A Study in Life

I did it. I am finally 100% sure that I'm graduating on March 25.

The last few days have been alternately stressful and boring. With over a week and a half still stretching out before graduation preparations start, I've been forced to clean and fix my stuff. I'm writing again, after a short break due to the exhaustion of finals week. And yes, I refreshed my AISIS page in the hope that my grades would finally be up.

Sunday night, I was sitting in my bed, wondering if I should call it a night at 7:14 p.m. (I'm trying to catch up on sleep and fix the battlefield that is my face okay.) I got to thinking about what I wanted to do when I arrive in Toronto, and the plans I'm working on for the rest of the year. That ballooned into a sheet of paper listing down things I'd like to accomplish in the near future. So without further ado, my goals:

What do I want to do in the next three years?

1. Become a published author.

This can happen. I'm watching Marissa Meyer do it right now. This is basically the dream of my life, so I'm not going to let anything get in my way. I'm working to achieve it at this very moment.

2. Return to Philadelphia for a visit.

It would be really nice to walk around my old neighborhood and see how much things have/haven't changed. Seeing my old schools and meeting old friends would be lovely. Maybe I'll even find that I built everything up in my head because of how much I missed my home. Maybe it'll be just as great as I remember.

3. Have my own apartment.

Over the last year, I've learned how to live (relatively) alone. Roommates don't count because they're not family. I like the independence and I think I've grown to need it, but I would still want to be close to my family.

4. Have my first kiss.

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. I waited because I do think it's something special and I don't want to waste it. I have had opportunities--mostly at parties--but none of them have been appealing to me. I'm not asking for a Prince Charming or even a Darren Criss, but it would be nice to know that my first kiss went to someone I truly respect and like.

5. Buy myself a new laptop.

I'd like to be secure enough in my work to do this for myself and not be given things anymore. And yes, I just really need a new laptop.

6. Work at a publishing company, in some capacity.

If I don't ever ever ever get to publish my own work, I think I'd be happy to still be in the industry, helping to spread the love of books to people all over the world. My friends here want to open a publishing company that's more in tune with the pulse of ordinary Filipino readers--not the academe--and I want to help, even if I'll be 7,000 miles away.

7. Make a real snowman.

...Yes, I suck at this. Don't judge me. :(

8. Go to a Nerdfighter concert.

I just want to party with this amazing community that has inspired me so much in the last two years. Someone help me make this happen please?

9. Finish NaNoWriMo/Script Frenzy both in one year.

I can feel it. 2011 is MY WRITING YEAR.

10. Learn to cook.

My mother is going to be so happy about this, you have no idea. She's been on my case about learning to cook so I can be more independent and after a year of living off the cafeteria and deliveries, I have to agree.


I also decided to do another list that's more long-term:

What do I want to do by the time I'm 30?

1. Write the first book in a series.

I've had a series in my head for a while now, but I just haven't had the time to plan it all out. Hopefully, I'll be able to do this within the next two years, but I won't feel bad if I don't get to it right away.

2. Visit California and Seattle.

I've always been an East Coast girl, so I really want to find a way to see the West Coast in the next few years. I have a ton of friends in L.A. and San Francisco and I hear there's a great writing scene up in Seattle. These three spots are on the top of my list, though I'd love to see Vegas and Portland too.

3. Visit Ateneo.

Hopefully I'll have enough money saved up to come see my friends here and visit the university by the time I'm 30. The nostalgia's coming at me more and more these days and I haven't even left. Ateneo's really become a second home to me in the last four years and I'm going to miss the campus and people.

4. Be in a committed relationship.



5. Throw my brother a graduation party.

He's hoping to graduate by 2014 with a major in psychology and then go on to med school. I don't know where his plans for the priesthood are going to fit in, but I'm just so proud of him.

6. Send my parents on a well-deserved vacation.

I'm not going to aim for Paris or London or whatever, but it would be nice to book a relaxing trip for my parents to thank them for all the sacrifices they've made for me and AJ.

7. Be on Jeopardy.

LIFE. LONG. DREAM. Haters to the left.

8. Be fluent in French.

I don't have any excuses for this, especially since I'm going to be living in a country that has French as a second language.

9. Spend a weekend with my best friends from .

I'm putting this in the 30-list because it's going to take a while to get everyone together. Girls, can we make this happen?

10. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Jamie asked me yesterday why I put this here and not in my "next three years." When I go to WWOHP, I would like to enjoy the experience completely. I don't want to be sad that I can't load up on HP stuff or spend as long as I want in the resort. I want it to be a full-on week-long immersion in what I'm sure is going to be one of my favorite places in the world, and ensuring that is going to take time. But I'm going to do it.

And lastly...

LIFE GOALS

1. Adopt a child.
2. Give my parents a house.
3. See my brother happy and content.
4. Own a library just like Belle.
5. Write and love well.

To be honest, I'm going to be happy even if I only accomplish half of those lists. But I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it all happen, because they're going to make me the person I want to be.