This semester has flown by so quickly for me-it seems like only a few weeks ago that I was starting my last fall semester here. Now it’s time for finals and I’m sure everyone is starting to feel stressed out. Term papers, finals, third midterms..whatever…it’s all starting to pile up and there isn’t enough time to do everything!

Over the last few years, I’ve picked up some organizational/studying tips that have helped me, and hopefully help you. First, studying for one subject straight is boring so switch it up! Review a few lectures from one class, take a break, and then do another subject. I get bored easily, so this keeps me more focused. This can also help when you have two finals back to back and you find yourself cramming for the second because it took longer than expected to study for the first.

Go to review sessions! Even if you think your time would be better spent studying by yourself than going to Q&A sessions, other students may bring up points that you never would have thought of. I’ve often found that a student would ask a question that is almost identical to one that turns up on the final. And seriously, how much of that time studying by yourself do you really study? Review sessions get you into studying mode.

I hope these tips will help you as much as they help me. If you have any great tips feel free to share them with us during our office hours! Or email them to us at pal@berkeley.edu! Good luck with your finals and have a great winter break!!!!

Posted by Julie Ching at 10:35 PM | Permalink

The opportunities made available to me at UC Berkeley are beyond my wildest dreams (although, to be honest, I never dreamt about them ^_^). This May, I got injured and had to stop competing in the martial arts until I healed. Shortly thereafter, I got in a bit of a car accident while on a new scooter (read: don’t get one). While training 24 hours a week, in order to stay on top of my competition in the ring and class, I had to say no to all of those exciting academic and extra-curricular opportunities that pop up. So, once I had healed, I realized I could say YES, YES, YES!

Somehow, this has resulted in me taking 19 units this semester, auditing two additional classes, taking on three jobs, and being involved in numerous other programs. Beyond that, I’m taking the GRE next weekend, applying to four very special graduate programs and interviewing for two full-time jobs that would start next year. Surprisingly, I’ve been able to fulfill my commitments thus far in the semester. Unfortunately, as the semester’s end nears, the cumulative requirements of my involvement seems to be peaking, ACK!

Here is where my blog title, honor, gets involved. Wikipedia has a nice long article on honor. I was taught, however, a more simple definition: the ability to recognize and fulfill my obligations – both to others and oneself. Additionally, my capability to do this is most important when times are at their toughest – it means the most to come through for people when my life is at its hardest. To everyone stressing out – remember this. If we can follow through at our best now, during the semester’s peak, we will surely be ready to handle life under lower levels of stress. This is our time to shine!

PS. I *strongly* recommend people to not over commit themselves like I have. Even if we can follow-through, we face burning out. I’ve seen friends burnout, and I can say that it just isn’t worth the risk (just like the Scooter!). Now that I’ve learned my lesson, I’ll need to chop down my 21 units of Tele-BEARs down to <15 units after finals are over.

Posted by Tay Feder at 11:34 PM | Permalink

I love this time of year. I love when Peets begins to serve their holiday favorites (the peppermint mocha is beyond amazing!) and I love the holiday music becoming more common on the radio. More than all this, I love that this time of year means the end of the fall semester. The one thing I love more than the end of a semester is Thanksgiving. This holiday has always been insanely busy for my family. We travel almost every year to visit with a large group of family. Spending hours in the kitchen leads to hours around the table, which then leads to hours of lying around letting it all "settle" as my grandma would put it. Our family traditions are nothing sort of...well...traditional. And I wouldn't have it any other way :)

The meal consists of all the proper fixins: a fresh turkey, artichok heart stuffing, mashed potatoes, carmelized pecan sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce (fresh from the can! I'm positive the little grooves left from the can make it taste better!), and of course the chocolate pecan pie. Every once in a while my mother will get a little too adventurous and stray from our traditional menu, which has led to several disasters including but not limited to a Tofurky (spongy and basically inedible), cranberry sauce from scratch (my dad and I have a bizarrely strong loyalty towards the kind in the can...it was a disaster because there were no grooves, there were whole cranberries. gross.), and pumpkin cheesecake (sounds good i know, but don't be fooled by the sweet name....its full of surprises....gross ones...). Before we eat, we always go around the table and say what we are thankful for. After giving thanks in prayer, we dig in! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Posted by Jena Riggert at 1:26 PM | Permalink

