UNC Bucket List

Things that I have completed will be highlighted in Carolina Blue

1. Ride a full circle of the P2P route
2. Play in the fountain at Bynum Circle
3. Explore Wilson Library’s Rare Book Collection
4. Get frozen yogurt at Yogurt Pump
5. Have your picture taken with Rameses
6. Drink from the Old Well on the first day of classes
7. Eat a cheddar-chicken biscuit at Time Out after 2 a.m.
8. Celebrate Halloween on Franklin Street
9. Pretend to fire the ROTC cannon
10. Eat lunch at the counter of Sutton’s Drug Store
11. Go stargazing in Kenan Stadium
12. Pull an all-nighter in the UL
13. Get covered in paint at the Holi celebration on Polk Place
14. Listen to the Pit Preacher and argue back
15. Sunbathe on Polk Place
16. Eat breakfast at Ye Olde Waffle Shop
17. Hula hoop at Weaver Street Market
18. Tweet at a UNC varsity athlete
19. Play a round of golf at the Finley Golf Course
20. Play four-square in the Pit
21. Get ice cream at Maple View Farms in Carrboro
22. Visit a professor during office hours
23. Visit the Duke Botanical Gardens
24. See a star show at the Morehead Planetarium
25. Complete a DTH crossword
26. Have a snowball fight on McCorkle Place
27. Climb the Bell Tower on Senior Day
28. Persuade your teacher to hold class outside on a sunny day
29. Drink an extra-large coffee at the Daily Grind
30. Become a member of Local 506 and see a show
31. Find and eat at the taco truck in Carrboro
32. Sit outside Memorial Hall at night and listen to a show over the loudspeakers
33. Climb the rock wall in Rams Head
34. Hang a hammock and have a picnic in the Arboretum
35. Run the stairs at Kenan Stadium
36. Watch the sun set from the 8th floor of Davis Library
37. “Borrow” cutlery and dishes from Lenoir
38. Crash a prospective student tour
39. Run or walk a 5k on campus for charity
40. Get tickets as a senior to the UNC-Duke game
41. Dance in a library flash mob
42. Walk across the Morehead Planetarium sundial on your way to Franklin Street
43. Get a letter to the editor and a kvetch published in the DTH
44. Attend at least one game for every UNC sports team
45. See (or participate) in the library streaking during finals
46. Attend a Zumba class at the SRC or Rams Head
47. Visit the basketball museum at the Dean Dome
48. Have a drink and listen to some bluegrass at Fridays on the Front Porch at the Carolina Inn
49. See a movie hosted by CUAB at the Union
50. Play volleyball at a sand court
51. Grill some hot dogs at a residence hall grill
52. Sit on the Davie Poplar bench — with someone else
53. Play racquetball at Fetzer Gym
54. Eat a deep-fried candy bar at the State Fair
55. Swim some laps in the Bowman Gray pool
56. Stand on your feet for 24 hours with UNC Dance Marathon

Dance Marathon

57. Paint yourself blue for a football game
58. Trip on a brick in the Pit
59. Get a blue cup from He’s Not Here
60. Visit Gimghoul Castle at night
61. Fall asleep in a couch at Graham Memorial
62. Sing “Hark the Sound” and link arms with a stranger at a sporting event
63. Go to Duke’s campus wearing a UNC shirt
64. Watch a basketball game from the risers at the Dean Dome
65. Appear in an STV show
66. See a movie at the Varsity Theater
67. Pit-sit for a student organization
68. Go swimming in Jordan Lake
69. Take a weekend road trip to see fall foliage in Asheville
70. Head eastward and lie out on the beach in Wilmington
71. Eat traditional Southern food at Mama Dips
72. Buy flowers from the ladies on Franklin Street

Gimghoul Castle at Night

73. Check out a book from each of the eight floors of Davis Library
74. Have a hot dog at the season opener at Boshamer
75. Make a gingerbread house in the Great Hall during finals week
76. Climb on the roof of a building on campus
77. Visit the N.C. General Assembly building in Raleigh
78. Play basketball in Woollen Gym
79. Feed a squirrel on campus
80. Participate in a football tailgate
81. Introduce yourself to Holden Thorp
82. Work on an election campaign for student government
83. Memorize the words to James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind”
84. Go to a Clef Hangers concert
85. Sign your friend up for clubs at Fall Fest — without his or her knowledge
86. Make money by participating in a research study on campus
87. Get a parking ticket and appeal it
88. Eat cheese fries at Linda’s on Franklin Street
89. Attend an “I Heart Female Orgasm” lecture
90. Paint a cube in the Pit
91. Read an issue of each student publication
92. Go to a UNC Board of Trustees meeting at the Carolina Inn
93. Eat one of everything off the menu at Alpine Bagels
94. Go dancing at Players
95. Attend a Durham Bulls game and buy a baseball cap
96. Peruse the ties for sale at Julian’s on Franklin
97. Win an intramural championship T-shirt
98. Head to the drive-through window at Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen and order a biscuit
99. Take a walk across campus early in the morning before anyone else is awake
100. Rush Franklin after beating Dook — and run all the way there from the Dean Dome

