The Obsessions and Ravings of Two Bored College Students

Needing/Getting by Ok Go

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:19:00 +0000

Holy crap... so freaking insane and AWESOME!!!!

Truths

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:05:00 +0000

Seriously.

Every. night.

Happens every time!

The solution to close-talkers.

OMG.

PROBLEM SOLVED

ORCA GRANT WHAT'S UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:48:00 +0000

YES!!!!!!!!!!

"Dear Ji Su Park,

Congratulations! You have been awarded a 2012 ORCA Grant to facilitate your work on The Role of Timing of Dietary Selenium and Isoflavone Supplementation in the Reduction of Prostate Cancer Risk Factors with Merrill Christensen. You can pick up your ORCA Mentoring Grant check for $---- after February 20th, 2012 in the ORCA office.

[insert additional information]

We wish you well in your forthcoming research and look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Office of Research & Creative Activities (ORCA)
Brigham Young University
A-285 ASB
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-3841

One last time

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:44:00 +0000

I changed my major for the final time-- I am a Nutritional Science major! I am so freaking excited for it.

"But I thought you were a PDBio major? And what's this about Exercise Science?"

I was really sad when I switched from Physiology and Developmental Biology to Exercise Science. I've been a PDBio major for 3 years and I absolutely loved everything about the science, but if I wanted to get all of my pre-reqs done in a reasonable amount of time, I needed a shorter major.

I heard a lot about Exercise Science, about how awesome it is and how SHORT it is (and there was a lot of overlap between the two majors). To be honest, I wasn't too excited about giving up PDBio, but I decided that if it meant getting out of school earlier so I can go to graduate school sometime, it was worth it.

So after much contemplation, I switched to Exercise Science, took Biomechanics (my first EXSC class), and thought it was a great class. BUT then I was drawn to another class even more-- Nutrition 100. Long story short, I ended up applying for an ORCA grant with my nutrition professor, Dr. Merrill Christensen, am now working in his lab researching prostate cancer, and decided that I wanted to switch to Nutritional Science.

"Was changing to Exercise Science a waste of time?"

Haha, I guess I could have saved a semester by just switching to Nutritional Science. But it's interesting, because I have no doubt that I was supposed to change to Exercise Science for a couple of reasons. One was to make me realize how important and beneficial exercise really is... and how I'm screwing myself up for not taking the time to do it enough. The second is the people I met because of the major, namely my biomechanics professor, Dr. Matt Seeley. I have a lot of respect for him and I enjoyed talking to him about the class. Because of what he taught us, I am now taking a weight training class. HUGE, different improvement in my life. The third is that Nutrition 100 is an EXSC major class. I never would have taken Nutrition 100 if it wasn't for switching to Exercise Science.

"How much longer do you have to stay?"

I was planning on graduating this April, but now I am graduating next April of 2013 (if I had stayed with PDBio the graduation date would have a been later with all the pre-reqs I wanted to fit in). I had pretty much most of the major done with everything I've done for PDBio, but it would require a few more semesters than Exercise Science and basically NO break from now until graduation. BUT if it turns out that dental school doesn't happen and I'm not employed outside the home, even then I would have really good base of helpful information with my major to bless and take care of my family. My advisor ALMOST didn't let me change, but she saw how badly I wanted this, so she let me.

And this just shows you that no matter how confused you are, or for how long (most of my college career), even if you don't predict how things are going to end up, things just work out the way they are supposed to.

So there you have it! I'm a Nutritional Science major!

Paradise by Coldplay (ft. Alex Boye in African style piano/cello cover by The Piano Guys)

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:13:00 +0000

Basically, there's nothing cooler than Alex Boye, Jon Schmidt, and Steven Sharp doing a cover on a Coldplay song on top of a canyon... haha. Love this.

I'm a Mormon.

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:34:00 +0000

In light of all this Mitt Romney presidential candidacy mumbo jumbo What-is-Mormonism? hype in the media, I will just add this quick note.

You ask, well who are these Mormons anyway? Are they even normal? Mitt Romney's weird because he's Mormon, right? At least that's what I'm hearing from everyone..

Actually, I'm a Mormon! I think I'm normal and pretty cool. :) Well, as cool as I can get as someone always ranting about college. Maybe I'm not that cool, but there are plenty of other awesome people out there who are Mormon as well.

I finally created my "I'm a Mormon" profile. If you're wondering why I'm a Mormon, why other people are Mormon, and about our faith, check it out!

http://mormon.org/me/8367/#

Congress, Don't Censor the Internet!

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Congress is trying to fight online piracy, but they're doing it the wrong way. In short, by voting for SOPA and PIPA, the web could be censored like it is in China and it would kill a LOT of jobs. AND it's way too broad to stop piracy-- it won't work.

