What's the Freshman 15?

When I got to Tech I was highly confused on what people were talking about with this whole "freshman 15" thing. Once I realized it was an extra 15 pounds of body weight gained through junk food and stress, my worry over it decreased significantly. I grew up with pretty healthy habits. Of course there are exceptions to that (like my adoration of sugary things) but I'm fairly reasonable when it comes to food and decently active. While Tech is pretty tough, I think I’ve been doing pretty well as far as staying healthy. I know I don’t drink quite enough water, and there are those nights where I put homework before sleep, but I'm not dehydrated, I haven’t fallen asleep in class, and the alarm-failure scare has forced me to make it impossible for me to not get to class in the morning. I’ve been eating regularly, and most meals I strive (though with slight difficulty due to the dining options) to eat a balanced meal. Every once in a while we must eat "an aesthetically pleasing amount of pizza rolls" -Hannah Ackermann. I have found people to climb with and that helps me exercise everything but my cardio. However, I have quite a few friends who jog regularly and do other exercise, so that’s an incentive for me to start...eventually. 

My super amazing roommate, Hannah, studying by osmosis.
(Yes, we know it's not really osmosis, but it sounds cooler.)

I’ve found a church I like and I go with my PL on most Sundays, so it’s both convenient and helpful to have those supports. I have been trying to balance fun and studies, and if I took an average it would probably come out about right, but I know there are weekends where I spent more time with friends and less time studying than would be optimal, so I’m working on that. Sometimes studying can actually be kind of fun (the slightly less productive version of studying). My goal is to not have to stay up super late cramming on Sunday nights. My fun things can actually lead to useful connections though because I spend a decent amount of time with upperclassman that can give good advice. I’d like to have more open Saturdays next semester for climbing, relaxing, and seeing things in Atlanta. Overall, though, life is pretty good, a little stressful, but that’s just Tech right?

Definition of Dilemma

Initially it is a fantastic thing to have multiple talents and interests, but when deciding a major, it creates a dilemma. 

Dilemma: A decision between two or more things all equally awesome and attractive to one’s brain (source: Alana’s cranial dictionary).

I chose Georgia Tech partly because it had every major I had ever seriously considered pursuing, so if I really wanted to I could try out every single one. Ideally, I would have a major in chemical engineering with a minor in material science and engineering, a major in architecture with a minor in industrial design, and a major in computational media (CM) with a minor in something useful and interesting. All of these with some business classes, internships, co-ops or other productive things. Now, that’s not a very practical path and I would undoubtedly raise the average graduation time at Georgia Tech.

Kyle (closest) at T Night.

So, I talked to a lot of people; mainly my section leader in marching band, Kyle. Kyle is a 5^th year CS major here, but has more psychology credits than a psych minor and is therefore pretty beneficial to talk to (and also a cool guy). I told him I liked design and math. I told him I wanted my major to get me a job that would get me a stable income, so I could live a comfortable, stable life and pay off all the college loans that I, like him, will be burdened with in exchange for my invaluable Georgia Tech education. I, at this point, hadn’t been thinking about CM or CS because I had written those fields off as ones that videogame-obsessed boys went into (a mistake). Kyle, however, thought CM would be just perfect for me, and told me to look into it.

When the time rolled around for my career research project I decided to choose computational media. Why not? I might as well get graded for researching it instead of finding free time. I asked Kyle if he knew any CM majors, and of course he did, so he set me up with Evelyn. She just told me what CM was like, what she liked and didn’t like, and random things she knew about CM.

I fell in love. (With CM, not Evelyn, although she is pretty awesome.) The skills I will learn or learn more of are ones I would want to learn on the side of anything else I knew anyway. They’re all useful in and out of work and they all make money. It seems shallow to value money so much, but there are so many applications for money that it definitely holds importance. Computational Media Majors get jobs at all the companies I’ve always thought I’d love to work for (i.e. Google, Apple, Pixar), and are the source of many things that make me excited (i.e. games, graphic design, iPad apps). I’ve never really felt “passionate” about a major before, and I don’t know to what extent most people experience that, but I am definitely excited to learn about CM and all that comes with it.

