Celebrate Good Times...

Last Saturday was my 21st birthday. It was awesome because I got to celebrate it with my friends before they went away for school. I had the opportunity to have dinner with all of them and then going to one of their houses for some good times. So how does it feel to be 21? It pretty much feels the same but mentally, I feel older. I can now go to the bars and clubs that were restricted for me. The people in those places are definitely older than 21 so I still feel young. I do feel like a newbie though because my knowledge of drinks is very limited. But I'm excited for this coming labor day weekend because I'm going down to the jersey shore.

Life is Short...

The air changes, the cold wind blows,
Everything withers and day becomes night.
I stand here staring down at my toes,
My legs won't move and I'm losing my sight.

I'm where?...
Free me...

My mind empty, heart broken, face scarred,
Body aching, and hands bleeding.
Stuck in a cage that is shackled and barred.
Left alone, wanting and needing.

You there...
See me...

The sky is dark, time stands still,
You approach me with fear in your eyes.
I open my mouth sending you a chill,
My voice captures your soul and it dies.

Come here!...
Be me...

-Shaofan (Simon) Wu

You have just experienced the Shadow Realm. Hope you enjoyed your trip. Come again.

Time Is Precious...

About Drexel: Once again, Drexel runs on 10-week terms and it can get overwhelming at times. Time management is one skill that not only applies with school, it applies with life as well. Time needs to get set aside for homework, studying but also some time to just relax. A nice thing that the Campus Activities Board does for us is to offer free back massages during Finals Week.

About Me: I try to keep myself organized with everything I do. Making a list always help. These skills also transfer over to co-op so the earlier I start, the better off I am. I used to keep track of my spending by marking on a calendar how much I made and how much I spent. I always tried to keep myself within the positives so I wouldn't be broke like everyone else. I stopped doing that now because I got lazy.

Song of the Day: Susana ft. Pitbull & Lil Jon- Ever

Money Ain't A Thing...

About Drexel: Although there aren't a lot of shops on Drexel's campus, there are a lot in Penn's Campus. The University of Pennsylvania is literally next door to us and I cross over to it all the time. There's the Food Court where you can get ice cream, Taco Bell, burgers or pizza. The Bubble House is another good place to eat. Through one of Drexel's shuttle buses, it can take you over to 40th and Walnut. There you will find Fresh Grocer's as well as The Bridge which is one of the nicer movie theatres you'll find in the city. There are bars and clubs around there also.

About Me: I'm not really a shopping person. I go into a store knowing what I want and I get it and leave as fast as I could. Philly is one of the biggest cities to shop in. There are malls and stores everywhere. I live right by the Gallery so I do a lot of my shopping there since it's within walking distance for me. Around Walnut St. and Broad St., there are a lot more high-end stores and restaurants. Aside from the Gallery, there is Franklin Mills, King of Prussia Mall, Cherry Hill Mill, Willow Grove Mall and others, all within driving distance. Buses are available as well. I am more of an electronics shopper than a clothing shopper. I buy clothes once a season and I tend to buy in bulks. Just two days ago, I bought 10 shirts, 2 pairs of pants and a new pair of shoes for less than $200.

Song of the Day: Andy Lau- Yi (One)

A Thousand Miles...

About Drexel: Staying in one place has always been a tough thing for me to do. The great thing about doing Co-op at Drexel is that you get to change the setting for half the year. Meaning, you're not going to be taking classes. I know I was excited when it was time for my Co-op. I applied for several places but ironically, I ended up taking up the job at Drexel's undergraduate admissions. Although the scenery was the same, I actually learned/seen a lot of parts of Drexel that I had never noticed before. Now that my second Co-op is just right around the corner, I'm not sure where I want to work at. I had friends who has done Co-op abroad which interests me. Since I have 3 Co-ops, I'll have plenty of room for variety.

About Me: I've always wanted to travel and see the world. Having been born in China and moving here to the states at a very young age, I barely remember anything from my home country. Since then, my parents have been working really hard so we haven't had an opportunity to travel anywhere. This year, the Taiwanese club at Drexel gave me a chance to visit Harvard University for a conference. My friend is planning to go to Canada in a few weeks and I'm thinking of tagging along. Believe it or not, I haven't been to Canada yet so I'm really excited. Also, I'm planning to visit some friends in California later on this year. Which makes me want to work for an airline since their employees fly for free.

Song of the Day: Yung Berg- Sexy Lady

Food For Thought...

About Drexel: As a Freshmen living in the resident's halls, it is required for you to purchase a meal plan. The meal plan grants unlimited access into our Handshumaker Dining Hall. When I came as a Freshmen, which was 2 years ago, the dining hall was undergoing renovations. We actually had our meals in the Grand Hall of Creese. But the dining hall finally opened up in November or so. The grand opening of it was amazing. They had an awesome chocolate fountain and we were shocked with how futuristic everything looked. I love the food from the dining hall. They have all these different sections set up like a buffet so you can eat as much as you want. From Asian Cuisine to pasta to tacos to salad to burgers and fries. My favorite section would definitely be the dessert section.