Since its almost thanksgiving, I thought I would make this blog about what I am thankful for in CNR. After three years in CNR, I have found that it definitely is a "home away from home." However, when applying, I initially did not know I was applying to CNR, so this has been an awesome "mistake" (to say the least). On the application, I checked the box for the first biology major I saw not realizing that genetics and plant biology was in the college of natural resources. I have to say that yes, at first I was a little upset about getting into CNR (everyone told me it was the "hippie college"). My mindset changed when I sat in my first CNR class at Berkeley and had my first appointment with my major counselors. I realized how much CNR has to offer, both small college atmosphere within a large university of resources.
It began to grow on me of how much I loved be a part of one of the smallest colleges at UC Berkeley. When I needed help, I would just walk into the advisors office and ask for some help (without even having to make an appointment). The personal attention here at CNR is definitely what has helped me plan my program with plenty of time for my extracurricular activities.

Now what other college offers free printing and a couch area to sleep or study? What other college offers an endless amount of programs? CNR is definitely one of a kind in all the resources it has to offer. Only small colleges would be able to offer such an amount of resources to all its students.
With that being said, I recommend you to come and use the CNR resource center at least once in the next couple of weeks and see what you think about the great atmosphere. Come to at least one program next semester and read your CNR newsletter emails to keep up with all the programs going on! :)

Well have a good thanksgiving and make sure you use the resource center when you come back from break!

Posted by Samantha Bell at 11:18 AM | Permalink

I hope everyone is having a good semester so far! I miss all the PALs! Well, I just stopped by to say hi and let you know what I've been up to. By the way, it's JELYN!!
So, I'm just finishing up my first quarter of pharmacy school at UCSF. It has been a really great experience so far. Everyone is very helpful and does everything they can to help the students succeed. During this first quarter we, of course, take classes, but we are also introduced to all the different organizations the school has affiliated with it. Most of these organizations outreach to the community and provide great experiences that will only help nurture my career as a pharmacist. Most of the classes are really interesting and very applicable to what we will be doing in our careers. I'll update everyone again in a little while. Graduate school definitely keeps you BUSY!! Enjoy undergrad. Talk to you all soon!!
-- Jelyn

Posted by PAL alumni at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CNR has so much to offer, all of which I have found to enrich my college experience at Cal. As a small college, the faculty and staff pride itself on its ability to offer students the attention and resources that students need.

First of all, check out Liz’s blog about the CNR community, which describes everything that you need to know about being part of CNR. We get so many benefits! And I absolutely love the couches in the Student Resource Center; they are so comfortable! The resource center is what it says it is – you can start your search to everything you need to know about current events, programs, internship, research, and job opportunities all in one place. Plus, the PALs are located here!

I also feel that the Student Affairs Officers (major advisors) and faculty are so accessible and approachable. If you ever want to talk to the major advisors, just drop in and talk to them (well, except for Telebears time when it can get really hectic, but even then, they always have a welcoming smile). They really help you figure out how to plan out your future to fit your dreams and goals. And the faculty are often so willing to help you, whether it is obtaining a research position or to discuss the experiences they’ve had that may help you figure out what you want to do in the future.

CNR tries its best to fit the needs of the students, and that’s what we try doing. If you have any suggestions or comments of what the colleges should improve on, please drop us an e-mail at pal@berkeley.edu.

P.S. And those e-mails that CNR sends: open them once in a while. You’d be surprised to find what great things are happening in and around CNR.

Posted by Irene Liao at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the things that I love most about the College of Natural Resources is its dynamic community of faculty, staff, and students. As a transfer from the College of Letters and Science, this is something that I was never able to find in such a large college. Now almost two years later, I find myself as part of the community as a peer advisor and as a student. However, this didn’t happen over night. I didn’t even know about CNR until late my freshman year and it took a little time after I transferred spring semester of my sophomore year to really feel like I was part of the community. You might be wondering: how can I be more involved in this community? I’ll give you a few pointers that really helped me become more involved in the CNR community.

