Do You Hear What I Hear?

Silence. I’m not talking about that old time favorite Christmas song; I’m talking about absolute silence. That’s right, it’s dead out there on campus.  In fact, its dead week at UCLA: the week heading into Final exams.  The UCLA vs. USC football game is this weekend and there isn’t that familiar buzz that I am so used to the time of year. As a recent alum, and especially when I was a student at UCLA, I always look forward to that oh so famous Blue and Gold week when everyone on campus comes together in preparation for the biggest game of the season, the rivalry game.

However this year is different.  No sound of smashing windows form the famous Blue and Gold car smash.   No solid gold sound of the UCLA Marching Band from the Blue and Gold Parade.  No screaming and cheering from the Blue and Gold Rally.  No sweet crackling wood sound from the burning blaze of the Blue and Gold bonfire.  Instead it’s the sound of turning pages, pens furiously writing, clacking of laptop keyboards, and countless stressful student sighs.

The Beat SC chant will have to wait until December 6^th when it finally dawns on the field of the majestic Rose Bowl.  What that day will eventually look like is a mystery. Historically, dead week usually falls the week after the big game, meaning we would have a week solely dedicated to paining our faces blue and gold to cheer our hearts out, THEN buckle down for finals and wrapping up the quarter.  This year is the exception.  Now students are at a crossroad as to whether they spend their week and Saturday cheering for the Bruins, or catching up on a quarters-worth of studying.  In either sense, it’ll take a True Bruin to make the right choice.

For a die-hard Bruin fan like myself, it is kind of upsetting to see the campus like this and I definitely sympathize with all of the students.  One thing I can understand is agonizing over finals, especially going through over 15 quarter sets of them myself.  It is not an easy thing and I know what it takes to invest in making sure you end the quarter right.  However, one thing I’ll never understand is what the students might be going through as they reach this dilemma.  In many cases its choosing one or the other, you cannot have both. It’s hard to study in a noisy and distracting environment with everyone glued to the TV. You can’t have a good time when you’re the only one cheering while everyone else is studying.  In the end the right thing to do, and what any True Bruin student would do, is finding a balance.  Just like student life is during the rest of the quarter, you need to find times when you will work and play. Both are equally important to have both.  In this case, I have the confidence that the UCLA student body will find that balance.  Many will sacrifice the normal weekly festivities in order to prepare enough so that come Saturday, they will cheer and celebrate without reservation. I just hope that the Rose Bowl will be more Blue than Red.

After a very up and down season, I still believe in my team.  With a new coach at the helm, we have new things in store in the near future.  So stay tuned for more from the Bruins on the football field. Meanwhile just about every other venue is boasting Bruin talent. Our men’s basketball team is back to being one of the best in the country, women’s soccer playing in the NCAA Final four this weekend, and women’s basketball, under new coach Nikki Caldwell, are off to their best start in years. Of course we can’t forget the coveted Lexus Gauntlet versus USC trophy currently across town. Be assured that the Bruins are going to battle it out this year to bring it back home.  So Bruin fans, all you do is have to believe.  I know I do.  Here’s to another terrific year in Bruin athletics and wish everyone the best. 

Of course that goes for you too!  You just have to believe. Congrats on finishing up all of those college applications.  It is my hope that you find yourself happy with them once all of the dust clears.  Just know that you aren’t out of the woods yet.  The thing to do now while you’re waiting to hear back from colleges is finding ways to assist yourself on financing your education.  Don’t wait to hear back from those universities first.  Oftentimes financial aid is universal regardless of what school you ultimately chose to attend, and waiting could have you miss many important deadlines. There are many means of getting information on Financial Aid and scholarships, public or private.  Here are a few website to help you begin your search.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov/
• UCLA Financial Aid Office and UC Financial Aid Calculator: www.fao.ucla.edu
• Private Scholarships: www.scholarshipcenter.ucla.edu
• Private Scholarships (cont): www.brokescholar.com, www.scholarshipexpert.com

All the answers are out there, you just have look for them. Good luck to the team, Bruin fans, and all prospective Bruins!

Go Bruins!!  Beat the Trojans!!

-Christian

Comments

[Norm]

Well, it was a good game anyway :)

[eric]

It was great to read this entry, Christian, and see your dedication to UCLA! However, it sucks how we lost to USC the past weekend :(

[Guitar]

I hear that you hear.

[The Peoples Program]

Unfortunately...as it gets closer to the holiday break, the more quiet it gets. People leaving to go home to visit their families. It must be kind of rough for those who remain on campus during this time.

[laptop battery]

Good post.
Merry Christmas!

[We Talk Coding]

Thanks for nice information :)

[Russell]

lol.. Glad to hear you had fun anyway.. :D

keep your chin up

[forex trading system]

great article, thanks.

[Linda]

Great Article.

[FOREX TRADING REVIEWS!!]

This is good information!!!!!!

Very nice site!

Good post. Thx