Book 1/50 By Darkness Hid

I did not make New Year's resolutions this year, however I decided to set a reading goal of 50 books for the year last week. I didn't read as much as I would have liked this past year, and I want to get back into reading again. I love to read, I was just so busy with work and school.

So far, I have read one book - a good start I suppose, but if I'm going to keep my goal I need to read 5 books a month. We'll see how this goes when J-term break ends. I had downloaded the first book in a series called The Blood of Kings, By Darkness Hid some time last year, but never got around to reading it, so that became my first project. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment in this series, and I can't wait to read the next one.

Alas, Marketing is Over

Today is the second to last day of my J-term Marketing Class and I've never been ready to be done with a course in my life. Something about studying only one subject for an entire month at a rate of three hours a day is extremely energy-draining no matter what the subject is. With the final looming ahead tomorrow I should probably be studying, but hey, I'm working at the desk where I'm going to get interrupted anyway, so might as well share my thoughts on marketing.

I'm really glad I chose to take this class - I found it increasingly interesting as the term went on and was surprised at the things I learned about marketing that I did not know before. Being extremely non-exposed to how businesses work at all, I viewed marketing as advertising, or merely the selling of a product, which I typically looked down upon due to the annoying presence of sales people and telemarketing. (Not to mention the banner ads on websites) Marking is about satisfying customer wants and needs, not trying to sell a product, its about creating a relationship with people. My professor also showed a large interest for internet technology, which, being a computer science major, is right up my alley.

I learned the most in the area of marketing ethics. I realized I had unconsciously categorized marketing as an evil subject, something that God would not look upon with favor. I soon came to realize that marketing done with morals in mind and with a truthful mindset is a very successful career. While I have no intention of changing my major to marketing or entering that field in the job, I have a higher respect for marketers in general after learning what exactly marketing is. That being said, I did really enjoy marketing, but enough is enough.

5 Things I Learned My First Semester

So 2014 was the start of college for me, and today I am sitting at my college library, where I pretty much live, chilling with coffee and eating the orange that I stuck in my backpack this morning. (If you don't believe me, check my Instagram) As I sit here, I realized that I am not the same person that I was when I stumbled onto campus August last year, paralyzed by the fear of having to meet new people and *gasp* live with them. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to adapt to this new life, I was homeschooled, used to working at my own pace and making my own schedule. I'm here to say I survived, and here are five things I learned my first semester.

1.) Your roommates and hall residents don't have to be your friends.

I came to college thinking that the roommates to which I had been assigned to and the people on my floor would become my best friends. I could not have been more wrong. By the second month I soon discovered that the people on my hall had formed mini groups and cliques, of which I had no desire to be with. And, to be honest, I cannot remember all of their names. And it is all ok. I don't talk to my roommates on a regular basis; we try to coexist with each other in silence. I realized that I made friends on my own at the places on campus I am often at like the library and my classes. So, a tip: don't confine yourself to the people you first meet. It will change, and you will grow.