The first thing I did as a new student in CNR was join ESSA, the Environmental Science Student Association. Joining a student group allows you to get to know students in your major, as well as students who share similar interests. This provides a great knowledge base for learning about what classes to take, what resources are in the area that may cater to your interests, and good advice for having a successful experience at Cal. CNR has several student groups, including the Forestry club, the Mycophytes for MEB majors, SDA for Dietetics majors, CRSSO for Conservation Resource Studies majors, and the Global Environment Theme House. These are all great groups with social, networking, and informational events where you can make new friends and learn about opportunities for your major.

I also started going to some of the CNR events that happen weekly in the Resource Center and around campus. CNR holds advising workshops, graduate school panels, study abroad info nights, and environmental talks, as well as fun movie nights and socials. These are a great way to network with faculty and meet staff members. Next time CNR holds a movie night or information session on something you want to learn more about, stop by to enjoy good food and meet new people.

Finally, the place where the community comes together is the Resource Center. If the comfy couches and free printing wasn’t enough, the Resource Center is also a great place to regularly see the people you meet at club meetings and CNR events. I also use it to get some studying done, use a computer, and learn about job opportunities. If you don’t always have time to go to events or go to club meetings, at least stop by the Resource Center to keep connected to the people you meet and be informed about upcoming events.

These are all ways that I have become part of CNR’s community and I hope they prove to be helpful pointers for those of you that are looking to get more involved.

Posted by Liz Dow at 11:34 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

While I was driving, I was thinking back upon the choices I have made last semester directed the road my life has taken – academically, socially, and in personal matters. With respect to academe, the path of my research interests were decided over my first year as a junior transfer at Cal. I came to Cal to study peak oil, but I had many other interests that could be researched within the discipline of neo-classical economics at ARE (Agricultural and Resource Economics, the department of Environmental Economics and Policy undergrads). Surprisingly, I reminisced during my drive, the largest factor were the classes I decided to enroll in. As Phase II Tele-BEARS appointments are approaching near Thanksgiving, choose carefully!

Specifically, my first semester included two core classes (EEP100 – Micro Theory with Ethan Ligon, STAT20), INFO296 (A joint-seminar with the iSchool and Boalt on open source), and I was stuck deciding between either ER100 (Energy & Society with Dan Kammen) or ESPM163AC (Environmental Justice with Dara O’Rourke). I choose ER100, risk-adverse of the idea that Dan would not be teaching the course in the following year. Go figure it was Dara that decided to take leave for his InfoLab project this year.

Unbeknownst to me, Dara O’Rourke was working on the ‘Consumer Information Lab’ with students and faculty from ESPM, ERG, and the iSchool. The goal of the InfoLab is to improve the quality of information provided to consumers when they are shopping and are unaware of the social, environmental, and health impacts of the products. In my mind, if I could pick the less GHG-intensive product – I would. Rather, I may pick the one that has releases less local area pollutants, but more greenhouse gasses. This level of detail may not be pragmatic, but I see a strong disconnect between the choices we make with our wallets and their cumulative impact to the world and our human population.

Today, I’m studying energy topics and estimating the value of net metering for residential PV users for my Honors Senior Thesis. However, I’ve been very interested in how labeling affects consumption and production functions. I’m curious what methodologies of full-cost accounting are used by the InfoLab for estimating their reporting of social and environmental externalities present in consumer goods by way of a grassroots information delivery system. In choosing between ER100 and ESPM163AC, I was also implicitly choosing the path for my future research. Ex ante, this notion was entirely absent from my mind as I had planned on taking the other course a year later. I must adbit, is not entirely true, as I could still switch over if I really wanted. However, I’ve already invested a large amount of ‘academic’ capital in my current research project. Who knows, maybe I’ll analyze at consumer behavior in graduate school or in a future job 

Posted by Tay Feder at 9:36 PM | Permalink