You Can't Always Get What You Want

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes
Well you just might find
You get what you need


Mick Jagger is onto something. Sometimes life doesn't go according to plan. But if you can find the silver lining, you really do get what you need. I wasn't really planning on having 17 units, 2 internships, 2 IM teams, and sorority responsibilities, mostly because I was planning on sleeping every once in awhile (coffee and I have been getting pretty serious lately). As it turns out, this was the best possible thing I could have done for myself.


I'm finding pleasure in the littlest things these days. Like classes, for instance. For the first time in my college career, my classes are challenging me. Not that I haven't had hard classes before (Organic Chemistry was a bitch and a half), but never before has a course challenged my career choices, my views of society, my very system of beliefs. In 3 weeks this quarter, I feel like I've learned more than I did all last quarter. Perhaps I'm more receptive right now because I don't have the endless list of extraneous distractors pulling me away from the books. Perhaps I'm happy to see the sunlight again. Or perhaps, my classes are actually challenging me to think. Novel concept in college, right? Fellow science majors know exactly what I'm talking about. An oxidation/reduction reaction is an oxidation/reduction reaction. I can only imagine a social science professor trying to teach chemistry:


How does the carbonyl feel about being reduced?
Is the functional group being forced into reduction for lack of better opportunities?
Why do we use the term "reduction"? To reinforce oppressive and negative stereotypes?


Right. Many undergraduate science courses emphasize how things are. For the first time, my classes are challenging me to understand why things are. And even in my "how things are" kind of classes this quarter, the "how" is super cool so it doesn't even bother me! I never knew anything about addictive drugs beforehand, and I've never been so fascinated by a class in my life! I'm on the edge of my seat the whole time (nerd alert). It makes my mom a little nervous how much I now know about opiates and methampetamine. Don't stress, fam; all my knowledge of illicit substances came from books. Also, I recently learned in human sexuality that pregnant women crave particular foods because the developing baby lacks particular nutrients (i.e. my mom craved oranges; I probably needed more Vitamin C) and some women will actually crave dirt and metal. Like, literally. It's because they need iron. But isn't that weird? If I ever craved dirt or metal, I would probably voluntarily check myself into a mental health facility. "Doctor, I think I'm going crazy. I see dirt everywhere and I want to eat it!" And in comparative health, I learned that the single greatest predictor of health outcomes has nothing to do with your access to insurance or care, but your socioeconomic status. That's right, if you make more money than I do, you have a much higher likelihood of being healthier than me. WHAT??? Yes, regardless of access to health care. This is what I mean. My brain is literally exploding every day with new information that actually challenges me!


Enough nerdy stuff. It's been a CRAZY busy week! I feel like so much has gone on that I can't even begin to wrap my mind around. I mentioned earlier about how I'm doing more things for myself these days and I am having SO much fun! I have a date with Michele and the batting cages to work on our form for our IM softball team, as well as a gym date with the Theta Ladies to prepare for our grass volleyball games. I don't care whether we win or lose (losers always say that); I just want to have a good time with my friends :) Although, I did make a pretty spectacular catch in left field on Wednesday and was most proud of myself. Even though it's been a few years since I've played either volleyball or softball competitively, it's almost like riding a bike; all those skills come back effortlessly! And Karen and I have been getting our Abs Express on at the ARC in preparation for Rec Pool season, and I've been hitting up Vinyasa Yoga to just focus on myself and relax! I've never felt better about myself physically or mentally. Even this blog is a fantastic release and it is rather addicting (Annalyse warned me!).


And to top it all off, tomorrow is the greatest day of the year: Picnic Day! I'm beyond excited for wiener dog races, liquid nitrogen ice cream, PICNIC DAY HOTDOGS (I look forward to them every year! SO delicious!), and making millions of memories in the sunshine with my best friends :) To me, Picnic Day is a day where absolutely nothing can go wrong. It is a day that takes everything good in the world and puts it all in one place. And for the 21 year olds, dollar beers at The Grad. Again, everything good in the world. For a day, the community sets aside its troubles, worries, and studies to come together in celebration of all things UC Davis. And who doesn't love a good celebration (read: party!)? :)


If anyone reading this (probably no one ;) is having a rough time of things, just remember The Rolling Stones. You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you just might find you get what you need. Sometimes we want things that aren't right for us, and life has a way of correcting for it. It can suck, no doubt about it. But with the proper perspective and a little time, you get what you need.


:)