Much Needed Update

Every now and then I figure I should add another entry to this thing. I like being able to go back and read my thoughts as I went through my freshman year...but the fact that I was so inconsistent limits how well this blog epitomizes and summarizes my college expereince. It does little justice to the apparent speed of the quarters and my own personal development. So many things have happened, ups and downs, swelling and sinking like the waves I glimpse outside my window.

I have yet to write about my track season because I haven't had one. I am bitter and disappointed by this. I strained my hamstring 6 weeks before the fist race and kept running through it until I really hurt it. I have now been nursing this injury for about 4 months now, give or take. It has essentially been a series of of unfortunate events aided by misdiagnosis and miscommunication. Nevertheless today I made the very hard decision to not race at all this season. Even though I knew it was inevitable, and invariably the correct decision for both my physical and mental well being (running as poorly as I think I would've, would've been devastating. I think), I am still sad and angry that this injury has affected me so profoundly this season...I think the disappointment stems a lot from my hurt pride too, because my choice feels a bit like quitting. And I don't like to quit. But this is me being dramatic. I'm fine and this is a relatively minor problem 'in perspective'.

Regarding school, last quarter I received my first B, which was disappointing, but bound to happen. Again disappointment created entirely by my wounded pride. I hope I at least learned a bit of humility from all this.

Now to the fun stuff. Spring Quarter, true to its name, promises new beginnings, fun, and sunshine. We've already had Muirstock (an outdoor concert in front of my dorm), and Sungod looms just around the corner. As for beautiful beach weather...it has been taunting us, sunny only when we can't go to the beach. But I know that will change soon enough. The gloominess hasn't stopped us from enjoying the beach! but I'll agree some sunshine will be much appreciated.

Let's see, Modern family nights are still very much a thing. A new episode means a small gathering in my room. My suitemates and I have grown closer with the promise of living together in apartment next year agin. Here's hoping we get a good bid time!Classes are fun. I LOVE my Victorian Lit class (I'm such a nerd. I'm actually looking forward to write the paper) and the other classes, I'm doing well in.

And lastly, I have maintained my friendships with my friends back home. We've made it almost 9 months! Since this was a big fear of mine, I'm glad that it has assuaged thus far. Surprise and planned visits have made me so happy; Anna, Jorge, Josh and Jasue. Thanks guys. It meant a lot to me.

Shout out to my little sister who I miss a whole lot.

Hmm. I think I covered everything.

Peace,
Alia

...

College is about discovering who you are. that is, if you haven't figured it out yet. who you are isn't what occupation you are going to pursue, what major you'll commit to, or what sport you do. 

it's about deciding what you will accept from others. what you will accept from yourself. and if you can respect those choices. 

Running miles

Stress

it comes in waves. and hits like the flu. Recently, my teammates have suffered from a particularly strong strain. It's weird, because I have normally been the one to stress myself  to insanity. And I am not saying that midterm week, with a recruit weekend doesn't cause me to panic...believe me it does. but maybe the years of AP and IB and 2 hour runs have prepared me to handle it better. Or maybe my class load is significantly lighter. EIther way, I am thankful. I am starting to know my teammates well enough to tell when they are stressed by the way they behave...and they are becoming comfortable enough to confide in me why they are stressed. 

For a few, their stress is not school related, but one of a more social nature. and i find a problem with that. a team needs to support one another.

we affect one another. your comments affect my mood. we miss you at dinner. we study together. live together. you seek my approval. i earned your respect. and visa versa, etcetera. so i hate to see this conflict...built on hypocrisy and fear. 

it would be better if everyone, just for one minute, thought about someone else and put someone else first. you know what they say, before you criticize someone, run a mile in his shoes. Then when you do criticize that person, you'll be a mile away and 

have her shoes. and man...this team sure runs some miles. but I think we need a few more under our belts.  

It's over...not quite

One quarter done. Finals completed. Grades are in. And yeah buddy...four weeks for winter break. It's a strange feeling. The quarter system goes by really fast. 10 weeks to cover the same material colleges on the semester system do in an entire semester (I would give you the conversion to weeks if I knew it. But I do not).  But despite the brevity of quarter, or perhaps because of it, I feel I have learned a lot. But not, as you would expect, from my classrooms. I don't know if I just lucked out,  took easy classes, or maybe I have an easy major or what have you. But my high school experience was much more difficult than the classes I took here at UCSD. Although we are a relatively prestigious university, I did pretty well with relative ease.  Without any real undue stress I was able to maintain my straight A streak (please allow this moment of pride). So I guess what I am saying is that college is really not as scary or as difficult as you think.

What I learned had to do more with social relationships and time management. It is so easy, when you have a lot of time on your hands, to procrastinate until the last minute. And it is hard, especially with a large group of friends (a.ka. the freshman xc runners) to maintain strong relationships with all of them (8). I have learned to be a mediator, a friend, a confidante, and support. But more importantly I have learned when is the time and place to step into those roles. I'm still learning. Of course. No one is perfect. But I am pretty happy with how things are going so far.

As for running, track is fast approaching. I'll be running the 10k. Which is daunting yet exciting. 25 laps buddy! Coach says he'll help me get through the monotony. I'm excited for track, despite my diagnosis of planters fascists, and am ready to have the great season I have never had on that red hamster wheel. I obviously still need time to mentally overcome my original dislike of the sport. I really want to be successful. But I have time. So that's good.