About Me: Although I've lived in Philly for over 18 years, there are still a lot of places that I've never eaten at before. I was so used to eating food from Chinatown because it was close and the food is cheap. To tell you the truth, I'm addicted to fast food joints as well. I will take McDonald's, Burger King and KFC over a 4 star restaurant any day. There are a lot of fancy high priced restaurants out there. In my opinion, the decor and overall appearance for those places are nice but the food is usually mediocre and the service is pretty basic. The only difference is the location and reputation that have you paying couple dollars extra and I'm not for it at all. But it's always good to try out places at least once and Philly has a lot ot offer.

Song of the Day: Swizz Beats- Money in the Bank

Through the Grapevine..

About Drexel: One good thing about being in college is that people are more mature. Especially at Drexel, the students that come here are very career driven. With the co-ops and shorter terms, I feel like we grow up a lot faster because we get a sense of the real world a lot sooner than most people. Just because we study a lot doesn't mean we don't know how to have fun. There's always something going on whether it is on campus or in the city. Our Campus Activities Board actually offer us free back massages on the week of finals. And if you look hard enough, there's always some event happening on campus so you'll most likely find free food. One secret is that most of them do not check attendence so if you take food, they won't notice. I do it all the time when I see sodas laying around on a table left over from an event.

About Me: Speaking of mature people, I am so glad I'm done with my high school years. There was so much drama and I hate drama. I'm not saying that there's no drama now, but in high school, it was for dumber reasons. One thing I noticed in college is that the people are a lot friendlier. It is less cliquey if you know what I mean. Also, in high school, it was hard to keep secrets because you're seeing the same people every day and the space is a lot smaller. I love the college environment because I don't feel like I'm under a microscope where every move I make is being watched.

Song of the Day: Mya- Walka Not A Talka

No Time For Procrastination...

About Drexel: Here at Drexel, we go through 10 week terms. Usually, midterms are around Week 4 or Week 5 and the week following Week 10 is Finals Week. Right now is Week 4 and I have a test tomorrow morning. The good thing with the short terms is that time goes by so fast. Next thing you know, it's time for finals and that's when time management comes in. The terms go by so fast, everything might be overwhelming at first but once you get a hang of it, things will become easier. I enjoy meeting up with people from my class some time before an exam and study together. TA's in my classes usually organize group study sessions so it's useful to look out for those. The library is also a popular place where everyone gets their studying done. They usually extend the hours during exam weeks.

About Me: In the last few days I've been going out a lot and neglecting my school work. It's fine though, I know the material pretty well and I go to the lecture classes. Although most lectures don't take attendence, you'll be surprised how much help they are when you attend. Last Friday, I had dinner with a few friends of mine and we went to one of their homes for some fun. On Saturday, I had two BBQs to go to. The first one was in Central Jersey and it was a lot of fun because there was a pool. Although I can't swim, I enjoy looking like a fool trying. The food was amazing also, burgers, pasta salad and chocolate covered strawberries. That's heaven right there. After I returned home, I had to go to a birthday BBQ in Kensington. I only stayed for a little bit because I had to return the car but my friend really appreciated that I came. I promised to go last year but I was at a different BBQ instead that ran a bit longer than I had anticipated. Sunday, I went to the Bridge to watch Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix. I enjoyed it although I expected a bit more action. Tonight, I will finally go watch Transformers because I heard really great things about it. Let's hope I won't be disappointed.

Song of the Day: Stanley Hoang- Luv U

People Who Are There...

About Drexel: Living on campus has definitely given me a sense of independence and I really enjoy it. It is nice to have a place that you can call home aside from the one that you were raised in. Obviously homesickness is something that will surface sooner or later but you get over it quickly when you start meeting people that you can start calling family. Which is another nice thing to living on campus, it is a great way to meet people because they are pretty much in the same situation you are. You see them around all the time and you develop bonds that you won't find anywhere else.

About Me: Since working at the Undergraduate Admissions for my first co-op, I've met a lot of great people. With the wide range of personalities and cultures, I've learned both about myself and others. I also have a bunch of friends from other schools, mainly people I've met through high school. They're mainly the people I've been in contact with because right now they are on their summer vacation and I'm taking classes. I try to hang out with them at least once a week. Lately, we've been going out for dinner in Chinatown and hanging out at each others' houses. Last week, we decided to meet up one night, we played Guestures and Taboo for a few hours. Nothing beats a little friendly competition. It turned out to be a lot of fun. We are getting together again some night this week to play Mario Party 8 on the Wii. I can't wait.

Hard Work Pays Off...

