Sarah Boodram – The Medium Blog

My Time Machine

March 19, 2014September 26, 2015Sarah Boodram

Sarah Boodram

Something happened recently that brightened my mood yet made me feel really old and nostalgic. I’m not talking about finding my Pokemon collection from the third grade or listening to the Spice Girls. I’m talking about television. Yes…television. It seems that with our busy schedules, we don’t have the time to watch TV, or at least shows, from this traditional medium. Instead, we hop on the Internet to catch up on episodes if we missed its original air date. Or, if we still watch TV shows on television, many of us record selected shows on the PVR to view on our own schedule.

I found myself, surprisingly, watching TV a couple of days ago and noticed that MTV has became my new go-to channel. Why? Because MTV now airs re-runs of shows like Clueless, Malcolm in the Middle, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Saved by the Bell, and Student Bodies…a.k.a. TV shows from the 1990s…a.k.a. TV shows from my childhood.

Though I’ve been watching Daria, Breaker High, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for some time now, the rebirth of these TV shows seemed quite fitting since I recently decided to re-watch (and re-obsess over) My So-Called Life, another television show from the 90s that’s filled with teen drama, grunge music, fashion, and Jared Leto.

I’ve realized how much time has gone by. It’s no longer “the 90’s…just the other day,” it’s “the 90’s…two whole decades ago!” Watching these TV shows make me remember a simpler time when my day didn’t revolve around non-stop “career-driven” activities, but about wondering whether Cher (from Clueless) will get home before her curfew. Living in the past? I think not, because sometimes it’s good to add a little nostalgia to life to make you appreciate the present. So, will I stop watching my favourite 90’s shows because of how old it makes me seem?

How I Coped with My Seven Hour Long Break

February 11, 2014September 16, 2015Sarah Boodram

When you enroll in classes, it’s sometimes difficult to fill up extra spaces on your timetable. Trust me, I know this because in my first year, during first semester, every Tuesday, I had a seven-hour long break.

Insane, right?

A Temporary Escape from the University Life

February 7, 2014September 16, 2015Sarah Boodram

Don’t you feel as though every day is exactly the same? You wake up around 6:30 a.m., catch the bus (I mean, run for the bus), spend almost eight hours at school, commute again, do homework, more homework, even more homework, sleep (more like a nap), and then repeat.

Getting Stuck on Exam Questions

November 29, 2013September 16, 2015Sarah Boodram

Exams. Everyone hates writing them, and by the time you’ve been writing nonstop for an hour, you just want to finish. But, you can’t… because now you’re stuck on this one question that you can’t seem to conquer.

Don’t you just hate that?

When you’re stuck on an exam question, it’s either because:

1) You haven’t studied enough.

2) You studied too much all at once that your brain is now fried.

3) You’re so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to start.

4) Writing in the RAWC Gym terrifies you.

5) You’re sleep deprived.

6) The question is just wack.

And if you’re writing your exam in the RAWC Gym, it certainly doesn’t help that the scoreboard is counting down the minutes until the exam is done.

Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and don’t be afraid to clear your mind. Everything you’ve studied will come flooding back.

Catching Zzz’s at UTM

November 21, 2013September 16, 2015Sarah Boodram

When I started attending UTM, one of the first things I noticed was that it was normal to see students sleeping. Since I’ve been going here for quite some time now, and have experienced sleep deprivation myself, I’ve come to understand other students’ need to accommodate ‘naptime’ during their stay.

I’m a fellow Z-z-z-catcher myself and I believe it’s my duty to credit the Z-hot spots around campus.

The Library Cubicles

There are three floors of cubicles in the library. Although these areas are meant to provide silent study space for students (hence the name ‘Silent Study Zone’), I’ve experienced some of the most glorious sleeps here. Even though I initially come here to study, its silence provides such tranquillity, and most of the time, it tempts me to rest my head on my books, close my eyes, and drift away into dreamland.

But there is a disadvantage when it comes to sleeping at the library cubicles.

Yes, SNORING.

If you’re a heavy snorer, your snoring will probably be heard throughout the Silent Study Zone. Trust me, I’ve heard some.

How to Walk into Your Professor’s Office Like a BOSS

November 12, 2013September 16, 2015Sarah Boodram

You’re sitting in class, taking notes, comprehending today’s lesson. You stop typing. You gasp. You have absolutely no idea what the professor just explained to the class.

“If you have any questions, stop by my office during office hours or schedule an appointment if those hours don’t work for you,” your professor announces at the end of class.

Scary, isn’t it?

…But, it doesn’t have to be.

There will come a time when you have to make direct contact with your professors. But don’t freak out, professors are there to help you, not hurt you. So stop watching those Frankenstein movies and you won’t feel like a victim. Just follow these guidelines to tackle your anxiety, and talking with your professors will no longer seem like a scene from a horror film: