1AM thoughts

I can't sleep.  I have work in the morning, and I hate that I have to be up in 5 hours to get ready for work.  Lately, it's been difficult to sleep.  I can't remember the last time I've slept through the night without waking up at 2 am.  Is this one of the many symptoms of getting old?  Can you believe I'm about to hit 40?  Holy shit...

I've been thinking a lot lately... and sometimes it takes a hold of me where it gets me down... wow I've had the longest pause after typing that.  For the first time I don't know what to write... or where to begin.

I am changing.

My thoughts, feelings, and goals seem to be shifting in a way that might affect people in my life.  There's some inner conflict that I'm dealing with that I am still trying to figure out.  I better figure it out soon... 

After going through a failed IVF, I just haven't been myself.  A small part of me feels empty... Why is this so hard to express?  

I'll leave it at that.

Holy Guacamole...

Has it really been over a decade since my last post?!  Where have I been?!

To be honest... I've been living my life.  Right now I'm trying to type this blog as fast as I can but I got my nails done last week and they're pretty long, which is interfering with the way I type.  I don't know how people can type with long nails.

If I were to type fastg like i nowmally do, I'd have so many typos like this... wtfs happening rightg now.  I usually type speedy and almst pe3rfcet.  Does thisw look perfdct to you?! ugh

Alright, time to slow it down and type legibly, lol.  Back to what I was saying, "Where have I been?" Well, if I stop and think about the past 11 years... I think I resorted to social media like Facebook or Instagram.  I also write in a physical journal which I started in 2017.  I call it the "Joyful Journey" where I write what makes me happy and what I'm grateful for.  I love it, but kinda wish I kept it consistent on here as well.

The reason why I've decided to blog on here now is because I totally forgot about this! I literally just stumbled upon this blog when I was updating my YouTube profile.  I just saw "blogspot" and clicked on it out of curiosity and it brought me here.  I honestly enjoyed reading my past blogs.  It made me happy to see my past self happily typing away.  It brought back so many good (and not so good) memories, but I enjoyed reading it regardless.

Just to update you (and whoever still reads my blogs): *takes a big breath* I'm married to Brian (4 years married/20 years together), I'm currently 38 years old but only for 10 more days, no kids yet due to infertility issues (but not giving up hope!), I teach at Challenger School and I teach 1st grade, I love my job, Brian and I moved into the master bedroom, I stopped doing makeup on others but still love playing with makeup on myself, Rine and her fam lives with us, my mom still lives on Heath, Klay Thompson left the Warriors (still sad about it), *takes another big breath* John is expecting a baby girl named Delainey Aiya in March with his gf Jennie, Sheryll also has a 2 year old daughter named Olivia, Brian and I are currently obsessed with the show called The Bear on Hulu, I also love watching YouTube videos of people building shelters in the wilderness or of people trimming the plants in their yards, maybe because Brian and I are constantly upkeeping our pretty backyard.

Overall, I'm happy.  My life is currently peaceful.  I love coming home and going to work.  I'm focused on the ones that matter to me.  I can't be grateful enough.  Until next time...

Religion

After experiencing different religions I've come to a realization that there is no right or wrong religion... Ive learned that all religions aim to offer something positive in people's lives.  Religions that are anywhere between conservative or liberal are all equal; theyre just different (like apples and oranges).  They're all searching for the same thing: peace, love, and happiness.  A religion that brings joy and comfort to anybody is something worth appreciating.  God even said to "love thy neighbor" and what that means to me is that different religions are like different neighbors.  Therefore we all must learn to love and accept one another despite our religious differences.  Redefine religion--religion shouldn't have to be a popularity contest or a bunch of cliques on the playground.  We might as well learn to live together.

I was brought up to be afraid of the Catholic church.  But after participating in a Catholic prayer for Brians dad for 9 days in a row, I realized how it was not scary.  Regardless if it was repetative, it was still a prayer that was bringing comfort to those with heartache and pain.  It blew my mind...all these years I was hating on something I didnt understand until now.  When I went to Sheryll's Christian church, I realized how much it was helping Brian and his family go through these difficult times. I guess you can say I've come to appreciate different religions because of their healing abilities.

I love seeing those awesome car stickers that say "coexist" because that's exactly what I currently believe in.

