I'm thrilled to share that I've completed the Professional Certificate in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence from UC Berkeley Executive Education. You may recall that I started the program last summer. It's been a challenging six months, but I can safely say I gained a lot from this course. Of note is that I also got a perfect score on all the assignments. :-)
But I must admit — online school can be a bit lonely at times. It's definitely not the same as being in high school or college. Even though we have office hours and Slack channels, there are only so many options when you can't meet face-to-face. The last day just seemed so anticlimactic. In other words, no walking across the stage to collect my certificate, meeting fellow students and their families, or a fancy farewell dinner.
I understand that the knowledge I gained from this course is more important than anything else, but it kind of sucks that you can't truly connect with your peers. However, the good news is several AI-related groups that are local to me have appeared on Meetup. I've been pitching them in Slack and the office hours. Hopefully I can attract interest from fellow Bay Area learners.
In other news...
I didn't feel like making a separate post about this, but I obtained the Guildmaster qualification with the Archaeology Guild in RuneScape two days ago. Completing this achievement allows you to buy all the permanent rewards from the Archaeology Guild Shop. In particular, the master archaeologist's outfit comes with several useful abilities. I'm sure this will make the grind to 120 Archaeology a bit easier. :D
Currently listening to: "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce
Showing posts with label Berkeley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berkeley. Show all posts
Friday, April 5, 2024
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Berkeley Engineering commencement
Six years ago, my father was telling me that I was accepted into Berkeley for the fall. I initially thought it was an April Fools joke. Though I never even considered applying to such a prestigious school - let alone the idea of getting in - Dad figured it was worth a shot and sent a copy of my application to Berkeley just in case. He turned out to be right!
Today was the College of Engineering commencement. I actually received my B.S. in Engineering Math & Statistics last summer but was unable to graduate with the Class of 2009 on time. But none of that matters anymore. The most important thing is that I'm finally done with college. :-)
Graduation report
The ceremony itself was kind of boring as we had to sit through several speeches. The masters and PhD students then got their diplomas. There were more undergraduates than graduate students combined, but the process was much faster for us.
Things didn't go without a hitch. You see, Engineering Math & Statistics is an uncommon major and had less than 10 people. I somehow got separated from my group and didn't know where to go. The staff weren't familiar with my major and told me to follow the Nuclear Engineering students. I ended up being the very last person to walk across the stage. Awkward.
Everyone then split up for the receptions. Ours was the smallest and had no more than 15 people - and that's including family and significant others. On the other hand, there was lots of food. Before leaving campus, I stopped by the IEOR and EECS receptions to thank those who have helped me in my studies. It was nice to see my old IEOR 165 GSI and the IEOR 162 professor again.
The downer is that my faculty advisor Bonnie couldn't come. She had to stay home to take care of her husband John, who was recently involved in a serious cycling accident. I'm sure Bonnie would have loved to see me get my diploma. Here's to wishing John a full and speedy recovery!
Looking back
Like for most people, college had its ups and downs. A major highlight was hanging out with my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler. Though I'm sometimes socially awkward, their company made for great memories.
The dances were another thing that made life at Berkeley so enjoyable. The best part is that many of them were free. The weekly activities in the residential halls were exciting too. I wish the "real world" had more social events like these.
But college wasn't all fun and games. The worst thing that happened was when my freshman year suitemates Cyrus and Andrew kept harassing me and stealing my things. The resident director couldn't do much due to lack of evidence. The academic workload was tough but nothing I couldn't handle. On the whole, I'm glad to have finished such an important stage in my life.
I can't relax just yet because of my classes at St. Mary's College of California. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying for the upcoming fixed income analysis midterm. In the meantime, feel free to check out my commencement pictures.
In other news...
1. Dad got summoned for jury duty last week and was actually selected for the trial. He was a little annoyed at first but is happy to have helped make our community a safer place. For those curious, the case was about a man accused of indecent exposure. It was somewhat complicated due to lack of witnesses, but he was ultimately convicted.
2. Getting into graduate school turned out be much harder than expected because we weren't aware of the low acceptance rates. At least that's the case for statistics programs. That said, I got a conditional admission into UC Riverside!
