Battle of the Exam Date

Something interesting happened today. You know, finals are approaching and everyone is all worked up. I have to admit, this semester has been very tough. Everything is twice as hard. I went to class everyday, every week and still end up knowing nothing about anything. So yeah, everyone is feeling the stress.

The Finals timetable is out and some people are happy about it, some people are okay about it and some are unhappy about it. Today's class featured an emotional debate between the happy and unhappy. I have to admit I think I understand why half the class wanted to have the Pavement Analysis exams on Saturday instead of Tuesday (they seem to have an exam the day before). I also understand why the other half wanted to have it on the set date, to get it over with and move on with other courses. So everyone had their own reasons and priorities.

What got my attention today was how the professor managed to solve the issue calmly, wisely and rationally. I was really amazed at how he controlled the argument, making fair points with an open mind. It's something I wish to learn to do. To be able to solve raising issues in class like a wise owl. Ah... I can only dream to be that kind of professor. :)

I'm too sleepy right now. I'll write more about this tomorow. I think.

Here goes...!

I have got to put my procrastination-ness to an end. We're all done for second tests now. Got only one left but it's take home so should be no problem. So now i'm down to the most feared task... the proposal for my Dissertation.

Here goes.

The guidelines. 

I know it's been a while

I know, I know. I sorta broke my own promise to be an active blogger but I got lazy. Honestly, I got lazy in all aspects of my life. It has been a crazy brainscraping semester and I have been procrastinating like a bish. No matter how I tell myself to get up and do stuff, my brains seem to overwrite it. So I'm stuck with a bunch of assignments and a huge ass proposal to complete.  So about my Masters Journey... Here's the update. Second tests just passed. As expected they were twice as hard as the first ones. I screwed up Highway Capacity, having no clue what I was doing just because I missed ONE important class. I had no idea the jibber jabber I was mumbling about in Advanced Transportation and don't even let me start about screwing up in Pavement Analysis. Everything is sooooo difficult this semester. All this time I keep getting lucky. Scoring high marks and maintaining grades. I just hope my luck hasn't run out. 

No matter how hard i try, i still know nothing

I guess life goes on. I still got a dissertation I need to work on. So far I have compiled like 50 journals. I got like 7 days to complete 50 pages of report and then, a presentation. So far, all is "okay". I still have writer's block, which also explains why I haven't been blogging for so long. This isn't easy. Especially when so many things are distracting me. Rust, shopping, being broke, trying to be skinny. Urgh... I need to sort out my priorities! 

Challenges

When I was offered the scholarship to take a work leave and pursue my Masters, I immediately chose to do it by Coursework. The other option being by Research which I know I'm not good at. Some people love collecting and analyzing data. Others like me prefer the old fashion study, assignments, tests and exams way of doing things.

I can study. Give me things to study, to memorize, I'll do it gladly. I'll organize my notes, rewrite them in colours and sit down for hours and hours of studying. I can go to classes, write down everything I can and adjust my brains to understand what the professors are saying.

But give me a research topic and I lose my way.

Tomorrow will be the first test of the semester. Advanced Highway Capacity Analysis. So far, the course has been good to me. I managed to understand the steps, tables and formulas. There may be some twists here and there, but with the help of my logic skills, I think I can handle it. Nervous? of course. It's a test. A "game" as Prof R would say. I just hope I score in this one. It's a "miniboss" before the final boss also known as Finals.

As for my research. After a lot of dilemma on who to pick as my supervisor, I decided to go for the new and young lecturer, Dr F. The other lecturers seem a bit too busy, always being unavailable when I try to visit them for advice. And I feel a little too inferior with the experienced pros. As for my (used to be) favorite lecturer, I'll pass. I don't wanna be a sidekick to anyone. Not today. So whatever it is, hopefully I'll get this done well.

Time to Kick Ass and Take Names.

The Headache

I went to bed at 10pm. Felt a slight headache so I took 2 panadols and slept. Woke up at 4 am by a crazy nightmarish headache. Tried to sleep but couldn't so I took another 2 panadols. Nothing. Headache got worse so I gave up trying to sleep and got out to shower etc at around 9am. Ate breakfast and went to lie down in bed with throbbing headache. Googled how to fix it. Gave up as all the suggestions seemed lame. (inhale vinegar? wtf). Took a panadol soluble, dissolved it in water and tried to get some shut eye at around 11am. Headache reduced. Just some head rush. Got up few moments later, ate lunch and drank some iced pepsi. Headache reduced. What a crazy, tiring day! A whole Sunday wasted by a long ass (still going on as I'm typing this) headache.

Masters degree can kill.

Presenting Me~

When I was a child, my ambition was to be a singer. But then my voice sucks. So I decided to be a reporter or a TV presenter. And then a lawyer and finally a lecturer. It shows how I am interested to present stuff to people. I may be studying engineering, but I will always be a lecturer deep inside. We were given an assignment to be presented last night in class. So this is the poster:

Ahh... I miss teaching. I miss being in front of the class, telling stories to my students. I can't wait to return there. Just gotta finish this first.

First 2 weeks Summary

So... 2 weeks have passed since semester started. I have to be honest the heat is up! I registered for 4 courses + dissertation this semester and it's already causing me insomnia. Anyway, before I start venting to you about what's causing me to count sheeps to sleep, let me summarize (briefly) the past 2 weeks.

Monday's class was okay. We have a new lecturer in store. Dr F. A young, fresh, new face to the team of grand professors. The subject is "Highway Design" where we would be learning how to geometrically design roads. By geometrically, I mean the crazy horizontal and vertical alignment noone ever cared about. So far it has been 1 class, with a group assignment. Can't comment much yet about this subject so we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Tuesday's class is a repetition of the crazy semester last year was. Remember when i said Pavement Materials was the most stressful course? Well, dejavu. This course, Pavement Analysis and Design doesn't seem to appear any different. Already the class feels too long, and scary. My fingers know the pain best as it tries to catch up with the speed of the lecture. Oh the pressure!

Wednesday's class is a bit relaxful. At least for now. Taught by Dr L, it feels familiar, laid back and interesting. The course is called Advanced Transport Engineering, so I have a feeling something calculusly is on the way to confuse the brains. *shudders*

Thursday's class. Well. I have to carefully pick my words to make sure my feelings about this course is not misinterpreted. The subject is called highway capacity so it's about how certain expressways or highways are capable of handling the crazy volumes of traffic. I gotta love the course as my forte is traffic but the lectures are not making it easy. Handled by traffic genius Dr H, it appears to be interesting. What's missing is Prof R's humor.

So four days of classes, four different lecturers. Masters ain't for the weak, I tell ya.