What?

This Life

Well, it is true: I am finished my first year at The University of British Columbia. Can you believe it? It was an interesting eight months with lots of downs and a memorable couple of ups (like getting my first A+ on an essay I worked really hard on).

I've learned a lot about myself. I am definitely an introvert, I am very sensitive, I can actually do a lot of things in 24 hours and the importance of keeping myself healthy and feeling good. 

I also learned that university is only going to be one part of my life and that it's up to me to make this part of my life the best it can be. No one is going to sign me up for clubs or that guest lecture, I have to do it myself. I also have to grocery shop myself, get myself out of bed and remember my own keys when I leave my place. I have and continue to become an independent being and as it's happening, I don't even really realize it; but I'm excited for it. 

This term really taught me that nothing in school is really as important as everything outside of school, which is weird because I've spent thirteen years believing the opposite. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that my first year has been a learning curve. I'm excited for the future and at the prospect of being an Imagine Day leader in September. I'm also excited to spend this summer with people who I hold so very near to my heart. 

Last night I got to spend a few hours around a fire with some of my best friends and it just felt so nice to be there, with people who know me and who I am very comfortable with. It's also a very strange experience to notice how much they've changed with their 8 months at University. 

This is the longest break from school I've had since I began kindergarten. 

I am welcoming it with open arms. 

Well… Exams...

Valentine's Day

Personally, I really love Valentine's Day. Not because of the chocolate or gifts or whatever but because it just makes everyone really optimistic about love. I don't know if real love is real or not or even what that means but Valentine's Day means that people are thinking about love and they're imagining themselves in love and I think that's a very beautiful feeling and idea.
I know a lot of people get sad about Valentine's Day because they're single or because it's heteronormative or because it commodifies love and all the things that go along with it but, I think February 14th can be about more than that. It can be about spending time with people (more than one!!) who you enjoy or it can mean being alone and celebrating your independence. Or you can act like it doesn't even exist and it's just another day!!
I don't know if it's my own hormones or personality but all of the red and pink and hearts and talk of love or happiness that come along with Valentine's just makes me really happy and excited for other people.
Of course, I hate capitalism (as I sit here writing on my MacBook Air) and I hate the idea of love being commodified but I don't think it has to be like that. Not if you're doing right. Valentine's Day can be about much more than spending money on someone or sex and instead, I feel it should just be about surrounding yourself with individuals who make you feel happy whether that be your family or friends or significant other.

so here is a dog being surrounded by the things it loves. 

GoPro and Piggy

This is the best!!!

Hoffman

I'm not going to write some sort of weird fan eulogy about Phillip Seymour Hoffman but, hearing his passing today made me think of him as Lester Bangs, my favourite character in Almost Famous, one of the best movies of all time. I guess I just relate to this and feel it necessary to pay a small tribute. So, here you are internet:

Life at UBC