2 Weeks has passed...

It's been tough for Brian and his family. I cannot imagine or put into words the emotions they are feeling right now.  I've never lost anyone so close to me.  Brian's dad was the closest person I knew to pass away, and it really hurt.  What hurts me most is seeing Brian and his family in pain.  They were so close to their dad. The day after Uncle Ben passed away, Brians family held a 9 day Catholic Rosary prayer.  Family, friends, and people that knew Brian's dad came by... it was nice to have supportive people around the house and to hear the stories they had of Brian's dad.  It was a healing experience.  I fell in love with two songs that they were playing, "Fly Like A Bird" and "In His Time."

The Sunday after Brians dad passed away we went to Sheryll's Christian church called Cathedral of Faith located off Curtner in San Jose.  It was the first time I went to church with Brian and his immediate family (his mom, sister, and older brother)... Not only that but it was also the first time I went to church in YEARS.  It was a beautiful experience and it felt really nice to see Brian and his family uplifted.  The lesson was about prayer.  Sometimes you dont know what to say in a prayer and that sometimes all you can do is just cry, grunt, sigh, etc. But even during those times when you dont know what to say to Him, God will mold those prayers into something great.  I loved the lesson because it was something we all needed to hear.

This weekend will be Uncle Ben's viewing and burial.  Friday, Jan. 31st at 9am, we will begin Uncle Ben's viewing.  It will be the first time Brian will see his dad since he passed.  Its gonna be so hard... but I want to be strong for Brian. Saturday, Feb 1st will be the mass and vigil/eulogies.  There will be a video montage and performances as well.  Then finally Sunday, Feb 2nd at 10:30am will be the Burial.

A Decade with Brian

Happy 10 Year Anniversary, Brian!!!!!!  Simply put: He's still everything I want in a guy. He still makes me want to better myself. He still inspires me. People have asked if I ever got bored because of being together for so long but I feel that every year has just gotten better and better. We still flirt, we still play, we still argue, we still make up, we still learn, we still appreciate each other... I really believe that Time does stand still when you're having so much fun in a relationship... I couldn't believe it myself that it has already been a #decade! My only relationship advice that I'd like to share to those in a relationship is to find a way to laugh in the midst of a serious argument. It works :) I love you, Brian! #happyanniversary #10years

RIP Benjamin Salamanca Nicolas

February 3, 1948-January 15, 2014

This Wednesday I lost my second dad, Uncle Ben. These past two days have been truly difficult because I'm still in disbelief.  Sometimes I think we're just waiting for him to just walk thru the door from work or I'd catch myself saying "Wait for Uncle Ben!" But then I'm reminded again that he's gone. Uncle Ben has cared for me like his own and was there for me through my problems and successes.  He has taught me the true meaning of unconditional love just by seeing what he does for others.  I'll continue to carry with me all the fatherly advices he had given to me, Brian, and Sheryll.  I miss him so much :( but I know he would want us all to be happy--not sad.  I know he'd want us to just remember all the good times we've shared, to continue to be strong, and to build more memories with those we still have in our lives.  Brian is just like him and I'm blessed to have a boyfriend who takes after his dad's best qualities.  I love you, Uncle Ben! #RIP

My New Daily Work Schedule

8:00-10:45am
I'm at Burnett Elementary School in a 4th thru 6th grade classroom for Autistic children.  There are a total of 8 students in this class and I'm assigned to the only girl in the class.  She is still learning to use her words to communicate and my job is to keep her on task and focused.

11:00am-12:00pm
After Burnett, I go straight to Weller Elementary School to work 1-on-1 with preschoolers who also have Autism.  I was shadowing another BMT all week last week and tomorrow I get to finally meet the kid that I'll be working with 1-on-1.  I was taught to conduct trials and help them master certain skills that they lack, whether it be motor skills, matching,  sorting, cutting, tracing, crawling, potty training, gender recognition, learning manners, socializing, etc.

12:00-1:30pm
After 1-on-1, I join a social group for preschoolers with autism.  We help them build social skills with other autistic children.  They learn to say hello/goodbye, to share,  to take turns, to say please/thank you, to use full sentences, to ask,  to play with others, etc.  It reminds me of when I used to work at a preschool before only difference is that all the activities are jammed in an hour-and-a-half session instead of 4 hours.

