Got one under my belt

My first exam was Friday, Macroeconomic Principles, and it actually went alright. I told all of my friends after the exam that if anyone brought up Macro after the exam I would punch them in the face, so I am not going to talk about it. Just glad that it’s over! Goodbye Macro.

Next exam is on Monday, Social Science Research Methods for Management, so lets give it a goooooooo.

Officially 3 weeks until my venture back to the homeland as of yesterday, so now it’s 2 weeks and 6 days which is even more weird. As each day goes by, my heart jumps with the prospect of coming home to everything that is America, but sinks a little with the thought of leaving my life in London. I don’t quite know how to feel about it. When I figure out the words, I’ll let you know.

On the bright side, literally, the weather is AMAZING and it makes me so happy.

It’s Crunch Time

Well, folks, we’ve cracked the barrier of one month to go. 30 days until my return to North Carolina, and I’ll tell you what, it sure is weird to think about. I know of several people who started studying abroad for spring semester who are either already back home or soon on their way. I’m pretty sure, with one exception, that I was the first one gone and will be the last one to leave. Bittersweet? I do not think there is a better word to describe it.

2 weeks and 2 days until exam hell is over. For the next 8 days I will be concluding revision for all courses. My exam schedule is really annoying because I have so little time in between each to study.

May 17-24 will be cram time. I’m going to try to be as far from communication as possible. As I wrote in an earlier post, my exams are on the 25, 28, 30 and 1. The two days that fall between the Macro exam and Research Methods will be devoted to Micro and Research Methods cramming. Once Research Methods is done, I have one day for Social Policy outlining for essays. The next day will be final cramming for Micro and the first day of June will be the Micro exam.

June 1 will be the end and the start of a simultaneously happy and depressing two weeks until home. I don’t plan packing honestly until the day or two before I fly home because I see it as a waste of time. Maybe I will pack a little but every night before I go to bed.

2 weeks Kerry, that is all you need to do. Push harder for two weeks and then you can relax.

“For God shows no partiality.” -Romans 2:11

“I promise this is my last politically charged status for a while… I am saddened by those who say they “stood up for God today.” There will be no fewer gay people tomorrow than there were today. You did nothing to combat sin in our society. Instead, you stood up for discrimination. In a country founded on religious freedom for ALL, you forced your own beliefs into law, much the same as in a theocracy. For only the 2nd time in NC history, you amended our constitution to remove freedoms instead of grant them (the other being the 1875 interracial marriage ban). Amendment One more resembles the laws of Jim Crow than the spirit of the Gospel. As a devout Christian myself, I feel sick that my religion was used in such a destructive way, and I am truly saddened that you feel so proud of yourselves in the end.” – Laura Lineberger

The man to thank: Senator Peter S. Brunstetter (Rep) of Forsyth County, the primary sponsor for Senate Bill 514 in the “Defense of Marriage.”

Human rights: fundamental rights, especially those believed to belong to an individual and in whose exercise a government may not interfere, as the rights to speak, associate, work, etc.

Apparently Senator Brunstetter does not understand this meaning. But then again, it appears that over 60% of North Carolina voters (at least from the 2 million out of 6 million NC voters that cast a vote) agree with him.

It is no coincidence that the map of counties in North Carolina that voted against Amendment One has a direct correlation to the location of the best universities in the state.

When comparing the percentage of individuals that have earned a bachelor’s degree to their area of residence, there is also a strong correlation.

Is this showing a problem with public education in North Carolina or just the sheer ignorance of 61% of the voters in our state. Of course, a great deal of those that voted for Amendment One did so for religious reasons that should not be discounted. Some of the religious reasons which have been manipulated and dictated by what some might call “crazy preachers.” I am in no way trying to tear down the ideals of religion; I am religious myself, but there is a reason that there is an intended separation between the Church and the State.

Just because you have a religious belief does NOT give you the political right to impose your beliefs on others.

For those of you that voted in favor of Amendment One, you have voted to strip rights from not only homosexual couples by banning gay marriage, but you have also taken away rights from heterosexual couples by invalidating domestic partnerships and civil unions. Amendment One affects children, unmarried couples, and the elderly as well.

It is misinformation that will be the downfall of our society. Bigotry and hatred will be the downfall of our society. Continued discrimination will be the downfall of us all.

There will always be differing opinions about every issue known to man. There will always be two sides to every option and always the few undecided who choose not to get involved. When it comes to Constitutional Amendments, there is a bigger issue at hand. The issue of the rights of your fellow citizens of the state lies in our own hands. When this situation arises, it is our responsibility to put aside our personal and religious beliefs for the betterment of humanity.

It is our human duty and responsibility to others that should hold power when it comes to dictating human rights.

It is our time to show the State what we are made of. For those of us that are Against Amendment One, we have an opportunity to educate those in our state that did not even know what the amendment was even about. We can talk to the people who are in favor of the amendment and encourage them to see that it is unconstitutional. We can fight the system.

North Carolina: a state that allows first cousin marriage but bans gay marriage.

This WILL change.

Repeal Amendment One.

I’ll see you on June 15, North Carolina, and you better believe I’m up for a fight.

–Kerry

Vote AGAINST Amendment One

voteagainst

With many of you in my home of North Carolina still asleep, I hope that when you wake up to go to the polls that you are aware of the implications of Amendment One.

For starters, I understand the religious debate. There was even some debate going on after I posted a facebook status about voting against. What people need to understand is that gay marriage is already illegal in North Carolina, so a vote in favor of Amendment One is not affirming that you don’t approve of gay marriage. Adversely, a vote against Amendment One does not legalize gay marriage.