Though they couldn't accept me this year, the admissions committee said I could get in next fall by getting a "B" or above in two particular courses. I decided I was up for the challenge and will be enrolling soon. Assuming everything goes to plan, I'll be moving to Riverside in September. W00t!
Currently reading: Fixed Income Analysis Workbook by Frank J. Fabozzi
Today was the College of Engineering commencement. I actually received my B.S. in Engineering Math & Statistics last summer but was unable to graduate with the Class of 2009 on time. But none of that matters anymore. The most important thing is that I'm finally done with college. :-)
Graduation report
The ceremony itself was kind of boring as we had to sit through several speeches. The masters and PhD students then got their diplomas. There were more undergraduates than graduate students combined, but the process was much faster for us.
Things didn't go without a hitch. You see, Engineering Math & Statistics is an uncommon major and had less than 10 people. I somehow got separated from my group and didn't know where to go. The staff weren't familiar with my major and told me to follow the Nuclear Engineering students. I ended up being the very last person to walk across the stage. Awkward.
Everyone then split up for the receptions. Ours was the smallest and had no more than 15 people - and that's including family and significant others. On the other hand, there was lots of food. Before leaving campus, I stopped by the IEOR and EECS receptions to thank those who have helped me in my studies. It was nice to see my old IEOR 165 GSI and the IEOR 162 professor again.
The downer is that my faculty advisor Bonnie couldn't come. She had to stay home to take care of her husband John, who was recently involved in a serious cycling accident. I'm sure Bonnie would have loved to see me get my diploma. Here's to wishing John a full and speedy recovery!
Looking back
Like for most people, college had its ups and downs. A major highlight was hanging out with my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler. Though I'm sometimes socially awkward, their company made for great memories.
The dances were another thing that made life at Berkeley so enjoyable. The best part is that many of them were free. The weekly activities in the residential halls were exciting too. I wish the "real world" had more social events like these.
But college wasn't all fun and games. The worst thing that happened was when my freshman year suitemates Cyrus and Andrew kept harassing me and stealing my things. The resident director couldn't do much due to lack of evidence. The academic workload was tough but nothing I couldn't handle. On the whole, I'm glad to have finished such an important stage in my life.
I can't relax just yet because of my classes at St. Mary's College of California. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to studying for the upcoming fixed income analysis midterm. In the meantime, feel free to check out my commencement pictures.
In other news...
1. Dad got summoned for jury duty last week and was actually selected for the trial. He was a little annoyed at first but is happy to have helped make our community a safer place. For those curious, the case was about a man accused of indecent exposure. It was somewhat complicated due to lack of witnesses, but he was ultimately convicted.
2. Getting into graduate school turned out be much harder than expected because we weren't aware of the low acceptance rates. At least that's the case for statistics programs. That said, I got a conditional admission into UC Riverside!
Though they couldn't accept me this year, the admissions committee said I could get in next fall by getting a "B" or above in two particular courses. I decided I was up for the challenge and will be enrolling soon. Assuming everything goes to plan, I'll be moving to Riverside in September. W00t!
Currently reading: Fixed Income Analysis Workbook by Frank J. Fabozzi
Saturday, August 15, 2009
finally done with college!
The CS 61A final was quite tough and took me almost five hours to complete. Though it was almost midnight when I was done, my family didn't get home too late because we did most of the moving two days ago. Assuming I didn't fail the class, then I'll be getting my bachelor's degree.
I'm not out of the woods yet as the classes at St. Mary's College of California started last month. While they aren't a walk in the park either, I can at least catch my breath. One thing for sure is that I'm going to miss college life. But at the same time, I'm extremely excited about what the future has to offer.
Update: The grades for CS 61A and Math 128A have been posted. I didn't do as well in Math 128A as I had hoped, but my GPA is good enough. That means I'll definitely graduate. Woohoo!
The bad news is that I won't be able to walk the aisle until next May as this year's commencement has passed. Of course, that's not too big of a deal - what matters is that I'm done with college. :-)
Currently reading: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson
I'm not out of the woods yet as the classes at St. Mary's College of California started last month. While they aren't a walk in the park either, I can at least catch my breath. One thing for sure is that I'm going to miss college life. But at the same time, I'm extremely excited about what the future has to offer.
Update: The grades for CS 61A and Math 128A have been posted. I didn't do as well in Math 128A as I had hoped, but my GPA is good enough. That means I'll definitely graduate. Woohoo!