Extras! (AKA not really part of the GT1000 blog post but relevant and exciting to me)

A Georgia Tech CM student (now working for apple) created a way to edit text more easily on and iPad and turned it into an app called SlideWriter (it doesn’t integrate into all applications, sadly, but it might be fun to try). Here’s an article/video:

http://www.cultofmac.com/174960/slidewriter-brings-awesome-ipad-text-editing-concept-to-the-app-store-today/

He also created a free iPad/iPhone game called Percepto. It’s neat, simple, and free, so try it out!
http://itunes.apple.com/mo/app/percepto/id419502225?mt=8

Also, on the Georgia Tech CM website there’s a featured project that I fell in love with. It’s a one level game made as a project. Here’s the link: http://www.kongregate.com/games/rosypenguin/vision-by-proxy

Evelyn also told me about this cool research being done at Georgia Tech on creating artificial intelligence in games, so that you can replay a game in the same world and get more than just a repeated programmed response. (I just thought that was cool.)

Credit for Kyle's picture goes to Liz again.

What I'm really paying for in College

No amount of love for learning can make endless days of studying desirable. This has made me appreciate my choice of a large university even more. There are clubs and organizations for just about everything, and though it was at first very overwhelming, I've managed to fall into a routine that incorporates a good variety of extracurriculars.

Marching Pre-game show.*

Music has been a part of my life since I started piano lessons in grade school and marching band has fulfilled that desire here at Georgia Tech. It takes up a good bit of time with band camp, practices, and many games and performances, but what I gain from that time commitment is worth it. It has been an instant network of people that I have for homework help, social activities, and sympathy after hard tests. The band is the center for all things school spirit and we have a blast being involved. I've learned to love football, and scream at all the right times. I also know the school cheers and traditions that make Tech the way it is.

Climbing wall in the CRC.*

Another activity I'm continuing from high school is climbing. The CRC has a small climbing wall that I've started going to 3 times a week for exercise and to make friends that climb. It has been working quite well and I'm planning to join the climbing club. The climbing club is a lot like my high school climbing team. I'm considering competing in the triple crown competition; the triple crown is three different competitions in different places. They make trips on the weekends to climb and do competitions in the spring. The climbing season is the opposite of the busy band season, so the two compliment each other nicely. The club also offeres opportunities for leadership in the future (secretary, etc.)

Not all of my activities are pure fun and games. I have joined the Society of Women Engineers (SWE for short) which meets once a week. Though I haven't become very involved yet, it seems like it will be good for networking and job finding much like the Student Alumni Association that I plan on joining.

Quite the opposite of SWE and SAA, HvZ (Humans versus Zombies) is PURE fun and games. It is a week long game of tag that occurs once a semester. I stunned zombies with balled up socks and made it until thursday evening as a human. I met a bunch of fun people (all designated with the required yellow bandana) and learned my way around campus. Despite having to check over my shoulder all week, it was also a huge stress reliever because it was just for fun.

The college life has a lot to offer and it's nice to know that I can get more out of my college tuition than just knowledge in class. I'm feeling a lot more confident now because I am doing both familiar things and new things. Extracurriculars, not reclusive studying at all hours, is how people like me make it through college.

*Band photo taken from Liz Sidlov and Climbing photo from GT Climbing Club via Facebook. Credit goes to them.

Life Chapter 2 - College

College is the midpoint between being on your own and being at home with your parents. Here you're on your own, but the college atmosphere helps place everything you could possibly need or want within reach if you're willing to reach out and grab it.