About Drexel: Aside from Drexel's awesome Co-op program where you get to work full-time for 6 months, there are opportunities during the school year for part time jobs. I was lucky enough to be awarded with federal work study during my Freshmen year. I looked through Drexel's website which provided places on campus that were hiring. I had an interest in film and I knew that Drexel had a TV station so I looked for jobs there. I found one and I called the number and the guy on the phone said "Awesome, when can you come in?" It was quick and painless and I was excited to start. Although I only worked there for a term since I had two other jobs, it was a great experience. Throughout my employment with DUTV, I helped paint the studio floors, assist with preparing props, dubbed media and learned some vital behind the scenes information.

About Me: I mentioned above that I had two other jobs. I was quite a busy bee after my senior year of high school (Central High 264!). That summer after I graduated, I worked as a busboy for a restaurant in Chinatown and then a cashier for a pizza shop in Center City at the same time. Once school started in Drexel, I dropped the busboy job and kept the cashier one. Then I worked for DUTV as well as Riverview United Artist Theatre. So yes, working 3 jobs and being a full-time student taking 17 credits was not a good idea. Eventually I had to start leaving the jobs but the money I made during the time was well worth it.

Song of the Day: Gwen Stefani- 4 In The Morning

Time of Transition...

About Drexel: There are currently 4 regular Freshmen dorms and an Honors Freshmen dorm at Drexel. I actually have never lived outside of home before. I have been living in Philly for more than 17 years and I've always lived with my family. However, this summer, the office I work for offered me free housing if I would dedicate my room for university related events. It is a nice trade-off because it is a great opportunity for me to go through "the college experience" that I had lacked. I moved into Towers this past Sunday. It is still a bit quiet because this current week is our break week in between the end of Spring Term and the beginning of Summer Term (starting on Monday). A lot of people went home or are on vacation. Every Freshmen has their summer off so I recommend living it to the fullest when that time comes. But back to living in the dorms, I moved in most of my stuff by now. The room is actually bigger than I thought. For those that has seen our showroom in tours, my room is just about that size. My roommate is not moving in until the end of the month so I get the whole place to myself for now. My parents came over to take a look yesterday. My mom said it reminded her of a hotel. I can see the similarity. There are a bunch of rooms within the floor, but the only difference is, the bathroom is not in the room. I'm looking forward to next week when classes begin and more people living on my floor.

About Me: Speaking of living your summer vacation to the fullest, I had quite an amazing summer break last year. I decided to take a trip to Disneyworld because I had never been there before. I went with my best friend and we stayed for a week. We had a blast! From visiting all the parks to living in one of the resorts, it was an experience I will never forget. Right after I left Florida, I flew over to California to meet up with my cousins. We were in the mood to traveling. In the course of a week, we drove down to Ensenada, Mexico, up to Las Vegas, then back West to Hollywood. This was in the middle of August so I had June and July to work up the money for it. I remember working 60 hour weeks in the pizzaria but it was all worth it.

Song of the Day: J-Minor- Summer Luv

A Month Later....

About Drexel: Hey everyone, welcome to my blog. My name is Simon and I'm currently finishing up my sophmore year at Drexel. If you weren't already aware, Drexel follows an unique quarter system. We are finishing up our Spring Term with this week as the last week of classes which means finals are next week! Everyone else I know are already done their Spring Semester. It gets a little bit difficult sometimes when my friends are calling me to go out and I have to constantly remind them that I still have classes. It's not too big of a deal though since most of our activities take place in the night time anyway. It may not seem fair, but they go back to school in late August and we don't start our Fall Term until the end of September. So as far as equality of the length of the breaks, they are about the same. Most of them are currently miserable because all they do is work. I've done my share of work in my last co-op which lasted from late September to late March. So while I still have money saved up, all I need to worry about is my schoolwork which is not the case for them.

About Me: Today is one of my busiest days. Balancing work in the Drexel Undergraduate Admissions Office as well as going to classes (Business Law, Business Statistics and Chinese). Did I mention I'm a Business student concentrating in Marketing? My last class actually ends at 6pm but I have a board meeting with the Asian Student Association at 6pm. I'm the current Vice President of Social Affairs and Community Service for that club. We had bowling nights, karaoke nights, a culture show and just recently held our annual banquet in conjunction with the Korean Student Association at Drexel. It is a ton of fun to join clubs because it is a great way to meet people. I barely talk to anyone in my classes so it's a lot more easier to make friends from social student organizations. After the board meeting, we have our general meeting at 7:30pm. We normally provide free food for our members like pizza and soda. College kids love free food! Afterwards, I'm planning to go to Franklin Mills to watch "Knocked Up." For those unfamiliar with Franklin Mills, it is a huge mall located in Northern Philadelphia. The AMC theatre there has $5 Tuesdays where any movie you watch will be $5 plus you get a free small popcorn. That beats any deal I know. I'm not the type of person that is willing to spend $10 on a movie. I've gone every week in the last month. I've seen Disturbia, 28 Weeks Later, Shrek 3, Pirates: At World's End, in that order. I can't wait for Fantastic 4 and Harry Potter.

Song of the Day: Sean Kingston- Beautiful Girls







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