Looking for exam motivation? Read here:

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I would like to thank my friend, Armand, who sent me this song. This song is my exam motivation, because I have found my inner ninja and will conquer these exams!

I have received good news! I can write the Accounting exam, because I did good in my test. BUT I will have to do very good in the exams to pass! Therefore my inner NINJA will come out when studying for it!

Hope you have great and successful exams!

Millennium Lady The NINJA!!!!!!!

Don't you sometimes wish for a day for every day?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Exactly at 11:11, I made a wish. A wish that there is a day for every day.

You are probably gonna hate me for making this particular wish. Damn you person for making such a wish! Is a year not enough for you??

But I certainly need a day for every day! What do I mean by that? By that I mean that for every Monday, I need another one. For every Tuesday the same, etc....

Why? Would you ask. Well, because my workload is a lot and I am struggling to keep head above water. I am usually 'til late busy with academic work. It takes me the whole day to complete my work, which must be handed in next. The days are flying past like tennis balls being shot out of the machine.
But after my day is done, I haven't made time for the people in my life and therefore I need a day for every day, so I can get the chance to spend it with them!

Maybe I need time manage. Maybe I need to sleep less. Maybe maybe maybe.
But this is my wish, which will not be granted. So stop hating me for my wish and chill! Life is short, enjoy the days. They go by so fast.

Sleep: My daily drug

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

When I'm awake, I constantly think of sleep. When I'm asleep, I dream of sleeping. Sleeping is my drug and you know what? IT'S FREE!!!!

Are you also a student, who constantly sleeps?

In my first year, I got the nickname, Sleeping Beauty, because I was always falling asleep in my Afrikaans lecturer's class. But in my defense, she was a bit  extremely boring. Always reading the same poems and going on and on about the same work. The time of the class, was also accidentally in my afternoon nap time. I got good grades so the lecturer never scolded me, she just nicknamed me. My second year was pretty much the same thing, always falling asleep in class.

Lately, I'm quite good at staying awake in class and at work. I try to doodle in class or make notes, which helps to keep the sleepiness at bay. When I do eventually arrive at the residence, I immediately get in bed. I never sleep the amount of time that I planned. I set my alarm for an half an hour, but when I eventually awake from my death sleep, it's an hour and a half later...

I always feel so guilty when I wake up and think about how much work I COULD HAVE done in that hour... 

Pfffft! Yeah right!

Problem is: I love sleeping so much, I might consider marrying it. I love my bed. Oh, and did I mention my cushion. Just writing this, I am already fantasizing about my bed.

Is there something wrong with me? Or is sleeping just my drug? 

I'll go for the latter!

Sleep tight, my dear readers.

Sleeping Beauty

xx

Living vs. Rat Race

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

“Life had become some kind of profound competition, where my emotional loss was substituted by my professional success. I became a part of what they call the rat race.”
― Saurbh Katyal, Seduced by Murder

From the day I was born, life has been a rat race. People going to work, trying to make money, rushing home in traffic, feeding the kids and getting them into bed. Only to fall asleep yourself.
Day spent.

After studying, you get a job. You get the man. You get the house. You get the children. And this is it. I know I have reached the time when I should send out CV's and decide where I want to work. The type of work that won't feel like work. I should aim to be successful. Maybe, I'll meet the man, while being successful in my work. Then comes the baby and the golden carriage. Constantly chasing success. Will it even make you happy?

Hell's Bells!

I want to shout at the rat race to slow down! Smell the roses around you. Live. See. Touch. Experience. Travel.

There is nothing wrong with being in the rat race and having a family and kids. BUT IT'S NOT ME. IT IS NOT ME. For now....

I want to go to places, which I have read about in books. I want to touch the Tower of Piza. I want to swim in Jacob's Well. I want to ride a bicycle in Netherlands and go places on my bicycle.
I want to do and see things, which not many people do after getting a job, the man and kids. I want to travel in Europe. I want to eat things, I have never eaten before. Walk where I've never walked before. Learn about different cultures. I want to travel. Maybe, once I have done that, I will be ready for the rat race. MAYBE.

I'll never be the common rat racer. I will always have feet itching to go places and see things. Is there a job where I can do that? Please make suggestions, if you know about something like that.

But for now, I'll be completing my studies and in the meantime, I'll be contemplating about what my next move is gonna be. The rat race has to wait for a while.