The bad news is that I won't be able to walk the aisle until next May as this year's commencement has passed. Of course, that's not too big of a deal - what matters is that I'm done with college. :-)
Currently reading: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson
Sunday, June 21, 2009
back to Berkeley for the summer
I just returned to Berkeley for the summer session. To save time, my parents already helped me move most of my things yesterday afternoon. The reason for coming back today is that I wanted to an extra day to relax at home.
For those curious, I'm taking CS 61A and Math 128A this summer. Assuming everything goes to plan, this will be my last stint in college. I'll have to work hard as both courses look tough.
Speaking of academics, I've decided to enroll in the graduate program at St. Mary's College of California. Due to a schedule overlap, there is a period of five weeks during which I'll be taking classes at Berkeley and St. Mary's College at the same time. That means I'll be extremely busy the next two months. So wish me luck - I'm going to need lots of it.
In other news...
Happy Father's Day to my dad and all other dads out there!
Currently reading: Numerical Analysis by Richard L. Burden
For those curious, I'm taking CS 61A and Math 128A this summer. Assuming everything goes to plan, this will be my last stint in college. I'll have to work hard as both courses look tough.
Speaking of academics, I've decided to enroll in the graduate program at St. Mary's College of California. Due to a schedule overlap, there is a period of five weeks during which I'll be taking classes at Berkeley and St. Mary's College at the same time. That means I'll be extremely busy the next two months. So wish me luck - I'm going to need lots of it.
In other news...
Happy Father's Day to my dad and all other dads out there!
Currently reading: Numerical Analysis by Richard L. Burden
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Hooray for summer!
The spring semester has ended. The exams weren't easy by any means. I spent most of last night studying and only had three hours of sleep. To say I'm exhausted right now would be an understatement.
One thing for sure is that I'll miss my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler. The same goes for their friend Caitlin; she often visited our suite and was one of the sweetest girls I've ever met. It was hard to part with these awesome folks. On the other hand, I'm extremely excited about my family's upcoming trip to Spain. :-)
In other news...
1. Happy 17th birthday to my cousin Cathy!
2. I went to the MBA open house at St. Mary's College of California right after leaving Berkeley. Dad is suggesting that I apply to their graduate program. That's actually not a bad idea.
3. Today is the fifth anniversary of the passing of my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan. She was an absolutely amazing person. You'll always be in our hearts, Grandma.
Currently playing: Lexicominos
One thing for sure is that I'll miss my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler. The same goes for their friend Caitlin; she often visited our suite and was one of the sweetest girls I've ever met. It was hard to part with these awesome folks. On the other hand, I'm extremely excited about my family's upcoming trip to Spain. :-)
In other news...
1. Happy 17th birthday to my cousin Cathy!
2. I went to the MBA open house at St. Mary's College of California right after leaving Berkeley. Dad is suggesting that I apply to their graduate program. That's actually not a bad idea.
3. Today is the fifth anniversary of the passing of my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan. She was an absolutely amazing person. You'll always be in our hearts, Grandma.
Currently playing: Lexicominos
Saturday, January 17, 2009
one more semester to go
I've moved back to Berkeley for my spring classes. You're probably expecting another rant about how the break wasn't long enough, but I'm actually glad to be back this time!
Holiday break in review
Things started out great as I did well last semester. Hard work certainly pays off. Just after the semester ended, my family went to Tahoe to see the Nutcracker ballet. This was followed by an amazing Christmas Eve gathering at Carol's house.
Our own New Year's Eve party was canceled because most people couldn't come. But I probably shouldn't complain as we had dinner with the Shiehs instead. Though our New Year's Day party was also nice, there was nobody my age. Damn generation gap. ^_^
Aunt Cynthia and my cousins came over the next day to make bread with Mom. That was also pretty fun. However, they left shortly after lunch because Cathy was feeling stressed about her SATs. Speaking of which, I was pretty busy studying for the GRE myself - not exactly the most exciting thing in the world.
In any case, I'm thrilled to be back at school. It's so nice to see my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler again. I'm also looking forward to tomorrow's dance. :-)
Currently listening to: Pure Disco
Holiday break in review
Things started out great as I did well last semester. Hard work certainly pays off. Just after the semester ended, my family went to Tahoe to see the Nutcracker ballet. This was followed by an amazing Christmas Eve gathering at Carol's house.