1:45-6:00pm
After working with autistic children,  I'm either at After the Bell (Wed-Fri) or at the Milpitas Sports Center (Mon-Tues).

10-hour work days haven't caught up to me, yet.  This is still all new to me.  I still find that even after working all day I still have energy.  All I can say so far is that overall it has been an interesting and challenging past week.

Happy New Year! 2014

I decided that for my first blog post for 2014, I'd write up 14 current things about me... what I'm doing, plans, favorite things...  I think my future self would really appreciate that :)

1.  This year I have 3 jobs!  The first job is what I've always been doing for the past three years, a Recreation Leader for an after-school program for the City of Milpitas.  The second job, which I just accepted, is a Summer Camp Director also for the City of Milpitas.  I'm excited about this one because my partner and I get to plan a whole summer of fun activities for kids between the ages 5-8.  I just feel like I have so many ideas in my head that I just have to let out and I can't wait to start planning this week.  And the third job that I just got hired for is a Behavioral Management Tutor (BMT) for the Milpitas Unified School District.  I'm nervous about this one because I've never fully worked with Autistic children... but I'm excited regardless!  I've heard a lot of good and bad things, but all I care about is that the kids are safe, having fun, and being inspired to learn more.

2.  I love coupon-ing! For the past couple of months I learned how to coupon and I'm truly looking forward to saving more money in 2014.  Couponing has brought shopping to a whole new level... It takes a lot of time but in the end my wallet's happy :)

3.  I'm aiming to be healthier and active.  I say this every year, I know, but I want and need to live a healthier lifestyle.  I had my blood test taken last year and one thing that worried me was my glucose level -- it was pretty damn high.  If I continue to eat the way I'm eating and given my family history, there's a super high possibility that I can get diabetes in the near future.  I've been looking on Pinterest and they have really good ideas on ways to make a recipe book, and it inspired me to create my own healthy recipe book.  This, and working out with my brother, will help me be healthier.

4.  I have one more year to pay off my car.  My 2015 goal: trade-in my car for a brand new car that I want and deserve.  I'm thinking of getting the newest version of my Avalon! lol

5.  I love DIYs - Pinterest and YouTube are THEE BEST sites for DIYs

6.  Current Favorite TV shows that I can replay over and over again:  The Office, Freaks and Geeks, Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, Family Guy, Southpark, Conan, and Desperate Housewives.  This year I'd like to get into New Girl, Sons of Anarchy, and Scandal.

7.  Current Favorite Movies:  Frozen, Le Miserables, Rent, Django Unchained, Despicable Me

8.  Current everyday makeup routine:

• Primer - Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
• Foundation - L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation in W6 Sun Beige
• Concealer - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Neutralizer
• Face Powders - Laura Mercier Translucent Powder
• Bronzer - Sephora MicroSmooth in Tan 35
• Brows - Rimmel Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
• Mascara - Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes (waterproof)

9.  All-Time Favorite Lipsticks:

• Red - MAC Ruby Woo
• Orange/Red - MAC Lady Danger
• Natural - NYX Whipped Caviar
• Peachy - NYX Strawberry Daquiri
• Bold Pink - MAC Girl About Town
• Soft Pink -  NYX Sweet Pink
• Plum - MAC Rebel
• Purple - MAC Heroine

10.  Favorite Shampoo and Conditioner:  Bain de Terre in Passion Flower

11.  Favorite Alcoholic Beverages:

• Roscato red wine
• Beers: Blue Moon, Shock Top, Corona
• Mimosa - Crook's Brut and Guava Juice
• Strawberry Mojitos

12.  Favorite Place to Eat:  Sizzling Stone

13.  Hobbies:  I still love talking about or playing with make-up.  I still love anything that involves arts and crafts.  I still love decorating a room and turning it into something welcoming, comfortable, colorful, clean, and efficient.  Couponing and crocheting are my two newest hobbies.

