New Year, Same Me

Hi Everyone,

Probably no one checks up on this blog anymore but I would like to update just in case there are some that still do (probably not, I haven't updated this blog in 2.5 years). However, I'm incredibly active on my instagram so please check it out! (https://www.instagram.com/cathercha/)

Well, I'm graduating college this semester. Time really does fly by. I remember a huge chunk of this blog was active during my freshman year of college.

Me on Monday, I grew my hair long (finally, it took like 3 years lol) My hair was also dyed darker but I asked the hair stylist to dye it a lighter color oh well

Anyway, let's backtrack a bit and allow me to share some things that occurred during the past few years of my absence. These events in my life are not in chronological order, I am just listing as I remember.

1) I got a cat. His name is Jiji and he will be two years old on March 30. He has changed my life so much and is the most affectionate cat I have come across. I love him. I made an instagram for him (even though I used to think people who make instagrams for their pets are weird). It is: instagram.com/jiji.theblackcat

2) I saw a therapist for the first time in 2017. I started seeing a counselor in my school and she then referred me to a psychotherapist. I thought it didn't help much but I became a lot less awkward and realized some things about myself.

3) I got accepted into a research program recently! I'm so excited and this was the first week of the program.

4) I went to Florida and the Bahamas for the first time in Summer 2017. I held an alligator for the first time.

Holding Al the Alligator in Florida

Atlantis waterpark

5) My retina (from my right eye) detached last month. So far, I've had a vitrectomy and four laser procedures. I will have my 5th one in two weeks. My retina is still detached so my vision is still impaired. I'm scared I'll need surgery because a vitrectomy does not improve its prognosis. I couldn't go to school or work (I had a new job) at all last month. It's a very dark time for me right now (even though I thought I wasn't depressed anymore).

6) I quit Hi-Tea on 01/01/15. I remember that day because it was New Years. The shop closed shortly afterwards. But I worked at another bubble tea shop last summer and I just stopped working last month to dedicate time for school. However, I did work today to cover someone. It was nice to be back to be honest.

7) I went to Hong Kong and Taiwan in Jan 2016. I was so depressed in 2015, I was at rock bottom. However, traveling to HK to meet my relatives whom I haven't seen in over 13 years slowly changed my perspective of my family (the main reason I was down in the dumps). I tried so many new foods, met new people, had so many new experiences.

 Went to the peak of Mt. Victoria, made it in time for the sunset.

 Night view of HK from the peak

 View from my Aunt's apartment

All-You-Can-Eat Japanese food and the best grape juice I've tried in my entire life

8) Wow I can't believe I forgot to add this earlier but I finally transferred to a new school in Fall 2016! It's so much better. The people are nicer, I've made so many new friends (I haven't made many when I was in Hunter). My anxiety levels were much lower now that I'm close to home. I'm also more active in school now and used so many of their services.

I permed my hair last summer LOL

9) I turned 21 last year so that means I went to bars for the first time. It was great and I realized I am a great dancer after a few shots (not really lol...). However, that phase of going out and drinking was short lived after I had one too many shots. I threw up several times and had a hangover that laster 1.5 days. I never drank much after that. I only order water or fruit juice at bars now (lame I know).

10) I got all A's in the semester of Spring '17. I was on the dean's list. This was the first and only time it happened. In 2017, my gpa went from a 2.9 to a 3.3. It was not easy.

I can't think of anything else in which something big occurred in my life. I mean, a lot of things happened but it didn't seem like it was needed mentioning. Well, I took the GRE (did average, going to retake it this semester), hung out with a group of friends for the first time and felt like I belonged, etc.

I guessed I changed as a person. I stopped being so hot-tempered, I don't ruminate as much, I can talk to unfamiliar people without internally freaking out, surprisingly I am comfortable with group presentations, and in all, I have a different outlook on life now. I arrived to the conclusion that the universe did not exist for the happiness of people. Once I finally came to terms with that, life was more understandable especially when facing adversities.

However, I am also still the same. I'm still pessimistic as hell! The greatest and most recent example is: I got into a recent program that provides a stipend; so I quit my job and therapy. A new chapter of my life is about to begin! *excited* Sike! My retina is detached which would hinder my remaining academic career. (y)

Anyway, this is the end of this blog entry. I am mainly typing this for myself so I can look back to this in a few years like how I looked back into my past entries now.

If you actually read til the end (thank you for that bc I am so boring), I hope you are doing well! I hope everything in life goes well for you c: Take care

- Catherine