Click here for more information and to vote NO on this (I DON'T WANT US TO END UP LIKE CHINA): Take Action!

Finalized Winter 2012 Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:02:00 +0000

I've FINALLY finalized my schedule for this semester.

The schedule ONLY includes the time I am physically somewhere (in class, in the research lab, at devotional, shadowing at a dentist's office, and working in the Freshman Mentoring office or the Bio 100 TA lab).

I DID NOT include all of the time I will be spending on the commute to school and back, cooking, laundry/cleaning, homework (for TWO chemistry classes-- general college chem and the second half of organic chem and the other classes) and the 11 more hours of work I have to fit in somewhere in the week for FM and my TA job (I have to work 10 hours for both jobs weekly).

Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to put in dinner. When does everybody make/pack lunches for school and dinners? (and balanced dinners, not things like hot pockets or ramen? I guess balanced meals don't exist in college) Last fall I ate healthier meals but didn't really exercise... and now I'm trying to be healthier by taking a weight training class... but if I'm going to eat crap all the time it'll probably all even out and nothing will change -_-

Oh well, they say we only get busier! BRING IT!!!

The best song to listen to when I'm stressed out with school

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:07:00 +0000

Some people may like calm and peaceful classical music or ocean sounds when they're stressed out, but I personally prefer dramatic and intense music that reflects my feelings, and it's the best when you turn up the bass and let the music surround you. It's therapeutic and cathartic, especially when I can't show my stress outwardly, and because I feel better afterwards, I'm able to focus on work better.

Is this true for anyone else?

Hans Zimmer is probably my favorite film composer and music producer ever aka pure genius. He's known for and has won LOTS of awards for doing soundtracks for The Dark Knight, Gladiator, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, even the Lion King, and tons and tons of other movies.

This is my current favorite-- Don't Think About Elephants by Hans Zimmer from Inception (bonus track) (especially from around 0:54). SOOOO EPIC.

Enjoy!

If I lived in a snow globe I would...

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:51:00 +0000

Jordan and I were walking through an elementary school the other day while his brother, Nicholas, was at basketball practice, and we saw some artwork on display. Fact: Little kids are hilarious.

One of the projects we saw were the "If I lived in a snow globe I would..." drawings... and without any guidelines to what the kids can put, this is just asking for unexpected answers. These are my two favorites because of how opposite they were to each other:

The girly girl answer:

The redneck answer??

If you're ever bored or you want to go on a cheap date (maybe after your relationship is pretty established), go check out the nearest elementary school and read the stuff they post in the hallways! Great, great stuff.

Random Life Lesson Learned From Snow Globes

A thought just occurred to me as I was just about to publish this post.

There are times like this when I compare fun drawings like this to all of the ochem homework I'm going to have and I wish for the simpler days of childhood. But then I remember all of my best friends/the hilarious roommates I've had during college, my wonderful husband, my job as a peer mentor and TA, my awesome professors, my stronger relationship with my parents, my independence, and how much I've learned so far in school and life and it's all worth it. I love this part of my life. Every stage of life, no matter how hard or busy, is meant to be enjoyed.

So with that being said, go and enjoy your semester! Happy back to school!

A few things that make me chuckle

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Hahahaha.

BEST Divine Comedy MV EVER

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:45:00 +0000

I AM SUCH THE FAN.

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! What are some things that YOU are thankful for?

Some of the things I’m thankful for are…

All of the awesome students and peer mentors and staff I get to work with (I'm a peer mentor at BYU)
Fat Asian babies, like my sister: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkOtw_4NTEo
A comfortable bed
Dove milk chocolate
ALL foooooooood
The opportunity to live, study, and work in the United States
The opportunity to learn about God's greatest creation -- the human body
My family-- my awesome parents, siblings, and husband to name a few
That my dad introduced the gospel to our family just in time for me to join young women's
Hans Zimmer's compositions that make me want to run around wearing a cape
Skullcandy headphones and subwoofer-- TURN UP THE BASS!!!

I challenge all of you to blog or journal about some of the things that you are thankful for and show your appreciation for the loved ones in your life this Thanksgiving!

Did You Know?: Locations of Open Access Computer Labs

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:19:00 +0000

The other day, I overheard some students in the library complaining about the shortage of computers in the No Shh Zone.

BYU Students!

If you didn't know this already, there are nine different labs you can use in various campus buildings (and only two of those labs are in the library). You can find the locations and hours on page 14 of your planner for easy reference. But if you don't have a planner/don't use it, here are the locations:

Heritage Halls - 140 HRCN

Jesse Knight Building - 1005 JKB

Kimball Tower - 101 SWKT

Library LRC - 4840 HBLL

Library Periodical - 2210, 2212 HBLL

Student Athletic Building - 353 SAB

Widtsoe Building - 442 WIDB

Wilkinson Center - 1111 WSC

Wymount Housing - 202A WOAD

Anyone can use these computers as long as you have a BYU NetID and there are printing stations at all of these labs. Hours vary by location.

