Thesis Update

It's done!!

I had my thesis defense today. It was a lot less nerve-wracking than I made it out to be. I also got to wear a super cute new dress - a creme and black pin striped dress with a scalloped hem - which is always a bonus.

I passed with minor revisions - after I make the changes I get to turn in my thesis and be done with it FOREVER!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited? 'Cause I am! Senior thesis was a difficult challenge and I definitely learned a lot from it. I'm glad I didn't give up and was able to complete it! There were definitely times I wanted to throw my hands up and quit - but I knew it was the only thing standing in the way of my degree so I took it in stride.

Via

Are you required to do a senior thesis? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Thesis Update: This is WAY harder than I thought.

So, I'm still working on my thesis and it still makes me want to die a little on the inside.

I know I've worked on papers this long or longer before, but man this takes a lot out of you. I'm one of those people who likes to accomplish a task in one sitting, or at least a segment of it, and senior thesis is not a place to do that.

Part of the reason I'm so stressed out about my thesis is I feel like I don't have enough time to work on it and get involved. I've been setting my alarm every day to make sure I spend at least 1 hour on it a day, but once I piece together all of those pieces, I feel like I'm just stringing thoughts together, with no rhyme or reason.

That's what frustrates me the most... there is absolutely no way I could sit down and write this paper in a day and come back to it the next day and edit and move on.

This thesis is like a wedding cake. You can't just throw it together and carve down, you have to build it up.

First, you create a strong and steady base - your literature review. Then, add a few more cakes on top of it to make it hearty and proud - like your methodology, observations and findings.

Then, lay down some icing- an intro, conclusion and transitional paragraphs, pipe the edges with your format and finally at your cake topper- the abstract- at the very end.

Lord help you if you think you can just toss this together!

Via

As much as I want to do this project all at once... there is no way I, or anyone, could. That's why it's a semester-long class - you need ample time to complete it.

This last semester has been a total work out of large, continuous projects, which I think I'm no good at. So you can imagine my frustration! And with the due date quickly approaching, it's time to make sense of all my segmented pieces.

Wish me luck! Are you better at longer, drawn out projects or quick and efficient tasks? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Thesis Update: I'm Dying

Man oh man, this thesis will be the death of me!

My sorority house flooded this weekend after some roof repairs fell through. I gave myself a break Thursday from homework, which carried into Friday, and early Saturday morning the house flooded during a rainstorm.

Luckily, we had another dorm to go to, and student services came immediately. A disaster relief team was called to handle the emergency as well. I was definitely not happy about moving out 5 weeks early, but that's another story for another day.

Saturday morning, we had our annual egg hunt, so while packing up the house, we also hosted a philanthropy event! Talk about stressful! Then, that night was our annual formal. Sunday we all finally got around to unpacking our things... and we're still packing up our common rooms.

Geez Louise! So much going on. I ended up loosing 4 days of studying and work in all. Which is not what I wanted. Plus the weather has been FREEZING and we've seen snow flurries for two days. Morale is low.

Luckily, I got an extension for my first draft of my thesis, and I'm powering through the week to get all of my assignments done. I turned in an article this morning, a PR project is in its final stages, a podcast is in its beginnings and due in two days, I have three other articles due Thursday, and of course, my thesis draft!

There's a lesson here folks... take advantage of the time you have! You need time to yourself, true, but be careful! Time can slip away from you quite easily, and you can't plan for disasters and emergencies.

Are you near the end of any big projects? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Motivation

With the crazy weather and post-spring break blues, it's hard to stay motivated!

I've gone back to making daily lists, but it's still not enough. Where did my motivation go!? I seem to have developed a horrible case of senioritis.

Via

While I'm sure scientists are struggling to find a cure right this second, in the mean time, I'm stuck with a lack of will power. A big list and "no time" to spend on it. And by "no time" I mean there isn't a time I want to do anything.

So how can I, alongside the class of 2013, beat this case of the senior blues? So far I have little results, but I do have one solution...

Instead of procrastinating by fiddling on Facebook or twiddling on Twitter, I'm cleaning my room, doing dishes, and sorting through my clothes.

I've justified these actions by noting that a clean room is a happy room, and it's easier for me to work in since I'm not thinking about how dirty it is; clean dishes mean I can cook whenever I so desire and do not fall to the tempts of crappy food; and of course, I have a ton of clothes, and I need to clean out my closet anyway.

Of course, this isn't a substitution for actually doing my work, but it's nice to break in between activities. This, along with power study sessions at the library are slowly getting me through my last semester in school.

