Imagine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL!

Happy happy 21! I know it's still the 29th but it's the 1st over at U.K.! And besides, she used to tell people that her bday was on the 29th...can't believe people actually bought that!(oh wait, I was one of them)

I think...

I got my 4th year schedule set up. Yes I know it's only February but well, what did you expect from me anyway? :P

The past few months have been quite a rollercoaster for my career path. Let me recap you on some. In 1st year, I didn't get into computer science so I settled for mathematics until I got in. After getting in in 2nd year, I decided to do Cognitive Systems instead due to my interest in artificial systems and neural networks. In early 3rd year, I decided I want to steer farther from computer science and have a career more related to pscyhology thus I decided I want to go into HCI (human computer interaction). In the latter part of 3rd year while writing my Winter exams, I thought, ah screw comp sci! I want to do neuropsyc! Not willing to give up 3 years of comp sci courses, I decided to finish up my CogSys major (since I do like it and only have 2 more cpsc courses left to take) and also added a neuropsych minor.

So here it is:
1. Math
2. Comp Sci
3. Cog Sys
4. Cog Sys + Neuropsyc

Some people asked me whether it was scary to decide all this in 3rd year...after all, I only have a year left. I never really thought so since my interests sort of guided me towards where I am right now. I'm kinda excited actually. Thrilled to say even that I finally found something I truly, absolutely, amazingly love to do.

Oh right, here's the schedule:

Summer 04
PSYC 365: Cognitive Neuroscience

Winter 04-05
COGS 400: Special Topics in Cognitive Systems
CPSC 422: Intelligent Systems
CPSC 430: Computers and Society
LING 300: Studies in Syntatic Structures
LING 301: Studies in Syntatic Structures II
PSYC 361: Biological Basis of Motivation
PSYC 465a: Computers in Psychology

And if there are conflicts in the above schedule, I might consider:
PSYC 461: Neuroplasticity and Behaviour
PSYC 460: Behavioural Neuroendocrinology

If you asked me 3 years ago back in high school or 2 years ago even if I would consider going into cognitive neuroscience or biological psychology, I would have answered a definite no. I have never taken biology in high school, and even in university, I was given the option to replace it with physics and I did. The only reason I took biology was when I needed it to transfer over to Sciences. And the only reason I took neuropsyc was because it was a requirement (or an recommended elective even) for Cognitive Systems. It's amazing how things work out, isn't it?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY!

Happy 21! Now you can do all those cool stuff that you were allowed to do since 19! (except now you can do 'em in the states ;P)

To grad school or to not grad school?

Grad school or double major? Argh, I don't know what I want. Grad school, or rather what I think grad school is, sounds really appealing to me. Imagine studying something you really love and being able to actually do some hands on work. Another part would be moving away from Vancouver which is something I wanted to do and was something I could have done in gr.12 but I chose not to. I always wanted to try living on my own and haha, this sounds sad but basically live in te lab where I'll be working. :P One of the problems with the grad school fantasy would be getting in I guess. I don't have a 80% average. If only I can redo first year....

The second option is doing a double major. It's pretty plain and simple that I really don't have much passion for computer science anymore. So would the cogs sys major alone limit me to programming jobs? I certainly hope not. Doing a neuropsych major would allow me to take more neuropsych courses (along with a few bio and organic chem courses) which could prove to be useful in the future. And having a second major would open up a greater variety of jobs.

I seriously do not mind going to school all that much. And with the jobs I have now, tuition won't really be that much of a problem. I guess I'll talk to my advisor yet again and see what they think. Ah, the woes of deciding majors....

I think high school CAPP classes did not prepare us well for career preparation and planning (which is after all the name of the course). I was never exposed to such a diverse collection of careers until maybe 2nd year of university. I mean, what did we know in high school? Doctor, lawyer, teacher, computer scientist?

What about neurologist, bioinformatics, criminology, speech science, human kinetics?

Nothing.

New Domain

Well after 1192 days of having a website (give or take 50 days), I finally bought a domain name!

www.thatgirlviv.com

Jumps for joy! (And man...1192 days!? I'm ancient in the 'blogging' world.)

