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Celebrating Early

Wow, with just a couple weeks left in Fall Quarter, it’s time to start studying like crazy for finals! It is no secret that we are in the holiday season, but along with it comes all the last minute assignments, and so much stress! Always try to find time to take a breather, make some plans with friends and enjoy some food!

Time escapes us so easily, it can feel overwhelming studying back to back, but knowing there’s a light at the end of the tunnel keeps me going. It was about two weeks ago when I realized … Thanksgiving was right around the corner! Finally, a chance to catch up on sleep! I decided the next day to take a break and plan something with a friend and her floor, to just celebrate a little early and have some fun.  

Ever done an Escape Room? They are so fun if you are into solving problems and playing detective! You are given several clues, all leading up to the big reveal, all the while confined to just a room with your friends. Depending on which room you end up in, you could be solving a murder, trying to find some item, the list goes on. It is such a unique experience, and can be a great way to distract yourself from all the studying and homework that will inevitably pile on as the quarter comes to a close.

You know that saying “All good things must come to an end?” Well, I think it applies to bad things too. In this case, the quarter system. If you do not enjoy a particular class or Professor, not to worry, it goes by fast, and you will be done before you know it! Now that is something to be thankful for! 

I only hope that in Winter Quarter I will be able to find a balance with social and academic life, but the more units, the less likely I can have a lot of free time. But don’t worry about me too much! I will definitely be using all my tips I have learned so far, especially the one about planning early. Tune in next time and maybe I will share some more!

Happy Holidays!

Celeste

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The Fun of Getting Involved

There is a stigma about UCI where people call the campus “socially dead” because it may not have the most eye-catching student socials. What I realized this quarter is that is not necessarily the case. There are many opportunities for finding events that fit your interests at UCI; it’s a matter of traveling out of your comfort zone and getting involved in these events to discover a community that fosters socialization from your interests. For me, as an ASUCI (Associated Students- UCI) Intern in the Multimedia and Art Lab commissions I help put on events for students’ entertainment. So whether its showcasing art through Art Lab events (this quarter it was the Halloween-themed Dark Lab) or attending a screening of It: Chapter Two with Multimedia, ASUCI events are great opportunities to meet new people or simply find on-campus entertainment. Being a part of the organizations that plan these events makes these events even more enjoyable as the behind-the-scenes process includes group bonding activities that allow me to have a good time with my fellow teammates. The most fascinating aspect of getting involved in clubs on campus is that the student body seems to become more familiar. As you meet new people in your involvements you gain connections to other groups of people on campus and soon your network of acquaintances and friends continues to grow.

If you know me, you know I also like to stay in touch with my creative side. This quarter I am taking drama classes that required students to watch UCI Drama’s production of Company the Musical. Even if attendance to this show was mandatory, I would have watched it regardless because theatrical productions are always fascinating to me. Needless to say, the show did not disappoint. The entire cast and crew involved in the production were all inspirationally talented and their efforts made the show worthwhile. Company wasn’t the only show I was able to watch as by just being a student within the drama department you are introduced to a variety of shows that you can either watch or even be a part of- student-written plays, facility-sponsored projects, you name it.

Involvement overall does not need to mean joining organizations, it could mean supporting on-campus events or even by just being a student of one of the schools at UCI. There is rarely a dull moment at UCI if you just find the resources to guide you to events that keep your social life active- and this is always rewarding in the long run!

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Rose Pageant, Meme Chalking, and Fam Wars: Extracurricular Involvement at UCI

Overall, my freshman year extracurricular involvement at UCI has been pretty fun. Yesterday, before I went to practice, the Meme Club was chalking memes behind the Social Sciences Lecture Hall (towards the stairs that lead to Aldrich Park). If you want to see the pictures, however, you will have to be part of the Facebook group, since the group is private (you can view their Facebook page here). I recall only going to two meetings because I was so busy, but I may consider attending more often. We have meetings every Monday from 5 pm to 6 pm in Social Sciences Tower, in room 122. They also host many crazy events, such as standing around in Aldrich Park screaming like Goku for over an hour, using an Ouija board to summon “Wildebeest Man” while listening to an entire My Chemical Romance album, or riding the S line forty times.

I also remember spending an entire Saturday preparing for Vietnamese Student Association’s Rose Pageant, because my dance team Level V Origins was performing. Being in LVO has really taught me about commitment, patience, and perseverance, because I spent so many nights out in the cold, practicing in front of Steinhaus Hall (or just sitting there while other people were blocking and cleaning their pieces). However, Rose Pageant itself was a day to remember. Everyone was singing old songs at the top of their lungs and then Cheney was playing some sort of mafia game where we all got cards that had different roles and then we faked sleep while the wolves tried to kill all the townspeople, or whatever happened in the game. We ate really good that night, because the banquet food was bomb. I pretty much joined LVO because it was a beginner-friendly dance team, but some of those pieces are very fast-paced and complicated. I have no experience in dancing hip hop… at all. However, being in that fall quarter piece has made so many memories. Jumping off that stage really hurt my feet, and I remember skipping across the pavement to the back of the parking lot out the side door because the sprinklers were on that night and I didn’t want them to wet my feet.

I’m also in the Antleader Mentorship Program, and our Fam Wars is coming up tonight… I am so nervous! However, AMP itself is super fun and has introduced me to so many cool people! In fact, the purpose of it is to be social and connect students to ASUCI in general. Personally, I have connected with more upperclassmen than I have other freshmen through it, but Chill Times for me are my personal favorite. We just sit around in Aldrich Park and discuss what’s going on in our lives, just like we do in Anime Community Club during our Wednesday UTC meetings (at 6:30 pm by the fountain if anyone is interested). However, I also find myself skipping meetings in order to catch up on homework or get some rest, so it is important to get a good balance of both.