Study Groups and LIFO

Ready for another accounting post??

The May-mester ends tomorrow!  Leaving the business building tonight, I realized this was my last-ever study session with Shelby.  And that is really sad :(  Luckily I still have Brad, but it's sad to see another one go!

Anyways, this post is about how awesome study groups are.  I've decided that while they might not always be the most efficient way to study, it is my most recommended method.  It really immerses you in your major, because you get to know the people in your classes and you become great friends.  That encourages you to go to class and study more.  (Disclaimer...this method does not guarantee that you will pay attention in class or focus 100% during study groups.)

Over the last few semesters as my accounting classes I have gotten harder, I have spent countless hours at the library and the business building with study groups. We've learned, we've laughed, we've stressed, we've complained...and we've pretty much become best friends.

Probably the best result of one of our marathon study sessions was when Shelby convinced Jonny and I that it would be a great idea to enter the E-Week Lemonade Stand competition.  This was after hours and hours (and let's be honest...probably days) of trying to consolidate financial statements.  So, clearly, we decided this would be a great idea.

Not all great decisions are made at 11:00 PM, but it turns out that this one actually was.  I had so much fun just hanging out with these two great people, just trying to sell some lemonade.

One of my best college experiences!

And yes, we do represent accounting well.

[Explanation:  LIFO is an inventory accounting method.  You count inventory Last In First Out.]

These guys have been such great friends to me.  I'm so proud of them, as they both just graduated and have internships at the State Auditor's Office.

Now I just need to make it through one more class, and one more semester!

Also, after three years of school, you can't convince me that accountants are the most boring people.  I have yet to be at a study group with a bunch of accounting majors that I have left feeling bored out of my mind.  I've left stressed, but usually, I've had a pretty great time!  They are a fun and funny bunch.  This has been the video of the May-mester.  Enjoy.

A Day in the Life of an Accounting Student

Don't get me wrong.  I love being an accounting student.  Especially on days like today.  Here are two fine examples of why accounting class can be awesome.  

We play Two Truths and A Lie to break up the two hour long class, and vote on which we think is the lie.  

"I don't want to be an accountant."  

Everyone accepts this as truth...who wants to be an accountant??

"I love accounting."

Everyone raises their hand, obviously, this is the lie.  

Anyways, I thought it was hilarious.  

But class only got better from there.  We had a guest speaker in class today.  It was our teacher's younger brother who works as an auditor in Texas.  Young guy, cute, etc.  He gets up and begins his presentation, talks a bit about what he does, tells us about his background.  He tells us to feel free asking him any questions.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Shelby smile, pull out her phone, and I receive this text.  

"Do you have a girlfriend?"  

Probably one of my finest moments of self-control.  It took everything I had to stop from bursting out laughing.  Words cannot describe how hilarious Shelby Murray is.  I wish that everyone could spend a day with this girl, because she keeps me so entertained.  I don't know what I'm gonna do without her!

Campus Life

Leaving campus last night, Shelby and I were discussing how while our class consumes our lives, we love the feeling of productivity it brings.  We have been spending more time on campus studying for this class that we do when we are taking 5 classes during the regular semester.  Honestly, it's not the most fun thing to do.  But at least it brings a feeling of accomplishment.

So, while we're walking out of the business building, we see this person creeping behind this tree.  We walk past them, feeling kind of nervous, and notice another person crouching on the ground next to them.

Okayyy...could they be acting any creepier??  We burst out laughing, and just keep walking to the parking lot.

We subsequently found out that some people were playing night games on campus, felt significantly less concerned about the sketchy activity, went and bought some frozen dinners, and went to bed.

Sadly, we're kinda missing the fun part of campus life.  But hey, at least we're learning how to audit.  

Kind of a Great Weekend

Last week was beautiful.  Every day, it was so sunny and nice, and I spent the majority of it studying.  So naturally, the weather would change for the weekend, and foil my weekend camping plans.  Kind of a bummer, but the weekend ended up being kind of great regardless.

As I fail at taking pictures, I've taken advantage of Google and facebook.

Started rewatching One Tree Hill.

Read my auditing textbook in preparation for the week.

Visited Herm's Inn for the first time and got to try their Mac & Cheese of the day!

Got to chat with this girl.  Always a great time:)

Did something I haven't in a long time...
Read a whole book cover to cover

It was kind of a great weekend. 

May-mester

HOLY. COW.

Summer classes are a blessing and a curse.  It's so nice that I'm getting a whole semester, 15-week audit class finished in only four weeks.  But it's rough, because I'm getting a whole semester, 15-week audit class finished in only four weeks.