Love
The Wanderluster

Every dog has its day.

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

You know how you watch people do things that are wrong and you can't really change that, but then all of sudden the wheel turns and they get their day like every dog gets his day?
Yeah, I call it karma.

This year, whilst studying the diploma in management, we had to form groups and create "businesses" and then do projects as if we are a company. But some of the group members have not contributed to the group from the beginning and it was a real struggle. Only a third of the time, they showed up for class, meaning the rest of the group had to do the classwork without them. Which is not fair, because they are reaping in the marks, without lifting a finger.

Also, at the place where I work, people are dishonest about the times that they are working. For instance they leave 20 minutes before the time, but log out the time that they were supposed to leave. Or the people are constantly late, making other assistants miss their classes and then usually they log in the time, they were supposed to be there.

Well, enough is enough! We kicked the lazy members out of our group. They now have to create their own company and do the remainder of the work by themselves. Unfortunately, they are getting the marks of previous projects, which they hadn't really contributed in. But, they will understand how much the rest of the group had to do, once they have to do the projects on their own.

On the work front, the people are gonna get their day. I have always been honest and always made plan not to be late for work, so can they. If you know that you are always late, then set your alarms earlier or plan your day better. But don't make it hard for other people working with you, you are selfish.

Employers won't be very nice, once they realize that you are always late and lazy. The real life is waiting and it will be hard, if you don't realize that soon enough.

Disney and THE ONE...

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Constantly looking for the One around every corner and turn? Well, I say stop it!

"What? Are you serious?
You expect me to sit
around and wait for
some guy to come and
save me? I'm going to
law school in August
and as soon as I'm out of
this dump I'm reporting
my stepsisters  and
stepmother to the police
for harassment and slave labour.

I remember when I was younger, I used to dress up to go to the mall, thinking that there will be lots of hot guys and maybe, just maybe one of them will ask my number. Forgetting to enjoy the moment with my friends or family.

In high school, you believed the guy you are dating will be the One. You held on to them for dear life, believing you won't find another.

At university, every guy you even talk to, you do that thing where you imagine how it would be to be with them. Maybe even envision marriage. Believing there is only one ONE! Scary, ain't it?

I blame Disney for this lame belief. The belief that you HAVE to find the one when you are young. The belief that only a prince/man can save you. How about saving yourself, being your own hero?

Guess what? There are multiple ONE's! There are like 20 in your country, one in France, one in Ireland, like 1 million in America and 1 billion in China, who will be THE ONE for you.
How you meet people is about location, for instance you won't meet the one who is in China, if you are in South Africa. It is about the same interests, it is about timing, etc...
And the best part is, you will find one another when the time is right and your paths cross. It might be when you are 17 or when you are 31, who knows? And who worries????

I have so much that I still want to do before I meet my soulmate. I am not ready to meet them. I want to travel the world, live in my own place and I want to get a good job, before I meet the guy. But my interests differ from other people and I get that. I just want to make sure that I am making the right choice before I commit to a lifetime decision.

Quitting the studies to travel.

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I have big news! I have decided to discontinue my studies, to go and travel the world!

I have been struggling too much with Accounting and all those other boring subjects, while I tried to silence my Communication brain. It has been really hard. While I was struggling with this diploma, the wanderlust in me has taken over and it has been nagging at me for the last few months. I have been planning 2016 for a while, I was planning to Au-pair in the Netherlands, so that I can tour Europe in my spare time, but then life decided that it has to be NOW! I have to travel ASAP!

I have been contacted by a travel agency on Facebook, who wants to me to blog for them overseas. I will be blogging on their site, but I have free reign on my blog about what I blog about my travels. Guess my blog will be transformed into a travel blog!

The amazing deal includes that they will pay for my flight, my accommodation and meals, wherever they send me, as long as I blog for them, rating the place's stay. And I still earn a salary per month! My first stop will be Ireland, since I don't need a Visa to enter the country, thereafter we will arrange Visa's as we go.

My parents are not really happy about this decision. They feel it is a bit rash and I should think it through. My mom feels that I should first finish my studies, before doing this. But an opportunity like this only comes around once in a lifetime, whereas studies can always be completed later on. After all, traveling has been my dream for many years! I will join my parents in San Antonio in June, which I'm also looking forward to!