14.  Looking forward to mine and Brian's 10th year anniversary.  I still love that silly guy :)

Hate

Hate is such a strong yet an extremely tiring emotion.......  As hard as it is to hear it: the only best solution is to let it go.  Holding on to all that hate can be damaging to your body emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

My mom still holds onto this anger towards my dad, and I honestly don't blame her.  She went through a lot and I will probably never understand what they went through but her hate towards my dad is resonating and is causing a cascading effect in my siblings.  It hurts me to see my siblings side with my mom without trying to understand my dad's side.  It takes TWO for a relationship to work and similarly it takes TWO for a relationship to end.  It brings tears to my eyes to see other parents work out and mine didn't.  What hurts me most is witnessing how truly lonely and miserable both my parents are now.  My mom may smile and seem happy but I can see right through her.  She works hard, goes to church, goes shopping... but when she's alone I'd see her cry.  And I feel like religion holds her back from finding someone new because she can't remarry until my dad passes away (one of many things I disagree about church).  My siblings and I try to spend as much time as we can with her.  My dad on the other hand, even though he created a new family, I can see how much it hurts him to leave us behind... but I am glad he found love because I would hate for him to be alone.  Knowing my mom, sadly she knows how to shut people out of her life... I wish she and my dad were at least civil.  It would teach Mayumi that people can still have some sort of relationship rather than teaching her "hate."

Watching my parents taught me so much about relationships and human behavior.  It is because of them I decided to study Psychology and Child Development.  I wanted to know how to put into words what happened to my parents, how they raised my siblings and I, and why my siblings and I turned out the way we did.  I also wanted to know the "right" way to raise children.  Studying at San Jose State University has opened my eyes and I feel like I've learned so much applicable knowledge.

I love my parents.  I know how much my parents loved each other... but somewhere along their marriage was constant disrespect and miscommunication that led to lots of misunderstandings that blew out of proportion.  Because of them I'm a strong believer of "COMMUNICATION IS KEY."  I've concluded that my parents are ordinary human beings with emotions... they're good people who made some bad decisions in their relationship.  I don't think I'm an expert in relationships at all but just from what I've learned from my studies and from being in a 9 year relationship with Brian AND seeing Cathrine and Daniel's 11 year relationship, my parents could've worked things out but they were tired of trying.  Being in the relationship was just too hurtful for them to stay in it.

...I just wish them both happiness and for my mom to find love again.

My goals

I was looking through my old blogging site recently, and I found a post that I wrote on April 6, 2009 that said:

"After taking a couple years off from college, I'm behind. But I'm not that far behind. Starting Fall '09, I plan to become full-time at school and part-time at work. You know, re-prioritizing my life. I want to get out of Mission College and transfer to San Jose State University. So hopefully by Fall 2010 I'll be in San Jose State."

Reading this makes me teary-eyed.  I remember getting into arguments with Brian about school, and my argument would be that college is just a way for the government to take money from of us, and that people get good jobs even without a degree, and that it's all about your connections.  It kind of makes me laugh inside knowing that I used to think that way.  Now I'm seeing that I made a huge U-turn with my life (and I will admit that Brian eventually won that argument years ago).  It just makes me happy that I'm reaching my goals.  It has taken me almost 4 years to get my Bachelor's Degree... and I'm thinking about new goals to reach afterwards.  My next goal would be to obtain my teaching credential which will take 3 semesters to complete.  I probably won't begin that goal until the Fall of 2013 at SJSU.  My goal after that is to have a full-time job before I reach 30 years old.

On a relative note, I don't believe in "it's now or never."  However, I  DO STRONGLY believe in "it's better late than never."  Only because everyone is on their own pace, and only YOU know when YOU are ready.  I don't agree to "now or never" because I believe in windows of opportunity, I believe that more doors will open after one has closed, and I believe in taking your time to think things through before making a decision you might regret.  Take your time.  There's no need to rush in life... at all.  Some people get things done early, and some people are just "late bloomers."  Who cares?  Because when you know you've put your mind and heart into something, and you've persevered through it -- IT'S FEELS RIGHT no matter how long it took you to obtain that goal.

My Last Semester

Today is the first day of my last semester as an undergraduate at San Jose State University.  I'm excited, curious, scared, and nervous all at the same time.  I know for a fact that this is going to be the most hectic semester ever but I am keeping in mind that it's DO-ABLE... nothing's impossible if you put your mind (and time) to it :) Let the semester begin!