There is no room to breathe in this class.  Class is for two hours a day, five days a week, with one test every week.  The pace is one chapter a day.  Last week, we studied our two hours per day, ended up memorizing all of the wrong things, and basically failing the test.

And there's no time to recoup.  We've upped our studying plan, and have started studying for three to four hours each night.  It is exhausting!  During the regular semester, you generally have at least a day between each class session.  Not the case in May-mester.  You've got to be on top of it each and every day, or you're missing assignments, and falling behind so quickly that there is no hope of catching up.

But here's the good thing.  I'm taking the class with two of my favorite people--Brad and Shelby.  Probably some of the best friends I have made at Utah State are my awesome accounting friends.  Believe it, accounting majors are the best!

We study outside, because school or not...we like to celebrate summertime.

So even though this May-mester class is kind of the worst, it's totally worth it.  I get to spend countless hours with my friends, and I only have to learn about audit for four weeks!  

Panhandling

Okay, most people think this is horrifying.  But actually, this was on of the most fun Saturday activities I have done in a while!  Here are some reasons why panhandling was so much fun.

• It was a lovely day.  Not too hot, but sunny enough to get a good start on my Chaco tan line.  
• People thought we were hilarious and wanted to take pictures of us.
• We made enough money to cover a nice lunch from City Creek.  
• I got to hang with one of my great friends all day!  

So there we go.  Staying in Utah for the summer, and still finding something unique, and bucket-list-worthy to do!  

Live it Up

Last year, today, this was me.

This year, I'm in Logan taking summer classes and working.  It's not nearly as exotic, and definitely doesn't sound as exciting as living in Uganda.  Africa was a whole new world.  I remember being told before I went to write everything down, because soon, the things that seemed so strange and different would become a part of my everyday life.  And it did.

I guess being in Logan this summer (and not traveling abroad as I have been lucky enough to do the past two summers) makes me want to find excitement here.  The zest in life doesn't have to come from exciting trips, or out-of-this-world adventures--it can come from how you view the world.  It's a choice, no matter where you are, you can make the most of life.  

So, I'm wondering, what do I have here, in my daily life, that I take for granted because I am so used to it.  Not just things I am grateful for, but things that are funny, or strange, or exciting, or fun. This summer, I hope that I can open my eyes and my senses to realize just how amazing my life is.  I want to have a passion for life, whether I'm in Logan, or Pleasant Grove, or Uganda.  

Anyways, I tend to set these goals, and then they just become nice thoughts...but I'm going to give it a shot.

Adventurous and beautiful summer in Logan...Here we come!

[And yes.  Hopefully this means I will start taking new pictures so I won't have to post old pictures.  Because clearly that makes it look like I am not having any new adventures...and regardless of there being adventure here...let's be honest, Cairo was SWEET!]

Restart

So, I have this really awesome little computer which I love so much!  It really is fabulous, but occasionally, it likes to be a little difficult.  It can get a little slow...and when it gets really delayed, I just like to turn it off an restart it.  A restart can be a great thing, even though it takes awhile to reset, and it's kind of a pain, once you've restarted, you've got a fresh shot for smooth operation.

Finals week becomes this hectic, non-stop week of studying for endless hours, a midst trying to clean your apartment from top to bottom, because finals are stressful enough without adding cleaning checks at the end of the week.  (Don't even get me started on moving out during finals, that makes life even less fun.)  During all of this work, all you really want to do is celebrate the fact that the semester is almost over and spend time with the people who are either leaving for the summer, or maybe even forever.  

But...at the end of the week, when you've bubbled in your last Scantron and vacuumed the floor of your now spotless room, an immense feeling of accomplishment and relief floods in.  The garbage has been taken out, you sell back a textbook or two, and shut the door on the semester.

And then sometimes, you start right back up again.  And with a restart, you can do whatever you want.  You can try to get rid of a bad habit or two, and try to get some better ones going.  Don't leave all of your clothes on the floor, go to bed early, pay attention in class, start studying consistently, have more fun, and take more pictures.  The possibilities are endless, and they're always really easy to envision when you get a restart.

It's only day one, but hey, my room is clean, and my lights are out before 11:00.  So far, so good!

Deep Fried.

When I go out for sushi, I know the deep fried rolls are always the best.  French fries...onion rings...scones...so good.  Deep fried twinkies...I've never tried them, but I'd venture to guess they would also be delicious. (Twinkies will be back on the shelves in July, so happy birthday to ME and happy birthday to AMERICA.)

You know that moment, when you've been studying your brains out for weeks, and it's the night before your last final, and you just can't process a work of anything.  I think that's how it feels for your brain to be deep fried, and it is not as fun as deep fried foods.

I was going to post so tempting pictures of deep fried food...but that just seems like too much work.