boundaries. Cliché? Yes. But it's cliché for a reason, and that reason lies within the success that this point of view will bring you. A large part of who I am today, why I'm at Case, and how far I've grown here can all be attributed to saying to myself "just do it" (Nike should be paying me right now).
The deciding factor that brought me 2,500 miles to Case was largely the people I met here during my overnight that took place roughly around this time of the year. I got an invitation to attend Freshman Friday, where the Nursing school invites all of its undergraduate prospective students to spend a night with upperclassmen nurses. My mom wasn't able to take me there. I was still a senior in high school that still complained when I had to run a few errands for my parents. Flying to Ohio by myself was pretty much out of the question… until the parental forces did what they do best: used their impeccable persuasive skills (or lack thereof) to get me to attend. By subscribing to their ideal of "try everything," I was able to discover Phi Kappa Psi, a group of amazing friends, and four years that I feel will pass much too fast for my liking.
I was able to experience all of these things not only because my parents won't take no for an answer, but also because I stepped out of my personal bubble. If you read (or even possibly learn) anything from my ramblings, read this sentence: Try everything, no matter what. You might even like what you get yourself into. The more I write about this, the more I'm beginning to enjoy this haircut of mine.
Posted by Kevin at 12:51 AM
From the Blue Eyes of Bryden Spevak
One thing that I wish I had before coming to Case was knowing someone here that would be able to give me a glimpse of college from their own perspective: what they liked and what they disliked. I wish I had that "in." Now that I'm a proud student of Case, I am able to give what I, as a high school senior, didn't have. I plan on accomplishing that by featuring different people with different majors and their stories. My hope is for one of you out there to read this and have an easier time making your college decisions.
As promised, I interviewed one my friends who just so happened to be eating an early dinner with me on a Friday afternoon. Her name is Bryden, and the following is her story:
Name: Bryden Spevak
Year: Freshmen
Major: English & Political Science, Pre-Law
Hometown: Berea, OH
College Acceptances: Ohio State University, Ohio University, Kent State, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Akron
Dreams & Aspirations
I want to be in the Peace Corps, travel, and write. I chose to come to Case because they have a career center that has a large number of connections to the Peace Corps, which I hope will help me get in. Being at Case will hopefully help me prepare me for my dreams. Corny? I know, but I feel that college is a time for students to pursue their dreams.
First Resident Hall Experience
My first friend that I met at Case lived on the same floor as I did, and when she first saw me, she came up to me and said "you have big blue eyes… are you Bryden?" I said yes, and ever since then, we've been friends. I would not have gotten to know her if it weren't for resident life.
What part of Case attracted you?
I liked that it was part of a big city, and how people were dedicated to their studies while being really down to earth. The campus was really pretty, especially the library.
While doing my overnight, I was going through a lot of problems with my ex. My friend's sister (who hosted me) and all her friends were really nice to me about it and they talked me through it, even though they didn't know me at all. That really showed me that, although they're still really into their school work and everything, they had no problem taking time to care about those around them. I think that the people here played a large part into why I chose to come to Case.
As far as academics go… I knew someone who was in the liberal arts department here, and they thought it was really good (which goes against the perception that Case is purely an engineering school). Case also has a really good study abroad program. I plan on going to Germany and England sometime in my college career.
Free Time Activities
I work at my job where I make coffee and enjoy conversations with a lot of students and faculty members.
What would you say to a prospective student?
Give Case a chance. At first, I didn't like it, but now, I'm completely in love with it. As an English major, it takes a while to fit in with the rest of the students, but once you find your niche, it really makes you feel at home. Joining Phi Mu (sorority) really helped me adapt too.
Stay tuned next week for Jesse and Ray aka Mr. Panda and Panda Jr.
Posted by Kevin at 08:31 PM
Interview Addiction
It's almost spring time. How can you tell? When people have the guts to wear shirts, shorts, and flip-flops to class. Why do I say guts? Well the weather can turn on you pretty quickly: On Monday it was 50 or so degrees. Next thing you know, you look outside and it's precipitating. No not rain, but snow. Yes snow. With snow come cold temperatures and so on and so forth. Anywho… spring time.
Spring time is all about wonderful scenery, seasonal allergies, and of course… college admissions. Fear not, if you're reading this blog, that means you've considered coming to Case at one point or another (that or your parents forced you to browse every single inch of the website like mine did). Therefore, I can say the following: come and visit. I am pleased to say that others are taking my advice. Everyday, I see a tour group wandering the quad, or Thwing, or the library, or the dorms, and I'm DYING for someone to ask me how I like Case. Why? Because I want to shower them with every single reason why I decided to move from the land of perpetual sunshine to the land of unpredictable weather (I must say that when it's sunny here, you not only produce ten-times the amount of vitamin D, but you feel happy, and everyone else feels happy. I promise I'm not lying).
I feel like you guys know about my life to a certain extent, so telling you what I would say to the prospective students (prospies as we call them) would probably be redundant. THEREFORE, I have decided to tap into my bountiful reserves of friends (another thing you develop at Case) and interview a different person every week so 1) they get the fame they've been craving as I've been told my blog is extremely popular to read and make fun of… and 2) so you, the reader, can get to know the story of people you see walking around on campus; why they decided to come to Case, and the university through their eyes.
Enjoy.
Posted by Kevin at 11:11 PM
When Were Interviews Fun?
I know the other bloggers are all talking about Greek life, but there's no way I can not mention how awesome it is. As I mentioned sometime before in one of my posts, I pledged for Phi Kappa Psi this semester. I had to interview all the brothers (59 to be exact) in the fraternity as a requirement to initiate… which just so happens to be tomorrow. At first, this requirement seemed like an assignment more than anything else, and so that’s how I approached it… by procrastinating. Before I knew it, Spring break came and went, and I was left with 27 more brothers left to interview with only a week before initiation. I basically neglected my homework, lived in the fraternity house, and got to know those that I soon may have the privilege to call my brothers.
Through these interviews, I met so many amazing people. I was able to interview the former CFO of Cedar point, the owner of a private airline company, an artist, a computer programmer, and people from pretty much all the majors Case has to offer. My point is, through pledging for a fraternity, I was able to discover all these amazing things from ordinary people that, a few months ago, I would’ve passed by without giving them a second thought.
That’s the beauty of meeting new people, and precisely why I love doing it so much. To be able to sit down and listen to people’s stories (why they decided to come to Case, why they chose their major, what made them they way they are) and grow from their experiences. So if anything, (I’m talking to you other Freshmen and incoming freshmen next year… by the way congrats) I encourage you to throw yourself out there and get to know those that walk to class with you every day, those that eat next to you in Leutner and Fribley, and start by joining clubs and organizations such as Fraternities and Sororities (and in my case AAA) because you’ll love it. From what I hear, friends that you make in college last forever.
Posted by Kevin at 11:59 AM
Have a Break, Have a KitKat®
Breaks are a lot different in college than in high school. In high school breaks aren't usually breaks… they're more of an extended period of time consisting of sleeping-in and studying for one or more standardized tests. In college, however, breaks are a period of rest for your body and mind for another two months of academic punishment, which usually equates to a decrease in your physical health. Seriously… after experiencing the first few semesters of college, you'll realize that, come mid-term week, everyone will suddenly develop this mysterious cough. What does that mean? College sucks the life-force out of you (I wouldn't have it any other way… staying up till 4AM with your friends studying is definitely a fun experience), and break is one of the few ways to recover from it.
One thing that you get from break that you don't get in high school is the feeling of absolute relief that you're DONE, with absolutely NOTHING to worry about for a full week. Trust me, it's like paradise… especially if you go somewhere like Las Vegas, which is where I am right now. The game plan today? Finish watching Mythbusters, head over downstairs to the Blue Man Group (I'm staying at the Venetian right now), and head to bed! Tomorrow? Wake up bright and early, haul the family down to a nice Vegas dinner, maybe get in some shopping, and then drive that 5 hours back to Los Angeles. Awesome way to start spring break? I think so.