My 2012 New Year's Resolutions

1. Be true to myself and to my family, friends, and Brian
2. Stay positive, appreciate the pleasant outcomes, and learn from the rest
3. Less Facebooking and more of living in the moments
4. Savor life's joys
   
5. Don't get caught up in other people's problems
6. Perform random acts of kindness on a daily basis
7. Compliment people who deserve it
8. Take care of my body
   

Even the greatest joys bring challenge

Brian and I have recently gone through a rough patch in our relationship and during the process it altered our views of each other and it eventually put things into perspective. I'd be lying if I told you we're the perfect couple because.... we're not. We're not perfect at all and that's completely okay because we do our best. Like in any other relationships, we argue, make up, learn, and move on to the next challenge... sometimes we repeat the same mistakes to finally learn. In the end of every challenge, we find ourselves stronger as a couple and as individuals. I believe we lasted this long because we have never wanted to give up on each other when times got tough. I mean, we have argued to the point where we've considered that "single life" option but then we realize how much we enjoy the "relationship life" even more. Why? Because it's challenging. It's exciting. It's a challenge itself to be in a relationship because it requires a lot of sacrifice to make the other person happy; it requires forgiveness and believing in the best in them; it requires honesty and trust; it requires more listening than talking which then leads to understanding; it requires a little jealousy to motivate us to appreciate the little things; it requires a lot of patience; it requires empathy; it requires being completely yourself; it requires acceptance. And to be honest, ALL of these requirements are easier said than done.

On top of all that, you're challenging yourself (and each other) during the process. The ways that I've challenged myself is mostly through self-control in terms of emotions. Controlling my emotions has changed my impulsive behaviors. I've also learned to channel my emotions into hobbies such as art, music, cooking, reading, writing, and sometimes running. Another one of my many personal challenges, was finding that self-respect. In high school, I had low self-esteem (or self-love, whatever you want to call it). I was self-conscious and it didn't feel good to be in that state of mind. Being with Brian, he showed me my worth. I know it's weird that I found self-respect from Brian because usually people are supposed to love themselves first before loving another like the saying: "love yourself first before you can love others" ...well I found my self-worth the opposite way. I learned to love myself after loving another person. In fact, Brian just got the ball rolling for me - I did the self-lovin' on my own :)

Overall, our victories together gave our relationship value/essence/quality... which to me is worth investing my time and heart into.

Mine and Brian's room

Enjoy life

I miss the preschoolers. It makes me sad knowing that I probably won't see them again. When I went to the Asian grocery store, I saw some snacks that reminded me of the preschoolers and it almost made me cry! It's because some of the kids had trouble opening their snacks and I would help them open it. During snack time, that's when I get the opportunity to know each of them personally by asking them questions... and what they say is really interesting. Even though kids lack experience, I admire their love for learning. I know they'll be okay in the future. I think I just got too attached to them since it was my first year teaching. I just want to wish them good luck in their future endeavors :)

So lately, it seems that everyone around my age is obsessing over making lots of money. I understand why: bills, adulthood, and it's about the time to make or support a family of their own..... but really what's the rush? E.N.J.O.Y.L.I.F.E. I just don't think it's worth stressing over making loads of money. Focusing on the simple things in life and appreciating the people in your lives right now is what I believe matters most. Focus on yourself and do what makes you happy.... art, music, love, cooking, singing, pets, sewing, working out, photography, etc. What's your hobby?

Time flies...

I've been so busy that I've forgotten how to stop and take time to reflect on my life. I post on Twitter a lot though thinking that it would compensate for my absence here on Blogspot. But I should blog more because I've forgotten that the main reasons why I blog are:

1. Personal growth - I like looking back at my blogs to see how I've grown as a person. Before I started blogging online, I used to write in journals and it dates back to when I was in the 6th grade. Sometimes I cannot believe how immature and inconsiderate I used to be. Sometimes I feel like slapping my past self. Of course, the content of my blogs changed tremendously... and that's the beauty of writing through the years.
   
2. Experiences - I truly believe that without experiences and truly learning from them, one cannot grow. Breakups, heartaches, accomplishments, happiness, failures, and successes are all important topics to write (or talk) about. After taking several psychology classes, I have learned that it is healthier in the long run to express your feelings than to hold it in. It keeps one healthy physically and psychologically. Because I write about my experiences, I believe it contributed to my overall happiness and contentment with my life.