Our own New Year's Eve party was canceled because most people couldn't come. But I probably shouldn't complain as we had dinner with the Shiehs instead. Though our New Year's Day party was also nice, there was nobody my age. Damn generation gap. ^_^
Aunt Cynthia and my cousins came over the next day to make bread with Mom. That was also pretty fun. However, they left shortly after lunch because Cathy was feeling stressed about her SATs. Speaking of which, I was pretty busy studying for the GRE myself - not exactly the most exciting thing in the world.
In any case, I'm thrilled to be back at school. It's so nice to see my suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler again. I'm also looking forward to tomorrow's dance. :-)
Currently listening to: Pure Disco
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Congratulations, President-elect Obama!
While I normally don't write about politics on this blog, I'm thrilled to learn that Sen. Obama will be the next President of the United States. America has made history by electing its first African-American president. Eight years of Bush is more than enough, so this is certainly nice for a change.
On the other hand, McCain gave an amazing concession speech. I wish more politicians would follow his example. I'm aware that some of his supporters are upset about the results, but the world isn't going to end simply because their candidate of choice didn't win. At least I hope not!
Some people from our residential unit gathered in the TV lounge to watch the election. There was a strong sense of patriotism after the election was called. I saw someone hang an American flag from the window and also heard others blasting patriotic music. If only fireworks were legal here. :-)
In any case, here's to hoping the next four years will be better than how the last eight went!
Currently listening to: Independence Day soundtrack - "End Titles"
On the other hand, McCain gave an amazing concession speech. I wish more politicians would follow his example. I'm aware that some of his supporters are upset about the results, but the world isn't going to end simply because their candidate of choice didn't win. At least I hope not!
Some people from our residential unit gathered in the TV lounge to watch the election. There was a strong sense of patriotism after the election was called. I saw someone hang an American flag from the window and also heard others blasting patriotic music. If only fireworks were legal here. :-)
In any case, here's to hoping the next four years will be better than how the last eight went!
Currently listening to: Independence Day soundtrack - "End Titles"
Saturday, November 1, 2008
a rather disappointing Halloween...
I'm usually not one to complain, but Halloween kind of sucked. While there were several Halloween-themed events at Berkeley in the past few days, none of them were too exciting.
For example, my residential unit had an amazing haunted house last October. That event was intense and actually made me jump a couple of times. But the one this year was rather boring: the entire "tour" lasted no more than two minutes, and there was absolutely nothing scary about it.
The Monster Bash was also mediocre compared to the one in 2007 - the latter of which was awesome. Case in point, the DJs didn't play any slow songs this time and even seemed irritated when I requested one. The fact that the dance ended five minutes early didn't help the issue. I've posted a review here for those curious.
On the other hand, I met a fellow LUE2 user at the Monster Bash. That was quite unexpected, especially considering that the forum has few members. Talk about a small world!
Currently listening to: "Ghostbusters"
For example, my residential unit had an amazing haunted house last October. That event was intense and actually made me jump a couple of times. But the one this year was rather boring: the entire "tour" lasted no more than two minutes, and there was absolutely nothing scary about it.
The Monster Bash was also mediocre compared to the one in 2007 - the latter of which was awesome. Case in point, the DJs didn't play any slow songs this time and even seemed irritated when I requested one. The fact that the dance ended five minutes early didn't help the issue. I've posted a review here for those curious.
On the other hand, I met a fellow LUE2 user at the Monster Bash. That was quite unexpected, especially considering that the forum has few members. Talk about a small world!
Currently listening to: "Ghostbusters"
Saturday, October 4, 2008
an early birthday celebration
The weekend is off to a great start as my parents took me to dinner for my 23rd birthday at Olive Garden. I don't actually turn 23 until the 10th; the reason for the early celebration is that Dad will be out of town then.
This was our first time eating at Olive Garden in ages and definitely quite refreshing. I had originally picked Red Lobster, but many of the locations were closed and the nearest one was around 20 miles away in San Jose. Olive Garden wasn't a bad decision as the food was absolutely delicious.
At any rate, I should probably get back to studying as I have a statistics midterm on the 7th. Wish me luck!
