🌷 January 22, 2024: Blog and Life Update

It's been almost a year since I posted my last blog entry. I had a lot of things going on. But for now, I'll try my best to keep track of what's happening in my life for me to be able to look back at in the future through short and/or quick blog posts like this. I'm also doing this in order to deal with how bad my writing has become over the past 2-3 years. I text like a neanderthal now and my sentences are terrible. IDK, I feel like the words in my sentences don't make sense at all. My 18 year-old self wouldn't like that. (Plus, I think looking back at all the things I've done and/or accomplished so far is a great way for me to stay motivated 🤍).

While I have been able to improve the way I write e-mails, my creative writing skills were left to rot in an abandoned WSS locker after having graduated nearly four years ago, along with the lost calculator covers that I painted for my friends back then.

Speaking of said calculator covers, I don't even know what happened to them ;-;;;. Did they (the school, not my friends LOL) throw them away??? WHAT did they do to them ㅠㅠ??

IDK if it's just me, but, I personally feel like my e-mails have greatly improved with the support, help, and advice given to me by my friends and colleagues over the past few months while working with my department's club. They're just more concise now. Hmmmm O.o, IDK.

Anyway, so far, here's what I have going on:

N=22 (January 22, 2024)

1) Spring 2023-2024: Final semester of uni. After this, I'm off to do my practical training and then, it's time for graduation. Will proceed with getting a Master's Degree afterwards. Likewise, I'll have to work on my grad school applications soon. I unfortunately will not be going abroad to complete my Master's. At this rate, my current uni is the only school that'll accept me 😬. That's okay, though :3. I think I kinda like the idea of staying here, LOL.

I'm also planning to work while getting my Master's Degree in order to build my work experience and save up some cash by myself for when I go abroad for my Doctorate (hopefully). I found a good programme at Ewha Womans University in Seoul which, apart from being related to my current major, I also find to be rather interesting. Will try to see what I can do to go for it. I'll try my best, but, we'll see what happens 💚. I'm also looking into other schools, mainly in Asia and/or Europe. I've booted North America off of my list (sorry, Columbia ;-; 💙🦁). Hopefully, I end up studying in someplace decent 🙏🏻.

On account of my (potential) plans to study abroad in the future, I've also been looking into learning new languages. Still pretty busy with school these days, though, as the semester has just started. But I'll definitely be working on this 💪🏻.

2) Senior Design Project I on Developing an Integrated Solar Chimney has been completed last semester. My group and I got good marks, but, I am not happy at all with our performance. We could've done way better. Currently trying our best for SDP2 this semester. 

Our target that we would like to achieve by the first week of February is to be able to come up with several prototypes of a Solar Still of varying designs and dimensions that can go with the current Solar Chimney prototype we have at the uni. Similarly, we were also asked to develop the design of said Solar Chimney prototype. I won't delve into the details, but, I hope it goes well 🤞🏻.

3) Working on improving my skills in the game Scrabble. So far, so good :). I've remained at a beginner level ever since I started playing the game in 2012. 12 years later during the first week of 2024, I have finally moved up to the Medium level 🥳. 

And today, I would like to proudly - and humbly :) - share that I have eventually made it to the Hard level ☺️. I am currently practicing with Zoey (the computer LOL) to further get better at it. I'm really enjoying this game and may have even developed an addiction :P.

4) Been busy trying to read new books and explore new TV shows as a way to unwind after a busy week. I'm currently reading "Grit" by Angela Duckworth as well as a few other novels I have at home (i.e., Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Little House" series). 

I have also recently finished watching "The Glory" on Netflix as well as the first episode of "Little Women" (The drama :3 I am yet to read the novel, which I have had a copy of since I was 17). I absolutely loved how actress Song Hye Kyo delivered the role of Moon Dong Eun 🥹. LOL I just love reading books and watching TV so much due to my undying love for stories haha xD.

5) Lastly, I'm currently working on improving both my sleep schedule and daily routine. It may not sound like much, but, I have recently come to realize that I need to get my life together instead of just winging it through each and every day in order to maintain a healthy balance. So far, I think it's going pretty well. My routine and schedule are both nowhere near perfect, but, they have improved a bit. I hope I can keep up with it 🙏🏻.

I'm also working on developing a good balance between focusing on both talent and hard work when it comes to dealing with all the stuff I have both in school and outside of. Talent counts, but effort counts twice, said Angela Duckworth in her book "Grit". 

A few weeks ago, after having read the first two chapters of that book, it suddenly dawned on me that I have basically spent my entire life depending solely on how "smart" and/or "talented" I am on account of having spent a large chunk of my childhood and teenage life being able to excel in a lot of the things I do without having to exert much effort compared to my peers (i.e., getting excellent grades without having to study much and/or studying last minute). 

Unfortunately, that's not how life works :3. Practice and hard work is key. Another consequence that I have had to deal with after having lived a life distracted by talent for several years is that I have grown up to become somebody who is only able to work under pressure - which, by any means, is not healthy at all. And I would like to change that 🤔.

That's all I have for now. I'll try to keep this blog updated as the semester goes by. Again, please be reminded that I'm just keeping track of all of this as a way to both improve my writing and to keep a record of what I've been up to recently in school and with my hobbies. I am in no way trying to brag about how "accomplished" or "stable" I am. Unlike some people out there who keep flexing about how "great" they are and how they're leagues "better" than others all because they're in their "healing era" and can be likened to a chick that has just hatched while everybody else is still "stuck" being an "underdeveloped egg" who keeps talking smack about them-

Okay. That's enough. Goodbye for now :3 Will try to update as much as I can whenever I have the time. I'll also try to add some photographs and other similar details to my upcoming entries <3

Smell ya later,

Jaina :3

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This entry is so wordy and hard to read ;-;;; I kept blabbling on and on and on ㅠㅠ I really need to work on my writing ;-;; I wish somebody could mark this entry for me like how my High School English teacher used to mark my pieces in order to practice and prepare for the IGCSE exam LOL

Anyway, imma have to go now that I've finished reviewing this entry. I still have to complete a bunch of school work and deal with issues I have with my school's finance department ;-;;. Please wish me luck ㅠㅠ I'll need it xxx