my 13th reason

As the semester is coming to an end, assignments are flying left and right even faster than ever before final exam week, for which I luckily only have 2 final exams to take. 

In my math class, I have an exam on November 29. In preparation, my professor released 5 assignments that are due on November 28. In total, there are 143 problems and I've only gone through 45. 

In my accounting class, I have an exam on November 30 with a 3-day timeframe and a 3-hour time limit. Along with an assignment due on November 28, I have 2 other late assignments to catch up on.

In my introduction to acting class, I have to continuously practice memorizing a 1-minute long monologue. I don't wanna mess up. 

In IS-101, I currently have to catch up on A6, A7, Chapter 5.11 Excel Live Projects, and the Practice Exams to be able to take my MO-200. 

At this moment, I very much have the urge to smash my head on my keyboard as I'm typing this because I have lots to do. Most of my personal time will have to be sacrificed, but the hustle is worth it in the end. I remember in a magazine interview, Marilyn Monroe said she always slept in on Sundays. This week, I can't. Maybe next week. 

my idol in music

I find it fascinating how legends today such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Selena, and more were so embraced by the population in their time. Looking up to celebrities is looked down upon because many times, who they are in public vs. who they really are behind the scenes doesn't match up, like a facade. However, I believe we all have that one person whose music, philosophies, or work leaves a lasting impact on us. For me, there are so many people in mind but when I truly think about it deep down, Saweetie changed my life. 

Saweetie is a female rapper who debuted in 2017 after one of her short raps, "ICY GRL," went viral on the Internet with 130,000,000 views on YouTube today. Since then, she released more viral songs such as "My Type", "Tap In", and "Best Friend" with Doja Cat. She also collaborated with McDonald's by releasing "The Saweetie Meal" because she's notoriously known for having the most outrageous food combinations on social media. Her music is apparently not for everyone, however. She is widely criticized for her writing skills which many claim that her style has changed since going mainstream. 

Music is big to me and over so many artists whom I've connected to over the years, listening to Saweetie initiated the much-needed change of course in my life at the beginning of my senior year of high school. Back then, I had the lowest-of-low self-esteem, and I honestly did not have any friends when moving to Vegas back in 2017. Every day in school was a never-ending episode of embarrassment because I was alone, but I'm now coming to accept the fact that it's okay to be a loner. I did not fit in with any of these people at all, so I don't regret being by myself. 

When I first encountered "ICY GRL," I was amazed at how Saweetie uniquely and confidently carried herself. After listening to more of her music, I noticed that she always picks herself up and treats herself like royalty, and I thought to myself: "that's definitely what I want to be like." I learned that she has a bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Business, which heavily inspired me to take the route of switching my major from Nursing to Business. A big plus is that she has Filipino in her heritage like me, and she proudly mentions it in interviews and songs. 

On Friday, November 18, she released new music after being gone for 9 months due to mental recovery. The timing could not be more perfect because I was also recovering from a mental health break when she dropped her music! On Twitter, I tweeted my love and appreciation for her work, and she unexpectedly replied back and liked my tweet. The moment felt so surreal, and it uplifted me so much which motivated me to post about her as my topic. The Universe always finds ways to get you back in the game. Thank you, Saweetie, for encouraging others and myself to believe in ourselves!!! <3 

i hate it here

I've had my fair share of being sick due to weather changes, but this is probably the worst cold season I've endured in my whole 21 years of living on this planet. A few years back, I spent 6 months in Chicago and I easily adapted to the humid and freezing temperatures––it even snowed and I was perfectly healthy. Fast forward to 2022, and I'm now getting slapped left and right by Mother Nature. The possibility of it being COVID-19 has been ruled out since I've never tested positive (knock on wood), but it's still evident that my system is less resistant in fighting off illnesses. I just recovered from a cold that lasted 2 weeks, and this week another one hit me. I will never ever ever ever ever catch a break. For now, I'll take this as a blessing in disguise because being sick makes me lose water weight. In the long run, I now know to be up-to-date on my immunization shots. Stay healthy, everyone! Cheers to more catching up on schoolwork. At least all my grades are still excellent! :)

cosmetic procedures

It is very impressive how there are so many surgical and non-surgical procedures someone can do to enhance or modify their appearance. Rhinoplasty, forehead lifts, and breast reductions are among many surgical procedures that are performed around the world in countries such as Brazil and South Korea due to their affordable prices and reputation. Today, the most common surgical procedure is the BBL, Brazilian Butt Lift. While it is becoming more common, it's actually very dangerous with a death rate of 1 in 2,351, according to Steven Williams, MD. 

For this week's blog post, I chose this topic because my professor in HHP123 (Introduction to the Human Body) reflected on the medical field's progress within cosmetic procedures. I also just finished watching a Korean drama where a girl undergoes plastic surgery before her first year of college in a new city because she was bullied for being "ugly" in her hometown. However, her plan to escape her old life with all the bullying backfires as she ends up being discriminated for being a "plastic surgery monster". Long story short, she gets a well-deserved happy ending and gains confidence and self-esteem. 

Whether someone decides to be upfront or not about getting work done, I believe it's no one's place to judge them. It's also no one's place to force or pressure them into addressing the topic. If someone were to egotistically flaunt an enhanced appearance to come off as natural, it would obviously be a whole different story because it contributes to unattainable toxic beauty standards. Cosmetic work doesn't define someone's character; why try hard to knock someone down when they've been working to build their confidence/self-esteem up? My heart goes out to those who have gone through so many hardships, such as botched procedures or knowing someone who died because of complications during surgery.