GETTING MORE FROM LESS: CONTINUOUS ASCENSION (PART III)
Continuing…
Chapter 5 – Spring 2019:
The first thing I did was meet with my advisor to sign off on my plan to take 24 units, again, as I felt like I could handle it, despite the two science classes. Unfortunately, the dean interfered and denied my request, saying I might struggle since I’m taking two hard classes, referring to Organic Chemistry and Physics. Thus, I was limited to 22.5 units. He was not wrong. Organic Chemistry was hard. Ironically, this was where I saw firsthand the mental growth I’ve made. As mentioned before, I hated feeling stupid, dumb, and clueless, things organic chemistry made me feel twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes at a time. I, however, was determined to succeed. Instead of moping and finding an excuse, I seeked out help and studied as much as I could until I no longer felt stupid, dumb, and clueless. With the law of attraction helping, my efforts were rewarded as I found a tutor who willingly helped me on her own time whenever she could for free. I now welcomed feeling stupid, dumb, and clueless because I saw it as an opportunity to learn and become more-educated. I love learning and feeling challenged as I interpreted it as the chance to become a better version of myself. My growth mindset is now on full display. Physics, on the other hand, was a breeze. I dabbled with a theatre class as well, which sparked an interest to attend plays and become a theatre connoisseur. I am trying new things blindly, just for the sake of learning, something I would’ve been averse to before. To fully transition from the path I was in to health, I applied to four summer internships: two of which I was rejected and two waitlisted but not admitted. Again, another lesson that I can’t have everything. Life always finds a way to keep me humble, and I love it. Spring 2019 pushed me academically and made me improvise for Summer 2019 due to the unplanned rejections and waitlists. Though the dean wasn’t correct, he wasn’t wrong either. I think I handled my 22.5 units well, with my grades ranging from a C+ to an A+. To cap off spring, I got offered to become a resident advisor, again, for the second time in as many academic years.
Chapter 6 – Summer 2019:
Summer, for lack of a better word, was a break. Since I decided to put all of my effort into building a better health resume, I volunteered at a hospital. During this time, my mother also kept telling me to get a job, any job, and to not be picky because I don’t have a choice. Fortunately, I didn’t listen. I did have a choice. I am not belittling any job but at this point in my life, I would rather have no job than work a job that is not rewarding nor challenging in any way. I’ve earned it. Any job that’s not helping me progress is pointless and a complete waste of time. I began volunteering and gauging if I can really see myself working in a hospital setting. I also started thinking about what I can do to challenge myself next. Since I proved to myself that I can handle being a resident advisor and take ~23 units simultaneously, I felt confident that I can succeed even with another job to handle. During my search, I sought an enriching, challenging, and rewarding job. I didn’t care much for the pay as I was chasing the experience. About a week of searching, I came across a listing for “Peer Mentor” for the College of Social Sciences. Although I didn’t have direct mentorship experience, I applied anyways as I thought it satisfied all of the requirements that I listed for my next job and thought it was something that I can learn a lot from as well as give a lot to. I ended the summer excited for the fall as I now had that to look forward to as well.
Chapter 7: The Finale- Coming Soon