It's Crunch Time

"We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility." - Albert Einstein

I saw this sheet of paper on a door the other day. I just wanted to tear it all off. I really had a rough start at the beginning of the semester. The person right now writing this if completely different from the person who moved into Chapel Hill at the beginning of the year. Right now, I feel more confident and my grades are improving which is GREAT. I was so worried whether I could settle into this little college town because outside of this place is a whole different story. I have to be careful though because sometimes my old self will come back. The old me where I felt like I was a turtle hiding in a shell but I have to remind myself that hiding in a shell won't lead me anywhere.

My English class is okay, despite the fact I have a very chill but tough grading professor. Hist 51 is very interesting. It's about Latin American Rebellions and Revolutions. It's shown me a new perspective in a part of the world that I didn't even know about and made me reconsider the political decisions of the United States. It's a discussion based class with 3 midterm papers. So sometimes the discussion part is tough for me. It takes me a while to analyze plus I'm not planning to become a history major in any sort of fashion. I'm trying to speak up more though. My Chemistry class has been a roller coaster. I basically bombed the first midterm, so I changed everything I was doing. I dropped my music theory class because I felt so uncomfortable in the class to the point where the people in the class annoyed me so much that I just threw my hands (mentally) in the air saying it wasn't for me. I was doing fine in the class but I had this gut instinct that it just wasn't for me. I was kind of depressed though dropping it because I had this plan to major in music and apply to medical school but it just wasn't meant to be. I knew I had taken the right path when I actually didn't fail my Chem midterm test and was higher than the class average. It's interesting how excited I am when I realize that I scored above class average.  I've also been taking an exercise class Ultimate Frisbee which has been fun but I'm about over it now and Symphonic Band which has been great but I don't think I'll take it again next semester. A one credit class that takes up 2 hours of my day seems to be too much.

I have one more midterm before Thanksgiving and I can't wait for that! (Even though I'll just be doing more work.) Despite my struggles I can definitely say I'm proud to be a Tarheel Born, Tarheel Bred. Oh and GO TO HELL DUKE!

Messy Desks, Creativity, and Intellect

I'm a Five Star® Ambassador. See me at www.tinyurl.com/FSTeam

“If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then is an empty desk a sign?”  

~Albert Einstein

The fact that I’m typing this right now either means one of two things. I’m procrastinating for writing a paper that is due in a week or I’ve actually found some free time to not think about chemistry, musical dictation, Latin American independence, or AMA citations.

I’ve been in college for about 4 weeks now. As seen from my last post, it’s obvious that my college studies have taken over my life. Seriously, the only reason I’m able to type this now is because I had a chemistry test on Friday. Therefore, the professor did not assign Mastering Chemistry for the weekend (which has consumed at least 3-4 hours of my day each weekend).

College classes can be tough. It really can be. I do remind myself though that everyday that this is what I was looking for when I applied for all those colleges. I was looking for a challenge. I was looking for a campus driven with passion. I was looking for a student body where everyone was not seeking to be the most popular but instead have a great intellectual factor that would inspire me to ask questions and require me to step out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, so far, Carolina has lived up to my expectations.

So, as my desk clutters up with historical documents, dimensional analysis problems, and music bar line paper, I always continue to appreciate the fact that I was accepted to this amazing place where there are so many other students with messy desks, creativity, and intellect.

College Stuff Ins & Outs: Shower Caddies

A Summer Unlike Any Other

"Be Brave. Take Risks. Nothing can substitute experience."

~Paulo Coelho

My summer has been a summer like no other. I am blessed that God has offered me so much opportunities these few weeks of summer to experience things I have never done before. From UNC orientation to swimming with dolphins, I have so far experienced a lot in my summer vacation. Thankfully, it is only halfway done! There are still plenty of things to learn, discover, and appreciate.