I'm slowly getting things crossed off my list. I'm sure I can tackle it all - and you can to.

Via

What do you do to improve motivation? Have any tips? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Spring break is finally here!

It's barely spring, but I'm finally on break!

This week, I'll be spending my time working on my thesis (I got a lit review to finish!), working on some assignments for classes (get ahead or go home!) and working on a PR project for my practicum class.

A lot of my friends are at the beach, but I'm back home with Mom and Dad (and the puppies!)

What are your plans for spring break? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Thesis Update: Topics

Drumroll, please.... I've picked the topic for my senior thesis!

I've decided to discuss the pendulum effect of privacy on the internet. How private are the things we post, really? This is sort of my main focus, including a brief history of social networks and privacy laws.

Do you have a big project or paper this semester? What are you writing about? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Desk for Success

I have a thing with desks. I love them, but my desks always look totally crazy.

I like having a specific workspace, but no matter how hard I try it always turns into a crazy mess! I have a love/hate relationship with desk drawers: I love shoving random stuff in them, but I hate not being able to find anything!

I had to come up with a solution... but so far, the only one that works is not using my desk drawers.

And with all of my papers slowly stacking up on the corner of my desk, underneath textbooks and clipboards, I realized it was time for a change.

The 'Desk for Success' Scavenger Hunt

Before... not so bad, but needs improvement!

Find: Things of Sentiment
Yes, I know the little notes your sorority sisters slipped under your door are sweet, but if it just says "Love, Jane" reconsider keeping it. Does it bring you lots of smiles? Consider taping it to the wall or put it on your memory board. Is it a gift tag and you use the gift every day? Toss the tag.

Secondly, is it on your desk because you were sitting there last when you looked it? Probably. Find a new home for your sentimental notes!

Find: Receipts
Remember why you kept your receipt. For online shopping slips, I keep them in case I need to make a return and because I paid with my card. For regular receipts, I keep everything except cash receipts.

I started storing receipts in a little accordion folder to keep them from going everywhere. After a year, I toss the receipts.

Find: Homework and Assignments
These are a challenge, but not with file folders. I simply stuff them into a manila folder with the class labeled on them and forget about it... until I need it. Then, all I have to do is open my desk drawer and rifle through the stack of folders. (Hint: Leave current assignments in a neat stack or paper tray)

A good use for a desk drawer!

Find: Chargers, cables and jump drives, not in use
I got Pinterest-y with this one. I had a fantastic Voluspa candle that smelled like peaches, so it was easy to burn down. I didn't want to throw away the black and gold tin (which just so happens to be my school colors) so I froze it and scraped out the remaining wax.

It looks like a fancy candle... but it's secretly my junky cables and chargers!

Then, I rolled up my cords and squashed them into the jar. Ta Da! A fairly attractive tech keeper. I plan on doing this again with all of my Voluspa candles and the pretty tins they come in!

Find: Cables and electrical cords, in use
This one is tough. Cables are unattractive 99% of the time. I usually just stuff the cables behind my desk and hope for best.

Sigh.

I was given a picture frame early this year and it's just the right size to cover up my surge protector.

Much more pleasing to the eye and still totally functional!

Find: Trash, snacks and bottles.
Sipping fresh juice out of your new Lilly tumbler? Great, but it's still sitting on your desk. Awkward... go wash that sucker and put it with the rest of your dishes.

Got a water bottle from your last work out? Is it empty? Drain it or drink it, then recycle the bottle. Trash from an earlier snack? You know what to do.

Did you find everything? 

Can you find the little whales that surprised me while cleaning? 

Can you also spot the two drinks I haven't finished?

What does your desk look like? Do you have your own organization system? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Back in the swing of things

It's back to school for students all over, as spring semester began on Monday!

It's the last semester of my senior year - I'm so nervous! It's the wrap up of all four years and even though the classes aren't that hard, it feels so much more challenging because it's near the end!

I have to write my senior thesis this semester. So far, all I know is a vague topic: how social media changes journalism. I've got some whittling down to do - it's a bit too broad!

Writing my thesis means I'll have to be super organized and focused. I know I'll need to be even more organized than I already am and I'll need to budget my time exceptionally well. I'm best with tight deadlines (hence why I enjoy journalism!) so hopefully the long process of thesis won't lose my interest.

Are you tackling any big projects this semester? How are you planning on staying organized? Share with me (and give me some ideas!) in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson