End of Summer School

Real summer is about to begin!  For me that is.  For the past six weeks, I’ve been enrolled in a program called Jumpstart at UCLA.  It’s an architecture program including 2 classes: a studio design class and a computer representation class.  It’s been pretty fun, but very stressful and demanding.  I guess it’s a picture of what the rest of my college life might be like.  Here was my schedule:

MWTh: Studio class from 2-6pm

TWTh: Computer class from 9-11am

F: Field trips from 1-6pm

I worked in the studio in Perloff sometimes, but mostly in my apartment.  Late at night, I would often have to print out my work in the printers at the studio.  We had to present our progress to the teachers as they continually critiqued it.   For the computer class, we had an assignment due every Tuesday.  For the studio class, we had 2 projects we worked on.  The first was an outdoor “Lounge-scape” and the second was a pavilion entrance way with a ticket booth for the MOCA museum.  Now, it’s the second to last day and I’m in the studio waiting to print.  I spent a lot of hours in the studio just waiting for the teacher.  Ten of us were grouped with one teacher, so I’d have to wait a while for my one-on-one time with the teacher.

I’m happy I did the program, but it was very exhausting.  At times, I got frustrated at the difficulty and all the time it demanded from me.  Whenever I went home, I would have to work on my projects and not spend time with my family.

In this chunk of summer, I also lived in an apartment for the first time.  I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  At first, I was scared about what I was going to eat, but thankfully, it wasn’t a problem.  My friends always cooked me food or I helped with cooking simple meals, so that I never starved.  We also went out to eat a lot.  Summer community was so much fun!  Everyday was so much fun!  We played games, went out to eat, watched movies and just hung out.    Here is a list of some or most of the things we did:

Orochon Ramen
Mafia
Volcano Tea
Golden Eye
Soul Calibur
Nerts
Bang!
Dimsum
Basketball
Movies: Karate Kid, Toy Story 3, The Last Airbender, Dispicable Me, Inception, Definitely Maybe, My Sassy Girl, Goofy Movie, Cloudywith a Chance of Meatballs
Urth Caffe
Mario Golf
Mario Party
Super Smash Brothers
711 on 7/11

and a lot more!  Even though I’m a lot busier, summer school has been more relaxed because of the the lack of busy-ness of UCLA.  I also had a car, which I used a lot!

I’ve been learning how important it is to spend time with God.  With all the busy-ness and fun of summer, it has been distracting me from interacting with God.  Since we don’t have weekly Catalyst or other structures, I have to intentionally  make time with Jesus.  I think that’s how it should be, but I’ve been lazy and distracted.  It’s so hard to break out of the routine of fun.  I’ll have more time in about 2 days, but I’m sad that its over.  Even though its so stressful, I will miss the summer community and fun and excitement of just being at UCLA.  I think my family misses me a lot too.  I’m excited to spend time with them and God and have more free time.  Hopefully I’ll have just as much fun, but in a different way.  (Yay for real meals from my mom!)  Ok, I’m done printing and done with my project.  Hello Almost Summer!

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