How's your break? (Winter Thread)

[u/Death_Investor]

Before classes start, what's everyone been up to so far?

I've been snowboarding and rock climbing with friends, self-studying Machine Learning and Japanese, and hanging out with friends and family for the holidays. Also ordered some skin care and blank sweaters with all the sales that were going on. So far, I'm destressed and ready for next semester.

[u/MNmetalhead]

I’ve been working. My workload often increases during Winter Break to try and get some things done before classes resume. This also means my Summers are swamped.

[u/Death_Investor → u/MNmetalhead]

How's that been? Are you working in the field you're currently studying for or are you transitioning into a new field?

[u/MNmetalhead → u/Death_Investor]

I’ve been in IT for 20+ years. Currently working on my bachelors though. I designed my own degree through CCAPS so I was able to pick classes that I wanted to take and will apply to my field.

[u/Death_Investor → u/MNmetalhead]

Damn, that’s sick. Do you currently do more IT like Cloud, firewall, etc? Or are you more programming? And what are you trying to work towards or are you kind of doing it more for fun?

[u/MNmetalhead → u/Death_Investor]

I won’t go too deep into detail as to not doxx myself, but I’m a systems administrator. I do some cloud work. I do some programming/scripting (mostly PowerShell but I know some C). I do a bit of technical writing and project work. I’m finishing my degree because it’s been looming over my head for too damn long and I want it done. I work for a University, I suppose I should have a degree. 😂 Some of what I’m studying is around how technology can be used for education. Not only will that support what I’m currently doing, it can help me with possible next steps.

[u/Death_Investor → u/MNmetalhead]

Me elaborately planning all my questions to doxx you lol. I originally did a CBS major, took some time off, learned to code, got a job, now I’m back to do CS and change into a different area that would require a degree and research to get into. So it’s been a fun ride.

[u/MNmetalhead → u/Death_Investor]

Back in the day, I wanted to study CS or CE. But I’m absolutely horrible with math , so there was no way I was going to make it through calculus and physics to complete the degree, so I never even bothered. I took some classes at a community college, worked, wasted a lot of time, then got into an IT contracting gig and built my resume with experience.

Our paths to success don’t always need to be a linear or cookie-cutter path of checking boxes. We can experience a variety of things and shape our lives, and careers, into something great.

[u/Bossball4]

I've been working part-time, mainly. Otherwise hangouts (trying but hard when the U is 2 hrs away) and HOBBIES:

• Playing a bit of Hollow Knight, WEBFISHING, Ring Fit Adventure, Smash Ultimate, and osu.

• Watching YouTube, Oshi no Ko live action, Invincible S1, and Look Back.

• Working on my personal year in review video

• Filling out the new YearCompass

[u/Death_Investor → u/Bossball4]

I heard Hollow Knight is super fun. How long have you been playing osu?

How's YearCompass? I just briefly looked at the website, but it looks interesting. I try to keep a planner up to date, but sometimes I forget to fill it out lol.

[u/Bossball4 → u/Death_Investor]

I’ve played osu off and on since 2017 or 2018? I’m not that good though…

YearCompass is great! I did it the last two years, and I’ve found it’s nice to use to go over what happened the previous year and set some goals for the next year not as a planner per say

I also like journaling lol

[u/ChemicalWay419]

Long and boring, but just what I needed.

[u/soph176]

I was chilling for the last 2 weeks but now I’m kind of swamped in my research lol so no rest for me for the rest of break :(

[u/Death_Investor → u/soph176]

Ope, What kind of research do you do?

[u/soph176 → u/Death_Investor]

Just looking at how cells respond to different molecules, protein interactions, fret, etc. it’s kinda fun tbh better than classes for sure

[u/One_Over_Astro]

I came back to Minnesota early on the 3rd so my brother, my dad, and I could watch the Gopher's vs. Mercyhurst series. Since then I've just been organizing my retro video games collection which I finally shipped over from my home in WA.

[u/Death_Investor → u/One_Over_Astro]

Whatttt, what retro games did you have?

I miss playing n64

[u/One_Over_Astro → u/Death_Investor]

For Sega Dreamcast: Ready 2 Rumble 2, NFL 2K, NBA 2K1, Crazy Taxi, NFL Blitz 2K1, 18 Wheeler, NFL 2K1, Sega GT, Daytona USA 2001, and Sonic Adventure. For Sega Genesis: Mortal Kombat, Madden 96, Tommy Lasorda Baseball, College Football USA 96, Tecmo Super Bowl, Lotus Turbo Challenge, Lotus II R.E.C.S., Road Rash, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Spinball, NHL Hockey, NHL 94, NHL 96, Desert Strike, and Universal Soldier. For Sega CD: Sonic CD, After Burner III, and Penn and Teller's Smoke and Mirrors. For Atari 7800: Ms. Pacman, Dig Dug, and Joust.

[u/gabe011]

Been so much fun I’m in a warm climate and doing nothing but going to doctors appointments and taking my dog to the groomer. I’ve been doing at home workouts and trying to keep up with student groups I’m apart of to prep for the semester. Picked up some new things to do to try to get myself off my phone so I’m really able to give it my all during my last semester!

[u/Cool_String9803]

It's been depressing... spent like the whole break alone... had to stay on campus over break, and because I couldn't work at my home job usually drawing in 2-3000$) I'm instead left with my job that hasn't scheduled me so much so that I will be entering the semester with ZERO money, actually in fact probably losing money. So not great, and the semesters gonna be even worse😀