It’s so good to be back at school, and with this 80 degree weather, it already feels like spring! This weekend I started planning out my semester, and it already seems as if every weekend is booked with things to do. Here’s a preview of some of my plans for spring semester:

Visit my favorite beaches

I feel so lucky to live only minutes away from the beach, and I can’t wait to spend lazy Friday afternoons with friends at all the different beaches in the area. El Porto is great for volleyball or a beach run, and Santa Monica is great for a beach/shopping day with friends. My favorite beach, however, is further up the coast in Malibu, and it’s well worth the drive. El Matador State Beach has beautiful cliffs, arches, and caves to explore.

Learn to snowboard

I have spent one–yes, only one–day snowboarding in my life, and I can’t say I really mastered the sport. Last year my friends convinced me to go on a one day trip to Mammoth for a crash course in snowboarding. We left USC at 1 AM, made it to the slopes by 8 AM, snowboarded until the lifts closed, and then piled back into the car for a late night drive back to LA. Although our crazy one day adventure was fun, I really would like to learn how to snowboard this year. Hopefully I’ll be able to go for a whole weekend this time!

Ace my classes

This goal is definitely easier said then done, especially since I enrolled in my first graduate level course this semester (yikes!). Even if A’s aren’t in my future, I’ve made it a goal to really apply myself in all my classes. And considering I’m taking an Electrical Engineering course this semester (which is probably one of my weakest subject areas EVER), I really need to hit the books this year!

Cruise to Mexico for Spring Break

Fellow Viterbi Student Ambassador Sarah Miller (check out her blog here) and I just booked a cruise to Mexico for Spring Break. Since Sarah is graduating this spring and moving to Texas, we wanted to plan one last trip together. After all, what am I going to do without my trusty Industrial Engineering wingman next year!

Our cruise will leave out of LA and will visit Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Now we just have to decide on which excursions to take. Snorkeling? Zip lining? Sailing?

Prepare for my summer internship

Although summer seems months away, I need to start searching for housing in Houston soon! This summer I will be interning with ConocoPhillips in the Commercial division. It’s such a relief to already know that I have a summer job lined up, and I couldn’t have asked for a better company to spend my summer with. I am really looking forward to learning more about commodity trading and meeting other interns from all over the country this summer!

Looks like I have a lot to look forward to this semester!