I'm Done!

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I'm DONE! :)

Can you sense my excitement?

I just submitted my last paper and I'm officially done everything! All that is left now is the commencement ceremony in a little over a week!

Actually, while I'm glad to be stress-free after handing in my last paper and finishing exams... I'm not yet sure how I feel about being done. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was starting classes as a freshman, and here I am... four quick years later... an almost graduate.



P.S. Don't forget to leave me a comment below on your thoughts! As always, I'd love to hear from you.

Friday Fun

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The semester is quickly coming to an end, which means I find a lot of my time being consumed by writing papers and studying (Monday is my last day of classes and I also have an exam that day). It is so unbelievable that Monday is my last day of classes as an undergraduate student! Where has the time gone??

Aside from the end of the semester, my cousin Maria is getting married at the end of May - so all of the preparations and events have been a lot of fun and a big part of the weekends nowadays. I can't believe how fast everything is going by! Her bridal shower was last Friday, and it really got everyone in the wedding festivity mood because of how little time is left.

Part of my gift to her was a slideshow - with a montage of pictures, written messages, and video messages from family and friends - and it turned out pretty nice. I had NO clue how much work it was to make one!!

Yesterday, a bunch of my girl cousins and I went to NYC to hang out. It's so funny that we live so close, yet hardly get a chance to go and actually do stuff. But it was a fun day! We went on the Staten Island Ferry too, and I still can't believe it's free, especially considering how expensive everything else is in NYC... but I'll take it. The view from it is spectacular, and the weather was great too.

My goal has been to post at least once a week so I have it to look back on later, so this is a quick recap. Hopefully, soon I'll have more time to blog.


 P.S. Don't forget to leave me a comment below on your thoughts! As always, I'd love to hear from you.

Snow Storm Forecasted

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I don't know about you, but i LOVE snow! Actually, i think that is the biggest understatement ever haha (and anyone who knows me can attest to that). Since i woke up this morning and read/heard that we were expecting a snow storm, i've been anxiously looking forward to it (and hoping it won't dissapoint). My brother, Ayaz, was just teasing me some time ago that we'll probably just end up getting an inch or two of snow (or less), but i hope not! All i ask for is one big snow storm a year... is that really too much to ask? ;)

I just LOVE snow as it's falling, and the white blanket of snow on the ground with a storm/blizzard.... until it gets dirty and slushy. then, it's not so cool. I could do without the incredibly cold temperature that comes with it though haha. I guess part of the reason i love it so much has to do with me growing up in Canada, but i don't know about that since the rest of my family isn't too fond of it (or most of extended family in Canada).

The forecast has changed from 12 inches, to 1 or 2 inches, to currently being at 8-14 inches in the span of less than 12 hours... so we'll see how that plays out. Currently, it is forecasted that the snow will start around 1 or 2 A.M. and get heavier around tomorrow evening, and end by Sunday 6 AM. We'll see how that changes and progresses. It's already started snowing in Virginia and the surrounding areas (even though it was forecasted to start tomorrow sometime), so the snow is definitely coming... just not sure how much of it!

anyhow... let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

On a side note, things i'm looking forward to in the next few days: 1) tomorrow is the bowl game for the Rutgers football team (the last RU football game i'll watch as a RU student); 2) monday is my last final for this semester (i hope the snow doesn't mess with the exams schedule on monday since it is supposed to snow until sunday morning); and 3) which means winter break starts monday evening and i'm off from classes until jan 19, 2010 when classes resume (which will be my last semester for my undergraduate degree! :/ ). Not quite sure how i feel about that just yet - i'm excited about being done, but have mixed emotions about it as well... so we'll see.

Movies

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Late this afternoon, i went to see the 'Princess and the Frog' with a bunch of my cousins (it's my cousin Samia's 18th birthday on tuesday, so we went out for a lunch and a movie for an early celebration).

The movie was pretty good and funny (it was a children's movie, but we still had a great time). It was also the first time Disney has featured a 'black' women as a princess in one of their movies ever, so that was a big deal. When i started writing this blog post, my main point was going to be on discussing this, but it quickly changed when i realized how few movies i watch (partly because i really should be studying and paper writing and this would be quicker for now).