In other news...
The CAA had its Dance & Casino Night two days ago. You can read my review of the event here.
Currently listening to: "Omoide wa Okkusenman!"
This was our first time eating at Olive Garden in ages and definitely quite refreshing. I had originally picked Red Lobster, but many of the locations were closed and the nearest one was around 20 miles away in San Jose. Olive Garden wasn't a bad decision as the food was absolutely delicious.
At any rate, I should probably get back to studying as I have a statistics midterm on the 7th. Wish me luck!
In other news...
The CAA had its Dance & Casino Night two days ago. You can read my review of the event here.
Currently listening to: "Omoide wa Okkusenman!"
Sunday, August 24, 2008
my last year at Berkeley
I've moved back to Berkeley for the fall semester. It's hard to believe summer is over. These breaks are never long enough. :-(
Though my classes don't start until the 27th, this was the perfect time to settle down. I've met my new suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler - all really cool guys. They're definitely the type of people I'd want to be friends with.
The other reason I came back early was to see what Welcome Week had to offer. Welcome Week was pretty fun when I was a freshman. Yet that doesn't seem to be the case this year. For example, the RHA doesn't look like they're having their annual Dance & Casino Night. Damn budget cuts. :-(
On the other hand, the theme of this year's Welcome Week is "games." It just happens that my suitemates brought a ton of video games to our dorm. How appropriate. They said this had nothing to do with the theme, but I'm not complaining!
The summer in review
Long story short, this summer was awesome. For starters, my family went to Yellowstone National Park and the Upper Midwest right after the spring semester ended. The vacation was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. To say we enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Taking Physics 7C at Berkeley was also worthwhile. I learned a great deal of things and met many cool people. The downside is that I had to miss my cousin Anne's wedding in Taiwan, but one cannot have their cake and eat it too.
This was followed by a trip to Southern California. Two days after we got home, Jonathan stayed another night at our house while visiting from Singapore. It was a busy summer for sure!
Summer 2008 statistics
I've decided to post some random statistics for shits and giggles:
Family vacations: 2
Pints of sorbet consumed: 1
Pints of ice cream consumed: 7
Pints of ice cream remaining: 5
Comic books read: 4
Summer classes taken: 1
Dances attended: 1
Cousins that got married: 1
Films seen in the theater: 1
Films seen on DVD: 5
RuneScape XP gained: about 1.5 million
Currently playing: Donkey Kong Country
Though my classes don't start until the 27th, this was the perfect time to settle down. I've met my new suitemates Bryan, Danny and Tyler - all really cool guys. They're definitely the type of people I'd want to be friends with.
The other reason I came back early was to see what Welcome Week had to offer. Welcome Week was pretty fun when I was a freshman. Yet that doesn't seem to be the case this year. For example, the RHA doesn't look like they're having their annual Dance & Casino Night. Damn budget cuts. :-(
On the other hand, the theme of this year's Welcome Week is "games." It just happens that my suitemates brought a ton of video games to our dorm. How appropriate. They said this had nothing to do with the theme, but I'm not complaining!
The summer in review
Long story short, this summer was awesome. For starters, my family went to Yellowstone National Park and the Upper Midwest right after the spring semester ended. The vacation was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. To say we enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Taking Physics 7C at Berkeley was also worthwhile. I learned a great deal of things and met many cool people. The downside is that I had to miss my cousin Anne's wedding in Taiwan, but one cannot have their cake and eat it too.
This was followed by a trip to Southern California. Two days after we got home, Jonathan stayed another night at our house while visiting from Singapore. It was a busy summer for sure!
Summer 2008 statistics
I've decided to post some random statistics for shits and giggles:
Family vacations: 2
Pints of sorbet consumed: 1
Pints of ice cream consumed: 7
Pints of ice cream remaining: 5
Comic books read: 4
Summer classes taken: 1
Dances attended: 1
Cousins that got married: 1
Films seen in the theater: 1
Films seen on DVD: 5
RuneScape XP gained: about 1.5 million
Currently playing: Donkey Kong Country
Friday, August 15, 2008
done with Physics 7C
The summer session at Berkeley has ended. It was a worthwhile experience as I learned a great deal of things. Having said that, Physics 7C wasn't an easy class. I hope I did well on the final exam!