My flight takes off on the 11th of April. I am going to live the dream. I cannot wait for this amazing adventure to start! It will be so much fun!

I graduated when I was 6!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen 

A while back, I was informed by my mother that I got my degree when I was 6! SIX!!!

But the human race just couldn't accept that I am such a genius. So, I had to go through with school (yawn) and through university (yawn again), just to prove to them that I am THAT smart.

Proof of my first degree at 6

With my first degree, I studied physics and graduated as a physicist...The clever alien that I am, but the second time, I tried to be more NORMAL and studied communications. (So, I would know how to communicate with the human race).
Well, human race I made it a second time! Our graduation only takes place in March, but one of these days I'm gonna have my graduation gown and cap on! Just so I can prove it to you! VAT SO!

This genius can't be stopped no matter what!

Surviving in a residence

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I am a third and final year Communication student and since my first year, I’ve been staying in a hostel. An all-ladies hostel. Meaning hormones, moodiness, back-stabbing, but also so much love and friendships... I've also met my bridesmaids here. 

My hostel is the home to 260 unique ladies and that means unique things happen and you learn your lesson very fast here. Here are the things that my friends and I have learned:

• ·         Sometimes it’s better to not see/hear anything (Jonanke)
• ·         Never leave your dishes in the kitchen, no matter how insignicant you think it is, it will disappear (Mart-Mari)
• ·         There is not really ghosts in the residence, but yet you sometimes believe it (Toni)
• ·         People who do not live in residences will never really know what goes on there (Hanri)
•        Never stay next to the balcony, because you will have people constantly smoking next to you and chatting very loud (Mone)
• ·         You get one toilet roll per week. TOILET ROLLS ARE GOLDEN! If you accidentally forget them in the bathroom, they will be gone by the time you go looking for them.
• ·         Silence is not golden.
• ·         It is totally acceptable to walk in pajamas all day long or slip into your pajamas any time of the day.
•        The more you participate, the more friends you will make.
•        The more you participate, the more fun you will have.
• ·         Bathing is too much cleaning work (because people don't clean after themselves) and it takes too long to take a bath. SHOWER INSTEAD.
• ·         The walls are thin. Watch what you say and keep your music down or you will have angry neighbors.
• ·         There will be someone studying the same as you, so get yourself a study buddy to make things a bit easier.
• ·         Buy some earplugs for noisy nights.
• ·         You will have a lot of friends in the residence, so doing projects can sometimes be hard when they pop.
• ·         Having a tidy room, makes you more positive and feel task-oriented.
• ·         If you go to sleep before 11 pm, people will ask you if you're sick. NO ONE SLEEPS EARLY.
• ·         Watching scary movies is not great when returning to the residence. A residence is scary by nature.
• ·         Watching a lot of series' is acceptable.
• ·         Being up to date with ALL the movies and series is acceptable.
• ·         Great food is scarce.
• ·         Having an almost empty fridge is common and not strange. Fridges mostly contain sauces and food that no one wants to eat.

·      I would not have preferred to stay anywhere else, it is so much fun to participate in activities and all the friends that one makes, makes life worth the while.

Living in a residence makes you part of something fun, you will have stories to tell your children one day. Living in a residence has taught me many lessons and how to work with other people.

Also check out my post about the things that university guides will never teach you.

Feeling like an application form

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Ah, the mysteries of 2015...

Autumn-the change of seasons just like 2015 will be to me

In previous blog posts I have written about my uncertainty about next year and here I am two months later and still clueless as ever. As a final year student, many important decisions have to made in this crucial time; decisions like am I going to do my honors, or another diploma, or am I going to start working. For the past two weeks I've been filling out so much forms and applications, I'm starting to feel like one, no jokes.

I imagine myself meeting someone and I'll be like:
Me: "Student number?
Person: "Huh? Why?
Me: "Okay, person doesn't know... What is your title, initials and surname?
Person: "What? You wanna stalk me on Facebook already?"
Me: (Filling out the form in my head thinking: Initials are YWSMO and surname is Facebook)
       "What is your date of birth?"
Person: "Dude, I'm 21!" (Walks away, not knowing what just happened)

Yes, that is the extent of the Application Syndrome. Normal conversation has been forever ruined because of these life changing forms. These forms will determine the beginning of my working career, but not necessarily the end of it. It feels like very big decisions that I'm making. I might sound negative, but I'm actually very excited for the possibilities and I still have the perception that I can change the world with whatever choice I decide to make.

