August 23rd, 2005 -- Posted in memories |
Just received a newsletter from my alma mater Northeastern University today that they have recently been promoted in their ranking for “Best National University” in the States. I still remember how we used to be ranked far beyond public recognition then. The only ‘WOW!’ we used to hear when mentioning the name was when we were mistaken for ‘Northwestern University’, which was rather often. Today, we can rightfully compare with Boston University. And I must add that I am proud to be from NU. I had somewhat grown up during my 4 academic years there.
GO HUSKIES, GO!!!
The 2006 edition of U.S. News & World Report rankings has been released, and I am very pleased to announce that Northeastern University has moved up five spots from last year to a rank of 115. This ranking puts Northeastern, for the second year in a row, in the top-tier of the category “Best National Universities.” Since 2001 we have moved from a ranking of 150 to 142 to 127 to 120 to this year’s 115. Also, for the fourth consecutive year in the specialty rankings, Northeastern has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for co-ops/internships.
August 23rd, 2005 -- Posted in rants |
After my episodes of unexplained boredom over weekends, I conclude that my short bursts of despair were mainly due to the lack of feelings of accomplishment. When I started this little project with this site, I started feeling better. I would call this condition of mine the ‘Compulsive Achievement Behavior’. I need to feel that I have achieved something, no matter how little the significance, for the day. My fiddling with HTML and digital photo editing resulting to this site saved my day.
A friend suggested after reading my saturday blog that perhaps my mind has overrated the intensity of my weekends bouts of despair. It was suggested that everyone would experience what is commonly known as ‘post-holiday-syndrome’, and I was probably experiencing one after my anniversary. I considered but ruled out the possibility. I had actually started feeling like this even before Sunsun returned. Her return helped, but only for a few days. And I noticed that I’m happier when I spent time working on little visual/audial projects and finishes it. Though I’m still wondering if my CAB condition is only a causal effect of my spiritual emptiness, or perhaps it is the direct cause of it.
Then just this morning, while driving to work and listening to Sunsun telling me about her plan for the day and it dawned to me that this is just what I’ve been missing – a daily plan. A daily plan, even a mental one, helps one look forward the day and feel accomplished. It’s not that I had not tried before, but I’ve gradually come to discard my habit of making daily plans. Somewhere in my change of career role with this company I work in today, I have started getting more responsibilities and somehow in my daily uphold of professional integrity with work I have lost the priority for my artistic self. This is probably what one means when he says that he has lost himself in his work.
Then again, it is a similar case with work. Since I was reassigned to support the company integration project, I realized that there is no definite short-term goal I can get the sense of accomplishment from. The objectives are usually either long-term or unidentifiable, being a one time integration project. When I work, I need to be able to envision what the outcome of my efforts would turn out, before I can make the next move. I cannot typically work through everyday’s work blindly. I only enjoy my job when I know what I am doing and hence know what to look forward to, even in steps.
Perhaps I might simply be in the wrong line…
