let's grab this gluten!!

sei (she/her)• 19 • sweden • IB graduate, soon to be SOAS student

[byelingual]

self-update, saturday 6th june 2020

Jeeesus..... time really flies. Since my last diary entry here I finished IB exams, graduated, applied to uni in Sweden and did that for a term, moved to the capital, applied to my dream university and GOT ACCEPTED. Sooo glad past me stayed with it and never gave up, IB was a shitshow of stress and anxiety but with that behind me I can now see how easy everything else will be, and how proud of myself I truly am. Things are a bit shaky now with the ‘rona, but I think everything will solve itself soon. There’s so much preparation to do since I’m studying abroad for three whole years, so I better get to crossing things off my to do list as soon as possible. 

Anyways, what else is going on in life? I’ve been struggling to find a job here in the big city in the middle of a whole pandemic, but it’s finally letting up. So happy that the places that have gotten back to me are FUN and not mind-numbing capitalist slave centers. Just attended the BLM demonstrations here, so glad the world is waking up to a problem that has existed for hundreds of years and will continue to be an issue unless we deal with it RIGHT NOW. Seeing police brutality so up-close at the protest was a stressful but very sobering experience to say the least. 

Back to the main point, I GOT INTO MY DREAM UNI!!! The period between my application in January and getting the decision at the end of April was insane and so stressful, I kept doubting myself over and over but deep inside I knew I had it in the bag. My friends and fam showed me so much love which I am so appreciative of. I still don’t feel like it’s real honestly! Maybe it’ll sink in once I finally make the move. Ahhhgg I can’t wait for September to come :)

Ok time for that part where I write to future me! I hope future sei is sitting in London, working diligently on some project or essay that’s due in three hours, has a lot of new and interesting friends and honestly is just living her dream  academia fantasy to the fullest. She’ll probably be broke as a joke and stressed, but the smartest and happiest she’s ever been. I’m proud of her already and can’t wait to see where she goes next! <3 

[dbttiger]

[thgchoir]

no offense but this is literally the most neurotypical thing i have ever seen

[pyrrhicgoddess-deactivated20180]

Uhhhh… no. This is what they teach you in therapy to deal with BPD and general depression. When I got out of the hospital after hurting myself a second time, I got put into intensive outpatient program for people being released from mental hospitals as a way to monitor and help transition them into getting them efficient long-term care. This is something they stressed, especially for people with general depression. When you want to stay at home and hide in your bed, forcing yourself to do the opposite is what is helpful. For me, who struggles with self harm- “I want to really slice my arm up. The opposite would be to put lotion on my skin (or whatever would be better, like drawing on my skin) the opposite is the better decision.” It doesn’t always work because of course mental health isn’t that easy, but this is part of what’s called mindfulness (they say this all the time in therapy)

Being mindful of these is what puts you on the path to recovery. If you’re mindful, you are able to live in that moment and try your best to remember these better options.

I swear to god, I don’t get why some people on this website straight up reject good recovery help like this because either they a)have never been in therapy so don’t understand in context how to use these coping tactics. Or b)want to insist that all therapists and psych doctors are neurotypical and have zero idea what they are talking about. (Just so ya know, they teach this in DBT, the therapy used to help BPD. The psychologist who came up with DBT actually had BPD, so….a neurotypical women didn’t come up with this.)

[yourbigsisnissi]

the older i get the more it’s clear that being smart doesn’t get you very far if you’re not disciplined. there are tons of people who are brilliant but not disciplined. they have amazing ideas but cannot finish a project. they are creative and innovative but cannot execute a plan. i see how important it is to set deadlines and boundaries for myself an to be disciplined.

[beamingsuggestion]

and here you are, continuing on, despite how hard it’s been

[phonaesthemes]

THOSE ARE BACK VOWELS NOT WIDELY-SPACED BOOBS I S2G TUMBLR

[linguist-breakaribecca]

They’re coming for the vowel chart!!!

[allthingslinguistic]

idk I mean those mid-central vowels are pretty…curvaceous

[aspergersissues]

There’s something about getting advice from dogs that I like. I saved a bunch of these recently, so here’s a dump of most of them.

[chubby-bunnies]

[spfstudies]

days left of high school; 2

[hanne-studies]

Friendly Reminder

your college application essay isn’t about how honored you are to be considered for that school, but a chance to tell the school why they should be honored to have you

[alimastudies]

revision methods that actually work // studygram: alimastudies

1. Memory mind map 

Personally, this is the most effective one for me. All you need is a blank piece of paper. Pick a sub-topic that you are doing e.g in biology a topic could be immune system and the sub-topic could be antibodies and antigens. If you want you can create some questions for each sub-topic and on your blank piece of paper, using questions as a guide, write everything you know about that sub-topic without your notes. After get your notes out and check and correct with a different colour pen. Watch this video to get a better understanding

2. Flashcards

I recommend you use written flashcards, unless you have vocab or definitions in which case digital ones like quizlet is fine. You should have questions on one side and your answers on another - i’ve heard people say the answer shouldn’t be long but i find that the more detailed it is the higher marks you score in the exam - of course summarise don’t just copy from a textbook or there is no point in doing this. When you test yourself try to do something else other than reading, for example write the answer down and then check and correct.

3. Spaced intervals

No point cramming for an exam. Yes it might have got you an A* in GCSE or other lower level exams but it’s certainly not going to get you an A* for a-levels or other higher exams. Space your learning out and if you can try and revise everyday, even if somedays are just for half an hour, DO IT! It will help you in the long term. Don’t revise one subject/unit for a whole day, space it out. For example don’t revise like this: AABBCC, revise like this instead: ABCBCA or something along those lines.