This is what it has come down to...

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:07:00 +0000

When you do so much homework and studying that the mere sight of computers and books makes you cross-eyed and want to throw up all over yourself and the only thing that will calm you down is coloring in a coloring book even when you have a paper due and a test tomorrow... that is when you know things are bad.

On the bright side.... we'll have wall decorations!!!!!

COME ONNNN THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!

Seriously?

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Dear person who jacked our radiator while we are in a dollar movie (so OBVIOUSLY we can afford a new radiator for our car),

THAT IS NOT OKAY. Go steal your own radiator.

You're not welcome,
Ji Su

"Forget Me Not"

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:27:00 +0000

President Uchtdorf (a leader in the LDS Church for all of those who don't know) gave this talk during a broadcast to the Relief Society (the women's organization of the LDS Church). I found his advice particularly poignant and relevant to me and some of the things I'm going through in my life right now.

Take a few minutes to watch it if you haven't seen it. I think everyone can find something relevant in President Uchtdorf's address-- men and women, LDS and non-LDS alike.

Guess who made it into the BYU Accounting Program!?!?

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:26:00 +0000

That's right-- my husband, Jordan Hiatt.

I know this entry is two months overdue (we found out right after we got from our honeymoon), but better late than never, right?

I am so extremely proud of Jordan. He worked so stinking hard this past year to do well in his pre-reqs (while trying to work early morning custodial, date me, and get married-- no big deal), and I definitely remember many moments of discouragement all along the way. He did his very best, wrote a fantastic essay for his application, but in the end, he left it up to God to decide whether it was His will that Jordan gets into accounting. When he received news of his acceptance, we were all ecstatic.

To tell you a bit about BYU's accounting program, BYU's undergraduate program is ranked 3rd in the nation, while BYU's graduate program is ranked 1st and has a 100% placement rate within six months of graduation. Most go on to work for the Big Four, though Jordan still has time to decide whether he wants to go on to get the MAcc. This also means the next few years are going to be a lot of work, but we're both ready for it.

I'm so proud of you, Jord! Keep up the good work!

July 2, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:03:00 +0000

We're back, we're married, and life is awesome.

How was the wedding, you ask?

It was a perfect day. The sealing ceremony was absolutely beautiful and I got sealed to my best friend for time and all eternity. What more can I ask for??

A million thanks to Abby Alger for the gorgeous photographs and so much support! (Check out her website here)

Finals Week-- We Made It!

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:26:00 +0000

It was a rough week, let. me. tell. you. I've never had so many papers and projects due AND friends' weddings (plural) to go to and be a part of WHILE having family/friends at our apartment... in the same week as finals.

It was stressful trying to be a good student and a good employee when, more than anything, I wanted to be a good daughter/sister to my family AND good fiance to Jordan AND daughter/sister to the Hiatts AND helpful friend/bridesmaid to Whitney AND helpful roommate to Lindsay AND welcoming host to all of the awesome people who came to visit Whitney this week. Jordan was just as stressed out, if not more (since I was stressed out).

(if anyone cares, in sociological terms, this is called "role conflict"-- where an individual experiences conflict among the roles corresponding to two or more statuses.)

But with the incredible support of each other, of Jordan's family (who very graciously let me stay at their home this week when I was on the verge of another breakdown), friends, and merciful professors, Jordan and I both made it through! Somehow, we got everything done and did very well. For me, I've never done better before.

We thank God for all of you guys. We definitely could not have done it without your help, and we especially could not have done it without His.

So what have we been doing since we finished finals on Thursday? What other preparations do we have left until the wedding?

Jordan and I were able to catch up with some sleep yesterday, watch some Modern Family with Lindsay, go to work for a couple of hours, finalize everything with wedding party attire, and celebrate the end of finals with some delicious Cafe Rio and a movie. This morning, I more than happily cleaned my room and did this week's truckload of dishes (really happily because this meant that I have time to do things other than school!!!! AMAZING).

Today, Jordan will start his applications to the Marriott School and I will break out my craft bag again and start working on decorations for the reception. We will have Pandora up to compile a wedding playlist. This next week, we need to have most of the decorations done and start moving stuff into our new apartment. My wedding dress should be done by the end of next week. Then the week after that, we start our drive to Virginia!

So that is the update. Until next time!

We're engaged!

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:06:00 +0000

As you've probably noticed, my blog The Obsessions and Ravings of a Bored College Student has now been changed to a joint blog to include Two Bored College Students.

Why?

Because I'm engaged!!!! Didn't see that one coming, did you??

Neither did I. I bet God had a good time with this one.

