The Home Stretch

In Hayden Library again. Finishing up take-home final and beginning studying for the other two. I have resolved not to leave this library until all my tangible work is done.

During finals week, the only things I need to sustain my existence are my laptop, an internet connection, and all my books and notes. And coffee.

Finals Update

Reporting live from Hayden Library on a Saturday morning (how's THAT for depressing?), there actually isn't a whole lot to report. My first two finals on Thursday went okay - not fantastic, but okay. Actually the Econ final was okay and my international business final was fantastic, I finished it in 20 minutes. Also, my professor liked my honors paper for that class so that was great too. Hopefully he will like the thesis abstract I will be sending him soon and agree to direct or at least point me to someone who can direct my thesis.

I have today, Sunday and Monday to prepare for my next 3 finals. Two of them are going to be midly stressful but since our Logistics final is take-home we should be able to get it done. My geography final will no doubt be easiest and is something that I am going to prepare minimally for.

I took down all the stuff off my bedroom walls yesterday and began packing up books and such. The entire packing process shouldn't take too long, actually, since there isn't much to move out. That will be done mostly on Wednesday.

Thursday is getting closer, only 5 days until I leave. I've already started burning CDs for the road trip and I'm immensely looking forward to the drive.

Reading Day

I finished my paper last night at 11:30pm, perfect timing to fall into bed and sleep soundly for a good few hours. That was quite possibly the most painless paper I've ever written. Not easy, but painless. I was well prepared and the more work you put into paper prep and organization the faster the writing itself goes. It was nice to have it done before the AM hours.

The day started off beautifully with an email from one of my professors saying that my huge process improvement paper was great and that the department loved it - also, I got a great grade on it, 96%. So awesome to know that the hours of work on that all paid off.

Today is reading day, which means we have no classes and the day is ours to study for finals. My first and worst final is tomorrow at 7:40am (International Economics), and once that is done I only have 4 left (International Management, Logistics, Supply Management, and Geography), all of which shouldn't be too bad. I have plenty of time to prepare for them.

Also, the packing and cleaning process is slowly beginning. Tonight will probably mark the coming-down of all the posters and pictures in the room. Departure date is drawing closer, and I can hardly wait to get in the car and just drive........

Finals Deprive Me of Coffee

As I stood in line this morning at Starbucks, I suddenly realized that I definitely did not need coffee - my heart was already pounding away like a jackrabbit and the adrenaline was flowing. So I just sat down and started to work.

Finals are never an enjoyable experience. True to form, I woke up today feeling sick. Now I'm so high-strung that I'm jumping at the slightest noises and so full of adrenaline that I'd swear I just jumped out of an airplane at 30,000 feet. Without a parachute.

And it's all over these stupid presentations today.

I don't know why I'm so hyped over these group projects. Public speaking does not normally bother me - I'll be the first guy to stand up in front of a crowd and make an idiot of himself as long as it gets me a few laughs - but for some reason this particular presentation has me all flustered.

Maybe it's because I know the professor is a really particular guy who's difficult to please. Maybe I don't feel prepared enough. Maybe it's just the anticipation and it will be fine once we get up there and get to start talking. Maybe it's the paper that's still hanging over my head - the paper that I just can't seem to make work. Maybe it's these dress shoes, which are absolutely killing my feet and are sure to leave massive blisters in their wake by the time I take them off this evening.

Only 8 more days.

Manic Monday

...aaaaaaand we enter the final two days of classes. Term papers and projects abound, and I have until Wednesday to finish it all. It's gonna be a late couple of nights.

In happier news, one of my professors told our class this morning that we were his favorite class this semester. It's always nice to get feedback like that as a class from a professor you all respect and admire.

For fun, here are the belated pics of the housing they're putting us interns up in this summer:

Summer Housing

So big news. Last night I got an email from the company with my summer housing assignment, and I still haven't quite picked my jaw up off the floor.

They're putting us (7 of us interns) in corporate housing in downtown Seattle. This facility is nothing short of incredible. It looks like a five-star hotel - and I'm not exaggerating. It is fully furnished, and they are putting us all in 2-bedroom 2-bath apartments that include - and it's really kind of sad that I'm this excited about this - washers and dryers in the unit. Each room has a queen-size bed that looks like something out of the Marriott. The building also has a 20,000 square foot health club/gym, a swimming pool, a lap pool, and even a tanning salon. And it's one block from the Space Needle, Key Arena, and the center of downtown. Seroiusly, Westlake center is less than a mile from our apartment. We're right in the midst of a bunch of great restaurants and bars and theaters and such.

I really didn't know what to expect since I've never lived in corporate housing before, but this place has exceeded my wildest expectations. I am so excited for this summer. It's going to be awesome living downtown and working at this company!

The End is Near

Sorry for the lack of updates, everyone. The next five days are going to be fairly busy and basically represent the home stretch before finals. I've got a whole slew of group projects and presentations next week, and those are being finished up this weekend - along with my honors paper. Our last day of class is May 1, and then we have reading day, and then it's right into finals.

Honestly, it will be a whole lot less stressful for me once classes are over and all projects and papers are handed in. Studying for finals is totally doable - it's just getting all this other stuff done in time that's going to be difficult. The blessing in all of this is that having a lot to do makes the time almost literally fly by - I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday already.

All I can think about right now is how awesome it's going to feel to pick up the rental car, pack all my stuff into it, and head for the horizon. The 21st-century equivalent of riding off into the sunset. The drive back to Seattle is going to be a much-needed break, a time to relax, reflect, unwind, and watch the scenery go by. I am very much looking forward to two days with nothing but me, the road, and a CD player.