4. Mind maps

My favourite revision source!!! For some reason in an exam ( i only use mind maps for essay based subjects) i can remember where i put each point on my mind map which helps me write my essays and retrieve my information more in the long term! Don’t make it boring by trying to be ‘minimal’ - ADD COLOUR !!! But to stay within limits, too many colours can make it look overwhelming and confusing !

5. Teaching someone else

Either teach your younger siblings or pretend you are teaching to an imaginary class - while it may seem crazy it works, trust me. Use a whiteboard to help you illustrate your ideas! This method will help you identify any gaps in your knowledge and you’ll truly see if you know something well enough to explain it. If you cannot explain it to a six year old then you truly have not got the grasp of it, as Albert Einstein says!

6. past papers

Honestly, this should be the last thing for your revision, unless you have not left enough time to revise all the content and you are running out of time then past papers should be the first thing you do. Do these properly, don’t do it just to see what gaps you have in your knowledge- genuinely do it as if it is a real exam. This will help you see how well you can apply the content you have memorised for an exam. It will also get you familiar with the mark scheme which will help you get as close as full marks !!!

[themostbeautifulanimals]

[mllebabushkat]

reblog for 10 years of peaceful sleep every night

[ourstrangeduet]

me at 14: I cant wait till im in college I have so many plans for life and nothing can stop me :)

Me now: Mm. Me hungey. Me eat macdonal. French frie. Frenchffrie. French frie.

[everybidenjusthavegoodtime]

did u know: according to scientists, in October the mitochondria turns into the frightochondria and becomes the haunted house of the cell

[randomish-things]

This should not have made me laugh

[jewishdragon]

As a scientist I can confirm

[byelingual]

lil diary post - Oct 30th 2018

Wow.....time really flies. I think the last time I wrote something for myself on here was like 2 years ago?? Just read that post again and got lowkey emotional,,, I’ve come so far! I tend to forget my accomplishments because there's so much stuff going on at once all the time but damn...two years ago I would’ve never thought I could handle the workload I have right now, let alone that I’ll be applying to university soon?? It’s currently the fall break, I got a lot of shit to do but at least the end of the term is in sight.

My dreams and aspirations have changed over these two years but I’m still intent on getting the grades that I want and succeeding academically, it’s what I’m good at and what I know in my heart and soul that I want to do. Not gonna lie, this whole uni application thing is a bit overwelming BUT my goals are relatively realistic and tbh, none of these dreams are impossible, all it takes is some effort and planning!! and direct action, like uuhh idk, getting out of bed right now and getting to work lol

Hopefully, I’ll read this in a year and be proud of myself for getting where I wanted to be. Future Sei; the air outside is bit chilly, you’re warm in your bed, staring up at the ceiling. You’re lowkey exhausted after freshers week but you’re reveling in the fact that you got there, and that you’re pursuing the dreams you’ve had since you were like 12. You look back at the IB with pride and fondness, and realize that all that stress and anxiety was worth it in the end (or should I say the beginning). You can finally say that you’ve done something exceptional. You can call yourself exceptional. Keep being yourself, taking care of yourself and caring for others. You’re hopefully making new and cool life-long friends, eating less bread but aso getting that bread, always doin a quick shaku to celebrate yourself and your greatness and infinite potential.

Here’s to surviving IB this far, and going into the future with a clear objective, knowing that all your friends and family have your back and are rooting for you :)

[behindonstudying]

6 Things People Don't Always Tell You About Studying

1. you ace tests by overlearning. you should know your notes/flashcards/definitions basically by heart. if someone asks you about a topic when you’re away from class or your notes and you can answer them in a thorough and and accurate answer, then you’re good, you know the material. 

2. if you don’t understand something, it will end up on the test. so just don’t disregard and hope that this specific topic won’t be on the test. give it more attention, help, and practice. find a packet of problems on that one concept and don’t stop until you finish it and know it the best. 

3. sometimes you just need that Parental Push. you know in elementary school, they would tell you “ok now it’s time for you to do your homework! you have a project coming up, start looking for a topic now!” ONE of your teachers might be like this. be thankful for it and follow their advice! these teachers are the best at always keeping you on track with their calendar. if not a teacher, then have one of your friends be that person that can keep you accountable for the things you promised you would do. 

4. you just need to kick your own ass. seriously. i know it sucks and its hard to study for two things at once. BUT. I DONT CARE IF IT’S HARD. you need to do it and at least do it to get it over with because you can’t keep putting things off. If you do, you will eventually run out of time and you will hate yourself. force yourself to do it. i made myself sign up for june ACT even though there’s finals because if i didn’t, i probably never would. like do i think i’m gonna be ready in one month? probably not, SO I BETTER GET ON IT AND START STUDYING! 

5. do homework even if it doesn’t count. if you actually try on it, then you will actually do so much better on the tests, it’s like magic. 

6. literally just get so angry about procrastinating that you make yourself start that assignment. I know how hard it is to kick the procrastination habit. I have to procrastinate. So I make myself start by thinking about my deadlines way early. I think, “oh i have a presentation in three weeks (but it really takes 2 weeks to do), i’ll be good and start today.” when that doesn’t happen, you say you’ll do it tomorrow, and this happens for like the next four days. I get so mad at myself for not starting when i am given a new chance to do so with every passing day. By that time, you actually have exactly how much time you need for it AND you were able to procrastinate the same way you usually do ;)

[motivation-and-fitness]

[heart-of-a-wildflower-deactivat]

wow this just changed my thoughts on a whole lotta things

[fotogrimsi-deactivated20180915]