Time Strategies

 Technique 1: The Psychology of Checklists

    I use checklists ALL THE TIME. So, when reading about the psychology behind checklists, there was a lot that I already knew (such as setting S.M.A.R.T.) goals, but I was intrigued to learn about the dopamine release gotten from crossing something off a list. Although it does not surprise me, I had never really thought about the physiological reason why I love crossing things off of my to-do list!

(To-Do List. Source: Wikimedia)

Technique 2: 11 Ways Unsuccessful People Mismanage Their Time

    I was particularly intrigued by this article because I have read a lot of "X habits of successful people" type books, so I was interested in what the reversal of this idea would bring. As it turns out, it was generally the same stuff. Unsurprising, but the website pretty much just said that unsuccessful people don't do all of the things that successful people do. 

    One of the techniques mentioned was that of scheduling. While I do some scheduling, I don't do it to the extent that is generally recommended. It is one of my goals this semester to schedule my time more. 

Technology Thoughts

     Of the technological tools that we will be using this semester, I am most exited by the prospect of website design. I think that this skill will likely be the most applicable in my future. Although I have done some work with website design, by efforts have been pretty rudimentary, so I look forward to getting better! 

     I am also pleased to report that my browser was up to snuff! Not being particularly tech-savvy, I was pleasantly surprised...

(Technology.... Source: Spiceworks)

Class Assignments Thoughts

      The assignments for this class are very unlike anything that I have ever done before, but I am really exited by that prospect. Doing music and medicine, I've never really had the chance to do much reading and writing of stories. As such, I think that the assignments for this semester will certainly be different, but I think in a refreshing and interesting way! 

     Of the extra credit assignments, I am most interested in the short stories. With so many options for both style and topic, there is a lot of room to experiment and try new things. 

(Writing Optimism. Source: Pixy)

Growth Mindset

     I just recently finished taking my MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test), which is likely to be the hardest test of my life. Whew! During my preparations for the exam, I read a lot about this "power of yet," and how is something was not going well in my studies I should not let myself get put down, rather think that I had just not gotten there....yet! 

    During studies, I think that this concept is very real and very helpful, and likewise think that it would be an admirable concept to incorporate into the overall educational system. However, unless major overhauls are made, I just cannot see it happening. Although the "yet" concept was good for preparations, at the end of the day it remains that what matters is not how much effort I put in, nor how hard I tried, but what grade I make on the test. And, since the test is graded on a curve, it does not even solely matter how well I personally did, but how well the others taking the test did as well. Although she speaks about making challenge the new comfort zone, how can we expect students to feel comfortable when so many huge life events are based almost solely on number and letter grades. Therefore, I think that the concept of practically implementing the Growth Mindset ideals into the educational system is somewhat like implemental universal healthcare in the United States, fundamentally simple if only we could convince everyone to actually do it. 

    I think that incorporating the growth mindset into my personal studies is a great practice, and one that I fully intend to continue incorporating this semester. One of my personal goals is to let the concept that everything needs to be done to perfection have slightly less dominion over me. Sometimes good enough is truly just that. 

(Live long and Prosper. Source: Teachers Pay Teachers)

Introduction to the Singing Surgeon (hopefully...)

     Hi everyone! My name is Maya- I am a Senior here at OU majoring in classical voice performance- so, opera! Where I come from is a mildly complicated question- My mother is half Swiss, half German, and my father is from the US. Though we live in Wisconsin, we speak Swiss at home. I am lucky enough to have inherited the citizenships of all three countries! So, when people ask, I often find it humorous to respond that I am from "Swissconsin." Very punny, I know....

    I have always loved classical music, though I know that it is somewhat of a niche interest. But I think that classical music is more relevant than a lot of us may think- Dvorak's "New World Symphony" was the basis of a lot of the soundtrack for "Lord of the Rings," and one of my personal favorites, Dvorak's "Second Waltz," just made an appearance in the Netflix show "Bridgerton." The violinist David Garrett also does a lot of rock renditions of classical pieces, with my personal favorite being "The Fifth."

      Anyway, enough babbling about classical music.....

     I am also on a pre-med track. Both of my parents are doctors, so I have been surrounded by medicine all of my life, and consider it to be a truly equal passion to music. I could not do one without the other, and I often take great solace in my ability to be able to switch between music and science classes whenever I need respite from one or the other. Medicine is my calling, but music is my catharsis. 

     The hope is that one day I will be able to combine my passions for music and medicine by performing surgeries on singers who have developed vocal nodules and the like. 

    I am exited to be in this class this semester with you all, and look forward to meeting you all in your introduction posts!

(Hiking in Ireland! Source: Personal Photo from June, 2016)

Storybook Favorites

#1: Nighttime Nagas

    I have always loved bedtime stories. From the time when I was young and my father told me stories of pixies to nowadays, when I listed to audiobooks as I fall asleep. Therefore, as soon as I saw the title of this blog, I knew I had to click and see more. I was not disappointed! From the intro which reminded me of many occasions when I too refused to go to bed without a story to the tales themselves, I was hooked! My favorite among them was that of "Parikshit and the Curse." I have always liked moral-based stories, and the pacifist nature of this one was something I could whole-heartedly get behind!

#2: When Love Confesses

    I really enjoyed this telling of the story. Not only did the author have a distinctive voice, but I though the choice to have Sita speak directly to her heart rather than the gods (as was the case in the original story) was an interesting twist. It seems to give her a degree more control over the "love-at-first-sight" scenario in which she finds herself, which I appreciated, as I have always found that trope to be frankly dull. It is so much more interesting when people have free will! 

(Rama with Sita. Source: Something to Do)

#3: Horses Divine

    I have to admit, my interest in these stories was spurred by my own recent consumption of fantasy television (a somewhat unfortunate byproduct of having entirely too much time off...). While watching dashing heroes galloping through fields, I have often found myself thinking "that poor horse must be getting quite a workout!" As such, seeing this post give some credit to to the valiant steeds of myths was both amusing and comforting that I was not the only one to have had such thoughts! I liked the use of a storyteller in the tale of "Hayagriva the Restorer" (I might consider doing the same in my own story). 

Favorite Place: Konstanz

 Konstanz is a small but hopping city that sits on the line between Germany and Switzerland. As such, half of the city is in Germany, and the other half in Switzerland. I am from Stockach, a small town about half an hour away from Konstanz in Germany. My dad is an American, and my mother is from Germany. While we now live in the US, I always love going to spend the day in Konstanz. 

The most striking image associated with Konstanz is that of Imperia. At 9 meters high, she stands regally at the front of the harbor. She was designed by the artist Peter Lenk to commemorate the council of Constance (aka: Konstanz). Standing regally and embodying feminine power, she holds two figures in each hand: in one is a small, shriveled, naked man wearing a crown (representing secular power) and in the other is an equally unattractive male figure wearing a papal mitre (representing ecclesiastical power). She stands between them, all powerful and objective. Unsurprisingly, sacred and secular groups across Konstanz caused quite an uproar upon her unveiling, but she quickly became the icon for the city, and therefore dominated (quite in character) over them as well. 

(Imperia slowly rotating at the end of the Konstanz harbor. Source: pxhere)

First Post

 Testing, Testing, Testing, Testing....