Category: Academics

It’s officially summer!  All the papers are in!  The nerve-wrecking presentation went better than expected, and you fell a rush of relief after you finished that last exam.  For many UIC students, this is just another summer.  Most will be working in the city or suburbs to make some extra cash or working at a cool internship to gain experience in the field.  

For others, this is a very exciting time.  They recently found out that they have been accepted into UIC as well as other schools.  As these students make a big decision about where to spend the next four years of their life, I present to them the Top 10 best things about UIC.

10. Tropical Smoothie.  Have you tried the Kiwi Quencher?  If not, it will change your life.

9.   Au Bon Pain.  Need I say more?

8. The football team.  We’re undefeated!  I think that’s saying something ;-)

7. It’s famous!  Did you know “Stranger Than Fiction” and “Candyman” were filmed at UIC?

6. Campus Housing.  Campus Housing was great to me for four years.  There are many different styles of living and types of communities.  Whatever your needs are, UIC Campus Housing probably has the style of living you need.

5. It’s always evolving. UIC is never stagnant and constantly keeps up with the times in order to serve the next generation of the UIC community.  Last week I talked a lot about how UIC has changed since I was a freshman back in 2007.  Although UIC is not the same place it was in 2007, all of the changes I can think of have done nothing but enhance UIC.

4. The resources.  Because UIC is such a diverse campus, there are many resources that can help all students, as well as teach the rest of the UIC community about culture.

3. The opportunities.  I have been employed all over campus.  Campus Housing, Building Management and Campus Recreation have been great employment opportunities for me.  I have learned valuable skills that I can take to the workplace. I’ve been a part of organizations that have been accommodating and sympathetic that I was a student.

2. The city.  Being in the city was an important part of my decision to come to UIC.  I love that I can take what I have learned in the classroom out into the city and vice versa. I am constantly learning and engaging in discourse.

1.  The community.  I spent four years of my UIC career living on campus.  I met people from all walks of life who were nothing but kind and engaging.  When I moved off campus two years ago, I was nervous about how much I would be able to engage with the UIC community.  I found the change different, but I still found it easy to engage with people.  The people in my cohort became very close.  I enjoyed movie nights and crazy conversations during the bus ride home.  Because I do not have any family in the Chicago area, my cohort became my pseudo-family.

Hello UIC!

It feels so nice to finally be done with the semester! The spring semester always flies by quicker than fall semester. I hope finals went well for everyone. I wish I had spaced out my timing for studying better. I had five finals to take all in a three-day span. Finals week is always the worst week of the semester. We are forced to fill in all the semester’s learning for one test in each of your classes. It’s just so insane!

This summer is going to be pretty productive for me. I’m going to be studying for the MCATs, working out and working on research at the College of Medicine. I am considering taking a class at UIC, but haven’t decided which class yet. I also thought about deactivating my Facebook since it’s easy to get distracted on there. But I figured I might as well learn a little self control and delete the app off my phone and not stay logged in on my laptop.

I hope everyone’s summer will be filled with fun festivities, and please stay safe!

Finals week was intense, but luckily I was fortunate enough to take one exam a day and not all at once (good and bad). For those who know me well, you probably understand that when I am presented with a chunk of time, I spend it with meetings and volunteering or work. Why? I’m psycho/insane/crazy (undiagnosed, of course). Perhaps I could be using my time “more effectively” by studying the whole time and trying to memorize every bit of detail (because professors love to make exams with a bunch of nitty gritty details), but I always feel inclined to take on new obligations that will help out others.

I can’t understand it.

So, here’s the thing: I can’t feel alive or feel any worth when I study. Sometimes I feel like grades are silly because it makes people go crazy with trying to sabotage others and hoping other people do worse than they did. It’s almost like we wish others had a disease and we’re the lucky ones (hopefully). This thinking is pathological, I believe. It’s no wonder people are so happy to graduate. They can say, “I SURVIVED” or “I MADE IT!”

I’m trying to think of other phrases to use to articulate what I’d want to hear being said, but then I contradict my thinking with understanding the successes that go along with “surviving college.” I sure hope surviving college = surviving the real world, haha!

Anyway, not sure how I did this semester yet, but I’m pretty nervous. I can only hope for the best, but sometimes I think I was not at my best when I took the exams because I was preoccupied with free time that was immediately filled up by requests. I need to start blocking out times that say “Milie Time” and a side note that reads: *This block of time is exclusively for Milie to study and she will enjoy the whole process of learning with pretty pictures and equations.*

I should probably just make that M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day to actually improve my grades. Well, in the future! Grades aren’t everything, so for those who may have procrastinated (we all do) and ended up where you expected or did not expect…no worries. =)

Yesterday was Mother’s Day.  When I was brainstorming about what to write for this week’s blog, it dawned on me that I have so many strong women in my life to look up to.