So break is pretty long. And I'm stoked to see/run with all my old and great friends. As well as have some of my new friends meet Temecula. It's a pretty great city whatever anyone might say.  So that's an update.

Love,
Alia

what to say...

So, as Katie as informed me, I have not updated this thing in about a month. I apologize for the very few readers who actually read this. Which, I fear, may only be Katie. :P I do like blogging, but man, have I been busy! And not actually doing anything important. So I've avoided writing...to prevent a boring entry. But I can no longer postpone the inevitable. So to my lovely reader(s?)...a snapshot of what has happened in my collegiate experience thus far.

Part I. Class

It's weird because it doesn't seem as if the purpose of school is class anymore. You know how in high school, you woke up with the sole purpose of attending class all day. Not here. No one holds you accountable for your attendance, you go to class for a minimum of 50 min a day (sometimes you don't even have class at all). The rest of your day is yours. And the amount of time is MIND BLOWING. Even with running, I find myself lounging in my room, or a friend's room, or a dining hall, for hours at a time. doing very little. My homework load is light (almost all the time. Save the one time my 'brilliant' teacher decided to assign three essays at one go) and the classes are easy. Maybe it is just the classes I chose. Maybe I was lucky...or unlucky. I didn't even have midterms (definitely lucky). I was told all through high school that what I was doing would be comparable to college. Except Daddy, who told me it would probably be easier. Daddy knows best I suppose, because he was right. I learned the study skills needed to succeed during my secondary education...but I feel I haven't really needed to apply them as of yet.

Part II. Running

I have been having an amazing season. Knock on wood. Let me put it this way. My goal was to make the travel squad...that is top 7...by my junior year in college. I ran, at Conference, 4th for my team. Well, I guess I need to reevaluate my goals. But my successes feel all that much sweeter. I respect and trust both coaches and I love the team. I am inspired by these individuals every day. And it's not always the top runner that makes me proud. To be honest, it is rarely her. It's the girls who "rally" (mammoth joke), who struggle, and maintain their composure (if not their confidence) at all times. It makes me proud. Simple. I like having a team that I can be proud of. disclaimer: I am not saying I was not proud of my high school team. Quite the contrary. My expectations, created by those relationships at GOHS, were incredibly high. I'm just glad that this team rose to meet them.

Part III. Friends

So...I don't know what I would do without cross country. I think I would be a loner, and completely friendless. Because I spend entirely too much time hanging out with my teammates. I went home this last weekend, and actually had a Skype message with two of them. Because we went through withdrawals. I'm exaggerating (not about the message. That happened). I probably would have made friends if I didn't run. But I do love these people, and they help confirm that my decision to run in college was well worth it. They, in the short time I have known them, have earned my respect and friendship. It is easy to be friends with people who are just as passionate about the same things I am.  Running brought us together, and holds us together. Despite injury, sickness, what-have-you, we are there for each other now. Our friendship probably accelerated due to the fact that we know no one else...but that is besides the point. :P

So there you have it. A post from Alia Bales. Hope you enjoyed. And Katie...thanks for keeping me on top of this. Love you.

Love,
Alia

I have a lot of stuff to say!

It has been a while since I last posted. And during that time a whole bunch of stuff happened. I moved in my dorm, got lost going home (almost made it to Mexico!), started classes, made the travel squad, went to Washington, read Beowulf, and wrote a paper. Oh and yes. I turned 18.

That is a lot of stuff to happen in less than 20 days. But that is college for ya! I'm adjusting. Even though I have been away from home for over a month now, there are still tons of new things that I am exposed to and have to respond to. Everything from parties to getting to class on time without a bell schedule to locking my bike correctly. All new. I feel that I have learned so much already...and have only been to class twice. ;)

I read Katie's blog every day (haven't missed a post); and it's really nice to see that she is going through a lot of the same adjustments I am. Even though she is on the other side of the country. Just goes to show that all college kids go through the same things. Which I am pretty sure I've said before...

You can have fun in many ways. But the most fun I've had at a college function was when me and one of my teammates went to a small dance party and just had fun on our own. Because we are fun people (at least that's what I like to think). 

Social life aside. Class is pretty cool. I only have 3. Literature of the British Isles Pre-1660 (really fun course. The professor obviously loves what she is teaching and makes Beowulf really interesting. Which, if anyone has ever read it, is a pretty mean feat), Anthropology (boring teacher. she just reiterates everything you have already read in the book), and Muir Writing (introductory writing course. I accidentally went to the wrong class room the first day I had this...so many problems. ALWAYS BRING YOUR SCHEDULE). I have 2 lectures and a discussion on monday, Muir Writing (15 kids) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 2 lectures on Wednesday and Friday. Practices in the morning. Meals with the team/suite. Speaking of my suite: they were the coolest people on my birthday; taking time to decorate my door and buy my a giant cupcake and balloons. So glad they are my neighbors this year. 

Long update...yes. I applaud you if you read this all the way through. Peace!

ups and downs

so emotionally college can be a series of ups and downs...hence the title of this post. there are days that its really awesome to be a collegiate athlete;

1) the independence
2) the location
3) the weather is normally pretty swell.

those are the ups. the downs...well so far

1) buying your own groceries. food is expensive...i've so taken that for granted
2) not having your mama and daddy with you...also taken that for granted
3) having your bike stolen...tip: learn to lock your bike up properly

thats it for this post.  oh i had my second race. it was a 5k. did okay. :) better at the opener though.

all done. for reals this time. wait! shout out to my sister for a great first xc race at fastback!