The bad news is that I tripped and damaged my microwave while moving out of the dorms. Though the damage wasn't too bad, my parents are concerned about radiation leaks. That means we'll have to buy a new microwave. Shit happens.
In other news...
Dad is planning a trip to Southern California. It'll be a great way to end the summer. :-)
Currently reading: Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore
The bad news is that I tripped and damaged my microwave while moving out of the dorms. Though the damage wasn't too bad, my parents are concerned about radiation leaks. That means we'll have to buy a new microwave. Shit happens.
In other news...
Dad is planning a trip to Southern California. It'll be a great way to end the summer. :-)
Currently reading: Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
God damn script kiddies
Someone seems to have hijacked my Yahoo! and Gmail accounts this morning. The person also changed my security questions in addition to the passwords. I was able to recover my Gmail account with relative ease but had to call customer support to reset my Yahoo! login. Bastards.
The good news is that neither account contained sensitive information. I'm also sure there are no viruses on my computer. That said, the script kiddie deserves a roundhouse kick to the face from both Chuck Norris and Bruce Schneier.
In other news...
On a more positive note, there was a swing dance class at Unit 2 tonight. That was pretty fun even though I only watched and didn't dance with anyone.
Currently listening to: "The Sweet Escape" by Gwen Stefani
The good news is that neither account contained sensitive information. I'm also sure there are no viruses on my computer. That said, the script kiddie deserves a roundhouse kick to the face from both Chuck Norris and Bruce Schneier.
In other news...
On a more positive note, there was a swing dance class at Unit 2 tonight. That was pretty fun even though I only watched and didn't dance with anyone.
Currently listening to: "The Sweet Escape" by Gwen Stefani
Thursday, July 3, 2008
an awesome summer dance
There was a Summer Love Prom at Unit 2 last night. While the dances at Berkeley tend to be lame, this one was quite fun. You can read my review of it here. I e-mailed a copy of the review to one of the organizers, to which he informed me that similar events are being planned. Sweet!
Of course, I just had to show off my 35+ mW laser at the dance. The cool thing is that there was another guy who had a green laser. Though mine was more powerful, meeting a fellow laser enthusiast is always exciting. :-)
Currently watching: Alexander
Of course, I just had to show off my 35+ mW laser at the dance. The cool thing is that there was another guy who had a green laser. Though mine was more powerful, meeting a fellow laser enthusiast is always exciting. :-)
Currently watching: Alexander
Saturday, June 21, 2008
back to Berkeley for my summer physics class...
I'm now back at Cal for the summer session. Although Physics 7C doesn't start until the 23rd, I wanted to settle down and get prepared. The move didn't go smoothly as we forgot to bring a computer monitor. That meant Dad had to drive 50 miles home to pick one up and another 50 miles back to campus. Shit happens.
One thing for sure is that Physics 7C is going to be tough. On the bright side - pardon the pun - the curriculum covers one of my favorite subjects: lasers. :-)
June 22 update: I just met my roommate Michael. He's a cool guy who also speaks Mandarin!
Currently reading: Physics for Scientists & Engineers by Douglas C. Giancoli
One thing for sure is that Physics 7C is going to be tough. On the bright side - pardon the pun - the curriculum covers one of my favorite subjects: lasers. :-)
June 22 update: I just met my roommate Michael. He's a cool guy who also speaks Mandarin!
Currently reading: Physics for Scientists & Engineers by Douglas C. Giancoli
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Stop! Summer time!
Yesterday was the last final of the semester. Having finished the school year, I've moved my stuff home with the help of my parents. Woohoo!
The bad news is that I'm short on credits and can't graduate just yet. Because many classes fill up quickly due to high demand, I ended up taking fewer courses per semester than normally required. This does mean I'll have to stay at Berkeley for another year or so. On the bright side, I've been told that "super seniors" aren't that uncommon. :-)
The other unfortunate thing is that someone seems to have stolen my watch. Or at least that's what I think happened. I've always kept it on the table next to my monitor, but it was nowhere to be seen when I moved out. Fuck those bastards.
On a more positive note, my family is leaving for Yellowstone and the Upper Midwest in a couple of days. The trip is something I've been looking forward to for a long time. I'm so excited!
In any case, I should probably head to bed as it's almost 2 a.m. here. Good night, y'all.
In other news...
I went to a black light dance at Bowles two Saturdays ago. It was pretty fun despite the lack of slow songs. You can read my review of the event here.
The bad news is that I'm short on credits and can't graduate just yet. Because many classes fill up quickly due to high demand, I ended up taking fewer courses per semester than normally required. This does mean I'll have to stay at Berkeley for another year or so. On the bright side, I've been told that "super seniors" aren't that uncommon. :-)
The other unfortunate thing is that someone seems to have stolen my watch. Or at least that's what I think happened. I've always kept it on the table next to my monitor, but it was nowhere to be seen when I moved out. Fuck those bastards.
On a more positive note, my family is leaving for Yellowstone and the Upper Midwest in a couple of days. The trip is something I've been looking forward to for a long time. I'm so excited!
In any case, I should probably head to bed as it's almost 2 a.m. here. Good night, y'all.
In other news...
I went to a black light dance at Bowles two Saturdays ago. It was pretty fun despite the lack of slow songs. You can read my review of the event here.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I just won $40 worth of gift cards!
Our residential hall holds a meeting every Tuesday to plan student events, such as dances and fundraisers. To promote attendance, the organizers give out raffle tickets at every meeting to anyone that dresses up according to the theme. Though I could never come up with a costume, they still gave me a ticket each time given my past participation.
Well, the raffle drawing was tonight. The cool thing is that I won not one, but two prizes: a $10 gift card for iTunes and a $30 one for Target. I guess luck was on my side.
In any case, I'd like to thank the Hillside Hall Association for making this possible and being so damn generous. :-)
Well, the raffle drawing was tonight. The cool thing is that I won not one, but two prizes: a $10 gift card for iTunes and a $30 one for Target. I guess luck was on my side.
In any case, I'd like to thank the Hillside Hall Association for making this possible and being so damn generous. :-)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
back in action at Berkeley
I just moved back to Berkeley tonight. For those wondering, I'm taking Engineering 28, IEOR 131 and IEOR 165 this semester.
The break in review
The holiday season had to be one of the best ever. For one thing, I did particularly well last fall; my grades were all in the "B" range. Considering that nothing at Berkeley is a breeze, all that studying must have paid off. The break itself had a good start as my family went on a three-day trip to Oregon just after the semester ended. The vacation was kind of short but lots of fun.
I borrowed a bunch of movies from the local library right after Christmas. Hellboy was hilarious and had lots of great action. Serenity and War of the Worlds weren't too bad either. United 93 was pretty good as well despite the limited budget. I also saw Escape from New York and Phone Booth during that weekend. The DVD for Blade: Trinity was damaged, but this wasn't a big deal as the library has other copies.
One of Dad's professors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was visiting with his family and their son's fiancée. Therefore, my parents invited all of them to dinner at By-Th'-Bucket Bar & Grill on the 28th. This was followed by an awesome party for New Year's Eve. The gathering was undoubtedly a great end to a great year.
Just as 2007 ended with a bang, 2008 started with one. We went to Carol's winter party on the 5th before leaving for Las Vegas the next morning. Dad's boss Kah Yee's son Jonathan then stayed a night at our house on the 12th during his visit from Singapore. I then got my driver's license two days later. W00t!
Aside from preparing for my classes, I visited the library another three times and got several more movies. Superman Returns was my favorite, but Firewall and the remakes of Assault on Precinct 13 and King Kong were great too. 28 Weeks Later was all right, although the first movie was better. I also saw The Chronicles of Riddick and Rules of Engagement before the break ended. It was a busy holiday season for sure.
All that having been said, I should probably get back to studying. Peace, y'all.
Currently watching: Superman Returns
The break in review
The holiday season had to be one of the best ever. For one thing, I did particularly well last fall; my grades were all in the "B" range. Considering that nothing at Berkeley is a breeze, all that studying must have paid off. The break itself had a good start as my family went on a three-day trip to Oregon just after the semester ended. The vacation was kind of short but lots of fun.
I borrowed a bunch of movies from the local library right after Christmas. Hellboy was hilarious and had lots of great action. Serenity and War of the Worlds weren't too bad either. United 93 was pretty good as well despite the limited budget. I also saw Escape from New York and Phone Booth during that weekend. The DVD for Blade: Trinity was damaged, but this wasn't a big deal as the library has other copies.
