The degree

I will stop bragging about my university results after this post. I promise. However, since Thursday, I officially have my Bachelor's degree in Communication!

It was a great night. Nine other students received their degrees that night. It was a very personal evening, with a formal touch. I was the last one to get my degree that night. Because I was kinda special: I am the first to get my Bachelor in Communication degree Cum Laude (with HONORS), since they started that program! Woohooo! Can you be proud of yourself? Well, I am. As some of you may have read about my insecurity when I first started this program, I was not expecting this at all. Especially not since I (and my classmate J.) finished this 4 year program in only 3 years! Woohoo!

Excuse the bragging, on with the photos:

Hearing my university coordinator saying all those great things, really made me emotional. I was nervous as there were quite a few people in the audience.

This is my "oh my god there a like 200 people looking at me"-look. Not so pretty, but very happy signing my diploma. And don't comment on the hair unless your an a-list hairdresser and want to fix this drama.

Proud husband and very sweet little Tim (even though it was well past his bedtime)

My classmate J, who also finished in three years. We did A LOT of school assignments together. Our lifes are freakishly parallel: he got a son who was born 3 weeks before Tim, he moved to a new house like a month after we did and we both decided to start our final aper like 6 months before anyone else did. But the parallel stops here: he is already thinking of getting a Master's degree. I would like that too, but I first want to enjoy family life the next years. And give the husband the opportunity to get his Bachelor's (he's busy on a accelerated 1.5 year Bachelor's program) and perhaps his Master's.

Although it was my night, he was the star of the show. My sunshine.

Yayyyyyyy!! Done!

Photos courtesy of my dad.

Think 10, think 10, think 10

In just four more days I will be presenting my final paper. Monday afternoon at 3.30 to be precise. I am still working on the presentation. As Powerpoint and other presentation tools are prohibited, I will have to make sure my story is powerful.

So here's the deal. I now have a 9 for my final paper.

If I do Monday's presentation very well, I get an extra 0.5 or 1 point. That means I will have a 9.5 or......... a 10! A ten! A ten!

If I screw this, they can take 0.5 or 1 points. Leaving me with a 8 or a 8.5.

If I'm neutral, it will stay a 9. But who wants to be neutral, right?

So I need all of you to cross your fingers and make sure I get that TEN!! Think 10!

NINE!

9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! *breathe* 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! *breathe* 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9! 9!

*breathe*

I got a NINE (out of TEN) for my final paper!!

And you know what's even better? I can up it ONE point when I give a good presentation. You know what that means? I know. I'm such a nerd.

So happy, so so happy, right now. Presentation is not due until the first week of June. Champagne!

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6.8.

Remember my gloomy - I screwed up my exam - post? Well, I got my lowest grade ever, : a 6.8. (out of 10) In my defense, this grade was still in the top 3 of my class. That's how hard the exam was.

Even though it's not a high grade, it's a pass (5.5. is a pass). Together with 4 other grades, this will be the final mark of my major. I hope to finish this major somewhere in June.

So that leaves my final graduation paper. My teacher already told me it's going to be a good grade. He said more, but I don't want to be too enthusiastic yet. I'll still have to finish, turn it in and present.

I hope I'll finish school this June! One year early. And perhaps still with honors. Woohoo!

Beware, gloomy post and confession ahead!

Just days ago I started a post with ‘When you’ve graduated,…’

Well, truth is I think I just blew a school exam. One I need to pass in order to graduate. It was an exam mostly about PR, which I find extremely interesting. I thought I understood it and knew it by heart. But the questions asked, were just a little bit weird to me. I did not know what the teacher wanted me to answer. So I wrote a lot, without saying anything. Other students felt the same. No idea what my grade will be, but I’m not expecting anything higher than a 5 (out of 10). ‘Yeah right, that’s what you always say,’ my good friend and classmate replied. Yeah right. This time I really blew it.

But being gloomy is not my style, nor my Ipods. So when I went home, and felt sorry for myself (boohoo)… the Take That-song ‘Shine’ shuffled its way to me. (see, I confessed: Take That is on my iPod!). And the song cheered me up, here are (part of) the lyrics:

Stop being so hard on yourself
It's not good for your health
I know that you can change
So clear your head and come round
You only have to open your eyes
You might just get a big surprise
And it may feel good and you might want to smile, smile, smile.

What song cheers you up?

Writing

‘When you’ve graduated, you should write and make lots of money with it.’