The amendment reads:
Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized by this State.

There are four key words here.

ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION

This is where the difference lies between those who are against amendment one and those who do not understand what amendment one really means.

This means that all other relationships, including civil unions and domestic partnerships, will not be recognized legally. This has many effects on people, including children, whether they be gay or straight.

If you are looking at amendment one from strictly a religious standpoint, I understand how you could be thinking differently about this issue. I respect your beliefs. You have every right to believe what you would like, but just because you believe something differently in respect to religion does not mean that you have the legal right to impose your beliefs on other people. Amendment One will TAKE AWAY rights from families in North Carolina.

If you’re apathetic, vote against; the North Carolina constitution will not change.

If you don’t understand what amendment one will do, vote against.vote against.

Amendment one is unconstitutional.

You can find more information at the Vote Against facebook page.

Protect ALL NC families.

It is May 8 and it is now time to use your voice.

Vote AGAINST Amendment One.

You can find me on the 2nd floor.

of the British Library of Political and Economic Science (aka LSE Library) every day until June 2. I’m not one for loving the library, and I never have been, but for some reason I have to get work done in the library now. Since the start of Summer Term in Monday, I have been in the library more than I have ever been in a library before. Monday 13:00-24:00, Tuesday 14:00-22:00, Wednesday 17:00-20:00, Thursday 12:00-19:00 and 22:00-0:00, Friday 0:01-15:00, Saturday 17:00-19:00, and I’m heading back there now. I’m thinking about hiding a bean bag somewhere in case I want to take a nap and everyone is in the lib. We’ll see how that works out. LSE kids love the library. It’s great that it’s open 24/7 now because it doesn’t put a cap on when I can study! I have a lot of preparation to do before exams begin, so I’ve got to step it up more.

My exam schedule is as follows:

EC210 Macroeconomic Principles 25-MAY-12 10:00
MN203 Social Science Research Methods for Management 28-MAY-12 10:00
SA221 Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Change 30-MAY-12 14:30
MN201 Economics for Management 01-JUN-12 14:30

Technically I’m already 25% done with my Social Policy grade because the essay I stayed in the library all night to finalise is worth 1/4 of my final. Really only a week left of extra lectures and revision classes.

As the time dwindles down SO QUICKLY, I don’t want to look back at the year just yet. I know that come June 1 I will turn into an emotional wreck for the 2 weeks left in London before I come home. So I’ll quit being sappy and head off to the lib.

See you on the 2nd floor!

Back to the Grind

I don’t really know how to explain it, but I do not like being alone and it feels as though I have been by myself for quite a bit of this past year. This has given me the opportunity to really step back and look at my life in general; likes and dislikes, wants and needs, opportunities and mistakes.

I don’t know what I want out of anything really. I posted a couple of weeks ago about organising things regarding school and post graduate work/school and such and I have a plan. Be prepared for my life to turn hermit style.

6 weeks until exams… Other than the Harry Potter Studio Tour on the 19th, The Dangerous Summer show on the 26th, Hillsong Colour Conference on the 26-29 and Tough Mudder on the 12th of May, I plan on doing nothing but studying with all of my time. And training, of course, for the impending doom of TM.

Immediately following exams (June 1 at 13:00) I plan on spending as much time as possible with the friends I won’t be able to see for a while, you know who you are. LSERC does Paintball? We’ll see how I survive that one. Throw in Thorpe Park and I’ll be a happy camper. That is, until the day I leave when I’ll be crying like a baby. I love you guyyysssssss.

9 weeks exactly until flying back to the home land of good ‘ol North Cackalacky. I expect a BBQ Tray with fries, chicken nuggets with honey mustard and a Cheerwine float from Cookout upon my return from the person that picks me up from RDU. Please and thank you.

The following 12 days will consist of ridiculous amounts of fast food (Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Bojangles, Cookout, Panera, Moes, Chic-fil-A, etc etc) and lots of kitten snuggling with Kate. Perhaps some tennis matches and a couple of rounds of golf during the day after baking cookies and cakes and brownies and anything else I can create from the lovely kitchen on Knollwood House.

July 1 marks the voyage to Miami for my summer internship while living with Papa Joe in his new crib. Work work work, row row row, sleep sleep sleep. Flip work and row depending on schedules and then repeat.

During this time, GMAT practice class must be in effect. 180 hours I believe? I’m not too sure about that, but it’s definitely going to be 2 days of class per week up until the start of fall semester. Hooray Grad School! That’s not sarcastic, I am genuinely excited.

Latest August or middle of August, move into the new place of residence that will hopefully be awesome, though I’m just glad I have a kitchen. Last semester of college to take place until mid December made up of Business Finance, Business Communications, Sports Econ, Health Econ, and Ethics of Business.

Post grad applications for the first round are due between October 6 and 12, which means GMAT has to be taken mid September and essays need to be done between then, which is where I’ll be devoting the majority of my time.

Providing I get accepted into the next round of any of the schools I apply for, interviews will most likely happen in this time frame as well.

Graduate.

NYC FOR MAGGIE’S 21st! Or maybe just CT, but definitely a trip to NYC.

As for now, I am sitting in a hostel in Amsterdam pondering what I actually want to do. My guy instinct is telling me to spend a bunch of money on canal cruises and food, but all i really want to do is drink coffee and study a bit. I tend to absorb material better in foreign places so I am going to try to find some coffee shop to sit in and study for a while.

Bring it on 2012, I’m gonna kick your butt.