While everyone was away at the weekender (a lot of people travel to San Francisco every year to watch either the Cal game or the Stanford game, what a devastating defeat we had this week), I found myself with some time to catch up on homework and try to get ahead for a very busy upcoming midterm schedule.

I started by trying to read on the couch in my apartment, but that ended up not working out so well.  The distraction of food, television, and napping were far too great and I needed to find a more focused location.

At this point I usually pack up and head to Doheny Library.  I prefer Doheny to Leavey, the 24 hour research library (which I also spend a fair amount of time in), because it is a little quiter and more spread out.  It is also one of the most beautiful buildings on campus, and I like that there are more comfy chairs and small tables than desks.  This is without a doubt my favorite place to write papers, and always find myself overcoming writers block here.

Doheny Library

However, once I reached my favorite spot by the front windows, I found myself staring longingly out at the beautiful day.  We usually have really nice weather, but lately it has been even hotter than normal (getting all the way up to 100 degrees!!) Me and my friends decided to move once again and study outdoors in McCarthy Quad for a while.  The day was just too beautiful to pass up, and it’s definitely not uncommon to see a ton of people studying and playing frisbee in the quad on hot days.

My friends and I studying in McCarthy Quad

It was so hot that we decided to take a study break and drive to the beach (I’m fortunate enough to have my car on campus.  If you don’t have a car, renting a zip car is really easy!) and enjoy the ocean air and the sound of the crashing waves.  This turned out to be my most productive location of the day, and I finally got some solid studying and tanning in.  Now that’s what I call being efficient!

 

Studying by the seashore. Nothing better =)

 

Lyssa Aruda-2015

Lyssa Aruda-2015

Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology), Class of 2015, Learn more on her profile here!

2 Comments

  • emily says:

    I’m so jealous you can actually study on the beach! I had dreams of doing that, but in the sun I just fall right to sleep. I study all the time in Center for Engineering Diversity (which you are an automatic member of as a female here at Viterbi) and the little courtyard in the basement of the University Church.

  • lyssa says:

    I’ve never been in the basement of the University Church I’ll have to check it out! The only problem about studying at the beach is getting sand in all the books =(