Lady Butterfly

Butterflies in my stomach, you disturb me
I'm taking this test in which I did not review
Mean, median, standard dev, variance, z-scores
What the fudge is this percentile ranking I see?
If only I did not waste time crying last night
I could have avoided this regret I'm feeling
No way I'm gonna fail 'cause I'm a Math major
I know I studied this in the undergrad course
Come on butterflies, get out of my stomach
I have to finish this as I have to meet her
She texted me this morning asking to meet up
And I did not ignore for I have a reason
That lady was the reason I cried yesterday
The reason why I was not able to review

(Ivio, 2013)

Desiderata

DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

(source: http://allpoetry.com/poem/8574007-Desiderata_-_Words_for_Life-by-Max_Ehrmann)

All it takes is guts

You'll reach a point where everything does not fall into the way you wanted them to be. When you're like me, you'd think of giving up and just sit in the corner of a room and think of life's misery. Today, it's our enrollment in the graduate school. I'm not even sure if I have a future waiting for me after all the failures I had but I believe all it takes is guts. This is the first step - this summer classes. The next step is somewhere at the left side of my blind spot. I have to face it. So here we go kiddo.