That’s what my teacher who is guiding me with my final research & paper. He likes the way I write. He’s referring to my Dutch writing skills. Although I get around in English, my ability to write beautiful – and grammatical correct -, is one I only have with my native language.

Of course I’m really flattered. I look up to him. He’s my best teacher ever. I have never met anyone more inspiring than him. And I hope I’ll have the chance to work with him one day.

Back to the writing: I don’t think I’m good enough. Yes even though I work as an editor. I’m not fishing for compliments here – as 99,999% of you probably have never read anything I wrote in Dutch -. But I am considering starting a Dutch blog. I won’t be replacing this blog though. I like the international character of helloworlditsme. More importantly, it gave me the chance to get to know real fun people. A couple of them, we’ll meet in Washington this May! Through writing I made friends, I am not sure about making money.

Oh NO, we are required to use the LEFT side of the brain too?

My second year of school will almost start. I’m still very much enjoying my holiday, but am looking forward to doing a little more brain exercise.

Or should I say WAS looking forward. When I started Communications, I knew there were a couple of classes I was likely to get in the four year study, that I didn’t like.

I’m talking about: Financial Management, Research & statistics and Strategic Management.

And what courses will I be getting this period?

Financial Management, Research & statistics and Strategic Management.
and.. Cross Cultural Communications, which should be fun.

How did they know? And how did they manage to put all those courses in ONE period. Oh well. At least I can get them over with quickly this way.

I did have a good laugh when I saw what kind of book we will be using for Financial Management.

That will give a right-brainer like me some hope, don’t you think?

I ordered my books online and am completely trying to forget about the courses until school starts again in the first week of September.

After a longgggggggggg day

I have had a very, very long day. I'll spare you the details.

I’m just going to enjoy my rose wine, show off my school grades and than watch my favorite TV series. Hopefully I don’t fall asleep.

On a scale from 1 (very bad) to 10 (very good)....

Consumer behavior: 8.9
Dutch: 8.5
English: 8
Microsoft Excel & Powerpoint: 10
Integrated Communication: 7.1

This last semester I have media right (so NOT funny), Dutch, Marketing and a practical assignment.

Hey, where did it go?

Brain: You’re hurting me.
Me: * sigh *
Brain: STOP IT!
Me: * yawn *
Brain: I don’t want to know this.
Me: * sigh *
Brain: I mean it. STOP IT!
Me: Shut up, grey matter is not suposed to talk.
Brain: I’m warning you!
Brain: 1
Brain: 2
Brain: Don’t let me say 3.
Brain: That’s it, I’m outta here.

From this day on I have great respect for people studying law. Because for me? It’s all abracadabra. This semester I get copyright & media law. Yesterday we got a first introduction. Some basic law terms and basic information about Dutch law. Basic my *ss. My head is still spinning. This is SO not my niche.

BTW: Anyone who finds my brain will be greatly rewarded.

A dirty little monkey bridge

Or the english exam conundrum (LOOK! Sweety learned a new word!)

Yesterday I had my English exam. We had to study a list of 125 words. Leah was curious to know what the words were, so for you girl: words list.The exam was a piece of cake, it would truly surprise me if I fail. Although there were a few words I kept forgetting.

For those annoying words I had to make up an ezelsbruggetje: a donkey bridge. I haven’t got the slightest idea what that would translate into English. An ezelsbruggetje is a little help to remember something.

So for “succinct” I remember Chris’ weblog “Putting the suck in the succulent”. Although I’m not quit sure we’re talking about the same suck here. Are we? Anyways, I remembered it.

For “meticulous” I remembered Balki from Perfect Strangers. Don’t be ridiculous! It is now: Don’t be meticulous! Can’t you just here him say that? I miss Balki. Did they stop rerun that show?

And there was to “permeate” as in “to spread, to flow thorough”. I kept forgetting that word. Untill.. well, ehm, I hope I did not actually write an ‘s’ in front of the word. Would that cost me points?

Update: On request of M@, how would you pronounce ezelsbruggetje?

"a-souls-bru (as in brunge) - gg (as if you're trying to spit from the back of your throught, I know: GROSS) - uh - che (as in chess).

asoulsbrugguhche

Now, let's play a GAME! Or a lesson in Dutch, whatever you prefer. YOU pronounce ezelsbruggetje, record it on a audio file. Email it to me (sweetyAThelloworlditsmeDOTcom. And in the weekend, I'll post everyones audiofile, including a file from me, pronouncing it the right way. Isn't that fun. Now, record!