Bus Drama

I haven't had an interesting bus incident in awhile and I knew I was overdue for one.

After leaving Metrotown station today, there was slight commotion coming from the front of the bus. About five minutes later, three teenage girls who were all clothed in TNA and heavy makeup who were standing in front of me shouted some curse words to the front...and some curse words came flying towards to the back of the bus.

Anyway, this was what happened: There was a young family with 4 kids on the bus (I'm not sure if all the kids were there). The 3 teenage girls sat in the courtesy seats and the mom or dad asked them to move to the back (I don't know if it was done in a nice way or whatnot) but the teenage girl basically said no because she was pregnant. Afterwards, the 3 decided to move to the back. So that was basically the sitch. Simple, no?

It was hard to follow the conversation at first since there conversation was filled with insults, cuss, and some plain nastiness all over. At some point, the young mother was so angry that she took off the child carrier she had on and got ready to make her way towards the back with the intention to "beat the crap out of those stupid teenagers." She had such anger in her eyes. She was stopped by some people who told her basically to just forget it and what was she thinking to act that way in front of her children. The girls in the back laughed and held onto their cellphones ready to call their boyfriend while shouting towards the front, "I'm gonna get my boyfriend to fucking shoot you with a gun, bitch!"

All the while, the bus has stopped moving and the spectators were all quiet and absorbing the scene. Within 15 minutes, the cops came and told the family to leave the bus. The bus started to move again as the teenage girls giggled and waved goodbye to the family who were now standing outside with the police.

I found it a bit odd that they didn't escort both parties out since it obviously wasn't one sided. But then again, I'm not sure what they could have done either. I don't know what I was thinking at time. Probably about how people could act that horribly, feel so much anger and think that they're that invincible. Some things never ceases to surprise me.

Just a little psycho babble

Sometimes, I think I got life all figured out. Yep. I really, really do. I know what's important in life. I know where I stand with regards to people. I know who's important in my life. I know who makes me cringe. I know who's sincere, and who's not. I just, well know.

I'll let you in on a little secret here (again)...I can read minds. Well, sort of anyway. I am observant. If I weren't such a modest human being (I really really hope my readers know when I make comments like these, I am kidding :P Just thought I'll like to make a disclaimer, just in case!) and had to name one quality about myself that stands out, that would be it. I can decipher your thoughts with a slight lift of your nostril or the angle of your smile.

With great powers comes great responsibility, they say.

So true.

Wouldn't it be nice

I've been having a super super reading week. And an even greater Valentines Day! It was just... :)

So today I ran to the bus stop near Oppenheimer Park to meet up with Cat for lunch. It was uphill. I jogged moderately...then slowly. Then walked. I was huffing and puffing like a wolf (referring to 3 Little Pigs here, OKAY :P). But what I'm really tryin to say is...I am DISGUSTINGLY out of shape.

I saw it coming, I really did. No P.E., no walking home everyday, no nothing...what did I expect? It's shameful to say I was the fastest girl in my class in elementary school (4th fastest in my WHOLE grade!) when I look at how out of shape I am now.

That's it. I'm gonna forget about the, "when the weather gets better..." lines and hit the gym pronto! And no buts!

Sigh, if only the weather gets better...

UBC Engineers' Ball 2004

I had sooooo much fun at the Engineering Ball this year! It was just what I needed to relax...and of course, boogy down and have some fun!

Here are some pics.

Ed, Jennie, Viv & Johnny

Viv & Johnny

Clarissa & Viv

I met Clarissa in my 1st Year Physics and Math classes before she transferred into electrical engineering. We both had Lam, Iqbal and Witt. And we even had Burkholder together! I havne't seen her for a year so it was nice to see her there!

Anyhoo, 2 midterms down, 4 more to go! What a week. Johnny calls this the sorority try-out week. If I get pass this week, then I'm in the club ;P

And last but not least...HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!! (and to Lis too since she's into that sorta thing ;P)