Today, I also heard that I got accepted at Flow Communications to shadow there in October. They are a very prestigious communication company and I am indeed a very lucky person! This will be a big step for me, because it will be great putting it on my CV, as well as the experience I'll be gaining will be priceless!

Signed on the 27th day of August
Signature of student:
AKOosthuizen

The crossing straight from hell

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Each and every week, I am forced to cross a four-way stop, which I personally named as the Crossing from Hell. I don't have a car, so I am forced to cross it by foot. I have to cross the Crossing from Hell, because on the other side lies my groceries and needed study material for the beginning of a semester.

I cross this Crossing from Hell, at least once a week maybe twice or three times. 

Crossing from Hell

Each time the crossing looks quiet but as soon as you want to cross it, there are 1 000 000 cars who have to cross it as well. I gave this crossing its name, because I had many near death experiences here. Students say that they know how a four-way stop works, but it's a lie... They don't. I know it because I have had too many near death experiences... So, to save everyone who crosses this crossing or any other like it, I decided to make a guide on how to cross it.

How to cross the Crossing from Hell:

1. Run. I repeat: RUN! 
2. Make sure there is a group of people who want to cross it as well. (This helps that you don't make mistakes and walk in front of a moving car)
3. Make sure you are in the middle of this group (If a car hits, you are the safest)
4. When crossing, close your eyes and walk as fast as lightning.
5. RUN! I repeat: RUN! 
6. Imagine you are walking to 'I'm walking on sunshine', but put it on fast forward and move your buns!
7. If you see a cute guy/girl, keep yourself together and RUN! Once on the other side of the crossing, you can smile at him.
8. If there is a bicycle who also wants to cross, you better put on your takkies, 'cause you're gonna run for your life and keep up with him/her to not get hit.
9. Make sure you wear bright colors (Neon colors, Red, Cerise Pink, Blue, Lime Green, Yellow) any color that will make visible to drivers.
10. RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!

Have you ever crossed a crossing like this? What is your experiences?

Marching for our rights

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today, we made history! We, as students, fought for our rights to be educated in our home language, Afrikaans and to have English and Tswana, as interpretation services.

Merieke and I at the march
Second poster translation "Media stoking anger, what about my degree?"

Our university has been receiving bad advertising from newspapers and television since the beginning of the year, making false accusations of the university endorsing a Nazi-culture, which is rubbish!

The university was forced to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor after all the bad media, but this Vice-Chancellor made promises that he will not change our language of instruction. So everyone was happy, until he made statements on TV that he had other motives. Yes, he was considering to change our language of instruction.

Now, here is the defense of the students and the university:

Since our country became a democracy in 1994, we had 11 official languages. Talk about a rich culture and traditions of a country! I absolutely love it! There are so many types of people here and each and everyone is individual. We all have different backgrounds and we are a Rainbow Nation. One of our rights in this Rainbow Nation, is that we have the right to be educated in our home language.

Why not go to another university to receive education in your home language?
Because we are the last Afrikaans university in South-Africa. All English and Tswana students have translators in EACH and EVERY class.
There are so many English universities, who provide interpretation services for all languages of South-Africa, except for Afrikaans.

Lizanne, me and Merieke

Thousands of students marching!

It will still take some time for the Vice-Chancellor to realize what he is doing to our student culture. He will cause the separation between students and friends, because of this. And Nelson Mandela, his hero fought so hard to prevent exactly the things that are happening now at the university.

How do you feel about this? Please share your views.

Expectation vs Reality of turning 21

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

In a week, I'm turning 21. 21 21 21! I cannot believe it. But the scary thing is, I don't feel 21, I still feel like the little tomboy from school. I used to collect bugs and play in the mud, and I hated dresses. Growing up, I had a lot of expectations of what 21 should feel like, but like we all know life never really is the way you expected it to be and in some ways you are glad that it didn't meet up with your expectations.

21st party of a friend

My expectations were that I would have directions in life. I expected that I would know exactly what job and house I would have. that I would know who I'd marry and my future would lay crystal clear in front of me. When I was a lot younger, I expected at the age of 21, I would be an old widow or something. I even thought at some point that I would have children by this time. I thought that I would still be friends with all the people, who were my friends in school. I thought that I would be done studying and on my way to my dream job. AND THEN LIFE LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND SAID: That's not what I have in store.

