The good news is that I only have to take a maximum of 6 final exams, less if my grades are good enough to allow me to exempt the final. I figured taking 22 hours would kill me, or make me stronger. It definitely had the latter effect, fortunately.  I’m still in awe at everything that occurred this semester. I’ve managed to keep my head above water, despite all the duress I have undertaken this semester, or year. 2009 has definitely stretched me thin, physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.

The Air Force has been good to me, to say the least. Not just the Air Force, but the Citadel, as well. I figured returning I’d be seen as a deserter for leaving last semester, but that wasn’t the case. I did come back a tad bit behind where I wanted to be academically, but I managed to make it work, so that I may receive my blazer privilege next semester, and ultimately, my ring next October. Coming back was definitely not an easy task. I had to remember the lack of activities I would have coming back. I would vow to study, and to only go out when I have the privilege.

The transition from New York City back to Charleston, South Carolina was different, as well. Not only were the people different, but the way of life is very fast paced. I enjoyed how easy it was to disappear into a crowd. Being in a big city ironically gives me energy, despite the fact that I am an introvert. I don’t know how that works, but I guess up there, when I wanted to be alone, I could. The vast area that New York encompasses makes Charleston seem as tiny as a resort island. In New York, I could hop on the subway and venture to an unfamiliar area of the city, maybe Brooklyn, possibly Queens. Whereas, in Charleston, there are few areas left undiscovered where I can find peace and solitude. Trust me, I’ve lived here all my life. The Tri-County area is memorized, as if on the back of my hand.

Fortunately, I’ve been told, “I’m back where I belong.” While I don’t completely feel enamored with that quote, I am however, doing what I can, to stand out from my peers. I know what I want, specifically. That is, to be a pilot in the United States Air Force. Since right now is the time we are being evaluated, I am doing what I can, now so that I may be seen as one of the best applicants for that job. And the rest is history…
Have a great week everybody, it’s almost Friday!

Regards,

Jonathan

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for Black Friday. I overslept last year, so I missed the hustle-and-bustle of NYC, where Black Friday must be intense. But this year, I’m starting things off right. First off, I’m getting adequate sleep in order to get up at 3am.

Second,

I’m going to have a plan. Since my plan is already set, I must follow-through. I’m going to get literally as much as my bank account allows me. With that in mind, I’m going to ensure that I am properly stretched, hydrated, and awake. If none of these are achieved, either my plan will: A)fail or B) I will not get all the items I intend.

My first destination on the list is Best Buy. There, I will purchase all the gift cards, computer hardware, DVDs, and video games. Once this is all assessed, I can then strategize as to whether to get my dad an iPod Nano, or buy one online. From then on, I can press onto the mall, or the Base Exchange. The BX is known for being the military variation of what everyone else knows as Wal-Mart, with no sales tax.

Upon arrival at the BX, i can purchase clothes, earrings, perfume/cologne, sunglasses, candy, magazines, and whatever someone might want for Christmas, with similar sales as those at the mall, or other stores. The one problem with the BX is that their prices aren’t always as low as other stores, so this can present a problem. For instance, I prefer to purchase televisions, computers and CDs from Best Buy. Best Buy offers great prices, is techno-savvy, and usually has good prices, lower than most of the going market prices.

Once I have shopped at both of these locations, I will be able to use a process of elimination in order to determine what little things need to be purchased. I also frequent the BX, as they have a great birthday/event card, which I will need to purchase many of them, since we have a reasonable amount of friends and family who celebrate birthdays during the Christmas holiday.

If you don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish you a happy holiday, no matter what holiday you celebrate. If you don’t purchase any types of gifts, I wish I was only so fortunate. Have a great holiday everyone!

-J. Berkey

I’d like to say a good bit has happened. I went on an Air Force trip to Patrick AFB, near Cape Canaveral, FL. It was fun, to say the least, despite the fact that the base is a center for space and missiles. Not exactly my “cup of tea”, but the associates there are really into space and missiles and know a lot, and were happy to tell us about it. I was one of three juniors that went, so it was different. Last year i was one of ten sophomores, but that’s irrelevant.

I’ve taken a Microeconomics test, and made a C on it, which i’m content about, and a B on my second english test, which i can’t be any happier about. I was so worried that i would not do well, and it’d affect whether or not i pass the class. At this moment, i’d like to make a 3.3 GPA, by taking 22 credit hours. If at all possible, i’d really like to make a 3.5, but i’m not holding my breath. It is a lot to stomach, as 22 hours is not a cake walk, academically. What worries me the most is that in the next three weeks, i have three or so papers due. One for English on the 11th, a book review for Microeconomics on the 17th, and i need to get a significant amount done for my Business Communications class. With that said, i feel as if i’m doing a terrific job, with the workload i have. Not only that, but i’m keeping a cool head, despite the odds that i’m facing.

At this time, i’ve decided to hold off on dating and girls altogether, until i get my life straightened out. Currently, i’m trying to get my grades up, as much as possible in order to secure myself a Pilot slot, in the Air Force detachment, on campus. To the average person, getting a Pilot’s slot means you are above your peers academically, mentally, physically, and stand out from the rest. So far, i’m trying to complete all these requirements. I’m fairly good academically, i believe. Physically, i am above average, but i’m not sure how far from the top i stand. My aptitude concerning aviation skills is good, but i am also unsure as to how i rank against my peers. These uncertainties worry me, but i use it as a drive, to stand out from the rest.