My grandmother, Irene, is one of the best grandmothers you can have.  She is so loving and caring, especially with her grandchildren.  She always lets me know how proud she is of me and my accomplishments, saying “Gosh! You’re so smart and you work so hard.”  At family gatherings, she cooks her butt off while everyone tries to tell her to sit down and relax.  When I have time, I try to go and visit her and my grandfather as much as I can.  School and work easily get in the way of that.  It’s another reason I am so happy school is over.  Every time you do something nice for her, she gets emotional and starts crying like it’s unnecessary.  It is totally necessary.  She has been such an amazing grandmother and deserves to be pampered like it. Love you, Grandma!

Another woman who has been a constant source of support is my boyfriend’s mom, Kirsten.  When I started dating her son almost three years ago, she immediately made me feel like part of the family.  She does absolutely everything she can for her kids.  She is someone I can go to for advice and confide in about anything.  I truly look forward to spending time with her.  Not many people can say that about their significant other’s mothers.  I would be very lucky to call her mom one day.  Love you, Mrs. H!

Last but certainly not least, my mom, Sandy.  She is the most influential, important person in my life.  She works harder than anyone I know and she would do anything for my brothers and I.  Life has thrown some hard times at our family, but my mom is our rock and the glue that holds us together.  She is passionate about the environment, loves rock music, wants to put blue streaks in her hair, and while she is my best friend, she will ALWAYS remind me that she’s my mom, I’m her kid and she is always right.  I honestly don’t know what I would do without her.  She has raised me to be a strong, confident woman and I am so proud that I’m her daughter.  It’s the best feeling in the world when you make her laugh and after a long day at work, she’ll have the bottle of wine ready.  I love you, mom! Thank you for being the best mom in the entire world.

That picture is at the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.  She is a rock star!

Here’s a shout out to the other mothers in my life:

Christina D. M., Emily S., Lisa M., Molly L., Tracy E., Debbie C., Tana D., Theresa G., Maggie M., Marylin T., Donna B., Janice P., Tiffany P.T., Christina P.B., Jen M.M., Arlene B., Lizzette V.T., Maria C., Abby C.

Happy Mother’s Day, ladies!!!!

I cannot believe I reached the end.  Today is the last time I will be in a UIC classroom.  I received an e-mail yesterday from the Gender and Women’s studies department that I can pick up my concentration certificate.  Eventually, I will receive that large envelope in the mail that will contain my diploma.

When I finished my undergraduate program, I was not exactly ready to venture out into the real world.  However, my graduate program experience has been very different.  As I did some light reading in the quad, it was very obvious to me that I am the old timer.  There is an entirely new generation of the UIC community on campus.  They were not here when Lincoln and Douglas halls were older looking buildings.  They were not here pre-Dunkin’ Donuts and Tropical Smoothie.  They were not here when UIC closed its doors due to the snowapocalypse of 2011.  I was here for all of that.

My generation of UIC has since moved on to various graduate schools across the country and new places of employment.  I am ready to join the ranks of my generation and leave UIC.  UIC will always have a special place in my heart, but now it is time to take everything I have learned at UIC in and out of the classroom and apply it to the world.

The truth is I have been in Chicago for six years, the longest I have spent in any one location. There were times when I was frustrated and felt as if I would not make it. I was ready to move back to D.C., Georgia, or Hawaii.  But I am glad I stayed determined and kept going.  Now I excited to enter the next phase in my life.  I not sure what it will be yet, but I do know a marathon is in my future.  ;-)

Hello UIC!

We are almost done with this semester! It’s really scary to think how much time flies by in college. We find ourselves so immersed in in our lives that we tend to forget that each moment we spend is so precious. I think college helped me realize how important time management is.

Apart from that, learning to become a critical thinker is probably one of the most important things to master after receiving a bachelor’s degree. It’s imperative to understand why people think the way they do and why people say the things they say. I think after taking an anthropology course, I learned how important it is to understand why people think the way they do and why they behave the way they do. Although I needed this anthropology course in order to complete one of my last gen ed classes, I learned more than I expected.

I hope everyone studies hard for their final exams! Summer is almost here! Push through this last week of the semester!

It’s here! The home stretch. The end of the semester! Of course, I am recouping after a week of papers and final assignments, and preparing for this week full of finals. But the end is near…I can almost taste it.

It sounds extremely cliché, but this academic year has truly gone by fast and was super hard. I don’t think I’ve ever been as challenged as I was this year, which is understandable considering I’m ending my junior year. Everything just seemed to come hard and fast at me – so much that when I think about this year everything just blends together, making it seem like one big semester. I still feel like I am just finishing up my fall semester!

Nevertheless, I’ve had a great year, especially this semester. I think I finally learned time management and good study skills! I did very well in my studies and have sincerely learned a lot.

On a personal level, I’ve had some great opportunities at my current internship at Clear Channel. I’ve really developed a good sense of business and had a lot of fun working in the promotions department. I will surely miss it when I end my term this semester.