Posted by Kevin at 10:02 AM
The Job Jungle
You hear about all the economic woes in our country. The stimulus package that really isn't stimulating. The layoffs, the closures, the downturns. The reality is, there aren’t a lot of jobs out in the nebulous "real world." Yet, the fact that I'm posting on this very blog says something about Case and the amount of jobs offered to students. The fact is, a lot of students are in need of money to cover tuition and other learning expenses. Getting a campus job is a perfect way to close that gap.
I never thought about job availability when I applied here. All I worried about was my tuition and how much money from scholarships I would get. Yet, towards the end of the first semester, I found myself staring at a poster in the common room advertising this very job. An email later, I dug out my resume from high school, threw together a writing sample, went for a quick informal interview, and got the job. For a lot of jobs on campus, it's really that easy. Wages are extremely generous too, often ranging from $9.50 to upwards of $10.00. Unlike a typical job; however, campus jobs offer more than just a paycheck.
With a meeting I had with the other bloggers and our bosses the other day, I realized that this job meant a lot more to me than turning a few hours of free time into money. This job was a way for me to acclimate myself to the professional world. You can be late to class, but you can't be late to a job meeting. You can fall asleep in class without any outstanding consequences, but to do that in a job meeting? You're just asking to get fired. A job differs from class in that you can't get away with those things any more. Yet, at the same time, jobs connect you with people and resources that are extremely valuable as your concentration moves from getting good grades to developing a good resume.
I remember walking out of that meeting feeling really happy with myself… happy that I knew that my work and time went to accomplish something in the real world instead of a letter on my transcript.
In somewhat related news: Browsing jobbss.case.edu, I found yet another job that I was interested in-- one regarding using Adobe InDesign (a graphic layout software) to design a annual program book for the Office of Research and Technology Management. In my case, it's not whether I can find a job or not, it's whether I have the time to balance all my commitments… something that you'll rarely hear nowadays.
Posted by Kevin at 11:21 AM
Because You Had a Bad Day....
So last week, I blogged about how I was the only person that enjoyed snow. I kind of take that back. This Tuesday morning, I slipped on ice and landed on my knee when I was trying to catch a greenie to the hospital. What resulted were two torn pant legs, a bloody pair of irreparable scrub bottoms, and a knee that would refuse to bend more than 30 degrees. I decided to tough it out and finish my clinicals (and rewarded myself by not going to my other classes for the rest of the day). Basically, this event ruined my day. Not only did I have to limp everywhere, but I also could not climb the stairs to my room. What's even more disappointing was the fact that I couldn't dance until my knee healed. I had been practicing almost every night for a dance my friends and I would be performing for AAA night.
I've been told I had a very interesting mindset about these "bad days." After recovering from my earlier spill, I told myself that, yeah, tearing up your pants and screwing up your knee sucks, but I'd rather this happen to me now than in the future, say, before an important interview. Basically, I believe that there is only so much bad luck in your life, and by "getting it out of the way," you reduce the chance that something bad will happen to something important (like... taking your NCLEX exam, or on the day of your wedding). Thus, I promptly continued with my life, acing an anatomy exam, and kidnapping one of my best friends for a belated birthday celebration.
If I had learned anything that day, they would be: 1) mornings are extra icy-- running with a bagel in hand is not a good idea… for the bagel, and for yourself and 2) bad days come and go. It's how you deal with and learn from them that matters.
In other news:
-We (as in the members of Phi Psi) had a mixer with AXO (Alpha Chi Omega). We enjoyed light refreshments, warm conversations, and an epic display of curling skills demonstrated by the USA and Switzerland curling teams.
-I got a C+ on my nutrition exam. I guess my decision to not study didn't produce the ideal results.
-During clinicals, I met a former sailor for the U.S. Navy who shared with me his experiences at school and while sailing. The smile he gave me during the conversation reminded me of why I wanted to be a nurse.
-I decided to give up hamburgers along with all the other oh-so-delicious-fatty-fried-foods at the grill in attempt to be a healthier individual.
Posted by Kevin at 12:21 AM