For the first time, I am experiencing my first official job. I've been able to earn a couple of cash here and there from teaching swim lessons at the Catawba Valley Aquatic Club, but I was more of a substitute teacher because I had a busy schedule. So, my first official job is with Mead Five Star®. Yes, I'm talking about the notebook company.  Yes, the one that sells school supplies. To some it might be a bit ironic that I am working with a school supply company over the summer but, hey, why not?

I was picked along with 6 other high school and college students across the country to represent Mead Five Star's notebooks, binders, planners, folders, etc. The 7 of us are called Team Five Star. We are student ambassadors promoting the company. When I found out I was chosen, I was pretty shocked. I "liked" the Five Star® page a while back and saw the 2011 Team Five Star® Ambassador program on their wall. When the application came out for the 2012 program, I just filled it out for fun! I wasn't expecting to be chosen. Being chosen was a wonderful surprise.

So basically, I'll be discussing my love for the Five Star® school supplies throughout the summer! I can't wait to work with all the other amazing ambassadors that I met at Boot Camp in Connecticut!

I would love it if everyone who reads this would "Like" the Five Star® Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/fsteam. It's a really friendly page and normally Five Star® Likes or comments your post! So, if your bored, check it out! You can also learn more about their Giveaways and products as well. 

Summer may be hot and sweltering but it has definitely been a summer unlike any other. May your summer be unlike any other as well.

Time Never Flies Too Fast

From Tiger to Tarheel!

Well, I finally graduated from good ole Fred T. Foard. Will I miss it? Yes and no. For there is so much that has happened in those white and blue walls. Lots of people say time has passed way too fast. In my opinion, not really. Time for me has always been on my side. It's just how you use it. You have 24 hours every 365 days a year to accomplish something whether it's paying it forward with a nice gesture or aiming closer to your goals. You have a chance everyday to smile, laugh, cry, or mourn. So, I don't try to waste my time thinking how fast it has gone. I just look forward. I look forward because it's the only way to go. There's no time machine to slow things down. Why need a time machine to slow things down anyways. You just have to embrace every moment that comes by and keep going. 

Looking forward, I'm embracing these last few weeks with my family, friends, and myself before I'm headed to the big UNC. I'm happily ready to have some serious bonding with everyone as the calendar reminds me of the next transition in my life. Yes, I do think it will be a little strange not attempting to make swim practices each week, preparing for MPA, and driving my car around Hickory, North Carolina. But you can't discover anything new about your strengths and weaknesses until you actually take a chance and let the norms change.

It is okay for me to reminisce once in while but I can't physically change anything to go back and relive those times whether they were good or bad. But for now the past and the future are here right now with the present. I'm ready to spend my summer with my family, soak up the sun, swim twice a day, and even work at my first job (can't tell anyone exactly yet but you'll find out eventually)! 

While we might be sad that one book in our life is coming to its conclusion, there's always another waiting to be written. A book waiting for a new introduction and beginning. So, here's the first sentence of my new book: With the past behind her, Kirsten Nicole Zaldarriaga Consing threw her graduation cap into the air and watched it soar into the plethora of blue caps that sailed into the air excited for the opportunities and challenges awaiting for her outside those ceremonial doors.

May everyone else have a happy summer and embrace every moment! Because time never flies too fast.

Exams are over but still busy

 

  Prom was this past weekend! 

It was a busy weekend. I still feel like I didn't have enough sleep. I was seriously up until 3 in the morning. Despite the face that exams are over.. I still have had many things to do. I'm currently in that I don't feel like doing anything mode but I still have plenty to do. 

I just finish exams on Friday. I am super anxious for one of my classes to post the final grade because I am right now A/B borderline. It's driving me insane. I just hope that the last grades to be posted are very good so I could snatch that A. 

On the bright side, I've been busy settling everything for UNC in the fall (Go Tarheels!) I've been desperately been trying to send my immunization records. (I have gone through so many people just trying to get a copy!)  Excitingly, I finally found a roommate for my freshmen year! I can't wait to physically meet her. Oh, the marvelous opportunities social networking provides. 

Even though  I'm technically done with my senior year. I'm still busy with my high school. I have graduation coming up and have to still order all the medals and cords that I gratefully earned. I still have to finish out my high school class AP Literature and take the AP test Thursday. I'm not too worried about that test though. I found out it doesn't even cover the UNC English requirement so I can't do much about that. It seems like I should be winding down but I am surely just winded up.