It's pretty funny because usually i see one or two movies (if that) per year in theaters (and only a couple of them outside of theaters), and now this is the second movie I have seen in a few weeks (i saw Blind Side around thanksgiving time), and i plan on seeing Invictus soon as well. I don't know if there's been a string of good movies out (that actually interest me) or what, but in all honesty - i can't think of what other movie i've seen in theaters all year.

So just for the sake of it, i searched up a list of all movies that came out this year to see which ones i've seen and here's what i came up with:

(name of movie, release date, where i saw it)

Bride Wars - January 9, cousin's house a few weeks ago (saw it Nov. 21).
State of Play - April 17th, theaters (saw it Apr. 27)

Angels and Demons - May 15, theaters (saw it May 22)

Blindside - November 20, theaters (saw it Nov. 25)

Princess and the Frog - November 25, theaters (saw it Dec. 13)
Avatar - December 18, theaters** UPDATED DEC. 26, 2009 (saw it Dec. 25)

I can't believe i've only seen five movies all year long - in theaters and out combined! i know i don't watch tv much, but i didn't realize how little! I don't know if i should be annoyed about that or happy that i don't waste my time watching tv too much.

in my winter break in a few weeks, i want to see (don't know if it will end up happening):

Up - released May 29

The Proposal - June 19

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - September 18

and two movies that are either in theaters or coming out soon:

Invictus - December 11

Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakuel - December 23

ha, according to my history - i'm more likely to watch the movies in the theaters.

have you guys seen any of these movies? what did you think of them? or do you have any other recommendations? most of all, i think it'll cool to see what (and how many) movies you guys have seen this year. and perhaps, even harder to recall - movies you have seen this year that were released in the past.

Now back to the reality of studying for exams and paper writing...

Snow, Classes, RU Football

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It FINALLY snowed today for the first time this season! When i read in the newspaper a couple of days ago about the forecast for snow for today, i'll admit i got super excited for it - but i didn't really think it would end up snowing... or that if it did, it wouldn't snow a lot and definitely not stick (considering it was almost seventy degrees two days ago).

the rain this morning, however, quickly turned into wet snow... and then snow that stuck... so we have a nice blanket of snow outside! I LOVE snow as it is falling and the blanket of white snow on the ground, until it starts getting dirty. it was only an inch or two of snow, but it was great nonetheless. I hate the cold temperature that comes with the snow, but LOVE snow - i guess because i grew up in Canada (actually i don't know about that reasoning since the rest of my family is not so fond of snow).

On a different note, this coming week is my last week of classes - just days more days of classes! I also have two of my exams on thursday, and i will be done with exams and all on december 21st. As the semester draws closer to an end and the fact that i had my senior photos yesterday, the realization that i have only one semester left at Rutgers as an undergraduate is finally hitting me. I can't believe how fast the past three and a half years have gone by, and i'm sure my last semester will go by just as fast.

Ttoday was also the last rutgers football game of the regular season ( the bowl game happens in a few weeks). i didn't get to go to today's game even though it was a home game, but it was a great game.  it would have definitely been nice to have gone, considering it was my last game as a student, but oh well. it may be just as well considering the weather and the temperature - risking getting sick right before finals would not have been too great. anyhow, we played against west virginia university (who has beat us every year since 1994, unfortunately). we didn't win, but the game was close with the final score being WVU - 24, RU - 21.

Thoughts: Registration, RU Football, LSATs

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It's so unbelievable, but i registered this past Monday (November 9th) for my last semester as an undergraduate at Rutgers University! I can't believe it! It doesn't feel like I have been here for so long (three and a half years at this point!) and now am just months away from graduating in May. While each individual semester has seemed to drag on forever, it has in general flew by pretty fast. It hasn't been the easiest few years by any means, but i can honestly say it has been worth it. The roller coaster ride with the combination of the stress, challenges, agony, and the feelings of accomplishments have been nothing short of interesting, to say the very least.

I can't believe how fast time is flying by! I've been meaning to write a blog post on my mom's hospital stay/surgery from the beginning of October (over a month ago!), and i just can't seem to get some free time together. Hopefully in the next few days i will since i finally finished my midterms, papers, and projects this past week. Besides a few papers and a project, I don't have much extra school work due until the final exams period which is about a month away.

