December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas


也许在除旧迎新的日子里,大家都习惯于总结即将逝去的一年。


昨天通宵回来一直睡到下午快6点才起来,脑子觉得很涨,什么事情也不想做。然后开始翻开自己很早以前的日志。


2004的平安夜,

不记得做了什么了。没有记录也无从考证。不过应该是待寝睡大觉。


2005的平安夜,

在洪山广场看着绚烂的焰火,拨通了他的电话,正式挥别了一段感情。


2006的平安夜,

还是待寝室谁大觉?


2007的平安夜,

在一个好朋友的家里过圣诞,收到了好多贴心的礼物。午夜在教堂做完祷告然后回去跟别人开怀聊天喝到烂醉。


2008的平安夜,

踩着双超级无敌高的高跟鞋去vox,然后扯着破嗓子通宵K歌。


在翻看以前日志的时候,发现很多曾经非常在乎的事情,都变得云淡风轻了。

不知道是不是熬通宵的关系,眼睛一直很涩不停流眼泪。


昨天K歌的时候收到L的短信:我还是输了,忍不住给他发了短信。

然后我说:其实没有谁输谁嬴,一切都能放下来的。



December 21, 2008

申请阶段的感悟(一)


PS是个不断自我挖掘的智力与体力同时消耗的过程。

9月初稿洋洋洒洒快1500字,到现在12月的780字,都不记得总共改了多少稿了。PS的精髓还是王浩老师那句话:事例中看到能力,字里行间看到激情。每所学校的PS我都会区分开来,因为我觉得PS不仅仅是说服别人;它更是在说服自己,让自己清醒认识到为什么选择了这所学校。

申请的过程,总是交织着自我肯定与自我否定。最近总是间歇性地焦虑,要是明年没有offer怎么办?我跟洪俊说,如果明年没有学校要我,我就成了失学大龄女青年了。。囧

然后洪俊告诉我,你终于悟出来了为什么Abroad放在白云7区(人生感悟)而不在3区(学术学科)了吧!

事实证明,早起的鸟儿真的有虫吃。大部分人还在忙着寄材料的时候,某些材料递的早的牛人就已经OfferAD到手了。虽然心里被小小刺激到了,但还是自我安慰,我申的学校deadline都晚,时间还充足。。

Cici说我选择了条最坎坷的路。

其实我自己也这么觉得。找工作和出去实习我都还挺有自信的,就是申学校让我很囧。前阵子想了很多,自己是不是真的还想继续念书,是不是适合这样子的规划,是不是应该顺着爸妈的意思就这样下去。不过最后有一点我相通了:不想待在国内找工作—— 一眼就能望穿的未来五、六年,对我来说应该会是种负担吧!而且我觉得我是那种放在哪儿都能活的人,我还比较肯定不至于走投无路让自己饿死。= =

出国只是一种途径,无论选择了何种道路,人最终追逐的还是自己想要的生活方式和爱的人。

很多人抱怨这几年出国的含金量大不如前了,其实我觉得还是得看个人。这个学期初,abroad版 里有张帖子讨论为什么出国。我当时看到有个人说,他就是对学术特别跟感兴趣,他的研究方向美国学校的实力是最强的,觉得自己在美国可以得到更好地提升。我 其实挺佩服这个人的,但我佩服的不是他有多么崇高的理想;我佩服的,是他对自己的清醒认识和对未来的合理规划——他明白自己要什么。

话说回来,每个人都有茫然的时候,生活也永远充满着未知。只要自己对好的坏的结局都作好准备,也没有什么好畏惧的了。It won’t be the end of the world.




















December 9, 2008

Ben同学的回信



我发现我真的很挫,发Email给Ben找他帮我改推荐信
结果把名字打成了Ban。
我在想他看到Email的那刻肯定很抓狂。。。。



Monica

Your English was good before, but this personal statement really impressed me.? I have done a lot of editing, but don't be discouraged by the number of marks.? I edit many, many statements and papers for friends and other students, and have gotten very thorough.? Yours, frankly, is? structured better and has better support than some of my friends who are native speakers.?

A few words of advice:?

1) Structure: Often, personal statements aren't meant to be QUITE as structured as your is.?? It's not bad that you have structured it well, but perhaps you should take out the large headings.? These are often meant to be a bit personal and don't need to be quite as rigid, you know?? Your choice.

2)? You repeat yourself often, and you shouldn't.? The review board knows you're interested in economics, or else you wouldn't be applying.? You give good examples to support your interest; let that be enough.? Tell them you're interested just once, them explain WHY and emphasize that.? You've done a good job of that with your examples of studies you've conducted.? Talk a bit about why those were important to you as a researcher.

Otherwise, it's really very good, and it makes you sound both experienced and intelligent, which is exactly what you need.? Good job!? I didn't know you were studying international economics; that's my focus in my econ degree as well!? I haven't done nearly the research and stuff that you have though--it's fantastic that you've been able to do all that.? I've been so focused on my english thesis...heh.? I'll be applying for a Ph.D. in English at the Ivy leaguers next year (I'm taking a year off).? Here's hoping we can both get in!

I'm actually thinking of coming back to China this summer after I graduate--I'm looking for a job/internship in journalism or business/economics.? The whole world is suffering economically though, and it's awfully tough to get a job. Did a bunch of interviews here only to have them tell me "Sorry, you're great, we just can't hire you this year.? Any other year..."? It's sad.?

I hope you're doing well.? I'd love to hear how your life has been recently.

Good luck with this application.? I think you have a good chance!

-Ben
--
LSA Honors 2009
Economics and English Honors