It's been busy this year but so far it's been great. I just can't wait to leave this high school. Knowing that I'm going to have a great summer with my club swim team and family and attending one of the best universities in the nation makes me soo ready to leave Foard. 

Prom, Exams, Rehearsals, College, 

Etc..

If you're taking a test and you know the goal to achieve an A isn't possible.. Forget the A the goal is to SURVIVE.

Have you ever taken a test where things just aren't fair? You studied days upon days. You created endless amount of outlines. Then you take the test. You know the amount you studied deserved at least an A. Then while your taking the test, it's like it's written in another language. Or your teacher decided to pack over one hundred questions in less than 50 minutes. Or the audio that was supposed to go with the last question of the test but it didn't work so you wasted valuable test time to wait for the audio. Pretty annoying ehh? It just comes to times likes this where you just forget that A and survive. I received my test back today and yep, I didn't receive an A. But on the plus I SURVIVED and I PASSED. When 75% of the class didn't even pass it, well that makes you feel pretty special. Issues with the test, issues with the teacher, issues with the overall subject. I'm determined though to get an A in this class. Now that I know how this teacher tests, I know I can do better on her next test. I need to start studying for finals NOW. I'm going to write a killer lab report. I will get an A.

On the side note: remember, Kirsten, you still have to prepare your final speech, prepare for your final in sociology, your piano recital, finish reading Book Thief, and prepare for the AP literature exam so do that too.

It's Time To End the Madness

It's the last day of March. To be honest, I'm not much of a collegiate basketball fan but it doesn't mean I haven't been feeling crazy this month. This past week has been quite emotional. It's been hard to focus in class and it felt like the world was moving in slow motion. This past week I heard from the last few colleges. I was rejected from Dook. (I was expecting that one to come though. I would have been honored to have been waitlisted.) Also, I was waitlisted at Wake Forest. This one really surprised me. I was happy to be waitlisted but I knew I couldn't go there because of the price. Then I found out about Davidson College. Upon opening the email, I discovered I was rejected. It was highly disappointing. Davidson College was one of my top schools. Everything about it was perfect. I knew it was going to be tough, but I still had some hope that I would be one of the 490 chosen out of 4800 people who applied. Reading the admissions letter was one tough pill to swallow. Perhaps though this was a blessing in disguise. The last three schools all have something that would prevent me from attending even if I was accepted: the price tag. The only possible way I could have attended any of these schools was through some sort of merit scholarship. Also, if I was to be accepted, I would have been pretty hard headed about attending the school and much tension would have occurred between my parents and me.

 

The night I learned of my painful rejection turned out to be a positive evening. After discovering my rejection, I finally made a choice. I finally decided where to spend the next four years of my life. I decided to become a Tarheel. Everything felt so surreal. It hadn't hit me yet (and still completely hasn't) that I didn't have to wait anymore. I didn't have to mark the days of a calendar. I could finally just sit back and say, "Yes! I'm going to be a freshmen next year!" My family was so excited when I pressed enroll on the computer. I still haven't been able to completely accept the fact that I'm started a new chapter of my life in the next few months. The past two days I've signed up for orientation (June 18-19 anyone?) and completed housing registration (I mainly chose all female dorms and also applied for a living learning community. Oh I'm going potluck!) Today, my mom bought my siblings and me some Carolina apparel since I currently didn't own any. 

I've also been researching more and more about all the academic opportunities at UNC. I recently discovered that Carolina has a Cognitive science minor. This sparked great interest in me because I've also been interested in how music, learning, and the brain correlate with one another. I think it would be awesome to pair this up with my music major. 

I have five more weeks until my college classes at LRU are done. FIVE MORE WEEKS. It will be probably the most stressful last weeks of my entire K-12 year. I have to prepare, practice, and prepare for the Science Olympiad State Competition, my Senior Piano Recital, Prom, College Exams, AP Literature and Composition exam, Music Festivals, and Band Concerts. It's time to end the college March madness and push for the finish line. I have to be consistent and intense (my swim coach would love me saying this) in my academic studies in order to successfully finish. I'm ready to finish this year with a bang. I'm not going to let anyone ruin it for me. All I'm going to do is try my best and ignore distractions. I'm not going to let anyone's opinion or sarcastic comments effect me. I'm going to do my best in whatever I do and if anyone has a problem with that.. well, maybe they need to to take a good look at themselves before they attempt to hurt me. Guess what? It's time to make the impossible, simply possible.