Studying hard with Hannah and Jeremy

The classes get harder, no doubt. Class time is for speedily jotting notes and meeting your future study buddies who you'll do the real learning with. I'm trying to get used to doing my learning on my own instead of in class, but it's a rough transition. Time management is a huge part of that. In high school, school was like an 8-3 job and once I left I did a little homework and was done with "school" for the day. Here, it's constant. Class is not even half of what constitutes the education of a college. Outside of class there are many extracurriculars, jobs, and social activities to choose from. This freedom and openness has been awesome. I get to choose what I want to do and when I want to do it. This week however, my classes are starting to be a bit more demanding, so the stress of the time management is about to set in. This stress put my creativity through the blender at some point this weekend, so the blog entry was a nice warm up to the English paper I have due Friday. On the plus side I like my professors. They have higher degrees than my high school teachers and therefore deserve higher respect. That, I admit, makes them seem a little more scary and a little less approachable, but I think it will work out.

Highschool State Climbing in CO

Though I do enjoy my classes (and some of the assignments seem useful), what I really am enjoying in college is outside of class. I admit I enjoy being a social butterfly. The availability of friends (because we're all living here) is a great thing for me. I can study with my friends, or take opportunities to dress up pretty and go socialize with friends on weekends. Also, as a climber I've gotten into the habit of climbing 3 or 4 times a week. It's stress relieving and let's my body work for a while instead of my brain.

The overall atmosphere of college is welcoming. I'm settling into a routine and enjoying the perks of college. I love how intelligent the conversations are and how diverse the faces are. The stories and personalities I've heard and seen are exciting and new, and I feel like I finally fit in.

Just A Girl

I was born on May 30th in Montrose, Colorado and given the name Alana Rose Lin. I grew up mostly in Montrose enjoying a plethora of extracurricular activities, friends, and experiences. I practiced piano, then flute then saxophone. I competed in gymnastics, and soccer, and climbing. I sang. I danced. I read. I skied. I snowboarded. I picked apples, painted my nails, and climbed trees.

Switzerland 2011

With my Taiwanese dad and his Portuguese wife Maria. My summers were rich with the cultures of Europe and Asia. Airplanes were no big deal by the time I was 10.  I learned to love diversity (and food).

I loved all things furry. I grew up with a dog, Pheobe, and a few cats, Ittybitty and Barnabee (one at a time), who soon learned to share space with my rabbit, Tootsie, and goldfish, Emmie (a birthday present from a creative friend). Now I have, or rather my mom has, a Borgi (border collie/ corgi) dog named Maisy. She's our spastic, lovable, snoring, log-shaped, 45 pound lapdog.

Maisy

I spent a lot of time with my mom's side of the family in big Thanksgivings and Christmases. With supportive (though separate) parents, cousins to replace siblings, and my grandmother as my main babysitter, I was taught to be who I am. 

"Who am I?" Tough question. I've never been great at answering it. My personality lies somewhere between that of an overly excited puppy and that of a lioness. I consider myself strong and thoughtful, but I give in easily to laughter and shenanigans. I am self motivated and strive to be the best me I can be! (It shouldn't be too hard since I'm such a weirdo and no one is just like me.) I enjoy people, music, food, knowledge, color, beauty, and laughter. 

                                                                             ~

I applied to Georgia Tech thinking it was just another school. I didn't plan on going here. I thought would go on to find my "dream school," but Georgia Tech wasn't going to be it, I thought. I applied to MIT, Colorado School of Mines, University of Minnesota... and ended up at Georgia Tech. The decision came down to what felt right, but Georgia Tech could fulfill both my passions and my curiosities. I could major in engineering and continue my love of math. I could still keep industrial design, music, and creativity. I found that the big diverse campus was the one for me.

My R.A.T. family.

Today is my third day of classes. I've already experienced the feeling of being average (a new experience for one who always scored "advanced" on standardized tests). I've met amazing people who can actually help me with homework and also have a blast doing almost nothing. I've shared my excitement over my english class with my roommate and not been called nerdy for it. I'm a little nervous for my first B, but I know that a B here is worth a lot in the real world. I think the transition is going quite nicely. I love how it just feels right here.