This past Friday, my car faced some mechanical complications, and subsequently, i am now without my car. In the meantime, I am borrow my mother’s car so that i may travel to and from school. While only a twelve-mile commute, it is imperative that i have a car. Unfortunately, my family is suffering financial difficulties, like many people in this day and age, so it is tough. The plan originally was, that if i do well this year, and next year, my parents would get me a new car for Ring Weekend, my senior year. Due to my car seizing up last Friday, and causing damage to my vehicle, i face an insurmountable number concerning costs, and an unknown time as to when i will get my car back. What upsets me is that i am skilled as to the capabilities of my car, and i don’t understand as to how my oil drain plug “fell” out. When i changed the oil and my car, and checked for leaks shortly after, there were none. I drove my car multiple times after my oil change, also, three to be exact. It wasn’t until Friday, the 3rd instance i drove the car, after the oil change, that i received a “check oil” light on my dashboard. While the car was running, i checked the undercarriage of the car, and no drips, no visible problems. So i figured, what the hey, it’s only twelve miles, i can normally make it in around 20-25 minutes. Since there was no traffic, i knew this was a certainty. Ultimately i was wrong, and one road that was usually open, had traffic detoured, which caused my 25 minute commute to turn into a 50+ minute excursion. I made it about six miles before i noticed all throttle response from my car was gone, and i knew i had to pull over. An hour later, my dad arrived and i was able to fix it, but it was already too late. On account of a lack of oil in the car, it resulted in my car having metal-to-metal contact with little lubrication, and i now am not sure what is entirely wrong with my car.

In conclusion,

This past month has been full of ups and downs. But knowing what odds i currently face, i have a predicament. Am i going to stare adversity in the face and overcome it? Or am i going to let adversity beat me to the ground, to the point where i can’t get up? I believe i’m going to take the former option. Granted, it may be tough, but i’ll definitely feel the accomplishment and reward of my hard work. I feel like God sometimes throws up curveballs, to test our character. While not always intentional, i believe it’s these “curveballs” that separate the people who have the endurance to fight on, versus the people who give up when things don’t go the way they want them.

Until next time…

-J. Berkey

I must say i’m very enthused that today is Friday. Normally i’m never this excited, but this weekend i’m going on a church retreat/hike to the mountains in North Carolina. Next week, i’m going on an Air Force ROTC trip to Patrick AFB (Cape Canaveral area). Not sure exactly what activities these next two weekends will entail, but i’m looking forward to it with great optimism.

I’ve also finished midterms for the week…almost. My Psych midterm is at 11am. I’m not quite sure how to feel about my Microeconomics’s test, though. I studied my tail off, and still managed to miss the little things. What scared the heck outta me was that after my Microecon midterm, I had a Business Computer Applications midterm in less than two hours! I thought it would be next Thursday before i left for my trip!  What was I to do? Luckily, we were allowed to take it twice, and on my second try, i managed to knock it out of the park.

As far as the trip this weekend goes, i’ll be sure to take a multitude of pictures. Can you believe we’re going on a 20 mile hike? I don’t even remember hiking that far in Boy Scouts. I hope i’m conditioned enough for it. Haha, if not, i’ll be sure to find out…VERY SOON.

One major upset I have lately is with my test for my Pilot package in AFROTC. They’re offering so few testing slots, with not enough testing slots for everybody. Then comes the issue of how it fits into people’s schedules. At The Citadel, we get in trouble for missing class, and when we’re allowed to miss class, we can miss, at max, three classes. Factored with sitting guard, you’re allowed to maybe miss one for things off-campus, be it testing with ROTC, Dr.’s Appt, etc. Along with me taking 22 credit hours, i have few time as it is! I have afternoons free on Monday and Friday(besides parade), and on MWF, i have one free class at 11am. On Tues/Thur i have class from 8-11am, then drill, then class from 1-4. Thursday i have AFROTC Leadership Lab from 4-6, then Bible Study from 6-740. So coupled with the various clubs i’m in, im stretched very thin.

Lastly, this is all i think i’m going to write for now. I have Business Communications class, then my free hour, concluding with my Psych midterm. What a day…Until next time…haha.

-Berkey

It’s the afternoon, and I am done with classes for the day. Ironically, Monday is also my most stressful day. I have to plan out the rest of my week, and when I want to work my hardest, and when I’m allowed to be more slack. With today being so dreary and wet, it puts a hamper on what I can do today. I wanted to run on the track, near the football field, but with the track being so wet, it’d give me skewed run times, as I’m not running as fast or hard as I want to be.

I almost forgot that I have a presentation due tomorrow that’s three minutes long. Fairly short, in my opinion, but I should have a good time presenting, as it is on what top two career fields I would like to go into, concerning the Air Force.

Anyways, that is all for  now. I’ll be sure to write on this again in a few days. Until then…later.

-Berkey

*UPDATE*

It is now Wednesday, or “Hump Day”, as some people would refer to today. We’re in class and talking about how to use WordPress. Fortunately, I am slightly above the power curve as far as posting is concerned, but i’m learning to change the appearance of my blog, and how to add widgets. It’s pretty cool. Now we’re learning how to upload various images or files into our blog.

Today is the anniversary of the barcode. Apparently it is 57 years from the day that the patent was put out. Interesting fact.

Very recently, have I adopted the pastime of becoming a YouTube frequenter. One person for instance that i’ve seen is Philip DeFranco. He’s a vlogger (Video Blogger) who posts videos Monday thru Friday. While not all of his material is PG-13 appropriate, he is to the point, and discusses interesting current events. His website can be located at: www.phillyd.tv While this may seem like a fake website, it’s real, with pictures and links to his videos. If you have the chance, check it out. But beware, as it is not for the faint of heart, and does include explicit language.

Well that’s all for today. I’m going to be sure to post another blog. Now that i’ve got the hang for it, and understand how long these entries need to be. So long!