4 down, 2 to go

Abstract :

1 of the heaviest semester for me. 6 subjects, 5 of them core courses, 18.5 credit hours.  So? What’s the deal ?

Result :

• accumulated stress for finals preparation and revision
• last minute revision
• assignments (duh..) 
• 2 exams in 2 days !
• 2nd last paper : Nov 10
• Powerman : Nov 11
• last paper : Nov 12
• You see what I see ??
• I’m going to miss Powerman !!!!

Summary :

• evaluate pros and cons registering for so many courses per semester
• smart preparation for the exams. doesn’t have to be early.
• check your academic calendar AND sports calendar before registering for any races

Conclusion :

• Greed, i can’t afford
• Sporting spirit over academic motivation, i should avoid
• Sporting spirit and academic motivation should go hand in hand (healthy body -> functioning brains and cognition!)
• Powerman vs Exam ? exam of course !! don’t even think of going to Powerman on the 11th and hope to come back to campus fresh and prepared for exam on the 12th. Not smart

Guys,I know I’m not the only 1 facing time and event crisis such as this. You have an important sports event coming up, already registered, and a week later realized after looking through the organizer that you’ve got another occassion which you’ve to attend. And its a death penalty if you don’t make it to That other occassion. Damn.. check mate ! So what do you do? Duh.. go That other occassion of course ! For instance, you can’t afford to miss a job interview (a job which you’ve been waiting for months!) And why? And what if ? What if you went to the interview and got accepted ? 🙂 And why wouldn’t you go for interview when you’ve painstakingly look for the vacanvy and prepared the proposal? What are the chances that you get accepted ? HuhU… feel heavy already ?

I had a massive guilt in me when I discovered that Powerman this year happen to be a day before my last paper ! And even worse ,I only realized this after registering online.. Earlier this week (Monday) an official from Powerman called..

[phone ring]

[call received]

Powerman : Hello, may I speak to Miss Nor Juliana Ali ?

           Julie : Yes, speaking

Powerman : Hi ! I’m calling from Powerman. I just want to confirm, are you taking part  

                      in  the Powerman this Sunday ?

           Julie : No, I’m not taking part…

Powerman : Ok, thank you.

[Powerman hangs up]

Sedih wooo !!!! Nevermind. Next year ya missJeweLz. Lets just hope next January I won’t have any Other occasion on the same day as Great Eastern 30k.

Frankly, what was I thinking when I thought I could manage 2 final exams and 1 Powerman in 3 days ?!! God.. Despite the advices which I got from a few athlete friends which supported the ‘There’s still Powerman next year’ approach, still my heart insisted that I should go for Powerman. After all the training , long rides and runs, why not? But the intention diminished after discussing with one of my lecturers, a long time advisor and friend. Phew.. Thank God..

Being addicted to something is not about a stimulus-response kinda thingy.You guys know that. Its complex, and kinda hard to explain to those who are not ‘in line’ with your healthy addiction of taking part in races. But in the end, it doesn’t really and actually matter how complicated it is.You just gotta take your stand and choose. At the same time avoid greed.You can’t have all of it but you can have some of it.

It’s time for greatness — not for greed. It’s a time for idealism — not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action.

-Marian Wright Edelman-