I’m also in the midst of wrapping up my two-year term as the vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government. I’ve learned a great deal about managing and running an organization in my position and have been able to learn a great deal about the university. This week, I end my term and will become a member of the assembly. Although I will not have the same title, I will still be a big student advocate next year.

As I’m writing this, I’m now thinking about my three final exams…eek. I must go.
Thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog throughout the year! I will update once a month during the summer, so keep checking back the blogs here.
Good luck with exams :)

Until next time…
Mike

My semester is almost officially over.  I’m done with the part where I actually have to go to class.  I just have a week to hand in my final projects.

It has been an interesting semester.  I feel like I grow and learn so much during each semester.  I remember my first semester at UIC.  I had NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.  I worked really hard but it did take some time to adjust to being back in school.

Now that it’s time to gear up for summer, I’ve been trying to gear up my body for bathing suit season. EEK. MY NIGHTMARE.  I haven’t really had the chance to keep up with my classes at the gym.  But I have been doing the 30 Day Squat Challenge.

As you can see, it gets pretty rigorous.  It’s definitely hard on your knees.  You just have to make sure that you are aligning your hips, knees and ankles correctly.  I’ve been doing it for about a week now, and I can already notice a huge difference in my legs.  I obviously have a long way to go but I have one week down, three weeks to go!

In a previous post, I was talking about how much I wanted to do The Color Run.  It unfortunately sold out.  However, there is another race with the same concept called The Color Vibe! It is July 6 in Aurora.

Another race that I’d LOVE to do is the Run For Your Lives 5K!

You can sign up to be a runner or a zombie, OR both! They have professionals doing makeup for the zombies.  If you’re a runner, you have a belt with flags and the zombies try to grab them (kind of like flag football).  I’m a big fan of the show “The Walking Dead,” so this is like a dream come true.  It will be happening in Chicago on Sept. 21.

Are there any cool things you plan to do this summer?

Congrats to the class of 2013!

Hey UIC!

So I spent this week writing a 10-page paper for my philosophy class. I was having  serious writer’s block and it completely sucked! I went to Caribou Coffee, which is located conveniently right outside Marie Robinson Hall and I sat down for eight straight hours working on my paper! I realized I cannot write for long periods of time, but in intervals.

It was my roommate Katherine’s and my friend Jeremy’s 20th birthday so a group of friends and I celebrated at Grand Lux Cafe! It’s such a beautiful restaurant. I remember my older cousins taking me there when I was younger. Their red velvet cake was unbelievably delicious!

Red velvet cake!

I hope finals studying is going well! I have yet to start. I think it’s time I switch gears to actually preparing for finals. The end of the semester is only a few weeks away! Hang in there, UIC!

It’s a triple combo and its taking its toll on me. I normally get my average of 7-8 hours each night, but lately it’s been more like 5-6 hours. I wake up to a stuffy nose and teary eyes from morning allergies and they tend to last throughout the day until around dinner time. I haven’t had much time to myself because it’s either going into research, going to class, going to club meetings, or being at home studying for my exams/quizzes and soon finals! I wonder if medical school feels like this! Then again, most people just study in the first two years and don’t have to worry about a part-time job and hopefully they don’t suffer from allergies like me!

When I have allergies, I also have eczema and it’s all just a messed up fiasco. How do I get by? It’s hard to concentrate when my eyes are basically blinded by my tears! I stare at my textbooks but none of the information is coming to me. And this lack of sleep really makes me want to close my eyes and knock out all together. The Zyrtec at night doesn’t help either because it makes me drowsy. What’s a student to do…

I’m not a fan of cramming, but sometimes you have to in order to still be on your A-game! For everyone who is still trying to master the art of procrastinating, I give you a low-down on how I cram-study:

1. Read every single powerpoint slide or handwritten notes in order, starting from the new stuff because more likely than not you have not done your individual studying on the new stuff.
2. If you don’t understand anything, either go to the textbook and look it up or ask a friend/go to TA/Professor office hours.
3. After reading your notes, pick a topic that you know for a fact will be tested on (like in genetics class, nondisjunction at meiosis I and II will be heavily tested) and get a blank sheet of paper. Write the related slides and textbook information on that blank sheet of paper and draw pictures if necessary. Do this for each “big” topic.
4. If your professor has written you a nice study guide, I would obviously jump to that and cover every single topic they wrote in that study guide/topics sheet! Better yet, if you have past exams or quizzes from someone else you should start there!
5. Use the Internet if all else fails (in terms of understanding a concept or how to do a problem).
6. The best way to cram-study is to form a study group and ask each other questions or go over slides together and remind each other what was talked about and what key points to take away. Two or more brains is better than one!

All right. Time to go back to studying and hopefully I can sleep…I have to wake up at 6 a.m. to label tubes for research and then collect my human cells! I’m excited to perform qPCR on them to see what kind of phenotypes my macrophages are expressing. :D But I’ll also be super crazy tired and might mess up (let’s hope not). I don’t drink coffee but maybe I can find a banana in the cafe to keep me awake…look alive UIC! May is here.