My reality is this: I have no idea where I want to be in life. Next year, I still want to study something, so the job part has to wait. I am thinking about doing my honors in Communication or attending a business school at the university. The house part has to wait (obviously). My future is not crystal clear in front of me, in fact, it is like a birthday cake smudged in a little boy's face. 

I always thought that I would know who the ONE is, who I'd marry, when I was 21. But then life taught me that there are multiple ONE's. Many fish in the sea. Whatever you want to call it. I'm also not ready to marry and start my life with someone. I first have to know myself and I first have to do all the things I wanted to do, before I start my life with someone. I still want to travel the world, experience the world and look after myself. So it's chilled vibes about meeting Prince Charming, The ONE, The fish in the sea... WHATEVER.

Turning 21 in a week, I am not yet a widow. Unless, something happens this week, like I get marries, grow very old in a few days and then he dies before Sunday. Then the possibility is there that I could be a widow and very old.

After my sister was born, I realized that no way in hell I would have children before the age of 30! I am 21, still a few years to go. Phew! 

Friends come and go, but you always like to believe that they would be your BFF (Best Friends Forever). I had many friends in school and we had good times, but after school everyone went their own course and we lead different lives. I have a handful of friends, who have always been there. Come hell or high water, they stuck it out and I really cherish these friendships. They are all I need. 

Yes, life laughed in my face about my expectations, but I'm still happy with how things worked out and I couldn't ask for better. I really feel privileged to lead the life that I'm living. Have I been making to much of a deal of turning 21 or is it society, who puts such a big expectation on it.

Over it!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

This is my third and final year as a Communication student. Next year is still a mystery! But it has not been easy....

Maia and me

Today, I wrote my last paper for the semester. I wrote two tests today and the first one was horrible! It will be a miracle if I do pass it, but I have seen miracles happen here and I'm really hoping for one today when they start marking our tests!

I'm on holiday and yet it still feels like I have to do work or some kind of project, because I never really had one chill day this semester. I always had something to do! I am currently busy packing my bags and tonight I'm going to a 21st celebration of a friend. I CAN RELAX!!!!!

I had a very tough semester and it never felt like I touched ground. I also think that I have ADD. Previous years, I just thought that I was lazy and didn't really bother me, but this year when it was crunch-time (which is always) I could never sit still and concentrate. Everything distracts me and I can never focus. It really became a problem in April/ May when we had about a project per day to give in. I found myself typing in the whee hours of the morning, typing like a frantic monkey to meet the deadlines, but still my attention was never where it was supposed to be, I always jump up and go do something else, even when it's crunch-time. This is very different from procrastination, because I know how procrastination feels and this is not it... I will give attention to this over the holiday!

Yes, studying is not easy and giving up sounds wonderful, but I did not come this far to just throw in the towel! I will make it and I will also make a success out of this! I always tell myself that I am extremely privileged to study and I should not waste the chances that has been given to me.

I am excited to finish my degree this year and about the mysteries of next year that lie in front of me!

The scary future of 2015

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Hi, my name is Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen and I have no idea what I'm going to do next year and I am scared.

My third and final year has crept up to me like a mouse. How did this go so fast? I can still remember my first day in Grade 1 and here I am: A university student and a final year at that!

I have always had these big dreams about what I wanted to become. First it was a book editor, editing books and reading them all day. Sounds like a jolly good dream. Then, I wanted to become a diplomat for South-Africa in France, that dream was when I was enchanted with France. I also took French at school, but when I went to France, I realized that I love my country. 

My dream was then to become a journalist, but that dream faded very quickly, when I started studying Communication and realized all the possibilities, which I can do with Communication.

My problem is that the possibilities are too vast! I don't know what I want to do! Next year included. The question is do I want to do my honors in Communication, then the question is in which Communication? Do I even want to my honors? Would I rather do the Business School course, which is also a year? What do I want to do?

I DON'T KNOW!

The only thing I know for certain is that I want to travel the world. But when I mean travel, I mean SEE EVERYTHING, EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING. My plan thus far is to start working on a tourist ship, where I can make money. Enough money for the travels for at least one or two countries. In those countries I'll do petty jobs, where I'll save up for the next country. 

My plan is also to travel for at least 2-3 years... 