I also got my LSATs score back near the end of October, and i didn't do nearly as well as i would have liked or as well as i thought i would have done with all the studying time i put it. Needless to say, i was (and still am) quite frustrated and flushed. For the first few weeks, i was pretty upset (quite an understatement). I'm going to retake the LSATs in February and see how i do. People have been telling me not to let it get to me, but after all the studying, how can i not let it to get to me? It's something i've been thinking about and aspiring towards since the eighth grade! I know if it's meant to be, it'll work out... and if it's not... that's alright too... but i CAN'T just not give it another try. i guess i'll re-evaluate once i get my scores back from the LSATs from February and see what i want to do. I've been in the law school frame of mind for so long, that the thought that it may not be for me is quite upsetting. I'll be off for about three weeks in between the fall and spring semester that starts mid January so i'll have to get some hard core studying done then to prepare for the February LSATs.

On a quite different note, this past Thursday i also went to another Rutgers Football game - RU vs USF. Unfortunately with everything going on, it  was only the second game i have been able to attend this season (i went to the RU vs. Howard really early in the season). I was hoping i would be able to attend more considering it's my last year as a RU student, but oh well. Hopefully, i'll at least be able to go to the last home game of the season against West Virginia. RU vs. USF was an amazing game, and i had a great time - so even if it is the last game i attend as the student, it was great. The final score was RU - 31 and USF - 0. I was hoping for a great game with a huge win, but i didn't think the ranked USF team would end up not scoring at all!

Three-Fourths DONE!

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I'm DONE! I had my last final this morning and now I'm unofficially a senior at Rutgers! I am three-fourths done undergrad… wow, that's pretty weird.

Even weirder is the fact that i started receiving information about my graduation a couple of days ago... even though that is still a year away (but i'm sure it'll fly by)!

anyways, summer vacation is FINALLY here!

I don't really have many extensive plans so far for the summer, but I'm looking forward to going to Disney with some of my family from my mom's side in june… and of course going to Canada as we always do… I am also definitely looking forward to enjoying some down time!

P.S. Happy Birthday Shakil Bhai and Popi Baji!

First Experience as a Chaperone

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So i chaperoned (for the first time ever - and boy did it make me feel old) a trip to Six Flags for one of my old teachers (Ms. Uyola) from high school today. It was interesting, to say the least.

The immaturity level of a lot of the students reminded me of yet another good reason why i'm SO glad i'm not in high school anymore... but overall, they were okay.

Earlier in the morning, i got to see and talk to one of my math teachers from high school (Mrs. Downey) who i love! She's genuinely one of the nicest teachers (and person) i have come across.

It was so weird to be back at the school after two years though! (i graduated three years ago - in 2006 - but went back two years ago to talk to seniors about college, which i'll be doing again next month - last year i was busy with the internship). Most of the teachers are new now ... and even the environment was so different! it was SO laid back! until two years ago, we had to sign in, and wear "visitor" stickers identifying us as guests... but today, i stopped at the front office, and at the secretary's office across the hall... asked in both places... and found out i could just go ahead and go in... the lack of security was appalling.



P.S. I'm three exams and six days away from summer vacation!

Last Day of Classes for Junior Year!

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Today was my last day of classes of my junior year of undergraduate!! Am I ecstatic? YES! Sad? Definitely! Where has the time gone? I can still remember freshly my first day of school ever (and crying hysterically as my mom walked me to school), my first day of high school, orientation for college, my first day of college, and now I have just finished my sixth semester here at Rutgers.

Tonight was also my first of four final exams, and now I am 3/6ths done with my classes (have already turned in a paper for one class, and am done the paper due this coming Friday for another class)… I know I have said this many times, but May 13th couldn't come fast enough! I am so ready for a few months off (aside from studying for the LSATS of course – which I REALLY need to do this summer).
With just one year remaining here at Rutgers as I pursue my undergraduate degree, I hope I can make the most out of it. While each semester has been full of challenges and a lot of stress (and feels like forever sometimes), overall it has just flown by so far. In one (very) short year, I will inshallah have my bachelor's degree… UNBELIEVABLE!