We are getting married on Saturday, July 2, 2011 in the Washington D.C. LDS Temple.

Alas, this bored college student has now found love and new meaning in her life, and it's quite exciting actually. And you get to hear all about it! However, you are forewarned-- we feel that just because we're about to get married doesn't mean we need to only write about ourselves. So we'll have our love stories and other couple-y stuff on here, but Jordan and I will continue to write our thoughts on the world/random things... hence why we kept the obsessions and ravings title... for now.

If you want to read about how we met or about our engagement story, you can click on these links:

How did we meet?

Our Engagement Story

Here are some cute pictures of us (click to enlarge). Many thanks to Tom Hiatt for the pictures!!!

Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:14:00 +0000

"God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them." -unknown

A Good Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Why is English so freaking complicated?

Yeah, let's just decide not to pronounce the K sometimes like in "know" or "knot", make "ph" sound like an F, and put the I before E except after C BECAUSE C STANDS FOR COOKIES AND I LIKE COOKIEEESSSSSSSSLAHFLEHAALDFALDFLAHG.

Yep, that is definitely a good idea.

As winter registration rolls around...

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:06:00 +0000

Dear world,

DILEMMA.

Once again, that time of the semester has come-- the time when we are choosing classes for the following semester, though it really feels like we're making decisions that will affect that rest of our freaking lives. Every single pre-registration period, I slip into cardiac arrest as I frantically pull up all of my major guides, class times for all of my possible classes, and ratemyprofessor.com and I wonder what career I won't meet with complete disaster.

In addition, I literally failed this last physics test (even though I thought I understood the material pretty well), which makes me reconsider my pre-dentistry path even more.

Yeah, with the grade that I saw on that testing center monitor, I might as well have poured hot sauce and lemon juice into my eye sockets.

So which major will I stick with this time? Should I:

1. admit to myself that realistically, no accredited dental school will consider me as a serious applicant and switch to Biology Education? I mean...

I've always wanted to teach.
I can imagine myself being this short Asian teacher that back sasses any student who gives me crap.
If I can find one, I'd have a job after I graduate.

Or 2. stick with my current major Physiology and Developmental Biology (PDBio) and stay on the pre-dentistry path?

Biology education majors have to take classes in plant and animal biology (and I'll have to teach it, of course)... gross... whereas in PDBio, I'll learn about things I actually care about once I get past the obnoxious physics and chemistry classes. I can talk about human anatomy and cadaver dissection classes all day long and I am incredibly excited about taking physiology and pathophysiology soon, but my eyes go cross-eyed every time I read about photosynthesis. NO THANK YOU.
I think I'll actually enjoy and be good at treating teeth. I have good hand-eye coordination and "nimble fingers" (as once described by Dr. Barrow). :) Seriously.

Or maybe 3. stick with PDBio and go to graduate school to study more PDBio and become a college professor???

BUT WHAT IF I'D MAKE FOR A SUCKY TEACHER AND DENTIST? THEN I'M REALLY STUCK IN A RUT, AREN'T I? AND OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT TO TEACH ABOUT PLANTS OR ANIMALS OR GEOLOGY SO I'LL PROBABLY STICK WITH PDBIO ANYWAY SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M EVEN CONSIDERING BIO ED OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I'D HAVE A JOB AND IT'S EASIER SUBJECT MATTER, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT AS MUCH AS I LIKE PDBIO CLASSES, I CAN FAIL THEM TOO LIKE I FAILED MY STUPID PHYSICS TESTLSKDHFLSHGSGBLADFHLAGHALHBAH!!!! *ensue rant in obscure run-on sentences*

So I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

Love,

Hopelessly Distressed Ji Su

21

noreply@blogger.com (Ji Su Park) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:22:00 +0000

I turned 21 today.

Not only does that mean that I have successfully maintained my existence on this earth for 21 years, but it also means that...

I have been in the United States for 17 years now.
I've known English for about 14 years (which means beginning from the mark in time when I didn't have to take English as a Second Language anymore).
I've been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 9 years.

Holy crap, time flies quickly, doesn't it?

Today, I can't help but be amazed at how much I've been blessed with. I live in the light of the gospel with the support of loving family and friends in an era of technology and information where everything is practically handed over to us for our convenience. And yeah, I whine about tests and school sometimes, but seriously... being a college student in the United States studying in preparation for a career is probably one of the best opportunities in the world. It also came at the cost of my parents sacrificing their comfortable lives and familiarity in Korea for my and my siblings' sake today. I would be an ungrateful little fool to give that up.

How can I possibly ask for more?

Anyway, for old times sake, here I am on my first birthday in Korea.

(me in my hanbok swag)

Note: The fancy traditional hat also served a second purpose-- to hide my bald head.

(I also just realized that the first stuffed animal behind me is of an unknown species and gender. Seriously, what IS that???)