One of Dad's professors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was visiting with his family and their son's fiancée. Therefore, my parents invited all of them to dinner at By-Th'-Bucket Bar & Grill on the 28th. This was followed by an awesome party for New Year's Eve. The gathering was undoubtedly a great end to a great year.
Just as 2007 ended with a bang, 2008 started with one. We went to Carol's winter party on the 5th before leaving for Las Vegas the next morning. Dad's boss Kah Yee's son Jonathan then stayed a night at our house on the 12th during his visit from Singapore. I then got my driver's license two days later. W00t!
Aside from preparing for my classes, I visited the library another three times and got several more movies. Superman Returns was my favorite, but Firewall and the remakes of Assault on Precinct 13 and King Kong were great too. 28 Weeks Later was all right, although the first movie was better. I also saw The Chronicles of Riddick and Rules of Engagement before the break ended. It was a busy holiday season for sure.
All that having been said, I should probably get back to studying. Peace, y'all.
Currently watching: Superman Returns
Friday, December 7, 2007
just another crappy dance...
The Frickin' Awesome Final Dance last night was anything but. While our events are usually great, this one was quite the opposite. It was supposed to begin at 9 p.m. and last until midnight, someone had forgotten about the quiet hours policy that begins at 11 p.m. during the last few weeks of the semester. When the mistake was discovered, the dance came to an abrupt end. Oops!
As you could imagine, most people weren't too pleased. Having a dance right before the finals probably wasn't such a bright idea after all. Be sure to read my review of the event; I'm sure you'll get some good laughs. :-)
As you could imagine, most people weren't too pleased. Having a dance right before the finals probably wasn't such a bright idea after all. Be sure to read my review of the event; I'm sure you'll get some good laughs. :-)
Sunday, October 28, 2007
on college dances and class IIIb lasers, part deux
I just got back from the Monster Bash a few hours ago. The residential staff joined forces with Cal Dining in organizing this dance. It was much better than the Dance & Casino Night on the 11th. You can can read my review of the Monster Bash here.
Of course, I just had to show off my laser again. The cool thing is that there was a fog machine. I was able to create the liquid sky effect by waving the laser around. That looked pretty awesome, although it was nothing like a real laser show. While there were also some black balloons, the laser only made one of them slowly deflate. Oh well.
The thing about being a laser enthusiast is that you can never have enough power. I've wanted a laser that could burn ever since receiving my Core in June. But now that I have this 35+ mW laser, I'm really hoping to get a 100+ mW one in the future. Talk about being spoiled. :P
Of course, I just had to show off my laser again. The cool thing is that there was a fog machine. I was able to create the liquid sky effect by waving the laser around. That looked pretty awesome, although it was nothing like a real laser show. While there were also some black balloons, the laser only made one of them slowly deflate. Oh well.
The thing about being a laser enthusiast is that you can never have enough power. I've wanted a laser that could burn ever since receiving my Core in June. But now that I have this 35+ mW laser, I'm really hoping to get a 100+ mW one in the future. Talk about being spoiled. :P
Friday, October 12, 2007
on college dances and class IIIb lasers
I just got back from the Dance & Casino Night. The dance wasn't quite as fun as the one last October but was nonetheless enjoyable. You can read my review of the event here.
Like last year's event, this one didn't have any slow songs either. I guess most college students aren't very romantic. I've always wanted to ask a girl to dance with me, but that would be extremely awkward when there is no slow music.
On the bright side - no pun intended - I got to show off my new green laser at the dance. The cool thing is that I bumped into another guy who said he owned a similar laser from DealExtreme. It's always nice to meet fellow laser enthusiasts. :-)
Currently listening to: "Yatta!" by Happa-Tai
Like last year's event, this one didn't have any slow songs either. I guess most college students aren't very romantic. I've always wanted to ask a girl to dance with me, but that would be extremely awkward when there is no slow music.
On the bright side - no pun intended - I got to show off my new green laser at the dance. The cool thing is that I bumped into another guy who said he owned a similar laser from DealExtreme. It's always nice to meet fellow laser enthusiasts. :-)
Currently listening to: "Yatta!" by Happa-Tai
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