It makes me unusually happy when Martin Sheen asks, "what's next?" on the West Wing. Anyway, I'm moving on from this portion of my life. Can't wait until I'm actually done with finals though!

Here's the plan for winter break/IAP:
Dec 15/16: NYC
Dec 16-23: Galapagos Islands
Dec 24-27: Ecuador
Dec 27-29: NYC
Dec 29-Jan 16: Boston
Jan 17-31: London

Dec -> w/ Justin
1st half of IAP -> ICE (biofuels and bioenergy)
2nd half of IAP -> Justin's birthday

Can't wait =D

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." --Alexander Graham Bell

I have learned several important things:

1. As much as you think sleep is overrated...it's not.  It is the antidote to stupid mistakes (something I wish I had learned much earlier and took to heart, even in the present).

2. Your English speaking and writing skills will deteriorate...rapidly.  [note: it's rude to stare when I can't think of how to say things]

3. Numbers are your friends...most of the time.  There's no use fighting; you will have to learn the buildings, courses, and perhaps most importantly, determine the lowest possible grade needed on the next exam to still pass (thereby taking full advantage of pass/no record)

4. Friends are the key to [almost] everything.  This is also a good place to mention that human contact is necessary for your own mental health?  Don't lose touch with your old ones because they are your past.  Don't be afraid to reach out to strangers- they could be your future.  You will probably get hurt, become upset, or lose faith but trust in God and you will find some good people.

5. True and best friends are hard to come by.  Be patient.  [I am]

6.a) Be independent.  College is a time of self-discovery; don't waste it on following others.  Find what you are truly passionate about and do it.  To put it bluntly: be selfish.  Independence is an inherently selfish quality.  This doesn't mean that it is acceptable to treat others poorly or that you should hog those cookies your mom mailed you or that you shouldn't help your friend when he/she is studying for a test.   Care for others.  At the same time, however, be sure to set some time aside for yourself so you can begin figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life.  It is infinitely more difficult for you to forgive yourself than for your friends to forgive you for not watching a movie with them.

6.b) Think for yourself.  Some people will respect you for your independence; others will resent you or misunderstand you.  None of it really matters.

6.c) Set standards...and follow them.  This holds true for everything: from grades to relationships to actions to friendships to work ethic.

7.Time is valuable.  Once lost, it is lost forever.  [on an not so serious note, it's like Mr. Darcy's line from P&P about losing his friendship and respect xD]  [note: this is also why I am writing this extremely long post instead of studying for my 18.02 final...]

8. Find something to have faith in.  This may be yourself, God, or some other superior being, but it will offer you strength and guidance when you most need it.

9. Be passionate.  Go after things even if they seem impossible at the time.  I'm serious.

10. Studying is probably a good thing?

11. Challenge but don't overwhelm yourself.

12. Think...in all possible interpretations of this word.

13. Be generous.  "Give and you shall receive."  Are humans truly altruistic?  This is a question you can answer for yourself.  Don't give just to receive.  But after you are done setting aside some time to think for yourself, take some time to think of others and do something for them just because you can and want to.  =]

14. Eat chocolate.  Preferably dark chocolate (personal opinion).  Oh, dark chocolate with nuts are good too.  It would be even better if it were dark chocolate with almonds. At all cost, avoid chocolate with mint (unless it's a tall skinny peppermint mocha from Starbucks or the After Eight mints)

15. There are two groups of people: a) those who list food/eating in their top five priorities in life and b) those who don't.  The majority of people at MIT fall in the latter category which would explain why most of my guy friends and half my other friends are losing weight (crazy, eh?  What in the world happened to freshman 15?).  For those of us who fall under category a), don't freak out when your friends and family back home gape at you and tacitly agree to avoid all mention of weight and food in your presence.  That extra girth will give you a valid reason to go shopping.

16. Have fun.  [note: At MIT, this should only occur in limited, quantized amounts because you are pretty much expected to donate your life to your psets and books].  Be responsible.

17. Maintain your own sense of fashion.  Even when almost everyone around you is wearing dirty jeans (that they haven't washed in oh, let's see, probably a few months) and free t-shirts, dress nicely.  Yes, even pop your collar xD

18. Thank your parents.  They have done a lot for you.

19. Go to Exeter (although I suppose any other prep school will do, but ideally, Exeter).  No, I am not saying this to sound pompous but I honestly can't think of a better decision that I've made in my entire life.  For those of you there now, appreciate what you have and know that when you get to college, you will be better prepared and infinitely more mature than those around you.  GO TO EXETER!

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Hah, does it bother you that there is no 20?  I actually purposefully left it blank so you can all fill it out yourselves, either now or later on.