School
I finally declared my major last month and after thinking it through and through, I've decided to major in Child and Adolescent Development. I have 14 classes left to take before I can get my Bachelor's Degree. My goal? To graduate by Fall of 2012. Then afterwards, I will continue school to get my teaching credential. Realistically, I will most likely be finished with school at age 28.

Work/Preschool
Due to the budget cuts in California, the city of Milpitas decided to cut the Preschool program where I work. It's truly sad that they had to cut it. It's now up to the people in the community to save the Preschool program... otherwise, I need to find another job :( On a brighter note, working there made me realize how much I love working with children! Working at this preschool is the MAIN reason why I decided to major in Child and Adolescent Development. It makes me happy to see a kid improve. My co-teacher Ms. Diane taught me a lot about teaching kids and I've acquired her teaching style. She's awesome and I'm truly going to miss her and all the kids when this school year is over. I strongly dislike how some people generalize kids as "brats." I think those who have an overall negative opinion of kids simply don't have the patience to understand them. Truth: Kids are fun little people :) They have their own personalities and they are fun to talk to. They're always down to learn and try new things. What I've learned? Make learning creatively fun and positive without being forceful and super strict - that's the only way you'll gain respect from children.

Redecorated our room
Earlier this month, Brian and I were determined to change our room. We've been talking about it for so long but we've never had time to finally do it. His old closet was pretty much falling apart. It had the capability to store a lot but it was hard to organize things with his old closet. So Brian and I went to IKEA several times. We bought some black furniture, we painted his room dark grey, bought some lighting, and reorganized EVERYTHING. So now the room is almost complete! All we need now is a bed frame and maybe some wall shelves. So now..... I love coming home :)

7 YEARS

Today is officially 7 Years with Brian Nicolas <3

End of the year :)

Today I found out I passed all my classes and it feels great to be a step closer to my goal. It feels like this semester went by really fast... I'm going to miss my Tuesday/Thursday routine. Well, maybe! Haha... I probably won't miss taking the light rail even though it was free. My project for the whole month of January is to find a car -- new/used.

What's important is to keep moving forward... what's done is done. I'm hoping for a new year full of opportunities and excitement. I'm looking to grow more in the field of teaching... to be honest, teaching little kids is harder than I thought, haha! It's not that I can't do it because I know I can... I just believe that in order to teach children, I have to change my old way of thinking first because lately I've been experiencing a lot of cognitive dissonance which isn't helping at all. My beliefs don't match my actions and I would like to change that.

Here's to a new year! :)

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants! I admit, I am a bandwagon fan. I jumped on the bandwagon 8 games ago, and since then I realized how exciting baseball was. As I watched each of those past 8 games, I learned a lot about baseball. Not only that, but the parade in San Francisco was an exciting experience as well. I loved the atmosphere and I truly felt the unity in the crowd. I didn't buy a souvenir but just as long as Brian and Mayumi did then I'm good. Congratulations again to the San Francisco Giants! =) I can't wait for next baseball season; I'll be more involved in baseball. Until then, time to focus my attention on the Golden State Warriors!

An update on my life:

It's already half way into the semester at San Jose State, and I still haven't declared my major (but I will soon!). I just want to take my time thinking about it because I really don't want to waste any time and money here at SJSU. I feel like my classes this semester (Abnormal Psych, Social Psych, and Sex & Gender) are pretty laid back. I'm hardly stressed out. I've also gotten the hang of how things work around here so it's not as bad as I initially thought. In my last blog I sounded unhappy being here because when I was at Mission College, I placed SJSU up high on a pedastal.... and when I finally came here I thought: "this sucks!" But I take it back. I just needed to learn and experience the place longer.

Another new thing is I'm a Preschool Instructor. I haven't started because the LifeScan process is taking awhile. I'm waiting for an appointment with Human Resources so they can give me an orientation. I was so excited though when I got the call! I can't wait until the job begins =)

Anyway, the holidays are just around the corner and I can't wait! I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends and creating more memories with them. They are an awesome group to be around.. they're real chill and laid back.... no drama whatsoever... I'm just blessed to have them in my life =)

Well I'll end it here for now... until next time!

First week at SJSU

My first week at SJSU was okay. I still haven't adjusted to the large campus. For my first week, I tried adding classes that required me to walk all over the place. I am also taking the VTA light rail to school to save gas and money. If I could get my Bachelor's Degree at Mission College, I would do it...