This is the only thing, which I'm certain about my future. I WILL TRAVEL! But for now, I'm having sleepless nights about the year 2015 and everything that it holds! 

Am I naive about this travelling thing? Should I relax about my future or start making plans?

How to motivate yourself when things get tough

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Sometimes, life gets tough. In the past month, I had so much work to do that it felt like I was drowning. But then I try to motivate myself with these few things:

• Just remind yourself how privileged you are, to be able to study. Other people wish they could be in your shoes. So work hard and appreciate what you have.
• Only focus on the next project. One can only eat an elephant bite for bite, swallowing it whole, will kill you! Looking at all your work that needs to be done, will make you negative and will not help you with the next project!
• Make a cup of tea, take a deep breath and start.
• Go to 8tracks- choose a study and classical playlist and relax while working.
• Allow yourself some 'me' time, but not too much or you will fall behind.
• Cry it out, moan and complain, but then move on! You have to face your work...
• It might look like a mountain now, but once you start, things will look better!
• My best advice to myself is always: Anything is better than nothing... Even if you get bad grades, you could've gotten NO grades if you didn't do it!

I hope these few tips will help you, when things feel too much. 

My exams are starting in a week's time and here we are still busy scraping together participation marks so we can go and write exams! Yes, studying is tough! Suck it up and get a move on :) 

How to procrastinate

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Here at my university, we are busy writing semester tests. It's equivalent to a mini exam. It helps us to scrape together the little marks, we already have and helps to lift our participation mark for exams. But I am very good at procrastinating, so I decided to compile a list of things, which I and many other do, while procrastinating.

This is us, procrastinating....

My procrastinating list:

• Your room is always exceptionally clean. (The dishes get washed immediately and the floors are scrubbed.)
• You are up to date with all your series.  (Game of Thrones, Pretty Little Liars, Reign and Dexter are my faves.)
• ALL your social media profiles are up to date. (Regular posts are made on each profile)
• You have regular visits with all your friends. (This is easy for me, because I stay in a dormitory.)
• Your parents know you are alive. (You phone them everyday to procrastinate just a little more.)
• You are there when the dining hall opens. (You run for food and the 15min break away from work.)
• Having songs in your head and then ending up on Youtube to watch it. (Two hours later you are still on youtube.)
• A shower becomes an outing. (You get excited to go and shower and absolutely take your time.)
• When procrastinating, one takes at least 2 naps.... each hour... (When I should study, I get so tired and take at least 2 naps a day.)
• You count all the dots or groves on your ceiling. (Ours is not exciting, 'cause it only has 17 groves...)
• Taking out your trash also becomes fun. (When you were little you hated it, now you take out the trash even if there is only one paper in.)

While procrastinating, just remember that you are extremely privileged to study and only 3% of the population is able to study and never let it get out of hand like this:

"It's gotten to the point, where I can't even call it 'procrastination' anymore,

I should just call it 'jeoparadizing my future'"

Student with weird pet

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I saw a guy with a fat dog from the far and I told my friend that this poor dog needs his walks, because he is really fat. When we got closer, we realized it's not a dog... IT'S A PIG!!!

As a student, it's hard to ever have a dull moment... Students are interesting people! This guy really enjoy all the attention that he got from walking his pig.

Third year is really getting to me

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Last year, my older friends struggled with their third year. They constantly complained about the work load and I thought how bad can it really be?

Now, I completely understand! IT IS A LOT OF WORK! Every minute I have, I have to use for work. I can't play around anymore this year. In this two weeks I have 7 projects, which I must still start and finish... At least, I completed one in this very short holiday.

My stuttering started up again from the stress of the work load. It is the second time this year that my stuttering came round.

I don't even know if I am so eager to do my honors anymore, next year. The work load is even more then. I think I will crack if I have to do honors, as well.

I am emotionally tired! The second term only started today, but I literally don't have the energy, that I used to have the past few years, around this time of year. I AM TIRED! But not the tired that sleep can cure...

I want to be in bed constantly

Playing dress-up

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Being in a dormitory, we always have themes to dress-up to. I absolutely love it to scratch around in my closet and come up with something for the theme.

Superheroes

P-party

Stewardesses

Vintage 21st

Cowboy 21st

Japan and Russia

What are great themes to also dress-up to? I am looking for ideas for my 21st...