So, first off (as promised), here's the run down of what I'm up to for Fall 2017!
One Jump Ahead of the Blogline!
(bonus points if you caught the Disney reference)
- University Life
-- University Life (Assistantship)
- Church Life
- Creative Life
- Exciting Life
To "jump", hit "Ctrl (or Cmd for Macs) + F" and type in the EXACT title.
Given the flood of photos that you guys've had for the last few blog post, here's a (hopefully) refreshingly photo-devoid post lol XD
So, for those who may not know, 3 graduate level classes (9 credit hours) is considered to be roundabouts the same workload as 15 credits for undergraduates. Yours truly is doing something possibly dangerous (academically speaking) and taking FOUR.
Yep.
"Why would you do this to yourself, Ariel?!" I can hear you all wondering this inwardly right now. Those of you who are more vocal may have already asked me this in person lol
The reason is because I don't want to live with regrets. I have a few of those already and they're not fun. Something came up where I got a second shot. In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, "I am not throwing away my shot".
When I had first changed my undergraduate major from Computer and Electrical Engineering to Radio, Television & Digital Media (+ a minor in Marketing), it was a huge step for me. But that's not the story I'm sharing today. What I wanted to get at is that there was a class, "Game Narratives", that I had heard about and wanted to take as soon as I transferred over to the College of MCMA. Unfortunately for me, in Fall 2012, I was not qualified to take it.
Why?
It's technically a Senior level class (I was a Junior). It had a couple of typical college specific prerequisites and I had just transferred. And to my great misfortune, I found out that it was only offered in the Fall semester, once every two years.
Le sigh. I'd graduate by the time it came around again, so I let it go.
As life would have it, I took two years off from school to attempt working and when that didn't go as well as I'd hoped, I took a shot at the GRE, made it into SIUC, and came back for my Master's in Spring 2017.
And LO AND BEHOLD, guess what class is being offered (as a graduate section) this Fall 2017? You guessed it. Game Narratives. It's an undergraduate course, but they also have grad students in the class (we just do more coursework).
So yeah, I'm taking it.
On another fun note, 2 out of my 4 classes are with my dad. One of the classes in particularly is proving interesting, though the other two (not the fun one with Dad and the game narrative one) are very...bleh.
I like reading, but academic textbook reading is a completely different story.
The information doesn't stick. :(
Assistantship
I've been blessed to have my assistantship renewed with SIUC this semester.
Given how my parents are graciously paying for my re-education, the least I can do is to do my best to help pay for it within my means.
Thank the Lord Jesus Christ that I've managed to hold on to this assistantship that not only CONTINUES, but is a 50% assistantship (means I get to work 20 hrs) that pays me AND my tuition (it was $5k+ this semester).
I'm an online TA for one class this semester, though we've already hit quite a few bumps in the road due to the fact that the class assignments are team based and we've got some people dropping due to health reasons or otherwise (thus mucking up the team formations).
In essence, please pray for me lol
Two words: I am retired.
Sorry, couldn't resist the Hercules quote, but since this is English, this joke is funny (the REAL joke with Disney is that in Greek, that phrase IS actually 2 words).
Jokes aside, I've officially "retired" from the Sunday worship team. LE GASP.
Yes, calm down. It doesn't mean that I'm not in anymore. If any of the pianists, bassists, or guitarists gets sick and they REALLY need someone to stand in, I'm more than willing (assuming I'm not in the middle of something that I can't get out of). I still love the team very much, but due to my increased academic workload, I have to prioritize the fact that my assistantship and homework really only allow me to have something close to a respite on weekends.
On another note, CCF (Calvary Chinese Fellowship) is stepping into a new time of transition right now. My baby sister is off to university (sniff), my best Chinese friend has moved to CA (cries), and the new waves of students coming these days are getting younger and younger (more undergrads, less grads). It also doesn't help that we haven't had any new Chinese Christian leaders come into the body that we can rope in to help.
Dad's taking over the guitar again and while he'll be standing in front "leading", I will still be planning songs, planning the set, creating/redoing PowerPoints for both worship and the message, and (surprise!) back on the piano again.
Would appreciate prayer :)
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SO many things have happened recently.
I was on TV in May for TZArtisan. I was recently invited to participate in an art gallery to put up tsumami kanzashi (because of said TV appearance) that will keep my things on display from Sept - Nov, with a public reception in Oct (there will be a post about that when the time comes).
The Crossroads Arts & Crafts Show (Aug 20-21) was stupidly hot, but I broke a personal sales goal. I finally (hopefully) getting my accounting/business situation figured out (after much research and with a little help from knowledgeable crafty peeps who have been at this much longer than I and are doing this RIGHT).
I have 3 more shows to come for this semester:
- Family Weekend @ SIUC (end Sept)
- AutumnFest @ JALC (mid Nov)
- Holiday @ SIUC (beginning Dec)
The TZArtisan tutorial book is coming along slowly but surely.
I've also begun to take my YouTube channel more seriously.
I have a new project I'm starting there that I'm especially excited about.
It's one of those work on it for a while and then post one great product type things.
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So, speaking of YouTube, THIS happened yesterday (Wednesday).
I felt bad for missing the #WeeklyWednesday timeline, but this made it all worth it because now I get to put THIS in the post lol
I can't release the link to THEIR Reaction-Ception video because it's a Patreon exclusive thing, but I really wanted to share this awesome news with you.
Talk about a "Senpai noticed me" situation lol XD
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If it hasn't become painfully obvious right now, I'm a girl who appreciates prayer in her life :)
I sincerely DO NOT KNOW where I'd be without people praying for me.
This #FeatureFriday, I'm going to make good on my promise to share my portfolio from my summer class and show you all the photos I took, along with a general description of what it is and why I took the photo.
If you haven't subscribed yet, please do so :)
Click the "SUBSCRIBE" button in the top right corner of your screen, enter your email, and you're done!
See you all on Friday!~
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