This means, I really need to start figuring out stuff for law school and stuff soon… until now, it all seemed so far away!

As if I wasn't feeling old enough already and thinking how fast time is going by, my twenty-first birthday is about two and a half months away! Oh, to be a kid again!

Three Weeks and Counting...

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In exactly three weeks, i will have officially finished all my exams for my sixth semester at Rutgers... I CANNOT WAIT! In three short weeks, i will unofficially be a senior at Rutgers!! Where has the time gone?

Time.. anyone have any to spare?

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Haven't posted in forever.. even though so much has gone on... but just have absolutely no time! No matter how much you do, you just never seem to have enough time!

I'm sure I'll have more time to post when classes and exams are done. Right now, my life is basically writing papers or studying :(... and friday night hang outs with a few of my cousins (but hey, i NEED that break!)

At the end of this semester, I'm going to be 22 credits away from GRADUATING as an undergraduate! It's absolutely crazy how fast time is flying by!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

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Just when I thought this day couldn't get any better (because I had my last final for the semester this morning).. it started SNOWING! I absolutely LOVE snow .. especially as its snowing - it looks soo pretty falling! I love when it actually accumulates and we get a white blanket, but I don't know how likely that is this time, even though it seems to be sticking (but it rained right before) .. so I'm just going to enjoy it as it falls.

Now that finals are over, I have about a month off.. which I am supposed to spend studying for LSATs, but I don't know how likely that is. It's scary to think I only have three semesters left of undergraduate and that law school is so close... and to think that I feel as if I have no free time now - HA!

I haven't had much time to blog recently, but I hope to do a lot of it during my break. At least the Election 2008 cycle forced me, in a way, to take time out to blog.

Two Years Down... Two Years to Go

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I am DONE! After a very LONG semester... I am finally done my second year of undergraduate! My sixth (and last) final was yesterday and in six days, my brother and I will be going to Norway ... so I am extremely excited about that. Looking forward to the trip has made the last month and a half unbearably long... but at last, it's only a few days away. :)

It's so weird to think that I just finished my second year at Rutgers ... time is literally flying. I am definitely big on reminiscing and it is so weird every time I do so. It seems as if it was just a few years ago where it seemed as if college kids were "old", and all we worried about was the trivial things in life. To think, that in two years I will (hopefully) have my Bachelor's degree makes it sound unreal.

This summer should be quite busy, and quite fun with all the weddings and what not in the family, but I hope it doesn't go by too fast.

Dean Says One Must Drop Out

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Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said today that either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama must drop out of the Democratic presidential race after the June primaries have ended so that the party can be unified by the convention and win the general election in November. On an interview on Good Morning America, Dean said that, "We want the voters to have their say. That's over on June 3".

On a side note, classes end next Monday and my last final is on May 13th! It's about time. This semester has dragged on long enough. This summer should be amazing...exhausting, but amazing.

The Beginning

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So, I've ventured into the world of blogging. Let's see where this takes me and how long I actually last blogging about everything. I figured this will be a good way for me to look back on and see what was happening in my life at a given point. Therefore, a lot of my blogging will be just venting, and talking about things in my life.

I've just finished my third semester at Rutgers University and my last exam was actually yesterday morning. I wasn't too happy about that since we celebrated Eid-ul-Adha yesterday as well and it pretty much just sucks to have to take an exam on a holiday. By the time I got out, I had absolutely no energy...which of course is no fun on a holiday! Anyhow, I am just glad that it is now over. I am finally free after a very stressful semester until January 22nd! Woo-hoo! :)

Eid-ul-Adha was just decent this year, not as special as it usually feels. To be honest, it did not even feel like Eid this year. Probably because everyone was celebrating on different days and all of us college students had exams all week. Everyone just seemed pretty tired (and I am sure they were).

I really wanna go to Canada this winter break, but we will see what happens. Those plans are not looking too good as of now. Tomorrow, my dad's sister and her family are coming from Canada for a few days of their winter vacation so I am definitely looking forward to that.

P.S. Happy 3rd Birthday Ibrahim!